That night,

The silver-white moonlight spilled into the Hotel Bouffes d'ete.

Arlecchino and Clervie walked side by side down the hallway.

"Pepe, do you think he's still the same Yu Xie?"

"It seems like he doesn't remember us," Arlecchino said. "Although I don't know what happened, he is still the same person. I can tell from his eyes."

Yes, how could there possibly be someone so similar?

Not just in name, appearance, or voice — even the aura was the same.

This couldn’t possibly be explained by coincidence.

From those eyes, the ones she would never forget, Arlecchino could tell, and she could be certain, that the Yu Xie she met today was the same one from her memories.

"I... I don't even know how to describe how I feel right now, it's like... God is playing a huge prank on us," Clervie said, glancing out the window of the corridor.

Childhood memories surged to the surface.

In truth, Arlecchino couldn't clearly say how she felt either.

Some long-buried emotions had been stirred once again, mixing in her heart like tangled lines.

Things she had thought would be impossible to do again — could they be done now?

Things she had thought would never be able to be mended — could they be fixed now?

"Perhaps even he himself doesn’t understand what’s happening, but he really has returned," Arlecchino also looked out the window, a smile unconsciously tugging at the corner of her mouth.

...

The next day,

Yu Xie once again arrived at the Café Lutece.

As usual, he ordered a coffee with three parts sugar, found an empty seat, and sat down quietly to savor it, waiting for whoever might come to find him.

This time, Arouet didn’t chat with him like she usually did.

The looks directed at him from around the café were also tinged with something unusual.

Footsteps gradually approached, and Darduf slowly walked up and sat down across from Yu Xie.

"Mr. Yu Xie, have you made your decision?"

Yu Xie glanced at him, then took a sip of his coffee.

"Wait a little longer."

"Wait for what?" Darduf asked, puzzled. "Do you think my meeting gift isn’t sincere enough? If that’s the case, I can show you more sincerity."

"It’s not that, Mr. Darduf, just wait a little longer, I believe the result will come soon," Yu Xie said, setting his coffee cup down.

"What exactly are you..." Darduf’s words were cut off as footsteps approached from the side.

The sound of high heels clicking on the floor seemed to carry a strong sense of pressure, making people instinctively hold their breath in caution.

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

Darduf slowly turned his head.

The Fatui Harbinger — "The Knave" — was walking toward him.

Alongside "The Knave" was the rumored pink-haired assistant to the Harbinger.

The reputation of "The Knave" was well-known, but few knew the true power of this Harbinger’s assistant.

Darduf had once spent a considerable amount of effort to inquire about potential business dealings with the House of the Hearth, knowing that there might be intersections between their interests.

It was rumored that although the assistant to the Harbinger appeared to be kind and approachable, their strength and methods were on par with those of "The Knave." In other words, neither of them were to be underestimated.

But none of this was the main focus right now. The important thing was that "The Knave" was walking toward them, and it seemed like she was looking for Yu Xie.

Under the increasing sense of pressure, Darduf couldn't help but swallow nervously.

His instincts told him to keep his distance from "The Knave."

"Mr. Yu Xie, it seems someone is looking for you, so I’ll be taking my leave."

"No need to see me off," Yu Xie said.

With that, Darduf quickly left.

Arlecchino and Clervie sat down at the seats next to Yu Xie.

"I didn’t expect to see you again so soon," Arlecchino said with a smile.

"I didn’t expect it either," Yu Xie replied with a smile. "Would you like something to drink?"

"A simple cup of coffee will be fine," Arlecchino said.

"I’ll have mine a bit sweeter," Clervie added.

Soon, the drinks were placed on the table.

"If either of you would like any desserts, feel free to order. It's on me," Yu Xie said.

There was nothing wrong with this statement.

But when Arlecchino and Clervie heard it, they both felt an indescribable sense of something...

A sense of estrangement.

Yes, it felt a bit distant, as if there were a barrier between them.

Was it true, then, that to the current Yu Xie, they weren’t much different from strangers?

It made sense, though, after all—it was only their "second" meeting.

"We’ll pass on the desserts," Arlecchino responded to Yu Xie.

"Alright," Yu Xie paused, then asked, "By the way, did you two happen to be passing by?"

"No, we came specifically to find you," Clervie said. "Would you be interested in visiting the House of the Hearth?"

"Well..." Yu Xie thought for a moment. "I suppose it depends on the timing."

Just as he finished speaking, a figure dressed in the attire of the Marechaussee Phantom swiftly approached and stopped not far from Yu Xie.

"Mr. Yu Xie... please come with me to the Opera Epiclese."

"Why?" Yu Xie appeared confused, but in reality, he already knew. This was the moment he had been waiting for.

"Ten minutes ago, someone at the opera house accused you of bribery and corruption."

Upon hearing this, Yu Xie couldn't help but smile knowingly.

He picked up his coffee cup, drank the remaining coffee in one gulp, and stood up. Turning to Arlecchino and Clervie, he said,

"Well, it looks like I need to head to the opera house for a bit. If you're interested, would you care to come along and watch?"

.........

Opera Epiclese

The audience seats were nearly full, with everyone eagerly awaiting the trial that was about to take place.

This trial had gotten a lot of people excited.

Because the accused was none other than the "former strongest Champion Duelist."

At this moment, the plaintiff, a middle-aged man, stood in the witness stand. His hair, speckled with a few streaks of gray, did little to diminish the sharpness of his gaze, which remained as still and unyielding as a mountain.

At that moment, the door opened, and Yu Xie, escorted by the Marechaussee Phantom personnel, walked up to the defendant's stand.

Typically, those who take the stand as defendants have somber expressions, but Yu Xie’s face bore no such gloom. Instead, he looked unusually relaxed, which was puzzling to those watching.

Arlecchino and Clervie also entered the opera house. However, instead of sitting, they stood at the back of the audience seats.

"The people have gathered. I hereby declare that the trial begins," said the Chief Judge, Neuvillette, his voice echoing through the opera house. "Plaintiff, please present your statement."

All eyes turned to the middle-aged man in the plaintiff's stand.

Yu Xie followed their gaze.

He recognized the man—he was one of the witnesses when he had accepted the bribe from Darduf yesterday.

This man was the one who first spread the rumor that "Yu Xie accepted a bribe of ten million Mora from the wealthy businessman Darduf."

"Yesterday, I was running my usual book stall business when, to my surprise, I saw the former Champion Duelist, Mr. Yu Xie. And, right before my eyes, Mr. Yu Xie openly accepted a bribe of ten million Mora from the wealthy businessman Darduf! Tell me, how could anyone not see that this was bribery?!"

His tone was impassioned and fervent, and it was clear that the plaintiff was full of indignation.