Jean was going through paperwork when the news broke— "Jean!" The door burst open and in rushed her younger sister, completely out of breath and heaving from running. Naturally, the (Acting) Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius catapulted from her seat with a worried face.

"What's wrong?!" Was there an emergency in the church? A Hilichurl raid near the city? Venti was drunk in the bar and babbling about his secret? That last one was not likely to actually cause problems as no one would believe him but it was still plausible…

Barbara didn't (or really, couldn't) audibly answer her immediately. Instead, she showed her the latest issue of the Steambird. "Head… Headline…" She gasped out. Clearly, that was the emergency. Jean walked around her table and took a look at the front page. Upon reading the large bold text and seeing its accompanying photo, she understood her younger sister's urgency.

FAMED TRAVELER ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH KIDNAPPING OF FONTAINE'S ARCHON

Oh, Aether… what did you do now?

"Remember, Kaeya, you are not being sent on a vacation," Jean reminded the Favonius Captain as the boat to Fontaine readied for departure. "This is a diplomatic mission. If the Traveler's trial has not started by the time you arrive, you are to attend it and, if possible, speak in favour of him. If his sentence has already been declared, do not do anything that will cause an international incident, understand?"

"Yes, yes. I understand quite clearly," Kaeya smirked. His mission was incredibly simple; he could do it in his sleep. "And what if I encounter… issues during my visit?"

"I expect you to handle them to the best of your abilities. Legally."

"Very well. If there is nothing more, I should board. Don't want to be left behind, do I?" He joked before bidding goodbye to Jean. He stayed above deck and watched the waters as they soon departed the port. "You truly know how to make a scene, Aether," he sighed to himself but couldn't help but feel slightly amused by the situation. Knowing the Traveler, it was probably a misunderstanding and things might have already been resolved by the time he actually reaches Fontaine. "So, what do you make of everything?" Kaeya asked the person who just joined him in watching the waves.

While he was going to Fontaine in an official capacity as a Knight of Favonius, there was another who was joining him but on actual "vacation".

"What do you want me to say? That there is no conceivable way that he is guilty?" Diluc somewhat sarcastically retorted. The former Knight had also gotten wind of the situation and decided to make use of his free time to relax and unwind in Fontaine.

"Oh? You make it sound like he is responsible for this crime."

"You know what I mean, Kaeya," Diluc huffed at his jest. "As you've said, it's just like him to get involved in something like this. Knowing him, he was simply at the wrong place at the wrong time again to get caught up in whatever is happening there."

"Precisely my thought. Although, I disagree that it is always a bad thing when Aether gets involved in something. Everything usually has a good ending when it comes to him, does it not?"

"What sort of good thing could come out of him getting arrested for kidnapping the Hydro Archon?"

"Hmm…" Kaeya pretended to think for a moment. "Well, it is giving us the chance to spend some time together."

"…Let me repeat myself— what sort of good thing could come out of Aether getting arrested for kidnapping the Hydro Archon?"

"You wound me, brother," Kaeya laughed as Diluc sighed. This will be a long trip.

The carriage ride to the border was a rocky one but the passengers inside were too focused on their work to truly notice. They had been in a rush the second the news broke and before they knew it, they were already on their way to Fontaine to (hopefully) attend the Traveler's trial. If they were too late and he was already locked up… well…

"This west-side entrance would work well but it'd most likely be guarded extensively…" Yelan muttered as she studied the floor plans of Fontaine's prison. It was the side closest to the more dangerous inmates' cells; it was still an early leap to make but Yelan was more than willing to bet everything that'd be where Aether would be kept should he be convicted and sentenced.

As for how she got her hands on said plans… well, it pays to be prepared.

Her fellow passenger, who had been focused on reading the local laws that might help in the upcoming trial, looked up from her new book at her. "You do know breaking him out will only be for the worst-case scenario, right?" Keqing reminded her. "If he does get imprisoned, we'd negotiate first to have him transferred to Liyue." That was what Ningguang told her anyway.

"Better to be prepared for the worst rather than regretting it should it happen. You should know this very well by now," Yelan replied coolly as she mentally routed out an infiltration point. She didn't think too hard about it yet though as she'd need to borrow some of the latest guard schedules and patrol routes in Fontaine itself before settling on a plan. "Isn't that why you're studying up on Fontaine's laws? Although I doubt they'd let you represent him without a degree," Yelan giggled under her breath as Keqing's face flushed from embarrassment.

"Thi—this is just a refresher," she defended herself. "One of us should have a deeper understanding of Aether's situation."

"What is there to understand beyond him kidnapping their deity?" It was difficult to tell whether she was completely serious or not but Keqing still frowned at Yelan.

"You do not believe he actually committed the crime, do you?" Keqing questioned her. "In all likelihood, he is either being mistaken for the actual perpetrator." Just like with the situation with Rex Lapis, may he rest in peace. Wrong place, wrong time, but Aether probably also did something that'd implicate him in some way.

"Do not mistake my acceptance of this mission as I actually believe Aether is guilty. Even if he is, our mission is to help him," Yelan lightly chided her. " What I mean is that Fontaine takes its laws very seriously. You've heard the horror stories, have you not?" Even the Sumeruan academics fear having to conduct studies in the nation as they may be charged for something like bankruptcy should they look like they're 'wasting time.'

Keqing thought about her words for a few moments before coming to her own conclusion. "Somebody is setting him up?" The first suspects that came to mind were the Fatui; she can see them scheming to have someone who had been a constant thorn in their sides take the fall for something they committed.

"Perhaps, but that is not our problem yet," Yelan stated. "Our priority is to get the Traveler acquitted or—"

Bang!

The carriage shook as something landed on the roof. They could hear their coachman yell something before an upside-down, but still easily recognisable, face peeked through the carriage window. "The Conqueror of Demons?"

The Adeptus (whose hair slapped against his own face due to the wind) knocked on the glass, asking to be let in. Curiosity already piqued by his appearance, Yelan waited for the carriage to slow down before opening the door. "Keep going," she instructed the startled coachman as Xiao entered the wagon.

"To what do we owe this visit, Honourable Yaksha?" Yelan opened the conversation.

Not one to mince words, Xiao immediately questioned them. "Are you two heading to Fontaine?"

"Hmm… so you've heard the news too." Then again, it's doubtful there was anyone in Teyvat who hasn't heard about it yet. "That is correct. My colleague here is going to attend the Traveler's trial assuming we arrive before then."

"And if you don't?" Xiao stared at her. It was an unnecessary question as they all knew what the failsafe was. And Xiao was all for it. He glanced towards Keqing, who'd been quiet so far. It was doubtful she was intimidated by him; it would be unlike her. Xiao assumed she was letting Yelan do the speaking since they were more acquainted with each other. "Why is she going?" Xiao bluntly questioned. Before either can say anything, he continued, "I expected the lawyer to be sent instead."

"Ah, you mean Yanfei?" That was a natural assumption to make. She was one of, if not, the best legal consultants in Teyvat and was already a good friend of Aether's; she should have been the one sent even if she was not part of the government.

Swallowing her pride and ire at essentially being called unneeded, Keqing explained to him, "We did try approaching her but were told she had gone on a retreat a couple of days ago." Right when they needed her too. "With all due respect, are you coming with us, Adeptus?" Keqing respectfully asked. "Do you not have a duty to protect the Harbor?"

Xiao scoffed at the question. While yes, his duty to the nation was something he held above his own feelings, this was a big enough issue that couldn't be ignored. Besides, he already went to visit Zhongli for permission to take a temporary leave to help Aether. That was how he knew Yelan and Keqing were already on their way to Fontaine.

Taking his silence as him confirming he was joining them, Keqing sighed before accepting it. At least having someone as old as him— older than the current Hydro Archon's tenure —might help them in their mission. Yelan, meanwhile, was already thinking of how Xiao could scout out the prison or other potential places Aether was being held.

As news of his arrest broke out throughout Mondstat as well as the rest of Teyvat, Aether sighed as he looked out the window of his temporary quarters. Just how did he get into this situation again…?

…Oh right, he brought Furina back home the morning after instead of before midnight as promised. Apparently, that was just enough cause to say he "kidnapped" her. The law was dumb and he hated it. At least he was allowed to call for his own lawyer so naturally he sent a letter to Yanfei asking her to represent him or at least help consult on his case. That thick book of laws she had was finally going to be of use to him. The letter should have reached her a couple of days ago and she hopefully was already on her way to Fontaine and they could get everything settled.

Until then, his (second) trial was on hold and Aether was kept under close eye by—

Bang!

"Good morning! I see you're up, Aether."

—none other than his supposed victim herself.

"I would've been woken up by that anyway…" he sighed while rubbing his temples. However, if Furina was coming by his room, that meant breakfast was ready. Aether already felt his stomach growling at the prospect of food; if there was anything positive about his current predicament, it was Furina naturally had the best chefs' in Fontaine under her employment. The view from the "guest" bedroom wasn't too shabby either, to be honest.

'No, Aether. Do not develop whatchamacallit syndrome.' He forgot its name specifically but it did not escape his notice how good his treatment was so that he wouldn't mind being kept here. Whether it was truly Furina's intention to do so was not completely clear— she certainly didn't plan the arrest but naturally had a hand in him being under her surveillance. Granted, Aether was also somewhat at fault himself since he asked for a personal lawyer from Liyue instead of a local. The trial would have been long since over and he'd probably be sentenced to community service or something that light.

Assuming Furina doesn't say something that will land him in even hotter water when she takes the stand as the "victim".

"You know, one word from you and this will all be over." As was now their morning routine, Aether reminded Furina of this fact as they walked together to the dining room.

And as usual, her answer was— "And miss out on the chance to take the stand myself? Nonsense!"

Aether sighed but hey, at least he only had to suck it up for a few more days. They resumed their morning routine— eating breakfast together while lightly making a dull conversation since there was not much to say; the more interesting talks happened later in the day after Furina returns. After eating, she would depart to watch the day's trials and leave her residence to Aether… and the many guards who'd watch him in her place.

Not that they really need to; Aether would spend most of his time cooped up in his room or the study to read something to pass the time. That day, however, he read the Steambird which had his face plastered on the front page. 'Ah… it finally got…' He couldn't help but wonder how his friends were taking the news; hopefully, none of them were planning something drastic like breaking him out. That'll definitely cause problems for his trial.

A/N: Yeah, this is a sequel to that Aether/Furina fic I posted a couple days ago. This story was initially supposed to be a nice little continuation of what happened in the teapot but then a funny idea came to my mind. The idea spun into this and now misunderstandings are leading to the four other nations in-game sending people to help Aether with his predicament even though everything's going fine for him. Well, mostly fine.

Either way, the next chapters will be posted over the next few days. Stay tuned~