Scene Two: Do Not Be Anxious About Tomorrow, for Tomorrow Will Be Anxious for Itself
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Furina had focused all her attention on how to act the act. How to walk the walk: She had been preparing long before announcing to the public that she was the new Hydro Archon. She would spend hours a day writing and proofreading speeches, only to throw them out at the first sign of a mistake, a crack, and start all over again. Whenever she wasn't doing that, she was standing before a mirror, practicing the movements she would make while miming words out of her mouth. Long, grand gestures, sweeping movements. That was the key. Of course, most importantly, was her expression. She had to have a confident look on her. Like everything is always under control. Like nothing got to her. Like as if she was ten steps ahead of everything any human being could ever do. She had to make her people believe that everything was fine and as it should be. She had to keep the smile up. She could never ever stop the smile.
Sitting before a table, in the Palais Mermonia, Furina smiled widely. It had only been a day since her introduction to the people, and already she was meeting with all the highest officials in the Court of Fontaine, discussing how to move forward with the nation. The government, in the gap of time where there had been no Archon to serve as the head of state, was divided into cabinets responsible for managing different facets of life. The Housing Department, the agricultural department, the infrastructure department, and many more. There was even a department for regulating fishing. It was as confusing and redundant as it sounded. And now, Furina had to meet all of them, all at once.
She had to keep smiling.
Other than the many, many heads of departments, there were two specific men whom she worried about the most. Flanking her on both her left and right, were the most powerful individuals, other than her, in the Court.
On her right-hand side was Louis Devout, the highest-ranking commander in the standing army of Fontaine, and the leader of the Marechaussee Hunter. He was a man in his middle ages, who came from a modest noble household. Having served since he was a teenager, he climbed through the ranks of the army, proving himself time and again in battle. Eventually, during the political turmoil that came from the gap in power after the disappearance of the previous Archon, he proved himself worthy of his current position when he was one of the few members of his rank to continue to stand loyally with Fontaine.
On her left-hand side was Francois Regnier, the acting Chief Justice of the Courts. A young and passionate man. He had full faith in Furina as the Archon, and she even found him, in the short time she knew him, to be a bit overzealous. The Regnier bloodline was given sole responsibility over passing on the title and acting role of Chief Justice and has done so for many generations now. The oldest male of the family would train and educate themselves from childhood in all things related to Fontainian law, to be groomed and made into the most perfect and efficient arbiter of Justice. Their opinion was still second to the Oratrice, however, the ruling of the Judge almost never differed from the ruling of the Oratrice. An extremely loyal family that he was the head of it.
Right now, they are discussing matters of funding.
"Listen. Listen well." Furina declared to the thirteen or so people in the room. "I, as your Hydro Archon, will answer all these mortal, materialistic issues, with a simple phrase…" A simple phrase she would have to come up with right now on the spot. "Taxes." She shot a finger up.
The people in the room looked at her, expecting more.
"Um."
"My Archon." Furina nearly jumped, as from her side, she heard the deep voice of Devout. "If I may make a suggestion."
"O-oh, yes. Of course my dearest subordinate. I will hear what you have to say." Please save her.
"The aristocrats have gotten very fat in light of your absence, enriching themselves with the land and labor of Fontaine. I'm sure it is only right for them to give back what they have earned."
Furina jumped at the opportunity. "Yes. Yes! That's it. That's exactly what I was going to say! I merely wished to see if any of you would be so smart as to come up with that solution on your own. I am very pleased that at least one of you is capable of thinking on a higher level… A-anyway. It is completely just that the wealthy aristocrats give a bit of their wealth back, for the sake of everyone. After all, it was I, in my boundless generosity, that blessed them with their vast capital and property. Tell them this. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and everyone who humbles himself will be exalted."
Mousier Devout nodded his head, "I will get my people to begin drafting a new tax legislation for your approval."
"Well then," Someone from the back of the table, a representative of the Fontaine Research Institute, spoke up. "If matters of funding will be resolved. Then I would like to request an increase to the budget the Institution receives so that we will be able to further our scientific discoveries. Specifically, on the matter of the prophecy."
Perfect! This had been what Furina was waiting for. She had read a bit about some of the efforts the researchers had been taking to stop that prophecy, and all she needed was an opportunity to give her support to them.
But before she could say anything. "Nonsense!" From her left-hand side, Judge Regnier shouted. "You men of the institution have overstepped your boundaries well enough, with your 'mecha' and machinery. Can't you see? Your 'god' is here before you. What good is science and reason, before the power of the divine? There is nothing your so-called 'logic' can answer that the Archon cannot."
Furina glared at the man. "Of course!" She shouted, "So long as I, Focalors, am here, then everything will be fine. All you need is your unyielding faith in me, and I will ensure the peace of all in Fontaine. Whether it be from hunger, poverty, or some long-foretold prophecy. If the people believe in me, then and only then, will prosperity rain upon them. For only I can shepherd my flock to salvation." A round of applause followed, and Regnier had a pleased look on his face. It gave her a headache.
After a bit more deliberation, the men at the table were dismissed, except for the Chief Justice and Commander who remained to discuss a matter in private.
"Yes?" Furina said. She wanted to go to her room already, she was exhausted. "I am very busy, be quick with your worldly matters."
"Lady Archon." Devout said, "I feel it impertinent to inform you of a separatist group that has begun gaining traction after your ascension to the throne. They are mostly made up of people who continue to doubt your claim as being 'god', and have in some cases, fought in violent skirmishes against our own followers."
What? There were still people who doubted her? Even after last night when she-
"Why?" Furina declared, "For what possible reason could they justify doubting their god."
"Indeed, my lord. There is no just reason." Justice Regnier answered, "They are loaded with madmen. Atheists, materialists, and moral relativists. They should be dealt with by your swift hammer of Justice, my lord, at once. A few have already been charged and found guilty by the Oratrice. If you so wish, I will throw the harshest penalty at them, and sentence them to death."
Furina's eyes widened, "Death? No-no-no. For what reason is such a thing necessary?"
"My lord. It is only right that treason and doubts be met with execution, less we let these ideas fester in the minds of the people, and corrupt the youth."
"That- that won't be needed at all." Furina began to hyperventilate, she needed to stop doing that now. "I am a kind and most forgiving deity. Mousier Regnier, as my subordinate I demand that you give them a more lenient sentence…" She needed to say more. "After all! Surely it is not these random few individuals' faults that they have been tempted by evil? With the right guidance, any lost soul can be brought back to the light. No, it is more important to strike hard at the route of corruption and opposition. To sentence those you have found guilty to death would most certainly be, in fact, an injustice!" Furina stared anxiously at the man. He was clearly no fool. Would he accept her words? Or would he begin to doubt her as well?
"Your will be done, My lord." The judge said with a bow, as Furina sighed to herself.
"On that matter." From one to the next, Mousier Devout spoke up. She wanted to be done with this all for the day. "I would like to request a bit more… Freedom to act, my Archon. I believe I have found a few hidden hideouts of this separatist group, but I need your say to act."
"Yes, yes." Just leave her alone. "I grant you permission to act on this… Just, be sure to act with care… There is no need for any bloodshed, right…? T-that is an order."
"As you say, lady Archon."
After that, the two men left, and Furina had one more person to meet with. The last person for today, and one she was actually pleased to see.
A young man, roughly the same age she would've been if she wasn't cursed, knocked on the door. "Come in!" Furina shouted. He was dressed in professional and refined yet somewhat armored clothing that fit with its design, which almost looked a little odd with his darker skin complex. He was a boy who fled from Sumeru to Fontaine, alone, after the takeover of the Akademiya and found personal fame by becoming a top-ranking duelist. He was now serving as her personal bodyguard. Roustam was the boy's name.
"Lady Furina, the staff have prepared the outlines for the festival you wish to hold."
"Already?" Furina had asked the Court staff to go about making plans to prepare a grand festival for her arrival. Yet, she didn't think they would be so swift.
"From what I heard, my Lady, many of the staff dropped everything they were working on previously and focused all their attention and effort onto your demand. They haven't rested at all."
"That's…" Awful. That's not what she wanted them to do at all. Why would they do something so foolish? "Well, please do inform them that I would prefer my staff to be awake and alive rather than lying dead at their desks from overworking. Well, what's done is done. Do tell them that I was pleased with their work and that they have my permission to take the rest of the day off, and demand that they rejuvenate themselves."
"Your kindness is boundless, Lady Furina." The boy said, bowing before her.
She smiled at his comment. Genuinely smiled. Well, at least it could help but some people out directly.
"But I must ask, my Lady, why a festival?"
"W-why? B-because the people deserve it for all their devotion and hard work. That is why."
That was only partially true. A festival was something to give joy and glee to the people. A way she could show off her status to all. Furina quickly learned that the most important thing for the masses to believe her claim, to believe her act, was to actually see her in action, see her performance, and hear her speak. Yet, only a few of the wealthiest people could afford to attend the opera house, and the Palais Mermonia stood highest above the people of the land, the common man could only see her shadow. She needed them to bear witness to her directly. She found a festival to be the most efficient for such a task. And, more importantly to her… Didn't it sound like such fun? Such brevity. Why must these days of staging be so dreary and misfortunate? Why not have a bit of pleasantry? If she was to act as the Archon, and inherent all the burdens that came with such a role, then why couldn't she host a festival?
There was still much to do. So many issues that needed to be taken care of. Many of which she wished didn't exist, Many of which she didn't want to think about...Still. The evil that men do lives after them; The good is oft interred with their bones…
Furina felt like all her reading of novels and viewings of plays had gotten to the way she thought.
As Roustam took his leave, Furina stared out a nearby window into the setting sun. Things were getting harder now, but eventually, it would smooth itself out. Everything will be fine. She found herself repeating those words in her mind, with the echoing prophecy still lingering, ever present.
Everything will be fine.
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Author's Note
Hello.
Thanks for reading thus far, I hope you have enjoyed it.
I just want to comment on one matter, and that is of Neuvillette. Neuvillette will be in this story, and play a major role. However, from what I have seen in the story: If Furina became the Acting Hydro Archon roughly 500 years ago, and according to quotes Neuvillette became the Indux over 400 years ago, that would leave a certain time frame wherein there had to be a Chief Justice that wasn't Neuvillette. I believe this coincides with what we see in his Story Quest, with the regime change and corruption following his appointment. That will play a major role in the story as well.
Yours Truly.
A.A