Chapter Fifteen

The rest of the evening was a balancing act. Diluc and Furina made their way through the ballroom, speaking with various influential figures, while constantly being aware of Yvette’s presence lurking nearby.

As if knowing how Furina felt, Diluc kept his interactions with Yvette to a bare minimum, responding to her advances with cool detachment. If she tried to catch his eye across the room, he would look away. If she attempted to join a conversation, he would excuse himself and Furina almost immediately. His actions made it clear that he was not interested in engaging with Yvette on any level.

For Furina, it was a relief to see Diluc handle Yvette so decisively, but it also deepened her resolve to stand by his side and not let Yvette’s schemes drive a wedge between them. As the night wore on, they found themselves having to work together, presenting a united front to the public eye.

At one point, they found themselves standing by a large window overlooking the city. The glittering l