Extra: So Many Female Colleagues in Snezhnaya

(Two chapters combined, adding yesterday's chapter)

"... Could someone translate what this amazing author had Xingsu say in the last chapter?" Sandrone strained his logic, painstakingly sorting out the ins and outs of the series of events from last night, trying to analyze any reasonable behavioral logic.

Arlecchino shook her head slightly, her tone tinged with helplessness. "Perhaps he and Xingsu were both drunk that night."

"I might be able to sense his thoughts." Columbina picked up the remaining five-nut pastry on the table and took a bite, her teeth striking the hard surface without making a sound. Then, without making a sound, she moved the hard dessert to Sandrone's plate.

"Hmm... to translate, he roughly means he wants to sleep with Arlecchino."

"Columbia! You translate this for me, please!"

"And it also expressed his homesickness."

"... I think you're very close to Spirit Separation now." Xingsu sighed helplessly as he looked at Columbina's haphazardly read and replied messages.

"Alright, let's not talk about that anymore. What are you guys planning to do next? I was thinking of taking a nap later. It's one thing for some guys to be drunk and disturb the peace, but it's better than someone coming here to sing and disturb the peace for no reason."

As Sandrone spoke, he feigned nonchalance and gave Columbina a sharp sidelong glance.

"We're going to see Odette. Whatever hatred she harbors for Rosalyne, Rosalyne's death..."

"..."

There was a moment of silence in the room; no one spoke.

Sandrone silently took a bite of the five-nut mooncake on his plate.

"Huh? That's not right!" Sandrone seemed to suddenly realize something.

"Columbia!"

Almost at the same instant the shouts erupted, Xingsu and Arlecchino darted out of the door. It was best not to disturb them in this situation.

"Columbina, you stop right there!" Sandrone chased her around the room with a five-nut mooncake in his hand, trying to force the mooncake into Columbina's mouth.

"How is it? Is it delicious?" The mermaid girl's eyes sparkled as she looked expectantly at the dancer in her ballet costume.

In the backstage dressing room of the theater, all sorts of snacks were laid out, their aroma filling the air. Odette looked at the dazzling array of food before her, but remained unmoved.

"... You know perfectly well that I can't consume too many high-calorie foods."

If Vodyanitsa hadn't forced a spoonful of ice cream onto her, she wouldn't have touched it at all.

It's not that I want to eat ice cream, hmph!

"Oh, alright, alright, this is to celebrate Odette's successful debut!"

"... The performance was yesterday," Odette corrected casually.

"What happened yesterday? Can't we celebrate yesterday's events today? And where did you go yesterday?! I went backstage after the performance to look for you, but you were nowhere to be found!"

"I had some personal matters to attend to yesterday..."

Why didn't you tell me something happened?!

Why should I tell you if something's wrong?

"Waaaaah--" Vodyanitsa looked aggrieved, grabbed a piece of honey cake from the table in a huff and took a big bite, "Then I'll eat all this delicious food, and I won't leave you a single piece!"

"Sigh..." Odette sighed, "Could we go out to eat first? I have to meet two special guests later."

"Oh no! Odette-- " Vodyanitsa instantly got into character, her tone exaggerated and mournful, "How could you be so cruel as to abandon me? Have you forgotten the vows we made to each other?"

Odette dared not open her eyes, hoping that the mermaid in front of her was just a hallucination, and tried her best to hold back.

"A perfect opportunity!" Seizing the moment when Odette was distracted, Vodyanitsa immediately held the honey cake in her hand to Odette's lips.

Faced with the onslaught of delicious food, Odette lightly spun her feet and gracefully dodged the attack.

Vodyanitsa reacted quickly; failing in her first attack, she chased after Odette.

However, she was naturally no match for Odette had undergone rigorous training for many years.

Seeing that Odette was about to escape and walk away, Vodyanitsa decided to go all out and pounce on her.

Perhaps she hadn't expected the other person to be so reckless, or perhaps she didn't want this hard-won friend to get hurt, Odette couldn't dodge the lunge.

Vodyanitsa clung to her.

Relying on her excellent balance honed through years of dance practice, Odette instantly steadied her swaying figure. She spread her legs apart, one foot in front of the other, firmly supporting herself on the ground. She wrapped one arm tightly around Vodyanitsa's waist, and reached the other arm back to support their weight, preventing Vodyanitsa from falling over.

Vodyanitsa felt a sudden dizziness and found herself in Odette's arms. She looked up and met Odette's eyes. Then, remembering her original intention, she took out the honey cake and tried to put it into Odette's mouth.

"Hello." The door to the lounge was suddenly pushed open. "Excuse me, is Odette... here...?"

Xingsu looked at the scene inside the room.

Odette held Vodyanitsa in one arm, gazing at her with affection (not really). The mermaid girl lay half-reclined in her arms, holding up a pastry and insisting on feeding her.

"... Excuse me, I'm sorry to bother you. Please continue." Xingsu spoke quickly, and then closed the door tightly behind him.

Inside the room, Odette stared at the closed door, her eyes losing their sparkle. She didn't even notice when Vodyanitsa casually shoved a honey cake into her mouth.

"Huh? Doesn't this situation seem familiar?" Xingsu had just closed the door, felt that she had encountered this situation not long ago.

"Um... I'm sorry, we arrived a little early due to some... special circumstances. Hope we didn't disturb you?"

Odette lowered her head, her cheeks flushed, and she gripped her dress tightly with both hands.

Vodyanitsa sat helplessly to the side, like a child who had done something wrong.

"No, it's nothing... We're just... eating, yes, just eating, we won't disturb you." The little water sprite tried to smooth things over.

"Haha... It's good that you didn't bother me." Xingsu also wanted to ease the extremely awkward atmosphere.

Arlecchino simply sat opposite them, watching the two with a scrutinizing gaze.

"... Vodyanitsa, please step out for a moment."

"But..."

"Get out!"

Vodyanitsa glanced at Xingsu and Arlecchino in front of her, then at Odette, whose face was flushed red. Finally, she got up and walked towards the door.

As he reached the door, he turned back to Odette and said, "Remember to eat, Odette!" Then he closed the door.

"..."

"It seems that your relationship with Vodyanitsa... has improved quite a bit during this time," Arlecchino said.

"You flatter me," said "The Knave," Odette bowing. "I presume this gentleman beside you is Xingsu?"

"It's me. I saw your performance yesterday with Arlecchino. It was a wonderful show."

"Thank you for your recognition, Xingsu."

"Alright, let's leave the pleasantries for now." Arlecchino looked at Odette. "Child, I think you know why we're here."

"... I know, it's Rosalyne, isn't it?"

Arlecchino nodded.

I'm sorry I couldn't let you see each other again.

"No need to apologize, the Knave. She brought it on herself."

"No, Odette, you didn't understand me. What I meant was, if she returns from her mission in Inazuma, she will definitely come back to see your performance."

"But she..."

Arlecchino shook her head, interrupting her.

"Her last words were left in that piece of ice."

Odette took out what the "La Signora" had given her.

"This... isn't it supposed to be a surveillance camera for subordinates?"

"Except for yours. Because this fire is not her ' Witch's Flame,' but my ' Fire of Two Worlds.' The Fire of Two Worlds can burn away memories; it is a parting gift I gave to Rosalyne."

"This is... her intention?"

Arlecchino nodded. "Perhaps she had long foreseen this day, but you are special to her, and she doesn't want you to follow in her footsteps. As the Cryo power dissipates, the ' Fire of Two Worlds ' will burn away all your memories of the Fatui. At that time, you will have the freedom to dance. This rightfully belongs to you, and the choice regarding this matter is also yours, child."

"..." Odette's pupils trembled.

"Can I speak to this child alone for a few minutes?" Xingsu asked, having overheard the entire conversation.

"Of course." Arlecchino got up and walked towards the door, leaving the two of them alone.

The good news is that the dressing room doors are well soundproofed to ensure the actors can get adequate rest.

The bad news is that the lounge door is very soundproof.

Vodyanitsa, standing outside the door, was so anxious she was scratching her head and ears. She really didn't know whether the two adults from the House of the Hearth coming to see Odette was a good thing or a bad thing.

After all, the name "House of the Hearth" is something that strikes fear into the hearts of wealthy businessmen, politicians, and social elites during the Snezhnaya.

After all, the Doki Doki Literature Club was a lighthearted and wonderful memory during the Snezhnaya, but the Doki Doki Ministry of Internal Affairs was a horror game.

Those who make the House of the Hearth list are like those on the Snezhnaya version of Death Note; at best, they'll be ruined and disgraced, at worst, torn to pieces.

Now, the heads of the two House of the Hearth have come to see Odette in person. Who knows what will happen inside?

"Odette, you idiot! Why didn't you tell me you were being visited by the House of the Hearth!" Vodyanitsa paced back and forth anxiously, pressing her ear against the door again, desperately trying to hear what was happening inside.

Click--

The door was pulled open from the inside.

Ouch!

Vodyanitsa lost her balance and stumbled into the lounge.

Several pairs of eyes inside the room turned to the doorway and fixed on her.

"... La Signora. Arlecchino, your high heels are really beautiful. May I ask where you ordered them? Aha, haha..."

Vodyanitsa hurriedly scrambled to her feet, glancing quickly at Odette sitting on the sofa. Seeing that Odette remained calm and composed, her anxiety subsided slightly.

"Ah~ well, it's nothing, I just came to check if Odette had eaten properly. Okay, that's it, I'm going to rehearsal now, don't worry about me, lalalala~"

Vodyanitsa hummed a song and ran off, pretending nothing had happened.

"... Let's continue. I hope you can tell me your story—from your own perspective, in your own words."

"I was born into a very warm family. My mother was a descendant of a once-famous ballet family, and my father was a soldier in the Fatui. They were very loving. Although my father didn't have much artistic talent, he unconditionally supported my mother's career."

Fortunately, I followed in my mother's footsteps and consider ballet my lifelong passion. My mother was very strict with ballet and my teaching, but my father always unconditionally supported and encouraged me.

Sadly, such a life is like a fragile snowflake, easily shattered. My father has left me forever, without even a trace of his body, just like now...

Odette paused for a moment, then continued her story.

"Perhaps because she missed my father so much, my mother made a major mistake during a performance. In those few days, I lost my father, and my mother was confined to a wheelchair forever."

That period was the most desperate time of my life. If there was anything more desperate than despair itself, it was having to continue living in despair.

My family lost all its source of income, and at this time, the "La Signora" came to comfort the widow on the orders of the "The Captain". Sometimes I wonder if Rosalyne herself had any intention in doing so, because she was very familiar with my mother's dance.

But in any case, she gave me a way out—to join the Fatui. My mother was vehemently opposed to my joining, after all, the Fatui had taken away her husband, my father.

"But you still joined the Fatui, didn't you?"

"... Yes, my family still needs me to be the pillar of their household. When the wounds from countless training sessions throbbed with pain, I knew that my childhood was over."

"I roughly understand the rest of the story. After all, as an instructor, I understand how tough the training of the Fatui is, not to mention that you also have to train ballet."

It's impossible for a person not to feel hatred towards the object of their pressure, especially when the Fatui are the beginning of your miserable life.

Odette remained silent, which was taken as tacit agreement with what Xingsu had said.

"I've heard about your wish. You hope to grow up, to be able to support yourself and your mother solely through ballet, and then slap Rosalyne across the face with your own hands."

Odette still did not refute what Xingsu said.

Now that you know all this, do you still hate her?

"Hatred."

"Do you hate her to death, or do you hate her to death?"

"Sorry... I don't know."

"It's okay. I know you have complicated feelings for her, so there's no rush to answer this question."

"Sigh." Xingsu sighed. "If you ask me, all the female colleagues I know who are in Snezhnaya are a bunch of tsundere. Sandrone herself is one thing, but when I first met Arlecchino, she was also a tsundere. Rosalyne is too, but she's all tsundere, not tsundere."

With her mouth and her personality, she deserved to lose her life. She hoped to give you a way out, but all she said was, "Let's see how long it takes you to give up." She watched your dance but never explained her misunderstandings.

Arlecchino and I agree that everything must yield to love, but Rosalyne is very slow to understand love; she's even more clumsy than you are."

Xingsu pointed to the burning amber that Rosalyne had left for Odette on the table.

"You and she are like two pieces of burning amber; even when stuck together, you can't melt each other unless one of them is broken."

"..." Odette remained silent.

"Alright, child, I'm not some boring adult who'll lecture you all the time. Arlecchino is right, the choice is yours. Once you've made up your mind, go to her grave and make your decision yourself."

Xingsu stood up and left the room, leaving Odette alone.

Outside, Arlecchino and Vodyanitsa stood facing each other. Vodyanitsa kept her head down, her gaze fixed on the ground, not daring to look up and meet Arlecchino's eyes.

The door was opened, Xingsu naturally put his arm around Arlecchino's waist.

"Let's go, we won't bother others."

What did you and she say to each other?

Tell me how much I love you.

"Nonsense."