Clervie

Biodata

Background / History

Life at the House of the Hearth

Clervie was the first friend Xingsu made after arriving at the House of the Hearth. She also befriended the withdrawn Peruere, eating and playing with her when few other children would approach her. Crucabena later transferred all three to a harsher training site, where wooden practice swords were replaced with iron blades 1 6.

Her trusting nature made her vulnerable to bullying. Xingsu and Peruere repeatedly defended her, drawing hostility from the other children’s cliques and bringing the three friends closer together 1.

Crucabena eventually forced them to kill a child defeated during combat practice. Clervie obeyed with her eyes shut and her hands trembling, then collapsed beside the corpse. Despite her mother’s cruelty, she blamed herself for failing to meet Crucabena’s expectations. Xingsu comforted her while Peruere reassured her that both friends understood her feelings 2.

Friendship and Hopes

The three regularly gathered in an unused attic discovered by Xingsu, sharing refreshments, stories, and views of the stars. Mistaking Xingsu and Peruere’s secret discussions about resisting Crucabena for romantic awkwardness, Clervie excitedly questioned whether they had become a couple. That evening, she proposed that all three visit Snezhnaya to see the auroras when they grew up 4.

During the Icemelt Festival, Clervie gave Peruere a handmade Super Kitty Hat with movable ears. Xingsu gave Clervie his treasured star-shaped necklace; she initially refused because of its personal significance, but accepted after he reassured her 5.

At their subsequent tea party, Clervie described her dream of renting a small shop in the Court of Fontaine. She wanted to sell bread, sweets, and cakes, give spare food to homeless children, and welcome her friends for tea 6.

Conflict and Death

When Peruere declared her wish to kill Crucabena, she and Xingsu asked Clervie to help. Clervie understood the danger they faced but could neither turn against her friends nor break with her mother. She fled in tears and later curled up alone in bed, apologizing to all three and calling herself cowardly 6 7.

Crucabena planned to make Clervie duel Peruere while she dealt with Xingsu separately. According to Crucabena’s later account, Clervie had learned that the assassination plot was exposed and was willing to do anything to keep Xingsu alive. Rather than fight Peruere, Clervie willingly died by her sword 10.

As she died, Clervie embraced Peruere, thanked her, and thought of both friends continuing without her. Her final thoughts also expressed relief that she would no longer have to be her mother’s “inadequate” child 8.

Legacy

Crucabena used Clervie’s death to torment Peruere during their battle, blaming it on her kindness and weakness. Peruere ultimately rejected that judgment: remembering Clervie’s sacrifice helped her recognize that gentleness was not wrong—the House’s cruel rules were. She then defeated Crucabena 11 12 13.

Afterward, Peruere visited Clervie’s untouched room and later sat beside her and Xingsu’s graves before being arrested. In Snezhnaya, the aurora reminded her of their unfulfilled promise 14 15 24.

As Arlecchino, Peruere returned to lead the House of the Hearth. Remembering the suffering she, Clervie, and Xingsu had endured, she abolished its rules of mutual slaughter and ordered the children to treat one another as companions rather than opponents 26.

After recovering his own memories and reuniting with Arlecchino, Xingsu asked whether Clervie had truly died. Arlecchino’s silence initially left him with the apparent confirmation of her loss 63.

Life as Claire

Clervie later lived in Fontaine under the name Claire, without memories of her childhood at the House of the Hearth. She told Xingsu that she had been an orphan adopted by an elderly couple, both of whom had died a few months before their conversation 84 93 95.

She worked at Hotel Debord and studied under Escoffier before leaving to open her own dessert shop near the Vasari Passage. Escoffier praised her dedication to cooking and pursuit of excellence, but worried that her softhearted temperament made running a business alone difficult. While Claire worked at the hotel, Escoffier had repeatedly intervened when unreasonable customers mistreated her 83 96 97.

Claire made the refreshments served at Navia’s birthday party. When Xingsu asked who had prepared them, Escoffier supplied her name and shop address, prompting him to hurry there in search of Clervie 83.

The shop’s startup capital had been borrowed from Valerius. A seller connected to his illegal trade subsequently approached Claire and persuaded her to consider using the unfamiliar drink L㏒s in her desserts. Before she could use it, Xingsu shattered the bottle with a thrown stone and seized the seller. He then explained the substance’s danger to her 83 84 88.

Recognizing Claire as Clervie, Xingsu initially chose not to disturb her peaceful life by revealing their shared past. However, as he prepared to leave with a box of desserts, she stopped him and asked whether they had met before 84.

Despite her lost memories, Claire retained her desire to help others. She planned to donate her earnings and asked Xingsu to take her to the orphanage. She also inferred that he had caused the lenders to disappear, identifying the faint smell of blood on him despite his claim to be an ordinary teacher 93.

Discovery of Her Condition and Recovery of Memories

Clervie eventually admitted that she believed she had died long ago. Since waking without a remembered past, she had felt her body gradually disappearing, a process that had continued for years. Believing that little time remained, she asked Xingsu to tell her the truth 93 95.

Using his power over memories to examine her, Xingsu discovered that she was an unstable memory construct: an obsession formed from lingering memories and an afterimage of Arlecchino’s Fire of Two Worlds reflected into the world. Her original death had been real, and her present form could eventually dissolve completely. Clervie accepted this revelation calmly, expressing gratitude for the additional years she had lived and the kind people she had met 95.

Xingsu sought Lin’s help to preserve her. Lin judged that her unstable form could last another month or two and distinguished sustaining a memory construct from truly bringing a dead person back to life, which would require the power of Abundance. He nevertheless offered assistance in exchange for precious memories 95.

Clervie chose to recover her past despite Xingsu’s warning that it contained suffering, killing, and separation. He placed his star-shaped necklace in her hand, restoring memories of her friendship with him and Peruere, their gatherings and promises, and her decision to step willingly into Peruere’s sword. Recognizing Peruere as Arlecchino, she described her as having become a wonderful king 95.

Reunion and Return to the House of the Hearth

After learning that Arlecchino’s birthday was approaching, Clervie proposed surprising her. Xingsu led Arlecchino to a candlelit room, where Clervie greeted her with a birthday wish. The three subsequently discussed what had happened and shared desserts Clervie had made using the skills she had developed under Escoffier 94 95 96.

With her memories restored, Clervie quickly resumed teasing her friends. She questioned Xingsu and Arlecchino about when they had become a couple, who had made the first move, and how far their relationship had progressed. Chevreuse later noticed that the shopkeeper seemed markedly happier, and Clervie explained that she had reunited with an old friend 96 97.

Clervie settled into the reformed House of the Hearth, preparing three meals a day, caring for younger children, and teaching small cooking classes. Her pastries became especially popular: children would abandon their activities and rush to the kitchen as soon as fresh desserts were announced 101.

Xingsu ultimately offered Furina’s sealed memories to Lin in exchange for the power needed to sustain Clervie. Lin channeled that power into her, and Xingsu and Arlecchino celebrated her official return to the House of the Hearth with a toast. Lin subsequently described the exchange as giving up a little power to maintain a memory, rather than a conventional resurrection 101.

Life After Her Return

The children came to regard Clervie as a gentle elder sister. In a letter describing life at the House, one child praised her daily pastries, patient lessons, and habit of smiling and wiping flour from the children’s faces instead of becoming angry at their mistakes 107.

While Xingsu helped Navia stabilize Poisson and the Spina di Rosula, Clervie cared for the children at Hotel Bouffes d’ete. She later traveled with Freminet to bring supplies to the Spina di Rosula and departed Poisson with Xingsu and the children once the situation had stabilized 110.

Her playful friendship with Arlecchino continued after their reunion. During afternoon tea, she teased Arlecchino about missing Xingsu after a communicator call, retreating only when Arlecchino’s glare warned her against saying more 127.

Personality

Clervie was cheerful, understanding, and quick to comfort others. Her presence offered hope within the oppressive House of the Hearth, though her habit of assuming the best of people also left her open to manipulation and bullying 1.

Around her closest friends, she was playful and mischievous. She eagerly pursued gossip about Xingsu and Peruere, enjoyed their embarrassed reactions, and laughed freely during their private gatherings 4 5 6.

Her attachment to her mother remained strong despite Crucabena’s abuse. Clervie internalized blame for that cruelty and struggled to choose between family loyalty and her friends’ survival. Her wish to feed homeless children reflected the same generosity she showed through sharing food with her companions 2 6 7.

Her kindness survived her memory loss. As Claire, she found happiness in seeing others enjoy her desserts and wanted to donate her earnings. Escoffier nevertheless regarded her softheartedness as a vulnerability when dealing with difficult customers 83 93.

Clervie faced the possibility of her second disappearance with acceptance rather than resentment, grateful for the extra years she had experienced. When offered the choice to reclaim her painful past, she willingly accepted, taking Xingsu’s presence and safety as reason to believe that their story had ultimately reached a happy ending 95.

After returning to the House of the Hearth, she remained patient and affectionate with its children while enthusiastically teasing Xingsu and Arlecchino about their romance. Xingsu later characterized her childhood self as someone who had understood the House’s fate clearly but could never turn her blade against those closest to her; he hoped her new life would be free and unrestrained 96 105 107 127.

Appearance

• Has long pink hair, as described by a child at the reformed House of the Hearth 107.

Abilities & Skills

Baking

• Made refreshments for the trio’s attic gatherings, using a kitchen privilege granted by Crucabena 4.
• Brought little cakes, macarons, and other treats to their tea party; Xingsu praised her baking 6.
• Studied under Escoffier at Hotel Debord, improving her pastry-making skills before opening her own shop 83 96.
• Prepared the refreshments for Navia’s birthday party 83.
• Sells pastries including cream palmiers and macarons, which Chevreuse regards as delicious and affordable 97.
• Prepares daily meals and desserts for the House of the Hearth and teaches children to knead dough and bake pastries 101 107.
• Has a sufficiently keen sense of smell to detect a faint trace of blood on Xingsu and challenge his attempt to conceal his involvement in the lenders’ disappearance 93.

Handicrafts

• Created the Super Kitty Hat, whose cat ears moved when its straps were pulled 5.
• Made dolls representing herself and Peruere, with Peruere depicted as a little rabbit 14.
• Left an unfinished doll modeled after Xingsu, identifiable by its star-shaped eyes 14.

Sword Training

• Received the House of the Hearth’s combat training, including practice with real iron swords 1.
• Her first forced killing was performed without technique, under Crucabena’s direct pressure 2.

Memory-Construct Existence

• Following her original death, existed as an afterimage of the Fire of Two Worlds formed from lingering memories. This allowed her to live for several additional years despite having died physically 95.
• Initially lacked memories of her former life, while her unstable form gradually faded and risked dissolving completely 95.
• Recovered her past through Xingsu’s use of the star-shaped necklace; the restoration was performed by Xingsu rather than through an independent ability of her own 95.
• Was subsequently sustained through power supplied by Lin in exchange for memories obtained by Xingsu. This maintained her memory-based existence rather than establishing an ordinary biological resurrection 95 101.

Power Progression

Possessions

• Star-shaped necklace — Xingsu’s Icemelt Festival gift; he had worn it for as long as he could remember. Xingsu later recovered it from his own grave and used it to restore Clervie’s memories 5 58 62 95.
• Shiny shells and stones — Collected bright objects and received additional pieces from Xingsu 5.
• Handmade dolls — Kept in her room, including the unfinished Xingsu doll 14.
• Potted Lumidouce Bells — Stood on her windowsill when Peruere visited after her death 14.
• Dessert shop — Opened near the Vasari Passage after leaving Hotel Debord. Its startup funding came from a loan connected to Valerius 83 88 97.

Relationships

• Crucabena — Biological mother and administrator of the House of the Hearth. Clervie remained emotionally attached to her despite her abuse and could not bring herself to support her assassination 2 7.
• Peruere / “Pepe” / Arlecchino — Best friend whom Clervie helped draw out of isolation. Clervie willingly died by her sword rather than fight her; her memory remained important to Peruere’s rejection of Crucabena’s values. After recovering her memories, Clervie recognized Arlecchino as a wonderful king, reunited with her as a birthday surprise, and resumed affectionately teasing her 6 10 13 94 95 96 127.
• Xingsu — Close friend and protector; Clervie was his first friend at the House. She also asked whether he liked Peruere, a question he eventually answered in his farewell letter. Upon finding her as Claire, he protected her from a L㏒s seller, restored her memories, and secured Lin’s help to sustain her existence 1 14 83 84 95 101.
• Adoptive parents — An elderly couple who adopted her during her life as Claire. Both had died a few months before she discussed them with Xingsu 93.
• Escoffier — Culinary mentor at Hotel Debord. Escoffier defended her from unreasonable customers, helped promote her independent work, and continued visiting her shop after she left her tutelage. She later expressed gratitude to Xingsu for saving Clervie 83 96 105.
• Lin — Supplied the power needed to maintain her memory-based existence after Xingsu sought his assistance and provided valuable memories in exchange 95 101.
• Children of the House of the Hearth — Became a beloved cook, caregiver, and elder-sister figure after her return. She feeds them, teaches them baking, and treats their mistakes patiently 101 107.
• Chevreuse — A returning customer at her dessert shop. Chevreuse noticed her improved spirits after her reunion with her friends and resolved to visit more often after sensing danger around Xingsu 97.
• Navia / Spina di Rosula — Prepared refreshments for Navia’s birthday party and later helped deliver supplies to the Spina di Rosula with Freminet 83 110.

Notable Quotes

“I heard that at night in Snezhnaya, colorful auroras hang in the sky... when we grow up, let’s go see them together!” 4

“She... she’s my biological mother...” 2

“Thank you, Pepe...” 8

“It's all right. I'm already very happy to have lived a few more years and met so many kind people.” 95

“Even if the past was full of pain and partings, you're standing here safe and sound now, so that must mean we had a happy ending in the end, right?” 95

“Arlecchino... Peruere... I see now... Pepe, you really did become a wonderful king...” 95

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