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ArabicHonkai Star Rail: I Became the World Tree — Chapter 15
Chapter 15: An Invitation to the Palais Mermonia
Furina blinked, her dramatic flair giving way to genuine bewilderment. “You got into a brawl for absolutely no reason? What on earth happened? Who did you manage to provoke this time?”
Stelle offered a nonchalant shrug, her posture entirely relaxed despite the chaotic tale she was about to tell. “The Astral Express was supposed to be cruising smoothly to our next destination. But we had to slam the brakes halfway there because of a Stellaron blocking the path.”
“So, we touched down on the local ice cube of a planet to track the thing down,” she continued, gesturing vaguely with her hands. “The plan was simple: find the Stellaron, seal it up, and get back on the train to continue our journey.”
“But barely an hour after landing, we ended up being used as human shields and dragged into a massive scuffle with the local guards.”
Dan Heng crossed his arms, his tone characteristically flat and measured. “Fortunately, the misunderstanding was resolved shortly after. We managed to reach the local city without further incident.”
Furina nodded sympathetically, though a hint of amusement danced in her eyes. “My word. You lot really do have the most dreadful luck, don’t you?”
Stelle aggressively rubbed her flat stomach, her expression turning deadpan. “Can we pause the tragic backstory for a second? I need food. I haven’t eaten a single crumb since breakfast, and my stomach is starting to eat itself.”
With that declaration, Stelle pivoted on her heel and began marching straight toward the nearby General Store, her eyes scanning for anything edible.
Hearing this, Furina tapped her chin in thought. A brilliant idea suddenly lit up her features. “Wait! Stelle, March, Dan Heng, Samuel—how about I treat you all to a proper meal? Are you free? You simply must come over to my place for dinner tonight!”
Stelle, who had just picked up a woven shopping basket and was fully prepared to raid the snack aisle, froze. She dropped the basket without a second thought and agreed immediately. “Sure, I’m totally down for free food. Ask March and the others.”
“Oh, that sounds amazing!” March 7th clapped her hands together, her eyes sparkling with bubbly excitement. “I haven’t been to your place yet, Furina! Is it super fancy?”
Dan Heng gave a brief, polite nod. “That is acceptable.”
Furina finally turned her expectant gaze to Samuel. He offered a relaxed, easygoing smile and agreed right away. “I’ve got nothing but time. Consider me a man of infinite leisure at the moment.”
Seeing that her entire audience was on board, Furina hummed a cheerful tune and gracefully swept her hand through the air, tearing open a shimmering portal.
“Then let’s go! We’ll head over and lounge for a bit. I’ll have the kitchen prepare some fresh cakes and tea to tide us over,” Furina announced, gesturing grandly toward the glowing gateway. “We’ll have the actual dinner a little later.”
“Oh, by the way, Stelle,” Furina added, glancing over her shoulder. “Be a dear and help me invite Himeko and Mr. Welt, would you?”
Stelle shook her head, pulling out her smartphone and waving the dead screen. “I can’t reach them either. Our phones completely lost signal the second we landed on that frozen rock. They’re up on the Astral Express, so we’re currently flying blind and out of contact.”
“What a shame,” Furina sighed dramatically. “Then we’ll just have to wait until next time to host them. Come on, let’s head to my place first.”
Stelle was just about to step into the portal when she suddenly gasped, yanking her foot back as if she had stepped on a landmine. “Wait! I need to go pick some fruit and make a gift basket first!”
A massive drop of cold sweat slid down the back of Furina’s neck.
She was the one who had drilled it into Stelle’s head that one should always bring a gift when visiting someone’s home. She just never expected her own etiquette lessons to be weaponized against her so soon.
“Stelle, please, there’s no need,” Furina urged, waving her hands frantically. “You only need to bring gifts when visiting strangers or people you aren’t very familiar with! Between close friends, there’s absolutely no need for such stuffy formalities.”
Stelle paused, rubbing her chin with one hand as she processed the information. “Ah? Is that how it works?”
She turned to Samuel, March 7th, and Dan Heng, shooting them a highly skeptical, questioning glare.
Samuel chuckled softly and nodded. “She’s right, Stelle. There’s no need for strict formalities between friends.”
Stelle’s face instantly broke into a wide, triumphant grin. “That’s great! That means I don’t have to go foraging for fruit. Let’s go!”
Samuel smiled warmly as he watched the gray-haired girl swagger carelessly into the portal. It made perfect sense; after all, despite her height, Stelle was technically still a ‘newborn’ to the universe, learning the rules of society one chaotic step at a time.
Adjusting his coat, Samuel followed suit, stepping through the shimmering threshold that led directly to the heart of Fontaine.
Meanwhile, deep within the pristine, marble-lined kitchen of the Palais Mermonia.
Escofier, the head chef, stood before a massive silver counter, agonizing over the evening’s menu.
“What should I prepare for Lord Furina tonight?” he muttered to himself, tapping a wooden spoon against his chin. “A decadent dessert is an absolute must, naturally. Perhaps a prime cut of steak for the main course? Yes, that sounds suitably elegant…”
Escofier was so lost in his culinary calculations that he didn’t hear the light footsteps approaching.
“Escofier!” Furina shouted, popping up right behind his shoulder.
The poor chef shrieked, jumping a good three inches off the polished floor. He spun around, clutching his chest, before hastily bowing upon recognizing his Archon.
“L-Lord Furina! It’s you,” Escofier stammered, trying to catch his breath. “Is there something you require? A sudden craving, perhaps?”
Furina giggled, shaking her head. “No, no. I’m hosting a few friends tonight, so I need you to expand the menu and make a few extra dishes.”
Escofier immediately pulled out a small notepad. “Of course. How many guests exactly? I will need to adjust the ingredient portions.”
Furina held up her hands, counting off her fingers. “Let’s see… you, me, Stelle, March… six people in total! Thanks for the hard work!”
Escofier smiled warmly, tucking the notepad away. “It is no trouble at all, my Lady. I will begin the preparations at once. Please, go ahead and entertain your guests.”
“No rush, no rush,” Furina said airily as she turned to leave. “Just help me prepare a few sets of afternoon tea first to keep them happy.”
Escofier nodded in agreement. He already had several batches of fresh bread resting in the ovens. Since Furina had a strict habit of enjoying afternoon tea, Escofier made sure to prepare an array of exquisite desserts every single day without fail.
“Understood. I will bring the tea service out shortly.”
Humming her cheerful tune once more, Furina practically skipped out of the kitchen.
Out in the opulent living room of the Palais Mermonia.
March 7th, Stelle, Dan Heng, Samuel, and Furina were lounging on the plush velvet sofas, chatting comfortably as they took in the grand architecture.
A few minutes later, the heavy double doors swung open, and Escofier emerged, pushing an exquisite, multi-tiered silver trolley. The aroma of freshly baked pastries and rich, floral tea instantly filled the room.
Resting on the trolley were six immaculate sets of afternoon tea. Escofier expertly transferred the delicate porcelain cups and pastry plates onto the low crystal coffee table in front of them, offering a polite bow before retreating back to his kitchen domain.
Furina gestured proudly toward the spread. “Quick, try it! Escofier is the Dessert Grand Officer I personally appointed! His skills are unmatched!”
March 7th eagerly grabbed a piece of golden, carefully layered pastry—a Caterpillar Bread—and took a massive bite. Her eyes widened in pure bliss.
“Mmm! This bread is incredible!” March mumbled through a mouthful of flakes. “This is what actual food for human beings should taste like! That stuff they served us in Belobog just now wasn’t food at all; it was a blunt-force weapon!”
Stelle nodded solemnly, already reaching for her second pastry. “Exactly. That Belobog bread… I’m pretty sure I could use it as a brick to build a house.”
Seeing that her guests so highly approved of Escofier’s culinary prowess, Furina puffed out her chest, feeling inexplicably proud. Her judgment was flawless, as always. Escofier was a genius she had discovered and promoted herself.
Once the group had polished off the last crumbs of their afternoon tea, a small, blue-skinned creature with floppy ears trotted into the room to clear the tableware.
Stelle blinked, leaning forward to get a better look. “Eh? Is that one of Pom-Pom’s relatives?”
March 7th tilted her head, analyzing the creature. “Now that you mention it, there are definitely some similarities to the conductor.”
Dan Heng sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose as he refused to look at either of his chaotic companions. “Where are they the same? They just both happen to have two ears and a face. That is where the resemblance ends.”
Furina clapped her hands together, eager to educate her guests. “Allow me to introduce you! This is a race entirely unique to our lovely Fontaine—the Melusines. They are the dearest, best friends to all of us Fontainians.”
“They are beautiful, incredibly kind, and they absolutely adore humans. Isn’t that right, Govelle?”
The little Melusine, whose name was Govelle, carefully stacked the porcelain plates and offered a bright, sunny smile.
“Yes! Humans are very good-looking, and we like them very much!” Govelle chirped happily. “Lord Furina, there is still plenty of tea left in the pot. I will leave it right here so you can all keep drinking while you chat.”
Furina nodded graciously. “Thank you. You may go now, Govelle.”
Balancing the tray of empty plates with surprising grace, Govelle trotted back toward the kitchen.
With the table cleared, the group settled back into the plush cushions, their conversation drifting toward their past trailblazing adventures.
As the lively chatter washed over the room, Samuel suddenly stiffened.
A strange, feather-light sensation brushed against the edges of his mind. Someone—or something—was actively trying to intrude into his mental domain.
Without breaking his outward smile, Samuel smoothly sank his awareness deep into his own vast, ancient consciousness. As the reincarnation of Irminsul, his mindscape was an impenetrable fortress of golden roots and endless data.
Sure enough, the moment he entered his inner world, he caught the little “stowaway” red-handed.
‘Little one,’Samuel’s voice echoed through the mental void, carrying a tone of dry amusement.’What exactly are you doing sneaking into my mind? Disobedient children who snoop usually get a spanking, you know.’
The stowaway flinched. She took the form of a tiny girl with striking white hair and bright, clover-green eyes. Her peculiar, layered green-and-white dress made her look uncannily like a little shuttlecock.
The little girl shrank back, her large eyes welling with timid hesitation.
“I-I’m sorry…” she whispered into the void, clutching her small hands together. “I was just… curious…”