#when the table of ranks was in its full power | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

magicalbats · 1 year ago

Text

never fallen from quite this high

Rating: R/18+

Word count: 21490

Warnings: afab!reader, chubby reader, size difference, age difference, desk sex, missionary position, cunnilingus, barebacking, vaginal fingering, cum eating, a hint of enemies to lovers

A/N: I put my whole badussy into this one, guys vmsksjfe I hope ya'll enjoy the fic, and major shoutout to my longtime friend, fellow writer and quality checker for this piece @abbacchiosbelt! Everyone should make sure to check out her page while you're here! She's got plenty of goodies for you to sink your teeth into!

⭐

As far as meetings in the back office of the Northland Bank were concerned, this one was an unmitigated disaster.

The young man seated across the table had blown in like a veritable typhoon late that morning when the sun was just short of reaching its zenith. He came with neither a formal missive or a courier to precede his arrival, catching all the Snezhnayan natives off guard and woefully ill prepared. It wasn’t hard to figure out that the branch director, a stout bespectacled man in his middle years, hadn’t known he would be coming given the way he’d nearly fallen over in a dead faint at the first sight of him. It was almost nonstop chaos after that as everyone rushed about to prepare fresh coffee and snacks, and to arrange lodgings for their guest. A few staff members even quietly slipped off at the director's behest to double check that everything was in order behind the scenes, silently disappearing off into the shadows like phantoms returning to their dark crypts.

You hadn’t been sure what to make of it all at first, but had quickly caught on that this was someone important in their ranks. Someone with a great deal of power and influence who was in all likelihood a dangerous individual no matter how disarming his easy smiles were.

But, truth be told, the mysterious man didn’t look like much no matter how you tried to discreetly size him up from a distance. He was tall yet lanky in build, moving with the thinly veiled grace of a warrior — or perhaps a dancer, but your mora was on the former if he was able to work everyone up into such a frenzy just by showing his face. And despite his lean physique, you could tell he was indeed quite strong simply by the way he carried himself, all boldfaced confidence and self assured the way only a man in his prime could pull off. He was definitely trouble.

And you wanted absolutely nothing to do with him. You were just the PR ambassador, after all, and a token one at that. Your job was to help foster good relations between the icy foreigners and your fellow Liyuean’s, not to insert your nose in business it didn’t belong.

With that in mind, you’d tried to beat a hasty retreat before anyone could notice your presence and subsequent absence, but the director was a crafty one indeed. You barely made it two full steps before he was suddenly right there beside you, as if he’d materialized out of thin air to cut off your escape route. Summarily ignoring your protests, he’d dragged you with him towards the conference room nestled in the far back of the building where the unknown youth was already waiting, depthless blue eyes dancing with good humor and mirth. The click of the door behind you had sounded like a death sentence.

The following half hour was occupied (to your surprise) primarily with pleasant niceties and intermittent toasts over that potent firewater Snezhnayan’s seemed to like so much, but which you had primly declined. Even if the stuff didn’t make you gag at just a thought, the current situation was a bit too uncertain for you to risk compromising your faculties like that. None of the northerners in the room seemed to bat an eye at it though; not the director or his personal secretary, nor the ginger haired man who was evidently known to his colleagues as Childe. He seemed almost too casual about everything — the drinks and the banter, and the fond reminiscences of their homeland casually passed between them — to be here on official matters of business. You soon concluded that it was a personal visit, then. Perhaps even a holiday of sorts.

You’re quickly proven wrong, however, when he unceremoniously flips everything on its head with the procurement of a sealed parchment from somewhere on his person. The director’s reaction to its contents was a stark one and it made you sit up straighter in your seat, half prepared to bolt for the exit should the need arise. But the next few minutes are a terse, confusing whirlwind as the three foreigners revert to their mother tongue, trading rapid volleys back and forth while the director’s tone of voice grows increasingly more tremulous by the minute, and you aren’t quite sure what’s going on anymore. You’re almost convinced that a fight is going to break out at any moment but a surreptitious glance at Childe shows him still at ease, apparently not even invested enough in the discord he’s sewn to give the other man his full attention. Rather, you catch him grinning over at you.

“Is he always like this?” He poses the question lightly, the lilt in his voice bordering on playful, but you don’t trust it. Not by a long shot.

The director sputters in thinly veiled offense but you ignore him completely, much more concerned about the yet unknown danger sitting across the table. Making a valiant effort to keep your expression pleasant and neutral, you offer Childe a polite smile. “Not usually.”

He quirks a brow at that vague non-answer but doesn’t comment on it, swiveling his attention back around to the issue at hand. Finally pulling himself out of his confident slouch, he sits forward to take up the crystalline glass decanter sitting just within reach so he can pour more of that pungent drink into first the director’s cup and then his own. “Come now, old friend. Is this really something to get so worked up about? And right in front of our Liyuean guest too …”

The director cuts you a sharp, slicing look and you get the sense that he was regretting the decision to drag you back here for this impromptu meeting, visibly struggling to rein his temper in with a deep, bullish exhale. Serves him right, you think bitterly to yourself. You never had any business sitting in on this bizarre exchange in the first place.

“Apologies, my lord. I did not mean to forget my manners,” Another brief glance over at you, as if he were trying to warn you to keep your head down. As if you really needed any further incentive to do just that. “However, it is my deepest regret to inform you that I’m not confident if this branch of the Northland Bank has the means to accommodate your, ah … needs.”

Slowly, Childe lifts his strange eyes to pin the director with a look that sends shivers racing down your spine. You’d been relatively certain he was far more dangerous than he outwardly appeared but this was something far beyond even what you had anticipated. How did someone so young, still in the prime of his youth with his whole life ahead of him, manage to embody such a deep, dark sense of foreboding at the drop of a coin?

“What are you saying, Krzysiek? Are we not in Liyue, the very birthplace of mora? There should be plenty to spare in your vaults.”

The director hurriedly rushes to amend himself, trying to play it off with a laugh. “Yes, my lord. Of course, that is all indeed true. But even the amount of mora in circulation at any given time has its limits. You see, if I were to give you this very large sum here and now,” the director pointedly taps the parchment in his hand with a worn finger. “Then there won’t be anything at all left in our reserves. We wouldn’t be able to give out any new loans, pay our staff their wages or even let any of our customers withdraw from their accounts. I can’t imagine the owner of the bank would appreciate that very much, so I’m sure you understand my hesitation.”

Mouth opening in surprise when you realize just how large a sum the request must be, you eagerly swing your head towards Childe in anticipation of his next response.

Luckily for you, he doesn’t even seem to notice with the whole of his attention fixed singularly on the director, and you watch in something not unlike fascination as he slowly leans forward in his seat. “Are you an idiot? It was Regrator himself who signed that order.” He growls, flashing pretty white teeth. “Check it again, maybe a little more carefully this time. I’m not some lackey trying to pull one over on you.”

“Certainly not, my lord. I never suggested - -“

“You may report directly to my colleague but I’m still a Harbinger, Krzysiek. I think Regrator would like your lack of foresight even less than not being able to let people take out withdraws.”

A pair of sharp gasps echo inside the room and, in almost perfect unison, the director and his secretary both turn twin looks of horror on you.

Pulse stuttering, you pointedly keep your expression blank even while the urge to reel back in shock threatens to overpower you. You’d heard rumor of the Tsaritsa’s Harbingers, whispers of their great influence and even greater strength, but the Snezhnayan’s stationed in Liyue weren’t very forthcoming about any of the details or specifics. You’d also never seen one in person before and hadn’t thought it was even possible for one to be so young as this. Childe looked like he was perhaps only a few years younger than you … three, or perhaps even four, but yet he held a title so grand?

And judging by the way they were looking at you, you probably weren’t supposed to know that.

Following their line of sight, Childe glances over at you and smiles. “Ah, you’re worried about our little guest here spilling the beans? People will soon start to gossip amongst themselves anyway, so I don’t think it really matters.” His boyish grin fades as he turns his attention back to the director again, tone losing all of its mirth. “I’d say you have much more pressing concerns right now.”

Nervously, the director drags a stiff hand over his mouth to wipe away the beads of sweat starting to form along his upper lip. “Yes, my lord. Of course. You are correct.” He pauses to clear his throat. “I’m sure we can find a satisfactory compromise. Please allow me a chance to correspond with, ah, my lord directly and confirm his wishes first. Surely there are things you’d like to see or do while you’re in Liyue? This will at least give you the chance to explore the city at your own leisure while I await his response.”

“You mean to further waste my time, Krzysiek? Is that it?”

“No, not at all! I would never dream of such a thing and that is precisely why I brought her along.” He gestures at you then, making your back snap straight as board. You don’t think you can hide it any longer, the dread curling like a venomous serpent low in your gut, but if he sees any of the thinly veiled terror in your face he doesn’t acknowledge it. “As I said earlier, this is our personal relations ambassador at the branch and she knows the city like the back of her hand. Why, I dare say there isn’t a single stone she doesn’t know the history of. You’ll have your own personal tour guide to show you everything you might ever wish to see while you’re here.”

Your mouth drops open in abject shock. You hadn’t agreed to that. Wouldn’t have even if he’d asked, not now and not in a million years. Not ever.

But Childe turns his head before you can protest and anything you might have said catches in your throat when he gives you a chilling once over. Gradually, his expression thaws and his shoulders relax as he reclines back into his seat with a long suffering sigh for effect. “Fine. You have three days to get your clearance directly from Regrator then. That’s how long I was planning to stay in Liyue anyway so it doesn’t exactly change anything, although I still don’t understand why his signature on that letter won’t just as well suffice.”

“My sincerest apologies, my lord. I only wish to make absolutely certain I do not go against his wishes in meeting yours.” The director reaches out to hold his cup up to Childe who disinterestedly eyes it for a beat before doing the same with his own, much to the older man’s visible relief. “Our ambassador will take good care of you, and see that your every need is met during your stay. This I swear on Snezhnaya’s honor.”

“Enough, Krzysiek.” Childe grumps, clinking their glasses together. “Just don’t come up short handed when everything is said and done.”

You watch them drink to it, tossing their heads back almost simultaneously to swallow down that deceptively clear liquid with neither a grimace or a seething hiss to show for its potency. It’s as if it doesn’t even register in their minds but you, on the other hand, felt disproportionately nauseous considering you hadn’t had so much as a sip of their aptly named firewater. You didn’t even really understand what was happening or how things had gotten to this point but if there was one singular truth you were sure of it was this:

You desperately needed to find some way out of it.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Dejectedly, you hand the fresh grilled skewer of fish out to Childe who takes it with a smile and a quick word of thanks. He doesn’t even stop long enough to blow on the visibly hot meat before biting into it, and you watch him huff and puff between chews to let some of the steam escape from his puckered lips before quickly swallowing it down. Your patience with him was fast unraveling, and not even because of his questionable manners. If you were honest with yourself you would have had to admit that he was frustratingly charming in a boyish, borderline clumsy sort of way. Cute, even.

But your desperate attempt to weasel your way out of this had fallen on deaf ears, the director insistent that you were the only person in all of Liyue who could possibly play tour guide for the visiting Harbinger. You’d begged, pleaded and even threatened to resign from your position at the Northland Bank right then and there if that was what it would take for you to avoid having to deal with the situation any longer. The director had finally wavered at that, looking like he might be slowly coming around, but before he could actually relieve you of this assignment none other than the devil himself had appeared, right on cue.

He was eager to set out and get started on exploring the city after freshening up, and hadn’t taken ‘no’ for an answer when you’d argued against it. Your pleas for a little more time with the director were likewise summarily dismissed, and before you realized what was even happening he’d thrown a friendly arm over your shoulder so he could steer you towards the door. Completely undeterred by any of your hissing complaints or threats of retaliation upon him, he pulled you straight out into the midafternoon sun where he’d made a prompt request for lunch. He was so amicably pushy about everything that you’d had no choice but to comply or risk having him drag you all over the harbor by the arm.

That hadn’t been the best start to your time together but, somehow even worse, is that Childe had proven himself to be every bit as troublesome as you’d first expected him to be. He joked too much, for starters, and his penchant for eagerly pulling you off in whichever direction caught his fancy was quickly running you ragged. Excitable and full of unspent energy, it was all you could do just to keep up with him. You’d tried to tell yourself it would only be lunch, just one place and then you would wipe your hands of him, but he was undaunted and things were still not going in your favor.

Even stopping at a small kiosk for a quick snack was not enough to keep him standing still for very long and the two of you are soon off again in a seemingly random direction, as dictated by his spur of the moment whims and fancies. You were going to be exhausted by the time this day was finally over.

“Hey, what’s that all about?”

Bringing your head up, you follow his line of sight to a small congregation of people flocking around a lone figure in the center of all the bustling excitement. You recognize the bonnet immediately, and a smile slowly pulls at your mouth. “That is our very own star of the opera. Her name is Yunjin, and she’s very popular among the general public and aficionados alike.”

But when you bring your gaze back around, you’re startled (and more than just a bit horrified) to find his attention fixated on you rather than the crowd.

“Oho, so you do know how to smile! I was starting to wonder if you just didn’t remember how.”

“W - what is that supposed to mean?” You snip, recoiling defensively.

“Oh, nothing,” he sing-songs right back. “It’s just that all I’ve seen you do so far is scowl and look like a skittish kitten ever since we met. I’m glad to know you like something, even if it isn’t me.”

Childe’s lilting laughter makes the blood rush to your face, and you quickly look away so he doesn’t see the fluster you were valiantly trying to stamp down. “Forgive me, xiansheng. I did not mean to be rude. It’s just — all of this was dumped on me so suddenly and you’re …”

“Hm? And I’m what?”

This shameless teasing was perhaps the worst facet of his personality of all. The pushiness and the refusal to acknowledge any protests were one thing, the strange dissonance in his behavior another entirely, but this … it was vaguely reminiscent of a boy who either hadn’t yet learned his manners or didn’t care enough about the consequences to keep his mouth in check. You suspected it to be the latter, his confidence as unerring as his energy, and you would’ve had half a mind to give him a good swat on the behind had he not been nearly double your height and only a few years your junior. Unfortunately, you were in no position to correct him.

So you school your expression into a professional mask of indifference and turn your head to pin him with the most bland look you can muster. “A Harbinger. It’s true, isn’t it?”

He quirks a brow at you, evidently not having expected that to be your response. “Is that really what’s had you so on edge this whole time? You’re worried about my title?” Abruptly throwing his head back, he laughs up at the sky. “Goodness, I had no idea that upset you so much. If I’m being honest, you were so stoic back at the bank that I wasn’t even sure if you knew what a Harbinger was!”

You can feel your cheeks starting to turn hot again and you quickly try to wrestle it back under control. “Of course I’ve heard the rumors! It would have been a little hard to avoid them in this position but you Snezhnayan’s usually aren’t the most talkative bunch, you know. I’m sure there’s plenty of information I’m still not privy to.”

“Ooh, and is that your way of asking me to help you understand a bit better?” Childe sends you a slow, knowing grin, and you have no choice but to admit that you were in a bit over your head with him no matter how much you might try to fight it. He was regrettably adept at embarrassing you, it seemed.

“It might be nice to know what I’ve got myself mixed up with.” You softly, grudgingly admit, earning a chuckle out of him.

“Alright. I suppose I can share a few details with you, but I want to ask a few things in return. How does that sound?”

Your head snaps up and you fix him with a surprised, questioning look. Ever unperturbed, he ruefully wags his skewer stick at you with an unmistakable, mischievous gleam in his strange eyes.

“It’s only fair, right girlie? I’ll tell you what you want to know and you’ll tell me what I want to know. Isn’t that what alchemists call equivalent exchange?”

Huffing, you cross your arms under your breasts and pin him with a flat look, trying to impart just how unamused you are with his silly little shenanigans. “Don’t call me that. And I don’t know anything about alchemy, but … okay. I’ll play along. Within reason.”

Your answer seems to delight him to no end, and he promptly flies off into a rather expressive tangent about Snezhnaya, her majesty the Tsaritsa, the Fatui and the eleven Harbingers that command their numbers. He gesticulates eagerly throughout his explanation, primarily touching on rank and hierarchy, but it soon becomes gibberish that simply goes in one ear and out the other. You were not intimately familiar with the inner workings of either government or military, and you had no desire to be, but you decide to let him keep talking anyway. It was clear he was only telling you very surface level information that would neither give away too much or reveal any national security secrets, but there were still a few things you were able to glean from listening to what he did say.

One was that the Harbingers were not only a very, very dangerous organization as a whole but even on an individual scale each was more powerful than the last. It was a little hard to believe at first when you were looking at Childe — so young and long-limbed, and seemingly unfettered by any greater concern than where his next source of entertainment would derive from, but recalling the intense shift in his demeanor back at the bank … yes, you were willing to believe he stood among the most elite warriors in Snezhnaya. Although you hadn’t seen his physical prowess in action yet (and hopefully never would) it was a decidedly good idea not to take him at face value. Doubly so for the rest of his colleagues, including the one you yourself indirectly worked for.

The second was the nature of his visit to Liyue. He danced around the subject for the most part but he did let it slip that he was headed to Fontaine after securing the funds, presumably per his orders to personally transport the mora himself, and you supposed that did make a certain amount of sense. If he was as strong as you believed him to be then it would explain why he would have been saddled with such a task. Though, it also didn’t escape your notice that he spoke on the subject with no shortage of annoyance coloring his voice and it was hardly any wonder why. Childe was clearly the type who preferred hands-on, proactive roles that put him in the heart of conflict rather than acting behind the scenes like this. He wasn’t exactly trying to hide it, after all.

Regardless, it was somewhat reassuring to know that many of your initial assumptions about him had been correct and you now knew with absolute certainty that you needed to be careful in how you approached these interactions with him. It wouldn’t do to somehow offend him and invite his wrath upon yourself or your family, because clearly there would be no stopping him in that case. But did that in turn mean you were stuck playing tour guide for the duration of his stay, lest you risk upsetting him?

This was turning into quite the conundrum, indeed.

“And that’s about it.” He says at last, much too cheery for your liking. “For what I can tell you, anyway. I know it probably seems like I left quite a bit out but trust me, girlie, you don’t want to get tangled up with this more than you already are. Hopefully I was able to satisfy some of your curiosity though.”

“You did,” you murmur slowly. Then, with more conviction, “And don’t call me that. Didn’t I already tell you that once?”

Laughingly, he waves you off. “Yeah, yeah, I get it. But let’s put that aside for right now. It’s my turn to have some questions answered. Think you’re up to it?”

You hesitate, wondering what he could possibly want to know. If it was information about Liyue you would have gladly divulged it without the need for this trade between you and him, but you’d long since picked up on the fact that he just liked being difficult for the sake of it so it didn’t exactly come as a surprise. It was a bit annoying though, having to humor these silly games of his like this.

“Alright, I’ll do my best.” You say at last. “Just keep in mind that I can’t tell you something I don’t know. Your questions have to be within reason, remember?”

“Oh, don’t worry about that. I’m sure you won’t have any problem answering this.”

Growing ever more suspicious, you quirk a brow at him but he just offers you that same boyish grin again. If the circumstances had been any different you probably would have found yourself giving in to its magnetic pull despite your (well founded, in your opinion) reservations about doing so, but even that attractive smile was not enough to distract from who — or rather what he was, and you brace for the worst. Was he going to ask you about the Qixing or maybe Lady Ningguang specifically? The Milileth?

Your thoughts are abuzz with the possibilities but the very last thing you expect him to ask is precisely what comes out of his mouth next.

“Do you have any siblings?”

Stopping dead in your tracks, you stare up at him in abject disbelief. That was what he wanted to know?

“Hey, let’s keep it moving, girlie.” He can’t seem to get his laughter under control as he pivots on his heel and takes hold of your elbow, pulling you back into motion again. You fall in step, stumbling slightly, as he pins you with the most mischievous grin you’ve seen yet — the unapologetic rascal! “Wouldn’t want anyone to run you over, now would we? I’m not sure if my poor little heart would ever recover.”

Lips pursing, you narrow your eyes at him in warning even while he whoops it up, drawing the attention of more than just a few passersby. How humiliating it was to be seen with someone like this in broad daylight.

“I’m an only child.” You grit out, snatching your arm from him with a prim huff for good measure.

Your prickly attitude doesn’t deter him half as much as you would’ve liked though, and Childe merely takes it in stride as if you weren’t doing everything in your power short of stomping on his toe to dissuade him from continuing on in this manner. So on and so forth, he eagerly poses a seemingly never ending series of questions that range from as benign as how old you were (three years older than him, you come to find) right up to your relationship status. You try very hard to shut down his more intrusive queries, refuse to humor them with a real answer, but his pushiness returns with a vengeance. Any attempt to side step or discourage him was just met with the same question worded a different way until you finally gave in with no other choice and no escape in sight. More than once he even pretended to move on from a topic to placate and soothe you before eventually circling right back around to it again when you least expected it.

He was exhausting in the worst possible way. Unrepentant and shameless, utterly hopeless, he badgers you incessantly for the rest of the afternoon until you could scarcely tell what was what anymore. You’d never felt quite so harried or like a cornered rabbit in all your life.

By the time you finally make your way back to the Northland Bank, hours later when the sun was sitting low on the horizon and you’d had to put your foot down about returning before dark, you practically have to drag yourself up the winding staircase just to reach the entrance. You couldn’t remember the last time you’d been so tired, and not just physically but mentally as well. Childe, on the other hand, did not seem to be flagging at all and he takes the stairs with ease and that same innate grace you’d first noticed in him earlier, bounding ahead to reach the landing first.

Assuming he’d already gone inside, you achingly pull yourself up the last few remaining steps only to come to an abrupt halt when you find him standing there with the door held open. Waiting. For you?

He snickers at your expression, further putting you on guard. “Don’t look so surprised. It’s the least I can do after nagging you so much.”

That was the very definition of an understatement.

You don’t budge though, slowly curling your hands into loose fists at your sides when it occurs to you that just returning to the bank did not necessarily mean an end to your suffering. Hadn’t you already endured enough?

He was incorrigible and confusing, and more than just a little bothersome — like a too-friendly dog with an overabundance of energy that just wanted to play and have all of your attention to himself. You may have been able to make peace with that for the sake of your own wellbeing and that of your family, but when coupled with the barrage of questions that had persisted wherever in the city you’d walked together, whatever you’d stopped to point out in an attempt to distract him from his continuous questioning … you just couldn’t seem to reconcile the problem he presented in your mind.

If not because you were nothing more than a PR ambassador, not a babysitter, then certainly because being in such close proximity with him was looking even more ill advised than it first had that afternoon. If you didn’t know any better you would have almost thought he was actually interested in you, the way he’d asked you so many personal questions about yourself. But you do know better and you’re well aware that someone like him would never want someone like you. It’s not as if you were blind. The stature of him had certainly not escaped your notice, nor had his boyish good looks. He was tall, a bit gangly at the moment, perhaps, but that was sure to change over the years as he settled further into his own body, into his muscle mass, and finished filling the rest of the way out. And even those most peculiar eyes of his weren’t enough to detract from the high cheekbones of his face or the strong jawline that framed pale pink lips. By contrast, you were soft and round, diminutive compared to him, and not at all the sort of woman a man such as him pursued in good faith.

Of course he didn’t want you — why would he? It was laughable, if you were being honest. As much as anyone else might have been flattered and charmed to be on the receiving end of his attention, you were finding the whole thing to be a rather nightmarish experience. As if worrying about offending a powerful Harbinger had not been bad enough, now he was teasing you too … And somehow, even knowing all this, that still doesn’t stop it from hurting just a little bit.

You’d reached the end of your rope as far as he was concerned. You couldn’t do this anymore and you refused to be the butt of his little inside jokes any longer. It was simply too much, even for you.

“I’m going home.” You blurt out, clearly surprising him given the way his brows shoot up to disappear beneath that haphazard tousle of reddish-brown hair. “My shift ended a while ago. I just wanted to make sure you got back without getting lost, or the director would start to worry if you were late to return.”

Childe doesn’t even try to hide his disappointment, expression falling as he unceremoniously lets go of the door so that it swings and bangs shut with a heavy thud. The Fatui guard standing on duty, Nadia, sends the two of you a slow look from the corner of her masked eye, making your cheeks grow hot. As if you really needed an audience for this.

“Aw, don’t say that.” He wheedles you with the added bonus of a frustratingly effective puppy dog pout to really drive the nail home. “At least come in for some coffee and pyshka. I’ll ask them to make it fresh for you, so - -“

“No.” You cut across him with enough vehemence that it earns you another surprised look, those depthless ocean blue eyes widening slightly. Good. Maybe he would finally start to take you seriously now. “I do apologize, xiansheng, but I am tired and I would like to go home and rest. I’m sure your countrymen will be more than happy to entertain you for the rest of the evening, so you shouldn’t be without ample diversion in my absence.”

He silently regards you for a long beat, the vibrant orange and red cast of the sun washing over him to set his hair aflame, glowing like a hot, smoldering ember. Somehow that same light doesn’t seem to even touch the void in his irises, though, and a faint chill races up your spine with that realization. You’d never seen anything quite like it before.

But then his smile slips back into place and his posture relaxes — so disconcerted by his strange eyes, you hadn’t even noticed the way he’d been holding himself, as if he were poised to strike — and you quickly take a subconscious step back. For better or for worse, Childe pretends not to notice, merely lifting a hand in farewell while the other comes to rest against his hip in a casual stance. He was completely at ease again. Just like that.

“Goodnight, then. I hope you rest well. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Every single hair on your body instantly stands on end. There wasn’t going to be a tomorrow. Not with the way he was acting. “Xiansheng, I can’t - -“

“Don’t worry. I won’t ask you to be here first thing in the morning or anything like that.” He smoothly interrupts you, his expression still pleasant and amicable but somehow … sharper. You back up another step when he shuffles forward but your back hits the edge of the bannister and you freeze, knowing the top of the staircase was not the best place to try testing your luck like this. All you can do is watch as he comes closer and closer until you finally have to tip your head back to look up at him. “You’re welcome to sleep in if you want. I’d hate to put you out, and I’ll just come pick you up if it starts getting too late.”

You swallow hard in an attempt to lubricate your suddenly bone dry throat. “I won’t tell you where I live.” It’s barely more than a whisper, but it still gets a chuckle out of him.

“Perhaps not, but Krzysiek certainly will. Oh, don’t make that face, girlie. I already explained it to you, didn’t I? We Harbingers carry out the Tsarista’s will and our word is almost as good as hers. Krzysiek is just trying to cover his own ass by checking in with my colleague first, but if I’d really wanted to start throwing my weight around he would have given me that mora without a fuss. Don’t assume he would shoulder the same risks just to protect a citizen of Liyue.”

He lifts his hand then, reaching out for you with a deliberate slowness, and you jerk back. Grabbing behind you for the bannister to steady yourself before you can topple head first down the stairs, you glare up at him with as much vitriol as you could muster. “Stop calling me that.” You hiss. It’s the only thing you can think to say. You believed him.

There was no need to ask for proof or challenge that assertion, because you wholeheartedly believed he was telling you the simple truth of the matter. The director certainly wouldn’t stick his neck out on the line for you and you knew that beyond a shadow of a doubt. If appeasing him meant throwing a Liyuean girl to the proverbial wolf then that was exactly what would happen. But that doesn’t make it any easier to accept how signed and dotted your fate actually was though.

Unperturbed, Childe retracts his hand in favor of crossing his arms over his chest instead. “So it’s a date then? I’ll see you tomorrow?”

You don’t even dignify that with a response. Giving him a quick, bitter look, you turn and start to make your way down the staircase, gripping the bannister so tight your fingers ache in protest. You couldn’t believe him! Couldn’t believe the director for putting you in this situation in the first place. But most of all, more than anything else, you couldn’t believe you’d ever thought he was charming. The pain you’d felt at his insistent teasing was well deserved for ever being such a fool but it wouldn’t happen again. You would continue to play tour guide for as long as you were expected to, for as long as you were forced to, but he wouldn’t be getting any more laughs at your expense.

You promise yourself that as you hit the next landing, feeling his eyes linger on your back before you disappear down the attached corridor and out of view.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The following morning you find Childe already sitting in the lobby of the bank, slouched in a chair and talking animatedly to a masked Fatuus standing next to him. You’d wanted to avoid inviting him onto your doorstep and, having no idea what he might choose to consider as ‘getting too late’, you’d set off from home at the same time you did every day. If he would’ve allowed you to treat it like any other, you would have gladly done just that.

But as soon as he spots you coming through the door he’s up out of his seat and making a beeline straight towards you, that big, almost dopey smile already in place. You hold your ground though, offering the coppery redhead a look of pure and utter disinterest at his approach. He was not going to get under your skin today no matter what he did or said. If you were not effectively being held hostage against your will you wouldn’t have shown up at all, and you intended to make that very clear to him.

“Good morning!” He greets you, bright and cheery, and decidedly puppy-like. “I hope you slept well. Would you like some coffee? Tea? Maybe some delicious syrniki to start your day?”

You quirk a brow at him, a little surprised that there was nary a hint or even a sign of that imposing, dangerously uncanny side of him today, and he wasn’t offering up any apologies for it either. He was acting like nothing at all had happened when you’d last parted ways. Well. That wasn’t entirely true. He actually seemed to be … somehow even more overbearing than yesterday. You hadn’t thought it was actually possible, nor are you sure how he’s managed to find even more energy for today, but you refused to fall for it. The guy was nothing but trouble no matter how overly friendly he tried to be.

“No, thank you.” Brushing him off, you try to move around him but he surprises you by stepping in the way to block your path. With a huff, you cross your arms and pin him with an unamused frown. “What do you want?”

“Aww, come on. You wound me, girlie. I thought we were getting along just fine yesterday so what’s with the cold shoulder all of a sudden?” He asks, putting an emphatic hand over his heart as if his feelings were really hurt, and your hackles start to rise.

“How many times do I have to tell you - -“

“My, my, what’s all this?” The director suddenly cuts in, appearing beside you as if he’d dissolved out of the very shadows themselves. You jump in surprise but a quick look at his pale, vaguely harassed expression tells you he’s likely been faring no better with Childe than you had. Served him right, as far as you were concerned.

“Good morning, xiansheng Krzysiek. I was just about to go get started on that project you gave me since I didn’t have a chance to - -“

“Nonsense!” He cuts across you so forcefully it makes you snap your mouth shut with an audible click. “Of course that can wait. What’s the rush? I’m sure you’d have a much better time showing my esteemed lord around the city, no?”

Your stomach lurches and you fix him with a vitriolic glare but he just narrows his eyes and returns the look twofold. It seemed neither one of you wanted to be responsible for Childe today and the resulting stare down between you and your boss is a statically charged one. You’d been hoping to bide some time for yourself so you wouldn’t have to spend the entire day with him, dammit.

“Well, if you ask my opinion,” Childe offers, making you bring your attention back around to him. “I think we should go get breakfast since you don’t want any of our delicious, homemade syrniki and then do a bit more sightseeing. We had a lot of fun yesterday, and there are still a few more places I’d like to go.”

‘Fun’ was the very last thing you’d call it. In fact, there were an infinite number of things you would rather be doing besides spending more time in his presence, and throwing yourself into the ocean was right at the top of that list. But, seeing that there was no point in arguing when you were effectively trapped, you relent. “Fine. We can grab something to eat first, and then I’ll take you wherever you want to go.”

“Excellent!” The director barks, clapping you on the shoulder a little too hard, and you turn your head to glare daggers at him. Taking the hint, he quickly composes himself with a discreet, appropriately apologetic grumble. “I do hope you two have an enjoyable time together, my lord, and please let me know if there is anything at all you need.”

Pivoting on his heel, Childe abruptly steps right into the older man to get in his space. “What I need is for you to stop wasting my time, Krzysiek.” He murmurs, that easy, unbothered smile playing at his mouth doing absolutely nothing to distract from the hard edge in his eyes. Growing nervous now, you take a self conscious step back to put some distance between you and them. “But since that obviously isn’t going to happen, I think we’ll be off. Ready, my little pieróg?”

The director suddenly chokes and sputters, shooting a disbelieving look from one to the other even as you suspiciously narrow your eyes at Childe. Something told you you liked this new nickname even less than ‘girlie’. “Now what are you calling me?”

“Oh, nothing,” he teases, his demeanor flipping just like that as he reaches out to take hold of your arm even when you valiantly try to snatch it out of his reach. “That, as they say, is for me to know and for you to find out. You’ll have to earn it if you want me to tell you though!”

And with that, the two of you are off.

Breakfast at a little stall tucked down a narrow side street turns out to be surprisingly pleasant. Shockingly, even. You admittedly feel a great deal of relief when Childe manages to keep his hands to himself for the rest of the morning and he even seems to have given up on the previous day's inquisition all together. He neither says anything out of place nor does he undergo another of those disconcerting shifts in his behavior. Rather, he is consistent and charming again, as if that offputting display in front of the Northland Bank never even happened. Like it was merely a figment of your imagination and nothing more.

You know better than that though, and you weren’t going to be persuaded by it. Luckily, keeping him entertained was a relatively easy task so you don’t even have to try very hard to keep things moving. After your meal, you take him to the theater hall to show him where the opera is hosted and even get a chance to introduce him to a few of the staff members who were setting up for a performance later in the evening. He does catch you off guard though when he suddenly asks about seeing the show together, not having expected him to have any such interest in the performing arts. But when you tell him it’s too late to purchase tickets when they were in such high demand he, strangely enough, accepts that answer without a fuss.

You think it all very strange given how he’d acted yesterday — as if the world itself was his to lay claim to and everyone was expected to just go along with it — but you were certainly not in any position to complain. The more he cooperated the better your nerves would fare.

From there, you take him to a ceramics shop, a bookstore, a calligraphy studio, a toy makers stall and even to a small perfumer after he’d mentioned having an older sister he might want to buy a souvenir for. He truly seems like a completely different person today, politely listening to what you tell him about this or that, attentively focused and tuned in. You’re ashamed to say it almost makes your resolve falter but you hold firm. After that, a lacquer studio, various boutiques and seamstress shops, a few antique stores that quickly prove much too dusty and boring for his liking. You stop for lunch at Third Round Knockout, enjoy some fine food and entertainment together, and then it’s back to the streets. At his request, you take him down to the docks and show him around the markets there, only to realize somewhere along the line that he must have some kind of background in fishing. The way he talks about it, fond yet distant, like an old hobby he might like to revisit some day, strikes an odd little chord inside you. You hadn’t expected him to have room for sentimentality when he was so busy bouncing around from one extreme to the next.

The day wears on in this fashion until you at last take him up to the Yujing Terrace gardens, having saved (what was in your humble opinion) the best for last. Childe appears to appreciate the scenery well enough, oohing and aahing at appropriate intervals as you show him through the public grounds, but you can tell he found the docks much more exciting. Hardly any wonder there. A hot blooded young man such as himself rarely had any need for flowers or ornamental fountains, decorative lanterns or the architecture laid throughout. You got the sense he didn’t dislike the pavilion, exactly, but rather he just wasn’t as invested in it as he might be in other things … and yet he was still trying to stay engaged and interested. Truthfully, you found this more than just a little odd. You’d taken him for an entitled brat, and with good reason.

But the whole situation was strange once you got right down to the heart of it, and you’re understandably glad to finally start making your way back towards the bank shortly after dusk has settled over the gardens and the lamps have been lit. Unlike the previous day where you’d had to all but force him to return before full dark, he acquiesces without a fuss or even any attempt to weasel another half hour out of you. Even putting his penchant for cruel tricks aside, it was almost like you’d spent the whole day with a completely different person than the one you’d first met and this was somehow the most confounding detail of all. At some point you’d started to think he was planning something insidious, just waiting for the right moment to spring the trap, so you had truly expected him to put up more of a fight about it.

So lost in thought, you don’t realize he’s speaking until he shifts close enough to amicably bump your hip with his narrow thigh. Giving a start, you turn your head up only to find a suspiciously eager smile tugging at his rouge’s mouth and you think, this is it. He’s finally going to say something cute or shocking after all this time and, feeling vindicated, you brace yourself for another taste of his nonsense. You’d known he enjoyed provocation too much to resist the temptation forever.

“I was saying thank you for today. You make a pretty good tour guide, if you ask me.”

You stumble a step, feeling like the ground itself is opening up underneath you to swallow you whole. That hadn’t been what you’d expected him to say at all. “You’re welcome,” you respond slowly, mouth tugging into a frown. “But there really isn’t any reason to thank me. I was just fulfilling my duties, that’s all.”

“Aww, don’t say that. You did a great job despite all the trouble I’ve given you so I’d say credit is due. No need to be shy.”

Heat rushes to your cheeks and you quickly look away. “I am not being shy, xiansheng. I just have no need for your praise.”

“Oho. Is that so, girlie?”

You suck in a sharp breath, prickling at that insufferable name he insisted on calling you every time you turned around, but you don’t get the chance to snap at him. Before you can utter so much as a word, his hand is suddenly on your wrist and he’s pulling you away from the main, bustling street into a cramped little alley. Your heart stutters a beat but you can’t quite seem to dig your heels into the ground when his forward momentum seemed to be in full swing, so you just inelegantly trip after him with a tiny squawk of protest.

Finally stopping towards the far end of the path, Childe turns to grin down at you. Issuing an incensed huff into the still air, you give your arm a quick jerk to try and free yourself of his hold but it’s no good. He refused to budge, and you have no choice but to give up, pinning him with a look of pure exasperation.

“What are you doing now, xiansheng? This isn’t the way to the bank.”

“I know, I know. I just wanted to properly show how grateful I really am to my cute little tour guide. You just said you’re not shy, didn’t you?”

Catching on that he was up to something — for real this time — you once again try to extricate your arm from him. Gingerly, this time. “I’m afraid I don’t know what that has to do with this. I think we should go back to the bank and - -“

He suddenly swoops down and silences you with a hard kiss. You jolt, gasping when his fingers tighten around your wrist to make it clear that there would be no escape until he decided to let you go. That hardly seemed the most pressing issue right now, though. Stock still, you just stand there and try to make sense of what’s happening. The sensation of his mouth against yours, his warm breath mingling with your own and the vaguely citrusy scent of him assaulting you all at once. It was just as overwhelming as the rest of him and you can’t figure out how to react. Finally, eventually, he pulls back to peer at you through the gloom of night, far from the dull glow of the distant streetlights.

“I know you’ve thought about this. You’re so cute, the way I catch you looking at my - -“

Your free hand flies up, hitting him across the mouth as hard as you can. The gruff sound that bursts out of him is surprised, but not half as hurt as you would have liked it to be.

“How dare you.” Your voice is a barely there, faltering hiss in the relative quiet with only the distant sounds of city life to act as a backdrop. “I’ve thought of no such thing, and you’ve got a lot of nerve trying to force yourself on me like that!”

The look that briefly flashes across his face seems almost impressed, if not a little cowed by your reaction, and for a split second you’re sure he’s going to rise to the challenge you’ve presented. But then it’s gone just as quickly as it had appeared, replaced once again by that overly confident smile. “Oh, come on. You don’t mean that. I can see how you look at me. I’m not blind, you know.”

“I’m allowed to look at someone without wanting to kiss them!” You insist, vehemently shoving at his chest.

To your great surprise, he actually lets you push him back a step and he releases your arm in the process. You quickly take that chance to back up towards the waiting lip of the alley but he follows you with his eyes, a predator tracking its prey, and you hesitate to make a run for it. One quick look at his long legs assures you he could outpace you all too easily. You’d never make it far against someone like him and the eager gleam dancing in those strange, strange eyes discourages you from trying. That didn’t mean you had to quietly stand there while he played his stupid little games though, and all at once the dam suddenly gives way.

“I've had enough!” You shout at him. “I refuse to entertain you at the cost of my own dignity any longer, xiansheng! You have done nothing but harass me the entire time I’ve known you and I am done! I’m sorry, but you’ll need to find a new guide for the rest of your stay in Liyue because I refuse to do it even a moment longer.”

“But I want you.” He shoots right back, surprisingly calm and collected given the intense state of your own emotions which only spiral further out of control at his response.

The true meaning behind those words was obvious, and you feel the stab of it in startling high definition. Fighting back the sting of tears when a humiliated flush rushes into your cheeks, you glare at him with as much hate and vitriol as you can possibly muster. “I will not fall for it no matter what you say, xiansheng! I’m not stupid! You can have your fun teasing someone else for all I care, but I will not humor it anymore!”

His eyes widen, brows shooting up in surprise. “Wait - -“

You have no interest in hearing what he has to say, quickly turning on your heel so you can march down the alley and out onto the main street again. Consequences be damned.

Predictably, the shuffle of his boots picks up behind you and it doesn’t take long for him to catch up. The way he can easily keep pace with your hurried strides without even having to try only further annoys you but you pointedly ignore him, keeping your attention locked straight ahead. Maybe he would take the hint and leave you alone if you just pretended like he wasn’t there.

“Hey, let’s talk, girlie. You don’t really think I was just joking around back there, do you?” When you refuse to dignify that with a response, he breathes out a quiet sigh. “Look, I’m sure I can convince you I’m being sincere if you just give me a chance, but why would you assume something like that to begin with? I haven’t given you any reason not to trust me, have I?”

You shoot him a quick, flustered look of warning, and, to your horror, he responds with that charming, roguish smile that speaks of confidence and ego. It was clear he thought he could persuade you to his side with enough time and you weren’t so sure he was wrong about that.

Whipping your attention back around, you desperately scan your surroundings in an attempt to get your bearings straight. You weren’t far from the Northland Bank now. Thank the archons. If you could just make it to the relative safety of its doors, you could dump him off on someone else for the night and beat a hasty retreat with your tail tucked between your legs. It certainly felt like you deserved that much after enduring all this grief from him.

“It doesn’t matter.” You murmur, more to yourself than to him, but that doesn’t stop Childe from pouncing at the chance to keep going.

“Sure it does. I think I deserve to know why my cute tour guide feels this way. Is there someone I need to take care of for you?”

Finally spotting the stairwell that leads up to the bank, you hurry towards it as fast as your legs can carry you. He doggedly keeps at your heels, looming just over your shoulder the whole time, which does absolutely nothing to lessen the fast pumping adrenaline coursing through your system.

It feels like your heart is lodged somewhere in your throat when you finally reach the foot of the stairs a moment later and, gripping the bannister with a clammy hand, you pause to look back at him. “There’s not. You can stop following me now.”

“We’re headed to the same place, I’m afraid.” He responds easily enough, still smiling that infuriating grin at you. Stamping down the urge to scream at the top of your lungs, you turn to make your way up and the procession of his footsteps trailing behind you quickly follows suit. “Seriously, I don’t mean to pry but - -“

“Yes, you do.”

He laughs, but just keeps going anyway. “I want to know why you’d be so quick to write me off like that, that’s all. Am I not allowed to want you in my bed or something?”

You outright choke at that, practically collapsing right then and there on the stairwell, and he positively whoops it up as if you’d just delivered the most hilarious, knee-slapping joke he’s ever heard. Your face feels like it’s on fire now while you wrestle with the urge to slap him again, thinking he more than deserved it, but you didn’t want to tempt fate like that again if you could help it. Or invite any misunderstandings with the Snezhnayan guard on duty, just another flight up and almost directly above you now. It takes every ounce of strength you possess but, at last, you finally manage to hiss over your shoulder, “Maybe I’m just not interested. Did you even consider that?”

“Ah, ah, that’s not what you said though. If memory serves, I do believe the exact words you used were ‘I won’t fall for it no matter what you say’. You don’t think I was being serious, do you?”

Teeth clenched, you turn to look back at him again and you’re not at all surprised to find him still grinning like he was having the time of his life. But once again, and just like every other time, his eyes give him away. It seemed that no matter what he did, they would always show an intimate glimpse into his soul and what you see in them now chills you a great deal. There’s an edge to them, a sharpness lurking just beneath the surface like a blade that has been submerged in a tumultuous ocean current. It was no less sharp for all the salt water buffeting against it though. In fact, you got the sense that it would only add to the sting of the wound once it finally cut you — and it would. Eventually. You harbored no doubts about that.

Evidently seeing your uncertain hesitancy, Childe softens his expression slightly, as much as he was able to, at least, and moves up to stand on the same step as you. Fingers tightening on the bannister, you lean as far back as you can when he bends close to put his nose inches from yours. You’re sure he’s going to kiss you again, and the thought alone is enough to make your cheeks burn red hot in what you try to tell yourself is indignation. But, to your surprise, he merely studies you up close for a long moment before finally putting his head to one side like an inquisitive dog.

“Let’s continue this discussion inside.”

“What is there to even talk about?” You grit out.

“You,” he says it softly, almost like a prayer. “And me.”

“This isn’t up for debate, xiansheng. I want nothing more to do with you.”

The corner of his mouth tugs, inching up into a decidedly mischievous smirk. “You say that, but do you really want Nadia to get the wrong idea? I’m sure she can hear us, you know. It’ll look much better if you come inside with me instead of causing a scene out here on the stairs. I don’t know what she might tell Krzysiek but if you cooperate, I can protect you.”

“Blackmailing is illegal in Liyue …”

“As it is in Snezhnaya. But the Fatui operate on a somewhat different rule set, and I’d hate to see you get tangled up in this more than you already are. There’s nothing I can do for you if you don’t meet me in the middle, girlie. Let me help you.”

You search his face for any sign of deceit or falsehoods, desperately looking for even a hint of insincerity that would give you the push you needed to shove him away again. But he is, frustratingly enough, perfectly sincere. Or so he seems to be. And that was the crux of the problem, wasn’t it? In the short time you had known him, he’d consistently maintained that same perfect mask of earnest candor no matter what nonsense came out of his mouth … he was either a very good actor who could put most professionals to shame or he really believed what he was saying. Perhaps even a frustrating combination of the two?

Either way, you could see that you were once again stuck between a rock and a hard place with him. You were damned if you did and damned if you didn’t. It’s been like this since the very start.

“Fine.” You relent with a heavy, long suffering sigh. “I will go inside with you but I really don’t care what you have to say, xiansheng. You’ll just be wasting your breath.”

Evidently that doesn’t bother him one little bit. He’s much too giddy for your liking as he bounds ahead of you, taking the last handful of stairs two at a time so he can reach the landing first. You realize why when, upon coming up after him, you find Childe waiting at the front entrance of the bank with his fingers already wrapped around the door handle, ready to pull it open for you and grant you entry. Same as the night before.

Surreptitiously glancing at the Snezhnayan woman standing on nighttime guard duty, you’re relieved to find her pretending not to even see either of you standing there. Although she certainly was not on your side in the strictest sense, you still appreciated her discretion. Perhaps if you survived this ordeal, you would treat her to lunch someday as thanks.

Gathering your resolve before you have a chance to change your mind, you quickly shuffle across the landing, hoping to get inside before he says something incriminating in front of her. The Harbinger looks quite pleased with himself as he pulls the door open and lets you pass through first before following right on your heels. You’re immensely glad to find the lobby all but deserted save the one on duty teller and the older man quietly talking to her about something you can’t quite make out from the entryway. No sign of Krzysiek lurking about in the shadows or any Fatui operatives loitering around. At least that would save you the embarrassment of having an audience to witness the no doubt awkward conversation that was sure to follow. Strangely, that didn’t make you feel any better about being forced to do this, though.

Discreetly glancing up at the redhead as you make your way across the room together, you contemplatively regard him for a moment. Maybe you could still worm your way out of this situation if you appealed to his ego enough. It was worth a shot, at least.

“Forgive me, xiansheng. I believe I misspoke earlier.” You murmur, hushed and quiet so that hopefully only he could hear. “I did not mean to insult you or imply that there was some deeper meaning in my rejection. I promise I meant nothing more.”

“I don’t buy that for one second, girlie.” He says, thankfully matching your conspiratorial volume. “You really think I was just teasing you back there, right? You called it a game, if I remember correctly. Why would you go and think something like that about me, huh?”

You chew at your bottom lip, weighing the odds. It didn’t exactly look good, no, but neither had the last thirty-six hours. If you gave in now and admitted the real reason for your distrust of his motivations you would simply be putting yourself on the chopping block, inviting further humiliation at his hand, and you weren’t so sure you were ready to admit your own shortcomings like that. But there was no denying his abilities of perception or his quick wit. If you tried to delicately skirt around the subject, would he just try to force your hand?

So caught up in your own thoughts, debating between the truth or another attempt at deception, you don’t notice him slyly reaching for you until it’s too late. The weight of his hand abruptly squeezing around the plush of your waist nearly startles a squawk out of you, and you choke on it when he pulls you against him. Ignoring your incoherent blubbering, Childe tucks you into his side so he can pull you along even when your legs threaten to give out under you, turning you into deadweight against him.

All at once you’re bombarded by a million, frantic thoughts as the scent of him envelopes you and drowns out your senses. What if someone were to see the two of you like this? What if they assumed you’d be willing to betray your homeland for this troublesome Snezhnayan man? And what if word of this got back to your mother? You’d be disowned by morning!

But he pays no mind at all to the shy, flustered stammering going on under your breath as he steers you right past the front desk toward the stairs that are tucked off to the side. You feel faint with disbelief when the teller seems to pointedly keep her attention fixed on the man she’s speaking to and doesn’t even glance up at the spectacle when you pass. A heady rush of relief washes over you but, still, your erratic heartbeat won’t relax as long as you’re in such close proximity with Childe. No matter how good he smelled or how warm his body was, or how firm and invitingly masculine he felt against you, you just couldn’t make peace with it in your mind.

You try to push away from him, politely at first and then more insistently, but he won’t let you go. Doesn’t even seem to register the weak struggle you’re putting up which leaves you with no choice but to stumble along beside him up the staircase and then down the curved hall. It was either that or risk having him physically drag you.

“X - xiansheng!” You hiss at him, of course to no avail.

“Hush. If you’d just tell me what the problem is, I could fix it for you.” He tells you lightly, giving your waist what you think is supposed to be a reassuring pinch. “I promise I’ll do whatever it takes to put your pretty little head at ease, you can count on that.”

“You could start by knocking that off!” You give him another shove that goes completely unheeded. On one hand you were glad to be away from any potentially prying eyes now that you were up on the second floor, but on the other … you give a frightened jerk when it suddenly occurs to you that he’s leading you right past the row of smaller managerial offices (including your own) and further down the hall. “Wait — where are we going?”

“Don’t try to change the subject.” He snickers softly. “We’re just gonna’ have a little chat in my office, that’s all. We’ll get to the bottom of this, don’t you worry!”

As if that was your main concern right now! “B - but that’s not your office, xiansheng! That room is for the - -“

“Yes, it belongs to Regrator. I’m well aware, of course, but I’m sure he won’t mind. It’s not like he’s using it right now, is he?” Pulling you up to the door in question, he reaches for the knob. All you can do is watch on in horror as he gives it a twist and the resounding click of the inner mechanism giving way echoes inside the space between your ears. You almost couldn’t believe it. Both his unrepentant audacity and the fact he’d already gained access to the owner's personal office space.

“But how - -“

“Come on, girlie. Where do you think I slept last night?”

You’re so dumbfounded by that information you momentarily forget to protest or fight him, and you stumble through the doorway under the ever present guidance of his hand around your middle without even fully realizing it. Only when the door creaks shut behind you do you comprehend the severity of the situation, going ramrod stiff as you dig your heels into the floorboards, but he merely pushes you further in before you can kick up a fight about it. With a sudden burst of adrenaline, you wrench away from him and spin around to find Childe already turning the lock on the door with a resounding clink of metal sliding into place. The way he smiles at you, all bright and cheerful, and innocent, turns your veins to ice.

“Now fess up. I’ve let you stall long enough, haven’t I?” He takes a step towards you, hands coming up as if to grab hold of you again, and yours fly up to defend yourself. It’s as if he expected as much though, or maybe his reflexes were really just that quick, because he switches gears faster than you can blink. Lacing his fingers through yours before you can properly react, he pulls your arms out to either side and backs you up even further into the room. “Tell me why you think I’m only teasing you. I made sure no one would eavesdrop on us so tell the truth.”

You jolt when your back hits the stately, imposing desk in the office, a fresh surge of fear racing through you with all the thoughts of what he could do to you like this. But to your immense relief he simply pivots to the side, half turning you to stand in front of it rather than pin you against it like you’d initially thought he would. Still, he won’t let go of your hands where he’s holding them out away from your body and you were clearly trapped in here with him and no way out. Dammit.

Drawing a slow, stuttering breath to calm your nerves, you decide you’ll just have to be blunt with him. Even if it means humiliating yourself in the process, you couldn’t see any other way out of this. Clearly he wasn’t going to let you slink away with your tail tucked between your legs or let you preserve any of your dignity. Not that it came as a surprise considering who you were dealing with but that doesn’t make it hurt any less.

“I’m sorry, xiansheng. I just … I know I can’t possibly be to your liking. That is what I meant by not falling for your tricks.”

“Who said that?” He growls, drawing a quiet whimper out of you.

“It doesn’t need to be said.”

“Bullshit. Tell me why it’s so impossible for me to want you.”

“Because I’m fat.” You say it plainly and without inflection, but softer than a whisper, and his eyes go big in surprise.

“What’s wrong with that?”

You hate the way your chest tightens, flushing hot in humiliation. You hadn’t expected the sting to your ego to hurt quite so bad when you knew you were merely stating the truth. Maybe it’s the simple act of saying it out loud that drives the nail home or perhaps it’s the way he’s looking at you as if he couldn’t possibly conceive the issue with it, but the backs of your eyes start to burn all the same. Looking at him like this, in the gloom of the dark office, you start to wonder if it’s so painful precisely because you secretly wanted his interest in you to be real, not feigned. Was there really no greater anguish than having a strong, handsome man flirt with you while knowing you weren’t deserving of any of it? You certainly couldn’t think of anything worse.

“What’s wrong with it is - is men like you don’t like that. I’m not stupid, xiansheng. There are plenty of women who …” You give your head a shake. “It doesn’t matter. You could do much better than me, and I know that just as well as you do.”

He relaxes his broad shoulders, chuckling faintly as he pins you with a rueful if not taunting look. “Men like me, huh?”

“T - there’s no reason to deny it.”

“Oh?” Childe’s smile sharpens, showing a brief glimpse of the dangers lurking just beneath the surface. “And what else do you know of men like me? Hm?”

You whimper softly and he gives your hands a quick squeeze before releasing them in favor of reaching tentatively for your waist again. You simply let him do it this time; half in defeat and just wanting to get this over with, and half under the assumption that he would finally drop the act and recoil in disgust at the soft give under his palms. But that’s not quite what happens.

On the contrary, he actually looks rather pleased as his large hands comfortably settle around your middle like they belonged there. Possessive, almost.

“I don’t know who made you believe such nonsense but I’ll happily take a list of names though, if you find the time to jot them down for me. But I’m afraid we don’t all think the same way, cutie. I’ve been daydreaming about having you under me since we met.”

You suck in a sharp breath, still somehow shocked by the outrageous things that come out of his mouth even now. “But you could have anyone.” It’s little more than a whisper.

“And like I said, I want you.”

Swallowing hard, you lift your hands to lightly rest them on his forearms. You can’t decide if you want to push him away or pull him in closer, so you just leave them sitting there for right now. “I don’t understand why though.”

“I could show you.”

You don’t know what to say to that. Aren’t even sure if you could respond to it without choking on whatever you may have said, because he was brash and provocative, and more than just a little combative, and you weren’t used to dealing with someone like him. What could you possibly say that wouldn’t make you sound like a stammering ninny?

But he evidently takes your continued silence as his cue to proceed, and he slowly palms his way up your sides until blunt thumbs brush the underside of your breasts. A shudder races down your spine at that much too brief contact and you whimper again, louder this time, when he adjusts his hands to cradle your chest in them. His attention remains locked on your face though, intently observing the way your mouth warbles open as if to let out a tiny, faltering mewl but you stubbornly bite it back. Turning your head so you don’t have to look at him any longer, you raise a hand to cover your mouth when he pushes up, lifting your tits slightly, so he can feel the full brunt of them resting in the curve of his fingers.

You’re ashamed to realize it felt nice having him paw at you like this, your nipples growing stiff and pointed against the brush of his hands. It makes your stomach curl itself into a tight, pulsing knot that has your knees going weak. Grudgingly, you think it might be okay to let this go on for a little while longer. Hesitantly, you have to accept that perhaps you liked him a bit more than you were willing to admit or let on.

That mental shift must reflect in your expression though because he suddenly grins at you, all mischief and trouble.

“These are my favorite.” He tells you softly, almost like he was sharing a precious secret with you. Giving your breasts another slow, kneading squeeze to make you sway slightly on your feet, he bends closer until just a scant few inches remain between you and him. “The bigger the better, don’t you think? What else is a man supposed to rest his head on at night? What else should we suck and lick, and bite on until your milk floods our mouths, hm? You seem to know an awful lot about men, so tell me … what would you have us do if not worship the very fertility you represent?”

Dragging his hands higher, he lets your breasts bounce back into place under your shirt and he watches with a great deal of interest etched across his face. You have to force your lungs to expand, inhaling painfully slow to try and steady yourself. A very real part of you was still anticipating the pin to fall, for him to realize this game of chicken wasn’t worth it and to finally drop the farce, but that wasn’t happening. You were suddenly finding yourself faced with the very real possibility that he wasn’t just running his mouth with no intention of backing it up. He really did want you. He thought you were attractive — innately drawn to your figure, not put off by it.

And he would have you, right here and now, if you just gave him the chance.

Childe reaches for the button on your collar with clear, deliberate intent, giving you ample time to rethink this and tell him to stop. But you let him work the first one loose and then the next, and the next, so on and so forth until your shirt was hanging open down to the waistband of your skirt. He grabs at your middle to ruck it up and possessively pinch at your love handles underneath before finally grabbing onto the hem to untuck it the rest of the way. You’re a little surprised at yourself when you lift your arms to help him get it off, but you start to have second thoughts when the cool air hits the front of your silk chemise.

Feeling uncertain and exposed, you cross your arms over your chest to hide your stiff nipples from his line of sight. He tsk’s softly as he tosses your shirt somewhere on the desk before taking hold of your wrists, gentle yet firm as he moves them out of the way. You can’t quite bring yourself to look him in the face though, self conscious and afraid of what you might see there, so you glance down at yourself instead. The weight of your breasts under the thin, breezy material is obvious, as are the stiff points sticking out in the center of them. You may as well have not even been wearing anything at all.

With a quiet sound, he seems to reach the same conclusion. He releases your hands so he can slip his fingers underneath the thin shoulder straps and lift that over your head too. You have a split second of thinking you’ll back out after all, that you’re not prepared to have someone as tall and handsome as him looking at your naked body, but the roiling heat deep in your gut seems to have a differing opinion. The thought of walking away from this and going home to an empty bed brings with it a great deal of distress, so you slowly repeat the same arms up motion as before.

Childe lets out a breath you hadn’t realized he’d been holding as the silk slips away and your naked breasts are finally bared to him. That gets tossed on the desk too and then his hands are on you again, groping and squeezing at you appreciatively with renewed excitement. “These are gorgeous.” He breathes.

“Y - you don’t mean that.” You whimper, desperately glancing around the dark room for something to focus on that isn’t him.

“I do.” He insists, and his lips are suddenly on the crook of your neck, kissing and nipping at the vulnerable skin there between hot, rushed sentiments. “I really do. You have no idea what you’re doing to me right now.”

You feel well and truly lightheaded when he once again palms your breasts in his hands, lifting their weight the same as before. But this time he allows his thumbs to brush up, and you outright gasp at the first contact to your nipples. The noise he makes in response sounds suspiciously like a growl and it reverberates in your veins, making you shudder against him. He takes his time casually flicking over the stiffened buds for a moment longer before pressing your tits together and leaning back to admire the meaty squish. Abruptly, he lets go and watches the heavy bounce of them before setting his sights on your waist instead.

“Archons, you’re perfect.” He groans, digging his fingers deep into the cushiony give around your middle. “I want to fold you in half on top of that desk, you know that? How’s that sound? Huh?”

Your mouth warbles open, cheeks burning up. “Xi - xiansheng - -!”

He stoops down to press his face against your neck, growling again, a little louder this time, and you jolt when he blindly fumbles to grab one of your wrists. With a bit more force than was probably necessary, he drags your fingers to the front of his pants and manually curls them around the weighty bulge there. Your eyes widen in stark surprise, not at the size of him but, rather, at how very hard he is for you. He’s indescribably heavy against your hand, and stiff enough to strain the zipper holding him back.

“You want this, cutie?”

Like you really needed to think about it at this point. “I … I do. I want you, xiansheng.”

Breathing deep the scent of your neck, he lets it out again with a bestial huff that makes goosebumps erupt across your skin. It takes a visible amount of effort for him to unlatch himself from you, reaching to unfasten the single button done up on his jacket. This he carelessly shrugs out of and tosses to the side, eyeing you with a hungry lick of his lips before stepping into you again to take hold of your waist. It doesn’t escape your notice that he seems to be fascinated with this part of you, the way he insists on continuously grabbing and squeezing it in his hands, but you don’t get a chance to comment on it.

He’s pulling you against him then, all but flattening you against the hard line of his body, and you suck in a sharp, frazzled breath at the press of his cock against your stomach. Never before had you found yourself in this sort of position so you don’t really know what to do, standing there just breathing him in while he yanks at the hidden latch on your skirt. You think you should be doing something, should probably be reciprocating in some way, but your overloaded brain just can’t seem to make sense of it.

Luckily, he takes care of the decision making for you. Once the band of your skirt is hanging loose around your waist, he lifts his hand to nudge it under your chin and tip your head back. You have but a split second to realize he’s going to kiss you, and then he’s devouring your mouth, kissing you much harder and much more forcefully than he had in the alley. You realize now, as you succumb to the hungry pull of his lips, that he’d only been testing the waters earlier. He was far from normal if that had been his idea of tentative and, evidently, you were just as crazy for entertaining it.

Greedy hands roam down your body, grabbing tight, pinching handfuls of your sides and your hips before dipping lower still. Childe takes hold of your ass like a starved man grabbing onto a lifeline and you rock forward on your toes with a muffled little squeak. He gladly swallows it down even as he kneads and pinches, rolling the meat of your backside in his palms. It’s just shy of being too much, toeing the line of discomfort, and you blindly reach back to clutch at his powerful wrist. Of course that doesn’t stop him though, and you suck in a much needed lungful of air when he finally pulls back some moments later.

He doesn’t even give you a chance to catch your breath, quickly swooping down to shimmy your skirt over your hips so you can step out of it. You expect him to go after your garters next so he can get you completely undressed, telling yourself to relax and just breathe while you could, but nothing is ever that simple when it comes to Childe.

To your squawking surprise, he grabs you around the waist yet again and suddenly hauls you up to perch on the edge of the desk. You can’t even think straight as he bullies your thighs apart with his narrow hips so he can settle between them, pressing himself tight against you. Unable to hold it back any longer with the weight of his cock digging into you and the hard muscle mass of his chest right in your face, you reach up to loop your arms over his shoulders with a needy little mewl. Grunting in approval, he bends at the waist to hunch over you so he can take a nipping bite at your neck and then your ear while his arms snake around you. For as deceptively gangly as they are, the strength in them is staggering and he practically crushes you against him, firmly holding you in place so he can slowly grind up into your core.

Delirious, you frantically clutch at him when every stilted push of his cock against your panties only seems to highlight how wet you already were for him. That in and of itself would have been inconceivable not even twenty minutes ago, but somehow even worse is how that sedate, repetitive motion of his hips just seems to encourage yet more sticky slick out of your cunt. You can feel it bleeding into your panties, leaving them increasingly damp, and you grimace when they soon start to stick to your labia.

“Xi - xiansheng! Wait a second …”

“How do you expect me to wait after all this time, girlie? Huh?” Snarling against your neck, Childe leans further into you and uses his weight to push you back, tipping your pussy towards him. You cling to his shoulders, whimpering and whining low in your throat as he increases the pace, humping into you with even greater enthusiasm than before. “Wanna’ know what’s funny?” He laughs, breathless and hot against the side of your face. “I actually expected you to tell me a completely different answer earlier. You really caught me off guard, you know?”

Legs quivering around his hips, you dig your nails into his back and tip your head up, gasping at the ceiling. You felt dizzy and hot enough to burn. Was he really going to make you cum, just with this? “Like — ahhn! Like what?”

Dragging his hands down to grip your plushy hips, Childe shifts against you to look in your face. His eyes were strange and unsettling even now when you felt like you were going to shake right off the desk if he kept digging his cock into you like that, but there was something else in them now … something far removed from the light of day but no less blinding. It was like looking at ice fire — so dark and blue, yet hotter than any normal flame could ever hope to burn. You weren’t sure if you were looking into a vast, bottomless trench under the sea or the very sky itself, so deep and fathomless it would swallow you whole without a trace, never to be seen again, but it doesn’t really seem to matter anymore. You would gladly give yourself over to the void, drown in its oceanic embrace, so long as he kept looking at you like that.

“Tell me.” You gasp when he doesn’t immediately respond.

“I thought you were going to tell me I was too young for you.” He suddenly says, surprising you so much you have to do a double take.

“What?”

Laughing, he gives his hips one last, lingering roll that has you biting down on your tongue to silence yourself as he unhurriedly moves to extricate himself from you.

“All that fuss you were making, it was the only thing I could think of. I know you were worried about my title and I probably didn’t help that very much when we parted ways last night … but still, you refused to have me even after I went out of my way to show you I’m just a man. Albeit a supremely powerful one but,” Shrugging as if it didn’t really matter, Childe bends over your lap to start unhooking the clasps holding your stockings up. He’s surprisingly gentle and patient with such a benign task and you let him do it without intervention, even when your pussy clenches at the sight of him half naked and focused on the task of undressing you. “I figured you just didn’t think I was mature enough or something like that. Not that that wasn’t bad enough but I certainly didn’t expect your real reason.”

You start to say his name but catch yourself at the last second. “Xiansheng …” You say instead. “It’s true that I’m older than you but it’s not that big of a difference from my perspective. I don’t think you’re immature. Well, not in that way, at least.”

“Oh, is that so?” Sending you a slow, mischievous little grin, he slips his fingers into the waistband of your panties and starts to slowly slide them down over your thighs, leaving the garter and stockings in place. “Good to hear it. Because I’m prepared to show you just what I’m capable of, and I have no intention of leaving this room until you understand exactly what kind of man I am.”

Eyes widening slightly, you watch him pull your underwear free from your ankles so he can carelessly toss them somewhere on the floor. Those big, battle hardened hands slide up your inner thighs and roughly shove them apart so he can swoop down, dragging the flat of his tongue through your wet cunt without so much as a word of warning. You jolt so hard you nearly come right up off the desk, a startled ‘oh!’ bursting out of your mouth. He pays it no mind though, keeping your legs spread wide as he devours you, swirling around your entrance to taste the excessive slick accumulated there before directing his mouth higher to knock against your clit. It’s all you can do not to shriek, chest heaving as you jerk and twist against him.

“Wait —!”

Coming up off your cunt with an obnoxiously loud slurp and a smack of his lips, Childe gives a breathless laugh. “There’s no time for that, girlie. Today you’re going to learn how a real man handles a woman like you.”

With a low, hungry snarl, he dives back in and your hand instinctively shoots down to grab at his hair. He pays it no mind though — in fact, he actually appears to enjoy it. Groaning hotly against your pussy, he presses his cheek to one side so he can batter your clit with his tongue, making your toes tightly curl in their little heels. The sensation is unlike anything you’ve ever felt before; intense and overwhelming, indescribably sticky and wet, and hot, and it doesn’t take long for you to start shaking in earnest.

Unable to sit up any longer when the tremors threaten to overpower you, you slowly sink back to lay across the top of the desk but he just follows you down. Shuffling closer so he’s bent nearly in two over your cunt, Childe possessively grabs at your thighs so he can toss them over his shoulders and lock you in place. Having your legs up in the air like this is somehow both deeply embarrassing and indescribably arousing at the same time, and you writhe like some mindless beast while he eats you out. Your fingers in his hair start to cramp but you refuse to let him go when it felt like the only thing keeping you grounded to reality anymore.

You quickly lose the fight though when he slides his hands up your thighs, over the pudge of your belly and higher still to grab your breasts. His long fingers dig in, squeezing them tight enough to hurt before redirecting his attention to your nipples. The way he pinches and rolls them has you arching hard enough to make the desk groan underneath you, legs clenching around his head in an attempt to block him out for even just a moment's reprieve. It’s a losing battle though. He’s as dauntless as ever, and he just keeps working you over with his mouth even when your thighs threaten to crush or suffocate him.

Blindly, you claw at his wrists and forearms but it is much too late. The scale starts to tip and you feel yourself desperately clinging to the edge, scared of that free fall and what it would mean even as you give your hips one last, pitiful jerk. Just like that, the chord snaps and you plunge into the void, pussy clenching so tight over the course of your orgasm that it actually brings tears to your eyes. Your whole body seems to roil with it, wildly twitching as you choke back your moans until only quiet, gasping mewls manage to escape, but somehow it still isn’t enough.

You’re not sure when or how it happened, but at some point you’d come to realize that Childe’s mouth on you was perhaps the greatest feeling in the world, and you desperately wanted more of it.

“Please!” You hiss, blubbering faintly when he starts to untangle himself from you.

“Well, well,” he taunts, clearly pleased with himself as he straightens up. “I’d say you rather enjoyed that, wouldn’t you? Who would have thought the prim and proper ambassador of the Northland Bank was so needy?”

Groaning softly in the back of your throat, you cover your face with a still trembling hand and press your thighs together now that he’s not occupying the space between them. You didn’t know whether to beg for more of his attention or cry from embarrassment. Both options seemed perfectly reasonable in this situation, and you finally settle on some combination of the two.

“I’ve never felt like this before, xiansheng. I'm sorry.” You let out a sound that is half sob, half groan. “My body is on fire but I — I still want you to keep touching me. I don’t really know what I’m doing but I want more. I need more of you.”

Childe snickers softly, and the sound of him shuffling close again has your heart threatening to jackhammer straight out of your chest. “Aww. Well, when you put it so nicely …”

His hands find your hips again, giving them a savory squeeze before dragging his palms lower to feel the give of your thighs under his fingers. One long digit slips into the band of a stocking and tugs on it, letting it snap back into place with a quiet smack. He can’t seem to stop pawing at you, kneading along the soft pudge of your inner thigh until broad knuckles brush against your cunt. You shudder at the sensation and lift your head to peer down at him, struggling to keep your voice in check when he presses two fingertips into the meat of your labia and spreads them apart. Sensitive tears sting your eyes as a fresh wave of humiliation crashes over you, threatening to drown you. To be looked at like this was not a feeling you were mentally prepared for but, carefully watching Childe’s face, you’re relieved to find that he doesn’t seem to dislike it.

In fact, his expression actually pinches with a low, rumbling groan that makes your pussy excitedly clench. His eyes take on a distant, dreamy sort of look, and he bends down to give your cunt another savory lap of his tongue, making you twitch at the contact against your clit. Exhaling slowly, he rises up enough to crowd his finger in and slowly rubs the meaty little nub in faint, barely there circles. You seethe through your teeth, still overwrought so soon after your orgasm, but you quickly relax into it when pleasure rushes in to replace the sensitivity.

“Such a pretty pussy,” he murmurs, drawing a quiet whimper out of you. “And so receptive, too. I wonder how sensitive it is on the inside …”

You realize what he’s saying a moment too late, far too gone in the hazy, post-orgasmic bliss to function at your usual level, and you don’t get the chance to protest. The finger on your clit abandons it’s target in favor of a new one, slipping lower to find your entrance and — slide right in. He doesn’t even hesitate. Just a quick, sudden pressure on your interior and he’s inside of you right down to the knuckle and you wheeze, going ramrod stiff on top of the desk.

“Shit, you’re tight.”

“I … I’m sorry.”

Childe sends you a quick look, his mouth already cocking into a smirk, but the expression on your face gives him pause. “What is there to be sorry about, girlie? It is not a bad thing to be tight, you know.”

“Yes.” You agree, even though you don’t really know what it is you’re agreeing with. “It’s just … I’ve never done this before so I hope it’s not too much trouble.”

A terse beat passes through the room, completely still and quiet save the hushed sound of bustling nightlife in the near distance. Then it seems to click, and he blinks up at you owlishly.

“You’re a virgin?”

“I'm sorry.” You say it again, because it’s the only thing you can think to say.

A half choked, disbelieving laugh slips out of him and he straightens, looking at you like he’s seeing you for the first time. There’s a new understanding in his eyes now, as if everything suddenly made sense, and you quickly turn your head so you don’t have to see the way he’s sizing you up. You’d glimpsed that predatory hunger in him more than once in the short time you’d known him but had always written it off as a hunger for life and all it had to offer. Excitement and battle, and the driving urge to test his own strength. Now, though, that voracious appetite was not only centered entirely on you but it also seemed to solidify into something tangible. Something far more dangerous than anything you’d seen in him before. He wasn’t merely going to have you, take you, claim you.

He was going to devour you.

With a reverberating growl, Childe reaches out to palm at your lower belly and he gives it a tight, pinching squeeze. You whimper faintly in response but that only further encourages him. His opposite hand, the one between your legs, withdraws for but a moment before returning with two fingers this time, and they slide straight up into you with a wet little click. Your guts are so slippery and soft for him that there’s hardly any resistance at all even when your body instinctively tries to clamp down around the intrusion. You can feel the burn of the stretch in a far off, dreamy sort of way, but it does absolutely nothing to dissuade or discourage you. If anything, it almost seems to spur you on.

He laughs again, low and raspy, when you stutteringly roll your hips and squirm for him, idly giving your stomach another savory pinch. “I’m sure you don’t need me to tell you this,” he says quietly, in such a soft register that you almost miss it over your own gasping breaths. “But I’m probably not the best candidate for someone’s first time. You sure you want to do this, girlie?”

You think that’s a massive understatement. He was rough and excitable, easily carried away and impatient. Whatever he may have lacked in fine tuned precision was more than made up for in so much puppy-like enthusiasm that it bordered on being too much, and even now you couldn’t ignore how good just his fingers felt inside your pussy. You wanted him perhaps more than you’d ever wanted anything else in your life, and that wasn’t up for debate. But you hesitate to say it, whether for your pride or just the simple fact that you didn’t know how to say it.

Faintly wheezing, you struggle to sit half upright so you can look at him, for once unconcerned with the heavy weight of your breasts or the crease along your tummy. You simply look at him, as a woman, and he looks at you as a man, primal and starved, practically chomping at the bit to sink his teeth into you. If he was the wolf then did that make you the lamb?

“You said you would show me …” Hesitating, you quickly swallow down your nerves before they can get the better of you. “Show me how a man handles a woman like me. I’d like to see that, xiansheng.”

The snarl that comes out of him is more animal than human, and the most frightening one you’ve heard yet. It sets your guts vibrating, heart hammering wildly in your chest with the instinctive urge to flee, to run, to hide — but you couldn’t have even if you’d wanted to. You were already trapped in his clutches, his fangs locked around your sensitive jugular, ready to tear through you and rip you open for him to feast upon. It flashes across his face, settles deep in those strange eyes. The bloodlust. The thrill of the hunt and the subsequent kill. He was the predator and you, his prize.

You gladly give yourself over to it when he leans down to claim your mouth again, kissing you so hard and so voraciously it steals the air from your lungs. His hand stays busy between your legs, working your cunt open with those long, calloused fingers, while the other one roams over your body. Grabbing at your love handles, your tits, the small of your back where it’s arched up off the desk in silent supplication for more. More of him, more of the pleasure and the threadbare pain that comes with it. More of his fingers, more of his tongue. You wanted all of it, and you plaintively moan into his mouth when he reaches up to palm the back of your neck. Holding you in place like that, he increases the speed and the pressure between your shuddering thighs, and the incessant clicking increases with it. Already an ache was forming deep in your body and you could tell you were going to be sore for days to come but you revel in it, bask in the heightened pleasure of knowing you were his to lay claim to.

You think you’re starting to get close to another orgasm when he abruptly pulls his fingers out with a wet little pop, and you tear your kissed-raw mouth from his to groan in disappointment. He doesn’t give you a chance to complain though, and you suddenly find yourself shoved down on your back as he crawls up onto the desk with you, pinning you under the sturdy weight of all that lean, hard muscle. Eyes widening slightly at having him over you like this, you reach up to clutch his shoulders hard enough to make the joints ache. Jostling you slightly while he positions himself, Childe issues a heady grunt into the scant space separating you from him and then you feel it.

The nudge of his cock. The press of the glans against your slit, seeking out the warmth of your body even as he slips over sticky lips and folds. You gasp sharply, mouth hanging open in a silent scream when he finds your entrance, catches and starts to sink in. It was something completely different from the stretch of his fingers, something much more intense, and you give a small jerk against him as tears spring up in your eyes. He is firm and unbudgeable on top of you though, hissing in deeply felt pleasure when you take him. More and more of him, until your eyes start to roll back in your head.

Twisting back against the desk, you sob up at the ceiling. It feels like you’re being crushed under him, your guts squishing and compressing against the weight of his cock bullying its way into you. He pauses, shifts slightly, and then his large hand is cupping the side of your face. The blunt of his thumb hooks under your jaw and he demandingly angles you towards him so he can kiss you again, muffling the frantic, whimpering moans you let out when he sinks the rest of the way inside.

With his narrow hips pressed tight to the backs of your thighs, you’re really, truly trapped underneath him now. It’s so hot and heavy between you two that you can barely manage to squirm, weakly shaking and writhing underneath him instead of wildly bucking like you would like to do. You feel frantic and mindless, your neck lolling bonelessly in his hold while the room seems to spin around you at a frankly alarming speed. You’d never felt so full, stuffed to bursting, or drunk on fast pumping endorphins in all your life.

“Archons above, you feel so damn good.” He rumbles against your cheek, voicing the very sentiment you were trying (and failing) to come to terms with in your own cotton stuffed mind. You weren’t sure if you would ever be able to fully recover from this. Not this intimate meeting of your flushed, sweaty bodies or Childe’s raucous entry into your life.

Groaning, he starts to move. The stiff flex of his hips is slow at first, drawn out and savory, like he’s merely enjoying the wet heat of you squeezing around him, but it doesn’t last long. He begins picking up the pace in just a matter of moments, driving his pelvis against your harder, faster, until the embarrassingly loud squelch of your cunt sucking him in deep rings on a near endless loop. You lurch underneath him, clawing at his shoulders and back while he relentlessly carves out a space within you, drilling you into the desk with reckless abandon. The creak of the wood barely even registers though when you’re so swept up in the sensation, the mind numbing experience of being fucked senseless by the beast heaving above you.

He seems almost feral now, and you can feel the ache within you growing with each plunging thrust of his cock as it drives into you again and again, reaching deep inside to knock something that has you seeing stars. It leaves you reeling, dizzy and overwhelmed, but there’s no stopping it now. Childe is like a man possessed and he eagerly ruts into you, losing himself in your pussy, and all you can do anymore is cling to him in high strung desperation. His hands are everywhere at the same time, a blur of pinching squeezes and kneading gropes, but he soon gives up on trying to press you somehow even closer to himself in favor of reaching higher to grip the opposite edge of the desk. He seems to use it as leverage to reinforce the power behind his thrusts, and he slams into you with enough force to nearly send you into a vertigo-inducing free fall.

“Shit!” He grunts, fanning warm breath across your face as he seeks out your mouth again. “I don’t think I ever want to leave this pussy, you know that?”

Tipping your head at him, you catch his lips in another searing kiss and he seems to sink further into you, defying all logic and reason when his body moulds so tightly to yours it’s hard to tell where one of you starts and the other begins. It’s like you’ve become one entity, one being — the wolf and his hard won prey joined together until you were one and the same. Sharing the same body, the same mind, and the same pleasure. His appetite only fed into yours and heightened it, and the reverse seemed to be true as well because he moans, low and faltering, when you lock your ankles around his waist to hold him against you.

He surprises you then, his heaving motions stalling to an almost complete standstill while his tongue intertwines and dances with yours. Unhurriedly exploring your mouth, claiming it as his own, Childe starts to slow fuck you with a grinding roll of his hips. His cock is wedged so deep inside you it feels like he’s poking at your ribs, and you all but sob at the staggered, barely there thrusts that churn your insides and increase the pressure tenfold. It was like you were on the brink of implosion, shuddering so intensely that the desk heaves a sympathetic groanin response.

And somewhere in the back of your mind you still manage to find the wherewithal to hope the two of you don’t accidentally break it.

Gradually, he winds you higher and higher until you’re frantically gasping for air, practically hyperventilating even while he keeps kissing you and fucking you like he has all the time in the world to enjoy this. He just might, for all you know, and you didn’t doubt that he would make the time if he didn’t. So incorrigible, so demanding and entitled to your body … as if he thought you were made just for him and maybe you were. Maybe you’d been born just for this purpose and he, the hot headed man from Snezhnaya, was likewise meant to have you in this way.

You whine low in your throat as the tremors threaten to overpower you and he finally breaks apart from the kiss to groan heavily into the statically charged air. The reverberation seems to bleed into you and trigger a chain reaction that has every nerve ending in your body lighting up one by one, in rapid succession. It floods your system in waves, working lower and lower until it finally hits that tight, aching coil deep in your gut and it instantly snaps. You cum with a shriek, shoving your face into the bend of his sweat dampened neck to smother the sound while you fitfully twist and jerk underneath him. Your pussy spasms, wildly milking his cock, and he moans in response with a faint tremble of his own sweaty, heaving frame.

Muscles flexing, he rides you through it at that same, sedately steady pace until you at last start to come down from it, chest heaving uncontrollably as you try to catch your breath. You’re lost in it, soaring somewhere far outside your own body, high above the very city itself, but you’re still acutely aware of the way he seethes and grunts when he moves to push up. Lifting your head, you blearily watch him go up on his knees to kneel between your legs, cock glistening in the sparse light coming in through the window even as he takes it in hand. He strokes it, hard and fast, with his heavy lidded eyes alternating between your well used cunt and your face, panting heavily and groaning softly as his shoulders begin to shake. You can tell he must be reaching his limit by the growing strain in his voice, and it seems to finally hit its peak with a keening, borderline whiny whimper that goes straight to your pussy.

You hadn’t expected him to sound like that, so needy and desperate, and you find it inexplicably arousing. Your body clenches with renewed excitement and you mewl, very quietly, when his hips give one last little jerk and white, creamy ropes shoot out of him to splatter across your stomach. It’s hot and sticky where it settles, and Childe outright snarls at the sight of his cum painting your skin.

“Xiansheng - -“

He doesn’t stop long enough to hear you out or give himself any time to recover before he’s swooping down, hunching over your prone form so he can drag his tongue through the mess he’s made. You give a jolt of surprise, gasping in shock, but the slow look he sends you under the fall of his tousled hair assures you he was capable of much worse than this and he was not your average man no matter how you tried to rationalize it.

The two of you take a moment to catch your breath, just looking at one another through the gloom and basking in the afterglow. He touches you with idle confidence, like he was already secure in his ownership of your body and didn’t even need to think about it anymore. Emboldened now, you allow yourself to touch him too, feeling across the definition of his chest and arms, his abdominals and hips. Just like before, his energy seems to be bottomless and it doesn’t take very long for his spent cock to start stirring again when your hands were on him like that.

Shamefully enough, you have him two more times over the course of the long night — once against the side of the desk, standing up so he could grope you to his heart's content, and once on the ornate chaise lounge, tangled up in a mess of limbs — before finally succumbing to exhaustion in the early hours of the morning. Neither of you spoke of what would come next or what it all meant in the long run, but you didn’t really see the need to.

There was only so much room for negotiations where fate was concerned, after all.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Pausing outside the bank to check that your hair was still in place, you make a valiant effort to smother the butterflies flitting about inside your chest. You were a little nervous, yes, but you try to remind yourself just how silly that actually was. Childe had not only seen you naked already (which was embarrassing enough) but he had also had you multiple times, in multiple positions. Surely you should have been beyond the point of being shy around him after all of that.

Though that’s easier said than done, of course, and you can’t quite figure out how you’re supposed to behave now. Should you just pretend that nothing had even transpired between you and him? Should you proceed with confidence and surety that he did indeed want you? He’d made that abundantly clear last night so there wasn’t any reason to pretend you didn’t believe him anymore, and you’d likewise had to accept that you wanted him too. But were you allowed to act on it? Archons, they didn’t make manuals for this sort of thing.

He’d helped you sneak out in the early pre dawn glow when everything was soft and hazy, and you’d recovered just enough to make the walk home. You’d insisted on it, citing that you needed to bathe, among other things, and he had of course tried to convince you to just stay with him before finally conceding defeat. He’d even offered to escort you but you hadn’t wanted to run the risk of being seen together in such a compromising position. Nadia was bad enough even though she’d politely looked the other way when the two of you had emerged from the bank, completely ignoring you both, but anyone else would have been pushing your luck. Or so it seemed, anyway. The situation was just way too strange for you to say with any certainty but you got the distinct feeling that not everyone would be so willing to look the other way on this. Whatever this was.

Anxiously, you fiddle with the front of your dress to make sure there weren’t any creases or wrinkles in the fabric. This was so stupid. You had no business acting like a lovestruck teenager over someone like him. He would have outright laughed at you if he saw you right now, and that was to say absolutely nothing of the on duty guard sending you odd looks. You were just going to have to get this over with.

Steeling your resolve, you push through the doors with your head held high, determined to maintain a confident appearance, but it quickly falls away when you find Childe standing in the lobby with the director and about ten other Fatui agents. Your heart immediately sinks. Had something happened?

“Oh!” Childe notices you right away, and he perks up like an excitable dog. The stormy glower he’d been wearing fades as soon as he lays eyes on you, replaced by that big, boyish grin, and you stand up a little straighter when he shuffles toward you at an unhurried pace. You weren’t sure what was happening here but you couldn’t shake the feeling that it was nothing good. “We were just discussing you, actually. Good timing.”

“Me?” You blurt out, disbelief coloring your voice.

“Don’t sound so surprised, girlie. Of course it’s nothing bad. Come, stand over here with everyone.”

You’re so dumbfounded that you don’t even have the presence of mind to act embarrassed about it when he casually slides his arm over your back, steering you towards the small congregation. You frantically search their faces for some kind of answer or clue but you can’t get a read on most of them thanks to their masks. The only one whose face was uncovered was the directors, and you have to do a startled double take at his pallid complexion. He looked like he’d aged ten years since you last saw him!

“Don’t be nervous.” Childe says, giving you a playful nudge that makes you hope things were not as dire as they seemed. That quaint little notion is immediately quashed, however, when all the good humor drains from him upon turning his attention on the director. “Go on, Krzysiek. Tell her about the letter you received this morning.”

The older man winces as if he’d been struck, his wild gaze darting from the Harbinger to you and then back again. “Ah. Yes. Yes, of course.” Forcing out a single brittle laugh, he lifts a trembling hand to wipe at his damp forehead. “Lord Regrator sent a very prompt response to my missive. Very prompt indeed. He made it quite clear that the original order had not been signed by mistake and he was well aware how much mora was in question. I’m afraid he isn’t, erm, very pleased with me at the moment but I am working very hard to rectify my mistake at the current time.”

“And?” Childe prompts, the cold tone of his voice sending chills up your spine.

“And I fear I owe you an apology,” the director shoots you a harried look. “It was remiss of me to put you in such a vulnerable position. It was not your responsibility nor your place to be in such close proximity with this … ah, particular situation. It was Fatui business and that’s how it should have stayed. Lord Regrator also made that quite clear to me in his letter”

You have no idea what to say to that. Not that you didn’t agree, because you most certainly did. You’d tried to tell him all of this right after that initial meeting with Childe in the back office but he hadn’t listened, far too determined to foist the problem off on you rather than deal with it himself. But if he’d taken a moment to consider reason and rescind his decision then you wouldn’t have gotten to know Childe the way you now knew him. You wouldn’t have felt his warm hands all over your body or his searing kisses on your neck, and even for as much grief you’d endured because of it you couldn’t be mad at him for it. You were at first, and very much so, but not now.

“It’s alright.” You finally murmur, turning to glance up at the redhead standing beside you. “Does this mean you’re leaving?”

You hadn’t meant to sound so sad about that — for all intents and purposes you probably should have been jumping for joy — but his expression softens in as much as it ever does, and he smiles at you again. “For a little while, but I’ll be back. Liyue is a beautiful country and there are plenty more sights to see, people to fight, and things I’d like to do. You haven’t seen the last of me just yet. But in the meantime, Krzysiek here is going to make sure you’re well taken care of for all the trouble we’ve caused you.”

Your brows shoot straight up to your hairline. What in the world was he talking about? “I’m afraid I don’t understand, xiansheng.”

“Oh, don’t worry your pretty little head. Just think of it like … reimbursement for all your hard work. We had a chat about it and agreed you deserve at least that much.”

“But — but I can’t possibly - -“

“Sure you can!” He cuts across you, as boisterous and pushy as ever. Turning to face you now, he pins you with a mischievous if not challenging look that threatens to turn your knees weak. “You won’t have to work at the bank anymore if you don’t want to. You’re free to quit at any time, and I already made sure there won’t be any retaliation against you if that’s what you choose. You’ll still get your compensation for the rest of your life regardless, so, really, you’re free to make whatever decision you want.” He pauses then, seems to think about it and then quietly adds, “Well, I guess that would be for the rest of Krzysiek’s life, wouldn’t it?”

The man in question chokes, sounding like he was right on the brink of some massive mental breakdown, but you pay him no mind. You just stare at Childe like he’s grown a second head, trying to make sense of it all. Reimbursement? For life? Did he truly think you wanted or were at all concerned about something like that?

“Is this really your way of saying goodbye?”

“Aw, don’t look at me with such a sad face, girlie. I already told you I’d come back, didn’t I?” Gently, he places his hand on your shoulder and you let him guide you away from the gathered Fatui who watch on like silent sentries. You were glad for his foresight in moving you away from them because with each passing moment it was becoming increasingly harder to keep your emotions in check. You didn’t know if you wanted to scream at him or cry. Of course you’d known he’d be leaving soon but so suddenly? And like this?

You couldn’t think of anything worse to cap off this whirlwind experience.

Softly shushing you, Childe pulls you towards the far wall and then moves to stand in front of you so he’s blocking the others and all you can see is him. You try very hard to keep the tears at bay, uncertain if they were angry or sad, but they still well up in your eyes and it makes your bottom lip warble. It was perhaps the most humiliating experience yet but he only clicks his tongue, reaching up to cup your cheek.

“Stop that.” You hiss, trying to turn away from him, but he persists. Unable to take the hint and overbearing even now after everything you’d gone through together just to reach a tentative understanding with one another. All of it gone, in the blink of an eye.

“Now, now,” he murmurs in a placating tone, at complete odds with the way he grabs your chin and pulls you around to look at him again. “It’s nothing to get so upset over. I told you I want you, didn’t I? Or do you still think I’m only teasing you?”

You hesitate, eyeing him warily. A moment ago, yes, you’d started to doubt him in the face of this sudden upheaval. You’d expected at least another day with him, another chance to find the courage to ask about his intentions with you, and now there was so much that was going to go left unsaid. But looking in his face and the grim expression you find there, you realize that he really is serious. Not only was he going to come back without fail, he would come back for you. Not the scenery or the city, or for the duties he carried out for his homeland. This was just his way of making sure you were taken care of in the meantime … and you couldn’t exactly fault him for that.

Finally, you relent. “No, I don’t think that anymore. I believe you.”

“Good.” Breaking out into a wide, eager grin, Childe leans down to kiss you, hard and fast before you can react or swat him away. You flush red hot, stammering something about the others seeing, but he just laughs it off without concern. “Let them see! You are mine, and some day we will stand on top of the world together, mark my words!”

You gape at him in disbelief, hardly even daring to believe your own ears, but he only takes advantage of your shock and confusion to grab your face again. Gently cradling your cheeks between both hands now, he looks at you like you’re something precious and worth protecting, crystalline irises dancing with an inner light that was all his. No exterior illumination seemed to be able to pierce that murky, tumultuous void, but this was something else entirely. It made his eyes look like brilliant diamonds refracting an infinite number of prisms that existed nowhere else on the spectrum and this … it was all for you?

Feeling your resolve irreparably shatter, you lean into him and go up on the tips of your toes so you can kiss him. “I’d like to see that, Childe. I hope you keep your promises.”

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Crossposted to AO3 here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/50380030

#genshin impact #childe #tartaglia #childe x reader #self insert bullshit

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cooliogirl101 · 4 months ago

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(Because I want Reina throwing the canon!verse into chaos)

"Absolutely not. I won't allow it!" Hiashi raged, slamming both hands onto the table.

"Unfortunately, we may have no choice. Konoha cannot afford another war at this moment." The Sandaime sighed, looking every single one of his years at that moment. "Not when we are still recovering from the Kyuubi attack."

"Still, what kind of precedence does this set? That we allow foreign nin to kidnap our children and steal our bloodlines, and yet we are the ones to pay retribution?" Inoichi asked sharply. "You say we cannot afford another war, but surely we also cannot afford to look this weak in front of our enemies."

"What Inoichi said. After what those bloodline-stealing, clouds-for-brains ninja tried to pull? If anything, they should be worried about us declaring war on them," Inuzuka Tsume snarled.

"This move buys us time while we build up strength," Utatane Koharu argued. She shot Hiashi a sharp look. "This wouldn't have been necessary had you the foresight to show a little restraint. I don't know what you were thinking, killing off a high-ranking Kumo nin with diplomatic immunity--"

"He took my daughter--"

"He was evidence--"

"Enough," Hizashi spoke up quietly. "If this will save lives and ensure the safety of the Byakugan, then I am willing. I can think of no more honorable way to serve my village and my clan."

"Try living," a new voice called from outside the doors, a split second before they opened and a vaguely familiar woman walked in. She was startlingly pretty, Hizashi couldn't help but notice-- delicate, almost elvish features, bluish-black hair tied up in a casual twist, deep blue eyes with a hint of mischief within.

Amidst all the ninja stiffening in alarm, Hizashi noticed Uchiha Fugaku letting out a low groan, pinching the bridge of his nose in an uncharacteristic display of emotion.

"Kobayashi-san," the Hokage said, eyeing her with...wariness? What was going on? "This is a classified meeting."

"Yes, you really do need to work on your security seals, Sandaime-sama, they're terribly outdated," she mused. "I do apologize for the intrusion but I admit to feeling rather worried after I overheard this esteemed council seriously consider handing one of Konoha's most valuable dojutsu over to Kumo on a silver platter." She clasped her hands behind her back, offering him a falsely bright smile. "As a tax-paying citizen of Konoha, you'll take my concerns into consideration, I hope."

Across the table, Nara Shikaku snorted at the blatant sarcasm in those words.

"Reina-san--" Fugaku growled. The woman--Reina-- waved at him cheerfully.

"Hi Fugaku-san! Mikoto-chan would like you to pick up some tomatoes on your way back. Sasuke-kun got into the pantry again, so we're out." She shook her head fondly. "That boy, honestly. I don't know what to do with him."

Next to him, Hiashi choked on his spit while most of the room stared at her in disbelief (with the exception of Tsume, who was currently stiffing her laughter behind a fist). With an abrupt start, Hizashi remembered where he'd seen this woman before. It had been a popular topic of gossip the past few days, when the Uchiha Matriarch had, seemingly out of nowhere, struck up a close friendship with a civilian woman who made a living decorating cakes and cookies.

Hizashi glanced at the woman standing calmly in front of them, having effortlessly broken into one of Konoha's most secure buildings, completely unconcerned by being in a room full of Konoha's most powerful and influential ninja.

If she was a civilian, he'd eat his shoes.

"We wouldn't be 'handing the Byakugan over on a silver platter,' girl," Danzo scoffed, narrowing his eyes. "Don't speak of things you don't understand."

"Oh? Because by my understanding, you were planning on sacrificing Hizashi-san's life for his brother's and just hoping the Caged Bird Seal does its job and prevents Kumo from utilizing the Byakuyan," she said sweetly. "The problem with that plan, of course, is that the Caged Bird Seal is an absolute atrocity and an embarrassment to fuuinjutsu, designed by someone who cared more about enslaving his family members than actually protecting his bloodline."

"The Caged Bird Seal is infallible," Hizashi interjected before he could stop himself, voice hoarse. It was infallible because it had to be-- because if it could fail, then his and his son's suffering meant nothing.

An unreadable expression crossed her face.

"Is it?" She asked softly. "Why don't you ask your son that?"

She turned towards the door.

"Neji-kun, come inside for a moment, will you?"

His son walked inside, forehead bare as the day he was born, and Hizashi's world shattered.

"How? How did you remove the Caged Bird Seal?!"

"What, like it's hard?"

"So you've proven that the Caged Bird Seal can be removed," Danzo glared at her. "That does not solve our problem; in fact, it worsens it."

"Danzo is right," the Sandaime agreed. "Kumo will still demand payment in blood and--"

"No, they won't." Reina tilted her head to the side. "Oh, I probably should have started with that. Yeah, they retracted their demand for Hyuuga-san's life, and send along their most sincere apologies for what happened, and their most sincere assurances that they had no idea their head ninja was planning such a thing, blah, blah, blah. You're welcome."

There was a long silence. It was the first time Hizashi had ever seen Sarutobi Hiruzen speechless. He probably would have enjoyed it more had he not been so focused on keeping his own mouth from dropping open.

"Um, excuse me. What?" Inoichi asked, sounding as gobsmacked as Hizashi felt.

"How the hell did you manage that?" Tsume exploded.

"Passed along a message?" Reina shrugged. "Although to be honest, it wasn't so much the content of the message as much as the method of delivery."

"Reina-san," Fugaku said, voice low and laced with dread. "What did you do?"

She grinned, twirling around a very familiar looking kunai-- one that Konoha hadn't seen in a very long time. Next to him, Hiashi drew in a sharp breath.

"Did you know A has one of these just lying around in his office? Probably in an attempt to deconstruct it. But oh man, you should have seen his face when I popped in!" She laughed. "Or should I say, flashed in. Never seen a man turn white so quickly! That was totally worth the motion sickness."

Kumo, after Reina breaks into their Kage’s office with an S-Class jutsu that was thought extinct but still gives like half the ninja world PTSD: I’m sorry Konoha, I wasn’t familiar with your game

(In Reina's world, there's like half a dozen people who know the Hiraishin, although obviously Minato's the best at it. Reina learned because after what happened with Obito and Rin, she wanted a way to teleport instantly to her precious people in order to provide emergency medical care (she also was on standby while Minato was developing it, just in case of any teleporting mishaps/he ended up needing any limbs reattached). She doesn't use it for combat though and dislikes using the jutsu as it gives her motion sickness. Kushina also technically knows it but doesn't have the chakra control to use it effectively. Kakashi and Orochimaru also know how to use it, and Minato plans on teaching Naruto one day as well. Which is a sharp contrast to the canon world, where the number is like zero).

#powerpuff girls au

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zunairaghazalsultan · 23 days ago

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Once Upon a Lifetime

Summary: SasuSaku! RoyalAU. Sakura wins the raffle to become Sasuke's queen - but will she ever win the raffle to his heart?

A/N: Years and years ago, I read The Conspiracy by miko-chan (does she still exist here?), and I've always had this plot bunny in my mind about this AU. Today, after years and years I feel full and inspired enough to have begun writing it. As with all things I put to paper, it became much more dramatic than I had intended (which was a rom-com), but I hope you like it as much as I do.

CHAPTER 1

The palace halls of Nippon Koku had grown quiet in recent months, a far cry from the bustling, vibrant energy they once held under King Itachi Uchiha. Itachi had always been a symbol of peace and stability, a king beloved by the people for his kindness and wisdom. His reign was marked by prosperity, his presence a constant reassurance that the kingdom was in capable hands. He often walked amongst the people, speaking with them, learning their stories, ensuring that they knew their voices were heard. He ruled with a grace that felt innate, as though he had been born for the crown.

But the sickness changed everything.

It began as fatigue, something small that Itachi dismissed for months. But as his health deteriorated, the palace’s publicists worked tirelessly to cover for his absence, feeding the public narratives of his diplomatic missions or strategic retreats. Yet the truth couldn’t be hidden forever. Itachi’s illness—cancer—soon became too severe to mask. His once-vibrant energy was drained by the endless treatments, leaving him pale and frail, a shadow of the king he once was. When the official announcement of his condition was made, it devastated the kingdom. The people mourned the idea of losing a king they had loved so deeply. But even more shocking was the revelation that Itachi would step down permanently. The throne would pass to his younger brother, Sasuke Uchiha.

Sasuke had never been a public figure. While Itachi was warm and approachable, Sasuke was distant, cold, and often appeared angry or solemn in public. Few saw him beyond his stoic exterior, and fewer still believed he could ever fill his brother's shoes. Where Itachi was loved, Sasuke was feared. And fear, as the Uchiha family well knew, could only take a king so far.

Still, Sasuke had prepared for this moment in his own way. Though reluctant to take the throne, he had always been a strategist at heart, one who picked his allies carefully. Before the crown fell on his head, Sasuke had curated his circle with meticulous precision. His personal assistant, Neji Hyūga, was among his most trusted. The Hyūga family, one of the most powerful noble houses in the kingdom, had long held influence in matters of governance and diplomacy. Neji, with his stoic demeanor and unparalleled intellect, was a key asset to Sasuke. While his outward appearance was calm, his mind was always analyzing, calculating, ready to provide counsel at a moment’s notice. His presence was quiet but powerful, a figure of silent authority who moved through the palace with an unspoken grace.

Sasuke had also selected Shikamaru Nara as his publicist. While the Nara family wasn’t as politically powerful as the Hyūgas, Shikamaru’s intellect was unmatched. Known for his laziness on the surface, those who truly understood Shikamaru knew that his mind worked faster than anyone else’s. He saw moves before they were even conceived. Sasuke had chosen him not just for his intelligence, but for his ability to manipulate narratives—to craft the kind of public image that Sasuke sorely needed. It was Shikamaru’s job to turn the kingdom’s doubt into trust, to make the people believe that Sasuke, like his brother, was their rightful king.

And now, in the conference room of the Uchiha Palace, that task had reached its most controversial proposal yet.

The Uchiha council chamber was filled with the murmurs of discontent. Seated around a long mahogany table were the highest-ranking members of the kingdom’s council, ministers, advisors, and the royal family themselves. The polished elegance of the room, with its tall windows and golden drapes, did little to quell the rising tension.

Nippon Koku, one of the most influential kingdoms in the modern world, was a unique blend of tradition and progress. While its monarchy was centuries old, the state also had a powerful parliamentary system, where elected officials played a crucial role in governance. But when it came to the most significant decisions—especially those involving the royal family—the monarchy’s word was still law. The kingdom’s strength came from its strategic trade position, a dominating influence in technology, rare minerals, and military advancements, which had propelled it to one of the top economic powers in the world. Nippon Koku’s wealth was born from a combination of traditional industries and modern trade routes that connected it with every major continent. It thrived on global commerce, naval power, and technological innovation, making it a hub for diplomacy and commerce alike.

And now, the fate of that kingdom was being debated in a room divided by uncertainty.

The debate had been raging for over an hour, with Fugaku Uchiha leading the opposition. Sasuke sat quietly, his hands folded in front of him, watching as voices were raised, tempers flared, and objections poured in from every corner of the table. His calm exterior hid the storm within.

“This proposal is outrageous,” one of the ministers, an elderly man with a greying beard, barked. “We cannot afford to tarnish the royal family’s prestige by choosing a commoner as the future queen. What would the rest of the world think of us?”

“It’s a reckless idea,” another chimed in. “We are already struggling with public sentiment since the announcement of Itachi’s illness. Do you really believe a raffle will strengthen the monarchy?”

Shikamaru, who had been lounging in his chair, let out a quiet sigh, his sharp gaze sweeping across the room. “It’s not about prestige,” he said, his voice cutting through the noise. “It’s about survival. The people aren’t questioning the monarchy because of tradition—they’re questioning it because Sasuke hasn’t connected with them. This raffle would be a bridge between him and the people. It shows them that the king is willing to step down from the pedestal.”

Before anyone could respond, the doors to the chamber swung open, and in strode the Prime Minister of Nippon Koku—Naruto Uzumaki. His entrance was anything but subtle, his vibrant energy seeming to fill the room. Dressed in formal robes, but with a brightness in his eyes that never seemed to dull, Naruto radiated confidence.

“Alright, alright! What’s all this noise about?” Naruto said, his voice booming across the chamber with a mixture of humor and authority. “I can hear you guys arguing from the other side of the palace.” He looked around the room, taking stock of the tension before focusing on Sasuke. “You look like you could use some backup.”

Fugaku’s stern gaze met Naruto’s. “Prime Minister, you surely understand the implications of this proposal. A raffle for a commoner bride? How can we expect the people or the international community to respect such a spectacle?”

Naruto tilted his head, considering the words for a moment before a slow smile spread across his face. “Respect? We’re talking about more than respect, Fugaku-san. We’re talking about trust. And if there’s one thing I know about Sasuke,” he said, glancing at his childhood friend, “it’s that he’s willing to do whatever it takes to make sure this kingdom stays strong. Even if it means breaking tradition.”

Fugaku opened his mouth to protest, but Naruto raised his hand, cutting him off. “The people need to see that Sasuke isn’t just sitting on a throne, hiding behind the palace walls. They need to know he’s willing to make tough decisions for their sake. And let’s be real—the world is watching. They’re watching to see if we’re stuck in the past or if we’re ready to lead the future.”

Naruto took a seat next to Sasuke, giving him a playful nudge on the shoulder. “Besides, don’t you think it would be kind of cool to show that the future queen of Nippon Koku could be one of the people? It sends a message—a strong one. We’re not an old-fashioned monarchy anymore. We’re adaptable. And when we say we value the people, we mean it.”

Fugaku’s eyes narrowed. “You’re saying we should let anyone, just anyone, be considered as the next queen?”

Shikamaru leaned forward, his voice sharp. “No, we’re saying we control the process. It’s not just anyone. It’s anyone who passes a set of strict criteria—a vetting process. Clean medical history, education, intelligence. The people get to think it’s a raffle, but we’re the ones who decide who makes it through. It’s a win-win.”

Naruto grinned. “And let’s not forget, we’re going to have to bring Sasuke back into the spotlight. People haven’t seen much of him. This whole process—interacting with the people, going through the motions of the raffle—puts him front and center. The people will see their king again, and this time, they’ll start to understand him.”

There was a quiet murmur in the room, as the council processed Naruto’s words. The Prime Minister’s vibrant charisma and political savvy had always made him a formidable ally to Sasuke, and despite their opposition, the ministers couldn’t deny that there was a certain appeal to the idea. The kingdom needed unity, and perhaps this was the unconventional answer they hadn’t anticipated.

Neji, who had been standing quietly to the side throughout the entire exchange, finally spoke. His voice was calm, steady, and as always, carried weight. “This plan isn’t without risks, but it addresses a deeper issue. The kingdom is vulnerable right now. This initiative would buy us time. Time to heal the people’s trust, time for Sasuke to establish his rule.”

His words, though few, echoed in the chamber. Even Fugaku seemed to consider them more carefully, his sharp gaze shifting between Sasuke, Naruto, and Neji.

All eyes turned to Sasuke. He had listened in silence, his sharp mind absorbing every word, every argument. Now, his gaze was fixed on his father.

“We’re not running a kingdom on tradition alone anymore,” Sasuke said, his voice low but firm. “The world has changed. We’re a global power because we adapt, because we know how to control the narrative. And right now, that’s what we need. Control.”

He turned his gaze to the entire council, his dark eyes cold and calculating. “Shikamaru’s plan gives us that control. We’ll make the people feel part of the process, while ensuring that we get exactly the bride we need. The world will see us as strong, progressive. We’re not stuck in the past, but we don’t compromise on what matters.”

Finally, Sasuke gave a small, sharp nod. “Run the raffle. But we do it our way.”

The decision hung in the air, final and unchallengeable. The council fell silent, knowing that Sasuke’s word was now law. Naruto leaned back with a satisfied grin, while Shikamaru gave a subtle smirk of approval.

The future of Nippon Koku had just taken an unexpected turn.

#SASUSAKU #ss fanfiction #sasusaku fanfiction #sasuaku #sasuke uchiha #sakura haruno #naruto fandom

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haxorus612 · 2 months ago

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Arknights Pull Priority Guide - Future Event Spoilers

Pull priority guide from post lucent arrowhead to delicious in dungeon collab. Ranked from highest-value operator to lowest, at the end I'll discuss which banners to prioritize.

#1: Stop playing ga cha games

#2: Odda.

brings Ho'olheyak's previously unique niche of a rapid-fire uplift to a five star package. While he's more limited in what enemies he can lift, he more than makes up for it with better uptime and splash AOE. It's rare that 5 stars get to compete directly with 6 stars. For that alone, he's absolutely worth your time. Just like ho'olheyak before him, he's got excellent synergy with one particular IS4 relic.

#3: Nymph.

so far the only applicator of the "fear" status effect, which is distinct from Degenbrecher's frighten. It's a unique status that forces enemies to walk backwards for a short time. It has a lot of potent use cases, especially against slower enemies. Like most of our entrants here, her notable skill has a reasonably low SP cost.

#4: Laios Touden.

a character fully unique to arknights from one of the manhwas, i think it's called "Dig Dug's Dungeon Dining"? It was part of the konami collaboration. Anyway, he, like odda, brings a 6-star utility to a lower rank. Frighten is a fairly powerful effect, fully canceling an enemy's auto-attacks, but on a purely-offensive operator like degenbrecher, it didn't quite have a central place on her kit. Laios has much tankier stats as a dreadnought, and his frighten has a long duration and low SP cost.

#5: Logos

What logos brings to the table is straight out of the matrix: he can slow down and potentially delete nearly any projectile with his s3. It's flashy, and when used cleverly can save you a lot of grief. However, it's hardly applicable to every situation. Some of the most dangerous ranged enemies don't use projectiles at all, and some "projectiles" ignore his skill anyway. It's certainly not universal, but when it's useful, it's fun and powerful.

#6: Ascalon

She doesn't bring anything fully unique, but what she does bring is a bit stronger and weirder than most operators before her. Like Ela, she has a skill that inflicts "accuracy reduction" on enemies, with a 50% chance for any enemy attack to miss instead of Ela's 40%. It has some distinct use cases from dodge, notably stopping certain damage-over-time effects that would result from a hit. On top of that, she can slow aerial enemies with her s2 without damaging them, which looks very funny. Overall, a useful and unique operator.

Honorable mentions: Chilchuck Tims - Unlike Folinic, who only gives herself resistance environmental effects, Chilchuck gives full immunity. He's also kind enough to share with any allies within his range. Ulpianus - Technically the first operator to be able to redeploy himself with a skill, but it's hardly different from just. Y'know. redeploying an operator normally. Can still be very useful, especially when rapidly swapping between lanes. Narantuya - Also applies accuracy reduction to enemies, but despite the infinite application time, its range and chance leaves much to be desired. Instead of a 50%, it's only 20%. Lutonada - Extremely adorable. Also, shifting utility on a defender is completely unique if you've never heard of croissant.

Which Banner Should I Pull On?

While it's easy to get caught up in the hype of a new limited banner, Logos' cool utility is barely applicable to more than a handful of sick compilations. Try to grab someone more reliable, like Laios Touden, who will scream at your enemies! With that in mind, here are my recommendations:

This banner has two of my recommended operators: Pallas' Bodyguard, and the Janitor Director Ascalon, and one of my honorable mentions, Lutonada. 3 for the price of 1 is the best deal you'll get here!

logos banner: He might not be the most widely applicable, but you can't go wrong with something that entertaining. Still, I wouldn't recommend pulling too hard. Missing out on him isn't the end of the world.

HUH??? what? why is grain buds on this banner? what's she doing down there??? omg save this child

Nyumph is also fully unique! She's got style in spades, too, nothing like those bountiful boring blue banners up above.

And with that, we've come to the end of arknights. I did think it was weird that they did end of service on their Fyodor Dostoevsky collaboration, Dungeon In Delicious, but you never really know how these things are going to go aha. Thanks for reading, hope you have a nice day!

This banner has 1 main pick, Laios, and one of my honorable mentions, chilchuck. With 2, that's greater than one, and therefore much higher value than the other banners except ascalon's where you can Definitely pull odda. Really try to pull odda from that one, i dare you. If you don't you can come to my house and break my legs. I'll even post my address under the cut:

#arknights #guide #arknights guide #extremely important #useful information #helpful #informative #hashtag wise #hashtag blessed #hashtag skilled and abilitied #arknights spoilers #spoilers #spoiler warning #spoiler cw #cw: spoilers #Content warning?#content wanring.

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camelliagwerm · 1 month ago

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TREVELYAN I • ARMOUR

for veilguard30 day 2 — armour | with vivienne | 562 words | full collection here

The moment he steps into the main hall, Vivienne is waiting for him.

“Arthur, my dear, you look dreadful.” Gentle chastisement drips from every word as she steps closer to him and between two elegant fingers, plucks a stray leaf off his shoulder and another out of his hair. “We have to do something about this. We cannot have the dignitaries mistake you for the gardener again.”

“Good morning to you too, Vivienne.” He steps gingerly just out of her reach and she tuts once. The simple robes he’d been comfortable in since Haven are filthy, stained with Skyhold’s soil and sap from leaking seeds. Getting the garden growing has become a project of his, an escape from what felt like a never-ending cycle of reports and meetings so he does not burn out. The sooner the nursery grows, the more efficient their potions, tonics and grenades would be, and it’s far more calming than the masked whirlwind of nobles he’s had to try to navigate.

“When we are next in Val Royeaux, I shall have to introduce you to Bastien's tailor and get a proper wardrobe fitted for you. Appearances are important, particularly here in Orlais.”

“I’ve never been much concerned with maintaining the distinction of rank.” Arthur shrugs.

The withering look Vivienne gives him says it all: I am well aware of that. In the last days of the Circle, his fellow First Enchanter had criticised him for not wearing the robes befitting his station, instead favouring the comfortable, familiar and lighter robes he’d worn as the Ostwick Circle’s resident healer. “It is not just about rank, darling. It’s about power. You command an army of the faithful outfitted by the coin of the nobility, and you, personally, have been touched by Andraste. That needs to be reflected in your appearance both in meetings and on the field of battle.”

He wants to insist that the gear Harritt had made him is perfectly functional, with its dull brown leather gloves, boots and the samite scarf, but he knows better than to argue with her; so he keeps his mouth shut as she looks him over like an artist would an empty canvas. “Your armour should be made of a white leather and fabric – whichever fabric you find most comfortable, don't fret– and a golden metal. A circlet to match. We must make sure you fit the image of Andraste’s Herald.”

“Wearing white in battle is a touch impractical, don’t you think?” Just being in the Iron Bull’s general proximity in combat is likely to get him soaked in blood the moment his barriers drop. The thought of all that blood and viscera staining white armour makes him squirm a little.

“A touch of impracticality and indulgence is just what you need, my dear. It sells the role you have to embody. And I think you’ll look rather fetching." She reaches out and takes his arm. “Let us talk to Dagna and Harritt and see what materials they have available. Then I shall arrange that appointment for you.”

He shoots Varric, sitting at his table and sorting through an ever growing pile of letters, a pleading look, mouthing help as Vivienne steers them into the direction of the Undercroft. Varric throws up his hands apologetically as if to say ‘you’re on your own, Miracles’, and Arthur resigns himself to his fate.

#note: it's 02/10 here already and i have an office day ahead. hence why this is out so early lol #*writing #*veilguard30 #oc: arthur

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neonmetro · 5 days ago

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Hey chat I'm sick and the day is definitely not going as well as I thought it would so. . .I ever so kindly beg for a Uly. . .

Honestly this guy needs an award because he is working a full time job in my head with no breaks !!!! Like this man can't even call out sick. . .it's so cute. . .the silly ever. Honestly I think this is going to be Ulysses appreciation because what makes someone feel more better than talking about some silly blorbos. . . NOTHING !!!

He's so pathetic and awful I love it. . .

*slams fist on table* GET ME ALL THE ULYSSES YOU HAVE !!!! STAT !!! /SILLY

-Ulysses loving anon

IT TRULY IS A 24/7 365 DAY JOB HAVING ULY IN YOUR BRAIN THAT GUY JUST INFESTS YOUR GOD FORSAKEN BRAINWORMS!!!!!!

he truly is just. absolutely tired and done with everything. life is just dull without Her, and without Her, he is noman.

i was actually talking about his gender w a friend semi recently and its really interesting part of him... most of his identity really does align with traditional masc expectations, wanting to protect those closest to him and be able to support a family and he's essentially just a trans straight guy but his relationships with sapphics is just different. he doesn't sees them as another facet to himself or a missing piece (even though literally everyone he was close to has died and its his fault he doesn't think he's less of a man gender wise he just doesn't think he's a human period (tho his it pronoun doesn't derive from this. to be clear))

ALSO. pivoting to his friendships. he, polites, and eurylochus have matching hair ribbons...

when polites dies, eurylo takes it while uly takes his out. he can't pretend he deserves it now after what he's done to polites, and eurylo is like "ah... i'll take it for safe keeping, if you ever think you want it again."

NOW. ONTO MINVERVA. IT GETS FUCKED.

the founding purposefully have kids and champions that aren't apart of the founding's bloodline just so they can later use their souls to fuel the palladium to keep their powers/immortality. and they Want contracts w other people so they'll be able to provide better powers/last longer. so having multiple champions, like in the case of minerva (ulysses and diomedes), isn't unusual, its just "efficient"

isn't it fucked that he was slated to be a pig sent to the slaughter and the only way to get out of that fate is to butcher his friend first. isn't that crazy (the friend being minerva or polites is up to audience interpretation)

his relationships with his kids are also really fucked.

telemachus obv is the closest with him and he actively tries to talk to him the most. but also his feelings on his dad are weird. on one hand he's PISSED at him for leaving him and his mom alone and making him suffer so much just because he wasn't there physically or emotionally causing so much repression. but on the other, if he doesn't loves uly, who will? he kind of feels an obligation as uly's oldest kid to set an example for the rest of them for how they should feel about their father.

because telegony (their name is actually telegony but i'll tag them as telegonus bc i don't want to tag that god forsaken book) absolutely DESPISES ulysses. joined enosichthon corp. out of spite. rose through the ranks. out of spite. intruded on a picnic w/ uly and telemachus. out of spite. they spent the absolute least amount of time with their father and it shows. they hate ulysses with all their guts and ulysses just accepts it which makes telegony even *angrier*.

nausinous spent a lot of their childhood with ulysses, so they have a sort of attachment to him... they don't hate them but they see how their half sibling reacts to him and wishes to just... not have him kill himself in front of everyone.

ANYWAYS THAT'S YOUR DESIGNATED ULY CONTENT !!!!! I HOPE YOU FEEL BETTER SOON BTW...!!! (ik this is late... hopefully you feel better soon tho ^^)

#cw eyestrain #ask #oc #novaturient #neon tedtalks #neon's sketchbook #ulysses #odysseus #the odyssey #telemachus #polites #eurylochus #minerva #telegonus #nausinous

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shiorihyuga · 30 days ago

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Diamond Of The First Water

In the aftermath of war, Paradis finds itself in need of powerful alliances. When Emperor Armand of Valoria offers his military aid in exchange for the hand of his daughter, Princess Solina, in marriage, Captain Levi Ackerman is thrust into an engagement that begins as a political strategy but soon becomes something much deeper.

Princess Solina, sheltered from the world and unaware of the realities of love and war, finds herself drawn to Levi—the man known as Humanity’s Strongest Soldier. As they navigate royal customs, public expectations, and the growing threat of Marley, the bond between them deepens into a genuine connection.

But neither Solina nor Levi are prepared for the challenges of a political marriage, the weight of intimacy, and the secrets that lie beneath the surface. As Solina enters a new life with Levi, her naivety is tested, and Levi faces a battle unlike any he’s fought before—the fight to protect his heart.

Can their love flourish in the midst of war, duty, and danger? Or will the forces conspiring against them tear them apart before they can find peace?

Chapter Six

The moment the doors to the more intimate chamber swung open, a subtle shift in the atmosphere occurred. This room, though smaller than the grand audience hall, still held an air of authority. The high ceilings were intricately detailed, with heavy drapery framing the tall windows. The soft glow of the afternoon sun filtered through, casting long shadows across the room’s ornate, marble floors. The Emperor, Lady Solana, Princess Solina, and their entourage settled into their places. The scouts followed suit, each of them standing at attention, their postures sharp and respectful.

The room held a round table in the center, made of dark polished wood, with a map of Paradis and Valoria spread across it. Various markings and notes about the ice burst stone and potential locations for mining were scattered across the surface. The Emperor took his seat at the head of the table, his imposing figure commanding attention without the need for words. Levi, Hange, Armin, and Jean stood on one side of the table, with Levi taking the lead. Lady Solana and Princess Solina sat next to the Emperor, while several high-ranking Valorian officials stood nearby, their eyes keen and attentive.

The Chancellor, who had been quietly observing, now cleared his throat to signal the beginning of the conversation. "As we move forward, it would be best to discuss the details of the proposed mining operation. Captain Levi, I understand that Paradis is cautious about how the ice burst stone is to be extracted."

Levi’s eyes narrowed slightly, his tone measured and firm. “We understand the value of the ice burst stone, and we want to make sure it’s handled properly. The extraction process can be dangerous, and we’ve seen firsthand the devastation caused when it’s mishandled. What are Valoria’s intentions with the stone? We need to be clear about its use.”

The Emperor leaned back slightly in his chair, his gaze cool and calculated as he regarded the scouts. His fingers drummed lightly on the armrest, the only indication of the thoughts swirling behind his stoic expression. “The stone,” he began, his voice smooth and deliberate, “is a resource that will secure the future of both our nations. Its power is undeniable. In the right hands, it could provide protection and advancement for generations.”

His words were vague, almost evasive, offering just enough information to answer the question without truly revealing his plans. Levi’s eyes flickered to Hange, who stood beside him with a thoughtful expression, clearly picking up on the Emperor’s careful wording. The Emperor continued, “Our engineers have studied what limited information we’ve been able to gather from Paradis’ encounters with the stone, and we believe its full potential is far from realized. That is why we are eager to begin mining immediately.”

Hange, never one to shy away from pushing for answers, raised an eyebrow. “You said ‘protection and advancement.’ Does that mean you plan to weaponize it? We need transparency if this alliance is going to work.”

The Emperor’s expression didn’t change, but there was a moment of silence before he replied. “I assure you, our interest in the stone is solely for the benefit of our empire and its allies.” His gaze shifted briefly to Levi, his tone firm as he added, “As for when we plan to begin mining, we intend to do so immediately after Captain Levi and Princess Solina’s wedding.”

At the mention of the wedding, the mood in the room seemed to shift subtly. Lady Solana, who had been quietly watching the conversation unfold, leaned forward slightly, a gentle smile gracing her lips. “Yes,” she said softly, her voice warm but with a touch of formality. “The wedding will take place in a month’s time. We’ve already begun preparations.” She turned her attention to Levi, her gaze soft but steady. “There will be an engagement ball next week, where the alliance between our nations will be announced to the world. It will be a grand affair—world leaders, nobility, and high-ranking officials from all corners of the world will be in attendance.”

Levi, ever the pragmatic soldier, simply nodded in acknowledgment. He wasn’t one for grand ceremonies or formalities, and the thought of an engagement ball felt like an unnecessary distraction. Still, he knew the importance of these events in maintaining appearances and securing the alliance. His gaze remained fixed on the Emperor, his focus still on the conversation about the stone. However, out of the corner of his eye, he couldn’t help but notice Princess Solina.

She had been sitting quietly throughout the conversation, her hands delicately folded in her lap, her posture prim and proper. But every so often, Levi felt the weight of her gaze on him. Each time he turned his head ever so slightly, he would catch her staring. Their eyes would meet, and she would quickly avert her gaze, a slight flush coloring her cheeks as she pretended to focus on something else. It had happened more than once, and Levi, always observant, was quick to notice the pattern.

Princess Solina, for her part, was struggling to keep her composure. She had been told all about Captain Levi—his reputation as Humanity’s Strongest Soldier, his exploits in battle, and his unflinching resolve. But seeing him in person was something entirely different. He was much smaller than she had imagined, but there was an undeniable intensity about him, a presence that seemed to command the room even when he wasn’t speaking. She couldn’t help but steal glances at him, her curiosity getting the better of her. Each time their eyes met, she felt a nervous flutter in her chest, and she would quickly look away, her heart racing.

Levi, despite himself, found the princess’s behavior both puzzling and slightly amusing. She was clearly trying to get a read on him, much like he was trying to do with her, but her shyness was evident in the way she kept retreating whenever their eyes met. For someone who was supposedely one of the most admired women in the world, she seemed remarkably unsure of herself.

The conversation between the Emperor and the scouts continued, but Levi’s mind wandered for a moment, considering the situation he now found himself in. He was to be married to this woman—a woman he didn’t know, in a land that was foreign to him. And yet, despite the strangeness of it all, there was something about the way Solina looked at him that made him wonder. What kind of person was she beneath the royal title and the shy demeanor? Could they truly make this work, or was this destined to be nothing more than a political arrangement?

As the Emperor began discussing the logistics of the mining operation and how Valoria’s engineers would work in tandem with Paradis’ resources, Levi’s attention snapped back to the present. He knew that, regardless of how he felt about the marriage, the alliance, military aid for Paradis, and the stone were what mattered most.

Lady Solana glanced between her daughter and Levi, noticing the stolen glances and the tension in the air. Her smile softened, and she spoke gently, her voice filled with kindness. “Captain Levi, I hope that in the coming weeks, you and my daughter will have the opportunity to get to know one another. The engagement ball is only the beginning, but there will be time to talk and understand each other.”

Levi simply nodded, his expression stoic. “Of course,” he replied, though inwardly he had no idea how this would play out.

The Emperor’s voice once again dominated the room. “For now, let us focus on the immediate matter at hand—securing the future of both Paradis and Valoria through the mining of the ice burst stone.” His eyes flicked to Levi and Hange. “I trust you will cooperate with our engineers once the wedding has passed?”

Hange, ever the tactician, nodded thoughtfully. “We’ll ensure everything is handled smoothly. But we’ll need full transparency during the mining process.”

“Of course,” the Emperor replied smoothly, though Levi could tell that the Emperor was keeping his true intentions closely guarded. The vagueness of his answers and the careful diplomacy in his tone made it clear that this was a man who would do anything to protect his empire’s interests.

As the conversation continued, Princess Solina once again found herself sneaking a glance at Levi, wondering if he had noticed her. Little did she know, he had caught her every time.

Solina found herself unable to keep her eyes off of Captain Levi. Her heart beat faster every time she dared to glance in his direction. He truly wasn’t what she had envisioned when her father had first told her of the arrangement. Stories of the captain described him as Humanity’s Strongest Soldier, a battle-hardened warrior with more victories to his name than any other soldier. She had expected someone imposing, someone grizzled by war, with the weight of years evident in every step. But now, seeing him in person, none of those assumptions seemed to match.

He wasn’t as tall as she had imagined. In fact, he was shorter than most of the men in the room, yet his presence still commanded attention. His compact build, strong and sturdy, reminded her of a coiled spring—poised and ready to strike at a moment’s notice. And despite his reputation, there was a surprising youthfulness to him. Though she had been told he was in his mid-thirties, Levi looked much younger, as if the years of battle hadn’t quite left their mark on his appearance in the way she had expected. He looked like he could have been in his early twenties, not too far from her own age.

Her eyes traced the sharpness of his features—his neatly trimmed hair, short and dark, framing his face. His eyes, however, were what held her attention most. They were cold, calculating, and yet, there was something in them she couldn’t quite place. A depth that told of all the battles he had fought, all the lives he had seen lost. His skin, pale and unmarked, contrasted with the strength she knew was hidden beneath the surface. And then there were his hands. Though he sat with them folded neatly in front of him, she caught glimpses of them as he gestured subtly during the conversation. They were a curious mix—soft-looking in some places, but clearly callused and rough in others, the hands of a man who had fought tirelessly, yet somehow maintained a certain gentleness.

There was a quiet strength about him, a calmness that reminded her of her father. It was an aura of authority that didn’t need to be shouted. It was simply felt. For the briefest moment, Solina wondered if this strength extended beyond the battlefield. Could Levi’s calm resolve translate into something softer, something that could potentially allow them to bridge the gap between duty and affection?

Before she could stop herself, she realized she had been staring—no, studying him—her thoughts completely absorbed by the man who would soon be her husband. Levi’s sharp gaze met hers, and her breath caught in her throat. He was staring back at her, his expression unreadable but clearly aware of her attention. Time seemed to slow, and for a moment, it felt as if they were the only two people in the room. The rest of the world faded into the background as their eyes locked.

A wave of heat rushed to Solina’s cheeks, a faint flush creeping up her neck as she quickly dropped her gaze, mortified that she had been caught. She blinked, trying to gather herself, only to realize that not just Levi, but the entire room had gone quiet. Her heart skipped a beat, and it suddenly dawned on her that everyone—her parents, the scouts, the officials—was staring at her.

The Emperor’s voice cut through the silence, deep and calm, though there was an unmistakable hint of amusement in his tone. “Solina, my dear, I was asking for your thoughts on the engagement ball. Are you feeling prepared for next week’s festivities?”

Solina’s stomach dropped. She hadn’t heard a single word her father had said. She had been so distracted by Levi, so lost in her own thoughts, that she hadn’t even noticed when the conversation shifted. She swallowed hard, her mind racing as she tried to think of a response.

“I—um—yes, Father,” she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper as she glanced around the room, noting the curious and slightly amused expressions on the faces of those around her. “I—I am prepared.”

She could feel the heat in her cheeks intensifying, and she fought the urge to fidget with the folds of her gown. Her hands, normally so graceful, felt clumsy in her lap. She knew she was supposed to say more, something intelligent or thoughtful, but her mind was blank. All she could think about was how Levi was still watching her, his gaze unwavering, as if he were analyzing her every move.

Lady Solana, sensing her daughter’s discomfort, intervened with a kind smile. “It’s been a long day,” she said smoothly, turning to the Emperor. “I’m sure Solina is simply tired. There’s still much to prepare, but everything will be in place for the ball.”

The Emperor nodded, his eyes softening slightly as he looked at his daughter. “Of course,” he said gently. “You’ve done well, Solina. There’s no need to worry.”

Solina nodded mutely, grateful for her mother’s intervention, though she still felt the weight of embarrassment hanging over her. She dared another glance at Levi, wondering what he must think of her. A foolish princess, distracted by her own thoughts during an important meeting. But when their eyes met again, she saw something unexpected in his gaze—a flicker of understanding, or perhaps even amusement, as if he found her flustered state mildly entertaining.

She quickly looked away again, her heart hammering in her chest. This was going to be a long engagement if she couldn’t even manage to focus in his presence.

The conversation resumed, the room returning to its usual formality, but Solina’s mind remained elsewhere. She couldn’t shake the feeling that this marriage—this strange, unexpected union—was going to be far more complicated than she had imagined.

Levi, meanwhile, silently observed her from across the room, his sharp mind cataloging every nuance of her behavior. He noticed the way her eyes flitted nervously, the slight flush on her cheeks, and how she seemed both determined and unsure at the same time. She was nothing like he had expected, and that intrigued him. For all her shyness and inexperience, there was something about her that drew his attention—something he couldn’t quite place yet.

But one thing was clear: Princess Solina was more than just a pawn in this political game. There was a depth to her, and though Levi wasn’t one to dwell on emotions or personal connections, he found himself wondering if perhaps there was more to this engagement than mere duty.

As the meeting continued and plans for the upcoming wedding and mining of the ice burst stone were discussed, Levi couldn’t help but think that this—this strange alliance, this unexpected marriage—might prove to be more complicated and, perhaps, more interesting than he had initially anticipated.

The atmosphere shifted slightly as the Emperor continued speaking, his voice calm and composed, but the weight of his words held a different kind of gravity now. “As part of this alliance,” Emperor Armand began, his eyes steady on Levi and the other scouts, “Valoria will send full military support to Paradis after the wedding. This support will not only protect your island but strengthen your regiments. We understand the dangers your people face, and we will provide what is necessary to secure a lasting peace.”

Levi gave a small nod, showing no surprise. This was part of the initial deal, after all—the price for the marriage and the right to mine the ice burst stone. The Emperor’s promise of full military backing was expected, but hearing the details now made the weight of the agreement feel more real.

“We'll need the support,” Hange said thoughtfully, her hand absently touching her chin. “With Marley on edge, Paradis can't afford to stand alone. Having Valoria's military could tip the balance in our favor.”

The Emperor's expression didn’t waver. “Indeed. But more than just sending troops, we’ll be incorporating our most skilled warriors and tacticians to assist your regiments.”

At this, Lady Solana quietly motioned to an attendant standing by the door. “Please, fetch Prince Solomon,” she requested, her voice gentle but firm. Her gaze turned back to the scouts with a hint of pride. “My son, Solomon, will be overseeing these military efforts.”

The scouts exchanged brief glances, recognizing the significance of this. Prince Solomon, the heir to the throne, personally leading the Valorian military in Paradis was not just a symbol of trust, but a calculated power move. It was clear that Valoria intended to be deeply involved in the future of Paradis, securing not just an alliance, but a foothold.

Levi’s eyes flicked toward Lady Solana, then back to the Emperor. He could feel the weight of what this meant. Having a foreign prince in charge of military operations on Paradis soil would likely come with its own set of challenges, but Levi didn’t show any outward reaction. It was just another obstacle to navigate, like so many others.

Hange, never one to shy away from asking questions, leaned forward slightly. “We’ve heard Prince Solomon is one of Valoria’s best soldiers,” she said, her tone casual but curious. “What exactly will his role be in our military operations?”

Before the Emperor could respond, the door opened, and Prince Solomon entered the room.

Solomon was every bit as commanding as the scouts had imagined. He was tall and broad-shouldered, his frame accentuated by the crisp lines of his decorated military uniform. His red hair was cut short, much like his father’s, and his sharp green eyes seemed to take in everything at once. He carried himself with the confidence of a man who had been born and raised to lead.

Solomon approached the group with long, purposeful strides, his gaze briefly passing over each scout before it landed on Levi. There was no mistaking the tension in the air as the two men sized each other up. Levi, known for his lack of reaction to most things, met Solomon’s gaze with his usual unflinching calm, though he could feel the weight of the Crown Prince’s scrutiny.

The Emperor, sensing the unspoken challenge, broke the silence. “Captain Levi, this is my son and the Crown Prince of Valoria, Solomon. He will be overseeing our military efforts in Paradis, ensuring that our forces are integrated into yours efficiently.”

Solomon gave a curt nod in greeting, his expression serious as he addressed Levi directly. “Captain Levi,” he said, his voice even but firm. “I’ve heard much about you. Humanity’s Strongest Soldier.” There was a subtle challenge in his tone, as if he were testing Levi’s reputation already. “I look forward to working alongside you.”

Levi, his expression as unreadable as ever, nodded in return. “Likewise.”

There was a brief pause as the two men assessed each other. Solomon, though formal, was clearly trying to gauge Levi’s strength, perhaps trying to see if the stories of his prowess were exaggerated. Levi, on the other hand, was merely sizing up another obstacle. He’d dealt with soldiers, commanders, and royalty before, and Solomon was no different in his eyes.

Solomon moved to have a seat next to his mother, and as the meeting continued, the formalities unfolded with precision, but an underlying tension hovered in the air, especially for Prince Solomon. Solomon watched the scouts with a careful, guarded expression, particularly Levi. He listened to the exchange between his father and the Paradis soldiers without interruption, but his thoughts were elsewhere. The idea of his little sister being married off to a man from a distant and unknown land unsettled him.

Though Solomon respected his father’s decision, the fact remained that Solina was about to be thrust into a world far removed from the comfort and security of Valoria. No matter what political benefits the marriage might bring, no matter how crucial the alliance was, it didn’t sit right with Solomon to let his sister move to such an unfamiliar and isolated place by herself.

That was why Solomon had volunteered to lead the Valorian military contingent in Paradis himself. He wasn’t going to leave Solina’s future to chance or leave her unprotected in a place surrounded by unknown threats. If Solina was to marry Levi Ackerman, Solomon wanted to see for himself whether this man—this supposed "Humanity's Strongest Soldier"—was even worthy of her.

Solina, sitting quietly beside her mother, watched the her brother stare down Captain Levi. She knew Solomon’s protectiveness all too well—he had always looked out for her, ever since they were children. Even now, as the Crown Prince, with countless responsibilities, he still made time for her, ensuring that she was never left vulnerable or alone. It warmed her heart to know that he cared so deeply, but it also made her nervous. She appreciated his presence, but she didn’t want him to think poorly of Levi.

Levi’s gaze, while focused on Solomon, had the slightest flicker toward Solina, catching her watching them. Solina quickly averted her eyes, feeling a mix of embarrassment and warmth at the same time. Her brother had always been her protector, and though she was grateful for it, this situation was different. She was about to enter a new phase of her life, and no amount of protectiveness could shield her from the reality of what lay ahead.

The Emperor, sensing the silent tension between Solomon and Levi, smoothly continued the conversation. “Prince Solomon will ensure that Valoria’s military presence in Paradis strengthens all three of your regiments—the Survey Corps, the Garrison, and the Military Police. He is one of Valoria’s most decorated soldiers, and I have full confidence in his ability to lead alongside your forces.”

Armin, ever the strategist, nodded thoughtfully. “That would greatly bolster our defenses, especially given the looming threat of Marley.”

Solomon, tearing his gaze away from Levi, addressed the room more broadly now. “Our forces will be fully prepared to assist. We have trained extensively for combat in various terrains, and our strategic advisors will work with your commanders to ensure that every regiment is fortified.”

The conversation resumed, focusing on the logistics of military deployment and strategy, but Solina’s mind was still on Levi and her brother. She appreciated that Solomon cared so deeply for her, that he was willing to leave Valoria to make sure she was safe in Paradis. Yet, she couldn’t help but feel a twinge of anxiety. Her brother might not think Levi was good enough for her, but from what she had seen so far, she wasn’t so sure. There was something about Levi, something in the way he held himself, in his quiet strength, that gave her a sense of reassurance she hadn’t expected.

Solomon cast one last glance at Levi before turning his attention fully to the discussion at hand. Solina, still sneaking glances at Levi, felt a small sense of comfort in knowing that no matter what happened, her brother would always be looking out for her. But as her eyes drifted back to Levi, she wondered if perhaps he might be the protector she needed in the future.

For now, though, it was clear that both men would be carefully watching each other—one, a prince determined to protect his sister at all costs; the other, a soldier who had sworn to carry out his duty, no matter what that entailed.

…

The meeting finally drew to a close, the weight of decisions made hanging over the room. The Valorian officials, along with the Chancellor, bowed politely to the Emperor before making their exit. The large double doors shut with a soft thud, leaving behind a sense of quiet relief that the formal discussions had ended for now. The Emperor and Lady Solana remained seated, along with their children, Solomon and Solina, and the scouts.

The Emperor stood slowly, his posture as dignified as ever, and offered a cordial nod to the scouts. “I trust the discussions today were fruitful. You will be shown to your quarters where you can get some rest and prepare for this evening’s banquet.”

Lady Solana smiled warmly, her gaze softening as it fell on Solina, who sat demurely beside her. “Yes, please rest while you can. Tonight, you’ll meet the rest of our family,” she said gently, her eyes flickering with maternal affection before she looked back at Levi and the others.

Prince Solomon, however, still hadn’t fully shaken off the protective tension he felt toward his sister. His green eyes continued to assess Levi, subtly sizing him up once more, as if testing him with every glance. His thoughts were clear: Is this the man worthy of my sister?

Lady Solana, noticing her son’s behavior, let out a soft sigh of exasperation and scolded him lightly. “Solomon,” she said in a hushed tone, “enough. Captain Levi will be your sister’s husband, and you must give him a chance. This is not the time to challenge him.”

Solomon’s lips tightened, but he gave a curt nod, stepping back slightly and keeping his thoughts to himself. His protective instincts for Solina remained strong, but he understood his mother’s point. His eyes briefly met Levi’s, and though the intensity remained, there was a begrudging respect that flickered there, acknowledging Levi’s calm and unshakable demeanor.

The Emperor, noticing the subtle exchange, shifted the conversation. “You are all invited to join us for dinner tonight in the main banquet hall,” he said, his voice steady but filled with purpose. “There, you will meet my other consorts and all of my children.”

Levi glanced at the Emperor, nodding his acceptance. Formal dinner with the entire imperial family was a strategic opportunity, not just a social gathering. The scouts were aware of the politics involved, and Levi, especially, understood that this would be a chance to observe the dynamics of the Valorian royal family firsthand.

The Emperor continued, his tone becoming slightly more personal. “Captain Levi,” he said, his eyes resting on him for a moment, “I would like to give you and my daughter, Princess Solina, a chance to speak tonight in a more relaxed setting. The formality of these discussions may have overwhelmed her, and I believe it is important that you both have an opportunity to know each other beyond these political meetings.”

Levi’s gaze flicked toward Solina, catching her shy, downcast eyes for a moment before she quickly looked away again, flustered. He could sense her nervousness, and her inability to keep her eyes from wandering toward him throughout the meeting hadn’t gone unnoticed. It was clear she was trying to make sense of the man she was meant to marry, just as much as he was trying to understand her. The Emperor seemed pleased by Solina’s reactions, as if her intrigue, combined with her flustered nature, reminded him of his own early days with Lady Solana.

Indeed, the Emperor’s smile softened ever so slightly. “In fact,” he added, his gaze turning warm as he glanced between Levi and his wife, “Solina’s behavior reminds me quite a bit of how Lady Solana was when we first met.”

Lady Solana chuckled at the memory, her face lighting up with affection as she looked at her husband. “I was just as nervous as Solina, if not more,” she admitted with a playful tone. “But look where we are now.” She turned to Levi, her eyes twinkling with excitement. “Captain Levi, tonight you’ll have the pleasure of hearing Solina play the harp. She’s been practicing a beautiful piece especially for this evening.”

Hange, who had been quietly observing, perked up at this, her curiosity evident. “Oh? The harp? I’ve heard Princess Solina is a virtuoso. I’d love to hear her play.”

Lady Solana nodded, beaming with pride. “She is,” she said softly, looking fondly at her daughter. “Music has always been her greatest passion, and she has spent years perfecting her craft.”

Levi remained outwardly stoic, but he couldn’t deny that he was intrigued. He had heard much about Solina’s musical abilities, and it seemed that she was not only a princess but also someone with a true artistic gift. For a brief moment, he wondered what her music would sound like. Would it be as shy and delicate as she seemed, or would there be a hidden depth and strength in her playing?

“I look forward to it,” Levi said simply, though there was a sincerity in his tone that didn’t go unnoticed.

Princess Solina’s face turned a shade pinker at his words, her heart fluttering with nervousness and anticipation. She had never performed in front of someone like Levi before—someone who wasn’t from her world of royalty or politics but from the battlefield, someone hardened by war and violence. Yet, the thought of sharing her music with him, of letting him see a part of her that wasn’t defined by duty, made her feel slightly less afraid of what was to come.

The Emperor stood, signaling the end of the conversation. “Very well, I will have the attendants escort you to your quarters. Take some time to rest and refresh yourselves before the banquet. We shall meet again tonight.”

As the scouts stood to follow the attendants, Levi glanced once more at Solina. She was still trying—and failing—to avoid looking at him, but this time, when their eyes met, she held his gaze for just a moment longer than before. There was something unspoken in that brief exchange—a curiosity, perhaps even a small spark of hope that this arrangement, though political, might not be as cold and distant as it seemed.

With that, the scouts left the room, and the Valorian family watched them go, each member with their own thoughts about what the future held for their empire and this newfound alliance with Paradis.

Tonight, the real test would begin.

…

As the scouts made their way down the long corridors of the palace, they were escorted by the same attendants who had greeted them earlier. The opulence of the palace had lost none of its initial impact—everything from the polished marble floors to the grandiose tapestries hanging on the walls spoke of Valoria’s wealth and power. The soft clinking of their boots on the floor echoed through the halls as they were led to their quarters. The discussions had been heavy, and now that the formalities had passed, the weight of it all began to settle in.

Once inside their assigned quarters, a large, well-furnished suite with soft beds and elaborate decor, the scouts finally had a moment to relax. Hange, ever the bundle of energy, was the first to speak.

“Well, that was quite the introduction, wasn’t it?” she said with a grin, plopping down on one of the plush chairs. “The Emperor, Princess Solina, Lady Solana, Prince Solomon—all of them are something else. Valoria is unlike anything I imagined.”

Armin nodded thoughtfully as he looked around, still processing the grandeur of the palace. “It’s incredible. I mean, we knew Valoria was powerful, but seeing it firsthand—it's a whole different experience. The Emperor is clearly a calculated man, but I think he’s genuinely interested in securing this alliance. For now, at least.”

Jean, who had been standing by the window and peeking out at the bustling palace grounds, turned back to the group. “Yeah, but what about Prince Solomon? Did you see the way he was eyeing Levi? It was like he was trying to figure out if you were worth anything, Captain.”

Hange chuckled at that, glancing at Levi. “Well, I suppose it’s only natural. You are going to marry his little sister. Can’t blame the guy for wanting to size you up.”

Levi, who had been mostly quiet throughout the walk back, leaned against the wall, arms folded across his chest. He hadn’t missed the scrutiny from Solomon, nor did it particularly bother him. What was on his mind, however, wasn’t Solomon or even the Emperor’s plans. It was Princess Solina.

Throughout the meeting, he had noticed many things about her—subtle, quiet observations that seemed to gather in his mind the more he thought about her. Solina had been trying to hide her nervousness, but it was clear in her shy glances, the way she had fidgeted ever so slightly in her seat, and how she had been caught off guard when her father had asked her a question. She seemed unused to situations like this, where so much was expected of her.

Levi’s thoughts drifted to her appearance—how delicate she seemed in that pink gown, her red hair cascading down her back in soft curls. It wasn’t just her physical beauty that struck him, though it was undeniable. Her hair was vibrant, like a fire, and her skin had a soft, porcelain quality to it. But it was her eyes that held his attention. Green, like the deepest forest, and yet, behind their shyness, there was something else. Curiosity, perhaps. A quiet strength, hidden beneath the surface.

He also couldn’t help but think about the way she had looked at him, sneaking glances when she thought he wouldn’t notice. Each time he caught her, her face flushed with embarrassment, but there was something about it that didn’t feel just like awkwardness. She seemed intrigued by him—curious, just as he was about her.

“She’s definitely not what I expected,” Levi muttered, almost to himself.

Hange, ever the nosy one, perked up at Levi’s comment. “Oh? And what exactly did you expect, Levi?”

Levi shot her a glance but didn’t rise to the bait. “Someone more… formal. She’s quiet, shy. Not used to this kind of pressure.”

Armin, who had been observing Levi, smiled slightly. “Well, it’s not easy being thrown into a political marriage. She’s probably just as nervous as you are, Levi. She’s never even met anyone from Paradis before.”

Jean snickered. “Nervous? Levi? I think it’s more like she’s terrified. The poor girl couldn’t even look at you without turning red.”

Levi didn’t respond, but the memory of Solina’s flustered reactions flashed in his mind. He wasn’t used to people being so easily unnerved around him—especially someone from a royal family. She was young, probably no more than a few years younger than him, and he wondered if this marriage would be just another burden placed on her shoulders, another duty she had to fulfill.

“What did you think of her, Levi?” Hange asked, her curiosity piqued. She leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees. “I mean, you are going to marry her, after all.”

Levi paused for a moment, choosing his words carefully. “She’s… different from what I imagined,” he finally said. “Not just because of how she looks. She’s nervous, yeah, but there’s something else. She’s curious.”

Armin nodded. “I think she’s trying to understand this situation just as much as you are. It can’t be easy for her either—moving to Paradis, marrying a soldier she’s never met. I bet she’s feeling the pressure.”

Levi sighed quietly, pushing off from the wall and standing up straighter. “Maybe. It’s not like we’ve got much of a choice in this. Neither of us do.”

Despite his usual reserved nature, Levi couldn’t deny that Solina had left an impression on him. He had spent years on the battlefield, hardened by war and loss, and yet here was this shy, quiet princess who was about to be tied to him for the sake of politics. She seemed fragile in some ways, yet he sensed there was more to her than just her nervousness and beauty. He was intrigued by her, though he wasn’t sure why just yet.

Armin’s voice broke through his thoughts. “Well, tonight’s dinner should be interesting. We’ll meet the rest of the royal family, and we’ll get to see how they all interact. Plus, we’ll get to hear Princess Solina play the harp. That’ll give us a better sense of her.”

Levi nodded, his thoughts now on the dinner ahead. “Yeah. We’ll see.”

As the conversation wound down, Levi found himself alone with his thoughts once more. Tonight, he would not only meet more members of this foreign family, but he’d also have the chance to observe Solina further. Maybe, just maybe, he’d get a clearer picture of who she really was—beneath the crown and the expectations.

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dbgdbw · 1 year ago

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272.Changeling (2)

체인질링 (2)

That ‘hi’ meant it should be the Jellyfish bastard, but the hell was with ‘appa’.

Could it be, that one of our kids had made it here. …but since that wasn’t likely, I assumed it was probably that Jellyfish asshole messing around in my memories, when the fog suddenly began to pick up around me. It raged, as though it was just about to swallow me whole; yet, as though held back back by an invisible barrier, it only circled around my vicinity. And then, the magical energy in my body began to be sucked away. Towards my chest. To where the chest wound was.

Ordinarily, I would’ve passed out long ago, but for some reason I was alright. Though I wasn’t certain where it might be coming from, an endless supply of mana–wait, hold on.

‘Eunhae.’

I recalled Eunhae’s power, that had been used to restore my body. Just in case, I took a look at Eunhae’s Item description window.

[ Yoo Eunhae - L-rank

A sword born from the magic stone of the Great General Dragon Lord Shalos. A young Wellspring of Mana (access limited to contract holder).

Contract Holder - Han Yoojin ]

Wellspring of Mana(1). A description that had definitely been absent at first had appeared. Myungwoo had mentioned that it was an evolution-capable Item, but did it mean that it could develop abilities the way it had here, then. It seemed that it had swallowed a portion of the Mana Hole’s strength.

It was probably impossible, normally, but well, since Eunhae had been born from Shalos, who had been a Maker. Then, did that mean that I’d no longer have to worry about running out of mana.

Even throughout all this, the magic stone in my chest continued to siphon away more mana. As though it had long been holding back until now, relentlessly. And then.

“...this place is.”

The surrounding environment shifted. A familiar ceiling and walls, sofa, table–those things came into sight. It was the residence at the rearing facility. Of course, it couldn’t be the real thing, but even the long scratch gouged into the wall had been perfectly replicated in full. There were an assortment of other touches besides that, too. Though it was a place that could still be considered a ‘new house’, with so many inhabitants, it did appear to be lived-in about three or so years, at a passing glance.

Though the majority of the marks had been left by the monsters, there were ones that Yoohyunie and Yerimie had been responsible for, too. When I pulled open the drawers to check just in case, I was greeted with a pile of new cellphones that hadn’t even been removed from their packaging. The top one was dedicated to Yoohyunie, while the bottom one was for Yerimie. Because Yerimie had preemptively mentioned disliking ‘the prospect of using the same phone as Han Yoohyun’, and then Yoohyunie had agreed, the back-up phones were different models each.

‘It sure does feel realistic.’

Was it a dreamscape, conjured up by the fog. Then, inspecting things more closely would probably only result in the illusion’s hold strengthening. Closing the drawers, I scanned my surroundings.

“It’s been a long while, so let’s do this with a chat, shall we. Not using Yoohyunie’s appearance again, though. Same goes for the others. Since we’re inside a Dungeon, besides, the restrictions should be loosened, right.”

Let’s get a good look at your face for once. Back then, all I’d been able to glimpse had been a form that resembled a strange jellyfish.

“Appa.”

“What d’you mean, ‘ap–’... W-who’re you?”

It was a little kid. A small child that looked to be about four years old, with pink-tinged silvery locks and golden eyes, had come to stand before me at some point. Could it be, that that was the Jellyfish’s original form. It was unnecessarily cute. Had it intentionally utilized that form, after ascertaining that I held a softness for children…….

“D-don’t call me appa!”

Didn’t you have a conscience! Even though you’d likely lived hundreds, or maybe even thousands of years more than I had. The child canted its head in an inquisitive gesture. It was cute, like a fairy, but I couldn’t let myself get caught up by that.

“Then, Yoojin-goon.”

“It’s completely out of place!”

“Yoojin-ah.”

“...don’t pretend like you’re close to me.”

“Yoojin-ssi.”

“Why don’t you just shift into an adult, huh?”

Having a little kid refer to me like that, regardless of what the original goods might’ve been, it felt unsettling after all.

“Then, Master?”

Abruptly, goosebumps broke out over my flesh. I felt like a heinous criminal, the likes of which being beaten to death would be too good for. After internally shrieking are you crazy!, I schooled my face into a sneer.

“Don’t say that kind of shit with that form! Why don’t you use a shape that suits your age, Innocuous King.”

“I’m not the Innocuous King, though.”

“...what?”

You weren’t? Hastily, I used the Sapling Skill. The silver-locked child’s status window popped up before my eyes.

[ Illusory Fairy Dragon - Changeling

Current Stat Rank ?

Maximum Stat Rank Possible ?

Optimized Initial Skill

As You Wish(?) Obtained ](2)

…what was all this. ‘Fairy Dragon’, ‘Changeling’? Not just the rank, but even the Skill had a question mark attached to it. And what was ‘As You Wish’ supposed to be. Why had this guy suddenly appeared.

Now that I thought about it, the magic stone in my chest didn’t seem to be absorbing any more mana, either. I settled a hand over the area where the wound lay. Could it be.

“You, perhaps.”

The little kid, Changeling, beamed.

“Wait, hold on. It’s a dragonkin, yeah, but… Isn’t it too different, still!”

When two Curse-Poison type dragonkin had been synthesized together, how did that result in a Fairy Dragon. It didn’t resemble neither Diarma nor either of the dragonoids, not even a little bit. And though a fragment of Sung Hyunjae had gone into it as well… Hold on. Didn’t it resemble that asshole, kind of? Hadn’t you said that the fragment shouldn’t have any influence on it!

“I was developed the way Master desired of me.”

“I told you not to call me that! The ‘way I desired’, I…….”

I couldn’t finish the thought. I’d, my objective. Dammit, in any case, if it was a Fairy Dragon, that meant that the <Lauchitas’ Natural Enemy> wouldn’t affect it. And its Stats were still question marks, besides.

“To be able to retrieve Han Yoohyun.”

My heart fell.

“Re, trie…ve?”

“Mhn.”

“H-how, w-would I.”

The inside of my throat felt arid. It was way too jarring. To the point that it felt frightening, how much pure joy those words inspired.

“Since you’d grown it to achieve that goal. Me, I mean.”

“I’d, all I did was use Diarma’s Skill, to combine the magic stones.”

“But appa’s a Nurturer. A Nurturer, who holds the ability to ‘raise’. To change the trajectory of their growth in the way you desire.”

“...then, so long as I wish for it.”

“It’s not unconditional. You can’t change the foundational essence. The growth of a fish could be influenced, for example, to have its fins evolve into wings, but you wouldn’t be able to turn it into a real bird. But, since I inherited a ‘changeling’ nature.”

The young child’s form shifted. Growing to tower above me in height, a familiar appearance materialized. Only the hair color alone was different; it was Sung Hyunjae.

“A ‘nature’ that had been processed through countless worlds, covertly planted into those worlds as though he were its denizen. And as I hadn’t been born with a determined form, but had rather been raised from a magic stone, I’m able to transform as my Nurturer wishes.”

The Changeling shifted back into the form of a young child. Attempting to calm my racing heart, I tossed out a random question as a diversion.

“Your appearance, is that also something I wished for? But I’d wanted something closer to Diarma or a dragonoid’s form.”

That had definitely been the case. Since, that would make what I had to do easier to carry out.

“I can take on that form too. But appa doesn’t like it, right. I don’t want to be disliked. I’ll grant your wish, so don’t hate me.”

“...I don’t hate you.”

I’d wanted to keep from liking you, is all. I took in a deep breath. That <Perfect Nurturer> Title.

“That, I could do something like that–I had no clue.”

“Since it would’ve been dangerous, if you’d known. The reason why the Reprobates won’t explain in depth about Titles and Skills, is probably ‘cause of that too. Since if it gets discovered by a Transcendent with a memory-reading Skill and gets out, then everyone’ll be after appa for certain.”

“Then having that knowledge like this is dangerous too!”

When that Jellyfish bastard was still after me, even now–the prospect of their ranks increasing sparked dread, just to imagine. They might lay their sights on those around me, to use them as leverage. Would I have to erase my memories, however possible.

“Since I’ve woken now, it’s alright. They can’t interpose.”

“Ah, now that I’m thinking about it, the Newcomer was forced to send me into the virtual reality World using my real body because of you, too. …will it be fine as long as the Reprobates keep their mouths shut, then.”

“The Reprobates probably aren’t aware of the finer details either, to begin with.”

Gently floating into the air, the Changeling drifted to my side. A semi-translucent wing of sorts seemed to flutter behind its back, too.

“Go ahead and pull up the Title.”

As the Changeling had bid, I opened up the status window.

[ Perfect Nurturer(L)

Proof of being a Nurturer who has raised a powerful entity of unparallelled prowess the world over. As their past ability threshold surpassed the blood-tie Nurtured’s current abilities+100%, made all the more perfect by that virtue. ](3)

“The description you see at first on a Title or Skill is whatever the Reprobates assume and write down, right. This is the same, too.”

“...you, can you see my status window?”

“Mhn. Appa’s, I can see. We’d kept looking at it together, right.”

“Huh? Then, the keyword too!”

“I’m already affiliated with appa, now, so it’s okay. Though I probably can’t be buffed.”

Saying that there was no need to worry, since it would definitely keep mum, it pointed at the Title description with a finger.

“I can’t intervene completely either, so I’ll just bring the true essence forth for this. It should be possible, since it’s appa’s, and a Title that’s imparted a direct influence on my development.”

As the Changeling finished speaking, the Nurturer status page turned indistinct for a moment before coming back into sharp relief.

[ Perfect Nurturer(L)

A Nurturer, whom a born S-rank Awakened loved; enough to knowingly sacrifice his own life. ]

My eyes ran over that short description again and again, continuously. The status window blurred once more. I blinked my eyes hard–once, twice.

“Bringing, him back is a viable option then. But, I’d been told that, as an existence that had already been cut off… That it would be impossible…….”

“Since it means that any connection he’d had to this world had been lost, ordinarily, it would be impossible to bring him back safely because of the resistance it would encounter. But that just means that the process needs to be reinforced by a power greater than that exerted by the resistance.”

A greater power. I couldn’t even quite fathom how immense it would have to be. Even for the Transcendents, if they attempted to enter a different World without preparation, it’d been said that the majority of their power would be taken away. So that meant that, at minimum, it would require a power great enough to contest them to safeguard Yoohyunie, to keep him protected.

If that was possible,. To bring him back whole.

“T-then, right now, at once–!”

“But, appa.”

Golden eyes looked straight into my own.

“It can protect this world, too.”

My racing heart slowed, settling. I’d been trying to avoid thinking about it. The fact that, if it was a strength great enough to bring back my dongsaeng, that it should be capable of comparable feats as well.

“Chatterbox is raising a ruckus in the System, and the Innocuous King is carrying out a methodical destruction of the Dungeons. Left this way, it’s only a matter of time before appa’s World starts feeling the repercussions, too. Since every World possesses the power to rebuff invasion, but there’s a limit to that. Once the Innocuous King chips away at enough of it to cause the protective strength to weaken, the other Transcendents will find it easier to interfere.”

“...alright.”

The Changeling’s voice flitted through my ears without properly registering, but I still nodded my head perfunctorily.

“I’ve got to stop it, is what you’re saying.”

“There’s no reason for appa to have to be the one taking responsibility.”

“Since it’s me that they’re after. It’s because of me. Why are they even going so far. The Jellyfish bastard. Shouldn’t it be paying a price.”

“It’s nearly guaranteed she’ll end up paying a very hefty one. It seems that she’s caught on, most likely. Since Sigma becoming ‘real’ was made possible by the Nurturer’s strength.”

“...what? Since I, who’d entered with my real body, had acknowledged him, because of that.”

The Changeling shook its head.

“The recognition does have an influence to an extent, yes. But even if it’s to a lesser degree than me, Sigma also has ‘a changeling’s nature’. Appa ‘raising’ him in that respect, held the bigger impact. Enough to enable him to change into becoming ‘actualized’. Though she probably hasn’t pinpointed the exact reason why, the Innocuous King has likely picked up on the fact that appa’s very special.”

It was because of that, that she was still forging ahead even with the prospect of falling asleep for several hundred years or losing a non-insignificant portion of her strength looming over her, the Changeling said.

“...so, in the end, it’s because of me. You should’ve just told me to save the world from the start, in that case.”

Resentment seeped out, despite myself. A small hand touched my cheek. Though it was faintly chilly, it still felt soft.

“It’s okay to end things after doing what appa wants, too. It’s a World that would have fallen to ruin. You don’t need to burden yourself over it any further.”

Having recovered my dongsaeng, and brought him into my arms. That it would be fine to end like that. Yeah–originally, that’s how it should have ended. Having returned to Yoohyunie’s side, without ever having been able to leave the Dungeon.

Just like that.

“...because there’s, too many people waiting.”

Though there shouldn’t have been anything. Though I wouldn’t have had anything to regret, if it’d been pre-regression.

“You’re aware too, right. There’s a person who’s promised me he wouldn’t change. He’ll spurn it this time, too. Since he’s someone who’ll at least keep his promises.”

He should continue to wait, right. As promised.

“Noah-ssi, too. Even if I can’t do much for him, at the very least, I don’t want to be the one to leave him first. I want to continue to support him from behind.”

He, who was still young, still fledgling–how he might change, I didn’t know either. But when he had to venture out after a respite, even if he misstepped or made the wrong choice, I wanted to at least become a base to where he could return. To reassure him that it was still alright, that he could do what he wished to do.

“Yerimie’s still immature, too. And I’d promised to raise the elemental for her, besides. When she’s only just started to enjoy coming into her own, as of late.”

I didn’t want to let things come to an end here. When she was only going to continue soaring higher, going forward, to heights I couldn’t even conceive.

“Myungwoo should be fine, but he’d be worried about me. Doing nothing but continuing to make him worry, that’s not okay, right. When he’s probably waiting outside. With Chirpie and Velare, too. As well as the other humans, and magical beasts.”

I’d have to show him how Eunhae had evolved. And in addition to that, when the Reprobates weren’t even that trustworthy, I felt reluctant to leave Myungwoo to them.

“Peace, too. He’s always trailing after me, as loyal as anything, y’know. If he’d been captured and brought over on the basis of his usability as a mount, at the very least, shouldn’t I take responsibility. Isn’t that proper. And, not to mention.”

Above all else.

“...Yoohyunie’s, my dongsaeng too.”

A dongsaeng who’d confided how happy he was, that he could live together with me like before. And he smiled so freely, nowadays. With that face, that I’d been unable to look upon for so many years. Just barely twenty, and before, only twenty-five.

And then.

“...it’s been, more gratifying.”

For myself as well, in the present. Even though I’d already dug a grave in my heart. Even then. Even then, I’d started to want to live a little bit more.

So, as I’d wanted.

“As you wish.”

The Changeling said. A small silvery dragon with fairy wings took form before me.

The place where I wished to return to. My house in the present disappeared. To somewhere unknown, beyond the thick roiling fog.

“I’d been waiting!”

The Innocuous King beamed.

- - - - -

(1) (어린) 마나의 샘

(2) [ 환상 요정용종 - 체인질링 현재 스탯 등급 ? 성장 가능 스탯 등급 ? 최적화 초기 스킬 당신이 바라는 대로(?) 획득 ]

(3) [완벽한 양육자(L) 세계적으로 뛰어난 강자를 키워낸 양육자의 증명. 그 자신의 과거 능력치가 피양육자의 현재 능력치+100% 이상이기에 더더욱 완벽하다.]

‘i wish people would stop calling any <beautiful and pure love> as ‘순애’ without cause… the ‘순’ in ‘순애’ is ‘death(순)’...it’s when you die because of love, that it’s called ‘순애’..... a 순애보 is a story where you lose your life for the sake of love……’

‘ah…so, the word ‘순애’ appears to registered with two definitions to begin with. 순애(殉愛): sacrificing(offering up) everything for [the sake of one’s] love 순애(純愛): a pure and innocent love source 표준국어대사전’

- 240화, Han Yoohyun’s World (3)

‘...han yoohyun has a particularly pure Fire ki, you see...’

- geunseo-nim’s afterword, han yoohyun excerpts

+(Q&A)

Q) if, in the first half of the novel, as yoojinie had imagined–if yoojinie had used the Wish Stone to wish for ‘Awakened’ and ‘Dungeons’ to disappear, would it really have come true?

A) as the Wish Stone is an Item that is tied to the System, it is unable to overcome the ‘hurdle’ of the System^^ in addition, it is impossible to block off the influences of a Source from a World. if he’d asked for a wish that entailed ‘Awakened and Dungeons disappearing’, he would have received either a notification message that it’s impossible, or it would’ve been only the ‘Awakening’ system and Dungeons interface that would’ve disappeared. for Hunters, their information windows would no longer be accessible, and instead of being confined to the Dungeons, monsters would’ve begun popping out directly [into the world]. turning back time, too, only applied to the World in which han yoojin existed, and did not extend to affect the ‘time’ of the Cosmos.

+(Q&A)

Q) excluding han yoojin, who do the gyeol-seol-byeol babies like the most?

A) han gyeol’s is love-hate, but he cares for sung hyunjae despite himself. han seol and han byeol like each other ^^

+(Q&A)

Q) if han yoojin’s kids who were born from magic stones underwent genetic testing enabled by modern science&technology, would the results show yoojinie as a biological relative?

A) as the species are different, straightforward genetic testing results would be difficult to obtain ^^ as han yoojin’s blood is mixed in, if you were able to separate only the human portion out and test that, then they would in fact appear as his children. for han seol’s case, the results would indicate that he takes after han yoohyun as well. yet, as the human portion is a mere fraction of the whole, at present, it would take very careful and thorough testing to show a distant relation between [han yoojin and the children].

+(Q&A)

Q) would it be possible to hear a bit more in-depth about the circumstances that allowed han yoojin be able to use diarma’s Skills, such as the magical mount synthesis, mind dimension Skill etc.?

A) diarma's ability is akin to a subtype of the ‘perfect nurturer’. it possessed the ability to rear new dragonoid beings via synthesis. because the dragonfolk-synthesis Skill was something diarma possessed prior to becoming a Transcendent, it was simply a case of the Skill having evolved alongside its owner; its original Skill grade ranked below that of the ‘perfect nurturer’. additionally, the title that han yoojin gained from defeating the lauchitas–which allows him to suppress curse-poison type dragons–worked in tandem with the ‘perfect nurturer’ title, which is how he was able to acquire diarma's ability. regarding the possible combinations: with the buff provided by the ‘perfect nurturer’ title, it came to transcend the limits of race as well. it would have been impossible under normal circumstances, but you could say that the circumstances were serendipitous ^^

+(Q&A)

Q) the optimized Skill(?) picked up on by the sapling Skill the main character uses, can it be hereditary? for example, if one of the parents has a talent for agriculture cultivation, and they happen to Awaken and develop a Skill related to that, I was wondering if their child may Awaken to possess something similar

A) as innate proclivities and temperment, etc., do affect Skill development, there is a chance that such a thing could be passed down. though the humans in the novel don’t really have a particular ‘characteristic’ for their race(human), in the case of the dokkaebi, ‘flying’ and ‘transformation’ are akin to ‘basic skills’ innate to their race. if it’s a household that has a particular proclivity for x, then their offspring will probably have a high chance of displaying a corresponding or identical Skill^^ however, unless one Awakened fairly early, as what carries a greater influence is ‘life experience’ rather than ‘innate(born) disposition’, there are many cases of one acquiring a Skill with completely different properties than their parents’.

+(Q&A)

Q) is there a plot-related reason that yoojinie is unable to use the sapling Skill to look at his own stat window?

A) as a supporting aspect of the Caregiver title, the sapling Skill can only be used on others who hold the potential to become a candidate for ‘caregiving’. to be precise, it is a limit imposed by the System; and, should Han Yoojin make the decision to protect and look after himself as well, he would be able to overcome the bounds of the System and use it on himself, too.

+(Q&A)

Q) lastly, in the game that you released before, there were lines of dialogue from sung hyunjae and moon hyuna that mentioned han yoojin’s comfortably smiling face being a rare sight, and that witnessing him smile/laugh so easily was nice to see; in the main story, is yoojinie’s happily smiling face being a scarcely-seen occurrence something that’s an established detail..??

A) right when he had regressed, he was still able to smile and laugh easily, but after finding about the twenty-five y.o. han yoohyun, a shadow couldn’t help but fall over him. at first, sung hyunjae and moon hyuna assumed it was because of the kidnapping, transcendents, and everything else that had been going on, but later realized there was something additional going on behind the scenes.

+(Q&A)

Q) if they were to sketch a family portrait, i was wondering who gyeol, seol, and byeol might end up drawing, in that case.

A) all three of them would include dongsaeng, hyung, oppa, han yoojin and han yoohyun, bak yerim, peace and chirpie, velare, irin, sanho etc.–the people and animals that they live with–in their drawings. even walnut^^ in han gyeol’s case, he might cram a small sung hyunjae in a corner after much deliberation. aside from those, noah, moon hyuna, kang soyoung etc. might show up, depending on their interactions. han byeol in particular is the type to just draw a bunch at once as they come to mind. when it comes to the things that they like, han gyeol’s is han yoojin; han seol’s is han byeol; and han byeol would have appa, hyung, oppa, uncle, auntie, peace, and a bunch more others in the drawing besides.

+(Q&A)

Q) as you’d replied before that sung hyunjae and his parents would occasionally do check-ins via phone calls, which party tends to be the one who calls first? when they call… what sort of things do they talk about?? and when was the last time sung hyunjae met with his parents face-to-face? does hyunjae go out of his way to make sure to do something for his parents’ birthdays as well? i also wondered if they’d ever been kidnapped or threatened for being sung hyunjae’s parents!

A) typically three times a year, usually on the new year and on birthdays, he’ll give them a call. sung hyunjae’s parents are almost never the ones to initiate contact. the three only communicate at the bare minimum necessary to maintain basic politeness^^ the amount of times they’ve met up in person can be counted on one hand, in accordance with the parents’ wishes. on his parents’ birthdays, sung hyunjae will only make the wellness check call, and vantis is the one who prepares the gifts. the sole person whose birthday sung hyunjae would make sure to personally attend to year after year, was song taewon’s. pre-regression, he’d sent a present to han yoojin as a birthday obligation as well, but it never reached him. aside from that, due to feeling sympathetic about her birthday being overshadowed by his own birthday celebration, he’s seen to a gift for kang soyoung once, before letting vantis or the secretarial office take over thereafter. as they’d been securely sequestered away, there was no danger posed to them. because sung hyunjae had already maintained a distance from them pre-Awakening, and the parents had ended up thoroughly hidden somewhere far overseas, they are nearly impossible to track down.

+(Q&A)

Q) hello author-nim! pre-regression, why did sung hyunjae end up leaving for switzerland, specifically? it seemed as though he’d traversed through various countries before deciding on switzerland; i was curious why, out of countless countries, he ended up choosing switzerland! additionally, would it be alright to ask approximately how many times sung hyunjae had been re-planted…??

A) song taewon’s influence was fairly significant. having taken custody of song taewon’s miscarried Plundering(掠奪), he(shj) sought a place that would suit song taewon and be a place he(stw) could live peacefully+was far away from korea. it was also the backdrop of the postcard he would send han yoojin, too. however, he wasn’t set on switzerland from the beginning, and so long as it was an idyllic location somewhere in the Alps, he wouldn’t have cared where they ended up living. aside from the fact that it’s in the triple digits, i’ll leave the exact number to your imagination ^^

+(Q&A)

Q) is august 30th the day the current world’s sung hyunjae was ‘planted’ there, or is it the original sung hyunjae’s actual birth date?? i’m also curious about why sung hyunjae places so much importance on birthday (parties), and if there are any other details you paid special attention to re:the characters’ birthdays!

A) the birthday that appears in the novel is the date he was ‘planted’. because the original world had a different planetary size, rotation, and orbital speed, the method used to calculate days was also different. however, crescent moon endeavors to plant sung hyunjae at a similar window of time to his original birthday. this is because fulfilling the ‘conditions’ as closely as possible also helps facilitate the planting process. proportionate to how strong sung hyunjae’s amour propre runs, he thinks that the day of his birth must absolutely be celebrated. as a result, even when he feels as apathetic as could be, he endeavors not to miss the occasion. for a similar reason, he’s pretty good about remembering the birthdays of those around him and doing something for them too, if only compulsorily^^ because of this, he feels sorry about kang soyoung’s birthday situation. as kang soyoung is aware of this, she’ll push her luck with things that she wouldn’t ordinarily be able to get away with on the day after her birthday.

+(Q&A)

Q) i wanted to ask if my understanding of what happens when sung hyunjae gets planted(?) is correct! sung hyunjae mentioned that the method crescent moon seemed to utilize was to extract an individual with a similar ‘(existential) value’ from the world, and then to swap him, as ‘an existence outside of the world’, with them; just like yoojinie had wondered, i’m curious who that person who was found worthy of ‘exchange’ with sung hyunjae might have been, and what had happened to that individual! additionally: if the ‘swap’ is made via the method of ‘granting a wish’–then, for sung hyunjae’s parents, who had wished for a child, when sung hyunjae was suddenly ‘planted’ on earth in a fully-grown state, were they forcibly reprogrammed to register him as a child they had raised from the beginning?

A) by erasing sung hyunjae’s memories and concealing his accumulated power, crescent moon was able to disguise sung hyunjae’s existential value(존재 가치) as being low-ranked. ordinarily, this wouldn’t be possible, and it’s extremely delicate work besides; but as an artificial Source who had amassed a considerable amount of strength, since there were no existences who could serve as an ‘equivalent’ to sung hyunjae, this was her only recourse. because his existential value was in a lowered state, sung hyunjae was able to be ‘planted’ through exchange via the wishes made to crescent moon. the wishes differed from world to world, and aside from wishes for a child, there were wishes for a hero in a time of war, someone with particular talents, an exquisite beauty, a leader of the herd, etc. as well. their wishes did come true, but they usually didn’t play out in the way they’d hoped for ^^ re:sung hyunjae’s parents, it was a case of a child who previously hadn’t existed suddenly appearing, where they were nevertheless compelled to believe that they had raised him to begin with. but because of the repugnance they experience due to his ‘other-ness’ + the repulsion caused by a born s-rank, the dissonance caused them to spiral into disarray.

+(Q&A)

Q) was sung hyunjae’s household well-off to begin with? if so, how wealthy are they?

A) they were well-off enough that they could afford to send their son overseas to study, in addition to hiring a highly competent butler^^ as, around the time that sung hyunjae began to gain a proper foothold and become more active, they had already relinquished to him his designated inheritance, seeing him live well, they were able to relieve themselves of the guilt associated with abandoning a child. though they still want to maintain a personal distance from him, as they are able to think of him somewhat as ‘their son’ with the physical distance in place, they have a relationship where they occasionally exchange calls asking after the other. they currently live overseas, and hope that sung hyunjae will continue to live well, without occasion to turn his attention towards them.

+(Q&A)

Q) in ch588 by munpia standards, could i ask where yoojinie ended up hiding eunhae?

A) at that time, it was worn on his bicep. he switches up the place he conceals eunhae a little each time^^

#272화 #the s classes that i raised #tsctir #sctir

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