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apneicodette · 1 year

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The Compass leads back to you

Pirate!Scaramouche x (Female)Reader

One-shot

Warnings: none

You miserably sulk to the music at your engagement party, more so a ball, to a man your father had arranged for you to marry. Waiting for the dreadful day to end, you hadn't anticipated seeing a face of the past. One that you had missed dearly.

Even though the music was ever so graceful, ever so soothing. It still felt all the more suffocating.

It was a ball, ofcourse.

You sighed at the top of the balcony near the stairs gazing at the many guest waltzing about in their grand outfits. They were here for you and your fiance's engagement.

Away from the eyes of others you eyed your sooned to be husband, greeting the many alliances that he'll gain once you've married. Your father a very powerful man, the one who arrange this marriage in the first place, is a force to be reckoned with.

You'd would know, you were quite the rebellious child in your teen years. You couldn't help but smile at the memories that came flooding in.

"Are you that happy to be engaged?-" A condescending tone reached your ears. You watched as a familiar figure, one you thought you never see again, appear from the shadow. It was as if he knew you were thinking of him.

His violet hair had gotten longer, and his matching colored eyes gotten sharper. Though he had obviously matured, the boy you first met was still there. Your heart started to heat up, but you maintained your composure on the outside.

"And here I thought all this time you missed me" He stepped closer to where you stood at the edge of the railing. You could smell the sea on his dark brown attire paired with his infamous tricorne hat and the hanging bell he keeps attached to it.

"Scaramouche" you softly spoke.

He tilted his hat in response along with the smirk you remember he often did.

"In the flesh" he lifted your right gloved hand and gently placed a kiss. You allowed him to, and it had brought you to your senses.

"You shouldn't be here, matter in fact why even are you here? If my father catches a sight of you-"

"Relax, princess", your eye twitched at the name.

"I'm serious." You said showing your urgency as you stared him down.

He laughed as he gazed down the balcony as you once were mere mintues ago. You followed his eyes at a particular light blued haired man. "A Kamisato. Can't say I'm surprised at your father's choice."

"Ayato is a wealthy man, from a wealthy family. My father chose well."

Scaramouche's eyes grew dull at the words that came out of your mouth. "First name basis already, you must love him!" He bitterly said.

You tisked in annoyance at his comment. He knew. He knew you didn't love the man. And it felt like he was making fun of you for the fake act, all for your father's sake.

"What do you want. Here to steal some jewels? Money? A family heirloom?" You jabbed at him.

"I'm here for you."

What.

It took you second to understand the words that came out his mouth, that you hadn't realized you avoided his eyes. And how sincere they were.

You scoffed out in defense. "It's been a year since we've seen each other. And the last time we saw each other we almost gotten each other killed. You need to leave."

Scaramouche rolled his eyes at your dismissive response. "Last time, your father got in the way-"

"Your point is?" You cut him off.

"My point is, we had fun together. Don't you remember? We were free. Free from this cursed world, freed from people who tired to chain us down to their ideals"

You could see the temper in Scaramouche voice rising. (A skill you gained from the years of experiencing his hot headness). You forcibly dragged him, though he didn't fight back, to a more secluded and shaded area, away from prying eyes.

"Yes, because killing, stealing, committing crimes to get such freedom is justified" You sarcastically whispered.

Scaramouche laughed as he leaned in, playing with your hair. "Don't act like you didn't enjoy the ride."

He sighed at the expression of a kicked puppy you had on. "You loved the sea. The crew. Now look at you-

"-Beautiful as ever, even while chained."

You roughfully pushed him away from you. "Have you come here just to taunt me? Ridicule me?"

"I'm here to save you. Just as you've done to me all those years ago."

"So tell me-" He got closer to you, catching your arms to prevent you from pushing him away. "Tell me that you love that Kamisato skunk. Tell me that you love the life your father written out for you. Tell me that you don't want me. Tell me that you don't love me." He leaned his head ontop of yours. "And then I'll leave", he was desperate, and that's when you made a connection that things never really changed between you two.

You remember when you first met him. It was at the black market downtown, and you being a disobedient child had ran away from home. You just so happened to run into the most wanted pirate in the area, and he so willingly allowed you to hitch a ride in his ship. For a reason even he didn't know as to why.

But what you both didn't know was how much fun you'd have together. And oh, how much he brought out the bad side of you. A princess stealing?

Partners in crime you both were. You as the beautiful distraction, charming your victims. All while Scaramouche was in the shadows whisking away anything of valuable.

Though things got ugly. You had each other. And oh, how you brought out the good side in him. So much so that it terrified him. Terrified him so much that no matter how hard he wanted to run away. He couldn't bring himself to do so.

He always felt he was missing something in his life. The amount of gossip he couldn't escape from. A failure of a child prodigy. Unwanted by his mother. He started to believe what people said about him that he acted like it. A heartless fool. He created a new identity from the stories that his origins were no longer remembered by others.

A cycle of pain he found himself in, that he decided to distract by committing crimes against these high ranked individuals. For years he did this until it led him to you.

His heart.

"You know I love you." You confess, voice shakey as you were in the brink of tears. "But I can't bare to see you get harmed again because of my f-"

The second he heard the words he longed to fall out your mouth, he smashed his lips onto yours. Rough like his personality but the touch of his hand on the side of you face and waist were soft just as his love for you. You reciprocated the kiss. For how long have you waited to be near him? To touch him once again. Your were so lost in the moment you didn't noticed when he slipped out your engagement ring from your left hand.

He slowly back away, his eyes lingering on your lips clearly wanting more.

"Your a hard lady to please. You don't need to worry about your father. Where we're going is somewhere he'll never be able to reach."

If you thought your heart was racing before it doesn't compare to how much it was racing now. It was so fast you thought it'd rip out of your chest.

It was just like the first time you escaped from home. The same adrenaline rush was flowing through your veins. The thought of escaping had you wanting to laugh both out of joy and nervousness. And the fact that your now with him. Your wanted criminal.

"With that look on your face, it seems like I finally made you come to your senses. To think all it took was kiss to do so" he smugly said. "Should I do it more often?"

"Just get us out of here idiot."

"But ofcourse, princess" you yelped as he picked you up to carry you in bridal style.

"What the hell are you doing!?"

Scaramouche laughed at your spark of attitude His mind fluttered as he sees the girl he first met.

"Well sweetheart, we are going to be running. And as far as I remember you've never been a good runner" he starts walking with you in his arms back into the light.

"Yeah, yeah whatever, hey what are you-?"

Scaramouche throws a jewel you quickly see was your engagement ring down the balcony.

The sound of it reaching and cracking into the ground alerted the people as it reached the foot of Kamisato Ayato. To which he rapidly made eye contact to Scaramouche. You saw him flick his eyes back forth to you and him. He understood the whole situation, his hand gripping the handle of his sword laying on his waist.

Scaramouche smiled in a sense of victory at Kamisato's silent fury. You tightly grapsed onto Scaramouche's neck as you tsked at his petty antic. Guards charging up the stairs yelling out to halt and to surrender, both which Scaramouche will not do. Scaramouche took this as the time to start running as he secured the grip he had on you.

"You just had to get the last word didn't you."

"Can you blame me? He thought he could have you."

#genshin impact #genshin x reader #kunikuzushi #kunikuzushi x reader #scara x reader #scaramouche x reader #scaramouche #wanderer x reader #genshin wanderer #pirate scaramouche #genshin royal au #genshin pirate au

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hiraya-rawr · 2 years

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Dainsleif bodyguard AU x Khaenri'ah Royalty Reader (brainrot)

Being the royal prince/ss of Khaenri'ah and after the most recent assassination attempt, Dain (a captain candidate for the royal guards) is assigned to solo guard your chambers at night.

He doesn't get flustered at the intimate task of guarding the inner chambers. He's like a rock, even when you'd change into your nightwear by the maids.

"A man dedicated to duty," is what they described him as when you asked what your new guard would be like.

One bored night, you tried throwing a pillow at his face, wondering if he was spacing out, but he merely caught the item, walking towards you almost robotically and placing the pillow back on your bed, before bowing and returning to his station.

He's not all that robotic, of course. Some nights you'd try to make conversations, to which he'd answer everything bluntly and as short as possible.

There was one night when you stood in front of him, just eyeing his beautiful star shaped pupil, when he gave you a weird look.

"Your highness. . . what are you doing?"

You'd pout and turn away, saying "nothing" and cuddling back into your warm bed. You wonder if he feels cold standing there sometimes.

You gave him a blanket the next night, to which he was hesitant to use until you "ordered" him to simply wrap it around his shoulders.

"This would hinder me from fighting and protecting you." He said.

"I'm sure a prodigy such as yourself is capable of fighting with a blanket."

And there was one night when the pressure of royalty felt too much for you; when days were dragging on and you felt exhausted yet unable to sleep. Turning side to side in bed before glancing up at your stoic guard. He's still standing there. Doing his "duty".

With a blanket over your shoulders, you opened the doors to the large balcony, enjoying the fresh air while eyeing the view from high up. Khaenri'ah is beautiful, but dark forces you didn't understand were brewing, putting pressure on everyone.

These nights in your chambers were a comfort away from the stress.

"Your highness, it's dangerous," Dain says, not moving from his station. You might fall or an assassin could be waiting, yet you ignore his warning as you sit over the railings.

"Then come over here and protect me."

Like an invite, he approaches you, reaching out to hold onto you in case you drop, unsure of where to place his hands but you guided them to settle on your hips.

You gesture for him to sit with you on the railings (he refused) as you both look on at the view that is Khaenri'ah.

You talked a lot more that night; about nations beyond and what life would be like beyond duty. He was charming yet awkward, you understand why he was well loved by the people.

"If I ever leave Khaenri'ah, would you guard me to journey the rest of Teyvat as well?" You ask and he hums, a promise in his eyes.

"Of course."

You never did leave Khaenri'ah.

// not proofread, just word barf bc guard dainsleif makes me so soooft 🥺💞

#dainsleif #hira brainrot #dainsleif x reader #genshin #genshin dainsleif #genshin impact #genshin x reader #genshin royal au #genshin angst

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ventiij · 18 days

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Could you request an au royal with prince!wanderer x servant!reader where wanderer during the night asks reader to stay until he falls asleep and she ends up falling asleep kneeling next to his bed? (Sorry if there are any spelling mistakes, English is not my native language)

HOW DID I JUST SEE THIS IT’S BEEN MONTHS I’M SO SORRYYYY

no worries anon, english isn’t my first language either so we’re twinning bbg (it’s four am help)

APOLOGIES IN ADVANCE SINCE THIS SUCKS😭

idk what got into me while I was writing

anyway, here my silly little requested fanfic is 🫢

bg:

before your family had gone broke, you never thoguht you’d find yourself in this situation. at the palace, you really were just a simple servant like everyone said.

…

before your father lost everything there was a rumor which was slowly passing from everyone’s mouth - whoever started working for the royal family wouldn’t make it out of a miserable life, they’d have you wrapped around their fingers.

there was a reason to think that though - the payment wasn’t enough to change job. yes, it was simpls like that. they do offer you a place to stay and food to survive, but overall it was just enough to afford taking a week off when you’re sick, apart from national holidays and all that.

your life isn’t a normal one, nor one somebody would aim at. you are nothing but one of the servants at the royal palace. no-one knows you for who you are, but it’s not all that bad. you have the whole palace for you and your friends, your families and many people you care about, who actually do know the real-you’s worth.

the royals aren’t so bad either! the queen is the one who rules the kingdom as there’s no king, she’s independent, enterprising and has an intimidating story behind her. her name is Raiden Shogun. meanwhile, her son, ‘the wanderer’, is a spoiled brat with an ass attitude who’s against the whole world.

this gremlin spends most of his time around the castle, glaring at every servant while they’re doing their job and stand there watching, only to walk away like nothing happened. there was this one time, when you were mopping the floor… he didn’t take his eyes off of you for a split second! …at least it felt like so.

after a couple more of such events happening to you for no reason, because you work properly (if not splendidly), he suddenly calls out your name while you’re doing your thing. “Y/n.” you turn around all freaked out since it couldn’t possibly mean good things when someone had to deal with this guy, he looked so stern and cold and and-

“meet me in my room after dinner.” he said and just left like that. eh?

His room? did he want you to clean it? Dust it? Make his bed? That wasn’t in the contract… he didn’t mention the reason, so you decide to just go with it.

after dinner, in his room

you greet, slightly bow and stand right before the doorframe, dressed up for the occasion, as you see him in his pajamas. he didn’t even bother to greet you - instead, he straight up ordered you: “stay with me for the night” what. you? what. what again? “me?” he nods and gets in bed looking skeptical as usual “who else?” you just watch from afar, scared you might do something to give him the ick. so this isn’t about cleaning, huh?

“well? aren’t you going to sit down somewhere?” he asks and you just kneel down next to his bed at his height, perfectly intersecating his gaze. “don’t you dare wake me up before 7 am.” ‘bitch?’ you want to reply as he just stares at you. ‘aNyThInG hIs mAjEsTy wAnTs’ like hell you were gonna stay like this for a whole night for no reason.

“Uh, no? This isn’t in the contract.” you contradict him and were prolly one of the few people who did that to him in his whole life,

“alright.” he says as he rolls in bed, turning around and closing his eyes to drift off to sleep.

…does he actually expect you to fall asleep in this position?

some time later

‘can’t deny he looks pretty though.’ you think as you finally come to terms with the fact that he wants you there. your mind can wander all it wants thinking of all the possibile reasons behind this blessing in disguise, but no true reason can be found.

well, it’s only for today. after all, how do you know who you might see as you get out of his room? and what will they think? ugh

aside from that, you could get in his majesty’s graces, soo

this is no occasion to waste.

#genshin royal au #scara x reader #genshin fluff #genshin impact #genshin x reader #genshin impact x reader #scara #scaramouche #kabukimono #wanderer #genshin scara #genshin scaramouche #kunikuzushi #wanderer genshin #royal au

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cloudseeker14 · 1 year

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Rose Amidst The Thorns (King!Cyno x Fem!reader)

Summary : Two souls, willing to do anything for power and marred with the claws of betrayal meet again. The tension rises and self caution is thrown aside.

Genre : Romance, Enemies to Lovers

Warnings : Manipulation, a bit of dub con and some making out

Some angst too if you squint hard enough.

Soldiers, with faces as expressionless as the statues of shrines atop mountains, dug their nails into Y/N's arms.

"Move faster, unless you want to find a sword buried in you." Snarled Meruticco, captain of the royal army "His majesty shouldn't have to wait for so long for such vermin."

The woman swallowed the urge to roll her eyes as a scoff threatened to escape her lips. Of course, the general would be another one of those sheep following blindly behind the king, lost to the throes of devotion.

As Y/N trudged ahead, the marble floor gleamed from the light of the chandelier which hung above and portraits of men and women from a time lost to the wind loomed at her, their accusatory gazes following her steps.

Amidst it all, sat a man atop a throne studded with emeralds and rubies that shimmered faintly with a goblet of gold in his hand. He brought the goblet to his lips and sipped slowly, eyes closed in ecstasy as a drop of wine ran down his lips. As though he'd just acknowledged the presence of his subjects, he opened his eyes; gaze falling upon the woman cloaked in silk before him.

"Your Majesty," Meruticco went on his knees, head down "I, your faithful servant, have brought you the rouge that has wreaked havoc in our lands, Y/N."

The king glanced at the bounds that tied Y/N's hands, yet a word didn't escape his pursed lips. He raised his eyebrow, boredom playing behind his red eyes as if to ask : is this all you've to say?

Meruticco, sensing his master's displeasure continued hastily. "King Cyno, rest assured she shall never see the light of day again. I swear by my sword-"

His words fell short as the king raised his hand.

"If you're done with the theaterics Meruticco, which I can assure you was a complete and utter bore, leave me with this prisoner and take the soldiers with you."

Y/N couldn't help but stare, in this paradise of luxury, the king seemed to glow on his own; radiating poise and power. He had everything she would never get, fame and riches.

She understood why he'd betrayed her, left her to die in the sands and walked ahead. If it meant having a kingdom full of adoring subordinates in the palm of her hand, Y/N was sure she'd have done it in a heartbeat too.

Confusion flashed in Meruticco's features yet he obeyed and left, the soldiers following behind him.

King Cyno set his goblet down, running his fingers through his white locks that cascaded down his shoulder. “Found you, Y/N. At long last, I get to see that face of yours. Tell me, did you miss me too much?”

Hatred simmered in the pits of Y/N’s soul as she spat out. “Don’t make me laugh, Cyno. Tell me, how does it feel to gorge on what was supposed to belong to me?”

Cyno’s lips spread into a grin, a frantic feeling overcoming him. “Oh how I’d missed this your boldness. Why don’t you come a bit closer and say that?”

“What if I refuse?”

“Then I command you as your king.” “You will never be a king in my eyes Cyno, you aren’t worthy enough to be one.”

“You’re my prisoner and I can have justice be served at any instance.” Y/N stepped forward, footsteps echoing through the chambers. “I’d like to see you try.” She scoffed

“You always were all bark and no bite. Perhaps that’s why you couldn’t kill me in the first place when I considered you as an ally, isn’t it? I can’t imagine how much you must have been itching to hold a blade against my throat. Don’t deny it, you were always too weak to do the act.”

Red flashed across Y/N’s vision and she stormed towards him. With a flick of her wrists, the ropes that bound her flew away. In an instant, she was upon the king, with her hands around his throat.

Y/N could feel his faltering breaths and steady pulse beneath her fingers. She stared at his face, up close she could make out the way the flecks of light fell upon his visage. The corners of Cyno’s lips pulled into a smirk as he pulled Y/N closer to him, dragging his hand across her thigh. She fell upon his chest and heat rose to her face, but her resolve remained set in determination.

“My, doesn’t this remind you of old times, Y/N?”

Y/N ignored his snarky remark and tightened her grip on Cyno’s throat. At that instant, the air surrounding them crackled with electricity and a surge of pain ran through Y/N’s body.

She hissed, pulling away. Cyno grabbed Y/N’s face, forcing her to meet his gaze.

“Look at me, Y/N.”

She adamantly refused to meet his eyes, outright wrenching her face away from him.

“I said, look at me.”

Y/N forced herself to meet his piercing stare, teeth grit. “Get your hands of me, I’m not some concubine of your court. If you want to kill me, fight me like a man of honour without these silly games.”

“If I’d wanted to kill you, I could have done it long ago. Besides, don’t be silly, since when has there ever been any honour in between us?”

“Then what do you want from me?”

“You.”

Y/N’s eyes went wide before narrowing in suspicion. “Don’t think I’d fall for that again, we’ve already done this charade before.”

“Don’t act as if you were innocent, you tricked me too. You were going to sell me off to the rebels.”

“Even more reason for me to not believe a single word that comes out of your mouth.”

“We’ve betrayed and fought and killed for each other, to find each other. No one has seen you the way I have and we both know there’s no equal for us both other than ourselves. I want you, I need you and if you run away now, I would burn the world to find you again.”

All the possible words that could have escaped from Y/N’s mouth were stolen from her. Taking advantage of the temporary shock, Cyno caressed her face; something akin to affection in his touch.

Y/N felt herself getting lost and Cyno brought his face closer to here, his breath fanning across her face. “You love me Y/N, you can’t hide it from me.”

“If there’s one thing you should have realised from knowing me, Cyno, love and hate are two sides of the same coin.”

“Then let me love you, let me have you for as much as I desire.” The king whispered, running his fingers through Y/N’s hair.

“How long would you need to satiate your desire?” The thought escaped from Y/N's mouth against all sense of rationality.

“An eternity.” Cyno replied, steadfast in his answer

“Then show it.”

“Show what?”

“Show me how much you need me.”

Without a single word, Cyno closed the gap in between them, colliding his lips onto the lips of the woman before him; his sworn enemy, traitor, criminal and the thief who’d stolen away all his common sense.

The kiss was frantic as Y/N straddled Cyno’s lap and pulled his hair causing the king to whimper. It was a mess of passion, fury and desire.

Y/N pulled away, lips red and panted. Cyno raked his eyes across the body of his sole betrayer, heart thumping in his chest.

“Be mine.” He proclaimed, voice loud and clear as it rang across the throne room. “Be my queen and I would serve at your feet.”

Y/N grabbed Cyno's head and slammed the back of his head against his throne. "I would rather die. Every single time you sit upon this throne, don't forget that this kingdom will always be mine and I won't rest until I reclaim it and have your head mounted upon a spike."

Cyno groaned, vision blurring and at that moment, all he could see was her face and the fire that flashed in her eyes. "I wouldn't expect anything else. I could only meet death by your hands."

Y/N turned on her heel and ran swiftly outside of the castle, her hair flying behind her.

Cyno didn't attempt to stop her, but remained glued to his throne and not a single command for her capture uttered from his lips.

He knew that she would be back for more, to continue this relentless game of cat and mouse that never seemed to tire the both of them.

Yet, why did his heart seem to sting with a sense of betrayal? There was no way that she would allow herself to succumb to his temptations, she was far too calculative for that.

So why had he been the fool to give his heart to a woman desperate to shed his blood?

#genshin impact #genshin #genshin fanfic #genshin x reader #cyno x reader #genshin cyno #enemies to lovers #genshin angst #genshin romance #genshin au #royal au #genshin royal au #cyno x y/n #cyno x fem!reader #thirsty

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aquatik · 1 year

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guardian knight , cyno 𓆝

synopsis from the marine lover -> the seasonal winter ball is upon your region, as it’s princess, you must attend but this year there’s a few twists involved or my piece for @2022gisecretsanta! this one goes out to you, @mestiako, i hope you enjoy and pardon me for being late </3

phylum echinodermata -> genshin impact - sumeru

characters -> cyno x reader, nilou, yae miko, kaeya, tighnari, collei and dottore(🧍) make an appearance. diluc, ayato, tohma, and scaramouche are mentioned. sidnei is a made up character here!

word count -> 6.7k

content -> one shot; fluff, royal AU - female reader

water levels -> all safe, warnings — dottore. just dottore.

your family famously holds two balls, one in the winter, and one in the summer. currently, your retainers are preparing you for the winter ball. this year, there’s more excitement, for the public at least. now you’re at the age where you are supposed to find someone to be betrothed to, and at tonight’s ball, you expect the flocking of men trying to win your hand. you aren’t excited.

“princess, is something troubling your mind?”

“nothing at all,” you sighed.

one of the ladies who was doing your hair but the brush down, and began to gush, “i bet you must be excited! you’ll be getting loads of men coming up to you today!”

“how excitingly wonderful,” you said, sarcasm seeping through your teeth.

“maybe lord ayato will ask for your hand,” she continued.

“or perhaps the duke of mondstadt, diluc!” another one piped in. they continued listing nobles that had confirmed attendance, your annoyance grew further.

“that’s enough you two, please leave the princess alone and quit pestering her,” your lady-in-waiting, nilou, said.

“nilou,” you sighed thankfully as the two maids finished their touches, delicately placing the small crown upon your head, and left the room. even when they left, you could still hear their whispering gossip.

nilou shook her head as she watched them walk away, “in your presence nonetheless.”

“it’s bound to happen, certainly won’t be the last i’ve heard of it.”

“has your father talked to you about, you know, this,” she hinted.

“no, he hasn’t actually. you know he’s always been more lax with traditions.”

“relaxed enough to let you be with him,” she giggled, placing her hands on your shoulders and looking at you through the mirror, her bright hydro vision shook at the movement.

“nilou…” you mumbled, casting your eyes to the side.

she giggled, “just teasing.”

just as you were gonna retort back to nilou, there’s a knock at your door, “princess, the ball is about to start, are you ready?” one of the maids spoke.

“yes, i’ll be right there,” you said, standing up. “how do i look?” you asked nilou.

“perfect like always,” she smiled. you thanked her and walked towards the door.

“please, pardon i wasn’t here to help you get ready, my lady,” the familiar lady bowed, “i was tasked by your father to help arrange the ballroom.”

“sidnei,” you smiled. she had been your head caretaker ever since you were born, like a mother to you since you never knew yours. “i’m glad you’re here now.”

“allow me to walk you, you look stunning tonight, as always.”

you thanked her, and began walking, “speaking of which, where is my father?” you asked.

she nervously laughed, “you see, he’s busy currently, he won’t be able to walk you tonight.”

“i see…”

“however, sir cyno will be walking you,” she said, with a knowing smile, as you both turned the corner.

“w-what—“

“the king personally appointed him.”

“you cannot be—“ you said, before you look away from sidnei to meet his piercing red eyes, standing in wait for you, your royal knight, cyno.

he was shorter than most, shoulder length white hair tied back, and ruby eyes. just from appearance, most would assume he’s a mediocre knight at best, but cyno one of the kingdom’s last lines of defense, the best of the best. and he’s your personal knight, ever since you both were young. even if officially he’s called your knight, you honestly consider him your best friend.

at least you thought you did until a while back, you realized slowly yet quickly you were developing feelings for the man. you’d seen him grow into a respectable man. many do fear him, but with you, you get to see the side of him that loves telling jokes, that is infatuated with card games, that just has a hard time forming thoughts into words. the man you know as cyno, not as the royal knight of the princess.

that’s why, you can’t help but feel this way. long before you know it, sidnei is gone and you’re left with cyno.

“if it makes you uncomfortable, we can find someone else,” he said, breaking your train of thought.

“no! it’s alright, i wouldn’t have it any other way,” you smiled, walking up to him.

“are you sure, your highness?”

you looked into his eyes, giving him a knowing stare. it took him a second, but once he understood he argued, “i will not—“

“you will or we won’t be moving from here,” you said, crossing your arms.

he sighed, “are you sure, [y/n]?”

“yes, i’m sure, cyno,” you smiled.

he coughed into his arm, “then, may i?” he said, extending his right arm to yours. you nod and take his hand, wrapping yourself around it as he walks you towards the ball. “nervous?” he asked you.

“not really, i just want to get the night over with.”

he hums, “i see.”

“what will you be doing?” you asked.

“pardon, me?”

you sighed, “who else would i be asking?”

“it was meant to be a joke…” he mumbled as you sighed once more. “i’m on duty tonight, i’ll be keeping guard. there’s a lot of foreign diplomats visiting tonight.”

“i see.” you nodded. you noted he had his electro vision near the sheathed weapon, a clear sign he was on duty and he wasn’t lying. “won’t you be enjoying the ball tonight?”

he pondered for a moment before shaking his head, “no i won't.”

you looked over at him, wondering what to say. he’s a hard worker, barely taking time off. even if you wouldn’t be enjoying your time tonight, maybe he could enjoy it for the both of you. alas, you couldn’t come up with something fast enough as you were about to reach the door. two knights were waiting. they salute the both of you, wishing for a successful night. you thanked them, while cyno opted to nod.

cyno led you through the door and to the stairs, you caught a glimpse of your father sitting at the throne above, a smile casted your way when he saw you. you take another glimpse downwards, you could hear the murmurs of the crowd, and you weren’t sure if your eyes were playing tricks on you, or was it seemingly a larger number of people this year?

“…we now introduce the princess, [y/n] of sumeru, and her loyal knight, sir cyno.” you heard your father’s primary royal advisor announce only thanks to cyno gesturing you to take your bow. he leads you down the last flight of stairs before taking your hand to your fathers, who had come down from the upper level, before taking his position at the right hand side of the staircase.

“thank you, cyno,” you smiled. he returned one of those rare smiles to you, and nodded.

“would you care to dance with an old man such as your father?” he joked, extending his hand to you.

you softly laughed, “it’s always a pleasure to dance with you, father.”

he led you towards the floor, the orchestra taking its cue to begin the soft serenade of the strings and woodwinds alike. typical. it was the song you always danced to with your father, without fail. it was a variation of a lullaby he used to hum to you when you were younger, not so much now due to royal duties, but you still hear it once in a while when you walk past his office.

“to think,” he begins, “perhaps next year, i won’t be having the first dance with you anymore, my little girl could be whisked away right before i know it,” he said with fake tears laced through his words.

“father…” you whined as he softly spun you, allowing you a momentary glance at cyno.

“i know, i know. i just want you to know, when the time comes, find someone you truly love. we’ve always stood for these ideals.”

you scoffed, “you sound as if i am to be wed by the strike of midnight.”

“who knows, maybe you will,” he heartedly laughs.

“in some wild fantasy,” you laugh as you take the final bow. the crowd around you begins clapping, as your father leads you to them.

“i do have some business to attend to, concerning some of the nobles from snezhnaya. please, enjoy yourself little one. try not to get married and leave this old man behind,” he jests as he walks off before you can say anything.

“princess, you looked enchanting as always,” nilou said, walking up to you. before you could respond, she perked up, “please excuse me, i believe that’s lady eula. it’s been a while since i've seen her, i’ll be back!”

an attendant passes by with a platter of drinks, offering your favorite to you. you thank him and take the glass, softly swirling it in your hand. snezhnaya and sumeru currently were in the middle of a political conflict, your father wished not to involve you, but you understand that it’s majoridly about the akademia, one of this nation’s greatest achievements. the situation was tense, your father was going to cut off the amount of control the snezhnayan court had over the akademia, but it would cause several issues, worst would be a war, but it was definitely plausible. you wanted to help your father, you truly did, but what could you do?

“mora for your thoughts?” you hear a woman’s voice say, sly in her tone. you turn your head to see the duchess of inazuma, yae miko smirking at you.

“lady yae, my apologies,” you said, fully turning towards her.

“none of that little one, i spoke out of line,” she bows.

you spoke, “i hope everything is well overseas, i’ll see it soon visit, the nation of electro is always a pleasure to see.”

lady yae smiled, saying how she wished their region had a more respectable young royal such as yourself.

“speaking of, you do know i’m obliged to ask, wouldn’t you be interested in our princes’ hand?” she hums, laughing when she sees you glancing away. “that brat really won’t ever find someone, now will he,” she sighed.

“are you allowed to speak of the prince in such a manner?” you asked.

“but of course i am. who do you think taught him the sliver of manners he knows?”

you nodded, “right, of course.”

“well then, if it isn’t the prince, might you be interested in lord ayato? or perhaps, you’re interested in the kamisatos’ lord-in-waiting, tohma?” she teased.

“lady yae!” you softly scolded as she laughed once more.

“so much for trying, could’ve made an amazing story. i better get back to making sure the prince doesn’t offend any nations, heavens knows what happened last time.” she says, walking towards a small commotion at the right hand side of the ball.

“why if it isn’t the rambunctious princess? i’ve got to say, you seemed to have mastered waking in those heels, i remember when you’d trip on flats,” a familiar voice spoke.

“kaeya!” you smiled, the marquees of mondstadt, kaeya walks up to you. you had known him and his brother, diluc ever since you were little, but after their fathers death things changed for them, subsequently you lost touch.

you both caught up, exchanging pleasantries and stories on either side. it was nice to speak with a familiar face after so long.

“kaeya, where might diluc be?” you asked him, as you hadn’t seen the red haired man tonight.

“not quite sure myself. why are you asking? looking to court him?” he mused, slightly leaning down to meet your face.

“of course not!” you argued, swatting his forearm, before you could retort, he teased once more,

“or could it be that, you’d be interested in me?” he asked.

you broke eye contact with kaeya to glance to your right, cyno was still there, keeping watch as he’d been doing. you weren’t sure if it was your imagination, but you swore you saw him make eye contact with you. you heard kaeya click his tongue, a habit he had once he realized something, and you quickly turned back to him.

“sir kaeya, with all due respect—“ you began before kaeya softly shushed you.

“i understand, i understand.” he sighs, fake sadness laced across his tongue, “i do value when a fair maiden stays true to her ideals, just like when we were younger. i remember it like yesterday, saying how you’d never marry one of us since we were like siblings after some nobel had spoken out of line. do take care, princess. i’ll be off looking for my—or should i joke, our brother to make sure he doesn’t get his hands full with, a few special guests.” he smiled.

you returned the smile, softly laughing as you caught onto his sarcasm through the whole questioning. he bowed and was about to walk away to take his leave, another male voice entered the scene.

“if i may, i’d love to speak to the princess.” a masked man says.

“who might you be?” kaeya said, smiling but slightly pushing you behind him, leaving you confused.

he chuckled, “do pardon me, where are my manners. my name is il dottore, marquess of shneznaya. it’s a pleasure to meet you, your highness.” he said, taking a bow and your hand, pressing his lips against the back of your hand.

“i leave you in his company then,” kaeya seethes as he walks away, having no other choice as he was supposed to take his leave already, evident by the glare the marquess had been sending kaeya’s way..

“lord dottore, the pleasure is all mine…” you said, nerves beginning to swarm you, from both the odd reaction kaeya had, as well as the fact a shneznayan diplomat wished to speak with you directly.

he laughs, his singular earring swings back and forth, “now now, don’t seem so tense your highness. i assure you, the political standing between our nations musnt spoil our conversation.”

“i appreciate it.”

“i must say, you look rather divine tonight, as you always do,” he says, smiling as it’s only his upper face covered by the mask.

you returned the smile, a lot smaller than his, “thank you, i’d love to complement you as well, but i only have a smile to go off.” you said inquisitively, hoping it would spark a conversation to avoid the awkward pleasantries. how wrong you’d be.

“i assume you mean my eyes? they are indeed covered. say, wouldn’t you like to see the rest of my face.”

you hummed, “i suppose so.”

“i’d allow you to see my whole face as many times as you’d like, if we were wed.”

you nervously laughed, “i suppose i’ll never see your face then.”

“oh? why’s that?” he asked. an attendant walked by and dottore placed his empty glass on the tray. his now free hand takes yours and presses yet another kiss against it, this time taking it and placing it against his cold, metallic-like cheek. “what if this is my proposal to you?”

you remove your hand from his grasp, “i call your bluff.” you scoffed.

“wrong call,” he eerily smiles, “it’s true, i wish to marry you. think about it, we’d tie the knot, not only between us, but out nations as well, ending this vicious cycle that you and i both know will only end in a war. i know you’re smart enough, your highness.”

“i believe our nations can come to an agreement without this sort of thing,” you argued as he clicked his tongue.

“you’re breaking my heart,” he cackled, “who said i only wanted to marry you to help our nations, i could care less. i meant it when i said you’re divine, i’m infatuated by you.” he said. if it weren’t for the underlying creepiness in this strange speech, anybody would’ve thought it was a sweet, heartfelt confession. you were beyond creeped out though.

“how could i even consider a marriage proposal from someone i just met, i barely even know you.” you claimed, instinctively taking a step back, eyes wandering around the room, hoping someone you knew was close by, if cyno was close by. alas, you couldn’t find anyone in the short seconds you had.

“if i told you more about me, would you consider my proposal?” he mused, taking a step forward towards you.

“i suppose so…” you mumbled, reminding yourself you have an image to uphold as this regions princess and you couldn’t just yell out what was on your mind.

“then allow me to share some more, personal details about myself. some call me, the doctor.” he smiled.

“the doctor?” you gasped, eyes widening ever so slightly.

you’ve been out to the main plaza before, but only a few times have you visited farther away villages. a few months ago, you headed out with cyno to gandharva ville for the first time. your father had come down with a unknown sickness, right when the ties with snezhnaya began to sever, and cyno had recommended a doctor who could help. even against the insistings of the court and cyno, you accompanied him. after all, you’d be saftest with your guard, you argued.

begrudgingly, he took you along in a disguise, and you met tighnari. you learned they were friends, good ones too it seemed. you learned tighnari was recommended to become a royal medic, but he refused, stating how his research was better out here in gandharva ville. he learned of the conditions of your father and agreed to head to the castle, but on the condition he was able to give treatment to his current patient.

you had suggested for the patient to come with you guys, only to earn a modest scolding on the dangers of doing so. smiling at your own lack of medical knowledge, you apologized where as he sighed. you concluded that the treatment wouldn’t take longer than a few hours, not ideal, but you understood.

out of curiosity, you asked about the patient. unexpectedly, cyno was the one to tell you about her.

“her name’s collei. she’s a young girl, about 11 years old. she’s…” he stopped before continuing, “she’s a victim of the doctor. some crazed lunatic taking children and experimenting on them for his nation's gain. from my intel, it seems that the bastard is from snezhnaya.”

“goodness…” you whispered. this was the first you had heard of such thing, and by the look on cyno’ s face, it seemed like it wasn’t something he wanted you to find out of.

tighnari spoke, breaking the silence, “the good thing is that she’s recovering well ever since cyno brought her over a few weeks back. she just had a major flare up this morning, and i just need to make sure she’s stable to—“ he spoke before cutting himself off.

“collei, what are you doing out of bed?” he softly scolded as she peeped out of the door.

“i thought…i thought i heard him…” she says, taking a step outside.

tighnari was going to step towards her to help calm the little girl down but you beat him to it. you took cautious steps and lowered your hood, you could already hear cyno scolding you, but to your surprise, he stood silent, only standing guard in case something happened.

“everything is going to be okay,” you softly said, kneeling to her level “he isn’t here, he won’t hurt you anymore.”

“aren’t you the…”

you shook your head, “nevermind that, what’s your name?”

“it’s collei,” she answered.

you smiled at her, “it’s lovely to meet you collei, is there something you’d like to do? i’m sure you must be tired from laying in bed.”

“can we get zaytun peaches?”

“i don’t see why not, why don’t you go get ready? i think tighnari is about ready to give you your medicine anyways.”

she nods and goes back inside, you turn to tighnari who had previously been bickering with cyno while you talked to collie. he excused himself and walked inside to give collei her medicine, while cyno gave you a blank stare.

“what’s wrong?”

“your highness,” he began, “have you ever…picked zaytun peaches yourself?”

“no, but that’s why i have you to—“

“good. because then you’d be hunting your own kind.”

you tilted your head, softly beginning to laugh, “i’m sorry?” you asked.

“because you’re a peach. do you get it?” he deadpanned. “i can explain it if you don’t understand. you see, when people say you’re a peach, it’s to say…”

this time, you began laughing. partially because of the joke, but mainly it was due to your knight's execution of the joke. at the sound of your laughter colored your cheeks, and while you didn’t notice, cyno allowed himself to fondly look at you and smile, a similar color painting his face as well.

“that was terrible. never say that again, cyno,” tighnari said, exiting the small hut.

“now, now, everyone has different tastes. are you insulting the princess’s taste,” you joked as tighnari looked away, mumbling something along the lines of ‘how was i supposed to know.’

“truly, i do apologize, princess. collei got the last of her medicine, we can head out if you’d like.”

“please, don’t worry about it, my knowledge in medicinal science isn’t great, i should be thanking you for teaching me, i see why cyno recomended you.” you said as you began looking around the area, “however, we can’t leave now, i did promise collei we’d pick peaches together. my father isn’t in critical condition, we have a few moments to spare. do you happen to have a basket?”

“you’re just as kind as he—i mean, as they say. i’ll grab you one. in the meantime, i’ll get my materials ready.”

you thanked him as he walked back to the small hut, and out came collei with a small basket. the three of you began to head towards an area of the forest, per cyno’s lead. collei asked you questions every once in a while, and you’d gladly respond.

at one point, she wandered off a little ahead to grab some harra fruit she had seen in a distance. you and cyno stayed behind, but still watched her.

“she’s taken a liking to you rather quickly,” he spoke, looking over at you. a faint look of jealousy washed over him.

“i guess so, what's with that look?” you laughed, poking at him.

he stopped to think for a moment then responded, “nothing, it’s just it took collei a while to like me, and she took a liking to you rather quickly.”

“aww, are you jealous?” you teased. you had expected him to remain silent, like he usually does whenever you bother him, except he surprised you.

“a little, but not really. you’re a wonderful person, it’s no wonder why she felt comfortable around you so quickly.”

you looked into his eyes to see if there was any hint of sarcasm in his statement, but there wasn’t. “cyno…” he coughed to break the silence, looking over at collei who had now resorted looking around for sumeru roses.

“since when have you known about this, the doctor i mean.” you asked, looking away from collei to glance at cyno’s expression.

he sighed, “i figured you’d ask.” he began to explain in more detail what had happened. you learned that she’s from sumeru, she suffers from eleazar. her mother couldn’t cover her treatment, but a sponsor under the name of the doctor said he’d have her treated, with no expenses. only condition is that she’d need to travel to schenzaya. from then on, she was experimented on using ancient relics. cyno had gone to mondstad for not only an expedition, but because an old alma mater had requested for his assistance. he was able to bind the ancient spirit, but it took a lot out on the poor girl.

“why didn't you tell me? you told me about everything that happened on the expedition to mondstat except this,” you argued, not loud enough to disturb collei but enough to get cyno’s attention just how upset you were.

“this is far from your realm of responsibilities, it would’ve just been a burden to add onto you.”

“as far as i'm concerned, i’m the princess of sumeru. it's my duty to make sure my people are safe, and she’s a child of sumeru who was gravely hurt, more than words can describe. this is unacceptable.” you firmly reprimanded. cyno looked shocked for once, but quickly composed himself. “we’ve always worked together, we’ve been a team since forever, cyno. my position means nothing to me when i’m with you and you know it.”

“…i didn’t know you felt that way.” he says.

“of course you knew, you just chose to ignore it at times. i’m not made of glass, you know.”

“says the one who would always complain about not having a vision when we were younger.”

you blushed, “not the time.”

he chuckled, “you’re right, please accept my apologies, for everything. i promise, i’ll let you know if i learn something new.”

“that’s more like it, there’s the cyno i know,” you smiled. “it’s settled then, we’ll find out who the doctor is and take him down, together!”

you smiled at him and he nodded, you took his hand that was in a fist and forced his pinky finger out, hooking yours onto his, intertwining them together. he looked bashful, is what you could describe. you imagined it was because he must’ve thought you were acting childish.

“i’m done, this is for you!” collei says, coming back with a small padisarah and handing it to you.

you smiled as you took it, releasing your hand, rather, your pinky from cyno’s, “thank you collei! i’ll cherish this because it came from an amazing friend!”

“please, excuse me, lord dottore, i must attend to the other guests,” you said, looking around for a way to leave, for someone, anything.

“why so frantic, your highness?” he questioned, leaning down to your ear, “i do think i’d be wise for you to consider this…proposition of sorts.”

“i’d be best for you to—“

“to? what’s this, the princess is threatening me, shneznayan diplomat? on what grounds.” he said, roughly grabbing your forearm, pulling you towards him. “i suggest you chose your words carefully. who knows what could happen to this precious kingdom. perhaps you’d be better off accepting my proposal, you’d have an…immunity of sorts.” he laughs as you rip your arm from his grasp, running towards the back garden.

do you inform cyno now? or even your father? accepting his proposal would put an end to all the political issues your father was facing, but it meant sacrificing your happiness, the safety of your people. who knows what would happen with a crazed lunatic like him ruling, yet again, look at the power he has already, to harm such a large number of people just as a marquess. you couldn’t, you’d be betraying collei, and all his other victims from not only your nations but others as well. but not accepting would also put your people in danger.

“i knew you’d be out here,” you heard a male voice speak. you sighed loudly.

“lord dottore, how many times do i have to tell you, i’m not interested. please leave before i—“ you said before gasping, “goodness, cyno you scared me.”

“what was that about someone pestering you,” he said, bringing his hand to the sheathed weapon on his hip, the purple vision beginning to spark.

“no, no, no need for that,” you said, placing your hand against his, both of your movements momentarily ceased. soon after, he quickly kneeled one leg on the ground, like he does on royal duty.

“your highness, what are you doing out here?” he asked.

“cyno get up,” you commanded as he rose, “i just am outside, no particular reason for it. and could you quit it? it’s just the two of us, no need for the formalities.”

“you seem to forget that tonight is an official event, i can’t toss aside formalities.”

you stepped forward and pinched his cheek, you heard a soft ‘oww’ released from his lips, you were sure it didn't hurt, he probably did as such to make you feel better. wouldn’t be the first time he’s done so.

“i understand that, trust me.” you sighed, “but it’s just the two of us, lighten up won’t you?”

he hummed before asking, “‘s something plaguing your mind?” he asked. you internally groaned. he’s good, you’d expect nothing less from the man who’s been by your side for who knows how many years.

you thought about it for a moment before shaking your head, this isn't the right time, or is it? you weren’t sure, but you had to respond before cyno became suspicious. “i don’t know, i’m just overwhelmed. i think i need to dance to clear my mind,” you said absentmindedly.

“then let me take you back inside, i’m sure there’s plenty of nobles who—“

you shook your head, “no.”

he raised his brow at you, “no? didn't you just say…?”

“i’m aware of what i said,” you sighed, “but i want to stay here.”

“allow me a moment then, i’ll find someone to come out here and dance with you—“ he said as he turned around, beginning to head back inside.

“no!” you shouted, grabbing his wrist. he looked confused, and you looked at him through your eyelashes, “i’d like for you to dance with me, cyno.”

he stared at you for a few seconds before coughing, “princess, i’m aware some of my jokes aren’t the best, but you’ve got me beat here.”

what.

“what part of what i just said sounded like a joke? i’m serious, i wish to dance with you cyno.”

“and i refuse.” he says, crossing his arms.

now you are the one to raise your brow, this time in amusement, “are you telling me no?”

“indeed i am,” he grunts.

“we’ve danced before you know.” you said, “you’re the one who taught me for my debutant.”

“its…different now.” he said, looking up to the moon.

you stood in front of him, using your hands to bring his face down, “how is it different now?”

“you’re a lady who is supposed to be finding someone to be wed to, we aren’t children anymore.”

“i don't care about that, and you know it. cyno, i truly just want to dance with you.”

“i…” he said, finally meeting your eyes.

“please?” you asked, on the brink of giving up.

that was until you felt a pair of hands reach your waist, and your feet forcibly began to waltz. you look up at him to see the moonlight hitting his face in just the right way, enough to visibly show the pinks of his cheeks.

“please, tell me if you wish to stop,” he muttered, meeting your smiling face.

you hummed, placing your hands on his shoulders, “i doubt i will ever want to stop.”

the soft waltz became more grand, he led you through the garden gracefully, perfectly weaving through the bushes of sumeru roses before staying in place and swaying. this reminded you a lot of a few years back, when you were practicing for your debutante, except this time there was no heels stepping on the poor young man’s feet. this time, it was a graceful dance between you and the man you harbored feelings for.

“i take it back.”

“what? we can stop if you wish—“

“no, i mean what i said earlier. when you asked if i was nervous and i said i wanted this to be over with. i don’t wish for this night—well, for this moment to end.”

“you know we mustn’t,” he softly says.

you lean your head to his chest, continuing the soft swaying, “indulge me this once then, please.”

“is that an order?” he laughs.

“if it makes you stay, then yes.”

“i would’ve stayed regardless…” he whispers, low enough for it to be carried away by the midnight wind, but loud enough for you to hear, it too carries away the worries littering your mind. i’d be an issue to resolve tomorrow, you decide.

“good morning!” you hear a cheerful voice sing. “you better wake up before i splash water on your face~” you heard the voice tease.

“nilou, please, it’s archons knows what time it is,” you whined as you sat up.

“now, now, none of that, you have to tell me what happened last night.”

you turned to her as you tilted your head. surely it wasn’t about the marquess, was it? “what are you talking about, nilou?”

“i’m talking about the dance, obviously!” she exclaimed, sitting down with you. “sir cyno brought you hear, claiming you had fallen asleep. but i heard that you were dancing with someone~” she teased as you blushed.

“it was cyno, wasn’t it,” she gushed, as you looked away, “it totally was!”

“nilou! not too loud, you’ll get him in trouble.”

“so it was him! was he the same one who proposed?” before you could ask what was she talking about, one of your attendants walked in the room.

“princess, your presence is called for in the main throne room by the king. please, allow me to assist you in getting ready.

“alright then, where’s sidnei?”

the maid looked around nervously, “she’s…she’s somewhere. we aren’t exactly sure where, this is also the case with a few other staff members.”

what was going on.

nilou walks you to the main throne room, this time she was silent, sensing you were tense. thoughts raced across your head, did your father find out about the dance you shared with cyno? was he okay? what about sidnei and the other staff, where were they? and, what happened with dottore, or rather, the doctor? you had planned on investigating further on his actions, but everything was happening so fast.

your last question was answered as soon as you entered the throne room, and the man was standing before your father.

“my beautiful daughter, you didn’t tell me!” he exclaimed when he saw you enter the room.

“father, what are you talking about?” you asked as he walked up to you, engulfing you in a hug.

“why don’t be silly, lord dottore is asking for your hand in marriage! you’d know this better than i, after the dance you both shared, so he was telling me.”

you briefly heard nilou gag, mumbling disappointedly.

“he did what…?” you asked your father, his expression being the polar opposite of yours.

“please, your majesty, allow me to ask properly,” he says, taking your hand and kneeling on one foot, pulling out a box. “princess of sumeru, will you marry me?”

gasps flooded the room with the few in the room, applauds began to echo, and you could hear the distinct sound of your father sniffling. you glance around to see everyone happy, nilou looked disappointed and was the black sheep in this crowd, alongside you. you look down at the man currently kneeling in front of you, that eerie smile painted across his face.

“i…” you stuttered, unsure what to do. lucky, you wouldn't have to decide what to do.

only a few were able to hear the footsteps, and only another handful saw the purple sparks of electricity fill the room, but everyone saw the fist of the princess’s guardian knight connect with the marquess' jaw, knocking him to the ground. the mask now forgone to the ground, splatters of blood stained the carpet below him that matched dottores eyes. if you were to make the comparison at this moment, his red eyes were blood crimson, while cyno’s eyes reminded you of rubies.

gasps yet again filled the room, whispers exchanged as the only clapping now belonged to nilou, before she ceased her excitement.

dottore groans, attempting to sit up only for cyno to throw a spear—his preferred weapon—right next to his face, grazing the man’s face, yet again more blood. he then rushed forward, holding the spear down.

“cyno!” you gasped.

“cyno!” your dad yelled, voice filled with rage. it was rare to hear the king upset, and whenever he was, all you could do is pray for the unfortunate soul that the anger was targeted towards. “explain yourself! this is treason!”

“forgive me, your majesty, but this man is placed under arrest in the princesses orders,” he said, as everyone gasped once more

“arrested?” dottore maniacally laughed, “my fiancée wouldn’t do such a thing, i’ll have a war waged—“

“you dare make such baseless threats after you threatened this nation's princess on her own land? you’re lucky i didn’t take action last night, but today i won’t be so merciful.” he began, his spear becoming engulfed with electro.

your eyes widened, had cyno really seen everything that happened? at what moment or even where was he, you couldn’t see him at all.

“this man has gone mad!” dottore yells, “your majesty, you see, my suggestion isn’t so far fetched after all, he’s going to spread this madness to the princess.”

“the only one spreading madness here would be you, doctor!” you yelled.

“how do you know about that?” your father asked, more so rhetorically.

cyno continued, “you thought we wouldnt have noticed the missing number of attendants, especially sidnei? the princess’s personal attendant? what a fool you are. we have the reports on certain wine barrels that were contaminated by a poison coming from your region, as well as the personnel serving them. everything ties back to you. however, this is an open investigaton, im typically not allowed to arrest you in those cases, but not only did you verbally threaten the princess, you manhandled her. in front of thousands nonetheless.”

“what about the dance from last night?” the king asked.

both you and cyno coughed, but he continued speaking, “…it was i who was dancing with her.” the room was silent once more until nilou softly squealed, whispers filled the air once more.

“my daughter, is this true?” your father asked, turning towards you.

you looked over at cyno, his eyes shining with determination. you nodded, signaling you’d follow his lead.

“yes father, everything sir cyno said is true. that man on the ground is the doctor, the crazed lunatic who’s been experimenting on our people. i had cyno investigate further after he insulted me last night, and i issued the arrest order. such filth cannot be left unattended to.” you said, your stance radiating a commanding force.

“and the dance?” nilou chimed in, before one of the attendants slapped her hand across her mouth.

you sighed, “yes, the dance too,” you said bashfully.

“that does it then, guards!” your father snapped his fingers, “il dottore, marquess of shneznaya is to be arrested immediately, as per the princess’s orders!” your father commanded. as guards took dottore away, he yelled curses until his voice ran dry.

“princess,” cyno said, kneeling before you. “please, excuse me for my actions. and lack of actions last night.”

“cyno, please stand.” you said as he rose to his feet, “thank you for trusting me and for letting me help even if it was a little. please, allow me to apologize for not telling you last night.”

you turned to your father, “and to you as well, i should’ve told you both sooner rather than now.”

cyno was the first to speak, “you helped a lot more than you can imagine, my lady. you got the doctor to reveal himself. and we're a team, aren’t we?”

“that we are,” you smiled.

“so, who’s gonna court who?” your father mused.

you exclaimed, color painting your face, “father!”

he laughed as your father’s royal advisor sighed, “i thought the choice in dottore was weird, but who was i to judge who you loved?” he asked turning to cyno, “i was rooting for you the whole time, son?”

“…thank you?” he responded, visibly and understandably confused.

you sighed at your father and turned to cyno, “you know last night, i only wished to dance with you.” you smiled at cyno, walking up and kissing his cheek, “thank you.”

“it’s always my pleasure, princess.” it was an address you were used to by many, but this time it felt different given the circumstance.

glass bottle message -> this was NOT supposed to be this long LKJAKBJB but i really hope you enjoyed, and to anyone else reading! thanks kat for pushing me, love you the most stinker @lovely-josuke

also the fact i had to rewrite the whole thing because google docs didn’t save it 😔💔 regardless i love how this turned out hehe

requests are open, but please check the rules :)

#genshin x reader #genshin impact x reader #genshin impact #genshin #genshin royal au #cyno #cyno x reader #cyno x you #cyno x y/n #cyno genshin #cyno genshin impact #gixrsecretsanta2022 #cyno imagines #cyno fluff

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versadies · 2 years

Note

HII CONGRATS ON 7K!!🎉

this is my first time requesting so i hope im doing this correctly😭

kamisato ayato + wangshu inn + prompt-1 + prompt-9 + dawn + sunny, please! <3

rumor has it (kamisato ayato x gn!reader)

AIRLINE… RUMOR HAS IT

STEWARD… king!kamisato ayato (w/ gn!reader)

LOCATION… wangshu inn (royal!au), 1-9 ST. “i don’t deserve you.” + “but i love you, ___. it’s you i want, not them.” on a sunny weather at dawn (drabble, comfort)

PLANE… slight-angst/comfort, royal!au, mentions of gossip, insecure!reader, ayato is sweet, no tw as far as ik of!

PASSENGERS… @scaraslover @saving-for-xiao @dawgimsohot @kazu-topia @chiruru @aqualesha @renamichii @mrkamisato @shenhesl0ver @serami00 @serenareiss @hiqhkey @emperatris-rinaka @bystander36 @irisxiel @ladycoleigh @034ven @dear-dairiess @owozi8 @hadesaedes @chiro-chiro-kun @hersscherofyatta @mariusvonhangme @yuzuricebun @nejibot @hoshikistarlette @solaaresque @crowbird @lordbugs @flowersforayato @headintheclouddd @estelwrld @giyusimpsassemble @irethepotatosblog @moonlightaangel @alice0blog @shotosbrainrot @sniffoat @chihawari @mxsomn @kuni-kuzushii @jiminscarmex @mitsukii14 @nejibot @ylimeprive @sachispet @loreleis-world @sn-owo @starforecasts @someonetookmynamelmao @ceylestia @lumiinere @ymikkos @reallysporadicarcade @melodyyamino

LANDING… in which rumors are too much for you and you find yourself crying all night until your husband comforts you and reassures you you’re more than enough for him.

LUGGAGE… 1.5k words

PILOT… i’ll try my best to start posting more on my 7k requests whilst working on my evermore series, hope you enjoy this anon <3333

PENPAL SERVICE…. MASTERLIST || 7K MILESTONE EVENT || 7K MASTERLIST (coming soon) || TAGLIST

Rumors come as they go.

You know this fact long enough as someone who’s involved with many people who love to gossip. You know this fact long enough as someone who’s wedded to the ruler of this kingdom. You know this fact long enough that you should’ve been used to it.

But your poor heart couldn’t get used to it. Not when most rumors you hear revolve around you and your lover, who often reassures you that whatever the nobles say about you two would never change a thing about his love for you.

Ayato’s right, you admit. Despite all the crazy rumors these silly nobles would come up, your love for each other remains strong and romantic.

Unfortunately your insecurity only grew from it. Especially when most rumors you hear are all about how Ayato’s with a beautiful or handsome person as well as how nobles would comment about how they’d be a better spouse of their respected ruler than whoever you are, causing you to fall into endless thoughts of insecurity. Why did he choose you? You’re nothing in comparison to those Ayato spends time with. You’re not as beautiful as those princes and princesses as well as nobles alike. You’re not worth marrying when you have nothing to offer for your kingdom. You’re not special. You don’t even have a vision, a blessing from the gods above.

You’re just you.

You see no reason to bother your husband with your insecurities and pitiful state, not when he has better things to do than to try and comfort you. You pretend everything’s alright whenever your husband is around often, as if you don’t cry yourself to sleep or spend a long time in the bathroom staring at your reflection wondering why you’re like this, as if you didn’t hear nobles and servants alike talking behind your back every time you walk past them in the palace. It went on for a week—

Until the dam breaks.

You happen to overhear some servants talking about how Ayato is currently spending time with a woman, a very beautiful woman, by the garden. You wouldn’t have not minded such a conversation, if it weren’t for the fact that your husband rarely takes anyone besides you to the palace gardens.

What made it worse is the fact that you could see them from one of the windows, your heart shattering at the sight of Ayato looking at the woman with a fond smile on his face as he talks about only Celestia knows what.

You couldn’t take it anymore.

Later that night, Ayato came to your shared chambers after finishing the last of his paperwork, wanting nothing but to be in your loving arms. He thought you were asleep the whole time until he lay down next to you, now noticing how your shoulders are shaking. Are you… crying?

“Oh dearest,” He said softly as he instantly wraps his arms around you for comfort. “What’s wrong?”

“It’s… It’s nothing, Ayato.” You respond with a sniff, trying to wipe off all of your tears — only for your efforts to fail when more keeps on coming out from your eyes. “I was just yawning a bit too much, let’s slee—”

“I refuse to accept the fact that this is nothing but yawning.” He retorts. “Especially when it made my darling spouse cry so much.”

Your husband surely knows the words that make you want to spill your feelings out.

“You could always tell me, my love.” He reassures you, kissing your shoulder. “I feel terrible for not always having the luxury of time to be with you, but that won’t stop me from being here for you. I won’t hesitate to lend an ear for you, just as how you won’t hesitate to do the same for me.”

You feel your lips shaking, letting out a breath you didn’t know you were holding.

“…You deserve better than me, Ayato.”

You feel his hug become loose for a moment from your confession, and you continued talking. “I… I feel like I’m the happiest person in Teyvat when I found out you love me as much as I do to you, but… There’s just times when I feel like I don’t deserve to be yours — to rule alongside you when I have nothing to offer for your people.”

You didn’t expect to pour everything you’ve been feeling, but perhaps you’ve been hiding it for too long to the point where you couldn’t help but let it all out, expecting Ayato to let you go at last.

But he didn’t. He listened to every word that spills your lips, his heart sinking at the thought that you’ve been feeling this way for a while. What were you saying? You’re amazing at ruling alongside him!

“And the rumors— gods, the rumors — I tried my best to ignore them all, I really did, but it just hurts to hear those nobles about how you’re better off with someone far better than me, someone like the woman you were with earlier in the garden and…They’re right, you’re better off with someone better and not with some commoner like me.”

After finally finishing your long confession, you dread on what will happen next.

After a long painful silence, Ayato speaks up. “Could you… turn around and look at me?” He asks, letting go of you from his hug in order for you to turn around.

Reluctantly and in confusion, you did what he asked and turned around, now facing him.

He then asks, “How long have you been feeling this way?”

You look away from his gaze. “..I’d say a few weeks but… I’m sad to say I’ve been feeling this way ever since our relationship was announced.”

Ayato’s eyes widened, now feeling even more guilty. “Oh ( Name )… I’m so sorry—”

“It’s alright, Ayato. It’s not as if the rumors are your doing. I believed in myself that I could ignore the rumors and… I unfortunately couldn’t for long after our marriage, I’m sorry for this.”

Suddenly, you feel one of his cold gloveless hands cupping on the side of your cheek, wiping away another tear that escaped as yor eyes are now on him.

“Don’t be sorry, my love.” He reassures you. “I didn’t expect you to ignore most — if not all — rumors. Even I couldn’t ignore certain rumors when I was a child.”

Your eyes widened slightly. “Really?”

He nods with a small smile. “Yes. It took too long for me to bear with them all, so you don’t have to feel bad for it.” His smile then slowly drops, now concerned. “But you must hear yourself when you say I deserve someone better.”

Before you could insist on your opinion, he immediately shuts you down with more words. “Why do I need someone better when I have the best of them all?” He adds, his eyes hold a loving gaze towards yours.

You put one of your hands against his hand that’s still cupping your cheek. “But Ayato.. What about the woman? You never took anyone to the garden often besides me and your sister. The nobles have been saying about how you must be in love with her—”

“But I love you, ( Name ). It’s you I want, not that woman.” He responds. “And as much as it saddens me to reveal this surprise, the reason why I was with her is because that woman is a famous gardener. I wanted to surprise you with new flowers and arrangements with her help.”

He then chuckles, now remembering something. “If I remember correctly, she was quite annoyed that I wouldn't stop talking about you to her.”

Your eyes widen from that, your cheeks now growing warm in embarrassment.

“If anything, you’ve instantly won most of our people’s hearts by simply being yourself. Nobles may despise you for winning my heart, but commoners and neighboring kingdoms like you. The newspapers around the village always talk good about you and they all respect you as their ruler.” He adds.

He then pulls away from your cheek and grabs your hand gently, pulling it close to his face before he kisses your palm. “Trust me, my love. There’s no other person who could make me feel this way except you, who could consume my thoughts and heart like you do, who could make me laugh more than you and your silly antics, and who could do as much as you did. So please… Don’t think so badly of yourself, not when you’re worth everything to me more than anyone else even before we became a couple.”

You can’t help but hug your lover, overwhelmed by his comfort and reassurance. “Do you really think that way?”

He didn’t hesitate to hug you back. “Everyday without a doubt.”

You close your eyes. “I feel a bit better now… Thank you, Ayato.”

Ayato kisses your head. “Anything for you. Now rest, I’ll take a break off and spend time with you tomorrow.”

And so the both of you lay on your shared bed, holding each other’s hands as you sleep the night away with a now clear mind as your lover secretly plans to put a stop to those ridiculous nobles and servants who dared to hurt your feelings with their useless rumors and mouths.

For now, the two of you can just relax and sleep in each other’s arms.

#— ( 7k milestone event ✈️ )#genshin impact x reader #genshin impact fanfiction #genshin x reader #genshin x gn reader #genshin impact x gn reader #genshin ayato x reader #genshin ayato x gn reader #ayato x reader #ayato x gn!reader #kamisato ayato x reader #kamisato ayato x gn reader #genshin royal au #genshin drabbles #genshin impact scenarios #genshin comfort #ayato x reader comfort #genshin x reader comfort #genshin x reader angst/comfort

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stcrfeesh · 1 year

Text

the secrets of endings and beginnings

Xiao x Reader

for @mondaymelon; @favonius-library; exchange gift event

wc. 4101

A retelling of all the secrets the crown prince, Xiao, had to keep about the beginnings and the endings—and all the things he had with you in between.

There were three things the crown prince, Xiao, knew about you. And because he did, he thought you to be rather odd, and yet, at the same time, he found you absolutely intriguing.

One, you liked staying in the palace gardens. You had once told him how you adored the bed of glazed lilies and its fragrance. Though, you would also complain about its authenticity. You would speak as though you were an old hag—during my time, the blue in which they bloomed was purer than that of the springs of Liyue.

Or, something along those lines. He couldn’t exactly remember each specific word, but he remembered the pride on your face. The way your eyes sparkled as you finished speaking. You were silly, and the crown prince found himself not minding it one bit. Perhaps it was some form of subtle prejudice… but it was a secret only he would be privy to. He swore to take it to his grave.

You were funny. Not that he would ever admit that out loud. You spoke as if you were centuries older than him. The people of Liyue lived very, very long lives. Blessed with something akin to immortality, but not quite. But, his point was, he too, remembered how pure the blue of glazed lilies used to be. Of course, he would remember. Glazed lilies were his late mother’s flowers. They sprouted in her wake, blooming on the ground she stepped on. He grew up watching his mother tend to her precious flowers—in the very same palace gardens you have recently taken a liking to.

Nevertheless, the crown prince humoured you anyway.

“You know, when I was younger, glazed lilies used to be bluer than they are now.” You once told him.

The crown prince had long since deduced that you were younger than him. A century younger, if he were to roughly estimate. He knew what glazed lilies looked like as if they were the back of his hand, but he let you talk anyway.

He would let out a hum of acknowledgement, prompting you to continue on. But you don't, and he would always know why. He’d decide to play along, just this once, he would tell himself—and he would continue to tell himself that for the next hundred times.

“Oh?” He had asked, feigning intrigue.

He was almost certain that you were already aware of him and his memories with the said flower, but each time he would let you speak of all the things you knew—things that he, too, already knew by heart. How could he not? He was the crown prince. It was his duty to know these things.

The crown prince was expected to know all the things you spoke of, but he pretended not to because he got to see your face light up. That was enough for him—to keep on pretending. When your face lit up, it would make him feel warm inside. It was like apricity, seeing you smile. It was a smile that radiated joy, and if he were being honest, he felt your joy, too.

Like every other thing he was supposed to know, he knew you loved the palace gardens. And every time, without fail, he would find you waiting for him there. Thus, on one sunny Tuesday morning, he found you in the palace gardens. As always, you were crouching by the bed of glaze lilies—as if staring and squinting at them long enough would return them to their true colours.

“Hullo, your highness.” You would greet him with a clumsy bow once you'd noticed his presence behind you.

Routinely, he would respond with, “You do not have to call me that.”

“Then I would be one disrespectful subject,” You would click your tongue, shaking your pointer finger. “Dear archons, my parents did not raise such a brute.”

The crown prince would always find himself sighing at your antics, saying, “Not referring to me as such does not make you a disrespectful… person.”

“Oh,” You would say in a sing-song voice. “Is it because—”

But, before you could ever continue, he would always cut you off, saying, “That is not what I meant. You need not refer to me by my title because you are my friend.”

“Okay,” You would reply bashfully, and then you’d start to tell him things. You’d tell him about the things you’d learned—about the deep waters, the stars, and many others. You’d talk for an entire afternoon, and the crown prince would patiently listen to every word.

Because… there were three things the crown prince, Xiao, knew about you. And because he did, he would find himself roaming the palace grounds for you—all so he could help you.

Two, you were lost—and stuck, for the most part. You couldn’t tell him how or why, your memories failing you when you needed them most. The crown prince never doubted you, though. You were his friend; while that seemed to make him look like an utter fool, with his entire heart, he knew you were not here to cause him and the court trouble.

One moment you were somewhere else, and the next you found yourself in the palace—or so you told him. He could attest to that too, yes. He did not even know you. Not until he got to know you. Your face was not familiar, nor was your voice. Everything about you was new to him.

The crown prince has never seen you his entire life—ever—until he found you lost within the maze that was the palace. He could not remember one instance in all the centuries he’s lived in the palace where he’s received your acquaintance. He did not know you at all, rendering you a complete stranger to him. But you had looked so confused the first time he saw you, as though you didn’t even know why you were in there or how you got there.

And so, despite his better judgement, he asked if you were alright—well, not exactly asking if you were alright, but it was close enough.

“What are you doing?” He had asked you. His hand rested on the hilt of his sword, ready to unsheath it should you attack him. “Who are you?”

You had looked at him in distress. At that time, the crown prince thought it was the look of someone who was caught in the act of a crime, but now he realised it was as you had seemed. You were disgruntled, confused, and many other things he would dare not pry from you.

“I do not remember,” Was all you had to say about yourself at that time.

The crown prince concluded months later that it was true. You truly did not know your name or how you got there. You had told him you wanted to return home, wherever that might be.

He never truly understood what you meant by that, and he would not understand you for a very long time. How could someone who cannot remember where home was—or how home felt—long for home? How could you want to return home when you do not even remember where it was, or better yet, who it was?

Your sentiments were never questioned, though. He takes everything you say at face value, much to his own chagrin. He should never trust strangers, let alone ones who suddenly appear in the palace without much explanation. And yet, the crown prince trusts you because he listens.

He has heard how much you longed for a faraway place you could not recall. He believed you wanted to return, but you could not. You spoke with such fondness for a place that might not be real, and so, he believed you. He believed in the existence of your home in a faraway land and hoped one day, you’d find your way back.

“I want to go home,” You once told him meekly. “Do you think me to be silly, your highness? Longing for a home I do not remember?”

He shook his head then, in an attempt to reassure you. Your wishes were things anyone with a heart would wish for. Even for you, whose memories were like scattered puzzle pieces. You were allowed to wish for things beyond your reach.

“No, I don’t,” He remembers saying. “I think everyone is bound to long for home, even when they don’t seem to remember it.”

You hummed at his reply, “I wonder what it is like to return home. Do you think I have family waiting for my return? Will I even find my way back?”

The crown prince only shrugged and asked, “Is that what you truly want? To return to your home?”

You had told him it was what you wanted most—at least, what you could recall wanting most since the moment you found yourself lost in the palace. You said, “It feels empty to only have my memories in bits and pieces. There is this hole in my heart, and somehow, it tells me that all I need to fill it in is to find my home. I do not mind if looking for it takes an entire century. So long as I get to return home, then I suppose, that’s what matters most.”

He nods, understanding. He has listened to your yearning, and so had he listened to your dreams. All of which weren’t things that were so inconceivable. You were allowed to have your wishes granted and even fulfilled.

So he does the unthinkable. The crown prince made an oath to himself—and to you, by extension. You were his dear friend, and he swore an oath to always help you. He swore on his honour to bring you home, no matter how long it would take him.

After all, the people of Liyue lived very long lives. He had centuries ahead of him to fulfil your one and only dream. For his dearest friend, though it was unusual of him, he would search the ends of the world to return you home.

He does this all because there were three things the crown prince, Xiao, knew about you. He knew a truth that not many dwellers could ever fathom to understand. It was the key to getting you home—a hint to a puzzling mystery.

Three, the crown prince knew you were dead. It was something the both of you immediately acknowledged the first time you met. But, it was the one thing he could not bring himself to believe the first time around.

He refused to believe that he was seeing a ghost—that he was seeing you. Ghosts weren’t supposed to be real. They were stories parents used to scare their children into leaving the house after dark. And yet, there you were. Right before his eyes, a ghost with no memories.

“Is it so hard to believe?” You had asked him. Then, you took those words back. “Maybe it is. After all, I remember dying, but I do not remember anything before that. But also—your kind are descendants of the imperial dragons. Is it so hard to believe that ghosts may be real too?”

“There are no ghosts in the imperial palace,” The crown prince stubbornly insisted. “At least, there weren’t ghosts in the imperial palace. Why are you here?”

You do not know. That was the same answer you’d tell him time and again—you do not remember anything from your life before. You had told him that you could only remember hopping from place to place. As though there was something pulling you along.

Though you had told him you would never usually admit it, you went ahead and threw yourself under the carriage, saying, “It’s like I’m on some sort of leash. I keep getting dragged around. I haven’t a clue why.”

Your guess was right, he learns months later. You are tethered to something, and it was on the palace grounds. Whatever it was that anchored you in the world of the living needed to be buried, lest you never find your way back home.

The crown prince knew many things. From Liyue’s long and glorious history to spirits and ghosts. Admittedly, he only learned about the latter recently for you. He knew that whatever it was keeping you around was something brought in recently. After all, he had never seen you around until a couple of months ago.

Of course, he could still be wrong… and the crown prince, who never knew how to be selfish, wished there was a chance that he could be wrong. He finds himself with another secret he would take to his grave—he wants you to stay a little while longer.

“I have figured it out,” You had told him one particular afternoon. What exactly you had figured out, the crown prince did not know yet. You had a knack for pointing out the obvious—or at the very least, the obvious things he never seemed to take note of—as he had noticed. He wondered if that was the case this time around. “Whatever’s keeping me here arrived on the same day I appeared.”

That specific information, the crown prince already knew. It was just that; he just never told you that he did.

“You appeared six months ago,” He recalled.

He still remembers the first day he met you; witty, glowing, see-through, and dead. He remembers the first time he saw you pass through a wall as though it were nothing—and the first time you smiled at something that he said. He remembers every first and selfishly hopes there won’t ever have to be a last. But that was just wishful thinking.

“I appeared six months ago,” You repeated in confirmation. “It has been a while, hasn’t it?”

The crown prince remembers the long pause after that. He remembers not knowing the right words to say but knowing what he wanted to tell you. He remembers every moment and every second—the silence that seemed so loud and the unspoken words that begged to be blurted out: he had already figured out what was keeping you within the palace walls.

It started with a random thought—a nonsensical memory.

Since the day you first laid eyes on the palace gardens, the crown prince has noticed how you gravitated towards a potted plant. A glazed lily that was different from all the others. One that remained in bloom in the mornings, and one that you would berate the most. Though flowers were not sentient, you had called it conceited—why must it be potted while the rest are together on the bed? What does it think it is, the emperor?

It was a fairly new addition, and he remembers the gardener mentioning that it was found blooming somewhere in the west of Liyue. It was a rare sight to have glazed lilies blooming in the west. The land in the west was not fertile enough to keep ancient flowers alive, and yet that lone glazed lily stood tall, full of life.

With its rarity, it was uprooted and brought to the palace as a gift—an offering to the late empress. The crown prince spent many months not finding interest in the lone flower. Having only glanced at it every now and then whenever you fumed. He did not care about glazed lilies since the empress had passed. He had no reason to care for a flower his mother had loved, not when she was no longer around.

But then there was you.

You had told him you hated the lone glazed lily. You hated how it was different—how it was alone when it could be somewhere with the others. But you understood why the flower must bloom in solitude. Because it was different, it suffered a lonely fate. The crown prince thought the flower was much like you.

“Why are you showing me this?” You had asked him as you stared the potted flower down as if glaring at it would make it disappear into thin air. “I do not like it. Can we not look at other flowers instead?’

“You know,” He began cryptically—it was unlike him, but some twisted and selfish part of him wanted to keep you here a little while longer. The crown prince was selfish, just this once, he swears. “My father once told me that we resent people and things when we see in them the parts of ourselves that we do not like.”

“I didn’t know you were into philosophy.”

“Because I am not.”

“Huh. Very well, then.”

“You do not sound like you believe me.”

“But I do,”

“Truly?”

You replied with a hum of agreement and a smile. The crown prince wonders then, how could something so beautiful make his heart ache so painfully? Maybe this was what the elders meant when they said that beauty will always come at a price. He gets to see a smile so ethereal, but at the cost of an odd feeling of heartache that he cannot begin to explain.

You hated the lone flower, and you would remind him of this every single time without fail. And yet, despite all your complaints and grievances, you would treat the flower as how one would treat a newborn child—delicately, and with love. Had the crown prince not known any better, he would have assumed that you’d taken a fondness for the flower. Perhaps you did, and your stubbornness stood in the way of admitting it.

You crouched down, just as you had told him you wanted to leave. You stayed, and your hands reached out to touch the flower instead. Your fingers do not pass through its petals; the flower moves, albeit slightly. It sways to your touch and to the breeze that suddenly blows—he watches you quietly, intently, as his mind races with a million and one words.

“I already know how to get you home,” The crown prince suddenly blurted out.

“You do?” You asked.

You did not seem elated as he had hoped you would. You had droned on for months on end about how much you longed for the home you could not remember, but why does your eyes not smile when he tells you this? Why do you remain stoic? Why won’t you jump around and squeal in delight? Have your wishes changed?

Slowly, he nodded and offered you his hand, “Walk with me?”

And you did. You walked with him, side by side, through the palace gardens that the both of you had memorised over the months he’s gotten to know you—at least, the you that he knows, who cannot remember a single thing about their past.

He takes you in circles, dragging this dreaded moment on. You did not complain and only sang a familiar tune he could not put a name to. A tune that reminded him so much of you—one of the many other things about you that he cannot put a name to. You were a familiar mystery, an unanswered prayer and question, one whose ending was coming soon.

You walked with him, and his hand brushed lightly against yours. But he was not so bold as to take it in his, to feel a nonexistent warmth that only his heart could fathom feeling. Archons, no.

“The flower…” Then he trailed off.

The crown prince was many things, but not once in all the centuries he’s lived has he considered himself to be selfish. You were a spirit tethered to a world you no longer belonged to, and as with all that has passed, you deserved to find peace. You deserved to have your soul set free from the mortal chains that bind you to an even more mortal world.

But he tells himself that the people of Liyue lived long lives. Wanting to keep you a while longer should not be an unforgivable sin.

“Is my way home,” You finished for him instead. You had spoken the words he could not get himself to tell you. His steps come to an abrupt stop, and then he gapes at you.

There was silence between you both, and all the prince could hear was the rustling of the leaves and the crunching of grass beneath his feet. He feels your presence, but he feels you fade away all the same. In that very moment, as you stared at him and he stared at you, he decided that you were a contradiction.

Before the silence became too much to bear, you spoke once more, “Why must I be attached to the one flower I despise the most?”

The pieces finally fall into place for the crown prince. You hated the flower because it was you. The flower was you, and it was the one thing that kept you tethered to the world you were unfairly yanked out of.

“Would you like the answer?” He asked.

“No.”

Your walk continues in silence. The silence did not make the crown prince want to run away this time around. In fact, it made him want to stay—and he does. He walks with you, leading you through the maze, through flower arches, past the ginkgo tree, and then back to where you began. Right in front of the potted glazed lily you hated.

“How does this work?” You asked softly. “Do you just throw it away? Destroy it?”

“No, that would erase your soul.” He replied. “We uproot it, I suppose?”

“Do you think the last of my remains are somewhere in its soil?”

“Likely.” He answered. “You’ll be home after all this.”

“So eager to get rid of me?” You teased. “Oh, my dear heart—here I thought you liked my presence!”

“Do you want to return home or not?” His question only hangs in the air.

You bit your lip, inspecting the potted flower, his question now forgotten. “But what if it doesn’t work, what happens then?”

It would work, and the crown prince was certain of that. He looked at you and noticed the hesitation in your eyes. Did you not want to return home?

Bits and pieces of what was supposed to have been apparent to him months ago flood the gates of his mind. You were hesitant because you had known all along. The moment you first touched the lone glaze lily, you already knew your story and your name.

He does not chastise you for this, instead, he reassures you.

“It will work,” He knows it will, and he has never been so certain… and much like you now, he wishes he wasn’t. He wished that somewhere in the order of things, something would fail, but the crown prince reminded himself, seemingly for the last time, that he wasn’t selfish.

The crown prince finds himself with a new secret.

There was one thing you never knew about Xiao, and you might never know about it—or maybe, you already knew. Whether you did or not was a secret you already took with you to your grave. He would no longer be able to ask, and you would never be able to tell.

A bittersweet ending to an equally bittersweet beginning. He was content this way, but still, Xiao loved you.

In the beautiful chaos of meeting, befriending, and loving a lost ghost, Xiao had found a home within you. While you had told him how much you yearned to return home, his selfish heart had built one through you. You were his home, and Xiao loved you. He loved you so much that he allowed his new-found home to crumble before his eyes. His home should not be home when you, in all that made you ethereal to him, were not free.

Xiao loved you, and so he set you free.

The lone glazed lily that you had once loathed no longer had to bloom in solitude; it finally found its way back home amongst the bed of familiar blues. No longer did it need to be conceited because the flower was you, and you were far from conceited. You were many things; cheeky, witty, bright, and a thousand other wonderful things—but never conceited. He would always remember you that way.

Xiao made it a habit to always pass by the palace gardens, at least once every morning. He’d watch your flower dance to the breeze, and it would leave the smallest smile on his face. Of course it would. You were Xiao’s chance encounter, the only one that could make him smile. He was sure to remember you for the millennia to come…

Because Xiao knew many things, but one he would never forget was that he loved you.

This is a gift for a friend and a kind-of-entry for an exchange gift event hosted by the Favonius Library! I had a lot of fun (this claim is false) writing this, and thus, I hope Melon, and everyone else who'll read this, will have fun as well. Hehehehe. Oh! And! I would like to take this opportunity to thank all my beta readers (I'd put a heart emoji here but I'm using HTML to format this).

GENSHIN MASTERLIST | KO-FI SUPPORT

#favoniuslibrary #astronetwrk #stcrfeesh; gifts #stcrfeesh; oneshots #xiao x reader #angst #genshin impact fanfic #genshin royal au #xiao insert reader

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strawberrylabs · 1 year

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Hi! Can I request for a fic? This one's for genshin impact's master Diluc. Like, accidentally wearing his clothes or something he owns while in a secret relationship... For higher stakes, make it pretty controversial like... A royal AU, or families are enemies kinda thing 😭

Only if you're fine with it, of course :>

hello! im so sorry this took so long

I went with a royal AU! hope you enjoy!

You were the heir to the throne of Mondstadt.

Many people had high expectations of you, including your parents, your people, and also your fiance; The youngest child to the royal family in Liyue.

Mondstadt and Liyue had been allies for generations, however with Sneznya on the rise, a need for an official symbol of the alliance was needed.

It’s not that you hated prince Xiao of Liyue, you were even friends with him and his older siblings before they died in battle.

But you did not love him, nor did he have feelings for you.

Currently, the two of you were supposed to be “getting to know each other” despite having already known each other since birth.

So instead of talking…

“You’re an idiot.” Xiao watched you attempt to climb out the window on the rope you had hidden.

“It’ll be fine! I’ve done this a bunch of times before and I’ve never been caught!”

You slide down the rope and make it to a tree branch that you can safely climb down from.

“Oh shoot! Hey Xiao, on my dresser there’s a pendant with a phoenix on it! Could you toss it down for me?”

Xiao goes to turn to find the object you described but stops.

“A phoenix? You mean the Ragnvindr sigil? I know you love the man but don’t you think wearing his family's sigil is a bit much even for you?” He speaks lowly as he turns back to you

“Stop worrying so much! I’ll keep my hood up and it’ll be down my shirt anyways!”

“If it’s not going to be visible then why is it so important you have it?” Xiao scowls in confusion.

You look down in contemplation.

“I don’t know. It Just doesn’t feel right to not have a part of him with me at all times.”

You hear a sigh and look up in time to see Xiao throw the pendant to you.

“Thank you! I’ll be back before sun down!” You smile and climb down the tree, slowly but surely walking out of sight from the prince.

Xiao sighs.

“Be careful, you fool.”

<~~~-~~~>

As you walked into town you made sure you had your hood up. Normally if you were just going for a walk through town, you’d gladly let your people see you! You love talking to the people of Mondstadt, and the people love you too.

But times like this are different. Times when you sneak through crowds to get to a certain tavern, or sometimes to a certain manor.

In today’s case, you were on your way to the tavern known as Angel’s Share.

Angel’s Share was owned by the Ragnvindr’s, a wealthy and renowned family in Mondstdat.

The late Lord Ragnvindr, Crepus, passed in a great battle. And now his eldest son, Diluc was the head of the family.

Diluc was well loved by the people. Unlike most Lords, he walked among the people, and worked at the tavern himself most days.

And Diluc was exactly who you were hoping to see.

You and the young Lord met at his Father’s funeral. As a royal, and ad Diluc’s father being a respected man, you showed up to pay respects on behalf of your family.

You were worried about the man, so you continued to visit in the following days.

Days turned to weeks, weeks to months, months to 4 whole years. And before you knew it, the two of you were in a secret relationship, filled with longing glances and fleeting touches.

Originally, you two of you probably would’ve been able to get married no issues seen as how Diluc is a high-esteemed Lord. However your engagement to Xiao changed things.

And that is why you are now sneaking through your own city just to see your own lover.

You enter the bustling tavern, scanning the crowd for the red hair you’re so familiar with.

Before long you see Diluc and start making your way to him excitedly.

As you try to navigate the sea of people, someone bumps you, causing you to knock you into another person.

A yelp escapes you as you fall to the ground in front of your lover.

People around you murmur and the men who bumped you apologise.

But the crowd goes silent at the view of the Phoenix pendant that had fallen out of your shirt.

“But.. Master Diluc… is this person your lover?”

At that simple question, the people were in uproar, bombarding you and Diluc with questions.

Diluc grabs your hand and pulls you up to his chest, holding your hood down to protect your identity.

The two of you go through the bar, Charles, the other bartender, makes sure no people follow.

Once out of the tavern, Diluc hails a carriage to take the two of you to his manor. The carriage stops and you both clamber in before anyone can spot you.

Once the carriage is out of the city you take your hood down.

“Are you alright?” are the first words Diluc utter to you.

“Yes, I think so. I-”

“Good. Now what were you thinking? I know it's common for you to sneak out to see me but to wear the pendant and walk into the tavern while it was that busy was foolish.” You cowered into your seat at Diluc’s chastisement.

“What if someone had discovered who you were? We’d never be able to see each other.” His voice is softer when he says this.

Silence encompasses the two of you once more.

“..I don't like taking it off. It feels like you’re always with me when it's on.”

Silence once again.

When you finally look up to meet his gaze, Diluc is wide eyed, mouth agape.

He sighs.

“I’m sorry for getting upset. It wasn’t as if you planned to get pushed over.”

Before you can continue your conversation, the carriage arrives at Diluc’s manor.

The two of you leave the carriage, your hood raised once again until you reach the confines of the master bedroom.

“Diluc, I’m sorry to have worried you. But I don’t regret coming to see you.”

The mentioned red-head looks stunned, a light blush spreading across his face.

He stutters for a moment before making his way towards you and awkwardly pulling your foreheads together.

“..I am glad you came to see me.”

You giggle

“No matter how long we’ve been together, you’re still awkward when it comes to affection.”

He grumbles before he leans in to give you a quick kiss.

“If you’re going to insult me why bother coming to see me at all” he walks away in mock offence, making you laugh more

“Because you love me”

He turns again, and smiles.

“You’re right. I do love you.”

Hope u liked it!

Thoughts on a part 2? Lemme know in the comments<3

-Strawberry🍓

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Masterlist

#diluc x reader #diluc x reader angst #genshin royal au #genshin x reader #genshin x reader angst

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fsanyadarkpaw · 11 months

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can you imagine being around them and having to deal with them either bickering or staring at each other with heart-eyes like all the time my gods

#royal impact #genshin impact #kaeya alberich #genshinsona #genshin impact kaeya #genshin impact oc #genshin impact fanart #genshin kaeya #genshin royal au #genshin impact royal au #venti #gi venti #genshin venti

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lavendermage · 2 years

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My Princes

Characters: Kaeya (Romantic), Diluc (Romantic), Albedo (Romantic)

Genre: Royal au, Reader uses he/him

TW: Reader gets poisoned, he’s fine though

1.5k words

AN: I plan to make this a series. Next up are ayato and thoma, visiting from inazuma.

Masterlist

You were a servant, nothing more. You did your job and you did it well. You took pride in your work, but didn’t delude yourself into thinking you were anything more. Hundreds of other people worked in the palace, dozens of them serving the princes, Diluc and Kaeya.

The one thing you had going for you was your experience. You had worked in the palace longer than most of the other servants, and often mentored new-comers. You were trusted. The princes knew you by name, but they knew all the senior staff.

So it was no surprise when you were asked to deliver a plate of hors d'oeuvres to the princes at the party. You picked up the platter and walked up the steps, watching your step on the smooth marble. Other guests took from the platter, but you noticed one put one back.

You were only a few steps away from the princes now. A slight bitter scent stung your nose. It would be unnoticable for anyone else, but you recognized it. Poison. Pointing it out would lead to chaos. Feeding to the princes was unthinkable. Finding a flaw in the dish would lead to the firing of kitchen staff. So you fell. You stumbled on the last step, hitting your shin and falling at the princes’ feet. It hurt.

Kaeya was the first to react. He bent over to help you up. “Falling for me, aren’t we?”

You politely refused his hand and stood up on your own. Any contact would fuel gossip, especially with his flirtatious personality.

“Are you hurt?” Diluc asked, a touch of worry in his voice. It was unusual for you to be this clumsy.

“I’m alright, but the pastries are not. Apologies.” You couched over to clean it up, brushing the hors d’oeuvres back onto the platter. Once finished, you stood up, bowed and walked back to the kitchen.

You wrapped the poisoned pastry into a napkin and put it in your pocket. The Royal Alchemist would have to take a look at it.

“What happened?” Sara asked.

“Sorry I fell and dropped them.”

She groaned. “I expected better from you!”

You hummed in agreement and picked up another platter. You’d have to be more careful. You hurried up the stairs as fast as you could without raising suspicion.

You place the platter nearby and put two of the appetizers on plates. “May I recommend these, your highnesses.” You offer the pastries while bowing slightly.

Diluc looked confused at the gesture, but took it anyway. Kaeya is too busy chatting to a noble to notice.

“Your highness, Prince Kaeya.”

He finally noticed and accepted the tart. “Thank you.”

Everytime one of the princes reached for something, you handed it to them. You made sure any food or drink went through you, checking for poison inconspicuously each time.

“Would you like a drink?” A woman asked Diluc. It smelled of poison. Luckily, he refused. Thank the archons he didn’t drink.

Kaeya on the other hand. You intercepted several glasses of wine before he could take the hint. Each time you’d have to find an unopened bottle that was ‘more to his liking.’

You walked up to Diluc with another one of his favorite appetizers. In his hand was a poisoned tart. You glared at it, trying to find a way to get it away from him without drawing attention. He misunderstood your gaze.

“Would you like one?” He offered the tart.

Oh well. “Thank you, your highness.” You forced it down your throat and smiled. “Here’s a shrimp for you.” You handed it to him. The sooner this ended, the sooner you could get medical attention.

Thankfully the brothers decided to leave soon after. Diluc because he had grown tired, Kaeya because he had noticed your exhaustion.

As soon as they left you hurried to the royal laboratories. You ran past several tired alchemists before reaching the one you were looking for.

“Albedo, I need you to analyze something.”

He looked up from his work, eyes awake as ever. You wondered if he ever slept. “Of course.” He led you to one of his labs.

It was filled with various instruments all polished to a shine.

“So, what is it that you want me to examine?”

You pulled out the pastry. “What poison is in this.”

He pulled out some equipment. “How urgent is this?”

“That depends on how fast acting it is.” You sat down, your head getting dizzy. “And I’d guess it’s pretty fast.”

“Did you ingest any of it?”

“Yes.” You sensed his judgment and clarified. “It was either me or the crown prince.”

He just sighed and continued his work. “Try your best to stay awake.”

“No promises.” You slumped in the chair, the combination of poison and a long day dragging you to delirium.

He noticed your shallow breathing and checked your pulse. It was weak, but still there. Your skin was flushed. You moved unsteadily and tried to stand up. He pushed you back to a seated position.

“The princes… “ You groaned, eyes barely open.

“They’ll be fine.” He brushed your hair from your face, noting how it stuck with sweat.

“What time is it?”

“Time for you to rest.” He held your mouth open and tilted in the antidote.

You tried to spit it out but he held your mouth closed. You swallowed. “Bitter.”

“I know it is.” He held a glass of water as you drank from it greedily. He draped your arm over his shoulder and lifted you from your seat.

“Where…”

“We’re going to your room. You need to sleep.” He thought about bringing you to his bed, it wasn’t like he used it anyway. The scandal that would cause made him reconsider. He had never cared much for social rules and he was respected enough that he didn’t have to follow them. You on the other hand didn’t have that luxury.

The two of you stumbled down to the servant’s quarters. Your room was unlocked. He moved the blankets and laid you on the bed. Your room was small, about 8 paces by 8 paces. There was a bed, a desk, a cabinet and not much more. He pulled out the chair at your desk and started writing notes. Symptoms, chemical composition, materials, all the information he had about the poison. He would occasionally check in on you. You were tossing and turning the whole time.

In the morning someone came to knock on the door. You tried to get up to answer but your arms collapsed under you.

“Stay.” Albedo commanded. He opened the door.

“Sir Albedo? Why are you… Is he sick?” Diluc’s voice rang through the room.

“I’m fine.” You did not sound fine.

Diluc pushed Albedo out of the way and hurried to your bed. “What’s wrong?”

“It’s no big deal-”

“He was poisoned.”

You glared at Albedo but he just shrugged. You sigh. “It’s fine. I’ll recover in a day or two.”

“But you didn’t eat anything.” He put his fist to his chin. “Except… the tart I gave you.” His hand dropped.

“Don’t worry about it.”

“I poisoned you.” He looked horrified.

“You didn’t know it was poisoned, and I chose to take it.”

“Did you know?” He took your silence as confirmation. “Why would you eat it?”

“It was me or you. A servant or a crown prince. One is much more replaceable.”

“No, you’re not!” You startled at his voice and he lowered it. “You’re not replaceable. Please, don’t say that about yourself.”

Just in time Kaeya burst in the door.

“You didn’t wake me this morning.” He pouted.

“Apologies, I’ll be taking the day off.” You waved him over and fixed his shirt. He had an awful habit of undoing the top few buttons throughout the day. “Who dressed you today.”

“Anne. I still missed you though.”

“Hmm. She did well.” You pointedly ignored the second part of his statement. Anne had been one of the servants you trained, you were proud of her progress. “Now don’t mess up her hard work. Hands off the buttons.”

“I’ll try.” He wouldn’t. “By the way, why are you taking the day off?”

“I poisoned him.” Diluc said.

Kaeya looked up in confusion.

“Don’t be dramatic. Someone poisoned the food he gave me.” You told Kaeya.

“So that’s why you were acting strange last night.” Kaeya said.

“Not really. I was just trying to keep you and your brother from ingesting any of it. Especially you. Most of the wine you were offered was poisoned. The poisoning happened later.”

“How could you tell what was poisoned?” Kaeya was quick to ask.

“I’ve practiced identifying toxins. This one smelled bitter.”

“Was you tripping a ploy too? To keep the poisoned appetizers away from us?” Diluc asked, finally recovered enough to piece together last night’s events

“It seemed like the best option.”

“You’re incredible.” Kaeya shakes his head, almost disbelieving.

“It’s truly not much. For all your family has done for me.” You try your best to divert the attention away from yourself.

“We owe you.” Diluc stated, not seeming to understand the weight of his words.

“Not really,” You desperately try to brush off the comment, face heating up at his remark.

“He needs to rest and you both have work to do.” Albedo shepherded the brothers out the door. “And you,” He closed the door behind him and pulled a chair to your bed. “Need to help me write a report.” He pulled out his notebook and pen.

You groaned. You hated paperwork.

Masterlist

#kaeya #g/n reader #genshin impact #genshin fanfic #genshin kaeya #diluc ragnvindr #diluc #albedo #diluc x reader #masc reader #genshin albedo #albedo x reader #genshin royal au #pining #foul play #royal au #lavendermage

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