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Childe never considered himself an important asset of the Tsaritsa, sure, he served her and was at her beck and call but he wouldn’t consider himself irreplaceable, so her using him as a form of ‘transaction’ shouldn’t come as a surprise, but it still hurt.
He might not have felt important, but he was hoping he’d was at least important enough to hesitate, but it seems she had no qualms in signing his freedom off to another. That being the infamous Rex Lapis of Liyue.
He was made to watch in abject horror as his rights were signed off to the hooded man who commanded absolute dominance.
“Glad to do business, Morax.” his queen smiled, as the other signed the papers after much discussions and additional terms that were undisclosed.
“Likewise.” came a clear, low rumble.
“Your majesty, surely it doesn’t have to be Tartaglia-” Signora began, but an icy glare was all it took for the lady to shrink back, mouth drawn shut, eyebrows drawn together in a frustrated frown.
He was grateful for her intervention, but there was little hope for him, her majesty was not fickle minded.
He felt a sense of dread pool in his gut as he watched the two leaders exchange a glance and firm handshakes as the meeting was dismissed. He felt Signora slip a hand to gently squeeze his in reassurance before following after the Tsaritsa as she gracefully exited the meeting room, two harbingers in tow.
As Childe made his way to the grand oak doors, he found a pair of piercing amber eyes studying him intensely. He gulped silently, nodding politely, yet hesitantly, before scurrying to catch up with his group.
He found his mind pre-occupied by a certain pair of eyes the color of vibrant and piercing cor lapis the following weeks.
===
“My lord.” Morax nodded as he watched the ginger-haired man’s back disappear down the hallway.
“Surely it would have been wiser to choose Lady Signora?” he turned to face the stern face of his most loyal subordinate, “forgive my impudence-”
“Pray tell, why do you think so, Xiao?” he smiles to himself as he picks up the signed documents, glancing over them briefly.
Said man cleared his throat, surprised, “well, Lady Signora is an alpha and would surely be more beneficial for future generations. Not to mention Lord Tartaglia is known for his unhinged bloodlust and hot-headedness, while the Lady appears more tame and open to negotiations.”
Morax merely chuckles, causing Xiao to look at his boss with both curiosity and frustration.
“I sincerely hope you try and get close to Tartaglia before you continue such assumptions Xiao.”
He ruffles the head of teal as he departs from the room, a frustrated Xiao and giggling Ganyu following after.
He found himself reminiscing the calculating and cautious gaze within a pair of noctilucous jades. What a beautiful and rare gem indeed.
===
Tartaglia, Childe. The facade of the 11th Fatui harbinger, known for his bloodlust and viciousness, was thrumming with excitement. But as he saw the glorious harbor come into view as the fog rolled out, he found himself wondering how Ajax felt about this whole exchange. A pair of soft footsteps approached,it seems he hadn’t any time to mull over his feelings.
“Sir...we are arriving soon, would you like to gather your things from your cabin?” a trembling voice called from behind. Ah, a new recruit. He mused.
“I’m good.” he replies, dragging his eyes away from the view and onto the other, “relax, I don’t bite.”
He grins as the recruit visibly relaxes, shoulders dropping as if strings have been cut, free from tension. He finds his smile faltering as the agent nods and turns to leave, steps paused as the man turns to face Childe, shoulders tense once again as he inhales.
“It may not be my place to say, but I think that you’ll be alright sir. Sir Morax may be well-known for his ruthlessness but he is also known to be a benevolent ruler.” Childe’s eyes widen in surprise, a strange warmth blooming from his chest.
“Thank you.” he utters, turning back to the scenery as the agent dismisses himself in a nervous hurry.
He lets a small smile slip onto his coy lips as his mind wanders back to burning amber crystals and silky dark hair. The warmly lit bustling harbor grew ever closer in the distance. Maybe it wouldn’t be too bad after all.
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