3
The day had passed quite uneventfully, the tour with Xingqiu had been delightful. Albeit the youth had spent too much time showing off the library of scrolls to him than Childe would have preferred. After Which he had some lunch with the Liyue Qixing to familiarize with them. Although Nignguang had mentioned that Lady Yelan was unable to make it, he had met Lady Ganyu, a soft spoken and graceful lady with a quaint presence and gentle scent. She had been extremely polite towards Childe, which he appreciated.
Afternoon came and he spent that getting introduced to the staff in the palace, courtesy of Ningguang. Proceeded to have a checkup from the imperial doctor, mister Baizhu, and had a wonderful dinner, alone. He then did some unpacking.
Just like that the whole day had passed and still not a wink of Morax. The man himself hadn’t even shown up to welcome him at all. Childe wondered if the Qixing had been lying to him, that maybe Morax really hadn't even wanted to welcome him at all. He frowned, gazing at the doors of the bedroom, before sighing and turning over. Shaking the thought off and resuming his reading of the books Xingqiu had recommended to him. He had to admit, the young boy had good taste in novels. As he continued reading, his eyes slowly grew heavy before slipping shut. He slumped against the bedsheets, still dressed in day clothes, book in hand. He couldn’t find the energy in him to get up and change as he let the tides of sleep wash his consciousness away.
He awoke in the middle of the night to find himself tucked under the sheets, the candles blown out, but still very much alone. He felt a sense of disappointment well up in him. Of course Morax would not share a living quarters with him, after all Childe doubted that this marriage was hardly something he wanted. He closed his eyes, willing himself to fall asleep despite the sense of deep sadness and rejection his instincts felt in regard to Morax’s actions. He felt his consciousness fade, heart heavy and mind buzzing.
–
“Lord Tartaglia.”
There was a steady knocking on the door that roused Childe from his sleep. He groaned, groggy and mind still hazy. He blinked awake, staring blankly at the ceiling of the bed’s canopy.
There was another round of urgent rapping on the door.
“Lord Tartaglia, are you awake? I’m coming in now.” there was a sound of the door sliding open as a pair of feet gently stepped in.
Childe sat up and watched as a lady bowed respectfully to him. He observed her attire, simple and functional Liyuean robes, hair tied up and bangs parted to the left complete with rosy cheeks and gentle eyes. She smelt faintly of fabric, probably a beta. He didn't recognize her.
“Sorry…who are you?”
“I’m Xin Yi, the attendant assigned by Lady Ningguang to serve you, my lord. The rest of your servants will arrive in the weeks following,” she bowed again.
“Oh. Please just call me Childe.” he watched as the servant girl rose and looked at him apprehensively.
“I apologize, my lord, but to do so would be disrespectful.” Childe clicked his tongue, she was stubborn.
“Madame Ping has invited you to join her for lunch this afternoon at the pavilion,”
“What about Morax?”
“His majesty is currently busy sorting court matters, my lord.”
“Ah I see.” Childe felt a heavy stone in his stomach.
“Do you require any assistance getting ready, my lord?”
“No need, I’ll be out in a bit.” he smiles, ushering the lady outside of the room so he could have some privacy to get his day started.
She bows politely before excusing herself. Childe sighing as the door slid shut, he turned around to get dressed, groaning internally at the day ahead of him, already feeling exhausted.
.
.
“I'm ready.” Childe sighs, exiting the room, shutting the door tightly behind him as he turns to Xinyi.
“Where would you like to have breakfast, my lord?” Xinyi asked.
“Would having breakfast in the garden pavilion be alright?” Childe asks as Xinyi nods, immediately leading the way to the closest pavilion in the palace gardens.
“Of course my lord, I will arrange for it right away.”
“Thank you Xinyi.”
“Please wait here my lord, I will fetch breakfast for you.” Xinyi bows before hurrying off, leaving Childe alone in the garden, free to admire the view.
He sighed as he took in the warm yellow and orange leaves of the trees in the gardens, the sound of the water fountain and koi fishes swimming around in the lake surrounding the pavilion. Using his vision, he summoned a small hydro whale, making it leap in and out of the water, swimming around the koi fishes nimbly and startling them in different directions. He giggles to himself as he watches the fish scatter and he chases them down with his hydro construct, playing catch with the fishes.
“Lord Tartaglia?” Childe startles, the hydro construct dissipating and splashing into the water, startling the fish as he turns around promptly to see who had called his name.
“X-xing Qiu! Good morning, what brings you here?” Childe gasps in surprise as he sees a familiar blue-haired youth.
Behind him was Xinyi and a rather cute looking bear, both carrying trays of food and drink.
“I’ve come to join you for breakfast, you wouldn’t mind right?”
“Of course not, I’m glad to have company.” he smiles as he moves over for Xingqiu to join him.
Xingqiu grins as he takes a seat beside Childe, Xinyi and the bear placing down the trays onto the table and loading it onto the table neatly. The orange bear then turned to him, an adorable smile on its face and Childe held back the urge to hug and squish the bear.
“Good to finally meet you mister Tartaglia, I am Marchosius, in charge of the food here in the palace, should you have any requests, please let me know, i’ll be more than happy to provide.”
Childe gasps as the bear, Marchosius, talked.
“Oh my god Xingqiu, the bear talks!” Xingqiu immediately burst into peals of laughter, Xinyi herself holding hers in while Marchosius stood stunned.
“I’m sorry for being rude, but it’s just my first time seeing a talking bear in person!” Childe gasps out.
“It’s alright..” Marchosius sighs.
“Marcho-uhm, sorry what was it again?”
“Marchosius.”
“Ah yes, thank you so much Marchosius, it’s great to meet you.” Childe smiles gratefully.
Marchosius nods, “i’ve prepared some local Liyue specialties for your breakfast today, we have rice buns, mora meat, crystal shrimp-”
“My favorite!” Xingqiu excitedly interjects.
“As I was saying, full moon egg, lotus flower crisps and some jewelry soup. We also have some tea brewed for you to enjoy with the meal.” Marchosius finishes as he points out each individual dish.
Childe feels his mouth water at the sight and smell of all the food.
“It looks wonderful, thank you so much for the food Marchosius.”
“I’ll leave you to it then. If you need me I will be in the pantry or kitchen.” Marchosius smiles before leaving.
“Shall we?” Childe smiles, gesturing for Xingqiu to pick up his utensils.
“Elders first.” Xingqiu smiles, waiting politely for Childe to dig in first.
“Ah, how respectful.” Childe smiles as he reaches for his utensils, a pair of foreign looking sticks, delicately polished and engraved.
He hesitates before picking it up awkwardly, looking at Xinqiu unsurely, who simply smiles politely at him. He smiles and wonders how to use such a utensil. While he had been presented with it in his previous meals, he had opted to eat dishes only using the spoon. He figured he’d settle on the buns and soup, since it would not require him to use the utensils. He gently set it down before reaching for a steaming rice bun. Xingqiu reached for a crystal shrimp after him.
He smiles as he stuffs himself with whatever he could, enjoying the taste of the warm and hearty jewelry soup and warm fluffy rice buns with the savory mora meat.
Maybe this whole Liyue thing wasn’t too bad afterall.