I tore my gaze away from the empty plate, staring up at the night sky that stretched outside the window. The stars glittered like jewels, decorating the vast dark canvas.
Today the Lantern Rite Festival will be held...
Fireworks, I can see that.
"Charles..." Keqing's soft voice broke the silence that surrounded us. I turned to her, finding her beautiful pair of purple eyes looking at me with a questioning look.
"Are you returning home?" she asked, her eyes fixed on me. "To Fontaine..."
I paused for a moment, feeling the evening breeze caress my face. My eyes turned back towards the sky, as if searching for answers amongst the glowing stars.
Fontaine... Melania, how could I forget her?
It's time to go home, that's right. My business here is done.
No, I had no business in Liyue to begin with.
I just... stopped by for a while.
Honestly, it's fine for me to stay here with her.
With slow movements, I let out a long breath, trying to formulate the right words.
"Yes," I finally replied, accompanied by a slow nod of my head. "There's something I need to settle over there."
Huh... What a jerk I was, leaving her after all this.
And I know my own self well.
Keqing looked down, staring at her hands folded on the table. I caught the flash of sadness that flashed across her face, before she finally forced a small smile.
Her lips opened, as if she wanted to say something. However, no words came out of her slightly trembling lips. Her usually sparkling eyes now dimmed, as if shrouded by the fog of doubt that hung over her heart.
Should I comfort her?
Should I tell her that I would stay with her?
Just as I was about to reach out my hand, cupping hers.
The sound of footsteps approaching alerted me, and made me retract my hand.
A smartly dressed waitress stepped up to our table, carrying a tray on which two drinks were served.
Her originally flat face changed as her eyes glanced at Keqing.
A look of surprise flashed in her eyes. Her mouth opened slightly, about to utter a few words, but immediately locked again.
The waitress turned her gaze towards me. However, no words escaped her lips.
Only an awkward silence surrounded the three of us.
I looked back at her with a neutral look, not wanting to show an overreaction that could provoke questions.
With a quick movement, the waitress placed two glasses of drinks on the table, almost silently.
After setting the glasses down, the waitress turned around and walked away without saying a word. Her steps were hurried, as if she wanted to get away from the uncomfortable situation immediately.
I exhaled slowly... this was such a drama.
At this moment, the inventory menu appeared, floating transparently before my eyes. The rectangular frame displayed various empty slots neatly lined up.
My eyes scrutinised the three slots that were filled. After that, my attention was fully riveted when I caught the silhouette of a tiny bottle. Then, I exhaled.
An oval-shaped glass bottle, decorated with intricate golden-coloured carvings that twisted like vines. The moonlight reflecting off its surface made it glow with an alluring purplish bias. Sleepy Elixir.
With a single touch on the miniature image of Sleepy Elixir, the elixir came out of my inventory. I gripped it tightly, feeling the coldness of the glass in my hand.
My gaze swept around, confirming that we were the only two there.
"Keqing," I called softly. She raised her originally downcast face, looking up at me with her beautiful pair of purple orbs.
"How much longer will the fireworks be lit?"
Keqing was silent for a moment, then looked down again. I caught the glint of tears beginning to condense at the corners of her eyes. With quick movements, she wiped her face.
After taking a deep breath, Keqing lifted her face and turned to stare at the star-studded night sky. Her lips parted slightly, but the words that came out of her sounded hoarse.
"Soon," she murmured softly. "The air is getting cold. The fireworks will be lit soon."
I gave a small nod, not knowing how to respond.
My eyes glanced at the Keqing glass that was still filled to the brim, not drunk even once. Without a word, I leaned forwards, as if to correct the position of my own drinking glass. But in an imperceptible movement, my hand managed to pour the contents of the Sleepy Elixir into Keqing's glass.
The purple liquid mixed perfectly with Keqing's drink, without causing the slightest trace. I sat back upright, looking at Keqing who was still lost in her own reverie.
The dim light from the chandelier shone on her face.
Ah... she was so beautiful.
"Keqing," I called softly.
She turned her head towards me, with a pair of beautiful purple eyes.
"Show me your fingers," I said softly, my smile lingering. "But you have to do it with your eyes closed."
Keqing was silent for a moment, as if weighing whether or not to follow my request. However, after a moment, she nodded obediently.
Her delicate eyelids slowly closed, hiding the beautiful sparkle behind them.
With a graceful gesture, Keqing raised her hand, extending her delicate fingers adorned with colour gradient nails. Her parted lips parted slightly.
At this moment, the ring suddenly appeared from nothing, hovering above my palm.
With slow movements, I took Keqing's still raised hand, feeling the warmth of her smooth skin. Then, my hand grasping the ring moved, wrapping the circular object around her ring finger.
"Please open your eyes," I murmured.
Her eyelids opened slowly. Her beautiful eyes widened as she realised the presence of the ring around her ring finger. Her lips parted slightly. However, she did not say anything.
A pink blush slowly spread across her white cheeks.
Look, how adorable. Seeing this couldn't help but make me curl my lips.
I really wanted to be with her. But...
She turned her face away from me, breaking eye contact.
Her trembling hands grabbed her drink glass, bringing it closer to her luscious lips.
Sip by sip, she drank the drink down. And I, watching her in silence.
How her eyelids slowly tightened.
"I'm sorry," I whispered hoarsely.
At the moment of hearing this, she glanced at me, and asked:
"Who... are you?"
***
I stepped my feet carefully, trying not to shake Keqing's body that drooped unconsciously in my arms. Her regular breaths blew against my neck, reminding me how fragile she was in this state.
My eyes swept across the dimly lit streets of Liyue.
Every time I took a step, I could hear the whispers of people looking at me suspiciously.
"Look at that, what will he do to miss Keqing?"
"I think he'll do dirty things to her, taking advantage of the situation."
"Hey, don't think that way!"
"He was the one who helped us back then. He must be a good person, how could he do bad things to miss Keqing."
However, the whispers did not die down.
"Who knows what's in his mind? Such a person cannot be trusted!"
"Clear your mind, idiot! He couldn't possibly do bad things to Miss Keqing!"
The voice rang out again, this time in a more stern and cornered tone.
I don't care. I didn't listen to what you all said at all.
Right now, I just wanted to mock those gossips.
With steady steps, I continued walking, leaving the bustling streets of Liyue behind me. The whispers slowly faded away, replaced by a silence that was only accompanied by the clatter of my own steps.
Until then, I arrived at the inn
I stepped into my room. The creaking sound of the wooden floor echoed softly along with my careful footsteps.
With slow and careful movements, I laid Keqing down on the bed. I observed her serene face, drifting into a peaceful sleep. Her rhythmic, regular breathing filled the silence of the room.
After making sure Keqing was lying comfortably, I moved towards the window. The wooden bars creaked slightly as I opened it, letting the night breeze hit my face.
I looked up, gazing at the night sky dotted with twinkling stars.
For a moment, I was stunned by the natural beauty that stretched out before me.
I turned around, stepping towards the exit. However, before reaching for the doorknob, I stopped my steps. I turned my head towards Keqing once more, looking at her silently.
Then, I exhaled.
And I locked the door.
My heart was racing. My lips seemed locked, unable to utter a single word.
I drew closer as I observed her regular breathing, as if signalling peace.
Trembling, I leaned over Keqing's prone body, noting the long strands of hair that lay loose on the pillow. Indigo-blue ribbons adorned the two braids on her head, resembling adorable cat ears. A strapless gown wrapped around her body, the lustrous black top captivating the eye. An indigo-coloured sheath falls gracefully over her shoulders.
I brought my face close to her neck, inhaling her intoxicating fragrance. I feel my heart pounding in my chest cavity. There is a hidden passion blooming inside me, inviting me to embrace the angel in an intimate embrace.
Under the moon's bias that breaks through the window lattice, I unravel the strands of the dress that are beautifully wrapped around her thighs. I admire the ombre sheen on her slender nails. All my senses were spoilt by the radiance of her beauty.
Though silent, our bodies seemed to be wooing each other in a language that only hearts lulled by romance could understand...
30 minutes passed.
Keqing's eyelids opened slowly, blinking to get used to the dim moonlight that was breaking through the window lattice.
Now, Keqing's eyes widened in horror as realisation hit her like a strike of lightning.
"Who are you!"
Her soft body struggled to rebel, but felt increasingly limp as if it was wrapped around a strangling vine. Her lips parted to scream, but only a soft sob escaped her dry throat.
I could see the glow of fear creeping over the beautiful face that had been calm in the cradle of dreams. Horror crept into her burning eyes, as if rebuking my silhouette at her side. Beads of sweat ran down her temples, mingling with the tears that began to roll down her cheeks.
My breath seemed to stop at the sight of her pain that seeped into the darkest recesses of my soul. There was a muffled sob in the language of her body that trembled violently. How I froze in a fistful of suffocating regret, observing the fear and rejection that radiated from her entire body.
It was as if she was trying to scream from behind the shackles, shouting out the rejection she was unable to express...
Suddenly, a firework burst through the sky, exploding in the sky in a perfect sparkle that hurt the eyes. Its glittering colours contrasted against the dark sky, as if mocking her pain with false excitement.
The bright light of the fireworks reflected in her wet eyes, making her blink. But explosion after explosion echoed on, displaying a temporary sheen while laughing at her helplessness wrapped in a blanket of pain.
I paused for a moment. A tightness crammed into my chest cavity, locking it in a shackle of regret.
With clumsy movements, I put my clothes back on and headed for the door.
Every step I took seemed to beat with pain, shouting out my inexpressible regret.
I turned around one last time, looking at her figure that was reeling in pain. Her heart-wrenching sobs still accompanied my every footstep as I walked away.
Leaving that room, I seemed to carry a part of my soul that was torn apart. Leaving her in a condition that tore every inch of my conscience.
Yet I continued on, burdened by the haunting silence, along with the heartbreaking sobs that echoed through my heart.
"I have done it...
"Keqing is my mentor. And I had done that with her.
"I had done something very wrong to her, in the most despicable way.
"Even so, a part of me...enjoyed it.
"I really am a despicable human being."
Instantly, my vision was blurred by the chaos raging in my mind.
All I knew was that I woke up in a moving horse-drawn carriage.
The back of the carriage overlooked Liyue Harbor. The horse-drawn carriage, travelling to Fontaine.
***
Please throw a power stone to keep me motivated!
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Look what I've done... 🤣🤣🤣
Well, I just finished this arc, I want to take a break for a while.