The dawn was still peeking behind the horizon's line when Keqing set her foot on the path leading to the Yuehai Pavilion.
The fresh, crisp morning air caressed her face, tossing the loose strands that escaped her twin-tailed hairdo.
Keqing's footsteps echoed between the towering rows of traditional Liyue-styled buildings.
Occasionally, she tilted her head upwards, admiring their timeless charm.
Keqing's lavender-gloved hand rose to adjust the placement of her xiangyun and peacock ornaments adorning her deep purple coat.
Tiny specks of dust swirled as the coat's hem brushed against the stone path. Keqing paid it no mind – this routine had become a part of her life since being assigned as the Yuheng of the Liyue Qixing years ago.
Finally, Keqing arrived at the Yuehai Pavilion's gate. Two burly guards bowed respectfully upon seeing the Yuheng pass. Keqing responded with a curt nod, then stepped into the pavilion where she worked.
The corridors she traversed remained deserted, her own echoing footsteps the only sound to be heard.
Keqing took a deep breath, bracing herself to be immersed once more in her daily routine after a week's leave.
As the Yuheng of the Liyue Qixing, her responsibilities were immense – overseeing land management, public livelihood, construction projects, even the real estate business!
Her role demanded strict supervision and clear development directives, adhering to hundreds of contractual obligations!
Upon entering her office, Keqing was greeted by a familiar sight – stacks of files, documents, and paperwork neatly arranged on her desk, awaiting her attention.
Without wasting time, she immediately set to work at an impressive pace.
Time ticked by, morning turning to noon. Keqing remained engrossed in her tasks despite taking repeated breaks to stretch her body.
The occasional creak of her chair could be heard as she moved to retrieve yet another unexamined document.
In another corner of the room stood a man, awkwardly rigid like a living statue. Zhongsun Nao – that was his name, a new employee at the Liyue Qixing who had started working just a few days prior.
His slender frame stood around 170 centimeters tall, with slightly disheveled black hair that only added to his appeal.
From the first time he laid eyes on Keqing during his first day's meeting, Zhongsun Nao's gaze seemed unable to detach itself from the Yuheng, as if transfixed and spellbound by her charm.
His lips even occasionally murmured praises at Keqing's captivating appearance that day – her long hair tied in twin-tails resembling horns, combined with a pale lavender shirt with a deep purple collar and a beautifully pleated dark blue skirt beneath her deep purple coat patterned with clouds and peacocks.
Truly beautiful! Just like I've seen in... Zhongsun Nao muttered.
Her every graceful, charismatic movement always seemed to make Zhongsun forget to breathe.
Several times, the man tried to greet Keqing with a cheerful wave. However, Keqing would only glance his way for a moment before diving back into her work, as if Zhongsun's presence was no more than empty air.
Even when he mustered the courage to call her name, Keqing deliberately covered her ears with her lavender gloves.
"Miss Keqing..."
Zhongsun's soft call instantly shattered the room's silence. Keqing turned with a cold gaze, interrupting him.
Zhongsun swallowed hard before managing to continue, "I'm Zhongsun Nao from the documentation division... Since this morning, I've been observing how you work with such seriousness and dedication. It's a great honor for me to be able to join the Liyue Qixing."
Keqing fell silent for a moment, allowing the man to attempt finishing his sentence. But instead of reacting, Keqing merely turned away after throwing him a disdainful look.
"That is simply my duty as the Yuheng of Liyue. There's no need for excessive praise." Keqing's voice echoed coldly throughout the room.
Without waiting for Zhongsun's response, Keqing rose from her chair and swiftly headed for the door, letting her shirt and coat billow in the breeze.
Meanwhile, behind her, Zhongsun could only stand stunned, his disappointment evident on his face.
It felt numb, as if a great wall separated Keqing and the thick aloofness that emanated from her. Yet Zhongsun still couldn't avert his gaze from that graceful figure.
His brow furrowed in puzzlement, trying to guess at something behind her icy demeanor.
But in her story, she didn't have an attitude like this... Zhongsun muttered. Then, he clicked his tongue and turned away.
Gathering his belongings to head home.
Meanwhile, Keqing strode down the corridor with firm steps. Cold sweat trickled down her temples.
Her chest heaved, keeping pace with her wildly pounding heart whenever confronted by a man.
No matter how hard she tried to ignore it, her trauma from a man still haunted her!
Her hands clenched tightly at her sides, struggling to quell the tremors that assailed her.
Keqing regulated her breathing, attempting to divert her thoughts. Yet, even so, a glimmer of fear still danced in the deepest corners of her heart.
***
A suffocating silence enveloped the dark cage. Only the sound of Charles' heavy, ragged breaths could be heard after the incident with Melania moments ago.
His eyes stared vacantly in every direction.
Melania herself remained motionless without a sound from her spot. Her body tensed slightly, her hand occasionally rubbing the marks on her neck.
However, her gaze remained empty, as if her mind had wandered off elsewhere.
Minute after minute ticked by in the oppressive silence.
Only faint noises from outside the cage could occasionally be heard, like the footsteps of guards or the grating of iron chains.
At this moment, Melania slowly parted her slightly pale lips. Charles quickly turned his head towards her, carefully observing every movement the girl made.
Melania then began to recount her tale in a faint, emotionless voice. Whatever she was narrating, Charles listened intently without interrupting once.
Charles thought she was recounting her own story.
Occasionally, he would nod slowly, following the flow of the tale Melania wove.
Gradually, the tense atmosphere around them dissipated.
Charles appeared more relaxed and returned to his usual self. Even at certain points in the story, a faint smile graced his bruised face.
At this moment, he also recalled the promise he had made to Melania before leaving for Liyue. He had once promised to tell her a story... But until now, he had yet to do so.
As Charles was pondering this, suddenly...
"The end," Melania concluded her tale with a small, peculiar smile on her hollow face.
Silence once again enveloped the cage afterwards.
Charles furrowed his brow, his lips pursed, as if carefully considering something. His eyes gazed intently towards Melania. Then, after a prolonged silence, his lips parted.
"Do you want to escape, Melania?"
***
A/N: If you want to read the 7 advanced chapters with a faster update frequency than the webnovel, you can read it on my patreon whose link is below:
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