"Ah, Yu Xie, you're up so early."
Gui Zhong's voice reached him. Yu Xie, who had been enjoying the breeze on the top floor of the inn, turned his gaze toward the sound.
Gui Zhong, dressed in a white dress, smiled as she walked slowly toward him.
"When the time comes, I wake up naturally," Yu Xie replied. "Is everyone else still asleep?"
"I just went to check. Everyone is still sleeping. It seems like they all stayed up late last night, but didn't we all go back to our rooms to rest pretty early?" Gui Zhong said, slightly puzzled.
However, she didn't delve deeper into it and instead turned her attention back to Yu Xie. "How about we go have some breakfast first, and we can order breakfast for everyone too."
"Mhm, let's go." Yu Xie smiled, but his thoughts were still in turmoil.
"Is something on your mind?" The perceptive Gui Zhong noticed that Yu Xie seemed preoccupied with something else.
"I wouldn't call it a problem, more like some confusion," Yu Xie hesitated before responding.
"If you'd like, feel free to share it with me. I'll be a good listener." Gui Zhong smiled warmly.
"..." Yu Xie fell silent for a moment, unsure of how to begin.
"Let's go eat first. Whenever you feel like talking, you can always tell me. I'll listen carefully." Gui Zhong's smile remained, like the warm sunlight from the horizon.
"Mhm." Yu Xie silently smiled and nodded.
.....
During the day, everyone enjoyed their time together at Dihua Marsh.
Time passed slowly, like the gentle flow of water.
The weather was beautiful today, with the clear blue sky and sunlight pouring down. The temperature was also just right for outdoor activities.
"It's been such a long time since I've been out like this with everyone. It feels really nice," Bonanus said as she spread her arms, letting the wind tug at her clothes and long hair. She closed her eyes, savoring the moment of tranquility.
"Yeah, it's really been a long time since we've done this," Indarias agreed, but her gaze unconsciously drifted to Yu Xie. She then mumbled under her breath, "It just feels like the Liu Yun and the Ge Chen are paying too much attention to Yu Xie, don't you think?"
Xian Yun and Ge Chen, were positioned on either side of Yu Xie, never straying far from him since they had started their outing.
Though, from everyone's perspective, it didn't seem like they intended to do anything to Yu Xie.
Gui Zhong, on the other hand, watched this with a gentle smile on her face.
At that moment, a figure appeared ahead of the group.
Yu Xie was the first to stop walking. "Rosalyne..."
Rosalyne walked toward them slowly, eventually stopping in front of the group.
Gui Zhong's brows furrowed slightly. "The Harbinger of the Fatui, 'The Fair Lady.'"
"Everyone, please don't worry. I have no intention of causing any conflict with you. I just have something I want to say to Yu Xie." Rosalyne's gaze fell on Yu Xie.
As soon as Rosalyne finished speaking, everyone looked at Yu Xie, their expressions filled with confusion.
It seemed that this Harbinger from the Fatui knew Yu Xie.
"If possible, I would like to speak with you privately, Yu Xie." Rosalyne added.
The atmosphere grew tense, and no one spoke, waiting for Yu Xie's response.
"..." Yu Xie remained silent for a moment.
"Don't mind us. Do as you wish," Xian Yun suddenly said with a gentle smile.
"That's right, I agree with Xian Yun," Ge Chen added, "We don't want to be your burden."
"…I'll be back soon." Yu Xie felt a warm current flow through his heart and smiled lightly.
He walked aside with Rosalyne, as the sun in the sky slowly disappeared behind the clouds.
"Go ahead, say what you need to say." Yu Xie spoke.
"…Many years ago, when I was still studying at the Sumeru Academia, you wrote me many letters. In the last one, you told me that if one day you left me, I shouldn't be sad because we would meet again eventually." Rosalyne looked into Yu Xie's eyes. "People can't come back from the dead. I thought your letter was just to comfort me… until… I really saw you yesterday."
"So, we really did know each other back then."
"It wasn't just a simple acquaintance." Rosalyne paused for a moment, recalling the past.
The beautiful memories flashed through her mind like scenes in a movie—those warm moments, the joy, the sorrow, the laughter, and the tears they shared together. All of them were cherished deeply in Rosalyne's heart.
"…I'm sorry, I don't remember the past." Yu Xie spoke slowly.
"No need to apologize, it's not your fault." Rosalyne smiled. "Actually, I'm the one who should apologize… Although this request might be a little selfish..."
There was a brief pause as Rosalyne gathered her thoughts. "After I thought I would never see you again, I began to hate Barbatos, the Anemo Archon. I hated him for not protecting his nation and his people. I joined the Fatui... The innocent Rosalyne from before is no longer here. Now, only the Harbinger of the Fatui, 'The Fair Lady,' remains."
Seeing Rosalyne like this, Yu Xie's thoughts became complex.
In his memories, Rosalyne had always been proud and treated everyone the same way.
But now, she was different.
Had his intervention led to this change?
If that was the case, and if it could help Rosalyne let go of her obsessions, perhaps it wouldn't be such a bad thing after all.
"Rosalyne, do you remember how to sing?" Yu Xie asked.
"Sing..." Rosalyne was momentarily stunned.
It had been centuries. Since she had lost Yu Xie, Rosalyne hadn't sung again, and had forgotten how to sing. She had forgotten the beautiful melodies that once intoxicated her.
"Try singing again. The Rosalyne from before will come back." Yu Xie smiled.
Rosalyne looked at Yu Xie, and suddenly felt a sting in her nose. In that instant, it was as if she could see the Yu Xie from centuries ago.
Sure enough, no matter what had happened, Yu Xie was still the same Yu Xie. He hadn't changed.
"Mhm." Rosalyne nodded, her eyes brimming with tears. "I will. When I relearn how to sing, I'll sing it for you."
...
The caravan was on its way to Liyue.
Rosalyne sat inside the carriage, gazing out at the scenery through the window, a faint smile on her face.
"Lady, it looks like you're in a good mood today." Rosalyne's personal maid said. "And it feels like... you've changed a bit."
"Changed?" Rosalyne asked. "Where do you think I've changed?"
"I can't quite put it into words, but I just feel like you're a bit different from usual today."
"Is that so..." Rosalyne looked out the window again, the wind blowing in and tugging at her golden hair. "Rora, once we finish what we need to do in Inazuma, we'll leave the Fatui. Let's go live as ordinary people."
The maid, Rora, was taken aback. She realized then that she had never truly understood her respected Lady.
"Lady... I understand. Should we proceed with the Inazuma task as originally planned?"
"No, the plan needs to change."
A certain determination solidified in Rosalyne's heart. She knew she could never go back to the way things were before.
But some things could still be salvaged.
End of chapter
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