Whoosh.
“Wheee~!”
A cute scream echoed through the mountains, cutting through the wind. The swing, made by hanging a rope from a tree next to the house, had become one of Nahida’s favorite things to play with.
As Nahida swung back toward him, Gyeoul gave her back a gentle push. Her small, light body soared forward again as if she were flying.
“Wheee~!”
“Is it fun?”
“Uh-huh!”
Her short answer stretched out, carried away by the wind. Watching Nahida smile so brightly made even this repetitive, mundane task feel like a joy.
She didn't seem to tire of it no matter how many times they did it; every time her body rose toward the sky, she let out a cute little “kyaa-kyaa” sound. Gyeoul, for his part, never grew tired of watching her.
After enjoying the peace for a long while, Nahida suddenly let go of the swing at the peak of its arc. Her tiny body floated briefly in the air before beginning to fall.
Gyeoul moved forward and caught her gently as she descended. Snuggled securely in his arms, Nahida looked up at him and beamed.
“Did you have fun?”
“Yes!”
“Still, it’s dangerous, so don’t do that when you’re by yourself.”
“I’ll try!”
Gyeoul gave her cheek a playful little pinch with one hand before setting her down. Looking slightly disappointed, Nahida reached out and grabbed his hand.
“Papa, when is your work going to be finished?”
“Well, technically, it’s already finished.”
“Hmph. You’re always just looking at papers.”
Gyeoul chuckled softly, warmed by the soft sensation of her small hand in his as she grumbled.
She puffed out her cheeks and turned her head away, pretending to be sulky, but he could see her eyes stealing glances at him from the side. When he quietly reached out to stroke her hair, she leaned into his touch while still pretending to be annoyed.
Just as they were soaking in the tranquility, Gyeoul’s expression shifted. In his line of sight, he spotted someone climbing up the slope toward them.
“Lord Gyeoul. Are your preparations complete?”
“What preparations?”
“I was told that if I asked if you were ready for Yuehai Pavilion, you would understand...”
“Sigh...”
As he let out a heavy breath, the face of the child holding his hand darkened slightly. Feeling the grip on his hand tighten, Gyeoul forced his expression to soften.
‘Do I have to go to Yuehai Pavilion?’
Going there wasn't the problem. The problem was the little girl holding onto him so tightly.
Normally, memories should fade with time, but his Nahida was incredibly bright.
Meeting them again might actually serve to bring back memories that were supposed to be fading.
“Hm?”
Something brushed against the back of his hand.
He looked down to see Nahida using her other hand to wrap around his, pulling at him. Was it just his imagination, or were her eyes brimming with emotion?
Gyeoul picked her up and held her close once more.
“I’ll handle it myself, so go back to your business.”
“Yes, sir.”
#
Everyone has something they absolutely loathe. Like catching spiders or bugs.
A bug can be crushed with the slightest bit of strength; even a child could kill one easily. Yet, there are many adults—people many times stronger than a child—who can’t even touch a bug, avoiding them and failing to kill them easily.
It’s because they’re dirty. Because they’re repulsive.
It’s all a matter of perspective, much like how people think of their own saliva as dirty once it leaves their mouth, but most people just hate it.
“Please look at this clause.”
For Gyeoul, the current situation was exactly like that.
A desk covered in papers filled with dense, complicated text, and someone explaining them tirelessly, quietly, and calmly for a long time.
His first impression hadn't been great, and it was only getting worse.
Pressing a finger to one temple, he used his other arm to pull Nahida closer as she leaned against him. The only silver lining was that she was no longer trembling.
Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.
Before long, the only sound in the room was the uncomfortable ticking of the clock. Unlike the silence he shared with Nahida when they were resting, this silence was awkward and thoroughly unpleasant.
Gyeoul broke the silence first.
“Cancel it.”
“That is impossible.”
“Why?”
“It is beyond the scope of my personal discretion; it is an agreement forged between Liyue and Inazuma.”
“You mean an agreement between Liyue’s Yuehai Pavilion and Inazuma’s Shogunate.”
“Even if it is the will of an individual, when representing a nation—”
“Quiet.”
Gyeoul felt a surge of impulse to smash the table in front of him, but he restrained himself because Nahida was watching. Instead, he opted for a more moderate method.
The display cabinet behind Gyeoul opened of its own accord, and the porcelain and glassware inside spilled onto the floor.
Instead of the sound of glass and ceramic shattering against the ground, a heavy, eerie silence descended.
Despite Gyeoul’s display, Ganyu continued to speak with a calm expression.
“I am simply asking you to fulfill your responsibilities, Sir.”
“Responsibilities? I’ve already looked into it, and no one else in this position has ever fulfilled ‘responsibilities’ like these. Exactly what responsibilities are you talking about?”
It was an open secret: the position of Chief Supervisor of the Golden House was a total cakewalk. It was a high-ranking civil service post that involved little more than opening and closing the doors.
And because it was a position directly appointed by Rex Lapis, people respected it. Consequently, no Chief Supervisor had ever been asked to leave Liyue Harbor, let alone Liyue itself.
This was like a department head ordering an overseas business trip for a nepotism hire who had been given a one-man department by the company chairman just to sit around.
“I’ll handle my own responsibilities. You do the same.”
“Wait—”
Before Ganyu could finish her sentence, Gyeoul had already stood up and pulled the door open. Ganyu watched his retreating figure until the door clicked shut, then sank back into the sofa.
She closed her eyes as a deep sigh filled the room.
#
Clink. Clink.
Laughter blossomed and glasses clinked.
“Hahaha!”
Conversation flowed around a table laden with delicacies. Laughter punctuated the dialogue, but the underlying meaning of the words was anything but lighthearted.
“So, this time in our territory...”
“That thing I mentioned before, just...”
Ornate silk clothes and accessories adorned with all manner of jewels. Looking at the heavy, dangling ornaments, a wall plastered by an apprentice mason earlier today would have looked more beautiful in comparison.
Why are humans always so desperate to prove their value is higher than others?
Casting aside colleagues, betraying friends—all while acting as if it were nothing.
She swirled the glass in her hand. The purple liquid inside moved smoothly, releasing the scent of aged grapes.
“Ganyu!”
Snap.
The darkness clouding her vision cleared. What she saw through her opening eyes were shades of teal and white.
“Mother... no, Master.”
“What is the meaning of this?”
Ganyu started to ask, ‘What are you referring to?’ but bit her lip. There was only one reason her Master would seek her out in such a secluded place.
Mastering the emotions swirling in her heart, Ganyu spoke quietly.
“It was something I did for the sake of Liyue.”
“For Liyue? Ha!”
Cloud Retainer clicked her tongue, her eyes sharp and piercing.
“If you’re going to lie, at least be honest with yourself. You say what you did was for Liyue? That is merely how you wish to justify it. You have placed Liyue in danger. Nothing you have said or done aligns with reason.”
“How so?”
Cloud Retainer spoke each word with deliberate clarity.
“First, you intend to send a Demon God to eliminate the remnants of another god? Does Inazuma even know who you are sending? Second, you are sending that Demon God to Inazuma? If that god commits an atrocity there, who will bear the responsibility? Third, even if the Demon God claims not to know what you’ve done, he will surely suspect. Even if he doesn't, if he were to turn hostile toward Liyue, who would take responsibility then?”
“I have considered all of those things.”
“Have you? Then by all means, explain.”
Ganyu cleared her throat. Looking at her Master, who was staring down at her with an expression devoid of emotion, she began to speak slowly.
“First, Baalzebul will sense the power of a Demon God and exert all her strength to exclude him from Inazuma. Second, we will report that everyone in Liyue was deceived by that god’s abilities. Finally, I do not believe Liyue would be swayed by a single Demon God. How many gods have invaded Liyue in the past? A broken bone heals and becomes stronger; as we always have, Liyue will corner the god and strengthen its own unity in the process.”
“Do you truly believe that?”
“Yes.”
At Ganyu’s answer, Cloud Retainer shouted.
“I asked if you truly believe that! Are you truly determined to bring shame upon the Lord of Geo, who protects Liyue?! Do you think you can throw all of Liyue into a state of anxiety over a matter that hasn't even been confirmed, and expect the living beings of Liyue to ignore it and live in peace?! And do you think the Lord would be pleased to see Liyue protected in such a manner?! Do you think he would be proud of your actions while watching his people suffer?! If that Demon God turns against Liyue and joins forces with others to harm the Lord instead of facing him alone, do you honestly believe you can stop them?!”
“Answer me with that clever mouth of yours! What exactly are you thinking?! What can you possibly do?! What have you prepared?! Do you even realize, see, hear, and feel the magnitude of the danger you’ve created with your clever wordplay before you act?!”
“...”
Ganyu said nothing. A sense of self-loathing, the realization that she couldn't offer a single word in defense, wrapped around her.
In her heart, she wanted to freeze and shatter every flower in the garden. But that was something that could never happen.
Ganyu’s hands, clasped over her knees, trembled. It felt as if something were crushing her, making it difficult to breathe.
Even so, Ganyu forced her heavy lips to move, her voice trembling as she spoke.
“The Lord said...”
“The Lord said what?!”
“He said that the contract includes secrets. And...”
“Secrets? What secrets?!”
“The Lord and the Demon God have formed some kind of contract, but what that contract is...”
“You frustrating, foolish child. Do you think you are superior to the Lord?”
“Of course not!”
“Then why do you try to measure the Lord’s will with your own short yardstick? If the Lord has his reasons, then that is that. Do you truly believe the Lord entered such a contract because he was lacking in some way?”
“...”
As if she had run out of energy to be angry, Cloud Retainer let out a sigh and looked up at the sky. Ganyu lowered her head at her Master’s reaction.
Ganyu had thought she possessed the insight to assist the Lord and Liyue after overcoming various hardships, but that pride and confidence had ultimately become her shackles.
“What were you going to say after mentioning the contract and the secrets?”
“I was going to say that he seems to cherish the child.”
“The child? What does that... No. Never mind. That isn't what’s important right now. First, let us resolve the situation.”
“What... should I do?”
“Sigh... Go there yourself.”
“...”
“If he hasn't reacted yet, he likely has no intention of becoming the Lord’s enemy. Go in person, discern his intentions, and then seek a solution.”
“I... understand.”
“The world is truly full of things to prepare for.”
Having finished her piece, Cloud Retainer spread her wings and took to the sky. Ganyu watched her go with clouded eyes before stumbling to her feet.
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