Chapter 298: This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable [298]
Kamisato Ayaka wasn't skilled in dancing, yet Luo Qing couldn't detect a single flaw in her performance.
The effort she must have put into learning was undeniable. What's more, Ayaka had done it entirely to bring joy to Luo Qing.
A girl this sincere and straightforward—how could she not steal his heart?
"Ayaka..." Luo Qing whispered, pulling her into his embrace. His hand gently brushed along her slender waist.
Even with fabric between them, in the quiet of the night, they could hear each other's heartbeats.
"Thank you for your dance. I loved it."
"Mm..." Ayaka murmured softly, resting her head against Luo Qing's chest.
"Luo Qing... don't go back tonight, okay?"
"Please?"
"Ayaka, you..." Luo Qing looked down at the girl in his arms, his expression a mix of surprise and uncertainty.
It wasn't hard to catch the meaning behind her words.
Was she implying... that it was okay for him to...?
"But didn't you say the Kamisato family rules..."
"Oh, that..." Ayaka let out a soft chuckle, her tone unusually playful and tinged with rebellion.
"We'll keep it a secret. We won't tell anyone, alright?"
"..."
For as long as Luo Qing had known Ayaka, she had always been the epitome of a refined and gentle noblewoman.
This was the first time he had seen her wear such a mischievous expression.
Could he have... actually corrupted her?
Luo Qing's thoughts briefly wandered to the Pure Ice crystal he carried. Ever since the Tsaritsa's sharp words during their last interaction, the crystal had fallen silent. He wasn't sure if the Tsaritsa was still eavesdropping.
If she is listening... oh well. Luo Qing shrugged internally. Last time, the Pure Ice had been right on his nightstand while the bed shook with Bu'er.
If I'm not embarrassed, the awkwardness will just be hers.
Steeling his resolve, Luo Qing released Ayaka from his embrace.
Looking at the shy, adorable girl before him, he felt a wave of warmth swell in his chest.
"Ayaka, let's go back."
"Mm..." Ayaka nodded, her cheeks flushed.
In the blink of an eye, the surroundings blurred and shifted. A moment later, Ayaka found herself back in her bedroom.
"Luo Qing, wait for me. I'll go freshen up, okay?"
"Mm..."
"I'll be quick!"
Ayaka rose on tiptoes and placed a gentle kiss on Luo Qing's cheek before hurrying out of the room. She shut the door behind her, leaving only the sound of her rapid footsteps echoing down the hallway.
A faint smile lingered on her lips as she walked. Her emotions were a mix of nervousness, anticipation, and a bit of giddy excitement.
All in all, she was in a fantastic mood, even humming softly as she made her way.
"Hm-hm-hm... Brother?!"
She froze as a door suddenly slid open, revealing Kamisato Ayato in his casual light-blue yukata, standing directly in her path.
"Ayaka, what are you doing?"
Ayato's sharp eyes scanned his sister, taking note of her perfectly neat attire. He couldn't help but wonder. Today's lessons on bridal etiquette had ended hours ago—why was Ayaka still dressed like this so late at night?
"Ah... Brother, I was just continuing to study some of the lesson material in my room," Ayaka replied in a small voice, her gaze flickering nervously. She avoided eye contact, clearly guilty.
"Is that so..."
Ayato glanced toward her bedroom but didn't press further.
He knew Ayaka had been going above and beyond lately, eager to finish her studies so she could see Luo Qing again.
"I know you're eager to see Luo Qing, but you need to take care of yourself too," Ayato began, his tone softening.
"I know, Brother. You've already told me so many times..." Ayaka quickly nodded, brushing off his concern.
"Well then, go freshen up. Goodnight, Ayaka."
"Goodnight, Brother."
With that, Ayaka clicked her wooden sandals against the floor and hurried past Ayato, leaving him standing in the hallway.
"This child..."
Watching his sister's retreating figure, Ayato couldn't help but feel a pang of melancholy.
His little sister was growing up.
Not only had she reached a rebellious phase... she had run off with a scoundrel.
Shaking his head, Ayato let out a quiet sigh and returned to his room.
From a practical standpoint, the only real obstacle had been Luo Qing's association with the Fatui, which could have brought trouble to the Kamisato Clan and the Yashiro Commission. But Luo Qing had somehow managed to charm even the mighty Raiden Shogun, earning her favor and even... sharing a kiss.
In a political sense, most noble families would leap at the chance to marry their daughters to someone like Luo Qing, hoping to forge closer ties with the Shogun herself.
But Ayato loathed political marriages. Allowing Ayaka her freedom to love was the only concession he was willing to make.
As for whether Luo Qing would one day break Ayaka's heart... that was a journey she would have to face on her own.
He couldn't stop it, nor did he want to.
In short, Ayato had resigned himself.
Even if Luo Qing were sneaking into her room this very night, he would probably just turn a blind eye—as long as they didn't disturb his sleep.
---
Meanwhile...
After a thorough cleansing, Ayaka returned to her room in a loose, sky-blue yukata, her wooden sandals clicking lightly against the floor.
When she slid open the door, she found Luo Qing already sitting on the tatami mat, dressed in comfortable loungewear.
"Sorry for keeping you waiting, Luo Qing..." Ayaka said with a small bow.
Tonight was an important night, so she had meticulously cleaned herself from head to toe. It had taken a bit longer than expected.
"It's alright. I only just finished freshening up myself," Luo Qing replied.
Looking at the stunning figure before him—Ayaka, in her soft, flowing yukata, cheeks flushed delicately—Luo Qing couldn't help but swallow nervously.
Both Bu'er and Makoto had once been gods. No matter how much they adapted to domesticity, there was an air of pride and refinement about them that couldn't be erased.
Even Theresa, despite her playful nature, had long lost the purity of a youthful maiden.
But Ayaka, standing before him, was every bit a vibrant, graceful young woman.
"Mm..." Ayaka's face reddened further as she lowered herself onto the tatami, resting in Luo Qing's arms.
"Luo Qing, I've never done this kind of thing before... My teacher said the first time is always painful..."
"Don't worry... I'll be gentle. It won't hurt much."
"D-don't touch me there yet! Also... we need to keep our voices down. My brother's already gone to bed..."
"Mm..."
---
T/N: too see the hot hot steamy scene u must cough up 5 gabillion gabloons
Oh, you're still here? Nice. While I'm out here juggling revival matches and reminding villains why they should reconsider their life choices, someone's behind the scenes making sure my story reaches you. Gotta admit, they're doing a pretty solid job.
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Anyway, time to get back to saving the day. See you in the next chapter—don't forget to stay out of trouble (that's my job).
— Xia Luo 🕸️
Chapter 299: This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable [299]
Before the sun rose, Luo Qing woke from his dreams.
Beside him lay Kamisato Ayaka, her sky-blue hair spilling across the pillow, her petite figure curled up peacefully.
Before she woke, Luo Qing pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead, erased all traces of their late-night "battle," and quietly returned to Sumeru through the Void.
In her sleep, Ayaka vaguely heard the sound of water flushing.
When she opened her eyes, Luo Qing was already gone.
"Luo Qing..." she whispered softly.
Back home, Luo Qing exited the washroom and noticed that the lights in the other bedrooms were still off. He tiptoed downstairs.
Upon reaching the living room, he spotted Theresa sprawled out on the sofa, fast asleep. Her loose pajamas were barely hanging on.
"Why is this girl sleeping in the living room..."
Sitting quietly beside her, Luo Qing reached out to stroke her adorable little face.
To his surprise, Theresa seemed genuinely cute when she wasn't talking.
The key was for her to stay silent.
But the moment his hand brushed her cheek, Theresa's eyes snapped open, and she immediately lunged into his arms.
"My Lord, you're finally back!"
"Uh... what?" Luo Qing was caught off guard.
"You promised to spend tonight with me."
Theresa buried her face in his chest.
"My Lord, I'm ready. Let's start right now!"
With that, she began tugging at her already loose pajamas with one hand while the other reached for Luo Qing's waistband.
"Theresa, it's almost morning. How about—"
Luo Qing felt a cold sweat forming. Why did this girl seem to have a stronger craving than him?
"No, My Lord!" Theresa's expression suddenly turned serious.
"That just means we need to hurry!"
"..."
---
Fontaine – Bufati Mansion
In an opulent, elegantly decorated room, a sharp-featured woman with white hair sat at a desk. Propping her head on one hand, she lazily skimmed through a report in the other.
A sudden gust of wind blew the window open. The woman's eyes narrowed as she glanced outside.
"You two, leave the room," she ordered.
"Yes, Lady Arlecchino," replied the two elegantly dressed young men and women standing before her. Bowing respectfully, they exited the room.
The moment the door shut, an icy blue light appeared before Arlecchino's desk, gradually expanding until it coalesced into the form of a regal, ethereal woman.
"Your Majesty..."
Arlecchino rose from her seat and bowed respectfully toward the Tsaritsa.
"Arlecchino," the Tsaritsa's voice was calm, her tone icy.
"I heard from Pierro that Brighella once served under your intelligence network."
"That is correct..."
Arlecchino furrowed her brows slightly, a flicker of surprise crossing her mind.
She hadn't expected the Tsaritsa to personally inquire about Luo Qing.
"Tell me everything about him."
"..."
Arlecchino nodded and began recounting Luo Qing's history.
She explained how she had taken notice of Luo Qing's sharp mind and brought him back from Liyue. Like the other orphans, he underwent training in the House of Hearth.
Luo Qing excelled in his studies and was soon deployed to gather intelligence in various nations.
After suffering injuries, he returned to Snezhnaya and took up a role as a training officer for new recruits.
Everything about his career seemed ordinary, typical of any soldier of the Tsaritsa's army.
But a little over a year ago, Luo Qing suddenly rose to prominence, becoming a new apprentice Harbinger.
"Arlecchino, in your opinion..."
After listening, the Tsaritsa mused aloud, "How does the Luo Qing of the past differ from the Brighella of today?"
"Well..."
Arlecchino frowned as she reflected on their recent meeting.
"Your Majesty, do you suspect something is wrong with him?"
"Just answer the question."
"Yes..."
Arlecchino's thoughts drifted to her last encounter with Luo Qing.
"In terms of power, Brighella didn't possess the ability to manipulate emotions or minds before. In fact, he struggled to fully control the power of a Delusion.
"Personality-wise, the Luo Qing of the past was calm and independent, much like the other orphans. But during our last meeting, he seemed... more unpredictable. Even I couldn't read his intentions."
"So, in your view, he and the person he used to be are... different?"
"It's just a guess, Your Majesty."
"I see..."
The Tsaritsa's tone remained as frosty as ever, but a faint sense of understanding seemed to settle in her words.
"Arlecchino, next time you see Brighella, do not treat him as an ally."
"Your Majesty, do you mean that Brighella has..."
Arlecchino's heart skipped a beat. Did this mean Luo Qing was a traitor?
"He will come to Fontaine," the Tsaritsa stated coldly.
"Arlecchino, I want you to personally deliver the Gnosis to me. Do not let him take it. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Your Majesty..."
Arlecchino nodded solemnly.
Although she didn't fully understand why the Tsaritsa was so fixated on Luo Qing, an order from the Tsaritsa was absolute.
When she raised her head again, the ethereal form of the Tsaritsa had already dissipated.
"Luo Qing..."
---
"Achoo!"
Luo Qing rubbed his nose.
For the first time in a long while, he had sneezed.
"Who's thinking about me now..."
"Probably some girl you've charmed," Maktoto quipped, standing behind him with a small bag slung over her shoulder. She was dressed in casual travel clothes.
Behind her, Ei and Bu'er stood on opposite sides of the hallway, both similarly dressed for a day of sightseeing.
Trailing at the back, Theresa leaned against the wall, clutching her lower back with a pained expression.
"Theresa, are you sure you're not coming with us?" Maktoto asked.
A seasoned warrior, Maktoto immediately recognized Theresa's plight—she'd overexerted herself. It was the aftermath of... well, "plowing the field too hard."
"No... I'll stay here for now," Theresa replied, limping toward her room.
"I need to rest my back. I'll join you all later."
"Are you sure?" Luo Qing called after her, clearly the cause of her current condition.
"I-I'm fine," Theresa forced a small smile.
After all, she had been the one who asked her Lord to vent all his pent-up energy on her. She couldn't exactly complain now, could she?
"Alright then, rest well."
"Mm... Goodbye, My Lord, Sister Maktoto, Sister Bu'er, Sister Ei..."
The youngest in the household, Theresa bid everyone farewell before collapsing onto her bed.
"I'll pick out a room for you when we get there!" Maktoto called out.
Today was moving day—their new estate in Mondstadt was finally ready.
And the most important task? Choosing their rooms.
Though the estate boasted twelve bedrooms, everyone naturally wanted to be as close as possible to Luo Qing's room.
For... nighttime activities.
---
T/N: i really like the name Brighella
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— Xia Luo 🕷️
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