Lumine awoke in a cloud of gentle sunlight. She didn't want to move for fear of disturbing the perfect warmth that surrounded her, every breath filled with lazy satisfaction. The soft mattress below her couldn't have been any more comfortable, and for a moment that didn't last nearly long enough, there was only fluff, satiny sheets, and the lingering scent of a mysterious gentleman on her pillow.
Just like that, the moment shattered. Her eyes blinked against the morning light, arms and legs tentatively stretching out in search of a companion. As she sat up and rubbed sleep from her eyes, however, she found herself alone in the bed — well, nearly alone. Asleep on a pillow next to hers was the adorable, ever reliable Paimon.
She really was just like a cat, curled up without a care in the world. Though resembling a little girl with pale hair and big blue eyes, she was more like a sylph or some other miniature creature rather than a fellow human. When speaking of the world and its wonders, little Paimon still remained one of the most mysterious. And just like Lumine, trying to trace Paimon's past back to her origins had thus far proven fruitless.
Lumine yawned, lazily debating whether or not she should wake her friend. Quite unlike Paimon, her circumstances were somewhat less innocent. At least her underthings remained, albeit disheveled. She self-consciously combed her fingers through her hair, allowing her thoughts to wander back to the events of the previous night.
He'd kissed her, touched her in ways that still left her feminine sensibilities tingling. She traced her own fingers over her mouth, remembering the feathery tease of his lips on hers. Like a drifting blossom disturbing a quiet pond, even his most gentle gestures left a ripple of sensation in their wake.
"Lumine?" Paimon yawned, blinking blearily as she sat up from the cushion. "Lumine! You're finally awake!"
Lumine chuckled, promptly turning her thoughts away from their sultry wandering. "Isn't that my line?"
"Pff, Paimon has been waiting ages for you to wake up! Mr. No-Name said you were fine and 'shouldn't be disturbed,' but he's the most boring person ever. All he's done is scribble away at his papers, take more papers from visitors, and if he's not scribbling then he's going off somewhere he won't let Paimon follow. So rude!" Paimon huffed, floating effortlessly up from the bed as though she had invisible wings.
Reality, on the other hand, grounded Lumine with a punch to the gut. "He's had visitors? H-How long have I been asleep?"
"It must be getting close to noon by now. Paimon doesn't know who the people are, but if she had to guess they're probably servants. They bow a lot, talk super formally, and apparently have a million things he needs to look at." Pamion drifted closer, lowering her voice to a serious murmur. "They've been calling him 'my lord.'"
Something about the title squeezed even more uncomfortably at Lumine's gut. She'd known he was likely an important figure, but just how far up Inazuma's chain of nobility was he? The moment her head was clear enough to look past his affections, how could she not wonder what his intentions with her were? After all, she was 'The Traveler,' the apparent catalyst whose 'legendary' strength was already garnering rumors across Inazuma.
"I think it's time we got some answers." With a sudden rush of purpose, Lumine slipped out of bed in search of her clothes — only to be hit by the embarrassing revelation that she'd left everything out in the suite's lounge. She folded her arms over her chest and turned to Paimon with a chagrined smile. "Maybe we should start with where my clothes ended up?"
"Paimon was just wondering that herself." The floating imp of a girl put her hands on her hips, eyes narrowed with disapproval. "What exactly did you get up to last night?"
"I doubt you want to hear the details." Lumine bit her lower lip, sheepishly running a hand up her neck. The man hadn't left any hickeys, had he?
Paimon glowered, her tiny features stabbing Lumine straight through with daggers of guilt. "Paimon falls asleep for just a few hours and you manage to hook up with a complete stranger, huh? Paimon may not understand everything that goes on in Teyvat, but Paimon knows what complete thoughtlessness looks like!"
"I'm… sorry." Lumine backed away from the outburst, unable to defend herself. Exactly how could she describe what the gentleman had done to her, what he made her feel? More than lust or even curiosity, his serene charm had a way of making her feel a little too safe.
"You should be! Paimon needs warning about these things! And you need to be more careful. For all we know, that guy is in league with the Fatui and just wants to keep you distracted. Or-Or he's looking for a weakness so the next assassin knows how to get to you!"
Despite the melodrama, Lumine felt a distinct chill run up her spine. "If he'd wanted to hurt us, he's already had plenty of opportunity. I know I need to stay cautious, I just… ngh." Lumine shook her head, willing the lingering fog of the morning out of her head. "Never mind that for now. I need to get dressed, and if I'm remembering right, my clothes are in the lounge."
Paimon's eyes widened with disbelief. "You two did the nasty out there? Paimon was sleeping on that couch!"
Lumine' face flushed. "W-We didn't… nothing like that happened out there! It's just where I left my clothes."
"Uh… huh…" Paimon narrowed her eyes again, this time floating over to a chest of drawers. "Well, Paimon didn't see your clothes anywhere in there. It looks like one of Mr. No-Name's people left something for you, though." Paimon motioned to some neatly folded clothes atop the dresser, the only thing that stood out in the otherwise pristine room.
Newly curious, Lumine stepped over to the clothes, gasping with surprise once she unfurled the fabric. In lieu of her usual clothes, she'd been left with a lovely kimono dress. The deep blue fabric made an elegant 'v' across the chest, lace outlining the collar. It had long sleeves, though not so drapey that they might cause her any trouble running or fighting. Even the skirt was elegantly ruffled and cut to rest just a little lower than the knees. And waiting under the dress…
Lumine turned red all the way up to her ears, promptly gathering up the bundle of clothes in her arms. "I should freshen up first. You don't happen to know the way to the bathroom, do you, Paimon?"
Her little friend fixed her with another suspicious glare. "Down the hall, right next to the bedroom. Don't take too long or Paimon's gonna fall asleep from sheer boredom again."
"I promise I won't be long." Lumine promptly left the room, pausing in the hallway only long enough to catch the sound of voices drifting from the lobby. One of them definitely belonged to him. She squeezed her borrowed clothes tightly against her chest, all but running into the bathroom.
As promised, she rushed through washing up and emerged ready to go in short order. Even with Paimon in tow, however, she hesitated to step back into the lounge. Peeking past the corner of the hallway, she wasn't surprised so much as nervous to find him seated at the low table. Just as Paimon described, he seemed deep into a mess of papers.
Ah, but there was so much more to take in than simply a man at work. In the warmer tones of sunlight, the soft sheen of his hair had more color, a lingering blue to the silvery tones. The cut of it was asymmetrical, an impossible blend of tousled and elegant that lent a great deal of credibility to his roguish tendencies. Still, not a frayed strand on his head nor wrinkle in his clothes was there to betray his late-night activities. As ever, his gaze was clear and focused, the movement of his hand precise and graceful as his calligraphy pen glided across parchment.
It would be a shame to disturb him. Perhaps she could crawl out of a window instead.
"Lumine! How long are you just gonna stand there?" Paimon impatiently tugged at a strand of Lumine's hair, utterly careless with the volume of her voice.
Just like that, the man's gaze flickered in their direction. All it took was the corner of his mouth quirking upward to get Lumine blushing bright red all over again.
Lumine took a deep, steadying breath, straightening her back as she stepped into the lounge at last. She'd faced goblin-like hilichurls twice her size, flattened fiery, sentient plants, and stared down a dragon of legend in a duel. She could manage a 'good morning' to a placidly smiling gentleman. The same gentleman who'd tied her stomach into knots with just a look and whose teasing kisses still had her skin tingling…
"Good morning, my lovely guests." The man's smiled warmed, and for a moment Lumine could have sworn she saw a flicker of tiredness in his eyes. He shifted from his cushion on the floor to stand, opening his hand to her as she approached. "I hope you rested as well as you look? You're absolutely stunning in that dress."
"Do you ever get tired of always having the perfect words to say?" Lumine covered up the weakness in her knees with a smile and confident posturing of her heels against the floor. Still, the tremble in her hand as she placed it in his escaped all the same. "But thank you. I think I might have rested a little too long, to be honest. And my clothes seem to have gone missing."
He drew her closer with shameless ease, dipping his head to place a kiss on her hand. "I do owe you an apology for that. My aides would not stop droning on about discretion this and that, and before I could get a word in they were off to see your clothes laundered with a replacement in the interim. I hate to inconvenience you, but you have my word that your possessions will be treated with respect and returned to you as soon as possible."
Lumine found herself trapped in that lavender-tinted gaze of his, unable to look away even as his lips found her skin once more. Words evaded her for a long moment, enough for Paimon to butt in.
"Sheesh, you two are already acting like a married couple! If you start kissing, Paimon is headed straight out that door!" Paimon crossed her arms, keeping a very conscious distance from the pair.
"Ah, such a conundrum." The gentleman bowed his head toward Paimon, but made no effort to relinquish his hold of Lumine's hand. "I don't wish to make you uncomfortable, but I would consider myself a cur not to appreciate the goodness and beauty before me. Am I allowed an embrace before I'm to be left alone, at the very least?"
"Ooh, just get it over with! Paimon's done with this stuffy place."
The man chuckled, taking Paimon's bout of grouchiness in stride. Locking eyes with Lumine once more, he guided her hand to his chest, his opposite arm coiling around the small of her back. She may as well have been a butterfly drawn to the sweetness of a flower, every instinct naturally drawing her closer to him. He was just as warm as she remembered, the smooth brush of his shirt against her cheek no less soothing.
While she all but melted into his embrace, he lowered his lips to her ear, gently tickling her with his breath. "I'm not a man of many regrets, but one of them is not being able to spend a proper evening with you. A woman as stunning and so inordinately pleasant as you deserves far better than to awake alone. I cannot defend the shameless desire that compelled me to seek you out, but know that it is only the importance of my duties now that compels me to let you go."
Words left her completely. She'd been so busy feeling clumsy and out of place that she hadn't thought to hold him accountable for any sort of neglect. Their evening together hadn't held any promises except to forget all the discomforts that seemed to dog them both. The way he held her now, however, made her feel like a lot less like a traveler and more like a princess.
But she was definitely not a princess, and she had to remind herself that he was an expert at carefully crafted words. Anyone could spout flattery and platitudes without meaning a word of it, and though her heart compelled her to believe him, the simple fact between them was that he hadn't even trusted her with his name.
It was just so hard to dispel the warmth in her chest. She dearly wanted to stay, to suggest more tea and snacks and talk late into the afternoon. Given time, he could share the truth of himself and she would do the same. It would be so much more pleasant to explore Inazuma with a friend and lover, to see the sights and taste the culture at her own leisure.
Reality remained, however: he had his duties and she was bound for the Shogun. Even if she hadn't felt compelled to dig into the world's secrets for her brother's sake, one glance at Ritou said everything she needed to know about the state of Inazuma. With rampant corruption and the danger of Fatui intrigue at every turn, it was difficult to think of a less attractive locale for a leisurely tour. At the end of the day, she was The Traveler, little more than the muscle others looked to in order to solve their problems.
"Thank you." Lumine finally managed the words, though they felt awkward the moment they left her mouth. "I-I mean, I… regret needing to leave, too. You've taken very good care of Paimon and me, and I think it's time I paid it forward."
She reluctantly leaned away, breaking their embrace with a sheepish smile. "Letting us stay here, providing these extra clothes, looking for information about my brother — I really can't accept it all without repaying you. Please, if there's any tasks at all you can entrust to me, I'll see them done."
His brow furrowed softly. "Lumine, you and Paimon are my honored guests. I couldn't—"
"Your generosity is all the more reason for me to honor your kindness. Allow me to show you how capable I am in my own element, too." Her gaze hardened with sincerity, and she found her hand itching for the security of her blade once more. If there was anyone she wanted to help, to prove her trustworthiness to, it was him.
Under such righteous resolve, he finally crumbled with a sigh. "As you wish. Everything I could personally desire you have already given me, but Inazuma desperately needs the strength of a competent friend. Help our people, give them reason to honor your name, and I will be in your debt.
"If you remain eager for action, one of my most recent headaches is a roving encampment of bandits that prey on merchants and farmers that pass along the road between Konda Village and Inazuma City. Given that you're already eager to leave Ritou and head toward the Shogunate, you are likely to run into them regardless. Teach them a lesson for me?"
"I would be delighted to, my lord." Lumine grinned and bowed, only to be disappointed by his utter lack of surprise.
"As expected, my secrets cannot evade you for long." His perfect, infuriating smile found its way back onto his face effortlessly. "I wish you both a safe but no less invigorating journey. Should you need anything, you may call on me here for the time being."
"You owe Paimon at least a hundred kare pan after this morning!" Paimon glanced down at herself, suddenly thoughtful as she patted her belly. "It's already time for lunch, too."
"Yes, we can start there." Lumine beamed, scooping up Paimon's tiny hand in her own as she started to make her way toward the door. She couldn't help glancing back at her mystery gentleman just one more time, however. "You should get some rest, if you can. I'll feel guilty otherwise."
Once they found their way back to the streets of Inazuma, nothing went according to plan. First, their impromptu brunch at a yakiimo stand was interrupted by such fierce glaring from a nearby ashigaru that the merchant nervously shooed them away. Secondly, the border guards patrolling the single road leading out of Ritou refused to let them leave without a Travel Permit. Finally, there was the Kanjou Commissioner himself who they had no choice but to visit in order to obtain that elusive Travel Permit.
At first, the man had been polite, even gushing flattery over Lumine's alleged adventures. He'd caught word of her battle with Stormterror, the almost-fiery end of Mondstat, as well as her contributions in the fight with the Overlord of the Vortex, that previously sealed god who wanted nothing more than to drown Liyue. More than a little suspiciously, he paid extra mind to her encounter with a leader among the Fatui, a Harbinger of incredible strength.
After draining Lumine and Paimon of every last detail politeness would allow, he'd finally let them steer their conversation back toward their need of a Travel Permit. He was, of course, 'more than happy' to help, but in return asked the impossible. Two hundred fresh flowers from Qingyun Peak, more than a few week's journey back toward Liyue? Impossible. If not that, then apparently he needed over a thousand letters in Ritou alone delivered.
Anyone with half a brain could see the man was stalling, and if rumors from the passing guards were true, it just might have something to do with his commission's relation to the Fatui. With every additional word spoken from the man, she felt her patience crumble.
Paimon was already well ahead of her.
"That's insane! Has your entire postal service collapsed? And with the Sakoku Decree in place, it's completely impractical to ask for foreign goods in such large quantities!" Paimon floated up close to the Commissioner, hands furiously balled against her hips. Before she really started making trouble for them both, however, Lumine gently tugged her back.
"Sorry, Sir. What she means to say is…" Lumine's voice trailed off as an unfamiliar figure caught the corner of her eye. Standing in the shadow of the Kanjou Commission's great mansion was a young woman in an elegant, sky blue kimono. Her dark eyes were pleading, and as their eyes met, she silently nodded as if to encourage Lumine's cooperation.
Wonderful, another mystery. Lumine reigned in the throbbing frustration she felt turning into a headache and forced a smile. "It's a lot to consider, so is it alright if I take some time to think it over?"
"By all means, Traveler. Please take all the time you need." The Commissioner was far too pleased with himself, going so far as to contentedly stroke his scant grey beard.
Lumine swallowed the bile threatening to rise from her throat and bowed before tugging an angry Paimon away from the Kanjou Estate. They hadn't even stepped out of the gates before a guard came running up to them, halting them with a barked order.
Paimon yelled right back. "Grr! We didn't do anything, so buzz off, Mister!"
"It's a letter from Lady Hiiragi. She insisted you read it immediately." The guard held out a crisply folded piece of parchment, taking his leave without another word once Lumine accepted it.
"Wait… Lady who?" Paimon scratched her head, drifting closer to glance over the paper once Lumine opened it.
"Hiiragi. That's the family heading the Kanjou Commission, remember? I think I may have actually caught a glimpse of her already." Lumine carefully scanned over the letter, penned in hurried but nonetheless lovely calligraphy. "She sends her apologies for not being able to meet with us personally. It looks like she wants us to pay us a visit tonight — without her father or any ashigaru present."
Paimon pouted, anger quickly fading to confusion. "Why does every noble around here have to be so suspicious? If they want something from us they should just come out and say it!"
Lumine shrugged, simply happy to be away from the stuffy guards and long-winded vipers. "I think it's pretty clear what the Commissioner wants. If Lady Hiiragi couldn't say anything in front of him, I suspect this has to do with something he wouldn't like. And that means it's probably to our benefit to meet her."
"Yeah, if we don't get arrested trying! This smells like a trap to Paimon."
"Well, it wouldn't be our first time springing a trap." Lumine smiled despite herself — the memory of her would-be assassin was still fresh in her mind. Though she hadn't sensed the presence of someone watching them since leaving their ryokan, it seemed inevitable that they'd run into trouble again, and soon.