[Liu's POV- A few days later.]
I never thought I'd be back in Sumeru so soon after initially leaving. Much less, with someone like Signora. Well, this is no time to be thinking about that, we have a job to do.
At the very least, Signora has a job to do. I refuse to get fully involved until I know exactly what the Tsaritsa has planned. Signora's caginess doesn't help, but I can't blame her for being loyal.
"OH SHIT!" I exclaim on instinct.
"What?" Signora looks at me in shock. "What happened?"
I look back at her, the campfire we made creating a flickering illuminant.
"Uh...well, it'...I mean, I was just thinking..." I stutter out.
She stands from the fireside and joins me on the trunk of the fallen tree.
"About what?"
I suppose there's no harm in being honest.
"Just about, the Tsaritsa, and how she's going to treat me after my deceit." I confess.
"Hmmm...there's not much I can do to help with that." Signora visibly ponders for a second. "At least I'll vouch for you. You saved my life and are assisting me in recovering a Gnosis and taking down a traitor. I'm sure that more than outweighs your...previous decision."
"Thank you, Rosalyne." I reply.
Hearing that she'll take my side made me feel a little better about this whole situation.
"But Liu..." She continues. "...if I were you, I'd be more concerned about someone else."
"Who?" I question, thoroughly puzzled.
"Arlecchino." Signora simply replies. "My best friend."
"Oh no..." I mutter, facepalming as the consequences become ever clearer. "She's going to kick my ass for upsetting you..."
Signora nods, her expression is one of amusement mixed with a little sorrow.
"Yes, and I can't do much to stop her." She says. "I was there when she made you promise to never hurt my feelings."
"I...I never fully comprehended the repercussions of deceiving a whole organization like the Fatui." I explain. "Individuals? Sure. I'm already well aware that I'm a different person to most people that know me."
Signora takes my hand.
"I have to ask, though..." She begins. "...if you live that kind of life, what exactly made you step in to rescue me, long after you had originally left the Fatui?"
I pause, thinking about the best way to phrase my answer.
"Let me put it like this, you're important to me Rosalyne. It's that simple." I say.
"Is that really enough for you to abandon the intricate lie that you created?" Signora averts her gaze. "There's no need to answer that...I'm prying too much already."
I can understand her apprehensiveness. I surprised even myself with my hastiness. The risks of challenging an Archon, even briefly, are immense.
Signora sighs and stands up again.
"In any case, we'll be heading towards the capital tomorrow." She says. "...To think I'd be back here..."
"What do you mean?" I ask on instinct.
"Did I not mention it?" She turns back to me.
I respond by shrugging.
"Hmmm...well, put simply, I'm a scholar of the Sumeru Akademiya." She smiles shallowly, clearly reminiscing. "I graduated quite a while back now."
"Your level of esteem just keeps rising." I say. "It's impressive, honestly."
"That scholarship means little to me now, so please don't put me on a pedestal like that." Signora frowns.
"I-I'm sorry, Rosalyne." I look down, immediately feeling guilty. "It was a force of habit."
Signora seems satisfied with my apology.
"We should get some rest..." She says as she approaches the fire and begins to extinguish it. "Our search for that treacherous defect, will probably be an arduous one."
She's right.
"Will they just allow you to wander around the city?" I inquire.
Signora turns from the embers of the campfire and looks me over.
"They have no bona fide reason to refuse me entry." She replies as she walks over to her own portable bed. "I'm a diplomat, I am completely unarmed and you will just be seen as my bodyguard. We appear as nothing but an average envoy."
"Huh..."
"And that's assuming they care enough to even bring it up. Most people here are merchants or mercenaries, only interested in Mora." Signora pauses to speak directly to me. "And if all else fails I can bring up my graduation from Akademiya. Once that's confirmed in their records, they won't question me any further."
"Then I guess I don't need to worry any further." I slide into my own bed, facing upwards.
"Correct. Now, I need to get ready, so can you turn away?" She says as more of a command than a question.
"I'm not looking..."
"Turn!"
[Next Day]
The capital of Sumeru, thriving just as much as when I left a while back. I wonder if I'll meet Dehya again.
"Remember, Liu..." Signora speaks quietly. "We're looking or listening for clues on Scaramouche. Normally, I'd want us to split up, but we're supposed to be playing diplomat and bodyguard here, so we'll have to stay together."
"Understood."
Right, I can't be getting distracted. I'll keep an eye out for anything that could help us pin down the traitorous Sixth. Which I'm sure is not hypocritical in the slightest.
"Let's get to work."
[3rd POV- with Aether and Paimon]
The Traveler and his companion arrived in Sumeru City after a long, perilous trek through varied terrain.
"The city of knowledge, we finally made it!" Paimon exclaims.
"Why do you sound so exasperated? You float all the time." Aether questions his rations.
"Hey, flying requires a lot of energy, you know!" The fairy-like guide replied.
"Whatever you say, Paimon." Aether dismisses the topic of conversation.
"Anyway, we should have a look around. There's plenty to see." Paimon's eyes sparkle. "Ooh, and to taste as well."
Aether nods in agreement and proceeds further in, marvelling at the bustling market city. Rows of stalls line either side of the street, which itself leads to a bazaar of even more wares being marketed by enthusiastic merchants.
Paimon was mesmerized by many things on display. Aether, meanwhile, had his attention on somewhere else.
"Aether, look-" Paimon paused. "What's got you so invested?"
Aether wordlessly grabbed Paimon and turned her to look in the same direction.
Paimon finally saw what, or rather who, Aether was fixated on.
"Signora!" She almost yelled in surprise. "And Liu, too."
The two individuals which she had mentioned appeared to be haggling with a merchant of a jewelry stall.
"Right." Aether spoke. "We should see what they're up to."
Paimon silently agreed and the pair approached the Harbinger and her escort.
"...And so, I'll ask you again, have you seen anyone who matches that description?!" Signora's voice could be heard. She was evidently losing patience.
"N-No, ma'am, I haven't."
"Right. That's all you had to say." The Fair Lady looks over to Liu. "Let's move on."
"Stop right there!" Paimon shouted after them.
Both Liu and Signora turn at the call.
"Tch!" Signora's expression turns bitter while Liu's remains neutral.
"Are you here to meddle in yet another nation's affairs?" Aether proclaims catching up to them.
Signora stays silent, so Liu speaks in reply.
"Nothing like that, actually." He states and turns to look at the Harbinger. "May I tell them?"
Signora doesn't say anything, but her expression is one of disinterest, which Liu takes as a yes.
"I believe you are acquainted with Scaramouche, yes? The Sixth Fatui Harbinger?" Liu begins.
"Huh?" Paimon says. "What does that have to do with anything?"
"Well, he's a treacherous coward. And so, has been marked for elimination or capture." Liu told another half-truth. "That is the only reason we're here, to track him down and exact the will of the Tsaritsa on him. Right, Signora?"
"I refuse to speak to the likes of them." The venom in her voice is palpable.
"Well, my lady is in a bit of a bad mood at the moment, but what I've told you is what she would've, had she been a bit more amicable at this time." Liu paused. "You needn't be concerned, or try to be a hero again. This won't bother you nor will it bother the upper echelons of Sumeru."
"How can we trust you?!" Paimon responds.
"Whether you do or not is irrelevant, I am at peace knowing I told you the truth." Liu looked between the Traveler and Signora a few times, before continuing. "Now, please excuse us. Let's go, Signora."
Liu and Signora both turn and begin walking away.
"I won't just let you walk away!" Aether calls out.
Liu immediately turns back, glaring. "Are you sure you want to cause a scene here? Risking civilian casualties? Not very virtuous thinking from the 'hero' of Teyvat."
Aether and Paimon stare back, stumped and only able to watch as Liu and Signora saunter off.
[Liu's POV]
What kind of divine wrath did we incur to run into them again? Judging by Signora's steps and breathing pattern, she's mightily annoyed as well.
"Hey, Sig-Rosalyne, why don't we take a break?" I ask, pointing to a vacant bench.
She ony nods before, heading over to the bench. I follow closely.
"Pests..." Signora mutters as she sits and puts a hand to her temple.
I take a seat next to her and rub her arm, trying to calm her down.
"Rosalyne-"
"We're in public, don't call me that!" She snaps.
"Ah, right, sorry." I recover from my initial startlement. "Signora, please try not to let them get to you. You need to be in the right frame of mind for this."
She starts taking deep breaths.
"much easier said than done..." She says. "You're not the one who's been...disgraced by that wretched being."
I stay quiet, just listening to her words.
"I-I do apologize, Leo..." Signora looks at me. "I shouldn't take out my frustration on you."
"It's fine. I understand." I relieve her worries. "Just relax now."
Signora nods and leans back, sighing heavily. I suppose we'll have to stay here until she's back to normal.