*Disclaimer - I do not own the copyright to Genshin Impact.

*A/N - Hope you're all doing well. The new Sumeru quests are a blast. Can't wait for more to come. Seeing that it's Ningguang's birthday today (At the time this is posted it will still be her birthday lol) I figured she'd need a bit of love. Anyways, take care and enjoy the story.

On a day like this, where the birds were singing and not a cloud could be seen floating in the sky. Ningguang couldn't ask for anything better than this. Or could she…

Being a busy woman, she wasn't really left with much time to herself. Having loads of paperwork thrown her way in order to ensure that Liyue had a brighter tomorrow. Ningguang was used to spending much of her day at her desk within her new Jade Palace. Or on the off chance she got to attend meetings on the ground and interact with the people of Liyue.

So much has happened in the past couple of years. Conflicts arising both from within and around Liyue. The crucial step forward for man along with proving to the Adepti that the people of Liyue could stand on their own two feet and strive towards a new age. A new Liyue. However, while there were issues there were also solutions. One such solution happened to be in the form of a man. A man that had not only saved Liyue once but twice and possibly even more times that were not known about. That man was Aether, or better known as the Traveler.

Getting to know the once quiet and shy man, Ningguang knew that he was an investment that she would regret dearly if she did not strike her chance at getting to know him better. And boy was she right. The once quiet traveler was now well known throughout Liyue and was quite the chatterbox. Helping people left and right or completing commissions ranging from helping deliver documents to rescuing people. He was practically everywhere along with being a great help to Ningguang on several occasions.

Moreover, she had grown quite fond of the blonde-haired traveler. Anytime he and his fairy companion Paimon would stop by Liyue, she would do her best to at least greet him in some fashion. Whether it was by letter or word of mouth from another or even anonymously. Ningguang wanted to find some way to stay in contact with the traveler.

Her interest in him had stemmed from a business investment to… something more. Something she was not quite familiar with. She considered him as one of her close friends or better yet one of her best friends. Someone she could be herself around. If she were given a choice for all the Mora in Teyvat or the chance at growing closer with the traveler. Then, the answer should come at no surprise that she would forsake all the Mora in Teyvat and pick the traveler.

And seeing that today was the only day she could consider being *selfish* as normal or even allowed. She wanted to see him. She wanted to see Aether. While still seated at her desk, Ningguang reached for a clean sheet of paper and grabbed her quill while tapping it in a tray of ink. In the corner of her eye, she spotted several Glaze Lilies sitting in a vase while looking mighty healthy. The lilies looked quite remarkable and offered a sense of beauty she had come to enjoy. Not to mention, wild Glaze Lilies were beginning to bloom outside the city, meaning that the change of seasons was starting soon.

Aether and Paimon would soon make their way to explore Sumeru on his quest to find his lost sister. While the thought of asking him to stop by Liyue and see he sounded selfish, Ningguang reminded herself that today was her birthday. And that she was allowed to be selfish. Hence, she finished writing her letter directed to the traveler.

Words could tell a person quite a lot about someone. And with this letter, Ningguang silently hoped that he would understand her not so subtle feelings being transcribed in the letter. And maybe… one day perhaps on another birthday would she selfishly ask the traveler for something else.

Something more… permanent than just an initial business investment.

Something… romantic.