“I thought I told you…” Signora began, taking him aside and moving him to a corner of the restaurant, her tone low and sharp, “…that we are not here on holiday, Tartaglia. What the hell are you doing? Why did you stop here for lunch with all these Liyue people?” Her ice-colored eye looked at him with disapproval, eyebrows furrowed in frown, to show her disappointment.

Childe snorted. He was irritated by her hand that had tightly gripped his wrist. He faced her gaze without making too many scruples. Signora had no right to tell him how to behave or who to spend his time with. He thought back to Xiangling's enthusiasm when she saw him enjoying the dishes or the astonishment on Zhongli's face when he saw Childe standing up and leaving him to sit alone at the table, his face showing concern. He hoped that whatever Signora had to say to him, she would do it as quickly as possible. He had no intention of letting her invade his private space, especially when he was not even on duty. He hadn't done anything that went against the rules, so he wasn’t going to accept her reproach so easily.

“I was just having lunch. I know I am a creature of extraordinary strength, so you may have forgotten it, but I can’t just eat air,” Childe replied sarcastically.

“I know how many battles you have won. I know that when you come back from the missions you are always the first, the fastest, and the one who learns quickest,” Signora said coldly, not making that sentence sound like a compliment even for a moment, before lowering her voice further. “But if this continues to be your conduct, if you continue to wander around Liyue as if you were one of them, then consider what will they think of the Fatui!”

That we are people made of flesh and blood like everyone else. That we also have a home that we miss. That before we tear a city away by force, we try to understand the people who live there, Childe thought, but he decided to hold back, not out of fear, but simply because he didn't want to share them with someone who wouldn’t understand.

There had always been a solid wall between him and Signora, despite his first attempts to get to know her better. Signora never talked about her past, keeping every little emotional part of herself inside a shell as thick and cold as ice. As if she had been guided by a cause that only she could see, she never gave a hint of weakness or hesitation, looking straight into her future and keeping faith, word for word, in Tsaritsa's plans. Childe had never been able to go beyond the dry words she addressed to him, and he was often irritated by her way of acting so rigid and schematic. He was also aware of how strong she was: he had seen her vent her power against her enemies without giving any hint of hesitation or mercy.

“I really doubt it will be useful to our image to make ourselves look angry and dangerous,” Childe objected, shrugging. “Shouldn't starting friendly relationships be the basis of our plan? How could we get more information on how to contact Rex Lapis if we keep his people at a distance?”

“As if they didn't already know who we are or what we do,” Signora retorted, hinting at a dull smile, though without any trace of happiness. “Maybe it’s you who is desperately trying to forget that.”
If Childe had even the slightest idea of revealing to her that he had discovered more information about the Adepti, about Xiao, and about how Rex Lapis had freed him from slavery, in the face of those comments….He just shook his head with a smile, realizing that he had better continue to investigate on his own and eventually come to a more concrete solution to prove to Signora that he was doing things the right way.

“Yeah. We'll see,” he replied, deliberately using a playful tone that he knew would irritate the lady to death.

“What are you doing now, going back to lunch with them?” asked Signora, one hand resting on her hip while looking down at him. “I came to tell you that we have a meeting at half past five, only to find you here, sitting at a table, flirting with your drop-dead handsome undertaker. Just when I thought you couldn't fall any lower, you surprise me.”

At that comment, while taken aback, Childe couldn't help but laugh. It was partly because seeing Signora so annoyed was tremendously satisfying, but also because he hadn't expected to hear her say such a thing. Her initial reaction of surprise, however, was soon replaced by the realization that the same doubt had arisen in him, too, even though she had probably only said it to complain about the company he had chosen.

“’Drop-dead handsome undertaker’?” Childe quoted, laughing again. "What a bad choice of words, seriously.” He drew a careless flourish with his hand. “Anyway, I'm surprised you don't know how prominent Mr. Zhongli is here in Liyue. They told me that he knows everything about everyone and that he has immense knowledge about his land. Furthermore, the Wangsheng Funeral parlor is a historical establishment, which also communicates with otherworldly creatures. I think people like him are the most suitable figures to bringing us closer to Rex Lapis. I'm benefiting more than you think by rubbing shoulders with him,” Childe said, without flinching. Every single word was the truth. He had kept his eyes and ears open at all times, remembering the information that Zhongli had provided him.

For a moment, Signora seemed taken aback but she immediately composed herself, snorting. “I really hope it's as you say, and that you're doing something more useful than holding his hand in front of everyone,” she said with an irritated half smile, and then added, "See you later at the meeting. Don’t be late."

She turned on her heels and disappearing into the streets of Liyue. Despite the crowd of people she mixed with, she appeared an autonomous presence in her own right, unable to merge with any group. Childe thought, it was unthinkable that a frozen snowflake could join the white mountain it landed on, melting slowly like his other companions.

Sitting at the table where Childe had been a short time before, Zhongli glanced at him and Signora, still talking. The woman had made Childe jump to his feet, making a mask of irritation fall on his carefree face. He had watched closely the way Childe had stiffened during their conversation, even though his lips drew into an ironic smile. He didn't like Signora, that much was evident. He had also told Zhongli that he had no friends among the Fatui who had arrived in Liyue, and that must have included her. There was something Zhongli disliked about the way she had grabbed his arm. Although Childe seemed anything but helpless, he was patently uncomfortable in front of her. He watched as Childe stared after the woman while she walked away.

Childe’s chair was still next to Zhongli’s. He moved it quickly, thinking that now that he had shown him how to use the chopsticks, it would be more comfortable to have lunch facing each other.

"I’m back! Sorry!" Childe exclaimed, taking his seat again in front of him and showing off a more carefree smile.

“Do not worry. I was afraid that your Jade Parcels would become cold more than anything else,” Zhongli admitted, deliberately avoiding asking him questions about Signora. It was Childe who brought the subject up, though, shaking his head and fighting with his chopsticks again. He made several unsuccessful attempts before stabbing it and managing to get a bite.

“Yes, well, Signora would do well to have lunch, too, instead of stalking people,” he admitted without holding back.

Zhongli couldn't help but wonder why he was so angry at her. Did they share two different ideals? There was a stricter severity in Signora's ways, but Zhongli didn't know either of them enough to be able to make such a detailed judgment about them. What he had begun to realize after spending time talking to Childe was that the young man was having a hard time concealing how he felt. Although he often tried to mask his emotions behind mocking expressions or short laughs, Zhongli still managed to notice, for example, how much Xiao's words hurt him, the traces of nostalgia that crossed his eyes when he spoke of his home and the snow in Snezhnaya, or the initial distrust toward himself, followed by some relief when they started talking. Zhongli had not considered that he could already begin to observe a Fatui closely, to understand his real intentions and decide how to act, but Childe had appeared in front of him three times already. Approaching him had been even easier than expected, considering his friendlier character.

“You two don't get along very well, do you?” Zhongli asked, although he already knew the answer.

“We have never been friends, despite the fact that she has been in the Fatui for much longer than I have, and I have known her for years,” Childe said, without smiling for once.

Zhongli waited a few moments before replying, thinking what else to ask him. He was aware that those long conversations with Chide would likely be frowned upon by other gods, or—in general—by most people. Classifying the Fatui as enemies and thinking about how to get rid of them would undoubtedly be easier than trying to make friends with one of them. Yet, what he had told Childe had not been a lie: reducing each of them to an abstract concept of negativity just wasn't easy for him. He had lived too long not to wonder what a person's past was like or why he was in a particular situation.

Furthermore, there was a reason why he kept doubting and questioning the true intentions of the Fatui. A reason that, even after five hundred years, he still struggled to explain aloud even to his closest friends Xiao and Ganyu.

He looked at Childe, taking in his blue eyes, freckles, and high cheekbones. They were typical features of the inhabitants of Snezhnaya. For an instant, the face of the Tsaritsa—Nadja, as he had known her so many centuries ago—overlapped his, making Zhongli freeze. The Tsaritsa, like her Fatui subordinates, was reputed to have a heart of ice, totally numb to pity or affection. But Zhongli, as well as Barbatos and other archons, perfectly remembered the time when she had been friendly, kind, and affectionate to the point that she was called "the goddess of love." They remembered even more the tragedy that had changed her forever. On that terrible day five hundred years ago, she had been as much a victim as the rest of them to one of the worst tragedies of their lives. It was impossible to forget what happened to her next, what had happened to all of them. Zhongli could not help but wonder if her creation of the Fatui Army had a purpose other than conquering all seven nations. Perhaps Nadja merely wanted to take revenge on those who had hurt them and was using the wrong methods to do so.

“In short, Signora and I are vastly different characters. She doesn't like the idea of talking to people from other nations.” Childe drew his attention, making Zhongli realize that he had been trapped in his own thoughts longer than necessary.

Zhongli wanted to ask Childe how Nadja was, what her goals were, and why he had followed her. But he knew quite well that he had to hold back, to find out everything in his own time. And, sadly, he had to be on guard, too. The time when Nadja was close to the other gods like a sister was long gone. Now she was a skilled strategist. Her faithful Fatui seemed willing to do anything, just to follow her. For a moment, Zhongli looked down at his gloved hands, feeling a squeeze in his chest. He often covered them up because he was afraid of seeing them still stained with blood and gunpowder. He had tried to recover, to forget, but he had never quite succeeded. For Nadja it had been even worse, and her pain had turned into the cold blood with which she handled the Fatui.

“I see. But what about you, then? Are you not scared to speak with me?” Zhongli finally managed to ask, trying focus on the young man in front of him. Only after a few moments did he understand what Childe had said to him while his mind was absorbed: he had known Signora for years, even though he was only a young man. How long had he been in the Fatui? Why had he enlisted when he was just a kid? The concern that seized him when he asked that question inevitably emerged from the tone he used when he added, “You’ve known Signora for a long time. How old were you when you became a Fatui?”

Childe had always tried to simulate a smile even when they weren't accompanied by real amusement. But in that moment, he sat frozen, staring at him. His gaze was distant, lost toward a distant horizon that he could not see. Zhongli certainly could not read his thoughts or find out what had happened to him in the past, but a sudden awareness caught him in the wake of Childe’s expression: both men carried with them painful memories, so dark that they still froze them, impossible to keep hidden.

“I was only fourteen,” Childe said, shrugging. Zhongli was, unfortunately, aware of how his expression was betraying a certain apprehension, so much so that the other hastened to add, “It was the right thing to do. It was the right place to send me.” He quickly changed the subject, and a bright smile curled his lips when he quoted Zhongli’s own words, “My title from Harbinger is just a shell, right? Well, you being a Liyue resident is, too. I want to judge who is in front of me for how they behave and what they think.”

Zhongli was pleasantly surprised. If Childe remembered what he had said, he must have taken that concept to heart, and evidently shared it.

“Then we'll get along very well,” Zhongli answered sincerely, smiling in turn.

“I will be here for three months. I would like to have fun during my stay,” Childe admitted with a short laugh. “See as much and do as much as possible.”

“Here's your tea!” Xiangling announced, interrupting their conversation by handing them two cups. Zhongli couldn't help but smile at the delicate aroma of the flowers that burst into the air. He hadn't exaggerated when he admitted he could drink tea for hours. It was an activity that calmed him beyond belief, especially when he could do it on cold winter afternoons or sitting at a table with friends.

“Thank you very much. It looks delicious as always.” Zhongli watched the cook pour the amber liquid into their small, decorated ceramic cups. Childe, accustomed to drinking tea as much as he was, raised the cup with caution and managed not to burn himself as he took the first sip.

“Modestly, yes. The tea here at our restaurant is the best,” Xiangling joked, before leaving. She sat with Xingqiu and Chongyun, probably to take a well-deserved break.

“What would you like to do while you are here in Liyue?” Zhongli asked, intrigued. He had begun to find out what Childe liked to do in his past, but he had not yet asked him what his interests were.

Childe's face relaxed into a chill, almost dreamy expression. For a moment, he looked like a young and innocent person. The veil of melancholy that crossed his gaze when he thought he wasn't being watched was gone.

“I saw your beaches on my way in. They look wonderful! I would love to see the ocean, touch the sand, collect seashells,” the young man said, putting a pinch of sugar in the tea. He observed for a moment how the leaves had perfectly opened in the cup. “I would like to see other cities. And the theater if there are any.”

“The ocean is easily accessible. I can show you the way when I’m free from work,” Zhongli offered himself, caught up by the enthusiasm of his proposal without thinking too much about the consequences. Walking was one of his favorite activities and he never missed an opportunity to participate. Even if most of Liyue's territories had been created by him himself, he hardly got tired of exploring them for hours. He would take the opportunity to show those places to Childe, too. “As for the theater, some places here in Liyue often have storytellers. You like going the shows?”

“Of course, I like them. At the court of the Tsaritsa, the theater is immensely popular. I also acted a few times,” Childe said with some pride. “Our theaters are huge, with so many galleries and lights…. It's a magical world, where you can almost forget who you are.” His voice trailed off, and then he quickly nodded. “All right, then. I'm free on Saturday. Ah, I forgot to mention that I would also like to do something more eventful, among other things: beat monsters, explore dangerous areas, maybe go on expeditions for treasure, and so on,” he added in a more excited tone. “I certainly don't want to forget how to fight. I have to keep myself trained!”

“We won't miss that either, I assure you,” Zhongli replied with an amused snort. He had already guessed that the young man had an above-average desire for adrenaline. “You can find many monsters, caves, and reckless activities around. Especially in Guyun Stone Forest. Keep a lookout for four ruin guards. If you want, I'll mark it on the map, but I won't take responsibility if you find yourself in trouble.”

“Why? Don't you want a new client?” Childe teased, managing to get a short laugh from him.

Their lighter conversation had almost made Zhongli forget the dark thoughts from earlier. But there was nothing in the world that could stop him from wondering what the Fatui and the Tsaritsa were really planning.

****

Hello everybody and thank you so much for your comments or votes! Everytime I see a new comment, I'm so happy and moved.

After 8 chapters, I really hope my story is not boring you and you're enjoying even slow passages ❤️ if it's not too trouble, may I ask you to tell me if you're still here? Just two words or a vote would make my day and even suggestions are appreciated since I'm still learning ❤️
Next time, we'll know more about a special event happening in Liyue.. A concert! Do you have any ideas who's going to be the singer? 👀
Have a lovely weekend
Skylar