《R18+》Cigno Fanciulla | Scaramouche

● Act II | Chapter IV

Cigno Fanciulla Act II: Notte di Luna
《Chapter IV - Whispers of Impending Storms》

Hailed from the mother land, the tales of the tyranny has been carried on by the wind over and across the seas. To those who seek the glory, or the honor of breaking peace - they shall hear of the impending threats of dangers they shall be fated to be met with.

After the sleepless night spent with Zhongli, I briefly made myself ready at my quarters before meeting Atsuko. Recalling the faintest of my fondest memories shared with her, I had the urge to bring that sense of familiarity when we meet. I want her to immediately know that it indeed is me who she is faced with.

So, I bathed using the sweet plum fragrance of shampoo, and the cherry blossom milk soap - a combination that reminds me of the times she would be in charge of my bath whenever I've gone through a rough day at the training grounds.

I dressed lightly, donning a Hanfu I've been gifted by Capitano a few years ago. It consisted of the colors white for the base, cerulean and baby blue for the accents, as well as gold and black for the linings. Adorned by floral prints, which I assume were glaze lillies, it was very chic and feminine - that captain definitely had a female's help on picking the outift as he would never be able to come up with this on his own.

Laughing slightly at the thought of a full grown man shopping along amongst a shop filled with only women, I carefully slipped my hair into a half-bun-half-down style - quite similar to the one used by that Qixing lady. Finishing the hairstyle off with a blue tie, I felt satisfied with how it looked.

All that's left was to secure my vision on the Hanfu's sash, and I was ready to go.

"Going somewhere, Feathers?" A sudden tall wall obstructed my path, and spoke with a tone of suspicion.

I looked up to the ginger head, who had quite a teasing smile as our gazes met inevitably. His eyes held in a soft glimmer - probably caused by my out of the ordinary type of clothing. He eyed my whole figure, taking in every detail with his precious time.

It irked me how sticky his gaze must have been without noticing so I cleared my throat as I sent a punch to his stomach. He groaned out in pain, but I paid it no mind when I answered his question. "Yes. If Scaramouche looks for me, tell him that I'm gathering intel on Inazuma."

After handing in my response, I dusted off my Hanfu, and faced the direction towards the exit. Before I could even move further, a hand grabs my wrist with force.

"Is this an excuse or-" He tried to speak the question he formed up in the chaste situation we were in, but I silenced him with a glare.

"I'm meeting a contact. She used to be my handmaiden, and I heard that she has recently escaped here to Liyue." I spoke loud and clear as I shook off his hand, making sure that my distance were to serve as a warning.

He seemed to pick up on my hostility. Maybe he even took a hint that I did not have much time to spare with idle talk, for he looked apologetic. He straightened himself up, and smiled at me with the mask he puts on casually for business.

"Oh, I think I've heard of that person from Ivanovich once. Not bad, Feathers! I wish you the best of luck." He told me of his well-wishes, a pained tone straining the ends of his voice.