𝐌𝐈𝐃𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐁𝐑𝐈𝐃𝐄 • k. ayato

12

☄. *. ⋆

"Milady, would you like a cup of tea?"

On a shabby wooden chair sat the Kamisato's madam, with her legs and arms crossed—she appeared unusually laid back. Rumors had said that she was an up-right and intense person, unafraid of confrontation, but she seemed rather bored at the moment. Despite, she did look like a deity—the perfect balance of danger and charm, she was at the same time fascinating and inaccessible, distant because of her demonstrated flawlessness, and possessing such strength of character that she was dismaying and at the same time utterly attractive in an enticing and forbidden way. The man understood why so many were interested in her.

She was a true Kamiyama. He could see that because Kamiyama Rai once visited his humble village, and he could still remember the look on his face. It was beyond terrifying.

As she shifted her eyes to look at the person who had offered her tea, the commoner felt chills run down his spine.

"I do doubt you have the money for teas adequate enough for someone of my standing. Unless you're suggesting I drink whatever mud water you lot consume?"

The man bowed deeply, "A-Apologies, milady! Of course... I shan't suggest anything else as there is nothing that this humble subject has to offer."

[Y/N] hummed, "Now then, what is it you owe us?"

The man began fidgeting, "W-Well, I'm no—"

"Ah, forgive me, I meant to say, what is it you stole from us?"

The man was rendered speechless before the madam and her knights. If only he had known that she would come today! He would've fled immediately. But nonetheless, he hoped to fool her with his unfortunate situation. Surely she had some empathy?

"Well? Can you not speak? Have the weight of your crimes finally reached your conscience?"

Seemingly minor yet persistent things penetrate the mind over time making it difficult to ever realize the impact; hence, though quite unfortunate, the most dangerous forms of corruption are those that are subtle and below the radar. And this man has been on the run for so long, and alas, the knights have found him in a village that was to be remodeled.

The man immediately got on his knees, his forehead touching the broken floor, "Milady! Hear me, I beg of you! I did what I had to to survive! I was starving, please, I needed to feed my family. I did not intend to burden anyone!"

[Y/N] clicked her tongue, looking down on the man with little sympathy, "Feed your family? Inazuma's regime provides care and shelter to those who need it most. If you were truly starving and had no home, you should've alerted us. Instead, you began stealing the goods of merchants coming from Mondstadt and Liyue, set an orphanage on fire—endangering fifty innocent children, set up traps for the Shogunate, and stole the funds that were supposed to go into providing for the old and poor. Must I continue?"

"I... Please..." he was short of breath, having his heart pulsating so fast.

The man was stunned. He wasn't aware that they knew of all that he has done. He was sure that they were only aware of his crime of stealing Mora. Just how big was their investigation team? Truthfully, he wanted the money so he could escape Inazuma and his acts of arson, but the treasure hoarders took the Mora that he had stolen, and he was left in Inazuma.

"Mm? Oh my, were my guesses right? It was you after all," she smiled tenderly, making the Shogunate in the room uncomfortable. She then stood up and kneeled on one knee in front of the man.

"G-Guesses? What do you..." 

"Mhm, you old, senile fool. Did you think we were omniscient? What a fool you are. Obviously, we did not know of every crime you committed. But I do thank you for your testimony," she grabbed the man by his locks, making him look her in the eye.