SURVIVAL GUIDE, genshin impact

────── 06.

RULE NUMBER 6 : NEVER SHOW YOUR WEAKNESSES.

Lady Arlecchino was the one running the House of the Hearth. A cold, heartless woman, similar to Capitano in that she would rather watch you silently from afar than talk to you, but her presence was as suffocating because you could feel her empty eyes glued to you when you were at the orphanage ; a very unpleasant feeling that always made you shiver with dread.
You were not paid enough to deal with that shit, but seeing Dmitri's smile was worth all the gold in the world.

Dimitri was one of many children in the orphanage ran by The Knave ; he was a little boy around nine years old. He had curly brown hair, green eyes sparkling with life and always had a big smile on his face that showed his missing front teeth. He was so cute, always bursting with energy and always running around.

Although you loved all the children in the orphanage — and they loved you just as much, because Arlecchino softened considerably in your presence; and you always agreed to play with them, even if you didn't have much time — you felt even closer to Dmitri. Maybe because he was leaner than other children his age, which reinforced your desire to protect him.

Sadly, you were very more than aware of the fate that awaited these children. As soon as they reach the required age, they will be sent to Capitano and will undergo the most intense training as each other to become good fatui agents. And Dmitri was too puny, too weak compared to other children.

Sometimes you thought about running away with Dmitri ; running away from the harbingers, away from their suffocating love, away from all the blood they shed in the name of love. You would live happily with Dmitri, in a little house in the forest, out of sight. Just the two of you.

A silly and impossible dream. You could never run away from them, you knew it too well. They had eyes everywhere and saw everything, so it was not surprising that  The Knave noticed your attachment to this child.  And of course, she was going to use him against you. She was a heartless manipulator, using any means possible, even the most miserable, to get what she wanted.
And what she wanted was you.

"I should probably get rid of him." She said abruptly and you froze, taking your gaze away from Dmitri to look into her cold eyes devoid of any human warmth.

"What do you—"

"That child." She cut you off. "He's too weak, he's a nuisance. I should get rid of him."

You heard your heart beating in your ears and you clutched the thick fabric of your skirt in your shaking hands.

The image of Dmitri abandoned in the snow, dying of cold and hunger crossed your mind.
Like the other children here, he had no family waiting for him to return. He was alone.

"P-please, my Lady..." You whispered, tears welling up in your eyes. You were stupid, stupid, stupid. Of course she was going to use Dmitri against you.

She softened slightly at the sight, but her gaze remained unmoved.

"...I'll do anything." You declared in a fit of desperation.

She raised her eyebrows slightly.
"Anything?"

You were making a deal with the devil, and you knew it.

"Yes," you breathed out shakily. "anything."

But for Dmitri, you were ready to be consumed by the fires of hell.

𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲 ↷ don't worry guys Arlecchino will just ask you to spend more time with her or a kiss or the cheek :D

thanks for reading, and votes and comments are appreciated as always !