Ive had my eyes on you • xiaoven

1

Venti flips the eggs in the pan swiftly while using his foot to close the cabinet. This palace had fourteen kitchens and one was reserved for him— and his work partner Thoma— but specifically for him to get what he needs to get done and his way for the royals.

The breakfast he was making was for the children of them, the three children. Xiao, Ganyu, and Hu Tao. Ganyu was the eldest daughter and child. She was very beautiful and a joy to be around. Venti gives her extra attention because of her condition. Xiao, he is more closer to Thoma than Venti, only because his bodyguard introduced them. Hu Tao, the youngest, was probably the worst and weirdest, but Venti was the only person who could handle her. Not even her parents could make her wear a extravagant ballgown without war.

Venti stopped his cooking and set the eggs onto a plate but while adding some special toppings, he heard a pattern of three thumps from the next room over. Which was unusual, the universal rule of libraries was to be quiet. So like anyone would, Venti left his kitchen to check it out.

Slowly creaking the large library doors open, Venti stepped in and shut them behind him. He glanced around the library, it was a very elegant place, lots of wood and gold lining among bookshelves, it was very unique. There was mainly bookshelves, tables, and fountains filling the secluded place.  It looked so well kept not like the whole palace did, but still noteworthy. Venti would stay here admiring the fountains and bamboo plants and unique everything all evening if he could. But as he had it, it was almost impossible, considering his responsibilities there was no way.. also considering the library keeper hated his guts for no given reason. He looked forward and saw the library keeper giving him the most offended expression he had ever seen.

"Sorry.."

He apologized not knowing what he did. The enraged old man banged on the wooden desk and held a finger to his mouth while waving him over. Venti rushed to his feet and ran so fast he almost ran into the desk at front. He grabbed him by the ear and whispered,

"I think theres a ghost in here.."

He pointed to the back of the library, where the rhythmic thumping took place. Venti gave a dumbfounded look, the keeper only took that to offense.

"Oh you little brat.. I am not crazy, just check it out and ill.. ill owe you."

It was a done deal, Venti happily left to the corner and inspected around him. He didn't believe in ghosts or spirits that much, he was too busy to explore that. But as luck would have it, Venti noticed a tile had been popping up from the floor matching the thumping noise.

Venti, unrestricted, came close enough to the tile to realize there was a sliver of light in there. He quickly lifted the tile and a tiny trap door appeared, the size of the tile. Venti opened it suspiciously and carefully. Staring back at him were red eyes, they felt all too familiar.

Then, the eyes moved away, like the whole thing just walked off. Then an arm emerged from the hole, it was strong and grabbed Venti's leg tight and tried to drag him in as Venti let out a scream.

"Theres so many corners of the palace hidden in this cave, I can scare anyone! Even you!" A high pitched voice echoed as the hand retrieved itself. Venti knew exactly who was down there. "Hu Tao, That was the worst scare I had in a while! Get out of that hole now!" There was only giggles as Venti saw Hu Tao's head pop up. Her red eyes making eye contact with his. "God, now I know what ghost has been scaring all the maids and servants." Venti extended his hand and flinched at her warm touch.

"Not my problem! I don't think you ever had the joy of scaring anyone before." She snickered as Venti looked her up and down, she had dirtied her sleep wear and her socks, oh her socks, cursed mud all over them. "Oh now what hole did you find this time? Ill need to order a crew to block it off." Hu Tao's joyous expression turned sad as the sentence processed through her head.