❝𝐃𝐈𝐕𝐈𝐍𝐄❞

𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙬𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙮

chapter twenty: “jealousy.”

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     “IT'S BEEN SO LONG, HASN'T IT?”

THE DISGUISED QUEEN chuckled lightly, stirring her tea as the Yaksha stared at her. She knew he recognized her disguise while he was almost on the verge of crying just because he finally reunited with her. She smiled feverishly when she noticed his eyes watering from both joy and hurt. Taking a small handkerchief from her pocket, she carefully wiped his tears while smiling at him...

     "Don't cry now," she jested.

     He huffed and crossed his arms, "How can I not cry? It's been so long ever since we last saw each other," he complained—he was annoyed. "I couldn't count how many years since we've last seen each other..."

     She smiled and pinched his cheeks, "Well look on the bright side, I'm here now. No need to worry," she told him. He was trying to fight her strength, despite knowing he wouldn't win, "Oh? Is my child not fond of my touch anymore?" She teased.

     He puffed his cheeks, "It's embarrassing..." He averted his gaze from her. He felt her continuing her loving gesture, "Ma—I mean, Lady Draconia, please stop."

     "Aw, you still call me Mama after the years," she teased again. "Don't be shy. Call me Mama like you used to, I won't be mad," she told him.

     "I'm still mad at you for leaving us," he confessed. He couldn't tell what expression he should show—mad, jealous, or joy. "Everyone wants you to return as Morax's wife (cue for her body flinching from the name) and the mother figure of Liyue. Everyone missed you," he added.

     (Name) patted his head, "I was forced to cut our marriage, Xiao. Either way, I doubt he's even willing to be my partner," she explained. Her gaze drifted to Guili Plains, the silhouette of her lover's betrayal took form beneath it, "I'm sure he got tired of waiting for me eventually. That it led to him finding a new partner. I mean, he's been quite tired of my ranting if he comes home during midnight," she sighed from the memory.

     "You two argue?"

     She nodded, "Yes. He might be someone who can spoil me with anything—from his love to riches alike, but there are limits to his kindness. There are times he's rough and mean, mostly from stress, and of course, I understand that as his former spouse," she remarked. "However, I somehow accused him of having another woman behind my back."

     "The Geo Archon wouldn't do that," the yaksha denied her accusation. She raised an eyebrow at his declamation, "He told me he's willing to search you for the depths of the world, even in Celestia, just to reunite with you."

     "Does he? As he may know, he doesn't pose any importance to me. He could return to his woman and never bother me again," she mocked, sipping her tea. "Enough of him already. I would like to know what happened to the other young yakshas and adepti," she uttered and completely disregarded her husband's actions.