❝𝐃𝐈𝐕𝐈𝐍𝐄❞

𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙬𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙮 𝙨𝙞𝙭

chapter twenty-six: “a mother figure.”

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     “TSUNOTARO, YOU'RE QUITE ACQUAINTED WITH THE ADEPTI HERE.”

THE TRAVELER commented, smiling at the Queen. (Name) just smiled back and continued walking to the next abode, just not giving the right response the blonde seek. She was too bothered by the memories returning to her, she doesn't want Lumine to know her reckless actions before...

     "Paimon's guess the books have mischaracterized you..." Paimon remarked, showing the novels she has related to (Name). The Thorn Archon was surprised the little one have it, "Paimon idolizes you and searched for things related to you. Including the things related to your grandmother," she smiled and gave them to the Queen.

     "That explains why your bag is filled with books," the blonde huffed and placed her knuckles on her hips. "Why didn't you tell me you have books related to Tsunotaro?"

     The little one chuckled nervously, "You might think Tsunotaro is a bad archon. Paimon is worried," she told her companion. "Also it's said you bear a lot of titles. From Mondstat to Snezhnaya! Paimon thought Tsunotaro was so cool, but the books ruined her sadly. Saying she's a heartless and cruel archon..."

     (Name) smiled feverishly, "I can assure you I'm not like that... I care for my people more than my whole life," she told Lumine while patting the other's shoulders. "I'm not a cruel leader of any sort."

     "Then why are you dubbed as the Renowned Mother of Liyue?" Lumine questioned, suspicious why she was addressed by a motherly title. "Oh come on, just tell me. I wanna know why!"

     (Name) stared at Paimon, giving her a small sign to help her, "AH! TRAVELLER, TSUNOTARO WAS CALLED A MOTHER OF LIYUE SINCE SHE TOOK CARE OF THE CHILDREN HERE! SHE'S TECHNICALLY LIKE A TEACHER HERE BEFORE!" The little one told, reading one of the novels to prove it. "Um, Paimon thinks she also took care of the young adepti... Um... Yeah!"

Well, that was the truth, but the little one merely gave her half of the information about why she was the renowned mother of the land of contracts. She bore that title for being the Geo Archon's lover, and Lumine didn't question further because she seems satisfied with the answer Paimon gave...

     "Hey, who put this table over here?" The white-haired child questioned, approaching the center of the next abode. "They've set everything for dinner, the wine jug, and everything is present here..."

(Name) squinted her eyes on the table, knowing damn well this was the same place where she saw her former husband talking to the same woman he cherishes after her leave—the woman she aided when she tripped on a branch due to her recklessness. She twitched an eyebrow when the name Guizhong and Rex...