Duchess of Crime | Genshin Impact

1. new beginnings? ♥

I stand on trial, awaiting my sentencing from the Chief of Justice. 

His mouth moves, but weirdly enough, I don't hear any words. The audience below celebrates, some throw items towards my stand. 

...What did I do?

My vision blurs a little, my brain seemingly blocking out what happens next. 

Why can't I remember anything? 

♥

"Hello? Earth to you?" 

I blink, zoning back in. Another strange, fuzzy memory—they seem to be becoming more frequent.

"Ah, good, you're back." He says, leaning back in his office chair.

Finally, I look at him, his stone-cold, blue eyes observing me. He seems to be expecting an answer. I fumble a little, "Ah—I'm sorry. I don't recall your question?"

Wriothesley sighs, pointing a finger to the papers on his desk, "I asked if you could sign these."

After signing the rest of the disclaimer papers, he dismissed me. The fortress still feels alien, despite being here for a week. Nobody speaks to one another, at least, not around me. Walking past the cafeteria, my stomach violently growls but the thought of losing the meal lottery ruins my appetite. 

Luckily, I haven't been asked to begin working yet. Wriothesley said it would be sorted by next week, something to do with not having enough machines in working order. Continuing, I take in my surroundings, trying to find my way back to the dormitories. I internally groan, why aren't there maps in this place? 

"Lost already?" A mellow voice calls from behind me. 

Turning around, a blonde-haired guard stares at me, "Well?"

Inside, I'm relieved but confused as to why a guard would bother walking up to me, shouldn't it be the other way around? 

Sheepishly, I nod, "Yes, sir."

"To the dorms?" He reads my mind, motioning me to follow behind him. 

We walk in silence, only our footsteps echoing on this floor. At this point, I have no clue what time it is and I don't see another inmate in sight. After a confusing spiral of a walk, we make it to the steps of my room.

"Here. For future reference, please, take this map." He hands out a piece of paper, it's seen better days,  but I take it and nod.

I slowly walk up, still intimidated by the neverending pipelines of the fortress. The rooms are cramped and just as unfriendly as the place itself. I pull out the beaten-up, wooden chair from my desk and place the paper on the table. Opening it up, it's a handmade map with detailed directions in neat but scrawled writing. 

In small writing underneath the square for my dorm, it reads, "Meet Wriothesley tomorrow morning" with a hastily drawn arrow pointing to his office.

Is the note really for me? 

With a shrug, I fold it back up. I get up and throw myself onto the bed, luckily its mattress isn't too worn out and I haven't had a spring poke me in the back yet. 

♥

The morning soon came around, the distant shouts of "inmates, time to get up!" getting closer to my dorm. With a stretch, I get up and walk to the corner containing my toiletries. Thankfully, the fortress was built with some privacy in mind and I pull the frosted, glass screen across. I relish the hot shower, feeling a little more alive. 

I get dressed and head out, the scribbled map tucked into my breast pocket. I was told that due to my own clothing containing important evidence, I have to use the prison's spare clothing for the duration of my sentence—however long that is, of course. Fortunately, the spares only consist of a baggy, black top, trousers and steel-cap boots. 

Thanks to the map, I easily navigate the winding corridors and timidly knock on the tall, arching doors of Wriothesley's office. 

"Enter." His dark, authoritative voice calls out.

Back inside the office, the same, blond-haired guard leans against Wriothesley's desk. The duke sits in his red, throne-like chair with his legs crossed whilst sweet, classical music plays on his ancient record player. 

"Thanks, Louis, you may leave now." The duke nods to the guard, who bows and leaves. He gives me a small smile on his way out. 

"What do you need me for?" I ask, stepping forward a little. 

Wriothesley thinks for a moment, "Do you know about Fontaine's prophecy?"

I shake my head, "I'm not from Fontaine."

He seems satisfied with my answer, "So, you don't know about the people being dissolved in Fontaine's waters, leaving only the hydro archon behind?"

I twiddle my thumbs, is he trying to make a point? Am I supposed to know this? 

He continues, "And, you don't remember your crimes of using said dissolving water?"

♥