smitten ੈ✩‧₊ childe

iii.

"TARTAGLIA, to commemorate this rather memorable nomination ceremony. you are to publicly pledge your loyalty to the tsarita, serving her to the best of your abilities. for the place of the 11th harbinger rightfully belongs to you, the fatui extends our deepest congratulations."

whispers filled the ballroom from one end to the other, most of the fatui worker's face contorted into one of utter confusion.

"isn't it suppose to be (name)?"

"(name) isn't the 11th harbinger? and here i thought that the tsarita would do anything for her child."

"(name) must be pissed, she trained for years straight just to have that position stolen by not anyone but her partner. the one she worked alongside for 4 years."

even childe himself was in complete disbelief, his mind was unable to comprehend and process what was even going on. it all felt like a fever dream to him, he wanted the position so badly but at the same time he knew - no. thought. that it would be (name)'s to claim in the end. however, his raging mind prevented him from noticing the ominous presence looming over the ballroom.

the only one who noticed the sudden change in atmosphere was the tsaritsa herself. sitting on the throne above the ballroom with a unreadable look painted on her face. her enchanting radiant orbs flickered to the malfunctioning cryo vision on her daughter's waist. the (hair-colored) female was just a bomb, ticking rather slowly, waiting for the specific moment to explode and destroy everything in its path.

the chatters only came to a halt when the temperature of the ballroom dropped drastically, thousands of eyes scouted for the source before settling on (name). she appeared calm and elegant, legs crossed over one another like usual. however, the shadow casted over her eyes were hard to miss.

"what is the meaning of this, your majesty." the cold yet languid voice of the female haunted the entire room, her words laced with pure venom. although one might say that she is doing a rather good job at keeping her composure just from her appearance, her eyes blatantly betrayed her.

eyes are windows to one's soul.

they say. and it couldn't be more true.

behind her (eye-colored) orbs was a searing inferno, threatening to engulf everything in its path. one akin to the shine the cryo archon used to have while fighting in the battlefield of the archon war tirelessly.

once the tsaritsa recognised that destructive gleam, she secretly signalled the balladeer to knock (name) out.

the task however proved rather easy as the heir to the throne of divinity was blinded by the amount of disappointment and fury she felt to no one but herself.

her senses were concentrated on the mere fact that she failed. it wasn't a nightmare. no. it was something factual. something real. she failed.

scaramouche took the opportunity to strike her with his electro vision, unleashing electric shock waves that paralysed (name) before hitting a vital point on her neck to knock her out. carrying her to her room after.

it scares the tsaritsa how much her daughter was an exact carbon copy of her, she allowed minor "tantrums". she likes to call it. but as soon as there are any malicious intent evident whatsoever is when she has to draw the line.

childe could only watch the whole commotion unfold with guilt swirling in his orbs. lips parted in dismay and worry. the moment the balladeer used his electro vision on (name), striking her motionless, childe immediately dropped everything he was doing and sprinted to her rescue.

only to be stopped by none other than la signora herself.

a smug smirk presented itself on her face. tartaglia ocean-blue eyes only widened in response.

"where do you think you are going, 11th of the harbingers? we have much to discuss."

━━━━━━━━━━━

the fatui had much bigger plans for (name) other than the pathetic position of the 11th harbinger. however, the tsaritsa knew that there was a possibility that (name) wouldn't comply to ascending to divinity seeing how contented she was with an easygoing life as compared to a complex one.

though the tsaritsa really treasured her daughter in ways unimaginable and incomprehensible to any mortal's mind - no doubt, as she is the goddess of love afterall.

she would not allow any form of rebellions related to the ascension of divinity itself.

she wouldn't let that boy; tartaglia, ruin her plans. she isn't dumb, she has seen the way her daughter looked at him. the exact same way she looked at her late husband.

to prevent their relationship from escalating any further, she decided to take matters to her own hand. because if she doesn't, she fears that something else will.

the solution to make them turn against each other was to strip away her daughter's dream. the 11th harbinger position. it would definitely make (name) despise every single bone in that boy's body.

unfortunately, the cryo archon isn't exactly known for being the archon of wisdom hence her plan only backfired.

her plans for (name) however were rather simple.

she needed her daughter to see to every tasks that she fails to complete in the near future due to a certain curse that will lead to the declining of her health.

the tsaritsa will make sure that everything goes smoothly, even if the curse of divinity passes down to the next cryo archon. her own daughter.

it is a sacrifice that she's willing to make, for the nation and for her people who stands alongside her. she will do them proud as their archon. the goddess of love.