Great Pretender | Chilumi

he still did not learn

"Thank you for the meal." Lumine begrudgingly said before digging in.

"You're welcome. I'm glad you decided to stay." Childe gave her a small satisfied smile.

Lumine didn't say anything.

There was silence but somehow it felt comforting to Childe. It was just the two of them in the Liuli Pavillion and knowing Childe, he probably pulled some strings to make it happen.

"Eat up some more. You probably need it. You look like you haven't eaten for days." Childe commented.

"That's not true." Lumine retorted.

"I'm just saying what I see." Childe shrugged.

She did seem like she hasn't eaten, or at least she looked like she's been skipping a lot of meals. The difference from her usual glowing self in Childe's dreams was noticable from how she was at the moment.

"I don't eat this much food." Lumine gestured to the table filled with plates and plates of food. "There's only the two of us here. These are gonna go to waste." She added.

"I just want my guest to be filled." Childe said. "Lumine, right?" He asked, making sure he remembered correctly.

A hum was heard, as Lumine nodded weakly.

"This time I promise I won't forget." He said with a smile.

She sighed. "No. Forget it. I told you it was a different Childe." She insisted.

"Sureeeee. Sure." Childe teased. "Different Lumine it is then?"

Lumine raised an eyebrow. "If you know a different Childe, then I must be remembering a different Lumine." Childe explain.

Lumine chuckled, well, more of a nose exhale. "Yeah, that sound about right."

***

"You alright?" Childe asked.

Lumine looked at him, sighed, then shook her head. "I... I'm a little tired."

Childe chuckled before sitting beside her. "A little?"

Lumine sighed once more and rolled her eyes. "Fine. A lot." She said, getting comfortable with her new seatmate.

"Is there anything I can do to help?" He asked.

Lumine smiled weakly. "Stay." She said as she put her hand on his.

***

"Are you sure you don't want to stay? There's plenty of room here." He offered.

Lumine shook her head. "No thank you. I already bothered you too much today." She said.

"Bothered? I, personally, wasn't bothered. I'd actually love if you would stay longer." Childe said.

"Do you even take no for an answer?" Lumine raised an eyebrow.

"Depends on the situation." Childe admitted.

Lumine sighed. "What about a compromise?" She crossed her arms.

Childe paused. "I'm listening."

"If I sleep at the Wanshu Inn will that make you stop pestering me?" She asked.

"Only if I go with you." Childe said. Lumine raised an eyebrow to him.

"Let me rephrase." He put his hands up. "Only if I take you there myself." He said.

Lumine sighed. "Deal."

***

"Master, which is your best room available?" Childe asked the receptionist.

"Room for two?" Verr Goldet asked.

Lumine instantly shook her head. "For one please." She said.

Childe chuckled. "I'm just dropping her off." He explained.

"I see." Verr Goldet nodded. She then proceeded to look through her papers to check the room availability.

"Room 207 is available at the moment. It's on the next floor above. The room is very spacious with a bay window where you have a wonderful view of the sunrise. It's also near the view deck as an added bonus." Verr Goldet said.

"Perfect, we'll take it." Childe said. "She'll be staying indefinitely. Just put the tab under my name." He said before handing her a paper.

"Will do sir." Verr Goldet nodded as she handed Childe the keys.

"What?" Lumine looked at him confused. "You don't have to-"

"I insist." Childe said as he guided her to the room.

"That room is expensive." Lumine's eyebrows furrowed.

"Mora's not a problem." Childe shrugged.

"But-"

"But what matters is if you're in a safe place." Childe cut her off. "This will put me at ease if I know where you are."

"Why are you even doing all this for me?" Lumine asked. "You barely even know me. We literally just met a couple of hours ago."

Childe chuckled. "What? What are you talking about. Yes I know you. You're Lumine." He said.

"You just learned my name a couple of hours ago." Lumine argued.

"So? We're friends, I'm just trying to help a friend out with letting them have a place to stay." Childe said. "Or am I not your friend yet? Afterall, I'm not the Childe you were looking for right?" He added.

Lumine paused. "Well I'm not really sure if the Childe I was looking for is here anyway." She muttered.

"Hmm?" Childe hummed, not being able to hear what she said.

Lumine shook her head. "Nothing." She said.

"Fine. Thank you." She added. "I'll repay you when I can."

"No need. I do what I can to help a comrade out." Childe said.

They finally reached the room. Childe swiftly unlocked the door with the key. He then opened the door and motioned Lumine to go inside.

"Thanks." Lumine said as she passed him.

"I hope you have a good night's rest." Childe smiled as he closed the door from outside.

"Wait-"

"Hmm?" Childe stopped and looked at her. "Ah yes, the keys. I almost forgot." He said handing her the keys.

Lumine accepted with a little confusion. "Ah... Yeah." She said. The keys weren't exactly what was on her mind.

"Thanks." She said once again.

That moment, she realized that she didn't know what was actually on her mind why she called out.

"Is there something wrong?" Childe asked, noticing her furrowed eyebrows.

She just looked at him. He couldn't tell what emotion it was that she was feeling, her expression was telling him different things. Pain, confusion, sadness, disappointment. Whatever it was, it wasn't positive.

"Oh yeah, I'll come back here first thing in the morning tomorrow. I hope you'll still be here by then." He said.

Her expression softened, there was a tinge of relief in her eyes. She laughed softly. "It's not like I have anywhere else to go." She said.

"Then I'll see you tomorrow Lumine." Childe said.

"See you tomorrow." Lumine nodded, before closing the door.