In Search for the Lost Osmanthus Wine

FILLER: :Tighnarella: PART I:

Tighnarella, a boy who worked for his fathers debt as he passed when he was 6. His father’s debt was to pay back the money he owed from the pretty old stepmother of two daughters who was well known around the country of Inazuma.

Baal they call her because they didn’t know that her sister had left the company years ago. But she likes to be called Ei. Her two daughters were to inherit her power and company that she ran when they grew the right age. Ei took Tighnarella under her wing, her daughters were jealous of the younger boy considering how much more attention he would get.

Fischl was a bit weird to Tighnarella’s liking, not only her choice of speaking but whenever he had finished cleaning a room, she would send her companion, Oz, to the room and mess everything up again.

Furthermore getting him into trouble by his stepmother. And this happened multiple times.

Hu Tao always had Tighnarella at the edge of his seat. She would like to add some extra ‘spice’ to the dishes Tighnarella would cook and give to them, as a family to eat. Multiple times Ei had to run to the bathroom after they had finished eating.

Tighnarella felt terrible and faced extreme punishments, but what else could he have done other than cook his special homemade dishes? Only Hu Tao knew the answer to that, but she wouldn’t say it over her own dead body.

The first day he was brought in was when he was 6, quickly, Ei made him get to work, but she wasn’t harsh or cruel like his sisters, Tighnarella wondered why.

A few years later, he was now 10. He began to wander around the big house that his step-mother owned. He wondered how they could afford something so big that could fit almost the whole town in.. Almost the whole town.

Around the corner was a picture that caught his eye, there his step-mother was, a woman beside her with pink hair and purple like eyes. A child sat on a golden embroidered chair with red cushioning. He sat with a monotone face, their purple hair and eyes somewhat sparkled as if Tighnarella were staring into space.

As he was about to touch the picture frame, Ei quickly stopped him softly, but at the same time sternly commanded, “Please don’t touch any pictures.” She stared at the one family photo specifically before she gently grabbed it off of the wooden table. “Especially this one.”

Tighnarella bowed, apologising, “Sorry, ma’am.” Raiden smiled, a bittersweet smile, “You do not need to keep up with the formalities. I’m perfectly fine with Ei, or maybe even mother.” Tighnarella nodded but not taking much into consideration.

More years passed and it was his 14th birthday, he had never celebrated his own birthday, he barely even knew when his birthday was. Hu Tao walked around the corner when he wasn’t watching before jumping in front of him, her hands in front of her face before she yelled, “Boo!” He yelped, as his ears met the back of his head.

She began laughing before leaning against the table, knocking a glass of water over. She gasped, exaggerating, “Oh no! Look what you did, Tighnarella!” She yelled as she looked at Ei. Tighnarella raised his hand only to be stopped by Ei’s hand.

“Tighnarella, you’ll be cleaning the house tonight as me and your sisters go out for a girls’ night.” As Ei left Hu Tao frowned, “Sorry ‘Cindanari’, but you wouldn’t want your sister to get into trouble, right?”

Tighnarella shook his head as he looked down, “No, we don’t.” He’s been through this hundreds of times, he knew, she knew that he couldn't refuse. Hu Tao pushed him to the side as a devious smile emerged on her face as she exited the room.

He wouldn’t forget all that they did to him since the very first day of this hellhole. He sighed, he shouldn’t be thinking all of these things. Instead he should be grateful that the work is minimal now, though he still has a lot of his father’s debt to pay off.