"My lady, the sun has risen."

Oh, I'm still alive.

Vision still blurred from the grogginess of waking up, Y/n gently rubs her fingers over her slightly crusty eyes to get the morning glories out of the way. She lets out a soft yawn, arching her back as well as stretching arms upward the moment she sits up.

Maids began to disperse within the spacious bedroom. Some were tending to the bath preparations, some to the Kimono, and accessories. Some even just walked in with breakfast in hand. Each one was skilled, yet so quiet and stoic. None spoke to one another, just minding their own business and not getting in each other's way. It was as if none of them were friends.

To make matters worse, all of these maids weren't hers to begin with. They may all hail from Inazuma and provide her with the knowledge and exposure to the other side of her origins, but they have already sworn their lives to serve one master; Her mother.

They were only taking care of her as it was one of the dying wishes of their late master.

Don't they even feel burdened to take care of her? To serve her? Shouldn't they also hold some resentment like how her father had for her? They work tirelessly for this household's miserable daughter, after all. The master they have devoted themselves for is long gone, only left with an unwanted daughter.

But at least today would be the last day they will be burdened by her existence.

"That kimono..." Y/n muttered, pointing to the mentioned garment being hanged.

"Ah, yes. This Kimono is one of the many gifts sent by the Balladeer in celebration of your engagement, my lady." One of the maids answered, her tone meek, but stern. Her expression seemed gentle for once though, "A letter was also sent along with it. He wishes to see you wear it when you are to be escorted to Liyue and meet him for the first time."

"B-But the one Papa requested from Miss Chiori..." Y/n faltered with a stutter, only to get cut off,

"He canceled the order last minute after this Kimono arrived earlier this week, my lady. I sincerely apologize."

The dejection on her face upon realizing that she had gotten her hopes up for something her father wouldn't obviously do for her. How foolish of her to think that her father would still take the kimono he asked for Miss Chiori when her soon-to-be husband already sent one.

But the kimono on display for her... it looks extravagant. Too extravagant for a girl as undeserving as her. This kimono seemed to be a ceremonial one, not the same as the usual Kimonos Inazuman noblewomen would wear on a daily basis as it could be seen that the sleeves were longer, and the obi sash had more decoration to it. Though the skirt seems to resemble the ones seen in a wedding Kimono.

"My lady, Please step inside the bath before the water gets cold."

Snapping out of her thoughts, Y/n turns around, her soft fingers rubbing on her eyelids. Perhaps she had gotten too distracted staring at that Kimono. Though she is to only wear it for her first meeting with her betrothed. Perhaps she'll never use it ever again after that.

It looked so beautiful, though. It would definitely look so out of place on her.

"My lady, please close your eyes for your eyeliner."

"My lady, please raise your head for your hair styling."

"My lady, your Zori is ready to wear."

"My lady-"

Everything went by in a blur, and then here she is, standing in front of her mirror to stare at the abomination before her. Her face churned and twisted in disgust. This Kimono, this beautifully crafted kimono, looks so out of place. It was too grand and undeserving of a pathetic maiden such as herself.

Everything about this kimono screamed quality, and expensive. Down from the fabric to the hand-stitched patterns. Did she truly deserve this? Let alone receiving this from a man who is so feared and adored for his position in the Fatui? What did he even see in her that made him accept the proposal offered by her own father?

Perhaps he wanted to induce some false hope and toy with her? Maybe he saw her as some spoiled, selfish little brat who knows nothing of the outside world, and expects to be pampered through and through? Or to even assume that she might want all the power and wealth he had to share with her, only to be tormented for the remaining days she will endure? Perhaps he had wives before her that faced horrible torment that they either ran away or died?

Y/n could never fathom gaining any wealth or respect. Heck, she even wished more people would resent her. She knew well that no one views her as spoiled, or selfish. Everyone knew her to be a maiden who was too kind and gentle, meek and timid, innocent and naive. Too much of it for her own good.

Though she wished she was the opposite. She wished she could have the heart or entitlement to be selfish and proud. But she couldn't. Her faint heart couldn't handle it.

She once thought that maybe being a cruel person would allow more resentment to harbor amongst the people she's surrounded with. The hypothesized hate could be justified, and she could succumb to the ill treatment, and perhaps disappear from this wretched world.

She truly wished that's how she could've lived.

"All done, my lady. Please look into the mirror." One maid spoke softly, her tone gentle and careful as she tapped Y/n's chin to glance upward.

Snapping out of her deep thoughts, Y/n's gaze stared into her own eyes that was reflected onto the mirror.

Beautiful.

These maids made her look so beautiful. These maids knew well how she disliked getting dolled up everyday, to even be handled so carefully as if she were some expensive artifact that held much more value than the rest kept in this damned household.

These maids knew. They all knew. They always had. And even if she asked not to be pampered or handled delicately, they still continued.

And she hated it.

"I don't like it." Y/n complained, her grim gaze immediately averted the moment she saw herself in the mirror, "I don't like it at all...!"

"My lady, this is for your betrothal." The head maid spoke up after moments of silence, stepping forward to gently guide her chin up to stare at the mirror, "Please, my lady, at least appreciate the way you look today. The Balladeer will surely be enamored by your beauty-"

"I said I don't like it! Why can't you understand that I...!" Realization dawns on her so quickly the moment she sees the looks on her maids' faces. She slowly sinks back down in her seat, bowing her head in absolute shame.

"I... I'm sorry. I didn't mean to..."

"My lady, please, do not apologize." The maid interrupts, sighing, "It is us who must apologize. We've upset you, and that is unacceptable."

"No... It's not like that at all- I just...!" Y/n was yet again at a loss.

This was the second time in her entire lifetime that she had lashed out on the maids.

The court of Fontaine; The nation of justice, the nation of the Hydro element, and abodebto the Hydro Archon. The nation is known for its highly advanced technology, extravagant performances, and most of all, its somewhat exaggerated trials that appeal and cater to the main audience(also known as the Fontainians).

And today will be the very last day Y/n gets to stay in this damned nation. Emphasis on the damned. The people of this nation may have welcomed her upon her birth, but somehow, she knew deep down, these people only wore masks in her presence.

Her birth killed one of their most beloved singers, after all. How could they not resent her?

"My lady, you have visitors." One of the maids called out to her, her expression as blank as the usual.

"Who is it, Akagi?"

"Lyney and Lynette, my lady-."

The mere mention of those familiar names sent (Y/n) running down the stairs despite the risks of tripping thanks to the restriction of movement from her kimono. Her loud and clacky footsteps rang and echoed across the spacious halls of the manor, as another set of footsteps tapped into the entrance hall as a pair of siblings stepped into the humble abode.

Lyney, upon seeing his beloved friend, waves a hand at her, "Good morning, Y/n! We're here to see you-"

But his smile was replaced with a stunned, dumbfounded look on his face. A bright red hue spreads across his cheeks as he places his still hand over his chest, swearing to himself he just felt his heart skip a beat.

Y/n never ceases to make his heart ache for her.

Meanwhile with Y/n, being the worrywart she is, approached Lyney as soon as she noticed the way he looked so stunned, "Are you alright, Lyney? What's wrong? Your face is red!" Her voice rang into his ears like music. Even if she were to speak normally, she always sounded melodious in his perspective.

Her gentle, trembling hands pressed over his, feeling his warmth that somehow made her flinch. The hands she usually touches are often cold, but with Lyney... They always feel so warm, even in the coldest of nights or rains.

If only she could have that warmth embrace her everyday.

"Snap out of it, brother. We're here to take Y/n out in the city today, aren't we?" Lynette deadpans, causing Y/n to retract her hand from Lyney's, taking a few steps back to face the other twin,

"Oh my- Hello, Lynette! You're still the same as ever." Y/n chuckles nervously, glancing behind the twins, "Is Freminet not with you?"

"He had a commission to finish."

"Ah, I see."

"Well then!" Lyney claps his hands, causing Y/n to jolt in surprise,

"I think it's time we head out and have some fun? It is our beloved Y/n's last day here in Fontaine!"

"Ah, yes. It is my last day today..."

He sounds as if he's excited to have me leave this place.

Without even noticing, Y/n's hands were each grasped gently by the twins. Lyney to her right, and Lynette to her left. They had always stayed in their positions and held her hands the same way every time they would go out together. That was how they all once lived together during their childhood.

It had been indeed a while since they held hands like this, and she had to swallow down how she felt as she held back her tears from running down her cheeks.

As soon as they held hands, they all had left the estate and ventured their way to the court where they could spend their last moments together before Y/n departed for Liyue.

Holding hands like this while wandering around the court was... nostalgic, to say the least. It ached her heart how this would be the very last time she could hold such warm hands, before she is sent away to a place she may or may never survive.

She even thinks today was her last moment. She could die in the hands of her husband-to-be for all she knows.

"Y/n? You look down..." Lynette points out, gently squeezing on Y/n's hand in an attempt to comfort her.

"I'm fine. Please don't worry about me-"

"You know you can't fool us, right? You're too easy to read."

Lyney's free hand slips under Y/n's chin, turning her the other way, their faces mere inches apart. The look in the magician's eyes held a glint of worry and guilt. What could he be guilty of? The fact that he wasn't able to do anything fast enough to ensure his beloved was safe and sound? She's already sold to a harbinger whose rank is lower than his father's.

Why couldn't he have acted any faster? Why couldn't he have convinced his father to do anything? Maybe he should've done something himself sooner? Maybe he and Y/n could've just ran away together and live their lives in solitude, without any worries. No Fatui, No arranged marriage. Just them and the bliss of living simply.

"I... I don't want to leave..." The woman Lyney loved so dearly caused more strings to tug at his longing, aching heart,

"But I don't want to stay either."

"We know, Y/n. We know..." It was now Lynette's turn to make a move, wrapping her arms tenderly around Y/n's trembling figure.

"You don't have to force yourself for others' sake."

"I don't want papa to drown in debt-"

"He's selling you away as payment for his debts!"

"It's fine! As long as I comply, he won't... he won't...!"

At this point, the twins were holding on to her for dear life. Showing their concern and adoration for the fellow Fontainian who dresses up in Kimonos. Eyes stared at the trio as usual, the already common sight for most to behold every day.

"Y/n, Just tell us. Please. We can help you if you want. You don't have to marry him-"

"I would appreciate it if you three stopped flirting right in front of my boutique."

In an abrupt stop, the trio found themselves standing before Chiyoria boutique, with the owner of said boutique tapping her foot as her piercing gaze shot right into the twins' ashamed faces.

But Y/n, however, had her face blush into a bright red hue, completely embarrassed,

"W-We're so sorry, Chiori, but we weren't flirting at all-!"

"Oh yes, we were-!"

"Brother, I thought we were comforting her...?"

"Oh nevermind. Come in, come in. It looks like it's about to rain." Chiori ushers the three into her boutique, gazing upwards to the darkening clouds above.

Upon entering, the comforting sounds of the rain reaches Y/n's ears. The rain had always been a good blanket for the ears of the L/n household. During heavy rains like these, The miserable young lady would cry and scream at the top of her lungs all day in the isolation of her own bedroom, left to be unheard by many.

At times like these, she wanted to cry once more. She wanted to cry for the fact that she would have to leave and have nowhere to return.

"I apologize about the Kimono your father requested. He canceled it and told me another one was sent from your... fiance." Chiori looked up and down on the Kimono worn by Y/n. Judging from the quality of the fabric and accessories. It was clearly produced in Inazuma.

"But I promise I'll finish the Kimono for you. The current work in progress possesses a precious pattern, and I have a good feeling it will look good on you."

That Fatui bastard must've used his position to get what he wanted in that closed nation. No one in Inazuma could just blindly afford that expensive Kimono. Chiori thought to herself.

"It's alright, Chiori! You don't really have to do such a thing for me... It wasn't your fault at all, nor was it papa's." Y/n forces a sweet smile, though the guilt was present. She felt so guilty that her request to her father was put to waste, and so was Chiori's time on the Kimono.

She probably has a small grudge towards her and her father now (Not really. Just towards her father).

"Anyway, we decided to come here, because Y/n is unfortunately-"

"I am aware, Lyney. I heard from Navia after she visited the L/n household a week ago."

"Ah... Is that so?" Lyney chuckled nervously, "Word must have gotten around, huh?"

"Everyone knows that Y/n is leaving tonight..." Lynette sighs, her ears falling flat on her hair, "But at least they aren't aware of the reason why."

"Yeah..." Lyney agrees.

"Y/n..." Chiori softly starts, approaching her as her hands gently hold on to the other, "May you find happiness with your husband-to-be. You deserve every ounce of that happiness."

While Lynette seemed surprised with the boutique owner's farewell, Lyney was surely irritated. Chiori knew well of Lyney's one-sided affection for Y/n, and this farewell of her's was a low, but fatal blow to his feelings.

But she was genuine with her words. Chiori genuinely wishes for Y/n's happiness, even if it may be found with that damned Fatui Harbinger.

"Chiori, I..." The heavy weight on Y/n's chest caused uncertainty to spiral in her mind, "Will I really be happy with him?"

"I hope so. He was the one who accepted the proposal, no?"

Right, It was the Balladeer who accepted the marriage proposal offered by Y/n's father. After all, that proposal was just a way to settle the debt, and he must've accepted it only seeing it as debt payment.

He'll probably use her by means of display, or pure spite. She was one of the famed beauties of the aristocratic circles of Fontaine, heck, she could as well be one of the most beautiful ladies to ever exist in Fontaine. She'll be once again, a living doll, standing behind her husband.

"Right. He accepted it. He accepted someone like me."