The journey to Liyue was silent. No one dared to utter a word around the presence of the 4th lord harbinger and the bride she was accompanying, even to the point they try to hold their breaths at night time whenever the young bride sobs her heart out after every nightmare that consumes her sleep.

Most of them had formed mixed opinions on Y/n during their time spent traveling with her; some pity her, some dislike her for her sensitiveness, but then you have those who admire her for her beauty and gentle demeanor, but that's probably on the end of The Balladeer's subordinates alone. Afterall, they all had enough of their 6th lord harbinger's daily verbal torment.

Arlecchino meanwhile, stuck herself to poor Y/n like super glue. She couldn't leave her on her own, especially at night. The poor young lady had endured more than enough torment in her life for the nightmares she experienced on this trip alone, and to think that she's personally escorting a young woman to an artificial brat who could induce even more torment for her.

She just wished she would have done something. She really did.

But knowing Y/n, she would beg her to not do anything on her behalf. She was too easy to succumb to whatever fate or destiny is assigned to her, and without question as well. It was as if she had no free will of her own.

Almost like a puppet forever bounded by its strings.

"My lord, we are approaching Liyue Harbor." An agent bows down to Arlecchino, "Your orders?"

"We head for Northland bank. Now. The Balladeer could be getting impatient for all we know."

Y/n could only watch as she blindly listens to the exchange between the agent and Arlecchino, grimacing with worry as she could only think of the consequences of today. They were already a few days late to the agreed meeting date for her to formally be welcomed in as the Balladeer's wife. The reason? They had to make a few stops during their journey because of her recurring nightmares.

As silly as the reason was, it took a huge toll on Y/n's physical health and mental well-being. Each time she experiences a nightmare, the following would be the possible outcomes; vomiting, panic attacks, and/or mental/emotional breakdowns. It's either of these choices, or all of the mentioned outcomes in any order.

"The young lady, my lord? She hasn't slept a wink since last night." The agent worryingly points out, glancing towards Y/n who had an exhausted look on her face.

"Oh, It's fine! I can just— uhm..."

"Don't force yourself, Y/n. We can book you a hotel room right now to rest." Arlecchino offers with a kind smile, her hand carefully tracing over Y/n's face.

"I'm fine, Aunty Arle, but I want to meet him today." She begged, her hands gently pushing away Arlecchino, "I want to see him."

Arlecchino never had the heart to say no to Y/n before, showing her favor towards her compared to her children in the house of the Hearth. Was it her innocence that swayed her? Or perhaps the fact that she is the spitting image of her late mother? She couldn't guess the answer for herself.

And so, without any delay, they made their way to Northland bank, but not without the noticeable stares of the locals towards Y/n, of course. Her appearance alone had already captured and attracted much attention, especially with her face.

Climbing the stairs leading towards the bank, Y/n could observe the amount of Fatui agents roaming around as if they owned the place. It seems that not many locals come up to these parts as well. The intimidation the Fatui brings never faltered once. Just like how Arlecchino is whenever she arrives at Fontaine to visit her and the Children of the House of the Hearth.

"Lord Arlecchino." A voice greets, a fatui guard stationed at the front of the bank, bowing down to the harbinger.

"Vlad. Good to see you today. I presume the Balladeer is standing behind these doors?"

"I'm afraid not, my lord. The Balladeer is out on an urgent run for debt collection. He said he'll return before sundown."

He doesn't want to meet me...?

Y/n displays an expression of doubt and anxiousness, assuming that she's facing indirect rejection from her husband-to-be. Why did she even have her hopes up to meet with him as soon as she arrived? How foolish of her to think of such a thing, really.

But Arlecchino didn't like what she was seeing, throwing a threatening glance at the agent.

"B-But, uhm...! L-Lord Tartaglia and Lady Signora are inside! They just finished a transaction with the consultant of the Wangsheng funeral parlor!"

Arlecchino raises a brow, not showing any satisfaction with that answer. Vlad better put up a more reasonable answer next, or else he won't last until the next lantern rite.

"I guess it's alright..." Y/n's voice rings out after the silence that brought quite the heavy tension between the atmosphere surrounding the interaction,

"My fiance is a Fatui Harbinger. I need to at least know the others... Not just him and aunty."

Arlecchino sighs deeply, having no choice, but to follow. It is true that Y/n will eventually have to acquaint herself with the rest of the harbingers. She might even have to meet the Tsaritsa herself one day and receive her blessing for her matrimony with The Balladeer.

Upon entering the bank, two figures stood front and center of the hall. The harbingers mentioned earlier were surprised to see the Knave, accompanying a young and beautiful Inazuman maiden.

Both Signora and Childe stared with awkward tension as their gazes focus upon Y/n's somewhat petite form. In return, Y/n gazes upon the two Harbingers. She was in awe of their presence, especially that they seem to be well respected just by judging from their appearance alone. They are Harbingers afterall, even though their rank is on the lower end.

Signora's expression grimaced at the pitiful sight of the newly arrived bride. She looked so young for a bride, seemingly too delicate, and easy to break. If she were to be recruited into the Fatui, she wouldn't last a minute, or even an hour to be generous. She doesn't even seem to be the type to be firm and hold herself strong. She could suffer with her marriage to the Balladeer for all Signora knows.

"This is the girl?" Childe points out, his eyes widening and his mouth open agape, "She looks so young for a nineteen year old!"

In his eyes, it was like seeing a child being married off to some old bastard (That old bastard being Scaramouche himself).

"What a waste of beauty, honestly..." Signora spoke up, taking a few steps forward, her gloved hand gently grazing over the shape of Y/n's face,

"And to think she'll be married to that brat...

How pitiful."

Y/n falters as she takes a step back away from the 8th harbinger, her back hitting the 4th. Though she had a small save with Arlecchino catching her by pressing a hand to her back,

"I suggest you watch your words around my Y/n, Signora." Arlecchino smiles, though it was clearly fake and threatening.

"But it is the truth," Signora retorts, "This child is being married off to the Balladeer, and for what purpose? To settle a sad, grieving nobleman's debt, perhaps? She's a pitiful child in an equally pitiful situation. You could've done something, you know—"

"When I say watch your words, Signora, I mean it."

The Knave seemed agitated as she now begins a stand-off with Signora. Their piercing gazes clashing towards one another, the tension building an atmosphere so suffocating that all fatui agents and soldiers present in the room were scared shitless.

But while Childe wanted to join in the fun of showing hostility towards fellow harbingers, he noticed the discomfort coming from Y/n. He could envision one of his little siblings inside her. She was rather petite looking, but her actual height says otherwise.

He slowly moves Y/n away from the females, His hands draped over her shoulders as he noticed the change in her expression,

"Aunty Arle..." Y/n mumbles under her breath, her eyes furrowed, and her lips pouting a frown.

This girl seems to be close with the Knave. Childe thought to himself, having only known the twins and Freminet as Arlecchino's most favored children in the House of the Hearth. It's odd for him to see how such a girl, who had zero affiliation with the Fatui and House of the Hearth, becomes a child who is favored more than of her own children. She seemed special to Arlecchino. Perhaps there was a connection that rooted back to certain events in the past.

Another unsolved mystery is yet to be discovered about the Knave.

"Tartaglia." Arlecchino calls out, her tone stern and hostile, "Y/n is shaking under your hold- are you trying to scare her!?"

Childe blinks, looking downward to see Y/n visibly shaking and trembling, her entire face pale and contorting to display her fear. He raises his hands in a defensive motion, giving her some time to run back towards Arlecchino.

"Did he give you a really bad scare, Y/n? Don't worry, Aunty Arle is always here for you." Arlecchino cooed, wrapping one arm around the smaller female's shoulders, the other manoeuvering her hand to caress her hair. Y/n, in turn, hugged the harbinger with all her might, still shaken up.

Childe didn't know if he should be offended or dejected to have such a harmless person shake in fear of him. He wanted to make such a good impression! That girl is going to be a harbinger's wife, after all. And she looked adorable too. It almost made him want to adopt her into his family and call her his new little sister.

"Oh, look what you've done, Childe. Y/n is in tears because of you." Signora sneered, a smirk plastered on her smug expression, "I guess you really are that bad with children."

"Huh!? What do you mean? I'm great with children—"

"She's nineteen, Tartaglia. She's your age, for goodness sake."

"I know that, Arlecchino, but she-"

"And who looks too young for nineteen?"

All eyes set their gazes upon the figure standing by the doors that were swung open, their mouths now sealed shut as silence engulfs the atmosphere of the current situation.

Signora had a disdained look, Arlecchino scowled at the sight of the newly arrived disturbance, and Childe was just in a corner sulking.

"Balladeer—"

"My, oh my... Who do we have here?" Scaramouche cooed, stepping closer to the young maiden who had been clinging to Arlecchino for dear life.

"Is this her, lord Knave? Is this my Y/n?" He smiles uncharacteristically, brushing a few strands of her hair behind her ear, though still unable to see the maiden's face.

He wanted to see what she looked like, how her expression would form once they met eye to eye. He was so sure that this girl wouldn't give much of a reaction, and he wanted to see if she would react to him as if she was... familiar with him.

He could only hope he would have a good and lasting impression on his bride.

"She's a little shaken up at the moment," Arlecchino turns towards Childe, "Blame Tartaglia."

"Oh, Is she now?" Scaramouche snarls, now facing Childe and seemingly ready to pounce on the poor harbinger, "You dare to touch my bride—!"

Childe, in response, raises up his arms once again in defense of himself, "Hey, hey, hey! I didn't do anything! Signora and Arlecchino were having an intense staring contest and Y/n just—"

"I'm sorry..."

Everything sealed their mouths shut once more at that moment, turning towards the voice that had spoken. Arlecchino sighed with pity, knowing well that mere mention of Y/n had caused her to apologize abruptly.

"I... I didn't mean to cause any more trouble..." Y/n bows down, her body visibly trembling,

"I'm so sorry..." Please don't fight...

Childe and Signora held pitiful expressions once more, totally in utter disbelief with how Y/n was so quick to apologize for something she hadn't done. She was only mentioned in the conversation, but to see her blame herself for just that reason alone... It's not normal at all.

And Scaramouche notably notices this detail of Y/n. He showed a face of indifference, his gaze falling over to her trembling form as he carefully grasps her chin with his fingers, pushing her head upwards for their eyes to meet each other's gaze,

"What are you sorry for? It's Tartaglia who should apologize." He smiles uncharacteristically again, not hesitating a moment to peck her on the tip of her nose.

Y/n in response, blushes a bright red, easily flustered by such a gesture. Though she had her moments before where the twins and Freminet would smother her face with light kisses, especially when they were young children, but with someone she just met, it felt different. This man is her fiance, so the entire thing is especially different now.

"Heh, how easily flustered you are." He chuckled, turning around to see Childe and Signora in utter disbelief,

"What? She's going to be my wife—"

"Who are you, and what have you done to Scaramouche!?" Childe screeches, backing away.

Scaramouche rolls his eyes, instantaneously pulling Y/n into his embrace with one hand carefully caressing her hair, whilst the other grips her hip, "Am I not allowed to display my affection and adoration for my wife-to-be?"

"But you just met today—!"

"And she seems to like me already, so what's your point?"

Y/n did seem to already take a liking to the 6th harbinger, easily nestled within his embrace. Though in Arlecchino's eyes, Y/n was merely being submissive due to her position as mere human debt payment. She looked as if she was comfortably resting in Scaramouche's hold, but in reality, she's actually terrified. Terrified not because of the chances of getting harmed, but the chances of disappointing him. She was more afraid of seeing him dissatisfied with her rather than getting hurt for his entertainment.

With a sudden swoop from Scaramouche, Y/n was lifted off the floor. Carried in a bridal manner, Scaramouche was more than ready to take her away and proceed to the newest chapter in his lifetime. He honestly couldn't wait to see how his marriage with Y/n will turn out.

Scaramouche doesn't say anything more to add or end the conversation, walking away with his subordinates following him from behind.

Y/n, in turn, waves goodbye to Arlecchino with a trembling smile as she knew this moment would be the last she could ever see of her. She truly wishes for this marriage to succeed with her living quietly.

As soon as the doors to the bank closes, silence fills the tension between the remaining harbingers that just witnessed Scaramouche taking away his bride the moment he met her.

"So..." Childe starts off, "What's your relationship with Y/n?"

All eyes within the bank direct themselves towards Arlecchino, eager and curious to know the relationship between her and the Balladeer's bride.

Arlecchino simply amuses them by her answer, speaking in the most deadpan tone she could ever utter,

"She's my goddaughter."

"Now explain to me why her arrival had gotten TWO DAYS LATE!?"

Whilst Scaramouche threw a bad fit, scolding and ranting at the faces of those who were assigned to escort his bride, Y/n had been escorted to a tent within the camp to settle down with the help of her aides.

The said aides could listen to the rants of their lord harbinger, the view of their fellow subordinates clear and visible from their standing point as they observed how awkward and scared they felt in front of him.

"Hehehe~ Thank goodness we aren't lumped in with those idiots!" Roxie giggles, helping out in unpacking the clothes.

"I think we'll still get an earful from the lord. Our task is more important than theirs." Garyth sighs, checking through Y/n's things to make sure none have been stolen, or still kept intact.

Y/n, on the other hand, still had to process what had just happened since she stepped foot into Northland bank. The moment she met her fiance in the bank, everything seemed like a blur afterwards. She couldn't even comprehend properly how she even ended up in the Fatui camp.

She observes her surroundings within the tent, watching Roxie and Garyth fix and unpack some of her things for her,

"Uhm... You don't have to do that." Y/n reaches out to Roxie first, not wanting to burden the Cicin mage with taking care of her things.

"Nonsense, my lady! This is the task the lord has assigned me to, and this is certainly better than all of the tasks I received in the past!" Roxie had a cheerful grin to accompany her equally cheerful answer.

Y/n frowned, glancing toward Garyth who had just walked out of the tent, speaking to Scaramouche alone. She then turns back towards Roxie who had carefully arranged her very few jewelry,

"Say, my lady, aren't you an aristocrat in Fontaine?"

"Y-Yes, I am." Y/n stutters, "Why?"

"I hear most noblewomen there have tons of jewelry, but you barely have anything to fill up this jewelry box! Are you into a more simple style, my lady?"

Y/n shakes her head in response, "Wearing jewelry feels heavy..."

And I don't think I deserve to be adorned with any precious accessory.

"It does? Huh, I never considered that perspective before." Roxie shrugs, pulling out a well folded yukata that was meant to be sleepwear, "Is this what Inazumans usually wear everyday, my lady?"

"Uhm... Roxie, those are my pajamas."

"Oh!"

Silence awkwardly intervenes as both girls stare at one another, but it was cut short when Roxie laughs out