Chapter Text
Flowers were in full bloom and people were pouring in the palace wearing their best regal clothing. The Fatui guards dressed in their formal uniform greeted the guests arriving in droves. Decorations of gold and white adorned the palace and the people were in awe as the already lavish Zapolyarny Palace was made more opulent by the additional décor.
The sun shone brightly inside the palace through the giant floor to ceiling windows that lined the corridors and hallways. If the guests didn't know better, they would think that the Tsartisa had gone back to her old self. But of course, that was just a wish many, if not all, silently prayed for all the time.
Whispers and murmurs amongst the guests and staff of the palace bounced and echoed all throughout the place as everyone was being led towards the enormous garden of Zapolyarny Palace where music filled the air and delectable refreshments were being served.
"The best of the best for the Tsaritsa's favorite, eh?"
The group of people gathered in one corner of the beautifully adorned garden laughed. It was no secret that the Tsaritsa favored her most loyal weapon. The other Harbingers didn't seem to mind as it also meant that the Tsaritsa's gaze was always on to her favorite and away from them. Kids laughed and played in their formal dresses. Servants were busy tending to the guests and making sure the place was in tip top shape. Nobody knew if the Tsaritsa herself would grace them with her presence and the people were torn between what they wanted.
Inside a small quaint office of sorts sat a beautiful lady dressed in exquisite regal clothing. She is sat beside the window overlooking the grand gardens of the palace- her palace, as she sipped tea. Her crimson red lips was upturned into a smile, something rare and only seen by a few.
"You seem to be in high spirits, my lady." A man in a suit spoke as he carefully arranged a few scattered books around the room. Artifacts and baubles adorned the little room. Some were properly displayed on shelves, some stood high from the floor, almost touching the ceiling, some were just placed on available spaces due to the lack of proper storage.
"Well, it is most certainly a joyous day, hm?" The lady chuckled. "I wonder... will things go as smooth as you foresee them to be?"
The man was taken aback, never in his life as the Tsaritsa's closest servant did his majesty doubt his ability to give the closest if not the exact outcome of an event, mission, or situation... well except when there was a certain traveler involved.
"I... I am quite positive that everything will go according to plan." He cleared his throat as he stood his ground. Pushing his chest out to look confident. "I've calculated every possibility there is and even accounted for sudden events or accidents that may occur during the day."
The Tsaritsa smiled, "And what about her? "
The man smirked, confident. "We have scoured the entirety of Teyvat and any traces of her are gone. I am confident that the girl has left as soon as she got her powers back."
The Tsaritsa merely smiled in response with a knowing look gracing her face.
A beat passed and the man walked towards her majesty, overlooking the guests having a great time at the gardens.
"I assure you, my lady, this day will be perfect... for you and for him. "
-
Childe stood in front of a large mirror. His white Harbinger uniform all spick and span. Maids and butlers attended to him but he quickly dismissed them as soon as they were done fixing him up. His hair on one side was pushed back, it would've been both sides but one side just wouldn't cooperate and the hairdresser just gave up. He was just staring at himself for almost an hour, his mind blank.
He was getting married.
It had been a surprise to many of his friends and old enemies-turned-friends across Teyvat when invitations were sent out. Zhongli was the first one to confront him about it which he wasn't expecting.
All that he remembered was Zhongli saying, "I am happy for you, but I cannot in my conscience see you go through with this."
Childe wasn't stupid. He knew the ex-Archon wanted Lumine and him to be together but what they didn't know was they did try.
Childe and Lumine tried. He would like to think they did their best despite the circumstances, that both of them worked hard to keep it together. That their love for each other was enough even if they were miles apart for months on end. Even if they knew the day would come when they both had to make a choice knowing where their loyalties lie.
Childe would like to believe that they gave it their all but it just wasn't going to work. It was mutual... amicable. Lumine also cheered him on when another girl came into the picture. It was quite the talk across Liyue when Childe paraded the new girl while Lumine was still around. It was a weird dynamic. Everybody knew about them and although Childe and the new girl didn't care much about what people said, Lumine took the brunt of it all.
Of course, Childe knew and he was so helpless to not be able to do anything about it. What can he do? People will talk no matter what he did. He could try and drown the entire city of Liyue again but Lumine would probably kill him first before he could even try. So he left... without saying anything.
He wrote a letter addressed to the Adventurer's guild a few months after and Lumine replied months after. Her letters were usually just breakdowns of how she was doing and what leads she was following but never where she was. Lumine never asked how he was with his new girlfriend as well. Childe asked one time if she had someone new but Lumine only ignored his query and answered his other questions.
Childe blinked at himself, shaking his head after to dispel the blankness that consumed him. A flood of memories started coming in to his mind, his eyes threatening to spill the sudden sadness gnawing inside him.
"Today's a happy day for fuck's sake." He groaned.
The door to his room opened and he was about to say something about knocking when familiar faces greeted him.
"Big brother!" Teucer jumped at him and Childe took him in his arms to twirl.
"Oh get down! You'll ruin your brother's clothes!" A stout woman entered next and Childe did not hesitate for one second to rush towards her and give the woman the biggest and tightest hug he could give.
"You look handsome as always, my son." She pulled him down and cupped his face before she gave him a quick forehead kiss.
"Thank you, mama." Childe stood up and put his little brother down.
His mama went around him and fixed his clothing. Making sure that there were no creases and folds when Teucer rushed in.
"Where are-"
"They're outside. They wouldn't let us in, Teucer had to sneak in and I was worried so I followed." His mama had a knowing smile. "Oh come now, who wouldn't want to see their son before they give him away?" She had a stern look on her face as she placed both hands on her hips. She wore a simple light blue dress and Teucer wore a common blue suit with a blue fur coat.
"Mama, I think that saying is for the bride." Childe rolled his eyes.
"Nonsense!"
"Where is the bride?" Teucer asked, looking around the almost bare room.
There was really only a mirror, one cabinet, a couch, and a table. The curtains were tied to the side and the window was facing the private garden of the palace. A garden only the Tsaritsa and the Harbingers had access to. Why his room was put there, Childe doesn't know but he was never one to question the Tsaritsa's orders and decisions.
"Somewhere in another room. He's not supposed to see her before the wedding." Their mama explained. "Bad luck!"
Teucer only hummed in reply.
"'I've seen her. I passed by her room this morning." Childe said nonchalantly and it instantly earned him a smack in the head from his mama. "Mama!"
"This boy," She shook her head. "Anyway, I'm just here to make sure you're alright."
Childe was taken aback. "Of course, mama. Why wouldn't I be alright?"
"Ajax," She looked at him sternly. "You are my son."
"Yeah, and?"
Teucer only shook his head. "He's an idiot, mama."
"Language!" Childe and their mama yelled in unison towards the little boy before turning back to face each other.
"I just wanted to make sure you're all alright." His mama looked at him knowingly, repeating her words.
The Harbinger almost choked but swallowed hard and gave her a big smile. "Yes, mama. All good!"
"You know, Ajax. Love is a funny thing," His mama started as she started to push him towards the chair in front of the mirror. Childe obliged and sat in front of the mirror while his mama started fixing his hair. "When I met your papa, it wasn't really love at first sight. I hated that man's guts!"
Teucer sat on the sofa and stared at the two. Childe stayed put and listened.
"He drank a lot, only cared about fishing... He is a very quiet man and you know me, I am a very loud woman."
Not one of her sons spoke as her hands continued weaving through his locks.
"But the thing is, he was always there when it mattered. We were friends, yes but both of us never knew that we were headed for something more. It was slow, full of frustrations, and hardships. Sometimes your papa and I would wonder how we even survived each other for this long."
"I am curious." Childe finally spoke, making his mama giggle like a little girl.
"Love, Ajax. Love does things to you. It makes you do things you normally wouldn't do just so you can see them smile-"
"Even for just a smile?" Teucer asked.
She nodded, "Yes, even for just a second of a smile. Your dad would travel for hours through snow storms and past curfew just to see me for a few minutes! We used to live in different towns."
"Well I do make sure she's happy all the time." Childe spoke.
"Not just her, my boy. Also yourself. Make sure you're happy too. It would not be fair to her or to you if one of you is not genuinely happy."
A few seconds passed and his mama finished with his hair. He ended up having his usual hairstyle, the messy ginger hair he always donned.
"Mama, you ruined that lady's hard work! She couldn't even fix both sides."
"Oops?" She laughed, making Childe smile.
Footsteps were heard approaching the door and Childe was quick to stand up and pull his mama and Teucer behind him. Three knocks echoed in the room.
"Yes?" Childe answered in his usual Harbinger tone.
"S-Sir... I-I have orders, sir!"
"Give me a moment."
"Y-Yes, s-sir!"
"It's alright," His mama stepped forward with Teucer in hand. "We'll see you later, it might be something important."
His mama opened the door and the two Fatui Agents outside did a quick salute before letting the two pass. Childe motioned for them to enter the room as he turned to look outside the window.
"What is it?" He asked, tone serious, almost annoyed.
"The Tsaritsa had asked for your presence in the private garden." One of the agents spoke.
Hearing her name sent a chill down his spine. He only nodded in response before walking off past the agents. He took his fur coat and quickly slipped it on before heading out. The private garden was beautiful, not as big as where the ceremony would take place but bigger than any normal garden in Snezhnaya. Childe stood on the center pathway where the intersection to the four corners of the garden was. All four corners were fenced with ten-foot hedges, hiding away secret meetings and such.
The agents never told him where exactly in the garden was the Tsaritsa waiting for him. He cursed under his breath and looked at each one. When he finally came to the last one, his chest pounded and everything around him just stopped. A familiar blonde girl sat on the swing that hung from the Tsaritsa's favorite tree. She wore a simple bluish-white dress under a white fur coat.
He took a step closer, still unsure whether what he was seeing was real.
"Lumine..."
She beamed him a bright smile, "Congratulations, Ajax."
But it fell on deaf ears.
"Y-You're here... you're... here." He took more steps towards her until he was close enough to wrap his arms around the girl. "You're here."
Lumine chuckled and hugged him back, "Yeah... I got your invitation."
When he let her go, Lumine stood up from the swing and looked at him. "Looking good, comrade."
Childe rubbed the back of his head and looked away, warmth spreading across his cheeks. "O-Of course, I always look good. That's why you fell for me in the first place."
Both of them was silent for a beat before chuckling awkwardly. "What can I say, I have good taste." She winked.
"I'm just glad you're here, Lumi." Chide motioned for her to sit back on the swing before he stepped towards the bench beside it to sit, both of them under a tree.
"So... how are you these days?" He asked, turning to look at her. Childe noticed a faint unfamiliar glow around her. Her eyes were brighter and he swore he could see hints of stars and constellations inside her golden orbs.
Lumine had a smile but her eyes gave her away, "I'm alright. Alive. I would ask the same thing but you look like you've been well."
Childe nodded at her, "Of course! I always need to be ready when you come back for our spar, comrade."
"It has been awhile, huh?" Lumine looked like she was pondering about something as she looked up at the sky. The snow was still falling and the swing was swaying a bit. Childe still knew what that face of hers meant but decided to keep quiet. "How long has it been?"
"Three years."
"Three long years." There was something off in her voice. She sighed.
"You haven't even aged one bit." Childe said. "Look at me, three years and I've grown wrinkles!"
Lumine chuckled as she looked at him, crying over the small wrinkles on the corner of his eyes.
"Well, besides wrinkles, look at you now, getting married and all."
"Y-yeah," He looked away towards the ground where fresh powdered snow was starting to gather.
Lumine cleared her throat, "Um, I hope you don't mind that I've left Paimon over at the refreshments table. Only way to get rid of her, you know?"
Childe widened his eyes in horror, "There goes all our food."
"She's... still mad, so really, better than being at the receiving end of her Paimonial Powers as she called it."
"Still mad... Paimon the ever-loyal companion of the traveler."
Lumine looked down at her lap as her hands held on the cold chains of the swing. Why she was there she doesn't know either. She received the invitation and wasn't planning on going but somehow one thing led to another and she ended up arriving as a guest anyway. She was in Sumeru doing some final preparations for her departure when the invitation arrived. Nahida, of course, urged her to go and to her surprise the Wanderer himself also urged her to go after seeing the invitation.
"I'm really happy you came, Lyu- I mean, Lu-Lumi." Childe cleared his throat. "There will be lots of fun later. I'll show you around and Teucer will be so happy to see you-"
"O-Oh, um... I... I'm not staying." Lumine cut him off.
"What do you mean?"
"I... just came by to give you my well wishes. I mean... I'm sure she wouldn't want me here plus the Tsaritsa and I-"
"The Tsaritsa does not mind."
"And her?"
"Everything is-"
"Childe," Lumine looked at him with a knowing expression. "I'm not dumb."
There was a moment of silence between them as they both looked down on the ground. The wind had started to blow and the loud cheers of the guests from the other end of the palace boomed louder.
"Remember that time when we were sparring and she was watching?"
Childe stayed silent.
"I was winning as always," Childe rolled his eyes at her statement but said nothing. "And then I ended up sitting on your torso... as usual. She got mad that day, I know."
"She didn't-"
"Childe."
"She... got a little worried is all."
Lumine raised an eyebrow.
"I mean, the world-famous traveler who defeated dragons and gods had her sword pointing at my neck. Of course she would be worried."
"Oh yeah? Then explain why she asked me to stop- er- I mean, take it easy on y-you... you know what, never mind."
"Wait," Childe turned to face the girl properly, his expression, a mix of shock and disbelief, "She asked you to stop sparring with me?"
Lumine didn't answer and just looked away.
"Lumine, did she?"
"It doesn't matter. She had a point."
Childe scoffed, running a hand through his hair as he let out a breathy, incredulous laugh. "She had a point? And what exactly was that, huh?"
Lumine still refused to meet his eyes, her fingers idly twisting around the cold chains of the swing. "That I shouldn’t spend so much time with you."
His amusement faltered. The playful smirk he usually wore wavered, replaced by something more unreadable. "And you agreed?"
She sighed. "It wasn't about agreeing or disagreeing, Childe. It was just… easier this way."
The words felt heavier than she intended. She hadn’t meant to say it like that, but at the same time, there was no taking it back now.
Childe let out a dry chuckle, shaking his head. "Easier," he repeated bitterly. "Right. Easier for who, exactly?"
Lumine finally looked at him then, and the moment their eyes met, she regretted it. The hurt there was subtle, buried beneath layers of bravado, but she could see it. And worse, he knew she could see it too.
"For everyone," she said softly.
Childe clicked his tongue, standing up abruptly, his hands going to his hips as he looked out at palace in front of them. The cheers of the guests, the sounds of celebration, it all felt so distant from the weight settling between them now.
"You really believe that?" His voice was quieter now, lacking its usual playful lilt.
Lumine hesitated before nodding. "Yes."
Childe inhaled sharply through his nose, nodding slowly, as if trying to accept something he never wanted to hear. But instead of agreeing, instead of letting the moment settle into the words she had laid out, he let out a quiet chuckle.
"You know… this reminds me of something," he murmured.
Lumine blinked at him, caught off guard. "What?"
He shoved his hands into his pockets, rocking back on his heels as his gaze drifted skyward. "Back in Liyue. After we fought for the first time."
Lumine stiffened slightly, memories of that battle flashing through her mind. The cold waters of the Golden House, the sheer intensity of his attacks, the unhinged gleam in his eyes as he pushed her to her limits.
"You were exhausted, beaten up," Childe continued, tilting his head at her with a small, lopsided grin. "But you still refused to rest. I remember scolding you, saying even warriors needed a break."
Lumine scoffed lightly. "And I remember telling you that if I stopped, you’d probably try to kill me again."
Childe let out a genuine laugh at that, shaking his head. "Yeah, well... you weren’t wrong."
For a brief moment, the weight in the air lifted, the distant cheers of the party reminding them of where they were. But then, the light in Childe’s eyes dimmed just slightly, and his voice softened.
"But even then, even after all of that… you didn’t run from me."
Lumine's breath caught in her throat.
"You never once hesitated to face me. You never let someone else tell you what to do, who to fight, who to trust." He turned to her then, his blue eyes searching. "So why now?"
Lumine looked away, gripping the swing chains tighter. "It’s not the same, Childe."
He tilted his head. "Isn’t it?"
She didn’t answer and there was a heavy silence between them for a few moments.
Lumine bit her lip, gripping the chains of the swing a little tighter. "I’m here to um… I wanted to say goodbye properly."
Childe turned to her fully, his brows furrowing. "Goodbye?"
She nodded. "I'm leaving, Childe. For good this time."
His breath hitched, but he masked it quickly, forcing a smirk. "Permanently ditching us, huh?"
Lumine smiled faintly, though there was little humor in it. "It’s not like I was ever really here to stay."
Childe stared at her for a long moment, and for the nth time that day, he looked truly lost.
And then, voice quieter than before, he asked: "If I asked you to stay… would it make a difference?"
~***~***~