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thesparklingwriter · 6 months

Text

taking fate into one's own hands

04—acquaintance

Word count: 1.3k

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You look at him carefully. Perhaps this whole act he’s putting on is an attempt to be more personable. But it’s in your best interests to, at the very least, get along with the man you’ve been promised to. When it comes to loveless marriages to bind nations, divorce isn’t an option. There’s no going back.

“Alright, I’ll eat dinner with you.” You say quietly, and the sides of Morax’s lips quirk upwards. You’re convinced for a second that you made it up somehow, for even when he’d spoken to you as a dignitary, he hadn’t smiled once.

“I hope your room is to your liking,” He says, as you follow behind him. “If there’s anything that it is lacking, please do let me or one of the help know.”

You glance at him, convinced that he can’t be in earnest. He’d been so stoic when you first met him, and even once he’d come clean in regards to his identity, his emotions towards you had seemed to be nothing more than detached amusement.

“Everything is alright, thank you.” you say, bowing your head in gratitude to the man who places your food on your table. You hadn’t considered the change in cuisine and you steel your expression as well as you can, in order to not show your hesitation to eat the unfamiliar food. The butler pours you each a drink, a glistening pale wine, and bows as he excuses himself quietly. Besides your plate, there are golden chopsticks, and then a fork by its side, its dark silver tone standing out against the rest of the tableware. Is it some kind of test?

You glance worriedly between the two, as Morax’s unruffled gaze settles on you.

“You seem troubled. If I may, might I request that you speak freely?”

You glance down at the cutlery again and back up at him, shaking your head softly.

“Nothing troubles me.” you whisper, picking up the two chopsticks as confidently as you can, arranging them in your hands as subtly as you can. You haven’t seen anyone eat with chopsticks for a long time, and suddenly realise you should have waited for him to start so you could copy his technique.

You attempt to pretend to take a sip of your drink or look at the spices on the table to delay your eating, but Morax simply watches you with an even gaze as you quietly panic.

“Is the food not to your taste?” he asks you, finally looking away from you to pick up a fork. “I find that sometimes chopsticks make eating take longer than necessary. I used your arrival as a reason to justify getting some new cutlery.”

You blink at him. “Pardon me if I speak out of turn, but I had always believed you were a firm believer in traditions.” you refuse to relinquish your chopsticks, too embarrassed to admit that using them was a front to try and impress him. You hadn't realised you were acting in a way that might win his favour—and the thought of it surprises you.

Morax’s eyebrows quirk slightly at your implied question, carefully trying to craft an answer that wouldn’t make you question your presence in the palace too much. Perhaps the reaction you’ve had towards him so far is out of fear that you’re not Liyuean enough from him and his people. It wouldn’t be an absurd thought, but if the situation in your home nation remains as rocky as it is now, he wouldn’t want you to return. He certainly want to be the reason you go back, either.

“Ah,” he says quietly, chewing his food. “That is a common misconception. Perhaps when it comes to certain meetings and negotiations, it is true that I remain true to the conditions that have always been stipulated by ancient Liyuean law. However, I myself, think there isn’t much to be learned by holding steadfastly onto tradition in day to day life.”

You gape at him. “So I’m not to be hated by every member of Liyue for not hailing from here?”

Morax sighs. “I cannot speak for my people. I sometimes find they can be stubborn and they often do not like change.”

“You are not filling me with confidence.” You reply drily. Morax fixes you with an even stare, wanting to make sure you listen to his next words.

“I do not seek to deceive you.” he replies evenly. “As of right now, our arrangement is unofficial. Thus you have every right to choose how you wish to proceed. If you cannot bear to stay here with me for a moment longer, you may go home at any point.”

“But what would come of my kingdom, or of me?”

“That would be subject to negotiation. But in situations like that, Liyuean law isn’t particularly favourable for foreigners.”

The word foreigner hits you in your chest. Of course, you didn’t expect to be treated as if you were from here, but to be categorised as something else entirely? It stings, regardless of how you feel about the situation with Morax.

“Your food,” he prompts quietly. Even though you’re almost certain that he isn't going to smite you for using the fork instead of the chopsticks, you refuse to put them down, instead choosing to use them with varying degrees of success.

He watches you carefully, before silently switching to his own chopsticks, quietly pleased with the way you snatch looks at him to copy his form. Slowly, but surely, he’s beginning to understand the way your mind works.

“Have you any interest in looking around Liyue? I’m sure a tour could be organised, if that’s what you wish.” he says to you, once you’ve finished. The food is good, almost as good as the food was at home before things began to go south.

You want to say no, and to stay within the confines of your new room for as long as you can manage, but the lack of clothing is beginning to worry you. When you don’t immediately reply, Morax tries again.

“Have you everything you need?” He says. “If you aren’t interested in looking around the harbour’s stalls as of now, you can always request what you need from the help, and I’m sure they’d be happy to oblige. The choice is yours.”

You take a bite of your food, and try not to cringe at the sudden spice you taste, trying to calmly take a sip of your wine.

“Let me finish my dinner before I make that decision,” you say quietly, and Morax simply nods, his eyes narrowing at you slightly. You don’t notice, almost entirely focused on trying to finish the rest of your food without falling apart.

Compared to where you come from, Liyue is loud. Even when you’re deep in the mountains as you are now, the birds and crickets and bugs are louder than they ever were at home, and it makes for a somewhat settling feeling.

“Whilst we’re on the topic of shopping,” You say quietly, ashamed in advance of the words you’re about to say. “It’s not a secret that my nation wasn’t the most prosperous, my existence here is evidence of that—”

“You are here as a guest. Nothing is expected of you in a monetary or emotional aspect unless you are able and willing to provide. Do not worry about things that are unnecessary.”

Your naivety manifests itself in the raucous beating of your chest in response to his words, and you find yourself utterly embarrassed by how easily swayed you are by a basic display of human decency and respected boundaries.

“Alright,” you say quietly. His words have removed him from the centre of your decision and it’s only yourself to consider now. But perhaps that makes the decision harder.

(didn't have enough character left to write what reader says like i usually do sorry lol)

notes: i'm afraid that doing the polls like this will nerf this series even more but its less work for me so :3

i like to pretend that i don't really care about notes and stuff on my posts but for this series specifically the lack of engagement is gagging me lol i've tried so much to get it more out there but ahhh

taglist: @ainescribe @tartigglez

#genshin x reader #zhongli #zhongli x reader #zhongli fluff #zhongli fan fiction #genshin fanfiction #choose your own path #[🧡]—taking fate into one’s own hands #zhongli fan fic #genshin fluff #genshin impact #zhongli fanfic #fanfiction #zhongli royalty au #royalty au #genshin polls #polls

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thesparklingwriter · 4 months

Text

taking fate into one's own hands

05—compromise

Word count: 1.5k

navi | taglist | masterlist

Morax does not press you for a response as to what you plan to do regarding your shopping. A day passes and if he's honest, he finds it strange that you choose to silently cope with the little you have rather than reach out to him and ask for help. In fact, the help you brought with you seems to be more comfortable in the new surroundings than you are, fitting perfectly in with the staff.

“She will not engage with me.” Morax says to a frustrated Xiao, running a hand through his untied hair. A few unread letters litter his otherwise pristine desk, and the sleeves of his casual gear displace them further as he moves them out of his eyeline. His statement, despite not having the intended effect, is meant to calm Xiao somehow—to show him that the current lack of progress is not from a lack of trying. “I cannot help a person who does not desire it.”

“Then you should consider engaging with her.” Xiao’s hands remain firmly clasped behind his back. Morax might not be as much of a stickler for tradition as many think, but in situations like these, it’s best to err on the side of caution. Especially when Xiao is telling him something that he very likely does not want to hear.

“It is not my intention to smother her. She does not have to like me.” Morax says through gritted teeth. “We do not have to be friends.”

Xiao pointedly ignores the tension in the king’s frame. Perhaps he isn't lying, and he truly does not care whether you like him or not, but the origin of the king’s frustration is a topic of his curiosity.

“Some might say you are as stubborn as she is. Perhaps you might use that similarity to understand what she is experiencing.”

Morax looks at Xiao properly then, and Xiao expects to hear a light-hearted reprimand, but it does not come. Instead, he hears a quiet, defeated, exhale.

Alanna too, finds herself curious at your actions. You have been taking your meals in your room after the dinner you had with his majesty, and if she had not known that you were out of fresh clothes to wear, she might have assumed that he had offended you somehow.

“Your Highness,” she starts, but the look you give her from across the room cuts her off.

“Please speak freely. I no longer possess the title you address me with.” you say quietly, sitting up from your sprawled position on your bed.

Alanna clears her throat. “Is spending time with the king so agonising that you’d rather don the same sleep gown for consecutive days than be with him?”

You sigh and close the cover of the book Alanna had kindly found for you whilst exploring the grounds. “I do not enjoy relying on others. If I were to go out to town, I would be forced to wear what I wore when we arrived. I will not be caught in such a predicament.”

In Alanna's opinion, your thought process will not serve you in the long term. In fact, the longer you spend refusing to leave, the harder it will be to express your needs when push ultimately comes to shove.

“Perhaps you ought to take the steps necessary to make your time here more agreeable.” Alanna notes the glare you send her way and sighs. “I am not suggesting you seduce him.”

“And I thank the Archons for that.”

“But I am suggesting that you use this opportunity to make a friend.”

“I do not lack friends.” You reply petulantly. However, having grown up with Alanna, you know you cannot conceal the truth from her. You had never truly ventured out of the palace’s territory unless it was on royal excursions, be it recreational or for charitable deeds. Perhaps you thought you were friends with the palace staff, but they likely thought of you as the child of their employer and nothing more than that, regardless of how friendly you were.

“Count them.” Alanna smiles. “And you are not to include me.”

Alanna chuckles at your silence, and the petulant look on your face as you try and fail to count a single friend you have. “Perhaps you might consider making your first friend today.” Alanna starts. You know where she’s going wit this and you glance at her incredulously. “He is not poisonous.”

“But he is unpredictable. He claims he does not want me as his wife, yet he invites me to dinner. He claims he will protect my family anyhow, yet will not allow me to remain with them. He is contrary, and that scares me.”

Alanna can’t help but stare at you. You are a completely different woman from the one who left her home less than a week ago. You never would have dared to utter the words you are now. You would have chosen instead to hold it in until your dying breath and never mention your feelings to anyone. And although she wishes she could have been the person to bring out this side of you and not him, she is glad that it has happened. Before Alanna can comment on this, there’s a knock at the door, and she excuses herself to the bathroom.

“Who is it?” you call out, adjusting your robe. It is unseemly to answer a door in such a state of disarray, but when you’re insisting on being this stubborn, there’s nothing else that can be done.

“Do you have visitors here often enough that you feel the need to differentiate between each one?” Morax replies, and you scowl at him from behind the door. If you had opened the door, you might have noticed the mirth and teasing in his eyes. Why must he have an answer for everything? Your silence seems to say enough to him, and he continues to speak. “Forgive me if I am speaking out of turn, but I am concerned for you. It is not healthy to be confined in your room for such a long period of time.”

“You are concerned for my wellbeing?”

“Yes.”

“You were not worried when you removed me from my home.” You hiss. Perhaps you are lucky that you cannot open the door in your current state of undress, for uttering these words to his face might have proved difficult. “You were not worried when you bought me like bread in a marketplace.”

“You seem to misunderstand my actions.”

“What is there to misunderstand? You claim you will take care of my kingdom regardless of whether I marry you or not, but yet, I am still here. What good does it serve you to house a woman you have no intention of marrying? Do you not see how that might cause someone discomfort?”

“The situation is tense. It is not my place to speak on a subject that does not concern me.”

“You cannot tell me the reason why I have been uprooted from my home, but you can pester me incessantly. You claim it does not concern you, but here I am, in your territory.” you scoff.

“I am not in a position where I can tell you the information you are asking of me. I apologise. However, I cannot allow you to rot in your room out of hatred for me. I do not ask that you conceal or manipulate your feelings towards me, but I ask that you don't allow them to cause you harm.”

“My feelings cannot harm me anymore than you would.”

Morax’s sigh is exasperated, tired. He cannot reason with someone who does not want to be reasoned with. But he cannot allow you to return home any time soon, and when you can return, your people will need you more than ever. It is in your best interests that he provides you a place to thrive. And that he will do. He will succeed. He has never once failed before.

“I understand that your assistant has requested some clothes for you. My reason for being here is to deliver them to you.” Aside from the fact that you’re surprised Alanna was comfortable enough with others in the palace already to ask for such things from you, you’re surprised that the request was passed to the king himself. Surely a task like this is below his pay grade.

“Am I to believe that you don’t pay people to cover such menial tasks?”

“You are to believe that I do not have any ill will towards you.” He says lowly. “And if I had, you would have fallen victim to it already.”

His words render you silent as you consider them. It makes sense. Despite all the inconsistencies and things you don't understand, this line of reasoning makes sense to you. Is he truly just doing this out of the kindness of his own heart? Is he that kind of person?

You sigh heavily and open the door. Morax extends the package of clothes out to you, and you thank him. Perhaps if you weren't so occupied with your thoughts, you might have noticed the way his eyes scan you, taking stock of everything to make sure you truly aren't harmed.

“While I understand your desire to remain cautious—” He starts, but you cut him off.

“You are right. I was being unreasonable.” You hold the clothes to your chest.

“Those are not the words I would have used,” Morax chuckles, and the sound is so new to you that you forget what you were about to say. His expression softens slightly, and you find yourself looking at a version of him that you haven't seen before. “I have finished my duties for today, so if you wish to have a look around the palace or the harbour, I would be happy to accompany you. Or if you’d rather not—”

notes: the problem with me is that everything i write goes slightly to the left so although reader TECHNICALLY expressed a desire to go shopping on her own she didn't cause no clothes

Taglist: @tartigglez @ainescribe @blue-sapphire-ink

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