"How do I look? "I did a little spin.
"It's better than being a Christmas elf." Artoria replied.
She's been snarky lately. I kinda like it.
I snapped my fan shut as I looked at myself in the mirror. I decided to dress appropriately if we were going to stay in the city for a few days. If you're going to experience the culture, then why not dress up like the locals?
And I couldn't resist getting my own fan. Being able to fling it open and snap it shut had a weirdly satisfying feeling.
It's not that different from a kimono, if I were being honest. So it's not like, oh my god, this is an amazing new experience! And I did wear something similar back in the Immortal Realm when I went to visit Nuwa.
It's called a hanfu if I recall.
"You're probably more interested in getting dinner." As soon as I said that, I could see her try to hide her desire.
"Hunger is the enemy." She said with a slight bit of embarrassment.
We stepped out of the clothing store amidst the bustling streets. We already had a place in mind; literally across the street was a rather popular-looking inn.
Most of the tables were full, and it looked fairly high quality.
There was something interesting about this city; they had little waterways between the walking paths. Around the inn, there was a bit of a channel, not big enough for a person to really swim, though they could fall in it. I could stand up inside of it, and the water would only reach my waist.
But it was interesting how it flowed in and around the city from the ocean.
The inn, surrounded by this channel, had stone stairs leading up slightly to an open dining area, giving it a rather novel atmosphere.
We simply walked up the steps, and a waiter greeted us.
"Welcome, guests. Are you here to eat or for a room?" A woman wearing a noticeable uniform asked.
"Both." I told her. "Outside if possible, and do you have rooms with bathrooms?"
"Those rooms cost more, but yes, we have a few available still." The woman nodded.
"We'll take one, thank you."
"I will bring the key to the room out with your meal, honored guests. Please." She bowed her head and then gestured to a table at the side. "Would you like a menu, honored guests?"
It was nothing fancy; it was just a nice evening, so there was no point in not eating outside.
There was even a storyteller set up!
"And so, the clouds parted, and mighty stones fell from the sky! The very earth broke apart, and the vile demons were crushed, falling into the abyss!" The storyteller enunciated very clearly, waving his arms around for added effect. "Not a single demon survived, and Rex Lapis, the Lord of the Earth, stood above in the heavens, undefeated forever more."
Most of the people here were only half listening, but it added to the atmosphere.
"Just bring out a bunch of different dishes; we're not picky. If you have a special, bring it out too." I told her, "Waitress," and she nodded before shuffling away.
Artoria grabbed her stool under her and moved it closer to me. "You seem distracted about something."
"Am I?" I didn't notice, though I admit I was still thinking about it before. "Mmm, maybe."
"You can tell me anything."
"It's not a secret or anything like that; I'm just having thoughts about training. Wondering if I should try something or not, or rather, if something is feasible. I've given it some consideration, but…"
"But?"
"It's not something that I can just do spontaneously. Well, suffice to say, this 'vacation' would end up not being so much a vacation."
"Is that it?" She looked at me. "If you wish to cause trouble, you can do so."
I blinked because I was getting very explicit permission from Artoria, and she didn't even know exactly what I was going to do.
Well, I also didn't know what I was going to do. Just…the thought I had, I think it was only something I could be able to piece together under stress. I was a Campione by nature; that meant that I relished in battle. That's where I improved the most; that's where my Divine Blood sort of pointed me.
And my divinity came from my status as a Campione, so it made sense that a proper fight would be where the answer was.
Or something like that, I don't know. I might just be grasping at straws or making assumptions.
"Wilhelm." She gave me a look. "Do you think I don't trust you?"
"Well…that's not it. I just know you all get after me when I cause trouble."
"Have we ever said it in a way where we were disappointed in you or upset with you? Bar very few circumstances."
"...no?"
"Then you have your answer, do you not?" She offered a warm smile. "Our concern stems from love, not anger or annoyance. Perhaps a smidgen of annoyance." She added that last bit with obvious humor in her tone. "If you say you wish to do something after giving it consideration, then I trust that you have given it proper thought. Even if it may seem unwise or foolish."
It's not like I was intentionally going to go out and pick fights. But if the opportunity presented itself, I at least wasn't going to back down now.
Well, I mean…who knows if I go find the god of this country? Will they be interested in fighting?
Who knows.
I have no concrete plan, but having 'permission' makes me feel good. As dubious as that requirement actually is.
I had the vague idea of a plan…which basically amounted to finding someone to punch and making sure they could punch back just as hard.
Oh well, no need to think about it too hard right now.
"You've been very carefree this trip so far." I pointed out.
She pushed some hair behind her ear. "Have I? I have been trying to be more like you. I have always admired how you are able to enjoy things so easily. I have been doing my best to forget about any troubles or concerns I may have and simply experience the joy of traveling with you."
"Hearing you say you admire something about me makes me all tingly inside." I smiled, making her let out a little giggle.
"Do you think there aren't things I admire about you?" She poked my cheek. "I admire a great many things about you; otherwise, I would not love you."
Even though I was joking, hearing her say that made me feel really good.
"Do you want to know what I admire about you the most?" She asked.
"Maybe? I might be scared to hear it."
"I have always been unable to question myself. When I looked at my faults and my failures, I would fall into depression, I would blame myself, and I would bury them down and force myself to move on. However, you have never shied away from yours. You have always openly acknowledged yours, speaking about them without reservation. In comparison, I have always been afraid to confront myself the same way you do so easily. I admire that a lot about you." She took my hand with a warm smile on her face.
"Honored Guests, your food has arrived." The waitress came over, holding several dishes in her arms. "Black-Back Perch Stew, our famous Golden Shrimp Balls, Matsutake Meat Rolls, Jade Parcels, and Stir-Fried Filet." She then set a key with a small piece of wood attached to it with a number shown. "And your room key, honored guests."
"It looks delicious, thank you very much." I set out a tip for her that she silently slipped into her sleeve with practiced ease before bowing her head politely.
"If you require anything else, please let me know." She departed.
"Is it common for them to give more food than what she said?" Artoria asked, pointing at a few dishes the woman didn't introduce.
"Yeah, side dishes are usually part of an order. Dumplings…Miso soup?" I grabbed a chop stick and dipped it into a bowl to taste. "Not miso soup, but similar. Bit of a kick to it, but in a good way. Some vegetable dishes that I don't know the names of…but yeah."
She didn't hold back at all.
They even gave some wine, a small bottle set on the table with the order, and a couple of cups.
I went for a dumpling, but Artoria stole it intentionally from my grasp. She gave me the most smug look with her cheeks stuffed.
Alright, I will remember this forever.
I leaned over and kissed her on the cheek before she silently nudged me affectionately in response.
I tried a Golden Shrimp Ball; it was just a deep-fried potato ball with shrimp in it and chili. Other seasonings, but goddamn, the food here is so good; it's hard not to get addicted. I'm honestly baffled how the people here are not all fat. Is it just because they're used to it?
There was a genuine need to pace myself because while I was an open glutton, I didn't want to gorge myself. I felt like I had more self-control than that, even if it was being tested with every meal we had.
I raised my hand as something caught my attention. "Story Teller, are you taking requests?"
"Ah, dear guest. What would you like to hear?" He looked towards us. Artoria perked up as she was curious what I was doing.
"We're from Mondstadt, visiting Liyue for the first time. Are there any stories about the Jade Chamber? It's impressive, and we would like to hear about it." I put some more down in clear view of him, and his eyes lit up.
"The Jade Chamber, of course!" He smiled before clearing his throat. "If you're new to Liyue, then I shall have the honor of introducing one of our most impressive sights to you. The Jade Chamber is the palace of Lady Ningguang, the Tianquan of the Liyue Qixing. Yet, do not mistake it as merely the home of one of Liyue's most powerful figures!" He declared. "It is said that when Lady Ningguang was young, the Jade Chamber was little more than a room. A private place where she could conduct her business and contemplate the affairs of Liyue."
"Oh, it started out as a room?" I asked curiously.
"Indeed! Yet as Lady Ningguang's wealth grew, so too did the Jade Chamber. A room became a house, a house became a manor, and a manor became the palace you see floating above Liyue today!"
I did turn my gaze upwards to look at it again. It was certainly impressive and a show of wealth.
"But wealth alone cannot raise stone into the heavens!" The storyteller continued. "The Jade Chamber is an accomplishment of engineering as much as prosperity. Supported by Plaustrite and mechanisms known only to its architects, it floats beyond the reach of ordinary men. Legends say that the Adepti themselves helped build it after recognizing the Tianquan's magnificence!"
I would believe that, partially. After talking to Cloud Retainer, that is certainly something I think Adepti were capable of doing. I didn't know if the humans here had abilities like that, but I also didn't rule it out.
"They say Lady Ningguang can stand upon its terraces and look across the entirety of Liyue Harbor." He lowered his voice conspiratorially. "Nothing happens within the Harbor without eventually reaching the eyes and ears of the Tianquan."
He waved his arms fluidly through the air. "The heart of Lady Ningguang's affairs." The storyteller nodded. "Merchants seek invitations merely for the prestige of saying they have stepped within. Information discussed inside its halls can make fortunes—or ruin them. There are those who would pay a fortune merely for a scrap of paper cast from its windows!"
Ah, we heard that already, didn't we? I guess it's more of a rumor then, maybe something that actually happened and sort of exploded into a legend.
A local businesswoman becomes so successful she builds herself a flying palace.
I can't say I wouldn't do the same.
"Of course, there are the famous words spoken by the Tianquan upon the completion of her flying palace." He leaned in. "She addressed Liyue as her palace ascended to the heavens. Come, ascend to my Jade Chamber; if you can reach these heights by your own hands, I will welcome you as honored guests. And ever since that day, every merchant in Liyue has attempted to reach towards the palace in the skies. But very few have managed to step upon the Jade Chamber's floors by reaching it themselves."
Huh.
Well, it wasn't a lot of new information, but I appreciated it nonetheless. He seemed finished with his thing, so I gestured to the money, and he politely came over and slid it up into his sleeve with a word of thanks.
"It's a metaphor."
"Hmm?" I looked to Artoria.
"I know that look on your face; it is a metaphor."
"I have no idea what you're talking about." I feigned ignorance.
"You want to go look at it, and you are going to use that statement as an excuse."
"...You can't prove that." I looked away.
She gave me a flat look before taking my hand and putting it on her own butt.
Okay, that was one way to distract me.
[Line Break]
Lewd Here
[Line Break]
The room was nice, but it was hard to focus on that at the moment.
I was already sitting on the bed naked, and Artoria only took a few minutes to come out of the bathroom.
It was far different from when we first spent time together like this or the first time she wanted to be physically intimate.
She walked out, looking very proud of herself, wearing nothing but a small blue thong between her legs and a matching bra that barely covered her modest breasts.
"I would ask if you like it, but I can already tell." Her eyes drifted downwards, and suffice to say, I was already standing at attention. She intentionally swung her hips as she walked towards me, having a very attractive confidence in her step.
"You are already like this." She reached out, grabbing it with her hand firmly, giving me a squeeze as she watched my reaction. "Do you enjoy seeing me like this that much?"
"That's right, and you need to take responsibility for what you did."
She smiled brightly. "Yes, that is correct." She said as she slowly dropped to her knees. "I must take responsibility for this part of you that is throbbing so hard because of me. It is my duty to make sure this part of you is fully satisfied."
She already pressed up against my cock, mouth wide open, ready to take me in. "Tell me the truth, you were wanting another meal, weren't you?"
"Yes, I thoroughly enjoy the feeling of you pulsing and throbbing in my throat, the feeling of your desperate and needy desire to release your seed into my stomach. And the feeling of satisfaction as I watch your face in pleasure as I swallow it." She said without hesitation, with a longing look on her face. "And I have come to very much enjoy the taste of it. If you wanted to spend every day inside my throat, I would hold no complaints."
She looked up at me, holding no expression of joking or simply saying it to get me going even more.
It was well and truly heartfelt words from her.
It was one of the most arousing things I've ever experienced; I don't know if my cock has ever been so hard as it was right now.
She pulled at the thin straps of her bra, letting it fall to the ground. "Please enjoy the sight of my modest breasts while I take care of you." She looked at me right in the eyes as she proceeded to take my cock into her mouth.
She didn't stop as it passed her lips; she moved her head expertly but slowly, inch by inch, even as I felt the tight constriction of her throat as she began to swallow around me, and she kept going until her nose was pressed up against me.
It was far from her first time; she had become an expert at it at this point. Even with her throat bulged, she barely quivered under the strain as she held it there for several moments before pulling back to take a breath.
And then, she dived right back in.
"Glughk, Glughk, Glughk—" She almost frantically bobbed her head, making sure to take me all the way down with each gulp as I continued to hit the back of her throat. Almost immediately, it was a toe-curling sensation that jolted through me. At this point, she knew exactly how to handle my cock with ease.
One of her hands moved between her legs as well as she started to rub herself.
I braced myself by grabbing her shoulders; otherwise I would have fallen over at this point.
She wrapped the other arm around me just to make sure that there was absolutely nothing left that she wasn't swallowing down as she picked up the pace.
Her eyes never left mine even with the intensity increased, and eventually, I couldn't hold myself back and grabbed the back of her head subconsciously and released everything I had right down her throat.
Her throat bulged as I let out a groan, she loudly gulped it down with each bob of her throat. No matter how much I released, she didn't budge and kept swallowing until my cock was finally spent.
Artoria pulled back my cock, sliding out of her throat, soaked from her saliva, but not a drop of my cum remained in sight as she licked her lips. "Thank you for the meal."
"Why is it that out of everyone, you're the best at this now?" I was dumbfounded how my cute and regal Artoria was now probably the cock sucking queen between all my girls.
No matter the time or place, if I took my cock out, she would go down between my legs and take care of it.
"Practice. It is a virtue to become skilled in all facets of one's life." She smiled innocently, but that just made her all the more lewd. She stood up, and there was a distinct wetness speaking through her thong. "Will…. I'm still hungry." She looked at me with those same eyes.
"Don't worry, I can keep going." As if I were ever going to want to stop when she looked at me like that.
She grabbed hold of my cock again with her hand and started to stroke it. "Seeing you stare so intently at my breasts, it makes me flutter in my stomach. Do you truly enjoy the sight of my small breasts?"
Insecurity didn't go away over night.
Even with her feeling how hard I worked.
I grabbed her arms and all but threw her onto the bed as she let out a small yelp. I climbed up on top of her and pressed my cock between her 'small chest.' "Do you see how hard I am right now? Can you even ask that question? Every time I see them, I get like this."
She just swallowed my cock whole, showing the most lewd side of herself as she drank down my load, yet here she was now blushing.
"If that is your command, I will use my modest bosom to pleasure you." She did her best to push her breasts together.
There was no lying; they weren't big, but they certainly weren't as small as she seemed to think.
There was more than enough to push against my cock as I slowly started to move back and forth between them. I was going to fuck her 'small breasts' as many times as needed to make sure she understood how much I loved them.
She didn't look at me as intensely, like she was embarrassed.
Not shy, but thoroughly embarrassed.
Did she think I wouldn't be able to finish because they were 'lacking"? I quickly picked up the pace, thrusting between her breasts as fast as I could. Even as the bed rocked, I didn't stop until I reached my peak again.
She let out a small yelp of surprise again as the first rope of cum splashed across her face. I quickly pulled back, aiming at her chest to make sure to show my sincerity, letting out spurt after spurt across her skin.
"Y-you finished so quickly…?" She seemed so surprised as the evidence dripped down her skin. "Did you truly enjoy my breasts so much?" It was rhetorical, but there was the faint flash of pride underneath her words now.
"I'm going to make sure to fuck them every day for now on, do you understand?" I gently pulled on her nipples, earning a yelp from her. "No matter where, no matter when, I'm going to take my cock out and I want you to present these to me to use."
"S-so aggressive." Another small flush spread across her cheeks. "Yes, if that's what you desire, it is my duty to accommodate you. My…modest breasts belong to you, please use them whenever you desire."
She did her best to hide how happy she was at this moment. A sense of accomplishment or just genuine glee.
"You are still stiff…" She grabbed hold once more. "Lie down; I know what you desire the most." I followed her orders because it was becoming her show now.
She took out a towel, wiping herself off before tossing it to the side.
"Please be still; I wish to…lead." It took a lot of effort for her to say those words. "You need not worry, this part of me is….already in such a shameful state." She used her fingers to spread her pussy.
I lay back, and my cock stood up, pointing to the ceiling. She stood up on the bed, hovering over me with her thong pulled to the side, letting out heavy breaths. "I will…take all of you right here."
I had seen her naked before, but it was the first time she was showing me intentionally. Where the last barrier had been brought down by her.
"Please don't stare too much…" She whispered as she lowered herself, a hair's breath above my cock. She closed her eyes, taking a big breath as she slowly pushed down.
My cock pressed against her entrance; it was tight, very, very tight. More than any of my girls so far, but that was to be expected, perhaps due to her petite stature.
"Ooh." She breathed out as just the tip pushed inside. "Hrm, this is very…intense." A soft breath that was filled with a slight twinge of pain, but her body relaxed very quickly as she continued to slide downwards. "It is…so full." She whispered, although only about half of me was in her at this point.
"Go at your own pace." I grabbed her hips, just to help her brace herself.
She put her hands on my stomach and then slowly began to move. It was a little awkward at first; her instinct seemed to just move up and down before she found a rhythm that she liked and adjusted her hips.
"Nngh…Haah." It was a mix between a whine and a moan. "I can feel every inch of you inside of me." She began to move at a quicker pace.
It wasn't just her; I couldn't help but groan each time she sat down, eventually taking all of me. It was like a vice grip; every time she moved her hips up, her insides just absolutely refused to let me go.
Her perky butt slapped against my thighs as she just sat all the way down. Her head tilted up and her whole body shuddered. I could feel her spasming around me, and she couldn't even contain herself as she let out the loudest moan that she couldn't stifle.
Her eyes turned glossy as she pawed at my chest, like trying to brace herself. Very slowly, her hips moved as she rode out her first orgasm from proper sex.
The sweat on her face mixed with her hair, making her look a mess, a big beautiful mess.
Her breathing was ragged as she regained her wits. "That was…amazing. It felt much better than when I did so myself…"
As obvious as it is to know it happens, to hear that she touches herself was…
"Ooh." She blinked, looking down. "You…are throbbing quite intensely again." She rubbed her stomach. "Do you see, Wilhelm?" She smiled. "This is where you are inside of me." She looked at me warmly. "And now, this place belongs to you as well. So, please enjoy yourself."
"Are you telling me to go wild?"
She smiled beautifully. "I have heard many stories from the others. What I want…is to escape from my comfort zone, so I will tell you. Take me and do what you wish. I want you to use me for your pleasure. I want to experience everything with you."
I have a sneaking suspicion that she has a certain fetish.
Maybe she doesn't even know it yet.
But I had no desire to linger on it.
I sat up, picking her up with me. There was another deep moan from her as I pulled out in one motion. She looked wide-eyed and confused at what I was doing as I held her up in the air by her legs, intentionally spreading them wide.
Her back pushed against me as I lined myself up with her again.
"Will…Ooooh." She let out another breathy moan as I pushed back up inside of her, and she was still just as extremely tight. "Ahh…this is… I can see out the window." She let out a whine as she faced the outside, her face turning bright red at merely the idea of being 'seen' despite it not being possible.
I started to thrust without hesitation; my hips were smacking up against her soft, perky ass while she wrapped her arm around my neck to do her best to steady herself.
"T-this is too intense—" She couldn't keep speaking as a whine escaped her throat again; she spoke words of complaint, but she was doing her best to rock her hips back and forth too. "Hnng~ No…. Ah, I'm being treated so… Roughly~." She had a look of ecstasy on her face as she panted and moaned with each thrust.
I pulled her legs further apart and thrust all the way up inside of her with a wet slap; her eyes all but rolled back, and she let out a guttural moan before I kept going.
S-something is coming…" She breathed. "Wilhelm…Hng, I –" She opened her mouth and couldn't speak as her body quivered again.
"Tell me to keep going if you like it, you need to tell me." I urged her. If she wanted to get out of her comfort zone, I would gently push her.
"Ah!" She cried out. "I can't…" I did another powerful thrust all the way up inside her pussy, filling her up entirely. "Don't stop." She finally cried out.
Since she said it, then she earned it. I grabbed her a bit firm and put more strength and force into my thrusts, truly chasing my own pleasure at this point. Her modest breasts bounced in the air as her eyes slowly rolled backwards and her words became gibberish.
She went half limp in my arms as she let out another unintelligible noise. She clenched down hard, much harder than the previous times and I pushed as far inside of her as I could before my twitching cock gave out and I started to pump her full of my cum once again.
Her mouth hung open silently, no words coming out, but her body spoke in return. Her spasm didn't stop, her legs quivered, and her toes curled up before her head just fell backwards and a loud moan was accompanied by her quirting onto the ground.
Only after several moments did she snap back, and her face once more turned an absolutely bright red before she used her hands to cover herself.
"Don't look at me." She whined pitifully.
"Who knew that you would squirt when pushed like that?"
She all but cried from behind her hands. "Don't say it, please. It's embarrassing."
"There, there." I kissed her on the cheek, letting her rest in my arms.
"I can feel your semen inside of me. It's so warm, is this what it is like to seek motherhood?" She said softly. "I have never felt so full before."
"Do you want to keep going?" I asked.
She quivered in my arms, and I could tell she was fighting with herself. "...yes," she said quietly. "I wish to experience much more with you."
I sat her on the bed, letting her have a chance to recover.
She was no longer hiding her face from me, but she was still showing a cute embarrassment. "W-would you like to try…my rear? A finger…mayhaps? Jinn said that it is a good way to start…"
She turned around, putting her butt up into the air, pulling her thong to the side. "I believe I can accommodate something small…for now."
And just like that, I was ready to go again.
[Line Break]
Lewd Over
[Line Break]
It wasn't the first time I woke up with Artoria in my arms. But it definitely was different this time around.
Our first time together after crossing that last barrier, as it were.
She groaned as I shifted in the bed. She was awake but was still keeping her eyes shut. "Tired."
I ran a hand through her hair. It wasn't often that she let her hair down, even when sleeping. And I suppose it is my fault she didn't get much sleep.
I may or may not have been too excited last night.
But could anyone really blame me?
I lifted up the blanket slightly to see that she was still naked, and I was happy.
"Breakfast?" I asked her.
She groaned but started getting up.
At this point, I knew exactly what button to press. She all but rolled out of bed, completely unconcerned about her state of dress, and waddled into the bathroom.
With some magic, I made sure to clean myself as I sat up and went to the window and out onto the balcony. We weren't that high up, but high enough that I got a good view of the city in the morning.
Lots of people are going out and about; I could see plenty of fishing boats setting off in the harbor. Plenty of shop owners doing their openings, getting things ready for the day.
A yawn behind me told me that Artoria was out. She was now dressed, as normal, but still looking a tad tired.
I held my arms open, and she came over for a hug. "How are you feeling?"
"Sore." She said without any shame. "But I feel happy."
Mine.
I was feeling possessive all of the sudden.
Seeing her beautiful smile, I never wanted to let her go.
"What do you wish to do today?" She finally pulled away, looking outside.
I was slightly distracted as I lifted up her skirt.
She gave me a flat look and playfully swatted at my hand. "Were you not satisfied last night?" She let out a little pout. "I am sore because of you." She added with a little huff.
"I have an idea of what I want to do today." I wrapped her up in my arms.
"Does it have anything to do with that floating palace?" She asked dryly.
"...it may or may not."
Artoria let out a sigh. "Very well, I know when you get an idea in your head, it's hard to talk you out of it. But if we are asked to leave, we will."
"Deal!"
With her in my arms, I bent my knees slightly and then shot up into the sky. I wasn't particularly good at using spiritual power to make platforms with it like Shinigami do, but I could do it somewhat to jump upwards.
At least, it wasn't something I really used in a fight, but in a situation like this, I could manage.
We went high up into the sky before we were about level with the Jade Chamber, and I gently touched down on it, trying my best not to cause a commotion or break the sound barrier with the speed.
I just didn't want people looking up at the people, you know, flying.
I set Artoria down and paused because there was someone right there. A woman was leaning on the edge of the Jade Chamber's railing, with a pipe in hand as she slowly turned to look at us in surprise.
"..."
"..."
"Would you believe me if I said I worked here?" I blurted out.
The woman met my gaze, bringing her pipe to her mouth before letting out a breath of smoke. "Would you like a moment to make up a better lie?"
"Oh, that's very nice of you." I replied. "Give me a second; I'll think up something better."
"By all means." She smiled politely.
Artoria was palming her face with a sigh. "The view is very nice."
"It is, isn't it?" The woman responded. "You can see all of Liyue from here. Very few people have had the honor." She tapped her pipe against the railing, letting some ash fall out.
I snapped my fingers. "Got it. We're maintenance."
"Oh, well, of course." The woman answered easily. "You must be new to Liyue."
"What gave it away?" I asked.
"Well, I think not many in the city would have the audacity to sneak onto my Jade Chamber and lie to my face." She said casually.
I did notice the Vision at her side, admittedly.
"Technically, we didn't sneak on. We did so openly." I pointed out.
"I can't refute that." She relented. "As far as trespassers go, you did do so openly."
"Is it trespassing if we were invited?" I argued.
"Curious, I don't remember inviting you." She let out another ring of smoke from her pipe.
"Wasn't there something like 'If you can get up here, you're welcome as a guest'?" I asked. "Or did that storyteller lie to me?"
She raised an eyebrow. "I certainly did say something like that when I flew my Jade Chamber up into the sky for the first time. However…"
"Yes?"
"That was a metaphor. I welcomed anyone who could achieve success."
Artoria looked at me.
I ignored her gaze. "Well, maybe you should have clarified. You gave out an open invitation; ergo, we aren't trespassing."
"You certainly are a bold one." She hummed. "And what did you come here hoping to achieve? Did you want cooperation? A personal meeting?"
"Just wanted to see, in all honesty. Your Jade Chamber looked impressive." I explained.
Her eyebrow rose again. "You came here for…sightseeing?"
"Yup."
"Hmm." She didn't overly react, but I think she was…surprised? "And what do you think?"
"You put a lot of effort into its construction. I can see that it means a great deal to you." Artoria gave her honest thoughts.
"A lot less ostentatious than I assumed. When I heard 'Jade Chamber,' I expected…well, probably lots of gold, jewels…jade."
She let out a chuckle. "Just because I enjoy wealth doesn't mean I'm wasteful. I prefer…simpler decor."
My eyes lit up. "I also enjoy the elegance in simplicity."
"Is that so?" There was a slight smile now at the corner of her lips. "If you simply wished to take a look, then seeing merely the terrace would be wasteful, wouldn't you think?"
"Are you offering to show us around? Mere trespassers?" I put a hand over my heart, feigning aghast.
"It's not every day that someone has the audacity to trespass; perhaps I felt like rewarding your foolishness." She said in clear humor.
"Then we will thank you for your invitation." Artoria spoke.
She spun her pipe in her fingers for a second before it disappeared from view. It seemed like a casual thing from her, like it was normal. Was it something to do with her vision? "My aids haven't arrived for the day, so I have some time. I will show you around."
She walked towards the entrance to the inside as we followed along, and she pushed open the doors without hesitation.
The inside was very spacious. Immediately, we saw a giant lantern—like a chandelier—suspended from the ceiling that hung downwards. There were banners suspended from it, connecting to the overhead balcony.
While the inside was spacious, the decor wasn't overly complicated or ostentatious either. Like the outside, it seemed the inside was kept minimalistic but still retained a certain sense of wealth and fortune about it.
Tasteful rather than flamboyant, but it still felt grandiose.
"Who designed everything?" I asked.
"I did," she said casually. "Everything from the rugs beneath your feet, to the paintings on the walls, to the plants in the pots."
I looked at one of the pots. "Plum Blossoms?"
"One of my favorites."
"Neat."
For some reason my reply made her smile.
The room was in a hexagonal pattern, and at the center, under the large lantern, was the staircase that twisted downwards.
We continued to follow her downwards to the bottom floor.
"This is where we handle business." She explained, waving her arm at the shelves and shelves of scrolls, documents, and other things of that nature without stopping. On the other side, there was an open door that she went into, and it was another large, spacious room.
There was a massive desk at the other end that she walked behind, taking a seat. "And this is my office." She smiled.
"Your palace is very impressive." Artoria said politely.
She gestured to the seats in front of her desk, and we obliged.
"I admit, I have heard many people say they wished to see my Jade Palace, but never has anyone who expressed such…mundanity actually had the mind to go through with those words." She took her pipe out again and seemed to absentmindedly roll it between her fingers. "You clearly know who I am, but I am Ningguang. I would introduce my full titles, but I have a strange suspicion that it wouldn't matter to either of you."
"I am Artoria Pendragon."
"Wilhelm Henry Schweinorg."
"Hmm." Ningguang tapped her chin. "I believe I've heard those names. Ah, the adventurers that just entered the city the previous day with a caravan from Mondstadt."
"Yup," I just confirmed. "You're well informed."
"It's my job." She chuckled. "What brings you to Liyue? Was it simply to complete a quest with the Adventurer's Guild?"
"We were coming this way anyways," I said. "We've wanted to see Liyue for awhile." Which wasn't a lie; just 'a while' was vague.
"And we wished to experience the local cuisine." Artoria added.
"That too."
Her lips curled up again. "I hope everything was to your liking then."
"It was excellent, thank you." Artoria spoke.
This wasn't how I expected things to go, to be honest. She was…very accommodating? I think I could see that she found this whole thing amusing and was humoring us.
Maybe, compared to her usual daily life, this was a fun reprieve?
Like she said, how many people just…show up on her floating castle?
"Question." I raised my hand.
"Yes?" She answered.
"How do people…normally come here?"
"You mean when they don't trespass?" She said mirthfully. "I had a teleportation mechanism installed on the other side of the chamber. It connects down below."
"Oh?" Now that was interesting. "How does it work?"
"Who knows."
I think she noticed I was interested and decidedly chose to not answer.
"Out of curiosity, why did you build this place?" I asked, noticing her amusement at rejecting my question from before.
"I've had a great many people ask me that question." She played with her pipe. "It's something of a legend now too. I've avoided answering, so many people seem to think it's a profound secret. I've heard many tales, such as that it's used to rule over Liyue as a weapon, all the way to some people saying it's where I keep an imperial harem."
"Is that last one accurate?" I asked.
"If so, it would be a poor showing." She gestured to the empty halls with clear humor in her tone.
True.
"So, when I get asked that question, I ask those people, why do they think I built my Jade Chamber?"
"A status symbol?" Artoria tilted her head. "I fear I won't know the reason."
Ningguang just smiled politely.
"Because why not?" I answered, and there was a slight reaction that made me realize I hit closer to home than I intended.
It was just a joke I was throwing out, but then I realized there was truth to what I said.
Her expression changed slightly as her head turned to me. "...What do you mean by that?"
I raised an eyebrow, then I found myself smiling. I think a few things clicked into place now. "You're like me, aren't you?"
She paused, maybe not knowing what I meant by that, but that was my fault for just blurting that out without any explanation.
"Did you also grow up poor?" I asked.
"...I was an orphan; I didn't even have money for shoes as a child." She spoke. "It's no secret."
"My mother was a prostitute; it was all she could do to keep a roof over our heads and food on the table." I replied.
She met my gaze.
There wasn't pity, and I didn't show it to her either.
Understanding?
Because, I realized, we were the same here. "You don't even care about your Jade Chamber, do you?"
She looked at me curiously. "Explain."
"You care about it because it's yours. You only built it because you simply wanted to. Do you even care about money? No, you probably do just because you earned it. Money itself holds no value to you beyond the fact that it belongs to you as a measure of worth."
She was silent as she stared at me. "You seem very confident in your assumptions."
"Mostly because I'm talking about myself. I love money and wealth, but I also don't care about it at all. If it's mine, I cherish it; if I want to use it, I won't bat an eye. If I give it away, I won't feel anything." I spoke honestly.
Her expression changed.
It wasn't that same playfulness from a moment or two ago.
"I've asked that question of many people. Many merchants, wealthy entrepreneurs, business men, and even those foolish ones trying to win my affection. Why is it that the person who understands me the most is someone who uses an absurd excuse to trespass on my Jade Chamber?" She shook her head in exasperation.
"I've decided." I stood up.
"Decided what?" She asked.
"We're friends for now on."
She looked at me incredulously for a long moment before breaking out in laughter.
[Line Break]
A/N
Wilhelm meets Ningguang and befriends her. Just a reminder, because I feel like I have to say this every time a new woman is introduced in the story, he's not going to romance every woman who makes an appearance. I'm saying this ahead of time because there's always a few people who are like 'Omg woman, now he's going to add her to the harem' then get upset because of that assumption they made.
Anyways, chapter was meant to be yesterday but I forgot to post it, then when I woke up, I wasn't feeling well, so I basically stayed in bed all day. Regardless, enjoy.
If you want to read 10 chapters ahead or support me, visit my p.a.t.r.e.o.n.c.o.m / astoryforone
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