The night passed without words.
The next day.
Morning light scattered gently across the city. Soft sunshine pierced through the towering architecture of Mondstadt, casting dappled shadows on the bluestone-paved streets. The air was fresh, mixed with the faint fragrance of flowers carried by the breeze, making the City of Freedom appear exceptionally quiet and peaceful in the early hours.
However, the city was not as calm as usual.
The events of the previous night had already spread through the streets. Merchants and vendors organized their stalls while whispering about last night's "shocking case"—the Fatui had stolen the Sky Lyre!
"Did you hear? The Fatui actually dared to lay hands on the Anemo Archon's treasure!"
"Yeah, they're too bold! But I heard Grand Acting Master Jean already has leads."
"I told you, the Knights of Favonius wouldn't speak nonsense! Even the Grand Acting Master moved out personally!"
"Sigh... Mondstadt really hasn't been peaceful lately."
The morning market was bustling. People were busy with their work while discussing this major event, every face written with amazement and unease.
Meanwhile, at the entrance of the Adventurers' Guild.
Fischl stood in front of the guild's bulletin board, arms crossed, emerald eyes looking around, her expression gradually becoming impatient.
"Tch..."
She tilted her head slightly, brows furrowed, revealing a trace of dissatisfaction.
Where is Kael?
According to custom, he should have arrived long ago. Yet she had waited here for a long time without seeing even his shadow.
Fischl's cheeks puffed up slightly, her tone revealing a hint of pique. "Could it be that because this Princess didn't come yesterday, he deliberately didn't come today either?"
Oz flapped his wings helplessly beside her. "Uh... Mein Fräulein, perhaps Mr. Kael just woke up late, or has other matters?"
"Hmph, how can you mortals make the supreme Prinzessin der Verurteilung wait? The pact between us is not so fragile."
Fischl hugged her arms, tone firm, eyes revealing a trace of certainty. "Kael must simply be bound by a demon's dream and has not yet awakened."
Oz blinked speechlessly and sighed. "Mein Fräulein, if you go to his house at this time, won't it... disturb his rest?"
"Heh, how can the bond between us be called a disturbance?"
Fischl held her head high and said decisively, "As the great weaver of fate, for this Princess to personally go and awaken him, is that not proof of the depth of our connection?"
Saying this, she directly fished out the key to Kael's house from her waist, gleaming slightly in the morning light.
Oz glanced at the key, his expression strange. "Mein Fräulein... why do you have the key to Mr. Kael's house?"
"Hmph, we have long reached a covenant. What does a mere key count for?"
Fischl waved her cape, stepping forward with a proud expression. She walked towards Kael's residence without hesitation, steps light and full of confidence, as if this matter was perfectly justified.
Oz opened his beak, finally only able to sigh. He flapped his wings helplessly to catch up, flying leisurely behind her.
"May the Anemo Archon bless Kael... let's hope he doesn't get scared this time."
Soon.
Fischl quietly arrived at Kael's door.
Standing in front of the door, a sly light flashed in Fischl's emerald eyes. She didn't knock but quietly turned her head to look at Oz, whispering instructions, "Oz, you wait outside. This Princess has her own brilliant plan."
Oz flapped his wings, black feathers trembling slightly, tone somewhat helpless. "Mein Fräulein... is this really appropriate? Mr. Kael is resting. Barging in might make him—"
"Hmph! This Princess is merely here to fulfill the contract, reminding him of our great mission."
Fischl looked righteous. "Furthermore, this Princess... merely wants to give him a little scare, to let him know the punishment for making us wait in vain."
Oz fell silent for a moment, finally nodding. "Then I will patrol outside and observe the surroundings. Mein Fräulein... take it easy."
With that, Oz flew towards the eaves, choosing a high vantage point to overlook the surroundings.
Fischl gently took out the key from her bosom. Then she quietly inserted it into the lockhole and turned it slightly—
Click.
The door opened in response.
Fischl pushed the door open lightly and entered. Then she closed it backhand, following the familiar route to quietly infiltrate the bedroom. Her steps were light, like a cat shuttling through the night.
Inside the bedroom, all was quiet.
Kael was immersed in sleep, breathing steadily, lying on his side on the bed. The broken hair on his forehead hung down slightly, his face looking exceptionally gentle and peaceful under the reflection of the morning light.
Seeing this scene, Fischl hummed a laugh, the corner of her mouth raising in a successful arc.
"Since you made this Princess wait for so long, you shall be judged."
She walked gently to the bedside, extended her slender white fingers, and gently... pinched Kael's nose!
"Mmm..."
Kael was sleeping soundly when he suddenly felt his breathing become somewhat unsmooth. He frowned slightly, reaching out to wave away the "obstruction" coming from nowhere.
However, in the next second, a familiar maiden's fragrance drilled into his nose, making him instinctively stunned.
This scent...
Kael's eyelids trembled slightly, slowly opening his eyes.
Sure enough, what came into view was Fischl's pretty face full of mischievous smiles. At this moment, she was squatting by the bed, fingers pinching his nose, smiling very proudly.
"Haha, the punishment of this Princess—"
However, before her voice fell, she saw Kael's eyes gradually deepen, and then...
Whoosh—
Kael reached out directly, suddenly grabbing Fischl's wrist and pulling hard—
"Eep?!"
Fischl hadn't reacted yet when her whole person was caught off guard and dragged onto the bed. Her waist tightened, and she instantly fell into the soft quilt.
Thump.
Before she could struggle, Kael took advantage of the situation to cover her with the quilt. Instantly wrapping Fischl into a round silkworm chrysalis, seamless and unable to move.
Fischl: ???
In the next second, Fischl reacted, instantly struggling in panic: "Woo! Release this Princess—"
But Kael's action was crisp and neat, wrapping the quilt extremely tightly. Fischl struggled a few times, unable to get up at all, looking more and more like a tied-up doll.
"You didn't go to the Adventurers' Guild early in the morning, what are you doing in my house?"
Kael looked at Fischl helplessly, speechless.
Fischl was stifled in the quilt, her pretty face blushing slightly, mouth opening and closing, but unable to say any tough words. Finally, she turned her head away, saying in an extremely awkward tone, "Hmph! This Princess waited for half the day, yet you did not arrive. How can you break faith with this Princess so?"
"Therefore, this Princess had to personally descend to this place to fulfill our oath."
Listening to Fischl's chunibyo nonsense, Kael couldn't help raising his eyebrows.
She can even make this up?
He glanced at Fischl with a subtle look. "So, your fulfillment of the oath... is pinching my nose?"
Hearing this, Fischl's pretty face froze instantly.
"Uh..."
This... seemed... indeed quite childish.
"Cough cough."
Fischl cleared her throat, pretending to be calm. "This Princess... This Princess is awakening the sleeping warrior, letting you rise early to welcome new challenges!"
"Hmph, if I hadn't come personally, I'm afraid you would have missed today's great adventure."
She turned her head stubbornly, but secretly felt a little guilty in her heart.
Kael looked at Fischl, who was firmly wrapped in the quilt by him with a face full of defiance, and couldn't help laughing.
"You're quite good at finding reasons."
"Hmph."
Hearing this, Fischl snorted proudly. "You must remember the grace of this Princess. Such a good deed, no need to thank me."
"Release me quickly."
While Fischl was speaking, Kael had already reached out to loosen the quilt.
Fischl was just about to get up, her long hand just propping on the edge of the bed. Just preparing to sit up, she felt the quilt on her body suddenly sink—
"Eh?!"
Before she could react, she was pressed back onto the bed by an irresistible force, her whole person falling into the soft quilt again.
Kael sat beside her, expression calm, looking down at her with deep eyes.
Fischl blinked. After a moment of daze, her pretty face turned red instantly.
"W-What are you doing?"
She struggled to sit up, but the weight of the quilt remained. Kael even intentionally or unintentionally pressed down on a corner, making her unable to move an inch.
"Let this Princess up!"
Fischl said somewhat flusteredly.
Kael narrowed his eyes slightly, his tone lazy with a hint of danger. "Let you up? Princess, you snuck into my house early in the morning and disturbed my sleep. Do you think... I will let you off?"
Fischl's face turned even redder instantly, stammering, "W-What do you want..."
However, before her voice fell, she saw Kael's gaze suddenly darken slightly, carrying a bit of playfulness and seriousness. Slowly leaning down, he gradually closed the distance between the two.
Fischl's heartbeat accelerated instantly, feeling as if her body was wrapped in an invisible layer of warmth. Her fingertips trembled lightly, heart beating crazily against her chest.
Kael... could it be...
A thought flashed through her mind, her face becoming scorching hot in an instant.
Kael got closer and closer. She could even clearly feel his breath. The warm breath brushed her cheek, making her brain chaotic, breathing becoming rapid.
And then—
"Mmh?!"
The sudden soft touch made Fischl freeze violently, pupils dilating slightly, mind going blank directly.
Kael... he... he actually...
Isn't this something that only happens in her fantasies?!
He actually really...!
In an instant, fireworks seemed to explode in Fischl's mind. Her heart pounded wildly, face so red it seemed about to drip blood.
Shame, panic, surprise, and even a trace of secret expectation and joy. All emotions intertwined at this moment, making her almost unable to think.
However, under that deep invasion, her body subconsciously reacted—
Her hands slowly raised, wrapping around Kael's neck, fingertips tightening slightly, as if wanting to pull him closer...
Fischl closed her eyes, allowing herself to sink into it, as if at this moment the whole world only had the two of them left.
Heart beating like a drum, breaths interlaced.
Time seemed to stretch infinitely at this moment.
Unknown how long passed, Fischl only felt short of breath, heart beating like a war drum. Feeling somewhat suffocated, Fischl hurriedly hammered Kael's back.
Seeming to notice Fischl's lack of breath, Kael looked up.
"Ha...!"
Fischl gasped for breath instantly, looking up slightly from Kael's chest. Her scattered golden long hair trembled slightly with her gasps, like a soft curtain.
Morning light spilled in through the gap in the window, outlining a warm halo around her silhouette. That soft sunlight fell on her slightly red cheeks, and also on her rapidly heaving chest, making her look both flustered and undeniably alluring.
"Should... should get up."
Fischl's voice was slightly hurried.
She tried to maintain her usual proud and mysterious tone. But her flustered breathing and flushed cheeks made her look extremely delicate.
She looked up at Kael above her, only to find that Kael didn't seem to mean to move immediately.
That large hand was sliding in from under the hem of her clothes—the movement wasn't rough, but carried a force that couldn't be easily refused.
Fischl felt a numb sensation spreading from her waist to her spine, making her subconsciously tighten her legs. With the body's instinctive reaction, she wanted to struggle, but seemed to lack strength.
At this moment, her mind was blank, only the sound of her accelerated heartbeat and intermittent breathing rising and falling.
"You... what else do you want to do?"
Fischl stammered, blushing.
"What do you think?"
Seeing Fischl's nervous appearance, the corner of Kael's lips hooked up in a smile. "You fired me up early in the morning."
Before his voice fell, Fischl felt a slight tug on her body. Then she was surprised to find that her stocking was gently torn open by Kael's hand.
That slight tearing sound seemed exceptionally clear to her in the quiet morning.
She trembled violently, instinctively arching her body to protect the damage, but was led into even greater panic by Kael's movements. The skin touched by the large hand seemed to be surrounded by some kind of heat, making her whole person shiver meticulously.
She couldn't deny that all this made her cheeks scorching hot, her heart ashamed and chaotic.
Usually, she was always used to facing Kael with the airs of a "Princess," but that affection for Kael was hard to conceal. That was the secret she had hidden deep all along.
She longed to be accepted by Kael, to be cherished by Kael.
But before, Kael hadn't clearly responded to her feelings.
And at this time, Kael actually...
For a time, Fischl blushed.
And seeing Fischl not refusing, Kael laughed dumbly.
Before, without a Vision, being just an ordinary person, he naturally didn't have any other thoughts of playing around. But now it was different.
The appearance of the ret*rded system allowed him to gradually have the mentality to play in the world.
Looking at the blushing Fischl, Kael's palm explored all the way up along Fischl's waistline. Where his fingers passed, it was like sparks starting a prairie fire.
For a time, Fischl could even clearly feel every rapid beat of her heart. She couldn't help clenching her fingers, wanting to restrain that dizzy feeling, but found she was powerless to stop that heat from spreading in her body.
The morning sun became brighter and brighter, projecting into the room through the window, plating everything with a warm color.
Fischl lowered her eyelids halfway, golden hair scattered casually on her shoulders. A few strands of sweat-damp hair gently stuck to her cheeks, making her look more and more moving.
She trembled, stammering, wanting to speak again, but couldn't find suitable words no matter what. That uncontrollable shyness and wavering made her heart beat like a drum at this moment, as if it wanted to break through her chest.
Time seemed to stretch infinitely at this moment.
Kael raised his upper body slightly, meeting Fischl's eyes.
The most slender string in Fischl's heart was plucked fiercely, reason and shyness roaring in equally. She wanted to retreat, but couldn't break free from that gravity; she wanted to speak, but could only constantly express the waves in her heart with rapid breathing.
In the quiet room, only the interlacing of each other's breathing and heartbeats could be heard.
In that distance, even every trace of temperature change in the other party was extremely clear.
Fischl felt as if her heart was about to jump out of her chest...