"She's the best."
Varesa silently repeated those three words in her heart.
Then she raised her hand and pulled the Little Bai You, who was still sniffling, closer to her.
The applause from the audience hadn't stopped; many audience members were wiping away tears while laughing, and many were still waving.
Someone in the audience shouted at the top of their lungs, "One more song!"
"One more song!"
One sound after another.
Varesa's eyes crinkled into a smile.
She brought the microphone back to her lips.
The applause gradually subsided. The audience craned their necks, waiting.
"That's all for today," she said.
The voice wasn't loud, but every word could be heard clearly in the square.
She paused, glanced down at Bai You beside her, then looked up at the audience.
"Thank you all for coming to hear me sing tonight."
She didn't say anything else.
That's all.
But then, another round of applause erupted from the audience, lasting even longer than the previous one.
Bai You stood on the stage, still completely dazed.
She was held in Varesa's arms, her face pressed against the other's light blue dress, a gentle vibration in her ear.
The people in the audience were clapping, laughing, and shouting "Goodbye!"
She suddenly felt her legs go weak.
"Um..." she whispered, "Should we... go downstairs?"
"What's the rush?" Varesa whispered in her ear, looking down. "Stand still."
"But... lots of people are watching."
"Let them see."
Bai You buried her face even deeper into her skirt.
Just then, a small jog came from the audience.
A girl in a red uniform with her hair in a ponytail rushed onto the stage.
She ran up to Varesa, stopped, tilted her head back, and her eyes shone like two stars.
"Hello!" She almost gave a salute, then awkwardly withdrew her hand mid-air.
I am Amber, a scout knight of the Knights of Favonius! Today's event—no, today you sang exceptionally well!
Bai You was taken aback.
Amber? Just as enthusiastic as in the game.
Varesa, however, remained calm.
She looked at the girl, whose face was flushed from running, bent down, and said softly, "Thank you, Miss Amber."
"You're welcome! You're welcome!" Amber waved her hand vigorously, then suddenly seemed to remember something and began flipping through the small backpack on her back.
"Um... where are you from? Will you be coming to Mondstadt again? Could the Knights of Favonius perhaps arrange a venue for you?"
She asked the question quickly and urgently, and blushed as soon as she finished speaking.
"We come from a very far place," Varesa replied with a smile. "As for next time—"
She paused, then looked down at Bai You.
"If I have the chance, I will definitely come again."
"That's wonderful!" Amber jumped for joy. She suddenly noticed the little girl next to Varesa who had her face buried in her hands. "Who is this?"
Bai You was called upon, and she reluctantly raised her head.
"... Bai You," she said, "Hello."
"Hello, Miss Bai You!" Amber grinned at her, revealing two small fangs.
"You guys organized today's event, right? That's amazing!"
Bai You blushed after being praised.
"... It's not just me." She pointed to the side of the curtain.
From the side of the curtain, Sandrone was peeking out with a look that said, "Why are you looking at me like that?"
Columbina leaned lazily against the curtain. Odette nodded politely to Amber.
Amber looked at this, then at that.
Upon seeing Sandrone, she seemed to suddenly realize something and scratched her head:
"Um... you guys are from the Fatui, right?"
Upon hearing this, the air on stage paused for a moment.
Bai You's heart skipped a beat.
She was about to speak—
"But it's okay!" Amber suddenly smiled brightly.
"You're here to perform today! The Knights of Favonius won't cause you any trouble!"
As she spoke, she patted her chest.
"Besides, with such a great song, who cares where you came from!"
Bai You was stunned.
She had prepared herself for questioning.
She glanced at Varesa. Varesa was also looking at her, a slight smile in her eyes.
"Thank you," Varesa said to Amber, "Miss Amber."
"You're welcome!" Amber saluted again.
"Then I won't bother you anymore! I'm right here in the audience, just call me if you need anything!"
After she finished speaking, she ran off the stage with a "thump thump thump".
Bai You watched her retreating figure, speechless for a long time, before finally managing to utter a single sentence.
"... This Amber..." she whispered to Varesa, "Interesting."
"Hmm." Varesa smiled, "She's a good girl."
Just as Amber left, another person walked up to the stage.
The man wore a dark long coat, had red hair tied back, and carried a small wine jug in his hand.
He walked slowly, his leather shoes clicking softly on the wooden planks beside the platform.
Someone in the audience whispered, "Huh?"
"Is that Lord Diluc?"
Why is he here?
" Diluc?! What's he doing here? Does he want to get my pity item?"
He walked onto the stage, his gaze lingered on Varesa for a second, then swept over Bai You.
Then, his gaze fell on the few people in the side curtain.
He lingered on Sandrone and Columbina for an extra half second.
Sandrone emerged from behind the curtain and stood next to Bai You, her face expressionless.
" Master Lu?" Sandrone asked, his voice low.
Diluc gave her a dismissive glance.
" Sandrone's Harbinger," he said.
Bai You's heart leaped into her throat.
It seems that Diluc was besieged by the Harbinger during Snezhnaya before.
She instinctively snuggled closer to Varesa.
She didn't know why, even though she was far stronger Varesa, she always liked to snuggle into her arms.
Is it because I'm too short? Do I feel safer when I'm surrounded by taller people?
Or perhaps it's because Varesa has been staying up late lately... Just thinking about it made her blush slightly.
Varesa didn't move. She simply met Diluc's gaze calmly.
Two strangers exchanged a glance for a second amidst the lingering applause that filled the square.
Then Diluc looked away first.
"He sang very well," he said.
Varesa nodded slightly to him.
"Thank you."
Diluc grunted in response. He took two bottles of liquor from behind his back and placed them on the wooden box beside the table.
"I'm sorry for coming on stage so abruptly and disturbing you. These two bottles are from the best wineries in Mondstadt," he said.
"I didn't bring much with me this time. If you like the drink, you can go to the tavern in the east of the city, 'Angel's Share '."
"Everyone is welcome to come and have a drink; it'll be on me."
After saying that, he left.
His dark coat swayed in the twilight as he stepped off the stage and blended into the crowd.
Bai You looked at the two bottles of wine and smacked her lips.
She turned to look at Sandrone.
Sandrone's face was very sour.
"We're old acquaintances," she said coldly.
She paused, then glared at Bai You.
"Don't drink the wine he gave me today."
"Huh?"
"Who knows if he put something in it or not."