Preserving Their Fleeting Tenderness

Moonlight poured like water through the windows of Tenshukaku, spilling over their intertwined figures.

Baichen lay between the bed and Ei, his thin clothes already open, revealing large expanses of fair skin.

"Ei..." The boy's voice trembled slightly. "Are we... really going to..."

Ei didn't answer, instead showing her resolve through her actions.

(It got banned, boohoo)

[Warning! Host's embarrassment level is off the charts!]

[Ei's affection +3%, currently 93%]

[Note: An innocent reaction aroused possessiveness]

(It got banned, boohoo)

[Ei's affection +7%, currently 100% (locked)]

[Achievement unlocked: First night achieved]

[Permanent status acquired: Ei's mark (cannot be removed)]

The morning sun woke Baichen from his sleep.

He opened his eyes groggily and found himself held tightly in Ei's arms.

Memories of the previous night came flooding back, instantly setting his cheeks ablaze.

He carefully tried to move away, but the motion pulled at a certain overused part of his body, sending a dull ache through him.

Baichen couldn't suppress a hiss, immediately waking the lightly sleeping Ei.

"Does it hurt?" She reached behind the boy and gently massaged him.

The blunt question made Baichen wish he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

He buried his face against Ei's chest and gave a muffled "Mm."

The corners of Ei's lips rose slightly, and she gave him a rare, genuine smile.

"Rest for a day," she declared, getting up to fetch some ointment.

The ointment's cool touch eased the discomfort, but having it applied was even more embarrassing than the night before.

Baichen bit his lip to keep himself from making any strange noises.

"Relax." Ei's voice held a satisfied languor. "I'm just applying the ointment."

The explanation only made the atmosphere more suggestive.

By unspoken agreement, neither of them mentioned the previous night, but the cloying sweetness in the air said it all.

At lunch, the maids clearly noticed the change between their two masters.

For the first time ever, Ei personally served Baichen food and even gently wiped away a grain of rice from the corner of his mouth with her thumb.

The intimate gesture nearly made a maid standing nearby overturn a bowl of soup.

"I have government affairs to attend to this afternoon." Ei set down her chopsticks. "Get some rest."

Baichen nodded obediently, but after Ei left, he quietly slipped out of Tenshukaku.

His bodily discomfort had eased considerably, and he badly needed some fresh air to settle his jumbled thoughts.

The streets of Inazuma City were as lively as ever.

As he passed the tricolor dango shop, the proprietress greeted him warmly. "Lord Baichen! I just made some strawberry daifuku. Would you like to try one?"

The sweet strawberry filling melted in his mouth, and Baichen narrowed his eyes in satisfaction.

Just as he was about to visit Yae Publishing House, a familiar figure stepped into his path.

"Lady Kujou Sara?"

The Tenryou Commission's general wasn't wearing armor today, but a simple kimono.

Her sharp gaze swept over the kiss marks on Baichen's neck that he couldn't hide, and her brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.

"Are you feeling better?" she asked bluntly.

Baichen nearly choked on his dango. "I-I'm fine..."

"The Shogun is very worried about you." Kujou handed him a paper packet. "This is medicine for injuries that I brought back from Liyue."

Inside the packet were several medicinal plasters, giving off a faint herbal scent.

Baichen thanked Kujou and accepted them, only to hear her lower her voice and add:

"Especially... for the injuries there."

The words struck Baichen like a bolt from the blue. His hand shook, and he nearly dropped the packet.

Kujou caught it with a quick hand and sighed helplessly.

"The whole of Tenshukaku knows," she said expressionlessly. "The sounds last night... were loud."

[Social death achieved]

[Kujou Sara's affection +2%, currently 20%]

[Note: Unexpectedly earned sympathy points]

Baichen was so embarrassed he wanted to disappear on the spot, but Kujou suddenly leaned close and whispered in his ear, "Be careful of the Fatui. Their spies have been active in Inazuma recently."

The sudden warning caught the boy off guard.

Before he could ask for details, Kujou had already stepped back, her businesslike expression restored.

"I still have patrol duties. I'll take my leave."

Baichen watched Kujou leave, then stood where he was, digesting the information.

The Fatui... Did Bronya send them? Thinking of the Tsaritsa of Snezhnaya, he felt conflicted.

[System notification: Bronya's affection (64%)]

[Note: Watching from afar]

Before he knew it, Baichen had arrived at the Kamisato Estate on the edge of Inazuma City.

The camellias blooming outside the courtyard wall reminded him of the sachet Ayaka had given him, and he couldn't help stopping to admire them.

"Mr. Baichen?"

Speak of the devil: the Kamisato Clan's young lady happened to be coming out of the courtyard.

Today, she wore a light purple visiting kimono, her silver hair loosely pinned up with an early-blooming hydrangea, giving her a more casual air than usual.

"Are you feeling better?" Ayaka asked with concern. "I heard you've been unwell ever since you came back from Liyue..."

"Unwell" clearly meant something else.

Baichen forced himself to nod calmly, grumbling inwardly about how quickly word had spread.

Ayaka seemed to notice his embarrassment and considerately changed the subject. "Would you like to come in for some tea? Thoma just baked some maple cookies."

The tea gathering in the courtyard was peaceful and pleasant.

Ayaka skillfully brewed the tea, her movements as graceful as a dance. Baichen sipped the fragrant matcha, his taut nerves gradually relaxing.

"Actually..." Ayaka suddenly spoke. "I envy you."

"Huh?"

"You're able to be so close to the Shogun." Her gaze fell on the kiss marks on Baichen's neck, then politely moved away. "The Kamisato Clan has served the Raiden Shogun for generations, but no one has ever found their way into her heart."

Baichen didn't know how to respond, so he lowered his head and drank his tea. Ayaka chuckled softly and offered him a maple cookie.

"Please cherish this great honor."

[Kamisato Ayaka's affection +3%, currently 42%]

At sunset, Baichen returned to Tenshukaku on time.

Ei had finished attending to government affairs and was practicing swordsmanship in the courtyard.

When she saw the boy return, she sheathed her sword. Damp with sweat, the loose strands of hair on her forehead clung to her fair skin.

"Where did you go?" she asked casually, taking the towel Baichen handed her.

"The Kamisato Estate... Miss Ayaka invited me for tea..."

Ei paused, her gaze turning slightly cold. "Go there less often from now on."

Her obvious jealousy made Baichen's heart tremble.

He summoned his courage, leaned close, and gave Ei a gentle kiss on the cheek. "I only like you."

Ei's eyes widened slightly before returning to normal. But the reddened tips of her ears betrayed the stirrings in her heart.

[Ei's affection 100% (locked)]

[Note: Emotionally stable state]

After dinner, the two sat side by side beneath the eaves, admiring the cherry blossoms.

The night breeze stirred, sending pink and white petals fluttering down like a gentle snowfall.

Ei suddenly reached out to catch a petal and gently placed it in Baichen's hair.

"Pretty," she said simply.

Baichen smiled and nestled into her arms of his own accord.

Ei's arm naturally wrapped around him. Neither of them spoke; they simply enjoyed the quiet moment.

Yet beyond this tender scene, a pair of ice-blue eyes watched everything through a water mirror.

Bronya, the Tsaritsa of Snezhnaya, tapped the armrest of her throne, a dangerous smile curling her lips.

"Are you having fun, my little kitten?" she murmured. "It's time... to bring you home."