Ye Xi hadn't expected Ayaka to say those words so suddenly.
Wait, this wasn't right. How had the topic shifted from him leaving Inazuma to the Kamisato Clan offering him an olive branch?
Her elder brother? Kamisato Ayato? That milk-tea-loving head of the house? Did he just feel overwhelmed with work and want Ye Xi to go over and help him?
[I didn't expect things to develop this way. Is Ayato actually trying to use a political marriage as a tool...]
[How did a guy like that even become the clan head?]
At that thought, Ye Xi's brow furrowed slightly, his tone carrying a hint of irritation. "Ayaka, even though you are the eldest daughter of the Kamisato Clan, you can't always be thinking of everyone else. You need to consider yourself, too."
Ayaka looked at him with surprise. She hadn't expected Ye Xi to think that way, yet a warm feeling blossomed in her chest. So, Ye Xi cared about her that much? He was actually worried about her feelings.
Just as she was about to explain, she heard his heart's voice again.
[If going to Mondstadt weren't an absolute necessity for the sake of the world's order, I'd have to go to the Kamisato estate just to give that bastard clan head a piece of my mind!]
The order of the world!?
Ayaka felt a small jolt of horror. She knew Ye Xi came from another world; she even suspected he was like a presiding deity who had participated in the creation of this world, granting life and order to all things. Though she carried the blood of the Kamisato and was known by the nickname Shirasagi Himegimi, she constantly reminded herself that she was just an ordinary person.
If Ye Xi's business was delayed because of her, then the collapse of the world would be her fault. That simply would not do.
Ayaka grew quiet, then said softly, "Xi... as a... as a friend, I will always watch over and support you."
Ye Xi smiled at her words. The world around them shifted, returning them to the tea pavilion from earlier. They sat once more, the tea before them still radiating heat. Even though Ayaka's expression didn't betray it, Ye Xi could sense that her spirits were low.
He knew exactly why. After all, he had participated in the character design project for Kamisato Ayaka in his past life. Because of the sheer effort he'd put into designing the perfect character, he knew Ayaka inside and out.
The world believed that noble families lived on a scale far beyond ordinary people, and that as the eldest daughter of the Kamisato, she must lead an incredibly extravagant and indulgent life. However, the reality was quite different.
While she spent her time studying flower arrangement and the tea ceremony and the expenses for fine tea and rare flowers were indeed significant it was all for the sake of learning noble etiquette. These were merely the interests an "eldest daughter" was expected to have. People expected Ayaka to act a certain way, so she did.
But that Ayaka wasn't the real Ayaka.
The real her was like the girl next door. she liked making snacks, scooping goldfish by the pond, or hiding away to secretly read the latest novels from the Yae Publishing House. She would even sneak into the kitchen when she was hungry at night,
humming to herself while making a bowl of tea-soaked rice. Sometimes, during tea ceremony lessons, she would secretly try to divine her romantic fortune based on the shape of the tea leaves.
It was precisely because she was a girl who appeared strong on the outside but remained well-behaved and sensible on the inside that everyone loved her so much.
Ye Xi still remembered that in his previous life, he had spent an entire month's salary on her behalf, upgrading Ayaka to her max constellation until she finally had that glowing ring. To put it in a single term, he was a member of her "true love party."
[Come to think of it, being able to live in the world I created with the characters I drew with my own hands after dying from overwork... perhaps this is a reward from the heavens...]
Hearing his heart, Ayaka's own heart skipped a beat. In Xi's mind, being with her was considered a reward from the heavens? A deep crimson flushed the girl's cheeks.
After they enjoyed some refreshments, a disturbance came from outside the sub-space.
"Eldest Daughter, it is already noon. The Clan Head is waiting for you to return and discuss family matters!"
the servant's urgent voice broke the tranquility. Then, a soft sigh escaped the girl's lips.
"If only these peaceful, leisurely times could last a little longer... I really am greedy," Ayaka said with a touch of self-reproach, though her voice was filled with the pain of parting. She knew that such moments would not come again.
Ye Xi was about to embark on a journey, and there was no telling how long it would be before he returned to Inazuma. By the time he came back, things might be entirely different. The thought that the elegant days of composing poetry and admiring flowers with Ye Xi were gone forever filled her with an immense sense of melancholy.
Despair was a contagious disease.
Ye Xi remained silent for a moment before whispering, "Tomorrow at dawn, at Ritou, I will board The Alcor of The Crux fleet and leave Inazuma."
Ayaka nodded obediently. "Xi, I'll be there tomorrow. Be there or be square."
With that, the girl offered a faint smile and left the sub-space. Her retreating figure looked exceptionally lonely.
At noon, Ye Xi ate a simple meal and left the Grand Narukami Shrine with his lunch box. He walked down the winding mountain paths, passing through Araumi and the trails of Konda Village. Following the road, he crossed the Byakko Plain and headed toward Tenshukaku in Inazuma City.
Having lived in Inazuma for three years, how could he possibly leave with a light heart? Driven by the desire to see Inazuma one last time, he strolled toward the highest point of the city—the Tenshu.
"Please do not loiter near the Tenshu!"
A Hatamoto general blocked his path at the gate, but upon seeing Ye Xi's face, he quickly bowed in respect. "So it is Lord Ye Xi! Please forgive my offense!"
Ye Xi nodded and entered the Tenshu. Watching his departing back, the guards began to whisper among themselves.
"Lord Ye Xi is visiting the Shogun again!"
"Lately, his visits with the Shogun have been frequent. Could it be that the Shogun intends to abdicate the divine seat to him?"
"Who knows? Lord Ye Xi is mysterious and unpredictable. However, I've heard he doesn't approve of the Shogun's Vision Hunt Decree strategy. Perhaps they are discussing that."
"To be able to influence the Shogun's will... only Lord Ye Xi could do that..."
While the guards were speculating, Ye Xi had already ascended Tenshukaku. A group of the Raiden Shogun's personal bodyguards the Okuzume stood at the entrance. Upon seeing Ye Xi approach, they dropped to one knee to show their loyalty.
"Greetings, Lord Ye Xi! The Shogun has been expecting you!"
Ye Xi gave a slight nod and easily entered Tenshukaku. Immediately, the Raiden Shogun's voice drifted out from within.
The Okuzume continued their watch outside. they didn't understand why their master placed such importance on a foreigner. However, the order they had received was clear: seeing Ye Xi was the same as seeing the Shogun herself.
To be an Okuzume required absolute, one-hundred-percent loyalty. Therefore, regardless of what decision the Shogun made, they would follow it without question.
Inside the room, Ye Xi stepped directly into the Plane of Euthymia. Only then did he realize that Yae Miko, who had claimed she was going for a nap that morning, was also present.
Now Ye Xi understood. No wonder Yae Miko had that wicked smile last night; she had colluded with Raiden Ei and made preparations. With the sisters standing together, leaving Inazuma openly was likely going to take some effort.
Sure enough, before Ye Xi could even speak, Raiden Ei's cold, detached voice drifted over.
"Xi, I heard you want to leave Inazuma?"
"That makes things very difficult for me."
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