Lumine gazed forlornly at the weather-beaten path before her. She stood atop a hill resting for a moment, weary from her travels. Her luggage sat on the dewy grass, the smell of petricore stimulating her nose. She breathed in the scent. It was comforting, calm, and familiar. It is a known friend in an unknown place.

She is a long way from home. After graduating from Mondstadt's Academy for Free-willed Ladies, she decided to leave her home and seek her fate in a distant place.

The air is thick with mist that dances and swirls as they move through the land. She could imagine great magic hidden within the trees, a grand adventure waiting at every corner. The girl within her heart wished to run between the trees and chase mystical friends through the undergrowth. Once, she would have loved to roll down the hills and enjoy the freedom of her youth. But now she must leave her childhood dreams goodbye in exchange for the cleverness and independence of a woman.

She gazed upon the sky and observed the horizon. Nothing but grey clouds and pastures as far as the eyes can see. Lumine wondered when it would rain. Would it pour before she gets to her destination or would it delay its arrival until she is safe under a roof? She is seldom lucky so she dares not challenge the mood of the heavens. She collected her baggage, brushed her skirt, and fixed her hat.

She must now be on her way least she never reach her destination.

Lumine continued along the dirt-covered path, constantly avoiding the puddles of mud and the occasional but very prominent manure of horses and farm animals. It almost made her nose scrunch.

She walked as the mist began to caress her skin. Her long white dress billowed with her movements. It was silent save for the conversation of the birds and the ballad of the frogs. The silence allowed her to ponder some things. Solitude is the perfect time to have a conversation with yourself. Often it is also the most reasonable conversation you will ever have with anyone.

Lumine began to recall the reason for her trekking. She posted an advertisement in the paper offering her services as a governess. One Miss Chlorinde of Epicles Hall responded to her via mail and offered a job as a stay-in-governess for a young 'Miss Furina de Fontaine'. It was the first offer she received and the pay was quite reasonable so she dared not refuse.

Miss Chlorinde described Miss Furina as an energetic child peculiar, vain, yet charismatic and charming. She is very curious but she is not a bad child. The topics she would have to teach the girl include literature, drawing, music, and language. She must also throw in basic manners and etiquette if the child is still unrefined. The young lady also cannot speak English and only speak French so she must teach her the language. Thankfully, Lumine learned French from her teacher so she is quite fluent in the language. She is both excited and nervous. The salary offered to her is quite large so the family must be quite wealthy. Would the young lady be spoiled or cruel? Would she even listen to anything she would teach? And the masters of the house... Would they be cold and proud or welcoming and warm?

Many scenarios began to play in her mind like a little theater. If she experienced disrespect from the masters she would immediately stand her ground and take her leave. If the child proves to be too wild and rude then she would quit on the spot. But what if they are dangerous, hiding a little secret that must not be known? What if they are fanatics of a cult and she is a sacrifice? They would gut her and offer her to a false god. They could even be cannibals hungry for the taste of human flesh and she, their unknown victim.

She stopped herself before her thoughts could run wild. The morbid nature of her imagination frustrated her. It is unbecoming to create assumptions without further proof or evidence. She became ashamed of herself.

Before she could chide herself further, the loud galloping sound of horse hoves captured her ear. She became frightened thinking it was some sort of mystical monster, a headless horseman sent to collect her soul. The ominous mist and the dim lighting added fuel to her terror and she stumbled. The horse, equally frightened of her, jolted sending its rider off his saddle.

The man groaned. Lumine immediately collected her bearings and stood to help the man. She grasped his arm and hoisted him to his feet. "Are you alright, sir?" she asked, guilty of having been the cause of his accident.

"I'm fine. I wasn't much hurt. Are you alright, madame?" He asked his voice deep and masculine yet with a hint of gentleness.

"I am quite alright, good sir. I sustained no injury."

"Then that is good." The man walked slowly to his frightened horse who trotted around. He limped but he caressed the beast with gentleness to reassure it. Lumine followed closely to his side worried about his well-being.

"Are you sure you did not break anything, sir? That was quite a fall."

"Yes, thank you for reminding me." The man replied dripping with sarcasm. He didn't bother to look at her and instead continued to inspect his horse. The awkwardness of the situation made Lumine feel small.

"My apologies."

"Are you going to the Hall of Epicles by any chance, madame?"

"How did you know?" Lumine asked surprised. She looked at him as if he was a mind reader and her fascination seemed to have amused him.

"This road leads directly to that residence. Other destinations are too far to walk on foot. I am heading there myself." spoke the stranger.

"I see."

"What business do you have in that residence?"

Lumine debated whether or not to tell him about her occupation for her own privacy and safety but then remembered that she was the foreign one in this situation which would immediately incur his wariness. After some thought, she revealed her identity. "I am to be the governess of a young Miss Furina."

"Ah, so you are the governess Chlorinde hired. My name is Wriotesley." The man finally faced her and she was astonished to find him so handsome and dashing. If she didn't know any better she would have thought that she met a handsome warlord in this very moment. Though his clothes are plain, composed of a simple riding cloak and leathers, he wore them with dignity and pride. Lumine had to collect herself to prevent blushing like a common street damsel (prostitute).

"How do you do? I am Lumine Viatrix."

"Hmm." came his response.

Lumine spoke to escape from the awkwardness of the situation. It seems that Mr. Wriotesley is not a man made for conversation. "Now we must go on our own ways. I fear that the rain approaches too swiftly."

"Alright, you may mount on my horse and hold onto my cloak," said he coolly. He offered her a hand waiting for her response.

"Pardon?"

"You can ride with me. I am going to the Hall of Epicles as well. We have the same destination so we may as well travel together. I am not such a brute as to allow a lady to walk such a distance while the heavens threaten to pour. Please. Move swiftly so we may reach our destination."

"It is quite alright. I know the way and the walk is no difficult task. I can find my own path. I dare not hinder you any longer." No matter how handsome he is, he is still a man and no woman should accept the first invitation they get from a stranger regardless of how captivating they are. This would make her mother proud if she was still alive.

"You are wary of me. That I understand, but rest assured that I bear no ill will towards you. It is my duty to treat you correctly as you are an employee of the Epicles household."

"No, sir. It is quite alright. I can handle myself you need not worry about me."

"You are a stubborn woman, I give you that. If you insist on holding onto your caution then I will respect your decision. Let us see each other at a later time. I shall wait for you to arrive long after me. Good day, madam." Wriotesley rode on his horse and spared her one last glance before speeding ahead.

🌻

It took Lumine some time but soon enough she was able to see the dark gables of her new home. It was a massive house that towered her like a giant. It was august and does not appear too welcoming.

An old maid was waiting for her at the entrance. She asked for her name and Lumine responded to confirm her identity. The maid graciously welcomed her in the house, leading her to a back passage reserved for servants. Lumine passed through a garden of sorts and admired the flowers though she briefly saw them. She was ushered inside the house and entered through the kitchen. Cooks were diligently preparing their masters' meals and the smell made her feel hungry.

"You will get to eat later after the master has seen you. Now you must go to your room and fix yourself. You look pale and worn." The old maid her led upstairs to a second floor where she left her in a modest room. It was small but decently spacious. It had a single bed, a closet, a vanity, and a desk for her leisure. It was sufficient for Lumine. Though a bit drab, she is never one for lavish things.

She set her luggage and went to fix her appearance. She changed into a proper white blouse and a long dark skirt. She tied a ribbon around her collar and arranged her hair into a bun. Such is the usual appearance of a governess. Firm, proper, and elegant.

The mysterious man suddenly appeared in her memory. He said that he will meet her here. Where could he be now? He seems well off. Could he be the master of this house? Or perhaps the son of the master? Whatever the case, she needs to finish and meet her employer. She needs to appear presentable and proper or else he might send her back to the mercy of the rain and elements.

After deeming herself decent enough she left her room and went to the location the old maid told her about. The hallways themselves held a somber atmosphere. The very aura of the place exudes seclusion, she felt unwelcomed like an outsider in a foreign land. Perhaps she is. She wondered what kind of man the master of the house was. Would he be as solemn as his house? And what of the mistress, would she be proud and look down on her? She reckoned that she would soon find out.

She knocked on the door and entered when admitted. Inside the dining room was a semi-formal dinner laid out and two of the finest men she had ever seen. She saw Wriotesley once again sitting on the side drinking wine. He is now dressed in finer garments, dark grey and red. His hair was brushed to a more decent style no longer disheveled by the wind. He looked much more like a lord of a great house.

Lumine then turned her attention to the head of the table. There sat a man who was so exquisite she could mistake him for a fae prince. His hair was silver moonlight lined with blue highlights. His jaw was sharp and angular, his eyes were beautiful like amethysts forged in the stars. His face was smooth and unblemished. The light of the chandelier could not even compare to how luminous he looked. Their eyes met and he gave her a courteous smile.

"Ah. It seems like the guest of the hour has finally arrived. Welcome, Miss Viatrix." said the man, his voice possibly a ballad made by the hands of God.

"Greetings, Monsieur. It is my greatest pleasure to be welcomed into your home."

"You need not be too formal. Come, sit. I heard from my friend that you walked all the way here. You must be famished. Please forgive him for not being proper as to guide you himself."

"It is quite alright. I am the one who insisted that I go by myself. Anything else would have been quite improper."

"A lady of utmost virtue! Well, I dare say that we have been blessed in the presence of a saint, Neuvillette." joked Wriotesley.

"Oh, hush now, Wriotesley. You need not embarrass the lady. I should throw you out of my house for your lack of chivalry."

"You are too cruel to your old friend." Wriotesley turned to her. "I extend my apologies once again, madame. I hope you think me nothing less."

"There was no offense in the first place, Monsieur. I require no apologies."

"Come sit by my side so we may begin our supper." Neuvillette beckoned to the chair beside him and Lumine complied.

She looked around trying to find the lady she was supposed to teach. "Will Miss Furina be joining us?"

"She threw a tantrum when the doll I promised her did not arrive. I just returned to the Hall of Epicles, you see. So our luggage needs to be transported still. Along with it, the gifts I promised her."

"I see. I hope she wasn't too upset."

"Worry not, she shall meet you tomorrow and she will be more proper," Neuvillette reassured as he began cutting through his meal.

"May I ask where is the madame I of the house?"

"Well, she does not exist," answered Wriotesley, a glint of amusement in his cunning eyes.

"Pardon?"

"What he meant was I am unmarried." Neuvillette clarified.

"Then, Miss Furina is... " Lumine drawled out, not daring to say the impetuous words.

"No, heavens. She is not a child out of my wedlock. She is the child of a friend of mine who passed away. I took it upon myself to care for her. I hired you because I feared that my tutelage alone would not be enough to fulfill her needs. I gather that a female governess would be the best option for her to become a proper lady."

"I see. Then tomorrow I shall meet the young miss and introduce myself to her. I do hope that she finds me agreeable."

"I wouldn't worry too much about that. The two of you are both stubborn and headstrong, you are made for each other." Wriotesley cuts in earning a glare from his friend.

"Wriotesley, do not be rude." Neuvillette reprimanded, his tone cold and imposed.

"Alright, alright. I merely jest."

"Miss Lumine, please pardon his brutish behavior. Wriotesley does not possess the required courtesies for polite society. Dismiss his comments as the mere thunder outside our windows."

"You do me much desevice, my friend. I merely jest with our lovely young governess. I believe that some lighthearted banter would be most ideal compared to your closed-off demeanor."

"Still you must know how to treat her like a lady."

"It seems that the two of you have long been friends." Lumine cuts in before the conversation could turn into an argument.

"Ah, yes. We both went together in the same law school. He was the top of the class and I, the rebellious troublemaker. For some stroke of fate, we became close friends."

"You both went to law school? How fascinating." Lumine commented, intrigued.

"Yes, Neuvillette is now a respectable Chief Justice in the Judicial High Court of Fontaine while I, a mere warden of the Fortress of Meropide."

"Both seem equally impressive to me. I am ashamed. I sit among distinguished gentlemen."

"There's no need for that, madame. I find that the position of warden to be an achievement not worth celebrating. I dare say that I am equally the prisoner of the inmates I detain."

"No need to be so morose or you shall ruin all our dinners. Miss Lumine, can you not tell us a little bit about yourself?"

"There is nothing much to tell. I am an orphan along with my twin brother who set out to be a soldier in the army. I would say that I can draw but of course, I am not on par with the great Calx. I can also play a bit on the harp and piano but I am not much too proud of my talents."

"You need not be so humble with us, miss. Both of us are quite talented in the field of arts. Except for Neuvillette who can somehow play the violin though the melody he makes is more fit for torturing criminals rather than a theater symphony."

Lumine chuckled at the expression. "I do not think that I can believe that, sir."

"If I may be so bold, why are you so far from your workplace? The court of Fontaine is several days away from here."

"We both agreed to take some time off from work. It is so long since we last had a proper vacation so we accumulated all our unused leave days and decided to go to the countryside for a month. This should lift our spirits and rejuvenate our weary bones."

"I do hope that you enjoy your vacation."

"I could not agree more."

Their conversation proceeded to be lighthearted until they finished their meal. Neuvillette was the first to excuse himself and Wriotesley stayed to eat another serving of the steak. Lumine politely accompanied him until he finished his meal.

"I should go now. I need to rest. The travel has made me quite weary." Lumine expressed standing from the table.

"I see. Then I shall order a maid to send you some tea. It should help you fight the fatigue so you feel more refreshed once you awake in the morning."

"I thank you most kindly, sir. Your generosity would be much appreciated. Though I should refuse. I dare not bother you with something so trivial."

"Nonsense. Please accept this as a token of good faith. Today we become acquainted. Consider it as a gift of camaraderie. I would like to boast that the tea in my collection is the finest you will ever find. It would be such a shame if you were not to try it for yourself."

"If you put it like that then how can I refuse? Then, I shall have it as I rest for the evening."

"Wonderful, I would like to receive your feedback in the morning. Good night, madame. May your dreams be tranquil and your sleep restful."

"I wish you the same."

Wriotesley left after that but he did not go upstairs.

🌻

A knock interrupted Lumine's evening reading. She could not immediately fall asleep despite the tiredness on her shoulders so she opted to read some novels to pass the time. Wriotesley's tea sat on her desk growing colder as the steam evaporated. She put on her robe to be modest and opened the door to meet the person who knocked. She expected to see a maid only to find the master.

"Monsieur Neuvillette? I did not expect to find you here this late. Is something the matter?" she began.

He had removed his coat and is now left in a simple dress shirt and dark pants. Some buttons were undone which revealed a portion of his chest. Lumine did very well to focus on his eyes and not wonder.

Neuvillette's face betrayed no emotion. This, however, did nothing to make him any less beautiful. "My apologies, I did not mean to interrupt your rest. I merely checked in to see how you are faring. I know that you just arrived in a foreign place. I worry that you might find it uncomfortable. Is there anything I can do to improve your stay?"

The hallway had become dim. The maids had turned off the light so Monsieur Neuvillette had to use a candle to light his way. Did he brave through the darkness just to check up on her? And his room is a little ways away from her... What a compassionate man! It seems that she is in the presence of a saint. His virtue is worthy of her admiration.

A smile bloomed from her lips. Though her eyes were tired and somewhat somnolent her face was still delicate and charming. "I appreciate your care very much. But there is no need for you to worry, Monsieur. I am quite alright. The tea Mr. Wriotesley gave to me seems quite helpful." Neuvillette had to avoid his gaze to save himself from disgraceful thoughts. The young lady is much too adorable for his sanity.

He cleared his throat and mustered his composure.

"Wriotesley gave you tea? I must say he seems to be quite fond of you. He is typically so stingy with his precious tea. Perhaps it is a means of apology for his earlier discourtesy."

"Whatever the case, I am much grateful for the two of you. You are both so welcoming."

"I am glad. Then, I shall not bother you any longer. If you need something, feel free to tell me. My room is at the end of the hall. Good night."

"Good night, Monsieur."

With that Neuvillette left, his silver hair dancing elegany as he moved. Lumine did not think much of their conversation and finally decided to rest. She locked her door and finished the last sip of her tea. She pulled the blanket over her body and thanked the stars for allowing her to meet such lovely people.