"Hello, Miss Furina. My name is Lumine Viatrix. I am to be your new governess." Lumine smiled as she introduced herself to the young lady. Furina seems to be eight years of age and her features vaguely resemble Neuvillette's. Her blue eyes were large and wide filled with innocence and energy, a contrast to Neuvillette's purple orbs that radiate wisdom and austerity. She was dressed in blue much like the master but hers held a more childish and informal design.

Currently, they are holding their class in one of the household's drawing rooms. Neuvillette allowed them to transform this room into a makeshift classroom and installed plenty of learning materials they could use. It seems that he really cares about his ward due to how meticulous he was with their setup. The room boasts tools many schools do not even possess.

"I am Furina de Fontaine. The mistress of this household. I expect you to be quite exceptional if you are to be my teacher. Do not disappoint me." spoke Furina in full French. Chlorinde's letter seems to be correct, Furina can only speak French. Thankfully, she can also speak the language with some proficiency. (Take note, dear reader, that though Lumine might be quite proficient in French the author is not. So the conversations between Lumine and Furina shall be in French but I shall write it in English due to my insufficiencies in linguistics.)

"I do wish we could be friends. There is a lot I would like to teach you," replied Lumine in the most delicate tone she could muster. Often do children act prideful when they have something to hide. An attitude is like an armor you wear to protect your heart from others. Perhaps in time, she can soften the heart of her student and they can be good friends like she hoped.

"It is for me to decide your worthiness to be my friend. Anyway, begin your lesson so we may finish early."

The lesson began with literature. Furina seems to be quite good with the subject and even understands the basics with some talent. She was quite invested in the subject earning much delight from Lumine. Furina asked several questions related to the elements of some literary pieces and she was glad that she could provide a satisfying answer. Furina is an intelligent girl who loves to flaunt her knowledge. She also loves to be praised for her wit so Lumine made sure to give her words of affirmation.

Furina had a flair for the dramatic when asked to read out poetry and play. Her intonation and cadence were impressive. Lumine adored her talent.

After a short break, they moved on to a different subject: drawing. This one Furina seems to struggle a bit. Although she has an eye for detail, she experienced some difficulty understanding light, shadow, and color. The forms and strokes eluded her talents but she was quite determined to perfect the art. Lumine encouraged her to continue every time she felt like her work was inadequate and Furina complied relentlessly.

They started with some sketches and the flowers in the vase were their muse. Lumine's sketch was beautiful and clean you can almost mistake them for real flowers though in pencil.

"How can you be so good at this and I, so bad?" complained the young miss.

"It takes practice. Your line work has the basic shapes required to draw the form of the flowers. You just need to refine them."

"But how?"

Lumine took her hand and guided it along the paper. "You just need to make some lines thicker to highlight the outline and then make sure that your shadows complement where the light hits the figure. We blend this part to make the appearance of a contour and add a bit of depth to our drawing. And there, isn't that much better?"

"Oh, it is indeed beautiful and we made it together! I'm so proud! You're a very good teacher, Miss Lumine." Furina exclaimed excitedly. There was a bright smile on her face that made her look more youthful and natural. It seems to be a genuine reaction from the young miss, a bit different from her usual facade.

She seemed to have detected that she was going out of character, so she cleared her throat and raised her chin. "What I meant was, your skills seem to be sufficient. Your work is much appreciated."

"Then I thank you kindly for your appreciation, Miss Furina."

Soon enough their class for the day ended.

"I am going to play now. I mean... I have other matters to attend to. If we are finished for today, then I shall take my leave."

"Yes, miss. I dare not hinder you any longer," replied Lumine, playing along.

"Bye, Miss Lumine! I really had fun today! I mean, farewell, Governess. Let us convene at a later time." With that, Furina took her drawing and bolted out of the room. Lumine could guess that the young miss would be showing her drawing to the master of the house, fetching more praise. She smiled at her childish antics and began to clean up their materials.

Lumine had a satisfied smile as she stored the tools back in their rightful place. Their first day of class was a success. Furina proved to be a good child. She can be difficult and stubborn but she is quite intelligent. With a little bit more dedication, Lumine could shape her into a proper lady.

"Quite a riveting class. Say, will you also hold my hand and guide it along the paper if I sign up for class?" A familiar voice cuts in startling her from her thoughts. Lumine turned to the speaker.

"Mr. Wriotesley? Good day. How have you been?" she greeted the enthusiasm never left her lips. She appears to bloom like a flower with her delicate smile that she looks overjoyed just by seeing him. Wriotesley was taken aback for a second. No one else was ever that happy to see him. As a warden, most people startle or panic whenever he enters a room. His guards go stiff and rigid. Prisoners glare and stare at him with hateful eyes or cold apathy. Even Neuvillette only regarded him with a blank façade, the most cordial gaze he could muster.

With Lumine's golden eyes and welcoming smile, he felt... Something... Something new. How strange.

Wriotesley mustered up his composure.

"As well as I can be. I ought to bring you and Furina some tea but seeing as the little rascal has already departed to go badger Neuvillette, then I suppose we can enjoy it ourselves." Wriotesley set down a tea set and poured her a cup. He also brought some snacks which she graciously accepted. It was sweet and delightful, a perfect match for the tea.

"Thank you, I have been feeling quite thirsty for a while now. I seem to have forgotten to take sips of my water."

"Neuvillette's prized pure water? No wonder you avoid it. It's decent enough to make tea but terribly plain on its own. However, for some reason, my friend insists that it is the most exquisite drink ever invented."

Lumine gave a small giggle, the sound a delight to the senses. "I shall not tell him you said that."

"You might as well. I tell it to him too often yet he does not believe me."

"I would dare not to."

"Now, how was the tea I gave to you last night? Did it help with your sleep?"

"It did actually. It was like magic."

"Then I am glad I could be of help. Tell me, how was your first night here? Did you get a fright? After all, this is a rather old mansion with a lot of history." Wriotesley teased as he placed the cup to his lips and took small delightful sips.

"I am not quite foolishly as to fright myself in such a way. Plus the master visited me last night to check up on me. His presence was much appreciated."

"Neuvillette? Visited you? How confounding. I got stabbed in the army and he merely said to me 'Please try not to die' or else he'll have the inconvenience of finding another fool."

"You served in the army?"

"Yes, the 31st regiment. We fought in the desolate wastelands of Snezhnaya. There was a lad there, a ginger who gave me and my men such a hard time advancing. He was strong and relentless. A true warrior though still young and reckless. I could not truly tell whether he was brave or foolish. I believe his name was Tartaglia but my intelligence told me his true name was Ajax."

"What a coincidence! There was a man in my hometown who was a foreigner from Snezhnaya. He is as you described: redheaded and battle-crazed. He introduced himself as Tartaglia."

"Oh, how did you know this lad? And he was in your hometown? Where is that?"

"It was in Mondstadt. His organization, the Fatui I believe, rented an entire hotel and stayed there."

"Did you have a chance to encounter Ajax?"

"How can I not, he pursued me." The information seems to have astounded the warden as it showed on his features.

"You mean he courted you?"

"Yes, I rejected him time and time again. My better judgment told me that responding to him positively would be like Paris taking Aphrodite's offer instead of Athena's or Hera's. Disaster is an inevitable outcome should I accept his advances. Ruin would be brought about like what happened in Troy. However, the more I rejected him, the more he gave chase. It was confounding. Are men really into women who hate them?" Wriotesley almost burst out laughing but reprimanded himself to avoid becoming unrefined in front of the young governess. The tea he was drinking nearly spilled on his lap which would be quite a waste and also quite embarrassing. Thankfully, he was able to maintain it's balance.

"I believe some enjoy the challenge rather than actually having the lady as she is. These men get tired after some time and would often discard ladies once they grow tired like cats after playing with dead mice. I've seen it happen countless times with my comrades in battle. It was always a distasteful affair. Worse still if they are already married and with children."

"It was quite unpleasant. He would often send me flowers and gifts to the point that it was almost every day. He hunted boars, deer, foxes, and other wild beasts and offered them to me. I do not know what to do with them. Sometimes in the evening he would drop by my window and sing lovesongs from his homeland though he knows that I understand them not. My brother finally got so annoyed that they got into a fistfight. It was terrible. They both ended up bloody and battered. They would not have stopped if I had not pushed them both over the bridge. Both were proficient swimmers so they did not drown but I had to tend to their wounds as an apology to Tartaglia while castigating him at the same time. His advances only ended when he was deployed elsewhere. I believe it was in Liyue, our neighboring nation."

"Heavens! What could you possibly have done to have him so smitten with you? It seems that you have had quite the ordeal with this Tartaglia. My suffering in the frontier seems like a childish offense. Your decision was wise to reject him. I wonder if this is the reason why you chose to work so far away from home."

"Partly because of that, but I truly believe that I ought to forge a new path than Mondstadt could offer. Mondstadt is a place of comfort. It is difficult to grow in places where you are too comfortable."

"You are correct on that."

"It seems that the two of you are having a riveting conversation." Neuvillette cuts in, entering through the door. His appearance has become composed once again, contrary to how vulnerable he looked the other night.

"Monsieur Neuvillette, good afternoon. Is there anything I can do for you?" Lumine stood from her seat and faced her employer.

"It is nothing. I merely dropped by to thank you for doing so well in teaching Furina. She seems to have enjoyed your lesson very much. She even boasted to me about your latest lesson and how much praise you gave her for her intelligence. Chlorinde was so excellent to hire you."

"I am much flattered by your compliments, Monsieur. I promise to continue doing well with Miss Furina."

"If you have time, I will be going to town this afternoon. I ought to treat Furina to some gifts since I failed in my promise to deliver her "poupée". I would enjoy it better if you could accompany me."

"And what about me? Am I not invited to this little excursion?" Wriotesley cuts in.

"You have a horse. You can navigate your way there," answered Neuvillette.

"You are much too cruel, my friend." Wriotesley chuckled.

"I merely jest. Of course, you may accompany us. Though my carriage can only accommodate myself and the two ladies. You will have to go on your horse."

"I was only kidding. I will be preoccupied this afternoon with some matters regarding a property I purchased. Do not wait for me later either since I will not be back until a few days."

"Is that so? Then please inform me when you depart. I shall have my servants arrange for your trip."

"It would be much appreciated."

"I also came here to call on you two for lunch. The table is laid. We must not keep our food waiting."

Lumine followed the two gentlemen to the dining hall and exchanged some conversation along the way. Their lunch was simple. For their entrée, they had charcuterie and cheese. They shared some casual stories to pass the time while waiting for the food to arrive. Once laid out, their main dishes are composed of some meat, fish, and a confit of duck with green salad. It seems that everyone has their own favorite among the dishes that were served. Lumine noticed that Monsieur Neuvillette mostly ate the fish and seafood soup while Furina enjoyed a hefty serving of poultry. Mr. Wriotesley on the other hand satisfied himself with large portions of steak.

For dessert, they were served with some exquisite patisserie which Miss Furina enjoyed to her hearts content. All of these Lumine enjoyed thoroughly. She has never had a meal so delicious and fulfilling. She had to stop herself from gorging least they think her a lowly plebian.

After her meal, Lumine thought to get some fresh air and excused herself from the table. Furina said that she would like to accompany her. Neuvillette would have joined them if not for the tenant farmers asking for an audience with him. Wriotesley volunteered to accompany the two ladies to keep them safe. The day proceeded to be lovely and cheerful.

🌻

"Life is so miserable. Why do I have to be deployed in Liyue when I can be in Mondstadt with my lady? I was so close to softening her heart. In a few more weeks I think she would accept if I proposed to her. Life is filled with such misfortune." Tartaglia monologed as he gazed forlornly into his office window in Liyue. The Port city was exquisite yet it bored him to death not to see his favorite lady every day like he used to.

"Oh, Princess of Winter Mist where have you gone to this time? Your loyal knight in shining armor misses you so dearly that if anyone should ever feel my sadness then their hearts would have been cleaved in half!"

"Excuse me, Master Tartaglia..." said his subordinate timidly.

"What is it? Can't you see that I'm in the middle of being sad? Oh, how I miss my darling Lumine."

"I have news about Mister Aether, sir. He seems to have been deployed in Liyue along with his regiment. They are staying at the Sunrise Inn."

"Is Lumine with him?" Tartaglia's face brightened with excitement.

"It does not appear to be the case, sir. The lady is not present." His expression fell, his joy being drained too prominent to ignore.

"Fuck, where could she have gone to now?" Tartaglia muttered to himself. He bit his nail, a terrible hobby he recently picked up. He wondered if Lumine would scold him if she found out about his nasty little habit. She's rather cute when annoyed and she's even more pretty when she's furious. Oftentimes Tartaglia would think that she's a little bunny trying to reprimand a wolf for tramping flowers. She is much too adorable for his sanity. Alas, this very nature of hers is what draws him in. His might, his valor, and his relentless will are no match for the allure of Lumine Viatrix.

After a moment of thought, he turned to his subordinate.

"Steal all the letters meant for my brother-in-law especially if it was from Lumine. That ought to tell us where my beloved wife is."

"Yes, sir."

Note: Childe's delulu is on another level here. Lumi is not his wife. He just calls her that.