"Hush child and listen well. You breathe Dendro as I. You are so much like i strong and just. Do not dwell on the past, for we shall meet soon enough." The deep voice resonated deeply within me, "now awaken."

I jolted awake, sweat dripping down my face. My vision was hazy, but the room I was in smelled different from the hallway I was in prior. This place smelled of medical herbs and antiseptic. I rubbed my hands down my legs and onto what felt like a mattress. Did I make it to the infirmary? No, I couldn't have made it.

"Hey, you're awake!" I heard a gentle voice say as I heard small footsteps walk towards me. I rubbed my eyes, yet my vision was still foggy.

"Hi, um... I hate to be a bother, but do you have a cloth with some water on it? My vision is a bit off currently." I say, looking at a blurred short figure standing by my feet.

"Of course! Let me get you a damp cloth. So you're Ms. Silva?" The sweet voice said, walking away.

"Yeah, I am Silva, although here I guess I'm going to be known as one zero six four. May I ask how you know of me, I had only arrived a few hours ago. I haven't introduced myself to anyone." I said sadly, bringing my hands to my lap.

"Don't be so down. Monsieur Nuevillette wouldn't have told me to make sure you were taken of you if he thought you were evil." The small figure ran back towards me.

I felt something wet dab at my eyes. It was soft and warm. Oh, she must have brought the clothes and the water was warm. That was not a luxury I was not expecting. After she wiped my eyes, I blinked a few times, and my sight was as right as the rain.

I closed my eyes, and a soft smile graced my lips, "Thank you... Ms?"

I looked beside me and saw a kind smile returning my own.

"Sigewinne, head nurse Sigewinne," the small human-like Melusine said.

"Thank you, Ms. Sigewinne." I bowed my head.

"Don't worry about it, but if you should, thank anyone. It would be his grace. He carried you into the infirmary after you fell unconscious." She said, lifting my shirt.

I stared at my side, noticing fresh bandages and a massive reduction of the pain in my side, "Did you heal me? Ms. Sigewinne."

"Yes, while you still have a gash on your side, it no longer requires stitches. I healed it up using my vision. However, you should still take it easy for the next few days." She smiled, sitting at her desk in the front of the room.

"So the infamous Duke of Meropide carried me here, that's sweet of him to do... especially since I had just arrived." I said, smiling, turning to get out of bed.

"You should tell him that. He invited you to his office for some tea. He said no one's first day in Meropide should be spent in the infirmary." She said, opening a drawer and pulling out a large envelope, "Here I need this brought to his grace. Could you take this to him? I have to go make myself some dinner."

"Alright, I can do that. I am remiss, though I haven't been shown where his office is." I said, standing and stretching my back.

She let out a small chuckle, "I'll show you just follow me."

"Alright, lead the way," I said following after the small Melusine.

She led me down the main corridor and to the lift I had taken earlier with that asshole guard. Ms. Sigewinne was greeted happily by both the staff and inmates. It filled my heart with hope that maybe that guard was just a one-off coincidence.

"You seem well-respected, Sigewinne. It's quite nice to see." I smiled.

"Why thank you, Ms. Silva, I can tell by the way you walk, you are well-traveled. Your posture is a bit ridged, but each step has meaning. You're guarded but free-flowing it's quite refreshing." Sigewinne said, leading to a massive set of double doors.

"I guess this is his grace's office?" I ask, marveling at massive bronze or perhaps brass handles.

"It sure is. Now, it's best not to keep him waiting." Sigewinne said, walking off behind me.

I gulped and took a centering breath. As I reached out for the handle, I noticed my fingers twitching. With another breath, I steel myself. I pulled open the huge door open.

I was met with a gentle scent that reminded me of my found home in Liyue. I ascended the stairs that were wrapped around the edge of the room. There was an interesting music playing in the background.

As I reached the apex of the stairs, I noticed a tall man standing in front of a massive desk. There was a coat covered in black wolf like fur draped over his back. There was a small create opened next to him.

"Excuse me, your grace? You wanted to see me?" I spoke, noticing his hair swish slightly at my voice.

"Yes, and thank you for coming, Ms. Silva." He said, turning to face me.

I was stunned, and this man was gorgeous. He was roughly six foot two and well built. But what stood out to me was his cold, calculating, icy blue eyes.

"Please have a seat on the sofa." He said, motioning to the worn red couch snapping from my thoughts.

"Of course." I said, sitting down, noticing the items that were left in my hotel room were either on his desk or in the small crate, "Pardon me, your grace, but why do you have these items? I was told by the guardes they'd be destroyed."

"Ah, monsieur Nuevillette had the champion duelist had them brought here for you. I must say for a traveler from Inazuma you have a lot of documents that don't pertain to your travel in Fontaine." He said, looking over his shoulder at me.

"I was here for research regarding my family. He and my mother traveled throughout Tevat just before I was born. From what I found out, my mother abandoned me and him at Port Ormos when he was trying to escape his family in Sumeru. I was but a newborn at the time. From what I found out during my time in Liyue, they spent the most time in Fontaine. They were herb farmers. I was trying to find where my mother went." I said  the decision to be truthful, weighing on my mind.

"That's quite the story. Would you care for some tea?" He asked, putting a kettle on a small tea nook.

"That sounds quite lovely, actually."  I said Sigewinne did say the invite was for tea after all.

He turned towards his desk, sitting down in the well constructed chair as he interlocked his fingers, "So tell me, do you know why the guard whom escorted you to your room was so rough with you?"

I looked down at my feet, "It's because of my attack on the guards... according to him, I had put his brother-in-law in the hospital. He was seeking revenge. At least, that's my perspective on the matter."

"I feel that I must apologize for being so remiss in retraining my guards. I had just taken over Meropide. It appears some of the guards haven't been properly trained in my new policies."  He said, staring into my eyes.

"There is no need to apologize, your grace. I brought this upon myself." I said a deep sense of remorse coursing through my heart.

"No one brings abuse from others on themselves, no matter the circumstances." He said as the kettle started to whistle.

That struck me deep. It reminded me of something Ayato said to me as I departed Inazuma.

"No matter where the journey takes you, remember you don't have to take the plate given to you." Ayato's voice rang in my ears.

I smiled slightly, "Thank you, your grace."

"Please, if it's not too much, call me Wriothesley while in this office." He said, standing up, going over to the kettle.

"Wriothesley... that's a lovely name." I murmured under my breath.

I stood up and walked over to the crate containing my belongings. I felt his gaze shift to my back. There was a feeling of tension between us. I didn't blame him for the suspension.

"Forgive me, Wriothesley. I don't have any weapons. I was just wondering if we are having tea, could we use the blend that my close friends in Liyue made." I said slightly bowed.

"It's alright, Ms. Silva. I had already gone through the crate. I know there were no weapons in there. Is the tea in those carved cor lapis jars?" His grace said, pulling the kettle of the heat.

"In the largest one, yes. The rest of the jars are other dried herbs that are sensitive to the open air." I said, pulling out the intricately crafted cor lapis jar that had a carving of a dragon on the lid.

He brought the cups over to his desk, " That's quite lovely,".

"Thank you, Wriothesley. It was a gift from two friends whom I became close with in Liyue harbor. They gave them to me along with the tea before I departed for Fontaine." I said, placing the jar on the large desk.

"If you don't mind me asking, what blend of herbs are in this tea?" He asked, turning towards me.

"Mainly osmanthus and jasmine, there is also violet grass and dried glaze lilies. It's meant to help with migraines and exhaustion." I said, taking off the lid, "My friend, Baizhu, blended it with my goal in mind."

"Dr. Baizhu of Bubu pharmacy, maybe you can put in a word for Sigewinne. She has been wanting to order some herbs from them but can't seem to get a response." Wriothesley said, measuring out some of the loose tea for our cups, "We do have a post station here in the fortress. So long as you have the coupons, we can send and receive anything from or to anywhere. So long as it passes inspection first."

"I can at least try. Both you and Sigewinne have shown me a great deal of kindness in the few short hours I've been here. It is the very least I can do." I say as Wriothesley hands me the freshly steeped tea.

"Cream or sugar?" He asked, gesturing to the tray on his coffee table.

"Just some sugar, cream mutes the flavor of the osmanthus petals." I said, sitting down on the couch once more.

"Well, I shall take your word for it." He said, placing a cube of sugar in his cup, and I did the same.

"Do you have any other questions for me?" I asked, slowly sipping the steamy beverage in my hand, warmth spreading through my chest as a sense of familiarity eased my thoughts.

"Yes, actually, this was waiting for you at the front desk of the hotel you were at. According to the champion duelist, it had arrived today." Wriothesley said, pulling a golden envelope out of a folder on the coffee table, "Would you care to read it for me?"

I recognized the golden hue and glaze lily wax seal. It was from the man who had been looking after me when I arrived in Liyue. Mr. Zhongli, he found my travels a curious topic and had taken interest in my quest.

"May I ask why? It's not like I have anything to hide, I'm just curious." I asked, lifting up the wax seal.

"It's a favor to Nuevillette. He, as you know, is continuing to investigate your attack. There seems to be a possibility of a connection to the increase of drug overdoses in the Court of Fontaine. I want to help him get to the bottom of it." He said.

"Ahh, I see. I will read it for you. However, there will be little information to assist you, I'm afraid." I said, pulling the stationary from its confinement.

"I'll guess we will see, won't we." His grace said, his icy eyes closing as he sipped his tea.

I unfolded the nicely penned letter and began to speak, "Good day, Silva, I have heard of what befell you in Fontaine. While I am unsure of all the details, I know that the Fontaine justice system is a fair one. While I have accepted the fact that it may be a fair bit of time before we see or even exchange letters. I want you to know I still shall help you find your family. Once you are able to reach out to me and tell me of your journey. I shall a wait for the day can share tea and exchange stories once again, my honored friend."

"Your friend is quite well written." Wriothesley said placing down his empty cup.

"He is." I agreed with his grace, "Did anything aroused your suspensions?"

"No, it just seems you have someone on the outside of Fontaine who cares for you." He said standing up.

I subtly looked up at his face. His grace looked like he was trying to suppress a sorrowful expression. A face I knew well. I looked at the shelves behind me and happened to notice a small clock reading it was past eight at night.

"I must apologize Wriothesley, but I feel as if I have taken up too much of your time. Someone of your status must be busy. I'm sorry to have wasted your time." I said embarrassedly as he put up his hand.

"No need for the apologies Silva. I was the one who invited you. If I am to be honest I don't view this as a waste of my time. It's not often I invite a prisoner to my office their first day and of the times I have done that, this time has been relatively enjoyable. Now I shall have a guarde bring you this create by tomorrow however I'm sure you wouldn't like your lovely herb jars stolen. So as a favor I'll keep them locked in my office and if you feel you need some of your tea just send a request through Sigewinne. I'll be glad to share another cup of tea with you." He said offering his hand to help me off the couch.

I felt a slight warmth glaze my cheeks as I took his hand, "Thank you, your grace."

"Please, just Wriothesley." He said helping me up.

"Thank you, Wriothesley." I smiled as I felt his gaze soften.

"Your welcome. Now go talk to ban, the robot next to the cafeteria. It'll provide you with your daily wellfair meal." He said walking over to the stairs.

"I appreciate it. Have a good night." I said bowing to him and walking down the stairs. I quickly walked out

Maybe, just maybe.... things will be okay.