You crossed the bridge from Tenshukaku into the city with Thoma in tow. You felt Ayato's eyes on you and turned. He looked particularly annoyed as he watched you leave with his servant. You disappeared into the crowd of the street. Thoma ran after you as you walked underneath the shade of the yumeru trees. Inazuma City was busier than usual today, with people chattering away at the sidelines. Thoma scratched the back of his head, looking guilty. You knew he wasn't sure if you were aware of him bribing his connections to smuggle the Traveler into Inazuma back when they were in Ritou. Water under the bridge.

Your family never raised you to chat with servants, but Thoma was so outlandish from what you were used to that you couldn't help but ask why he was making that face.

"It's just that... Lord Ayato," he said. "Um, I know you have a bit of a history with him."

A frown crossed your face as you fell into step with him. "You do?"

"I know it might be personal between the two of you, and I don't mean to pry, but I don't really understand. You seemed to be really close when you were younger, then you started 'hating' each other, and now you're engaged to be married."

Something about the way he said 'hating' made you pause. Yes, this statement meant that Thoma never knew what transpired between you and Ayato years ago, but it did mean he knew more than he should.

"Yes, we have, and yes, that makes it more difficult, but what's between us is unmistakably animosity," you said, quirking an eyebrow. "Your tone suggests that it's something else entirely."

"Sorry, I know it's not my place," he said. "But I don't know why he claims to loathe you and yet anyone with eyes can see that you're consistently on his mind."

"I mean nothing to him," you insisted, causing Thoma to look at you knowingly. "It is simply an arrangement between the Kanjou and the Yashiro Commissions. Nothing more. He was simply too polite to tell me to leave. He loathes me, and I reciprocate everything he feel."

Even as you said it, it felt dirty and cheap coming from your lips. A hint of nausea passed through you.

Inazuma City was a lot less shiny now that you were older, which was disappointing because it was a reminder that you had to face the real world. When people recognized you, saw you being followed around by a servant of the Yashiro Commission, they whispered behind their hands. When would they understand you were more than your family tree? You lifted your chin. You'd been so consumed with your own worries, you hadn't noticed the strange noise coming from the square. A shout, murmurs, the intake of breath from a crowd.

A sound in the distance made Thoma raise his head. "What's that?"

"Come on," Thoma said. You couldn't even imagine what it was, but it seemed to catch his attention.

When you reached the intersection, it was clear something was happening, and the crowd was too thick to see. Thoma stepped on a crate against the wall of a shop and offered you a hand while he scanned the place. You were halfway up when he suddenly stepped down, his face worried.

"You need to go," he said. "Return to Tenshukaku."

"What?" you asked, trying to force your way back up.

"Go to Ayato! I'll be there in a minute, just leave, I swear!"

Whatever it was, you knew that it was meant for you. You yanked your hand away from Thoma and began to push through the crowd. People saw you, recognized you, and then looked angry. Hands shoved you back. Voices hissed.

"Lady Ayaka, the Yashiro Commission cannot let such a dirty family ruin your name! The Kanjou Commission must be overthrown! Lord Ayato is better off with a commoner than with the murk of aristocratic filth!"

You stepped back as though struck in the face, gaping. You broke to the cleared space and saw Ayaka standing behind the protective arm of the Traveler and his floating companion. You stuck out like a sore thumb, dressed in expensive robes among commoners. The crowd turned from Ayaka onto you and began to boo.

You met eyes with Ayaka and you saw her heart drop to her stomach. You were used to people hating the Kanjou Commission, but she certainly never had to experience that. If Ayato was telling the truth, and he really did want to help you, you would both have to work a lot harder at convincing them you were bewitchingly in love.

Blood rushed to your face as your knuckles went tight from humiliation. The Traveler suddenly pulled Ayaka by the hand and grabbed your arm with the other, violently pushing through the throng of people and leading you away. The pair of them broke into a run. You could hear them talking, and Thoma joined along the way, and before you knew it you were being ushered into the Komore Teahouse as soon as you were away from the crowd.

Everyone stopped to catch their breath.

Ayaka straightened. "Aether, this is Hiragi F/N of the Kanjou Commission, F/N, this is—"

"—Aether, I am aware," you said bitterly, straightening as well. "We met briefly a long time ago in Ritou."

Aether smiled, his mouth akin to rays of the morning sun. A part of you had an envy that borderlined admiration of how much of a golden boy he was, so pristinely perfect and noble that it was no wonder everyone loved him. He had no duties, no solid responsibilities, no rules imposed on him, and yet he still managed to do it all. If you ever had the chance to switch lives and be so free, so easy to love, you were sure you'd never set foot in Inazuma ever again.

"It's nice to see you again," he said. "I can't thank you enough for all the help you and Lady Chisato gave me back then."

"Well, I suppose rescuing me was enough," you said. "Now we are no longer indebted to each other."

"This isn't Liyue, what's with all the talk of debts and trades?" Paimon interrupted. "Do we just wait in this teahouse like always or what? Because Paimon could really order some dango right now!"

"I'll see to it that my brother returns," Ayaka said. A sad expression was on her face as she looked at you. "F/N, I am so sorry. The way the people of Inazuma City behaved today was absolutely disgracious. I shall speak to Ayato about this."

"Don't, it really means nothing to me," you said, turning so they wouldn't see the look on your face. "It should be me apologizing to you, it's my fault you were bombarded like th—"

"Don't be ridiculous!" Ayaka insisted, and you could tell that she was heartbroken.

You silently sat at the counter to pat Taroumaru as the three of them left to find your fiancé. You weren't aware of how upset you were until the dog let out a small bark that lifted your spirits. It was easier for him to love you, as he only saw you as dogs did — nothing about names, no status, and you could just be another human instead of something contaminated.

The door chimed as it opened. You heard footsteps, and then someone placed a tall cup of boba on the counter in front of you. You didn't need to ask to know who it was. You shrugged your shoulders. Was he silently criticizing you for criticizing yourself? But you didn't know the answer. Or perhaps the answer was so obvious that you didn't have to answer. It was moments such as these that left you feeling so empty that you didn't know how to feel at all. You weren't moving either. Your impulse was to tell him to go away and go home by himself. You'd be home in time for dinner. But you also knew Ayato was too strict about your safety to listen to that.

"Sorry Taroumaru," he said, nudging the drink to your hands. Taroumaru sniffed it, miffed that he had brought outside food within the establishment. "We'll take it outside next time, I swear."

Ayato popped the straw for you and leaned his back on the counter as you reluctantly sipped it. Then you held the straw to your mouth and drank it wholly, chewing the sticky pearls. "Thanks," you said after a short silence.

"It's nothing," he said. He sighed as he glanced out the window. Dusk was setting and the sky was turning pink. "Archons, if I'd known the situation with the Kanjou Commission had escalated to this, I never would have brought you to the city."

"It does not matter," you said. "It's just how it is."

"You can't settle for just as is. I cannot tolerate people harassing my finacé," he said seriously. "Neither can you."

The door chimed again. Ayaka and the rest of the party entered. When they saw you drinking the boba he clearly bought, and him leaning on the counter close to you like a comfort, Ayaka placed a hand on her heart as she softened while Thoma and Aether began to cough and blush, thinking they'd walked in on a tender moment. Heat flooded to your cheeks in embarrassment. From what, you weren't exactly sure.

"Ayato, I was thinking that the Yashiro Commission would follow through with your engagement party as soon as possible," she said the moment Ayato straightened. "I spoke to Guuji Yae and she agreed that tensions are high. We need a distraction."

"Of course, arrangements will be made immediately," Ayato said seriously, and a part of you was brought back to the reality of it all.

You were born and raised to be a partner. A princess for someone to make a trophy out of, a decorative piece for a picture-perfect background. You truly could not place a finger as to why he was risking his dignity when he could easily just call off your engagement. It would ruin you forever, sure, but at least one of you would be able to lead a happy life. Ayato cannot stand your presence. So why you?

"Aether, you should come," you said.

The blond traveler's eyes widened and Ayato glanced. "You want me at your party?"

As the group left the teahouse, you snuck a glance at Ayato, who was deep in thought. He reached out an arm and for a moment you were confused until he reminded you that he had to hold your hand. You didn't know why, but his arm suddenly felt lighter as you placed your palm on it. In the dark of the night when your line of sight was obscured, his scent seemed to grow stronger.

You could hear his breaths and you were certain he could hear yours as well. Cold night air, soft breaths, and his fragrant but slightly musky scent. You could even feel his arms underneath his coat. You met eyes and looked away almost immediately like you were embarrassed. you raised your eyebrows at him. He shook his head and fell into step beside you.

"I told you you should've brought more guards," he said. "Or better yet, maybe it's better if you had tea in Tenshukaku. Laws protect you there, you know — even if Kujou Sara isn't fond of your commission."

"Thoma did his best."

You were both silent after that, the only sound being your footsteps and Ayaka and Thoma talking at the front of the group. Aether kept glancing back at you with a puzzled look on his face, and that did not escape Ayato's eye.

"Why'd you invite Aether?" he asked.

"We just go a long way back," you said. "He made quite the impression on me when he first came to Inazuma."

"Huh," Ayato said blankly. "I didn't know."

You shrugged. You stared at the ground, occasionally looking at the way he walked. A long time ago, you liked to plant your footsteps where his had been. He had long legs. The thought that the appearance of his lower body even crossed your mind made you uncomfortable and you banished them immediately. Your face grew warm and you stopped looking at him.

"It's fine, really, when people insult me," you finally said. "I'm used to it."

"Darling, don't be naive. It's not 'fine,'" he said. "Only I can do that."

"If being a noble nuisance is the principle that brings you utter pride then I suppose it is not my place to rip it away."

You had both made up your minds—or he did and you did so in turn—and while things may appear to be improving, you didn't dare believe that any change could be actually permanent. You were so lost in your thoughts that you didn't even remember that you didn't even have to hold his hand.