✤ — Universe: Tyranny
✤ — Concept: To get rid of a conceited suitor...
✤ — Characters: Alatus, Kazuha, Diluc, Xingqiu
A/N: Help this is extremely self-indulgent and fanservice but it doesn't matter, right, dears- we're in need of dopamines right- right- now perhaps squeal with me-
“You should marry me, your Majesty!”
What a great way to start a private meeting.
The teacup clinks rather loudly against the plate, your hold on it almost slipping in genuine astonishment. Although you do not flitter your eyes towards the others in the room, their bafflement is evident in the air.
“I should marry you?” you reiterate with an amused hum, “Why is that, I wonder?”
“I will do everything it takes to fulfill your satisfaction,” states the Count from his seat, his words paired with a charming wink.
With an arch of your eyebrow, you take a sip of your tea before answering, “My, I'm flattered... you will be a wonderful King for me, then.”
“Your Majesty?!” Alatus steps in from the background, his exclamation sounding baffled. For good reasons, of course.
Out of everyone, he's one that opposes any kind of marriage with men like the Count in fear of how the Kingdom will be regulated.
“I am not so easily gratified, though,” not giving the Yaksha. any attention you fixate your gaze on the rather handsome nobleman in front of you, “I can be quite extreme.”
“It's no trouble at all!”
The assurance makes you curl your lips with a giggle.
How straightforward..
“I like that.”
But some are all talk and no bite.
Standing from the sofa, you saunter to the aristocrat, leaning down with a curious hum. “If I order you to kiss me-”
Alatus splutters, “Your Majesty?”
“-Will you do it?”
The Count simply leans upwards in an attempt to let his actions speak, but you press your fingers against his lips. They're slightly damp from the tea, with their warmth permeating through the silken fabric of your gloves.
Your voice falls to a deadly alluring whisper.
“And if I say that the red on my lips is poison, will you still do as I ordered you to?”
“.. !”
His eyes are quick to grow owlish and before you know it, he's falling back onto his seat, hushed with voiceless denial. To this, your eyelids flutter down halfway in a narrowed stare.
How unfortunate.
“I thought you wished for my satisfaction? That's a lie, then,” uprighting yourself, you stroll towards the crimson garbed Yaksha, who eyes your every move warily until you're standing at his side.
Close, yet not enough. The little space between leaves the mind to do the fretting.
Against the golden pauldrons of the warrior, you lay your fingers with a curling smile, “A mere Knight and servant will fare as better Kings than you ever could... and you're a Count.”
“A Knight? A servant?” the nobleman repeats in obvious derisiveness, “Don't be ridiculous, your Majesty!”
Chuckling behind closed eyes, you draw out a long sigh that feigns defeat. At least, until your gentle touches move to grasp Alatus by the chin, tilting his face so he can look at you directly. Closely.
Delicate, so delicate, your touch is, but you know it to be poison to the warrior.
He's glaring, which is nothing to be surprised over, as well.
Oh, that defiant look, you grin.
“They know where their loyalty lies, don't you know it the most, dear Yaksha of mine?”
Alatus grits his teeth, his fists coiled at his sides. The affirmation that rolls off his tongue leaves a scalding burn within him.
“... Yes, your Majesty.”
Despite resignation, he does not break. It's spectacular.
Delighted with his honest answer, you withdraw yourself and move back to take a seat once more, triumphantly smiling at the gaping noble.
The Yaksha unclenches his jaw a mere second later, the warmth from the fingers that previously held his visage persisting to linger. It had been a tender caress... but it's toxic all the more.
What you're getting from the way the Count refuses to speak is that he's still clinging onto his mirage of loyalty. For someone who vowed you fulfillment, he's doing the complete opposite, isn't he?
Oh to demolish this man's vanity...
The silver-haired servant standing by the doors is quick to move at your side following the snap of your fingers.
“Kazuha,” your question does not change, “If I order you to kiss me, will you do it?”
As expected, his answer is given without a wasted breath.
“Yes, my Queen.”
Bafflement begins to spread throughout the aristocrat's dashing features—unfortunately, he's a coward—most probably not expecting that kind of response.
Ah, he must've forgotten the definition of a servant.
Your finger lands upon the plump of your ruby-tinted lips, [c] eyes carrying a devilish scintilla that isn't missed. You allow your head to fall back onto the back pillows of the sofa as you ask,
“And if I say the red on my lips is poison... will you still do as I ordered you to?”
“Yes, my Queen.”
Alatus makes some sound of incredulity, but his reaction dulls when compared to the Count's raging holler. It's almost embarrassing, actually, for the latter to make such a scene.
The nobleman slams his hand on the table, clattering the tea set, but you do not move your tilted head from the couch.
“Outrageous! There is no way he'll sacrifice his life for something as silly as that!”
You arch an eyebrow at this. Fascinating, but he knows not a thing, must he really need an example for him to be thrashed? Very well.
Without requiring a voice to resound the obvious command, you lock eyes with ones of carmine red.
Kazuha gives a timid blink as if he's preparing himself, then sets his hand upon the cushion of the sofa for leverage, near your head. He then murmurs something along the lines of 'if you'll allow me' as he leans down.
Each tick of a millisecond correlates to the closing distance and you grin, catching the dilating eyes of the speechless Count before silver tresses begin to obscure your vision.
But—
Slam!
“What's going on here?”
Diluc does not know what to make of the situation; the scandalized expression of the Yaksha, the exultant look of the Queen—and her Knight, whose hovering face is mere centimeters away from-
Xingqiu, who had been the one to escort him, releases an audible shriek of both confusion and fluster. It shatters the suffocating air within and an unknown man—another suitor, maybe?—stands.
“Madness, that's what!" bellows the latter as he fixes the lapels of his coat and turns to move past with a grumble, “With all due respect, I no longer wish to be your suitor! Fare thee well.”
Ah, so I was right, the Prince dwells. Another suitor.. who left on his own accord? That is.. new.
As far as he knows, most are obstinate and it is the Queen herself who dismisses them.
Diluc staggers, just as bewildered as the Chancellor beside him, who appears to be putting two and two together. Alas, before either of them can ask to clarify the situation, the Queen claps her hands.
“You missed the fun. But oh well! His Highness is here, shall we head on to the music room as scheduled?”
She leaves no room for debate when she stands, looking rather eager for the promised recital as she moves past them with her servant already in tow.
It's only when the pair is out of earshot does Diluc manages to question the still silent man in the room. When queried about what has happened, Alatus' eye only twitches.
“The oppression of a conceited noble, your Royal Highness."
[ bonus sketch: a servant's fluster ]
a/n: just mc asserting dominance, but in truth she's really just testing the count. wait until she actually meets scaramouche lmao-
I imagine tyranny!reader having a small and simple memorial shrine as a tribute to her siblings in her. Wonder how the harem would react to seeing that shrine that has an old rabbit plushy on it(it was the queen’s from her childhood, she frequently sews it back to normal)
Her plushie is actually with her in the palace, anon dear! You can read a snippet about it here.
As for her harem (slay, mc), well they'd probably be surprised (except for Childe/Zhongli)that the Queen keeps such a... thing. The burial site of her siblings is also rather privy.
No one knows of her past, just the fact that she was of 'peasant origin'.
Have you dears ever noticed that '[Name]' is/was only mentioned by Albedo, Childe, and Zhongli? Other than because it would be complete disrespect not to refer to her as 'Your Majesty', it's because no one knows her name.
(i really should publish a short about mc's road to nobility > crown aha)
It's always been kept that way under Rhinedottir's plan (why oh why~). When MC debuted into high society, her name was not much given thought because she was the black sheep of the aristocrats. She was a peasant! Gasp, unacceptable.
Yeah, she was really amused when she was crowned and saw the same people who belittled her cower in her presence.
in an anon's brainrot about ts!mc being the leader of the abyss instead, you make it sound like dain and ts!mc were (petty) exes AHSFJWEHKFHSDFSFJKDHSFJHSF IM NOT EVEN SURE WHY THAT WAS THE FIRST THOUGHT I HAD
wheezing rolling on my bed -
dain: [name], no.
mc: no you.
(dain implying that they had 'something', though it wasn't established, there was a spark)
mc: there wasn't.
aether/lumine: fatality 🤜🤛 also yeeeeeeees- i mean, COME BACK WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS SISTER-
Okay okay, hear me out. I know it’s a long shot and probably not possible, BUT
Vigil!MC learns, along with the others during the Itodori Festival Event, discovers that Kunikuzushi aka Scaramouche was the one behind the fall of their clan. Everyone is shocked, but MC is freaking out bc they know that name.
Here’s where my arm breaks off from how far I’m reaching, but Kunikuzushi was the one and only person Vigil!MC ever had feelings for, maybe even a relationship. They’re freaking out bc how does she tell anyone that the one who destroyed her clan and her brother’s comfortable future was someone who she held romantic feelings towards. “What if he was using me? No, why would he keep writing me letters even after we lost our prestige? Was he mocking me? Was any of it real? Is it my fault that he used me to get information from me and use it against my family?” Just total collapse after she thought she had finally accepted the fall of her clan.
Scaramouche hesitating to kill the Great(?) Grandfather of Vigil!MC and Vigil!Kazuha bc he’s like “wait i know that fuckin name.”
Told you I was reaching, but you cant stop brain rot when you’re holding on to every little crumb of Scaramouche Lore content
Dear, you're so Scaramouche deprived but I can't judge since honestly, I am too-
Also, impossible as this may be (really the only impossible thing is the romance, not like i'm against it, but more because mc is aware of the history).
BUT LET'S NOT TALK ABOUT VIGIL CANON THINGS, DEARIE.
Let's talk about this, let's humor the prompt! Just because it can't be canon to the au doesn't mean we can't imagine, after all~ :v
MC would be terribly heartbroken and oh would she feel incredibly used. Was it really the only reason why 'he' was so friendly/'interested' in her? Because she was the heiress and therefore had all access to what's left of the clan?
If a letter arrives, you're going to bet that she burns that. Or she throws it away and Kazuha finds it and hE TENSES- WHO IS THIS??? A PENPAL! BUT NOT JUST A PENPAL, WHY ARE THERE BORDERLINE ROMANTIC PHRASES THERE HUH-
aLSO why is mc looking so sad? mad, even? oh boy.
MC would feel disgusted for ever harboring romantic feelings towards someone who was responsible for everything.
She would stop responding to the letters and since she travels with Kazuha, she won't ever need to be concerned about crossing paths with Kunikuzushi. Tiny chance of encounters.
But if they do? MC wouldn't bat an eye.
It will hurt, but she will heal. Because she knows that the clan won't, nor would its lost honor.
I am unsure whether or not If I missed this somewhere in the story, but If the Queen and Alatus were to fight, who'd win?
I am taking this opportunity to answer this in a voiceline setting! More under the cut because I could not resist expanding on this- with a bonus sketch because I also cannot resist drawing him-
(oh dear, he's quite annoyed)
Concept: Someone asks if he'll lose against the Queen in a sparring
✤ — Ahah- I'm not trying to sound discourteous, but should you really raise questions that you already know the answer to?
.. What? Arguable? You cannot be serious.
It isn't that I am undervaluing her Majesty and her prowess, but you should know that-! Hm? So you are truly torn about this matter.
How perplexing. But very well, good luck entertaining the Queen with this question of yours.
Wait, what? You already visited her Majesty before— and she agreed!?
[ Winning ]
✤ — Is this enough evidence for you? Need my might be doubted, still? Good.
Heh, well, in all honesty, I expected it to last shorter but it didn't. I've heard from Kaedehara that the Queen does train, but I've never seen her lift a sword until now.
To think that it will be against me.
Either way, it was indeed a complex battle. I knew not to underestimate someone of her Majesty's caliber, but I stand hereafter, realizing that I lack control over... subjectivity.
Hm, I should work on that.
Wait—what do you mean to tell the Queen of her admirable feats?
I would do no such thing.
[ Losing ]
✤ — ... Tsk, dare I say I did not see that coming.
Ah? Yes—I'm aware. I caused my own defeat. Over such a childish thing, as well. I can't comprehend the post clarity knowing that I lost because I was simply... provoked.
The Queen's known to be wily and sly, but I did not expect her to be able to aggravate me to this extent.
... I do suppose I've always been uptight around her Majesty, but such things cannot be helped, no? My dislike is a steady growing flame.
Now if you'll excuse me, I'll go and train.
Explaining further down here!
Now, if they were to fight, it'd be chaos lmao- Alatus would definitely win.
The Queen has acknowledged the fact that she can die by his hand if he so wished, many, many times. And! We're talking about a weapon master here.
Alatus' manner of combat is... destructive, so to say. With wide arching slices and groundbreaking slams (he's dangerous with a claymore/longsword). We don't speak about his deadly accuracy with a bow.
He's also swift with the polearms/lances but if you pair him with a sword? He's swifter because of the lighter weight.
Wielding it with one hand is easy, and you bet he'll smile in the middle of a battle. What can I say? He shines on the battlefield.
The Queen, on the other hand, has the sword and bow at her disposal. Taught by yours truly, Albedo, Ajax.. and.. mother
（￣︶￣）
She can fight really well with it, actually, because the contract between them states that MC must be a dignified noble worthy of the throne.
MC is flashy and quick with her swordplay, always adding a pretty, elegant flourish that belies the fact that she won't hesitate to cut a head off lmao
Pretty quick on her feet, too.
But her background still is taken into account. If you dears remember the first part of Tyranny, it has been mentioned there that MC always has been the sickly one amongst the siblings.
Her body is weak in nature, she has simply trained long and hard enough for her to adapt to combat. Her stamina is above average but in terms of power/force, she's so-so.
Hence why her method of winning is through incredibly swift attacks and subterfuge/diversion.
She's also the kind to think over tactics before ever deciding to lift any weapon, and analyze the opponent if need be, as seen in the third chapter when it's revealed that confronting the assassin has been premeditated.
She'll think over the risks first and plan a way around those.
With this in mind, MC will have the upper hand against Alatus in the first moments of their sparring. She likes watching him and the Knights in training, so she knows a handful of his move set.
The catch is managing to catch him off guard or stagger him because she knows she's at a time limit. She can last long, yes, we have to thank Childe's incessant desire to spar for that, but Alatus is simply perfectly honed for combat.
That mentioned, Alatus isn't entirely off the hook either—the Queen is hella unexpected. She likes riling him up- and when one is riled up, emotions take over and the mind loses grip.
Alatus has incredible difficulty trying to keep his sentiments at bay when it comes to MC—so if he were to lose, it'd be because he got way too heated and predictable.
MC will rub it in his face lol.
If the Queen loses, however, Alatus would huff- then smile. Because hey, he won ;>
uuuuu.. hi it’s the reincarnation anon, thank you so much for the fic. i’ve been consuming reincarnation and isekai media like its water for so long ive always had this itch behind my mushy brain ever since you first posted vigil.. kazuha has been so depressed in this au, man deserves to be happy (´；ω；`)
ALSO!! vigil!mc deserves to be doted and showered in love!!! especially by a cutie kid!kazoo!!!!! sis has sacrificed so much she deserves it!
now what about vigil!kazu getting isekaid into OG genshin…. either OG genshin doesn’t have a sis there or.. it does have a sis but she’s unrelated to him..(and maybe related to someone else (like itto, who also deserves a happier childhood!!!) and she also dotes on them, and the kicker here is that sibling actually returns the doting and showering with love!!!)
sis!mc: hugs and kisses to itto
Itto: returns big bear hugs to sis!mc
Kazuha in the back clenching his fists and looking like he’s almost gonna cry: the wind just got in my eyes… ( ･ᴗ･̥̥̥ )
either way kazoo’s gonna be depressed ™
(okay I said kazuha deserves happiness but there’s just a pull for him going ⬇️⬇️⬇️)
-you can just call me nii hehe..
Nii, dear. First of all, thank you, and you're welcome, as well! Angsts make me thrive ughh :weary:
BUT let's talk about this- this! You say that Kazu needs fluff! And he does, yes! SO WHY IS THIS ASK OF YOURS STILL ANGST AHSDKAHDKJADHKDADHSDSA /lh
Kazuha needs fluff! Not angst!
That's why there's actually more angst under the cut! -/SLAPPED
It's actually sad that this happens. Say they're simply in a different universe...
Kazuha just sees this lady. She has silvery hair and crimson eyes, similar to a specific oni he's seen around. But there's something off about it.
Why is it—that he feels the same presence of his sister in that lady?
He thinks he's deluded himself so much with sorrow but there's no mistaking that aura for someone else. He'll see her exchange with Itto and the despondence just eats him whole.
Because- maybe- maybe, that could've been him.
Perhaps if he wasn't so negligent, perhaps if he had paid his sister more attention... maybe, maybe, maybe.
There will be a time when he actually dared to approach them and MC looks at him, smiling.
"Oh, Kazuha! Hello there."
He stops breathing for a while.
She still calls him so, so nicely—but there's a difference.
"Yo, yo, my guy, what's up? Nice to see you around again!"
A notable difference; the ounce of familial love was not directed toward him, but to someone else.
Although he was given a warm welcome, a lovely greeting, he has to remember—that although this lady carried the same feel as his sister...
wait wait, tumblr user, avid angst enjoyer and creator of vigil, i have a question for thee🙋:
what in the lord happened to the boy who tried to give v!mc a bouquet of glaze lilies?? did the guy move on and get in a relationship? or is he still hopelessly pining for mc? or did he leave inazuma to a different nation? or something??
-🦧 no but fr, what happened to him????? i mean, i’d like to imagine that he and mc are still friends, but he’s moved on and has a partner. (i mean, he, and every other guy or gal in teyvat, wont ever be able to get together with vigil!mc because of one reason: Kazuha. vigil!mc will end up passing on single with only her overprotective; over-clingy little brother by her side — which isnt bad, per se, but idk. maybe vigil!mc’s aro :0 or not who knows).
I like to imagine that the unnamed suitor grew up to live in Liyue. He was able to bring those glaze lilies because he had gone there with his family before coming back to Inazuma to 'settle farewells'.
Timeskip, that (npc) suitor's definitely got a partner himself flash forward the years (present vigil setting) and when he saw Kazuha aboard the Crux, without his older sister, he thought that probably something's amiss.
Kazuha's gait is just different :'))
I like to think that this suitor walks up to greet him and is just about to ask about MC but then he sees- those eYES. Though Kazu has a normal expression on his face with a fixed smile, his eyes are so sullen.
So the man didn't ask anymore and only wished him a nice journey.
