I just realized my one-year tumblr anniversary has just passed... and no celebration? Dang...
It's a bit late, but here it is. A commemorative fanfic for this auspicious day.
This genshin fic takes place in a medieval-fantasy au, in which the seven are all dukes and duchesses, and celestia (The heavenly principles or whatever, I'm not that deep into the genshin universe. But eh, whatever, this is my fanfic so...) is the capital and it has an emperor.
“I will repeat my question one more time…” she said, knife still at the man’s throat. “Who are you?”
Underneath her vicious grip, he seemed fragile and thin. Delicate almost. But she knew not to be fooled by the fair man before her.
“My Lady,” the man said, soft and calm to the point of suspicion. “Would you be so kind as to place the dagger down? I suspect that you know if I wished to do something to you, I would have stroked while you were still asleep.”
“Really now… and how do I know you aren’t lying?”
The man, who’s face she still hadn’t seen, turned his head, his long hair cascading along with him.
He offered a small smile, and only then did she notice he was carrying something.
She wavered a few moments, then a realization hit her. She knew this man. He… he was… he was someone she knew very well.
“Zhongli…” she said, lowering her knife. “I…”
She looked at both her hands, watching as they shook, then shook her own head.
“It’s alright, Zibai,” he said calmly, offering a free hand of his to help her to her bed. His other hand was occupied by a plate of freshly made… spring rolls it appeared.
As he helped her to her bed, she looked around, finally beginning to recognize her bedroom. A large, lavish one it was. One filled with designs of the moon.
Suddenly, everything started to come back to her. She was a general; one known as the celestial moonlight general. But because of some unkown injury she couldn’t even remember herself, she’d begun to suffer from some strange illness. Often times, it would feel as though there were multiple different versions of her, and it was hard to remember anything from the day prior… and even before.
“Zibai…” her husband, Duke Zhongli said. She could tell, although he hid it very well with a smile, from years of muscle memory and knowing him that he was worried. His hair, which was usually neatly pulled back, was currently out now. His clothing wasn’t his usual formal attire, and instead seemed to be his night garments. “How are you feeling?”
“Zhongli…” she said, worry filling her eyes as she caressed his face in her hands. “You’re not getting enough rest… simply look at how heavy your eyes have become. I can manage the way I am right now, you don’t need to look for a cure.”
“But… if your enemies were to find out…”
That was right. Although she was well respected as a general in the army… this also meant that many people despised her, and would do anything to drag her down.
“I’ll be fine,” she said, taking his hands into hers. They felt warm, despite them being too thin. Was he really getting enough to eat? “But I need you to take care of yourself.”
“Of course…” he said looking down at his lap.
A few moments of silence passed before Zibai decided she wanted to ask something.
“How… how have you been covering up my absence?” she asked.
“The fact still remains that we were only officially married less than a month ago. According to the law… all those married are allowed to receive at least a month of absence. In the case of being with child… longer.”
That was right. After her mysterious injury, she’d insisted her and the love of her life get married while she still retained at least some of her sanity.
“How much… how much longer do I have until I must return?”
“I….” Zhongli said, amber eyes diverting her gaze. “We spoke of this yesterday. Do you not remember?”
“Please… don’t divert the subject and simply tell me.”
“And the plan… it was to feign a pregnancy.”
“If worst comes to worst, yes.”
“That’s much too reckless!” Zibai said, suddenly standing up from the spot in the bed she was sitting on. “We are already keeping things from the emporer. If we were caught… it could be considered treason!”
Zhongli didn’t say anything, and simply shook his head, a pensive look in his eyes.
“You know very well that either way leads to a dead end. Doing nothing in oppose to doing something… wouldn’t you rather at least try?”
Her colleagues would jump at the chance to get rid of a woman from the army, despite all the accomplishments that she’d made for their country. And that was the best thing that could happen if she was discovered.
Zibai remained thoughtful for a few moments before nodding, a grim expression on her face.
Now, Zhongli took the plate which contained the freshly made spring rolls on them.
“You should eat before they get cold,” he said, placing the plate in her hands. Zibai simply sat back down on her bed and placed the plate on her lap.
Despite the terrible situation they were in, the thing which saddened her the most was the fact that she’d forgotten the one who was most important to her… the one whom she cared about most.
“Zhongli,” she said, trying her best to let out a reassuring smile. “I think I’ll be fine… you should go ahead and take a break. Get some sleep. I can already tell that you’re tired.”
“I think you’ve forgotten something important.”
She frowned, unsure of what he meant.
“We’re married, we have the same bed.”
Zibai’s eyes widened, and her face began to turn red, along with her eyes.
“Who cares!” she said, standing up haughtily. “I said get some rest, so you’d best get some!”
She huffed, replying, “I told you, my name is Zizhi.”
“Yes, of course you did,” Zhongli said, still patient. “My apologies, I seem to have forgotten.”
She sat down again, crossing her arms. “Just… take care of yourself. That is all I wish for.”
He nodded and got up to leave.
“Tsk,” she said. “Did you forget what I said already?”
Zhongli turned his head a bit confused as he looked at the now red eyed “Zizhi” sitting on the bed’s edge. Her eyes suddenly softened, turning back to their golden shade. She tapped her own lap gently, waiting expectantly.
“Come on now,” she said. “Don’t think I’d simply allow you to get away with things that easily.”
Zhongli looked at her, then took a few hesitant steps forward before sitting next to her. She gently placed a hand on his shoulder, urging him to lean on her.
“Rest, even if for just a moment,” she said.
Zhongli placed his head on her lap, and she began to stroke his head gently. She watched as his breathing became more relaxed. He’d fallen asleep just like that, in such a peaceful way.
“You haven’t been able to sleep much, have you?” Zibai said. “You have to remember to take care of yourself my love. Is that really too much to ask of you?”
Her eyes saddened, almost turning blue, but somehow… she managed to stop them.
Perhaps… perhaps everything could be ok. Perhaps they could really just stay together like this, forever, and live happily for the rest of their lives.