"Ah~ Mmm, delicious! Zeke, you should try some too!"
Their breakfast featured warm Teyvat-style omelets with carrot vegetable soup, crispy Mondstadt potato pancakes alongside signature fisherman toast, accompanied by a plate of mouthwatering grilled mushroom skewers. It was both nutritious and undeniably delectable.
Sin took a bite from the potato pancake Zeke offered her with his fork, then gently held his wrist and guided it back towards him.
Zeke paused momentarily, noticing the tooth marks left on the fried potato pancake where Sin had bitten into it. Then, with a smile, he took a bite himself.
"Mm-hmm, it's indeed quite good. Among the seven nations, while Mondstadt has decent cuisine, Liyue is renowned for its culinary delights. Looks like we have much to look forward to on this journey, don't you think?"
Continuing to feed Sin, Zeke softly spoke.
Sin nodded eagerly, resembling a little chick pecking at grain, her bright and unique heterochromatic eyes blinking. With a sweet, adorable grin, she replied:
"Yes, yes! As long as I'm with Zeke, Sin will be happy anywhere!"
"Sigh... Only you seem like a normal wife compared to those two; I'm not sure if they're just carefree or genuinely don't value our marital bond."
Zeke picked up a nearby tissue, letting out another sigh with mixed emotions as he gently wiped away the grease from Sin's lips.
Following that, there was an exchange of feeding each other back and forth.
The atmosphere felt incredibly sweet. Apart from Sin appearing somewhat younger than expected for such a scene, it portrayed a heartwarming picture enviable by many.
Of course, Wendy and Seele silently chewing their food were a different story altogether. Anyone could sense the gloom hovering over them.
Zeke glanced at them, maintaining a composed expression but subtly increasing the pace at which he fed Sin.
After noticing Sin's contentment, Zeke hesitated briefly. Then, while wiping her mouth, he leaned close to her ear and whispered softly:
"Would you be upset if I feed them too?"
This so-called trip primarily served as a test, akin to a trial marriage period. Zeke aimed to assess whether he could accept these two girls as his wives and lovers, and likewise, determine if they could integrate into this unique marital relationship.
Therefore, some intimate interactions were necessary, serving as part of this test—though it's worth noting that when they were younger, Zeke had already fed them on numerous occasions.
However, each situation was unique. Before taking any action, Zeke prioritized Sin's feelings and requests. If she disapproved, he would temporarily hold back. Even if Sin intended to obstruct his entire testing process, Zeke would simply smile and treat the trip purely as a vacation.
There was no grand reason; Sin was his wife, and that fact alone sufficed.
Sin glanced sideways at the two girls, noticing their stunned expressions, almost wilted like deflated balloons. Pouting slightly, she lifted her head and spoke in a sweet, delicate voice:
"Zeke, just give me a kiss, and I won't mind."
"Really?"
"I want Zeke to always be happy and free from worries, so yes, absolutely!"
"Sigh... My pleasure, dear little princess."
Zeke smiled softly, lifted Sin's chin, and gently kissed her lustrous, red lips. He believed it was truly an unparalleled honor to form an eternal bond with Sin, receiving her pure and flawless love.
Having received the desired reward, Sin beamed happily. She then stood up, nestled into Zeke's arms, leaned against his body, and within seconds began lightly snoring.
This was her compromise, as well as the utmost tenderness she could muster, which Zeke fully understood.
With one arm around the girl—his beloved young wife—protecting her, he waited for a moment before using his other hand to pick up some food. After considering briefly, he moved closer to Seele, who sat nearer to him.
"The toast is quite good; would you like more?"
"...Thank you, Big Bro Zeke!"
It was the expected reaction: Seele's eyes sparkled with delight, and she eagerly accepted the offered bite with a radiant smile.
Next came Wendy's turn.
Pretending to be slightly aloof, Seele even feigned disinterest when Zeke offered her the food. However, just as he was about to retract his hand, she swiftly snatched it with her mouth—hook, line, and sinker.
Seeing Wendy's eyes crinkle like two crescent moons from laughter, Zeke shook his head, smiling warmly.
"If you like something, say so; if not, express that too. I believe honesty is crucial between partners. Constantly guessing each other's feelings seems rather pointless to me."
"Typical straight man!"
"Yes, yes, I'm indeed your typical clueless guy, lacking charm and unable to woo women. Honestly, I still can't fathom why you both keep hanging around me."
"...Well, don't sell yourself short. You do have many good qualities," Wendy replied earnestly, maintaining a serious expression.
Her comment earned her a gentle tap on the forehead from Zeke.
With a stern look, Zeke scolded playfully, "Don't let success go to your head."
"Pfft~" Wendy responded with a playful grimace.
After a brief moment, all three exchanged glances and burst out laughing together.
Zeke couldn't quite tell if these were sparks of love, but after consciously blurring the mental boundaries, their current interactions felt surprisingly comfortable.
Peace was rare; leisure even more so.
That very evening, Zeke purchased a house within the city using mora he had crafted by hand, thus beginning their true vacation time—albeit financed with counterfeit currency.
Mora served as the circulating currency on the Teyvat Continent, resembling gold closely yet distinctly different. Its physical composition comprised merely metals and minerals, making it relatively straightforward to analyze its elemental makeup and structure through scientific means or Teyvat's alchemy. However, the essence of Morax, the Geo Archon, imbued within mora could not be replicated by any other deity or mortal.
It was common knowledge among the people of Teyvat that forging mora was impossible. Consequently, Zeke could spend his money without worrying about legal repercussions. As for potential financial shocks, his expenditures catered only to a few individuals' needs—not large-scale trade or currency warfare. From a world perspective, it posed no significant harm.
In summary, Mondstadt recently buzzed with talk of a young foreign entrepreneur arriving in town. Accompanied by his charming, princess-like sister and two exquisite attendants, they were exploring Mondstadt for sightseeing and investment opportunities, reportedly displaying remarkable generosity. Being the City of Freedom, Mondstadt welcomed numerous visitors each year with similar backgrounds. The primary reason this group became a topic of discussion was due to their striking attractiveness—it was hard for locals not to be deeply impressed upon encountering them.
Nighttime under the starlit sky, high above the sea at Cape Oath.
"Whoosh!"
A streak of deep purple lightning flashed through the grass, vanishing instantly as it surged towards the lofty cliffs of Cape Oath.
Upon reaching its zenith, a thunderous burst illuminated the scene, revealing a blonde-haired maiden clad in a black dress and stockings, stepping amidst the swaying blades of grass.
"Oh, travelers lost amid the flow of time, though the light of the silent night may be enchantingly beautiful, it often carries the scent of blood and death. As the Princess of Serenities' Embrace, passing judgment on life and death is my constant duty. If you genuinely pray, this Princess might forgive your reckless ignorance and bestow upon you the awe-inspiring radiance that guides through darkness!"
"In simpler terms, Miss here means: although the nighttime view from Cape Oath is stunning, there's typically more monsters around after dark. For safety, she can escort you back to the city."
The girl held a food box in one hand while placing her other hand, fingers spread, near her left eye covered by an eyepatch. She deliberately leaned sideways, striking an enigmatic pose—her accompanying purple raven provided simultaneous translation as it flew beside her.
Zeke had arranged for this meal delivery ahead of time through the Adventurer's Association, requesting that piping hot dinner be brought promptly from Hunter's Lodge. He specifically commissioned Fischl due to her ability to transform into lightning and traverse the wilderness swiftly—far more efficient than regular adventurers relying on Wind Gliders for leisurely glides. Naturally, the compensation was generous; otherwise, Fischl wouldn't have deigned to work as a food courier.
Seele silently accepted the food box, smiling, "Thank you, Little Amy."
"Has Little Amy eaten yet?" Wendy asked. "We ordered quite a lot. Why don't you join us and share some?"
"That's sensible advice, Little Amy," agreed Zeke.
Sin chuckled, "Little Amy... pfft!"
At the circular table atop the solitary peak on Cape Oath, several relaxed tourists casually called out to Fischl, their expressions subtly amused. To be fair, distinguishing between her voice and Fu Hua's wasn't challenging—it sounded exactly the same.
The girl's waist-length, smooth blonde pigtails trembled slightly, and her cheeks flushed bright red instantly.
"Who's Little Amy?!?!"