Sitting quietly in her chair, the Lady gazed at the closed curtain, her expression complicated.
Originally, she had only come out for a walk after days of restless wandering.
Yet the moment she stepped outside, she was met with overwhelming advertisements from the Yun-Han Opera Troupe.
Curious, she came to listen.
And what she heard… was her own story.
For the first time, she watched her life from a third-person perspective—objectively examining herself.
The shock this brought her was immense.
"Though many details were fabricated…"
At least in the major, crucial events, Yun Jin's opera had not been wrong.
"Was it him?"
The Lady recalled seeing Bai Ge when the play began.
"He actually knows me that well?"
She felt surprise—and even wariness.
Yet after thinking deeply, she realized something unexpected.
She did not feel like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, bristling and ready to slash with claws.
In the past, if someone had touched her deepest scar, she would have killed them without hesitation.
The original Rosalyne had been an innocent girl.
But as the Fatui Harbinger known as the Lady, she was far from gentle.
And yet now, to her disbelief, she not only lacked murderous intent—
While watching Records of the Flame Witch, she had even shared the audience's sighs and heartache.
As though the person on stage… was not herself.
Perhaps, it truly wasn't?
Just as that man had said the other day…
She recalled the past few days.
She had locked herself in her room, drinking dandelion wine nonstop.
At first, it had been homesickness.
But when she truly began drinking it, the flavor no longer matched her memory.
The Rosalyne of the past had loved it dearly.
Yet the more she drank now, the less it tasted like before.
Honestly speaking—
Dandelion wine was merely average.
At that realization, her emotions grew even more complicated.
The murmurs of the surrounding audience drifted into her ears.
"That girl named Rosalyne… how tragic."
"But being saved by the Ice Queen—doesn't that make for a good ending? The gods love all."
"It still makes my heart ache."
"She could be called a hero. A tragic hero shaped by a special era."
"I think after today's performance, the public opinion about the Flame Witch from years ago may completely reverse."
"No matter what—her story has now been defined."
Yes.
If there was one greatest gain the Lady had received tonight—
It was an answer.
An answer to how the world viewed her life as the Flame Witch.
It was not a story despised by all.
Perhaps letting future generations judge her merits and faults was the best ending?
At the very least, as the Flame Witch, she had contributed something to Teyvat.
Hadn't she?
As for the Flame Witch herself…
Ashes were ashes.
Perhaps she had no right to occupy this new body forever.
A thought formed in her mind.
Yet within her still lingered the faintest trace of unwillingness.
Watching Bai Ge leave, she did not follow him.
Instead, her gaze turned toward the backstage area of the troupe.
She was the rebirth that came after the Flame Witch's ashes.
Yun Jin was the performer who portrayed her on stage.
In some way, they were similar.
Perhaps—
She could find her answer in Yun Jin?
With that thought, the Lady walked toward the backstage area.
The Yun-Han troupe could not stop her.
Soon, she stood before Yun Jin.
"You… you are…?"
Seeing the Lady restored to her usual attire, Yun Jin widened her eyes in shock.
"Let us talk," the Lady said calmly.
"You sing my story. Surely you owe me some compensation?"
"O-of course…" Yun Jin replied, calming her troupe members while nodding.
Recalling Rosalyne's story—and everything Bai Ge had told her—Yun Jin grew serious.
"Then… let us talk."
And so, the reborn ashes of the Flame Witch and the actress who portrayed her—
Two women connected by the same legend—
Began discussing the Flame Witch as though they were simply her admirers.
Outside Heyu Teahouse—
"Time to go, Zhongli!" Hu Tao called cheerfully.
"I've got new inspiration! I feel a new poem coming!"
"Coming."
Zhongli withdrew his gaze from Yun-Han backstage.
Thinking about what he had just witnessed, a trace of contemplation flashed through his eyes.
"If a being torn between ice and fire can reconcile with herself…"
"Will you, like the twins foretold in prophecy, become a variable in Teyvat?"
"I am quite curious."
He chuckled softly and left.
After a wonderful performance, everyone was delighted.
But elsewhere—
Bai Ge's situation was not so good.