Chapter Text
Venti is trying to keep a brave face, if only to spite Decarabian, but his efforts are beginning to feel futile.
Two of his friends are gone, Amos and his dearest bard. Ragnivindr has vanished, so the only one left is Gunnhildr. She, his last remaining friend, could only watch as he was captured by the few remaining men loyal to Decarabian.
It’s sickening for Venti to imagine that he really is related to that thing. They’re both beings of a divine status, though as the Storm Wind, Decarabian is much more so. Technically, he has the power to command any of the Thousand Winds he can get his greedy hands on, being one of the most powerful of them all. Venti is just a wind wisp, a gentle breeze turned into a more thundering gale due to the demands of war. Similar to Decarabian, he found an interest in humanity, and ultimately took on a human form.
It’s more than an interest, now. He loves humanity. He never thought himself capable of love before, but he was proven wrong.
If only the humans he loves could remain alive for him to love them.
The rebellion was crushed. Decarabian has spared some survivors, and gathered what Thousand Winds he could. He has been grooming Venti to fight for him. And at first, Venti felt pity for him. Clearly, he simply has a flawed understanding of what human beings really need. But it’s more than that: Decarabian is prideful and arrogant, so anyone who wounds his pride must be punished.
Including his mortal wife, Amos. There was no mercy in his heart for her, at least not any that didn’t overwrite his pride.
It wasn’t long before tensions rose with their neighbors in Liyue, and a new war began. Morax, a relatively young human Emperor said to have dragon blood in his lineage, made easy work of Mondstadt. Venti watched from Decarabian’s tower as Mondstadt’s armies were crushed, former rebels forced to the front lines, since the Storm Wind wanted them gone anyway.
In the end, even an elemental being with divine blood such as Decarabian was forced to give in to Morax’s forces. The people of Mondstadt were displaced, imprisoned, or killed, all for a war they wanted no part in.
It was only a month ago when Venti heard news that Decarabian had finally surrendered, and the fighting stopped. All that was left was a treaty.
From what Venti could overhear and what he could get out of Decarabian, Liyue wanted to keep some of their forces in Mondstadt to maintain order. There was a tax imposed on Mondstadt’s sales, but also promise to bring relief aid to the civilians who had been suffering from the cold and lack of food and water. A watchful eye was going to be kept on Decarabian.
And Mondstadt’s people would still not see their freedom.
“There is one last thing I promised Morax in particular,” Decarabian told Venti one evening, a chilling smile on his face. “I’m going to offer him a gift.”
Venti was pretty sure he was planning to send Morax a teddy bear with a bomb stitched inside.
At least, until he was sent to Liyue.
~~~
Music fills the air, well put together but rigid, in Venti’s opinion.
He is still dressed well, hanfu over his shoulders with a cheongsam underneath. His hair is neat, and even his face has been embellished with beauty products. Yet, it only makes him feel like a lamb dressed up for slaughter. The chains on his wrists are heavy, and both of Decarabian’s men grip each arm hard like he’s going to escape.
The doors open with little ceremony, and before Venti’s eyes can adjust to the light or take in the scene of a military wedding, he is being walked forward. It barely constitutes as walking, since they are practically dragging him.
And suddenly, Venti does want to run. Each step is closer to the loss of his freedom and his home, and he can’t help but feel terrified. One misstep, and surely, Morax will have him killed.
Morax is close, handsome and imposingly tall. His eyes meet golden ones, sharp and tastefully lined, but now watching as he trips and tastes the grass.
~~~
Venti has heard the rumors during the war. Every soldier, willing to admit it or not, is terrified of the Emperor of Liyue and his generals. They say he’s a brute during battles, face as hardened as stone with little expression when he cuts down his foes. His generals are incredible warriors, and completely loyal to their leader. Yet the best warrior of all is Morax himself.
There are whispers about where Morax has come from, which Venti picks up from Decarabian’s guards. They tell stories of Morax’s mysterious lineage, how he descended from the ancient dragons. Then there’s the story of how the previous emperor took Morax in when he was nothing but a regular soldier, adopted him and trained him.
Then Morax murdered the emperor in cold blood for the throne.
That story in particular makes Venti shiver when he hears it. How could a man so young be so ruthless to someone who helped make him the person he is?
Venti can’t imagine.
~~~
Morax is appalled at the state his “gift” is given to him. Though he never had time to greet the Mondstadtian visitor, he was sure his attendants would ensure he was comfortable.
Yet the wind wisp is in chains, practically dragged along by two of Decarabian’s men. It all makes sense in an instant. That king is cruel. The wisp was probably a rebel, sent here to be humiliated, the politics merely a bonus.
However, as far as the Thousand Winds go, Decarabian could never come close to this smaller counterpart of his. The wisp is one of the most gorgeous beings Morax has ever seen, despite the state they’re in. They have big blue-green eyes (filled with fear and turmoil), rather pale skin (perhaps to an unhealthy extent), and fluffy teal braids that frame their chubby cheeks. Something about them simply feels kind.
It wasn’t as if Morax wanted to marry this complete stranger. His reasoning was simple: he had never experienced any sort of silly, romantic feelings, not even as a child. If he never felt the desire to marry for love, why not use this aspect of his life, too, to help his nation? Surely the wisp, not even being human, could understand and felt the same way. Surely a breeze was not capable of love.
Morax is finally able to meet their eye, only for one of Decarabian’s men to smirk and trip the wisp. The wisp hits the grass hard without his hands free to catch himself, causing the man to snicker.
“Apologies for this being’s clumsiness, your highness,” the other says, bowing slightly. “Lord Decarabian sends his regards and well wishes.”
He can’t help but glower at them, making both of them shrink down slightly. “I will send my thanks. But I would appreciate it if you were to avoid creating such disturbances in the future.”
Now, the man’s voice trembles slightly. “Yes, your highness,” he says, before scampering away.
The wisp is on his elbows, attempting to push himself up amidst the drapery of the hanfu. Morax sighs and picks him up to set him on his feet, earning a squeak. When he lets go, the wisp touches his sides and winces slightly, eyes shiny. Oops. His head is bowed as he finds his place across from Morax.
Yet, as the priestess begins the vows, he is sure he sees the wisp quickly wipe a tear from his chin.
“Excuse me,” Morax blurts, surprising himself when he turns and beckons for Cloud Retainer, interrupting the priestess. “Would you be able to locate the key to these chains before we continue with the ceremony?”
Cloud Retainer, who had been eyeing the wisp herself, nods. “It will be done, my lord.”
The wisp watches as she walks off, pursing his lips, eyes still avoiding Morax. He sniffs, wiping a blade of grass from his face with his shoulder.
“I believe I have missed your name,” Morax tries. He knows it’s a strange thing to say to someone he is about to marry, but he genuinely would like to know. Though the marriage is technically only a means to placate a nation quickly withering away, he hopes that when it does, Liyue will be on good enough terms with Mondstadters to take the land for themselves. That plan starts with this wisp.
Decarabian had spouted about how this Wind is like a son to him, the closest family he has. However, it couldn’t be more clear that his words were lies. Morax vaguely recognizes him, perhaps he was one of the rebels leading the charge? He bets Decarabian killed all his allies and sent him in chains as one last form of humiliation. Even so, hopefully this wisp has enough of a sense of duty to his nation to help Morax maintain good relations.
Yet, Morax waits, and waits a little more, but the wisp says nothing. His shoulders are now held straight as he watches the leaves nonchalantly. The Emperor’s temper wants to leave him in chains for it, but he discards that thought. This wisp was about to become his husband and clearly had a difficult day, so he must be patient with him.
“I am Morax,” he says instead, putting a hand to his chest. “It is good to meet you. I must apologize for not having my people better attend to you to prevent such… incidents as these.”
Nothing. It’s as if he doesn’t exist. What a strange being indeed.
~~~
Venti doesn’t know why, but he’s decided he sort of hates Morax.
Maybe it’s because he can. Away from home, with truly nothing left to lose, doomed to be a possession, he can hate Morax when he couldn’t hate Decarabian. Maybe he’s still humiliated about being dragged out in chains, knocked over, and brought to tears in front of him. Maybe he still remembers what that man’s army did to the rebels, killed and captured after being forced to fight. Everything they did to the people of Mondstadt, just because they had a problem with Decarabian. No one else deserved to be involved in their ridiculous dispute.
Regardless, he’s made up his mind. He is not going to be stuck with Morax, oh no. Morax is going to be stuck with him. Yes, he will probably be killed in an unpleasant way for it, but at least Morax will have to be creative about it so he doesn’t offend Decarabian.
He can see that stupidly handsome man’s eye twitch just slightly, and he bites back a smile. If only his friends could see his face.
If only his friends could be here.
Venti clutches the chains, watching the bright-eyed woman with glasses from earlier return in record time with a key. She approaches him cautiously, gently taking each cuff, inserting the key, turning it, then gathering the fallen shackles in her arms. “There you are,” she says with a curt nod.
He smiles, just a little. “Thank you,” he tells her quietly.
“Hm.” She returns the small smile, then goes back to her seat.
When he glances back at Morax, the tall man’s brow is knitted. And really, he’s just so tall he looks a bit silly. Venti’s form is much more practical.
“People of Liyue, we are gathering here today for the merging of two nations…”
He rolls his eyes, just a little for Morax to see. Bor-ing.
In response, Morax takes both of his hands. Venti grimaces, a somewhat genuine reaction to the feeling of a stranger’s hands encompassing his own.
“…and now, the vows. Emperor Morax, protector of the nation of Liyue, will you take Venti, gentle wind of Mondstadt, to be your lawfully wedded spouse?”
There’s a flash in Morax’s eyes, satisfaction in learning his name. If you truly wanted to know, you would have bothered to learn it before you married me, you fool.
“Do you promise to be true to him in good times and bad, in sickness and in health, to care for and honor him all the days of your life?”
Venti swallows. Who approved these vows? It’s too serious, too romantic, and too binding. He could never promise that to Venti, it would all be lies coming from his mouth.
“I, Morax of Liyue, take Venti of Mondstadt to be my lawfully wedded spouse. I promise to be true to him in good times and bad, in sickness and in health, to care for and honor him all the days of my life.”
The look in his eyes, the tone of his voice… it couldn’t be true, but he sounded dead serious. Venti was suddenly aware of his hands sweating all over the emperor’s.
“Venti, gentle wind of Mondstadt, will you take Emperor Morax, protector of Liyue, to be your lawfully wedded husband? Do you promise to be true to him in good times and bad, in sickness and in health, to care for and honor him all the days of your life?”
Suddenly, Venti’s mouth goes dry. Did he really have to repeat it all, just like Morax did? He could go running, screaming, but he’d only be captured. Then it would probably be a prison in Liyue, best case scenario. Or maybe he’d be carted off back to Mondstadt to an angry Decarabian. Surely, at the very least, if he had to vow himself to him, Morax would be a bit kinder to him than Decarabian would? At least in front of people, he cared enough to remove Venti’s chains and help him up. Though, maybe he would be beaten behind closed doors…
He felt Morax’s eyes on him. His expression was strange, and at first, he couldn’t really place it. Then he realized: Morax was expecting him to mess it all up.
Fine. I’ll vow myself to you. I’ll dedicate myself to you, but just know, I’ll be dedicating myself to a few other things too.
Venti let out a breath, and opened his mouth.
“I, Venti of Mondstadt, take Emperor Morax of Liyue to be my lawfully wedded husband. I promise to be true to him in good times and bad, in sickness and in health, to care for and honor him all the days of my life.” He gave his soon-to-be-husband a big smile.
“And now, you two may exchange your rings.”
Rings? Venti looks at the pillow the officiant presents to them. He can tell just by looking at them that the rings are both too big for his hand.
Morax seems to notice this too, just by the slightest twitch of his brow. Yet he takes the ring anyways, and Venti extends a trembling hand, wincing when the stranger takes it despite the gentle hold. “With this ring, I thee wed.”
Venti sucks in a breath, disliking the cold, loose feeling around his finger. The ring is plain, and so is the one intended for Morax. He picks it up and takes Morax’s hand, touching him as little as possible. “With this ring, I thee wed.”
“I now declare you husband and spouse. You may now kiss your spouse.”
I wonder if this will work…
~~~
Morax is now beginning to wonder if he had done something to invoke the wrath of this being. Their behavior was growing quite odd and erratic.
Now a little wary of Venti, he decides to lean in to place a quick, respectful kiss on his cheek. Awkward, yes, but it was the most professional he could do in this setting.
At least, that was his plan. Instead, Venti stands on his toes and throws his arms around his neck, forcing Morax to bend down awkwardly, almost stumbling. Then, with a smile, the wisp kisses him, right on the mouth. His heart pounds in his chest and his stomach feels funny as he tries to steady himself. It’s almost as if Venti kisses him again without breaking the kiss, before pulling away with a soft “mwah” and a little smirk.
Morax blinks as the crowd claps, touching his lips, a few playful whistles in the air. He quickly drops his hand when he sees Cloud Retainer shooting him a look.
He was quite sure he had no idea what he had gotten himself into with this wisp.
Venti is tense during the banquet. Morax had not lashed out at him yet for the kiss, but he isn’t confident he had gotten away with it. Besides, the whole atmosphere was weird. Despite the wedding being so formal, the guests seemed… happy. Everyone seems well fed with sun-kissed skin, neither of which the people of Mondstadt were privileged to have. Would things be like this, if his dear friend hadn’t been killed and they won the rebellion? Was everyone in Liyue this well-off? What could they possibly want from Mondstadt, then?
While being served food, Venti notices the way Morax’s lip curled when he is offered any seafood. So naturally, he orders all the seafood he could eat. Morax watches the food be set in front of him with wide eyes, sniffing and decidedly pushing away his own plate.
“Wow, this is delicious!” He exclaims with a full mouth, turning to his new husband with a smile. “Do you want some?”
“Quite,” Morax says shortly. “No thank you.”
Once he turns away, Venti stops chewing with a frown, realizing he hates the texture. And meat in general. He tries to subtly spit it out in his napkin, pretending to wipe his mouth. He’s in a bit of a predicament, seeing as he hadn’t been fed in some time, and was already rather underweight in general… why did human forms have to be so complicated?
He feels Morax glancing at him from time to time, until the man finally clears his throat. “Would you like to try some of my vegetables and tofu? It’s not too spicy and there’s no meat.”
Venti feels his mouth water when he looks at his husband’s dish. “No meat?”
“From what I’ve read, most elemental beings don’t eat meat.”
Heat rises in his face, making him want to disappear. “Yeah, well. I was just trying it. To be polite.”
“I… appreciate that,” Morax says slowly. “To be honest, I’ve had bad experiences with seafood myself and prefer to avoid it.”
He’s absolutely clueless. “Really? I had no idea,” Venti sighs in resignation. After a moment of debating, the ache in his stomach takes priority. “Yes, I would like to try some,” he breathes.
Morax pushes the dish in between them, even going as far as to offer him a fork rather than a pair of chopsticks. If Venti wasn’t so hungry, he would’ve eaten with the chopsticks to spite him, but using the fork would be much faster for him. Trying the dish became inhaling the entire thing and asking a waitress for seconds. If only Morax didn’t look so amused about it. What was so funny about him only being fed scraps for a year?
“So,” Morax attempts, only after Venti begins to slow down with his second plate, “by the way you were treated, I assume you were a rebel during the uprising?”
Venti crinkles his nose, fighting a scowl as he sets down his fork. “What about it?”
A pause. “I was simply curious about your experiences, and why Decarabian would send you of all beings.”
He huffs. “You’re curious? I have no doubt you already know what happened to me, so I will not repeat what I went through just to amuse you.”
Suddenly, Morax looks awkward and uncomfortable. “Ah… apologies. I did not think of it that way.”
“Of course you didn’t,” Venti frowns. “Decarabian sent me here because he thinks it’s an awful fate for me and will make me suffer. He probably thinks I’m terrified of you just like everyone else in Mondstadt is.”
“Terrified? Everyone in Mondstadt? I was careful not to harm civilians in my conquests… I even sent relief aid to them after the war.” The taller man furrows his brow. “I suppose it’s not a bad reputation to have regarding Decarabian and his army, however…”
Venti rolls his eyes. “And of course you would like to have that reputation.” He shifts in his seat, turning to face Morax completely. “Don’t worry, husband,” he said, narrowing his eyes, “you don’t have to worry about me. I’m not afraid of you.” The wisp stood, leveling his shoulders. With him standing and Morax sitting, they were about equal height, perhaps Venti a bit taller. “With time, a whisper of wind is enough to seal the fate of a man who has sinned.”
With that, he strides off.
~~~
It only took a moment of deliberation for Morax to follow him. Surely, if Venti only allowed him to explain himself, they could get along. He doesn’t like how his relations with his new spouse are going at all.
Venti seems to find the gardens quickly, but just as Morax is about to catch up to him, he spots an unfortunately familiar face behind the bushes.
“Boo!” Hu Tao yells, throwing leaves everywhere as she jumps out.
“Ahh!” Venti jumps back, raising his hands. Then he blinks, looks at Hu Tao, smiles, and finally laughs. “Oh dear, hehe! That really scared me!”
Instinctively, Morax steps behind a tree. The wisp’s reaction is so wildly different than any way he’s acted before. He simply has to observe for a little while longer.
Hu Tao beams proudly. “Got you!”
The wisp’s smile becomes softer. “You did. Did Emperor Morax pay you just to scare wedding guests?”
“Technically, you’re not a guest, you know. Alas, I’ll answer your question if you answer mine: did my dearest old cousin pay you to marry him?”
He grins. “Hehe, I wish he did. But no, I’m here to keep the peace, I suppose. So… Morax is your cousin?”
So Venti is curious about him.
Hu Tao shrugs, and Morax grimaces. “More or less. Before my mother had me, she was married to his brother. A while after his brother died, she married my father. Then they both died when I was eleven, so he raised me the rest of the way! Crazy story, huh?”
“Crazy is one way to describe it,” Venti says, furrowing his brow. “I can’t imagine how awful that felt… sorry, what’s your name?”
“Hu Tao.” The girl sticks out her hand, and he shakes it. “And you’re Venti! Don’t worry about it too much, at least I arranged two excellent funerals for the both of them. They’re still some of my finest work.”
Morax rubs a hand over his face.
“Work?” He repeates, before looking her up and down as if for the first time. “Hmm. You arrange funerals?”
“Yep! You’re looking at the owner of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, the oldest and best funeral parlor in Liyue! It’s nice to meet you, Venti from Mondstadt.”
The interaction is so strange to Morax. Venti switched from bitter and standoffish to friendly and good-natured in seconds. Did the wisp really dislike him that much to switch personalities when he’s around? Did Venti dislike him for the war, even though at least it meant they had a common enemy in Decarabian?
Maybe he’s overthinking things. Venti has clearly had a bad day, so it may simply be a temporary thing. Besides, he hasn’t been all that rude. Maybe that is simply how Mondstadters speak their minds.
“How can one sing songs of pleasure, in the lands of gnashing teeth?
“The gods were gone, and left no treasure,
“Cept for carts of ashen grief.
“Thus fine songs lack rules for measure,
“And no dreams do the folks believe.
“In trepidation the wind still sings,
“Fear not the darkness that evil brings,
“Feel on your skin breaths of spring,
“Herald of Freedom, and the bane of Kings.”
Venti’s voice is melodious and smooth, enough to break Morax out of his train of thought. He isn’t sure how long he hasn’t been paying attention, but now Hu Tao is clapping and grinning.
“That was incredible, Venti! You must teach me about Mondstadt poetry!” She says. “In exchange, I’ll teach you about Liyue’s?”
“That would be great!” Venti grins too, genuine excitement written on his face for the first time since Morax has seen him.
Finally, Morax decides to step out and approach the two, arms crossed. “That was indeed incredible,” he says, unable to hold back his fascination with the wisp’s poetry.
He jumps slightly, while Hu Tao barely reacts. “Wh-what are you doing here?” He immediately accuses.
“I came to see how you were doing,” Morax replies.
“You thought I’d keel over within ten minutes without you looming over me? Give me a break.” Venti’s pretty face returns to that unpleasant frown. “What are you doing coming over here to spy on me?”
Why is it that every single interaction he has with this wisp, he ends up apologizing? “Apologies, I was simply entranced by your poetry.” It isn’t really the truth, but Venti doesn’t have to know that.
“You have nothing to gain from flattering me, so cut it out,” Venti snaps, turning on his heel and storming off to the banquet again.
There’s a short silence, before Hu Tao sucks in air through her teeth. “Yikes. Zhongli, I knew you were bad at romance, but not this terrible.”
He sighs, pinching his brow. “I don’t know what I’m going to do with him. Do you think he will cool off in a few days?”
“I don’t know, he was so calm before you came along. Seems deliberate to me!”
“But why?” Morax puts a hand on his chin. “Though he was not sent here as willingly as I thought, surely things will be safer for him here than living under that murderous tyrant?”
“Did you hear his poem?” Hu Tao puts her hands on her hips. “The overarching theme is clearly freedom! And you, my dear Zhongli, are quite the stifling presence. You should give him some space. Maybe once he feels like he has a choice in things, you’ll grow on him. I want him to like it here in Liyue, so don’t ruin this!”
“Hmm. That is… actually a helpful point.”
“What do you mean actually? What are you saying, Zhongli?”
Zhongli chuckles. “Nothing. Enjoy the rest of the banquet, Hu Tao.”
~~~
Venti paces in the bedroom he was led to by one of the guards, discarding the ring immediately in a drawer. He can’t help but think of that thing humans do after they marry. Well, they actually seem to do it all the time even though it’s disgusting, but especially after they marry. He does not want to do that.
After the anxiety becomes too much, he decides to search around the room for weapons, but finds nothing. Instead, he untucks his one belonging he was able to bring, smuggled in the folds of his hanfu: his friend’s lyre. It’s glued back together badly and has a morbid red-brown stain on the wood, but Venti can’t get rid of it. It’s all he has left of him.
He sits in the corner of the room and brandishes it out.
Probably an hour later, after his arms get too tired to keep holding the lyre up, there’s a soft knock at the door. “Come in…” he says with hesitation.
“Venti?” Morax peeks in, and he immediately stands and brandishes the lyre again.
“No! I won’t do it! You can’t make me!”
“Do what?” The man raises his eyebrow. “Are you alright?”
“You—“ Venti huffs. “You’re going to reproduce with me!”
“I’m going to what?” Morax steps in the room, closing the door hesitantly. “Do you mean having sexual relations? Venti, I am not going to force you to do that. Please, calm down. I simply came here to say goodnight to you. I am not even going to sleep in the same room as you tonight.”
Venti feels his face burn. “Well, what was I supposed to think? Your guards sent me to sit in this room alone for an hour!”
The man sighs. “I thought you might need some space and time to yourself. I’ve only been trying to please you.”
“You can’t please me, Morax, and don’t you ever tell me to calm down. The only thing I can do right now is prepare for whatever is going to be done to me next. I don’t know you, you could do anything you want to me. You could be just like Decarabian. You can take everything from me, so excuse me if I want to prepare for it.”
There was a long pause. “You are afraid of me,” Morax said softly.
Venti clenches his jaw and turns away, hugging his lyre to his chest. In the dim lantern light, he could see his shiver. “You’re just a human. But…”
But?
“You may leave, if you would prefer.”
The words slip out of Morax’s lips without a thought. It’s a bad idea, really, but for some reason, trapping this wisp feels like a sick and cruel idea. He can’t imagine how Decarabian stomached the dimness in eyes that should be so bright. Whatever it is, something about Venti makes him do it.
The wisp turns to him, eyes large. “You won’t try to stop me?”
Morax shakes his head. “I know my place in this world. It would be foolish and cruel of me to trap the wind if it does not want to stay. The wind is meant to be free.”
“This isn’t a trick?” Venti whispers.
“You have my word,” he says, “I never go back on my word, wisp. I vowed to cherish you, and I take that seriously. It seems the only way I can do that is by ensuring you are free.”
The other stares at him, then sits on the bed, putting his head in his hands. “I’m free.” His voice trembles.
Although it’s a gamble, Morax puts a hand on his shoulder. “You are free.”
Venti is silent for a few minutes, brow furrowed. He doesn’t shrug away from the touch, but Morax still keeps it brief. “Those vows weren’t just words to you?”
“No. I told you, I keep my word,” Morax says sternly. “It is very important to me.”
The other fiddles with his thumbs. “Perhaps I was too presumptive. I’ve been around only Decarabian and his men for a year now… I suppose my time with them may have warped my view of good in strangers. I’m sorry I tried to embarrass you.”
“You tried to embarrass me?”
Suddenly, Venti giggles. “Seriously? Why did you think I kissed you like that in front of all those people?”
Morax clears his throat, face growing warm. “I was quite perplexed by your actions, but I suppose I was eager to give you the benefit of the doubt.”
“Hehe, for a genius Emperor, you’re kind of a blockhead.” The wisp smiles and shakes his head. “But really, I appreciate this, Emperor Morax. Husband? Oh, nevermind.”
Another wave of heat hits his body when he hears the word husband come from that wind sprite’s lips. His heart raced far too fast. “Ah, well. Whatever you would prefer. In that case, you are always welcome. Have a good rest, and please update me on your plans so I may assist you.”
“‘Morning, Emperor Morax,” Venti says as he sits at the table across from him, chowing down on the porridge set presumably for him.
“Good morning,” Morax replies regally. “Although, you are not required to call me Emperor, since we are married.”
For some reason, Venti isn’t sure he can get used to people saying he has a husband or that he’s married. Perhaps he never thought he would be. “You have a point.”
“Have you given thought to your plans for the future?” The taller man dabs his mouth with a napkin. “I have one request of you today, if you will. I’m going to have a meeting about Liyue’s relations with Mondstadt, and I would value your insight due to your experience with its people and personal knowledge of Decarabian. Of course, you were meant to attend every meeting I have about international relations, but even one would help me greatly.”
The wisp pauses, then sets down his chopsticks. “What are your intentions with Mondstadt now that you’ve won?”
“That, I have not decided. However, I will be blunt. My advisors and I don’t expect your nation to last much more than a decade, perhaps even less if a rebellion breaks out and loses again. In that case, my current plan is to claim the land in the name of Liyue.” Morax sees the way he clenches his jaw. “The minimal resources will be of benefit, and the remaining people of Mondstadt will have a governing authority to keep them safe and alive. It’s true that Decarabian still refuses to allow any of your people protection from the elements after the rebellion, yes?”
“Yes,” Venti breathes. “People are freezing to death in their own homes… but I don’t want Liyue to take it. The people of Mondstadt have their own culture, customs, sense of independence, and way of life! They aren’t meant to be a part of Liyue.”
“Then come to the meeting. State your case.”
“Alright, then. I will.”
~~~
Sitting in front of so many important looking people should be a little intimidating. Yet, Venti is so impassioned about keeping Mondstadt independent, he didn’t care. At least there are familiar faces from the wedding, like Cloud Retainer and a short blue-haired woman with a friendly face.
When he talks about Mondstadt, he talks about his people’s spirit, their music, and their ambitions. He tells them about the winds and the storm. But when he is asked about Decarabian’s tower, he refuses to give information. He will not give them anything they can use if they were to invade Mondstadt. And when he meets eyes with Morax, he knows the Emperor recognizes this, chin in one hand and sharp gaze focused on him. Though Venti isn’t as scared of what he will do as before, it does make him shiver a little.
“Decarabian is a cold man. He used to care for humankind in his own way, but after the rebellion, he doesn’t trust anyone. Nor does he maintain the wind barrier that kept the city warm, and he makes no effort to stop the storms. He watches the people of Mondstadt starve and freeze to death from his tower, only aiding the ones who worship him to his liking enough to survive.”
When the meeting adjournes, Morax approaches him. “I do wonder… if Decarabian has the power to create storms as one of the Thousand Winds, could you gain the power to clear it?”
Venti shrugs. “It’s possible for the winds to gain power, but I’ve never been more than a simple breeze.”
“Nevermind that, it was only an idle thought.” Morax coughs.
“Hmm. Well, I’ve been thinking too.” He looks around, ensuring the room is clear. “Under some conditions, I would like to stay and help you with Mondstadt.”
The human raises his eyebrows. “You do?”
“Yes. The only problem is, I want to free Mondstadt. I don’t think that’s what you want to do. So, hear me out.” Venti puts his hands on his hips. “You’re my husband now, and you vowed to care for me. I can never be happy, knowing the people who I love are dying off under a tyrant. It’s all I think about, Morax. To care for me, I need you to care for them too. You married a Mondstadter, so now you need to fight for my nation like it’s your own. And in exchange, I will fulfill my vows, too. I’ll be your husband, I’ll devote myself to it. Since you obviously care so much about Liyue, I will treat Liyue like it’s my own nation, too. Perhaps my wind can even help your people.”
Morax was silent for a long moment, processing his words. “This is indeed unexpected.”
“Well, what did you expect when you married me?”
“I… would like to know that myself. Allow me to think.” He paused again, sighing at the end. “Your point is a valid one. If I were in your position, I would do the same thing. But I cannot simply send my army off to fight a war in a nation they do not care about. I do not know if I can spend their resources and ship it off to a nation they do not know either.”
“I’ll have my wind nourish the land. I’ll practice. Please, Morax. You married me, so surely you can accept the responsibility that comes with it?” Venti tucks his hand behind his back.
He sighs again. “That is true. Other than your personal safety, it does seem fair that this marriage should give you political benefit just as it does for me, seeing as you are not with Decarabian…” a tapping of the foot. “There is the issue of Decarabian. If he realizes I am allowing you freedom and giving you political gain rather than punishing you, he may suspect your plans. We will have to be careful.”
“That’s fine. I swear, I’ll deliver supplies myself if I have to.”
Morax holds up his hands. “I would rather you didn’t.”
Venti smiles. “But it’s a deal?”
The emperor sighs for the third time. He’s going to lose a lot more sleep because of this. “It is a deal.”