Scaramouche trained you thoroughly on what to do in the case you got arrested by the Millelith. Even though your chances of getting caught were slim, he was very strict and made sure that you had his instructions embedded deeply into your head. So, of course, you were remembering the lessons during this stressful time.

Firstly, he told you to never give out any information about the Fatui's missions or future plans. If you were asked to give the locations of the Fatui campsites or the displaced bases around Teyvat, never speak a word, never show weakness.

Secondly, if the guards end up resorting to torturing you for answers, just take it and make sure not to expose any secrets no matter how much you were in pain. He said the Tsaritsa would even enjoy watching you endure the pain, for your everlasting love of the Cryo Archon and the nation of Snezhnaya.

Finally, the last ever resort, if you were kept as a prisoner for life, was to kill yourself. Scaramouche said that your sacrifice would not be in vain and he would have preferred if you died by your own hands than the enemy. He glorified the idea, it was almost a good ending for all of your pain. So, suicide has always been in the back of your mind - floating aimlessly in that clouded brain of yours.

As you and Lumine's team members were walking into Liyue Harbour, there was a last-minute change of plans. The trio figured it would be easier to sneak you into the city through the south-most entrance but it sort of took longer than you thought.

Because now, you were caught in another situation.

At the moment, you were staring at a tall wooden post filled with all kinds of flyers and paper advertisements. Fear washed over your body as you slowly reached out in front of you to rip a slip of parchment from the pillar. Your eyes ran over the inked words and immediately, a shaky sigh left your lips.

"Lumine..." You whispered breathlessly as you handed her the paper. The blonde took it from your hand.

Everyone surrounded the Traveller and looked down at what she was reading, peering over curiously. Right then and there, they all reacted in the same way: whipping their heads to stare back at you out of panic, their faces turning pale with horror.

It was a wanted poster for you and Scaramouche, you hated to admit that you were a little bit surprised. It read: A Snezhnayan female and an Inazuman male are wanted for suspected connections to Rex Lapis' assassination during the Rite of Descension. Both are affiliated with the Fatui and are a highly dangerous duo, approach with caution. Please contact the Millelith to provide any further information. A reward will be granted among arrests.

You thought that the journey would end the moment you found safe haven in Liyue Harbour. It hurt to know that there was more danger lurking in the city and unbelievably, you were starting to think it was safer to stay outside.

Xiangling withered gloomily, "Oh crap, they're going to recognize [Y/N]...!"

Lumine raised her eyes from the parchment paper and smiled crookedly, "Don't worry, we just have to pretend that everything is normal."

"My liege," Xingqiu made his way beside the blonde, a serious expression on his face. "I'm sure this message is posted everywhere. Plus, we have no clue how long it's been up, the locals must have [Y/N]'s description memorized by now."

"That's a possibility..." Lumine sighed.

"Traveller, it's too dangerous." Chongyun insisted. "There has to be another way to sneak her in. Another way that would guarantee my and my friends' safety as well... I don't want to be arrested for helping the Fatui."

"Okay, everyone relax." Lumine raised her hands and patted the air around the group to ease the tension. "We can find a way to get around this...! We just need to think..."

Everyone averted their gaze to ponder to themselves, you even cast your eyes down to your feet and thought about a plan. Maybe if you snuck in under the bridges? Or walked through the shallow stream of water and hid in one of the buildings? How about the party rolls you into the city while you're hidden inside a wooden cart?

After about a minute of silence, the blue-haired bookworm snapped his finger and crossed his arms in amusement, you could practically see a lightbulb switching on from the top of his head, "I have an idea! [Y/N] needs to look like a normal person, this means she needs to walk into the Harbour without the Fatui weapons in order not to draw attention to herself."

"That could work." Lumine turned towards you.

Right away, you shook your head frantically, "I vowed to never remove my weapons from my person...!"

"It will only be for a short while," Xiangling reassured you, inching closer.

You backed up nervously, "Please, there has to be another way...! W-Who knows? I could run into more of my comrades or I could get almost kidnapped again...!"

Xingqiu gave you a closed-eyed grin, "We will take good care of them, I promise!"

"M-My ice tank and spray guns are quite heavy, you guys might drop them and break the stone road haha...!" You helplessly raised up your hands. "I'm serious, t-they are very important to me...!"

"Get the tank." Lumine heartlessly commanded and you squealed in surprise when Xiangling and Xingqiu lunged at you with the intent to remove the weapon off your back.

"Nooo...!" You fought back sadly.

"Fatui girl, it's only going to be for a few minutes...! You'll be fine!" Chongyun tried to grab the strapped holsters from your hips, all the more getting increasingly annoyed. "Give me the guns or I will take them off for you!"

"Only my Lord Scaramouche is allowed to touch my body- Ah!" You cried out a little too dramatically when your firearms were forcibly taken away, making you sniffle like an upset toddler. "Nooo... my weapons...! My weapons..."

"Jeez," Chongyun clumsily held the spray guns to which you automatically called him out for improper handling. He turned around and ignored you, walking over to Xingqiu and Xiangling to find a place to hide the three pieces.

"Okay, [Y/N], let's go. It will be alright." Lumine took you away to spare you the sight of the trio going behind a tree to hide the firearms.

•••

They upgraded their security, you noticed it right away. From where you were standing, you could see an extra Millelith guard marching periodically around the bridged entrance into the Harbour. Past that, there was the Wanmin Restaurant you remembered "eating" there with Scaramouche, the goal was to get to that building.

Xiangling and Xingqiu were leading the way, Chongyun was walking on your right side. Lumine and a summoned Paimon were beside the exorcist. This positioning was to make sure that the approaching Millelith guard was the farthest away from you. But you were starting to wonder if it would be clever enough to slip past security.

A couple was leaning against the railings of the bridge, they seemed to have taken a glance at you and whispered among themselves. It gave you a foul feeling in the pit of your stomach, you felt the same level of anxiety of walking around the innocent locals and walking into a Fatui campsite.

"Welcome back, Traveller and party!" A Millelith guard raised his spear and placed it on the ground like he was planting a flag.

"Hello!" Paimon responded cheerfully, placing their arms behind their back.

Lumine gave the man a carefree smile, "We have returned from our long food delivery commission."

"Well done! You're as efficient as always, Traveller...!" As the officer studied Xiangling, Xinqiu, and Chongyun, he stepped to the side to look at you closely. The young man raised an eyebrow suspiciously. "Who's this...?"

You couldn't stop yourself from swallowing that lump in your throat, you felt like your mouth was too dry to even let out a single word. A drop of cold sweat rolled down your exposed back, you were already growing restless without your ice tank and spray guns. The guard was waiting for you to answer.

Chongyun placed an arm over your shoulder to pull you into his body, hiding your face from the Millelith guard who was trying to get a closer look at you, "She's a lost Snezhnayan tourist who we met along the way."

"Really now?"

"Yes, she's quite shaken up from the monsters that were chasing her in the wilderness." He spoke with ease, not the slightest bit nervous that he was coming up with those lies.

The officer looked impressed, "Well, the enemies around here get pretty violent when it starts to rain!"

Chongyun chuckled uninterestedly, "We just need to take her to the Wanmin Restaurant so she can calm down..."

"Wait a second, is that... a Fatui uniform...?" This time, the Millelith guard pushed past Lumine and Paimon.

You felt your heart drop to the floor when you heard the man's words, it's over, I'm going to prison... Even though Chongyun tried to put some space between you and the guard, he was persistent to get a good look at your face, willing to put that description on the wanted poster to the test.

"Pardon me," Xingqiu stood in front of the exorcist, flashing a mischievous, boyish smirk to the guard. "But aren't you the guy that always walks by the perfume shop? The one Miss Ying'er owns?"

"OH YEAH!" Xiangling shouted and jumped in, nodding her head feverishly. "I remember too! Your name's Hongyi! Rumour has it: you have a thing for her!"

"W-What?!" The officer suddenly tensed up, hiding his pink face behind the spear. "What kind of nonsense are you two going on about?!"

Xingqiu laughed to himself, "I almost didn't recognize you, Mr. Hongyi! It seems like you were displaced from your regular position. I'm sure Miss Ying'er misses your company dearly!"

"No, you're wrong- Wait, you think so?" The young man easily switched up the topic.

An embarrassed whimper left your mouth as you failed to understand what everyone was talking about. But luckily, you didn't stay to watch the end of the show, Chongyun pulled you along and both of you made your way inside the city.

•••

"Xiangling and Xingqiu are distracting the guard. I'll go sneak in your weapons." Chongyun muttered as he turned around briefly. "The Traveller and Paimon... went somewhere else... huh?"

The icy-haired male had a look of confusion as he glanced around the area.

"Stay here." He moved you next to the stairs of, what you remembered was, the Adventurers' Guild. "Don't move. I'll find the Traveller."

You nodded silently and stood still, partially leaning into the neighbouring alleyway as a way to hide from the passing locals. From afar, you saw Chongyun walk to the right and disappear from sight, leaving you alone for the hundredth time.

But you should be safe here, all that fighting wasn't for nothing surely. It scared you how desperately Lord Scaramouche was trying to get you back - by force even. First, it was the Ruin Guard, though made by the Abyss, the Harbingers always found a way to twist things into their own machines.

There was also that Cicin Mage, she chose the day of the ambush on a rainy day, it was the perfect opportunity. She got farther than the Ruin Guard, you can admit that. She even managed to get everyone on the ground because of her Electro attacks. If the attack went on for longer, maybe she would have successfully killed the whole party.

"He wants you back, you know that?"

A terrible chill shook your entire body when you felt the owner of that deep voice brush up against you from behind, it made your senses heightened and your adrenaline kick-start. You turned around quickly.

"It's such a mess back at camp..." The mumbling continued. In the shaded alleyway between the buildings there stood a tall figure, untouched by the downcast sun. You wondered how they moved so quickly.

"What...?" Unbelievable, you didn't want to think that Scaramouche sent another soldier after you. Still, you pursued the stranger, weaponless. "Who... Who are you?"

"Though, I find it very selfish of you to just betray the Fatui just like that. It's incredible." The dark-cloaked man ignored your question, twirling a blade between his gloved fingers. "Secretary [Y/N] [L/N], from the Cryogunner Legionnaires, Lord Scaramouche's personal assistant. My comrades and I talk plenty about you, y'know?"

The sound of your name - full name plus title, caused your breath to hitch. You decided not to go closer to the individual and you began to back away, "I don't know who you are... but please, leave me alone."

"I'm not here to steal you away, I'm just here to give you a warning." He pushed himself off the wall and slowly stepped to the side. Your eyes followed the man like he was some kind of magnet, you felt entranced by his smoky aura.

"What warning...?" It was already too late, the stranger was now in front of you, easily pushing your back against the wall.

The Fatui Agent chuckled as he leaned down to your height, "Lord Scaramouche is very angry - not upset and you know how bad things get when he is angry. There's nothing we can do because the only solution to his problem is you. If you go back, then maybe you're saving the lives of the Liyue people."

Your lips pulled downwards as you shook your head, "Why should I go back?"

"To beg for forgiveness? I wouldn't know." He trailed off, smiling behind his mask. "Lord Scaramouche would not rest nor eat without any news about his runaway secretary. It was quite shocking. A little disturbing even."

"If I go back, he'll kill me." Your voice trembled as you spoke. "I'm already dead..."

"That's a possibility." The man agreed. "But, you won't know until you see him yourself."

You had enough. You didn't want to listen anymore. It was too painful to even imagine what would happen if you did go back. You finally made it to Liyue Harbour, after everything you've been through with Lumine's party, why would you just throw that away?

Then again, why did you throw it all away if you were already at the highest ranking? Every now and then, you would blame yourself, fall deeper into your depression. You've never felt genuinely happy, you've never been. It just felt like no one was recognizing your hard work, all of your sacrifice. Everyone chose to pinpoint every single horrible thing you've done on you and never even considered how you felt.

The Fatui Agent leaned over and tilted his head lazily, the hollow eyes of his mask pierced through your soul. It wasn't enough for you to go back to Scaramouche. No matter how much your heart couldn't take it, your brain thought otherwise.

You slowly tried to separate from the man but he pressed on.

"[Y/N], you probably don't remember me, but my name is Kliment." He leaned against the wall to trap you next to his arm. "I knew your brother, lieutenant Nikolai. He was a... very flamboyant guy. I was surprised that he didn't enlist as a Pyro Fatui Agent like the rest of his friends."

Your heart did an unexpected leap against your ribcage, making you glance up at him with an innocent gaze, "You knew my older brother...?"

Kliment flashed you a toothy smirk, "Before Nikolai went crazy, during training, he would tell the whole platoon all about you. He would say things like 'my little sister is looking up to me, I have to work hard for her' and 'I'm glad she didn't enlist as a Cicin Mage' stuff like that. He just kept talking about you and your talent for guns."

A shaky sigh left your mouth as you felt tears building up in your eyes, you even began shaking your head in disbelief. For the first time in a while, you heard nice things about yourself. It's always been: you never stay within the group or you're a cold-blooded killer. Your lack of Scaramouche's praises made you extremely vulnerable to that mean voice inside your head.

"It's a shame that a soldier like him was dropped from the army. I admired his drive for justice, I really did."

You could hold back your tears and let one slip from your eye, down your cheek and to your chin, "It's a shame... my brother... got sick... He got really sick..."

"Oh, calm down, Nikolai would probably beat me up for making you cry." Kliment teased a joke all while loosely wrapping his arm around your shoulders, pulling you with him. "Let's go, come with me... I have a surprise to show you."

Your hands grabbed onto the man's wrist as you weakly attempted to free yourself, "I shouldn't... Please, let go of me... I don't want to go anywhere with you, Kliment... I don't care if you were my brother's best friend..."

The Agent didn't take no for an answer and finally told you the truth, "Nikolai is waiting at the Fatui campsite."

Your world seemed to fall apart and swallow you whole, then and there you felt like you sunk further into sadness. As much as you tried to deny the thought of your mentally deranged older brother being dragged all the way to Liyue, you couldn't help but yearn to see him. You missed him, he reminded you so much of your home, your mother, and your father.

If Scaramouche was kind enough to bring Nikolai here, then Scaramouche must really, truly want you back, right? If all you wanted was to go back home to your family, wouldn't it count if your family was brought to you? It would count, right? It doesn't have to be in Snezhnaya, right? Scaramouche isn't tricking you...

Right?

You finally muttered, "No, he's not... Big brother isn't here..."

"Yes, he is," Kliment forced you along. "He came all the way from Snezhnaya to reunite with you, by Harbinger Scaramouche's orders. Let's go back to camp, they're all waiting for your return-"

"No, he's not. I said he's not here." You declared, keeping your feet on the ground. "He's at home with my mother... Because he can't even get out of bed by himself!"

When you yelled at him, Kliment only stared at you emotionlessly from under his mask.

The silence was suffocating, it was like he was thinking about his next move. The Fatui Agent seemed to reflect on your words, you saw it in the way he chewed a little on his bottom lip. There was a heavy feeling in your chest, talking about your sick older brother this way was too much for you to bear.

"You two really are siblings. Naive and resistant." Kliment grumbled bitterly. "I've never liked your brother anyway. Lieutenant Nikolai got what he deserved! He's the one that went against direct orders!"

You were offended by his insults but you furrowed your eyebrows at what he said at the end of his little rant. That wasn't what you were told. You were told that your older brother got hurt during his expedition. What did he mean your brother went against direct orders?

Kliment almost lifted you off the ground, "I can't release you now, I wouldn't want to disappoint him. That's why you're going back to camp with me. And then I will be promoted! I'll take the bounty reward! I won't go on any more useless quests! I'll actually have some control over my life! Come on, secretary [Y/N], make everyone happy and go back to Harbinger Scaramouche!"