[Genshin Impact] A world where only travelers are alone

The white wedding gown to be used at the wedding was personally delivered by the eldest daughter of the Kamisato family.

The girl named Linghua smiled at her apologetically: "Brother originally wanted to come by himself, and even took care of official business a few days in advance. But for some reason, the envoy of Zhidong suddenly visited, and brother had to greet him in person."

He Que shook his head gently: "Master Shefeng is very busy, I understand."

Kamisato Ayaka hesitated to speak: "Ms. Kujo, you are really completely different from your father..."

Kujo and Que paused as they served the tea.

Kamisato Ayaka took the teapot from her hand, and despite her refusal after she came to her senses, she poured a cup of tea for her and herself with a little force.

He Que hesitated and said, "You are the guest, this should be done by me."

"It's okay. If it's just the two of us, I'd be happy to serve tea to Miss Kujo." Kamisato Ayaka handed the teacup to her. "When Miss Kujo and her brother get married, we'll be a family."

He Que lowered his head and took a sip of the tea in the cup without saying a word.

Kamisato Ayaka didn't seem to notice her silence. She rubbed the white porcelain teacup in her hand awkwardly and whispered, "Although it's not good to talk about others behind their backs, the expression on Tenryo Bugyo-sama's face when he found out that my brother didn't come was very ugly."

Compared to his gentle daughter, Kujo Takayuki has a tougher temper. When Kamisato Ayaka came with something, she happened to meet him and got a lukewarm sarcasm.

"The kid from the Kamisato family, humph..."

She didn't explain these things too clearly, but even if she didn't say it, Heque could guess what Kujo Takayuki said.

She comforted him, "Father has been troubled for a long time because of the winter envoys. Maybe he is just in a bad mood and is not blaming the community official intentionally."

Kamisato Ayaka thought that Kujo Takayuki was angry because he thought Kamisato Ayato neglected his daughter, so she was not very angry.

She expressed her thoughts and said with emotion, "Brother should have come. Brother and Miss Kujo have known each other since childhood and are engaged. No matter what, you should try to build up their relationship."

Kamisato Ayaka was born a few years later than Kamisato Ayato. As far as she can remember, her sister named Kujo Watsuki always followed her brother, and occasionally played with her with toys together with her father and mother.

But later, Kujo and Que gradually stopped appearing, and her parents also disappeared.

Perhaps because Heque was involved in her softest memories, Kamisato Ayaka has a heavy filter for her. Although Heque has become much quieter now compared to when she was a child, she is still the older sister in her eyes.

"Maybe my brother thinks so too. Sometimes he would mention you to me."

*
Kamisato Ayaka left before noon, declining Heque's invitation to stay for dinner, and jokingly said that she had to go back and report to her brother.

He Que couldn't persuade her and had to send her away, but as soon as she left, he immediately sent the maid outside the door to report to Kujo Takayuki that she would not attend lunch today.

Having prevented any further possible visitors, she closed the door and slid down to the floor.

Thinking of how Kamisato Ayaka mentioned Kamisato Ayato's current situation before she left, whether intentionally or unintentionally, she let out a breath.

...How long has it been since we last saw each other?
He Que thought, it seemed like many years had passed.

It's really ridiculous to say that there is such an engagement between the two people, but they have never met in private. Even before today, the discussion of the engagement was entirely completed through visiting cards.

It was all her own fault.

After all, even this marriage contract was obtained by her through coercion.

*
If we trace back to the past, Kazuque had known Kamisato Ayato when he was very young.

There is no more appropriate identity than the youngest daughter of Tenryo Bugyo and the eldest son of Sha Bugyo. After a noble banquet, He Que became completely entangled with this gentle brother.

Although she has two brothers and an older sister, for some reason they always have endless work to do, either studying or practicing martial arts. When they occasionally pay attention to her, it's just perfunctory. Only Kamisato Ayato is willing to split his time to take care of her.

Children also know how to seek benefits and avoid harm. Over time, He Que fell in love with this brother who was willing to feed her a piece of cake and touch her head even when he was practicing calligraphy.

When she grew up a little bit, the noisy Kazuque also learned to be quiet and would lie down on the table and watch him write obediently. Even though her brothers and sisters no longer resisted her approach, she still retained the habit of sticking to Kamisato Ayato.

When he was a little older, He Que could already understand what was written on the papers on Kamisato Ayato's desk.

She couldn't help but feel curious.

"Ayato, I recognize what's written here—" She pointed at the words and read them out slowly, "Ganjin Island Fireworks Festival... I know this, but I begged my brothers for a long time and no one was willing to take me there."

Kamisato Ayato smiled and said, "Yes, this is last year's disc. The community is in charge of rituals and culture, and folk entertainment also falls under this category. My father wanted to give this to me to see if I can find the shortcomings of the original arrangement with my current level."

Also because it was a literary disc from last year, Kamisato Ayato didn't mind Kujo and Suzu watching beside them.

He Que tilted her head in confusion: "Ayato's father is very strict, stricter than my father. My brothers all waited until they were fifteen to start to get in touch with this kind of thing. Isn't Ayato only a little older than me?" "I took the initiative to beg my father to teach me these things." Kamisato Ayato touched her head, looking lonely, "Father is usually very busy with affairs, and recently-I hope I can share some of his burdens."

He Que seemed to understand, but was too embarrassed to ask again, for fear that he would think he was too stupid and not want to pay attention to him.

But curiosity was something that could not be suppressed no matter what. She tried to hold back, but still wanted to know what was behind the unfinished sentence. Finally, she decided to go back and consult the smart sister Sara.

Kujo Sara had just come down from the martial arts arena, and his body was still covered in sweat from archery practice. He was afraid that he would get on her, so he quickly dodged her pulling and tugging, and said, "I don't know much about the community magistrate, but I heard that the community magistrate's health has been getting worse recently. Master Kamisato probably just hopes that with his help, his father can rest in peace."

He Que nodded, thoughtfully.

As soon as Kujo Sara saw her like this, he guessed that she might be up to something, and couldn't help but remind her: "It's better for you not to bother Master Kamisato recently. His time is very precious. Can't you just pester Kama?"

Kamajima is the name of her second brother.

He Que pouted: "I'm very obedient and not annoying at all."

Children are always stubborn, just like Kazuque always feels that Kamisato Ayato must be very sad now and needs someone to be with him to share his sadness.

Although there is an older daughter in the Kamisato family, Kamisato Ayaka is too young, and even if Ayato wanted to, he couldn't say anything to her, not to mention that Ayato would never be willing to let his sister feel the same way as him.

So Heque went to Kamisato's house more often. When he got there, he didn't do anything. He just quietly moved a small stool and sat next to Kamisato Ayato, watching him complete his father's task.

After this happened several times, Kamisato Ayato felt a little strange.

Inazuma taught noble women etiquette, one of which was to avoid being in public as much as possible. Otherwise, Kazuque wouldn't have been unable to attend even a small fireworks festival. Coming to Kamisato's house once a week as before was already the limit.

But these days, He Que has visited him almost every day.

"Does Lord Tenryo Bugyo mind?" Kamisato Ayato had heard that the Kujo family had a strict education.

Kujo Sara is just an adopted daughter of the Kujo family and has the blood of Tengu. From the beginning, she was designated to join the Tenryo Bugyo in the future, so there is no such restriction, but Kujo and Su should not be like this.

According to the tradition of the Kujo family, at his age, Kazusa should have been kept at home to learn waka poetry and household management.

He Que didn't understand the deep meaning in his words. After hearing that, she put down her hand that was carefully copying his elegant handwriting and replied loudly, "I have talked to my father about this. He doesn't mind. He even encouraged me to come to Kamisato's house more often during this period and get closer to Ayato."

She looked up at him and smiled widely, but because of that she failed to see Kamisato Ayato's face suddenly darken after a brief moment of daze.

You can't blame him for thinking too much. The head of the Kamisato family is seriously ill, and the health of the Kamisato family mistress is also deteriorating. During the time that Kamisato Ayato was brought to his father's side, he could clearly feel the ever-changing eyes of the retainers who occasionally came to visit.

Of course, it was not only these small families that were eyeing the gradually declining Kamisato family, but also the Kujo family and the Hiiragi family, who were also one of the Three Magistrates.

Kujo Takayuki ordered his daughter to get close to him at this sensitive juncture, and it was hard for Kamisato Ayato not to wonder if he had some conspiracy.

What about Kujo and Suzaku? What role does she play in this?

He Que didn't know what he was thinking. Seeing that he had fallen silent, he walked over to him and tugged at his sleeve, "Ayato?"

Kamisato Ayato suddenly came back to his senses.

The ten-year-old child could not hide his expression very well, and the coldness on his face had not faded. When he looked down at He Que, his eyes were cold to the extreme, and deep in his pupils there was a hint of imperceptible fear of being betrayed.

He Que was so frightened by the look that he froze in place.

Kamisato Ayato finally realized his own gaffe and immediately lowered his head to cover his face: "...I'm sorry, Heque, I remembered some unpleasant things."

The foolish Heque immediately forgot what happened just now, and looked around him worriedly: "What's wrong? What's wrong? Ayato, what are you thinking about? If you are unhappy, why don't you take a rest? I'll ask the maid to get you a glass of water."

Kamisato Ayato calmed down the turbulent emotions in his heart before he finally spoke: "It's okay, don't worry, let's continue talking about the topic just now."

He Que nodded obediently and sat down next to him again.

"Although Tenryo Bugyo-sama doesn't mind, maybe you should think about it yourself. The rumors that the young lady of the Kujo family keeps going to the Kamisato family are too inappropriate."

Kamisato Ayato didn't know what role Kazuque played in this, and he couldn't even be 100% sure that Kujo Takayuki had coveted the Kamisato family.

But he couldn't take any risks, he had to eliminate all possible sources of danger.

"So, can you please not come to Kamisato's house again?"

(End of this chapter)