Chapter Text
In the world of aristocrats, there's always a place for pheasants. Your mother was a prostitute and your father is one of the most popular producers in Fontaine for theaters such as operas. Originally, you're supposed to die in the slums of Nod Krai, unfortunately your father finds you and takes you in after knowing the woman he impregnated and left, died. Words spread quick like wild fire, they slandered him for having a child with a low life, but some praised him for being a responsible adult, simply for taking in his own daughter. As you grew surrounded with nobles, they didn't stopped poking their own curiosity just to humiliate and embarass you, after all they still see you as a person that doesn't belong in any position of respect.
Around eleven years old, just two years after your father took you in─he assigned you to explore various types of arts, in which makes a stop in ballet, it took a few bumps before you actually land on ballet, since your father opposed to it saying you were better in acting, it's quite funny because he offered you countless of suggestions for you to choose your own art and he then decides you were off better with acting. But with your stubbornness, he lets you join the ballet theatre, sending you to Snezhnaya to train. There, almost everyone in the ballet community respected you. Respecting you solely because of the fact that your father is the biggest benefactor and manager of the Snezhnayan theatre.
Ballet was no play or game, to you it wasn't. Your feet bled out, you broke each of your toenails, often starving yourself or eating too much everytime you feel stressed, always focusing on the flaws or being critical to yourself. You'd practice even at night just to get the highest or main role in the play, you practiced until you exhausted yourself to the point you would fell unconscious, but by the time you wake up, you'd get up and practice, with that there was not a single time in your plays you didn't played the main role. For you, ballet was the only thing that could give you the highest position in life. By the time you received such admiration and praise, you couldn't stop thriving for it, the pain and agony you had to experience is for the satisfaction and pleasure you get from always being in the top and being the most perfect ballerina.
With always being in the top, you had to keep that image and hold up your reputation, you didn't had any time for yourself, for twelve full years, the only thing in your mind was being the no. 1 ballerina in teyvat, and so it happened, each time you perform, everyone from the world came to Snezhnaya just to watch you, just to praise you, you were widely known for your delicate yet rough moves, technical mastery, immense charisma, explosive power, longevity, dramatic ability and for topping every top ballerina who held records and history.
After your last performance in the Mariinksy palace, you were promoted as a principal dancer, and as the very first prima ballerina assoluta named by the Empress Tsaritsa herself, you were known throughout the whole teyvat, as the Angel of Ballet or the Ballet Perfectionista. As your teacher and father urged you to perform in the Opera Epiclese, the biggest theatre in teyvat. your father wasted no time, already making all the preparations and announcements, you didn't even had the chance to decide whether you wanted to go back to Fontaine, or even perform there. But to make that perfect image of yours, you boarded the ship and sailed to Fontaine. When you arrived, you were bombarded with applause, and compliments, Although mostly are shouts and camera flashes. What's more interesting is the people that spoke ill towards you gave you their most warmest welcome back.
You could tell the difference between Snezhnayans and Fontainians, In Snezhnaya respect is earned between status and connections, while In Fontaine, respect is earned when people are amused or pleased by what they see.
After your perfomance in the opera epiclese, a celebration for your comeback was held just outside the opera house, where coppelia and coppelius is stilled as a statue so the place could be used as a platform for gathering. As your father introduced you to the important figures in Fontaine, you kept a smile in your face like any other, however it's a ballerina's and host's responsibility to keep a positive energy, though not a single one them gave you a hint of interest or curiosity, and each of their sentence were the same, which only bore you even more. As the time passes more, the more your patience was wearing out. Looking for your father to tell him you'd like to be excused so you could rest, but when you found him, you stopped in your tracks to see a well dressed man, and the most notable features of his, was his long white hair.
Just by the way your dad is smiling and grinning in front of this man, gave you a sense of suspicion, with your face already worn out you didn't want to entertain someone again, and so you left the area and ordered an aquabus, sitting down in your seat, the aquabus is starting to set off, suddenly you heard a loud thud in the staircase, standing up, you looked to see who tried sinking the aquabus down, seeing a dark hair man fixing his gloves, he made a sigh after seeing his fur coat wet. "What you did was well against the law, sire." Jumping on the aquabus without safety measures is what's against the law.
Seemingly surprised as he looked up, his eyes widen to see you, but only replied with a smirk, "Tell me about it." By his attire, you could tell he came from the party your father held, as your eyes scanned him up and down, you felt the sense of familiarity from him, "Is something the problem, my lady?"
"Have we met before?"
Out of the blue he started laughing, thinking he's seeing you as a joke, you rolled your eyes, noticing you're displeased by his reaction, he immediately gets back to his character and cleared his throat, "My apologies, uhm, we literally introduced ourselves in your table, my lady."
"Is that so? I don't quite remember." Blinking as you gazed at his face, you tried to remember his name, but to no avail, you shake your head giving up guessing his name.
"Well, it must be because I'm one of the plain citizens, aren't I? I am Wriothesley, the Duke of Fontaine, as well as the warden of fortress of meropide." Reaching his hand out for a handshake, you looked at his scarlet red gloves before giving in.
"Strange name for a strange man like you, nice to meet you, however you didn't came running just to strike a conversation with me, did you?" raising a brow at him, he chuckled.
"It's wonderful enough that I ran to you, but I guess the strike conversation thing is accurate, congratulations on the prima ballerina assoluta title, it was a splendid performance you did back there, no one has ever done such show like what you pulled." taking his coat off, he offered it to you.
Scoffing as you let him wrap it around your shoulders, "I know that to myself, you didn't have to remind me, almost all the people I met today said that to me."
"Wow, confidence is the key, huh?"
"Determination and perfection is." Obtaining that title was no luck or joke, you broke every bone in yourself just to have it.
"You're an interesting lady, miss y/n." late night air in Fontaine sure do hits different, especially with a stranger. Once you got off of the aquabus, Wriothesley leads you to the hotel debord before bidding goodbye. Going inside your suite, you placed the fur coat down to the chair and undressed, as you poured yourself a glass of wine while waiting for the bathub to fill up, you stared at Wriothesley's fur coat, what should you do with it? Is in your mind. Burn it? Throw it? Or leave it in the suite once you leave? To think he had the guts to hit on you, you've played those types of men in Snezhnaya, it's not that shocking.
The next day, you decided to take a stroll through the fields behind the court of Fontaine, you somehow had the urge to take a deep breath and have a short break for awhile, that was yet the most human you ever had the urge to yet it was so rare for you. As you were resting in a nearby abandoned house, your eyes spotted something familiar, 'It's that guy from the aquabus.' watching him talk to certain people who wears simpler version of his attire which is his uniform, now that you think about it, you remembered he's the warden of the underwater prison, strange. Did he make such impression on you, you remembered? you don't usually remember insignificant and boring pieces like him. Ignoring him as you laid in the bench, it was such a fresh breath to feel the warmth of Fontaine's sun. Without a thing in your mind, you slowly drift in a light sleep.
When you wake up, your brows hunched together as you squint your eyes to properly visualize the man beside you, "Did you had a wonderful nap time, miss ballerina?" Realizing it's Wriothesley, you sighed, the sun was getting hotter and hotter─suddenly, Wriothesley took out his handkerchief and handed it to you, accepting it, you wiped your neck and collar he watches you as if examining you, "you're truly a strange lady, miss ballerina."
"What time is it?" Rubbing your eyes as you yawned.
"It is lunchtime, which is 12:06." As soon as Wriothesley responded you stood up and walked away, "You're not even gonna ask me if I had lunch? I skipped it for you." Catching up with you, he opened an umbrella and shaded you, grinning like a fool he is, you shake your head in disbelief.
"Starve yourself, I wouldn't care."
"Are you stingy because of the heat? I know a place that could freshen you up a bit."
Crossing your arms as both of you walk, you look at him with a doubtful expression, "Aren't wardens supposed to be busy?"
"Well, I was invited to another event, and since I'm already here, I took the time to deal with outside businesses." Giving you a thumbs up, you rolled your eyes.
"Why are you following me then?"
"I'm not following you, as a gentleman and a guard myself, I shan't leave a lady alone in the wilderness, where almost every danger in this place could happen, there are treasure hoarders, unlabeled or malfunctioned mekas, ferocious animals, and fatuus."
"Whatever happens, it happens for a reason, now take me to the place you said I can get freshen up." With an attitude like yours, he'd surely leave but to your demise, he just smiled.
"Yes, ma'am."
Arriving at the city, Wriothesley took you to a restaurant which is the nearest to the entrance, as the two of you entered, you noticed the emptiness and shabby the place looked, "This restaurant barely has any customers, are you certain about the choice of taking me here?"
"Mhm, well, for me this is one of the greatest restaurants in Fontaine, so I wish you'd like it too."
"I don't like this place." Grabbing your wrist just before you leave him, again.
"Oh, come on, just try it." Furrowing your brows, you gave in and sat on the seat he offered, it wouldn't hurt to use this guy, you're starving too after all. As soon as the two of you were seated, a waitress tended to your table, giving the two of you menus, Wriothesley started listing the food, "We'll have one Coq Au Vin, Foie Gras, Bistro-style steak, one serving of Ratatouille.. Duck Confit, as for deserts, Strawberry and Chocolate Crepes, Mille-feuille, Mont Blanc, Tarte Tatin and Soufflé─don't forget the tea."
"Was that for you or for the both of us?" You wouldn't be surprised if he could ate all the food he ordered, he has a big build.
"There's called sharing, miss ballerina." Giving you a wink, you just shake your head, since you barely know any food in the menu, you just agreed with it.
Staring at the menu, you had the absolute freedom to choose, you wouldn't have that much performances in the future nevertheless, "I'd like to add something cold, can you suggest anything, miss?"
"We have our special sundae and summer parfait."
"I'd like to try both."
"Will that be all?" Looking at Wriothesley, the both of you nodded, when the waitress served you a cup of water, while you were looking at painting, you remembered you didn't have any mora on you.
"You're paying, right?" Since he's a duke, you're pretty sure he's packed.
"I thought you got it."
"You invited me for lunch." For the first time, you're shocked when he said those words, almost all men in Snezhnaya would pay as long as they're in the table, even if they didn't eat, without any hesitation, now do Fontainian men don't pay when they're with women? What a culture shock.
Sensing that you're already irritated, one more joke you were about to lash out at him, "I was just kidding, yes, I got it." For some reason he liked seeing you showing you a bit of your emotion even if it's anger, you seem too nonchalant and empty.
"I don't like jokes, sire warden." He saved himself, you almost threw the cup of water in his face.
"My sincerest apology." Bowing his head, and so a long silence passes on and after a few minutes the food started coming, as you were eating some ratatouille, Wriothesley suddenly reached his fork to you, "Try this."
Seeing it's from the Duck Confit, you shook your head as a no, "I don't eat duck."
"It's good." Convinced, you took the fork and bit on it, "How is it?" Asking you with an excited tone.
"Tastes like any chicken."
"Great, have this." Giving you a plate of neatly sliced Duck Confit, you glimpsed at him, noticing he already had every meal in small pieces and put in a plate, you just pursed your lips and continued eating the Duck Confit, a slight knot in your stomach slowly loosening.
After having lunch, the both of you stopped in a nearby park, and for some reason he's still not leaving, "Why are you hanging out here anyway? Aren't you supposed to get back to work?"
"Well, you seem too lonely to be left alone."
"I like being lonely." Stroking your cup of coffee, you look at the reflection of yourself in the empty plate, you do like the feeling of loneliness, it gives you tranquility and enough time to think about yourself, but having a person listen, isn't so bad too.
"Just say you don't have friends, it's obvious." Bluntly speaking about it, you raised a brow at him implicating you're rather mad than impressed for him noticing about you, who even gets impressed when someone says you don't have friends? which is true.
"Because Fontainians are rude assholes, so are you." You're not lying about that, almost all the people you've met so far in Fontaine are just masked foolery, they're just being nice to you because you've ranked higher than they are at now, and seeing them below you is satisfying, you can treat anyone like shit and anyone would be on your side as long as you're higher than them, that's how the aristocracy in Fontaine works.
"Aren't Snezhnayans too?"
"They're just vulgar with words but they're sincere people." Although you didn't have that many friends in Snezhnaya, there were some people who stayed to accompany you,
"Well, am I not nice enough?"
"You're a man."
"What does that mean?" Asked with utter confusion in his voice.
"Figure it out." While sipping on your coffee, you see a man running down the streets.
Stopping in front of the table, the man took a deep breath, "Lady Y/n!" Noticing a man with you, he bowed his head, "The Duke, good afternoon, I didn't know you were visiting the city."
"If I announced it would something happen?"
"Hahaha, I don't know, anyhow I am here to fetch Lady Y/n, Monsieur Roux has been looking for you since last night, my lady."
"What does he want?" You just hope it wouldn't be important.
"Uh.. He had you assigned to teach the ballet trainees, and the trainees has been waiting for you in the studio for two hours now."
"What?" Standing up, you told the man to lead the way, and as the two of you started walking away, Wriothesley was left alone, staring at your figure as you leave, sipping on his black coffee, he noticed a bracelet beside your plate.
When you arrived, "Ah, she's here!" Loud applause started erupting the studio, as they stood up to greet you.
"My sincere apologies, I was quite.. In love with the sights in Fontaine, I wandered around for too long." Keeping that perfect image of yours is more important than anything, but what was this all about? Your father didn't inform you about this.
After your Q&A with the students, you approached your father somewhere more private, "You never told me about this."
"How can I tell you when you weren't here?"
"Are you kidding? When did I even tell you I wanted to teach those people?" Here he goes again, deciding things you never agreed on, this has happened a thousand times before, and each time you refuse him, he just ignored you, and since you had your very own reputation you didn't back down, not wanting any issues trash your career.
"You're the prima ballerina assoluta." Lighting himself a cigarette, he reviewed the files in his folder.
"That's a title of being a dancer not being a teacher, I am not good with teaching, father, atleast tell me before doing shit you want to, how long do I have to tell you that?"
"You're good at everything, and doing these kind of things would only make you bigger, so be grateful." giving you the folder, he puffs out the smoke and pointed at the folder, "Let's have dinner around eight o'clock, don't be late, I have someone you'd very much wanna meet." Leaving you in the room, you gripped onto the folder.
Throwing it to the mirror, you threw a vase on the mirror, "Fuck!" Palming your forehead, you sat down and took a breath, trying to calm your nerves.
"Uh.. Lady Y/n." Hearing a knock.
"What is it?"
"We have an apartment ready for you in the Illian residence."
"Transport my things there, here's the key." Making her catch the key, she nodded her head and left, "I fucking hate this..." Storming out the building, you went to the nearest designer shop to find something to wear tonight, as much as you hate your father, it's also your most cherished career that you worked hard for, and you didn't want that to come crumbling down because of one disappointment or mistake, you never make those after all. You always want that perfection in yourself to be shown to the public.
Arriving, your father said it was a simple dinner, yet here you are, in a grand ball, it was a celebrity gathering and you didn't even know, before you actually got to your actual purpose there, you were greeted and met with countless of people constantly talking to you, eventually pushing you with them to the parlor. As you were listening to the noble ladies, an attendant came by your side,
"Good evening, Lady Y/n─Monsieur Roux is this way." Nodding, you excused yourself and walked behind her, as your eyes gazed out the window, you saw Wriothesley again. And then it hits you, you realized this was the event he referred to, you're not gonna lie, you actually thought he was lying.
Opening the doors for you, when you entered, you see a stranger, which is certainly not your father, the white long hair reminds you of someone, when he turned to face you─there you meet his purple iris, slit like a snake's, "My apologies, it seems like I've been brought to the wrong room, serf─"
"Oh, weren't you supposed to spend dinner with me?" For an intimidating appearance, he surprised you with such a delicate tone and beautiful voice of his, though for his question, you were confused.
"Excuse me?"