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“Your Highness.” Aether looks up from the piles of documents and texts he has been poring over, Paimon asleep by his side. Albedo stands before him, a bundle of scrolls and books in his arms. Aether leans back and groans, rubbing his temples.
“No more reading, please.” Aether holds a hand out, face covered by the other. “I haven’t even finished the others you gave me earlier.” His tutor shakes his head, dropping the bundles of paper down before Aether, despite all his protests.
“Even if you’re preparing for your birthday celebration, you still need to keep up with your studies.” Albedo’s voice is flat and tired, he’s had his own things to supervise on top of his usual duties. “And you’re behind on your foreign relations, which could affect your diplomacy with the guests.”
Aether grimaces. Sitting around and studying is horribly ill fitting for him, with his wanderlust and curiosity. He’d much rather be traveling through the countries exploring on his own than reading some dusty old papers, and he'd certainly learn more from it than studying the words of ancient nobles. Sifting through the pile gingerly, a purple scroll with gold detailing catches his eye.
“What’s this?” Aether opens it up, examining the flowing script on the inside. “Liyue… Adepti?”
“Ahh, yes, the Adepti of Liyue.” Albedo scratches his chin, deep in thought. “Something of a… well, a group of beings, magical beings you might call them. I myself haven’t researched much, but from what I know, the closest I can relate them to are the fairies of our region. Something sort of above humans, I suppose. I believe the current emperor of Liyue is one, along with many of his court.”
“Huh…” Aether unrolls the scroll, choking a bit on the dust that springs up from the ancient paper. “Do you think they’d get along with the magical beasts around here?” He asks absentmindedly. Perhaps that young man was one, the beasts were awfully calm with him around.
“I couldn’t tell you.” Albedo shrugs, settling down at a nearby table, his own load of research papers before him. “But it would be good to be knowledgeable on the subject. I believe some of Liyue’s ambassadors are Adepti too, along with the human successor.” Ahh right, Aether heard about the uproar with the choosing of a human successor. Perhaps he should listen to the gossiping of those doddering old men more often.
Aether returns his attention to the writing before him. He smooths the slight wrinkles in the scroll under his fingers, reading the fairytale-esque story with great interest. It speaks of grand adventures and battles, the fighting of gods and monsters, as well as the triumphs of humanity by the Adepti’s side. Romantic and adventurous, something he truly longs for himself.
“It’s quite strange, seeing the concept of gods from the perspective of a godless kingdom.” Aether smiles. “It feels as though I’m reading a fantasy novel. And yet they exist. Just not for us.” His voice is almost mocking. “We can only believe in ourselves and what we create, quite the opposite of a country built upon the strength of their god.”
“Your Highness…” Albedo trails off for a moment, looking up before finding his voice again. “I hope you keep these thoughts to yourself in the company of the ambassadors. Considering most of them are devout to their respective gods.” His voice is full of reason, but Aether can tell his words struck a nerve. After all, Albedo’s primary research steps into the realm of gods with the alchemical creation of life itself, a subject that many other countries tried to claim was immoral despite its historical practice and tried to shut down during peace conferences.
Frankly, gods are a testy subject for many citizens of Khaenri’ah, considering the wars waged on them for centuries, for their godless ways and refusal to follow any religion as a nation. But to Aether, they are fascinating. Not in a manner of wishing to worship or follow them, but as a concept that is foreign to himself. The grand dignity and valor of fighting for your god has its appeal, so different from the scientific and political approach Khaenri’ah has to its affairs now, that he carries on learning about each day for the sake of his people.
“And yet, following a god for your whole life, how stifling it must be.” Aether taps the scroll against the lacquered wood table. “They keep going on and on about Guizhong and Rex Lapis, but how boring that is. I want to read more about the others, not just their gods.”
“Again.” Albedo sighs deeply, lines forming on his brow as he frowns. “Please, refrain from speaking carelessly like that while in the presence of the delegations. Your words carry a lot of weight.”
“Yes yes, they can start wars and break treaties blah blah.” Aether pinches the bridge of his nose. If he has to hear that lecture one more time, he’s going to lose it. Every day he hears it, and every time it gets longer and longer, his brain feels numb by the time Albedo finishes.
“I know you’re sick of hearing it but-“
“And I absolutely won’t be hearing it twice in a day.” Aether quickly cuts Albedo off before he can continue his thought. “Don’t you have an important report to work on?”
Indeed, with the cooperation of alchemists in Khaenri’ah and Mondstadt, they have successfully revived an extinct sweet flower. Mondstadt is a country of freedom, and is notorious for being one of the few to cooperate with Khaenri’ah on experiments dealing with life. Well, Sneznhaya had been willing, but Albedo cut those short, claiming them to be too sinister and inhumane to continue with.
Albedo watches Aether with a measured gaze before looking back down to his paper. “As long as you know to behave properly.” Aether heaves a dramatic sigh.
“Of course I do.” Aether leans back in his chair, head softly hitting the cedar wood above the back cushion. “If nothing else, I can just keep my mouth shut.”
“Kaeya’s advice?” Aether nods to Albedo’s query. Besides his brilliant ability to gather intel and handle subordinates, Kaeya’s quite good at formulating plans to avoid trouble, which has helped Aether greatly in the past, as he’s quite prone to causing problems.
The sound of a chime rings through the library obnoxiously. Aether watches as Albedo shuts off the alarm on his pocket watch.
“It’s gotten louder.” Aether remarks, a playful smile on his lips. “Have you been having some late nights that make it hard to wake up?”
“Of course, I’ve been very busy.” Albedo sighs, and rouses the still sleeping Paimon. “It’s time for you to go to your swordsmanship training.”
“Yes, yes, I know.” Aether stretches towards he ceiling as he stands, groaning just a bit. “The training ground are being used by the guests as well, right? I’m excited to meet the ambassadors and their guards.”
“You wouldn’t have missed the welcoming banquet if you weren’t disappearing off to the forest every chance you get.” Albedo says flatly. He had also gotten sent to hunt for Aether during his disappearances, and it had been just another task on his already fulland overflowing plate.
“Those banquets are so boring. Everyone speaks so fakely.” Aether grumbles, poking a finger in Paimon’s cheek. Yet she doesn’t rouse and Aether gently slings her over his shoulder. “Besides, this will be more interesting.”
Albedo watches as Aether leaves the library before moving to gather the books and scrolls. “He’s definitely going to cause trouble, isn’t he?” Albedo asked the empty air.