Chapter Text
Prince Tartaglia of Snezhnaya, 11th of the Fatui Harbingers, codename Childe, has a lot of titles. But his favorite has been and always will be, “Ajax!”
“I’m coming Mama!”
Not that he would ever let anyone but his family call him by his given name.
“Ajax, I swear on the Archons if you do not come out of your room this very moment, I will call your Aunt up here-”
With the threat out in the open, Ajax slammed his door open, “I’m ready, Mama!”
Duchess Alyona of House Lebedev looked up at her son with fond annoyance in her eyes. Ajax and his mother have always been close. It was she who nursed her back to health whenever he was injured. It was she who saw his overwhelming desire to help his Kingdom and encouraged him to learn more, help more, and enlist into the Harbingers. And of course, he got his signature orangey hair from her House. One of two Royal children to get the Lebedev genes.
Duchess Alyona married into the family long before Ajax’s Aunt took the throne. She and his father were betrothed since they were children. It was a tradition that went back generations. Honestly, Ajax was surprised none of he or his siblings had been promised to someone just as his parents were so many years ago.
“What in Teyvat were you doing, taking so long!” Alyona smacked the back of Ajax’s head. “Your Aunt and father are waiting for you in the dining room.”
Both of them in one place? Must be important.
Ajax let his mother lead him through the halls of the Royal Family’s wing of Zapolyarny Palace. Down the halls past portraits of generations past and down the stairs towards the double doors of the dining room. But before Ajax could burst through the doors with his usual grandeur he was pulled back by his collar.
“Ajax,” his mother turned him around with a soft smile, “I love you so much.” She raised her hand up to Ajax’s head and smoothed his unruly hair into place. “I will always be proud of you.” She leaned up to him and gave him a kiss. She then turned from him and opened the doors, leading Ajax inside.
Ajax walked into the room and immediately felt the seriousness and tense nature of the room. He saw his Aunt sitting at the head of the table with his father on her right.
His Aunt looked up and attempting to calm the room, let a fond smile bloom on her face, “Thank you for bringing him, Alyona.” Ajax’s mother nodded, smiling before she left the room.
“Ajax, my dear nephew! Good Morning! Come here, let me see you!” Ajax made his way to his Aunt.
“I saw you just yesterday, Auntie.”
His Aunt let out a soft laugh, “Yes but that was for Harbinger business, this, my dear, is family business.”
Ajax looked over at his father questioningly, “family business?”
His father merely responded with, “Why don’t you sit down, Ajax.”
Ajax did what his father said and took the seat to his Aunt’s left.
“Artem, if you could leave us?” His Aunt looked over at his father and he smiled and walked over to Ajax.
Patting him on the shoulder his father said, “Good luck, my son.”
Good luck? What is going on with them?
His father then left the room, leaving Ajax with his Aunt.
“So Ajax, as you know we leave tonight to Liyue for the Annual Lantern Rite Ball.” He nodded, well aware that he will be able to visit his dear friend Zhongli and annoy a certain Princess once more.
“And of course, your 21st birthday is fast approaching. There will be certain responsibilities given to you once you come of age.”
“Yes, of course,” Ajax nodded remembering how his elder siblings, Alexei and Anastasia, had to go through similar expectations.
The Tsaritsa shook her head, “As familiar with the idea I’m sure you are, you will have a slightly different path ahead of you. So different, in fact, that we plan to announce these circumstances at the ball.” The Tsaritsa kept her eyes on Ajax, measuring his reaction. “Ajax, I’m sure you know that I haven’t had a desire to marry and have children after my late husband died. So when your father and mother started having you and your siblings we decided that you all would be the heirs to the throne. Thus far Anastasia and Alexei have made their clear disinterest in my position known. But you, Ajax, have always had a wonderful relationship with your people, a great understanding of the Harbingers and our military, and, thanks to your mother, an incredibly advanced education.”
Ajax could tell where this was going. He saw the look on his Aunt’s face and remembered the look on his parents. His fate was decided for him. He wasn’t sure if he wanted what was coming or not.
“Ajax, I wish for you to become my sole heir, making you the crowned prince of Snezhnaya, and the next in line to inherit the throne.”
Ajax froze. Something about hearing those words uttered for the first time shocked him. He knew logically that he was the smartest decision. His elder siblings both rejected the position and Archons knew that Ajax would never want to put his younger siblings through the stress that would come from ruling a country. Ajax knew how to run the country, he had the inside look into the Harbingers, he had the trust of his country. All things that could take his siblings years to reach the level of connections he had. Before he could rationalize anything else in his head his Aunt continued talking, “Of course, tradition demands you to be married before you’re crowned, just as I was.”
His eyes widened. Yes, tradition was tradition, but surely by now, Snezhnaya would have moved on from such a tradition. But Ajax remembered his parents. They were lucky. Their arranged marriage had love, something not often seen with nobles. For the royalty of Teyvat, marriage was for business, not love.
“We have a betrothal prepared, of course.”
Ajax didn’t know how to react. “May I ask whom?” Ajax prepared himself for the name to follow. He supposed he would be paired up with someone of high standing. Maybe one of the nobles from Liyue? He was familiar with Lady Ninguang and she was exceedingly intelligent. But he couldn’t see her leaving Zhongli’s side. Perhaps Countess Jean of Mondstadt? But she was promised to the Grand Librarian wasn’t she?
“Of course, you may know! I believe you are already well acquainted with her and you shall see her in Liyue this evening as well. Princess Lumine of Mondstadt is to be your fiance.”
Wait. What?!
“Ojou-chan! I’m betrothed to Ojou-chan?!” Princess Lumine? Ajax didn’t know whether to scream or jump for joy. Lumine, a princess with incredible renown, known for both her insane battle prowess and incredible intelligence. She was raised to rule Mondstadt should anything happen to her elder brother. A woman fit to be a queen.
His Aunt laughed, “I see you are already well acquainted with her. The decision will be up to you two in the end if you should go through with the marriage, but I’m sure you’ll find you both are quite a good match.”
*Knock Knock*
The Tsaritsa was cut off by a knock on the door. It was the first Harbinger that opened the door.
“Ah, Pierro, I assume the carriage is ready?”
Pierro, a man of few words and the Tsaritsa’s right-hand man, nodded his head.
“Well, Tartaglia, off with you. I will meet you and your siblings in Liyue in a few days' time for the ball. Do have a safe trip.” The Tsaritsa shooed Ajax out of the room and he followed Pierro out, not as Ajax but as Tartaglia, Crowned Prince of Snezhnaya, whether he wanted it or not.
Lumine was going to murder her brother. You know, after she murdered her fiance.
Out of all the people, her parents thought would be a good match for her, Prince Tartaglia? Really?
All that man cared about was fighting. What was it that Kaeya called him?
A battle sexual.
Granted, Lumine wouldn’t deny that their constant bickering and fighting was refreshing, opposed to the uptight nature of the rest of the nobles in Mondstadt. Sure she had the occasional friend, Jean and Diluc to name a few, but if Lumine had to sit through another one of those stupid balls that her parents throw with a fake smile on her face pretending that she wouldn’t rather be sneaking out to the adventurers guild to do some commissions.
So maybe Tartaglia could be a breath of fresh air once and a while but that did not mean she wanted to marry the man.
“Oh Lumine!” A sing-songy voice echoed through her bedroom. Lumine knew that voice. Archons she really did not need to talk to him right now of all people.
“Kaeya, I swear on the Archons if you take any more steps into my room I will personally deliver your head in a box to Albedo!”
“As much as I would appreciate that, Princess,” a second breathier voice joined the fray, “I really like him better with his head on.”
Albedo and Kaeya made their way into her room. Kaeya, with a demonic smile on his face (of course), and Albedo with a fond look at his friends.
“Thank you, Albedo!”
“He’s much easier to look at with his head on.”
“Albedo!!”
Lumine began to laugh hysterically at how ruthless Albedo could be.
Kaeya pouted and looked over at Lumine and let out a wolf whistle, “That’s certainly a dress you got on there, Princess. Prince Aether pick that out for you?”
Lumine looked down at the frilly pink ball gown covered with flowers while Kaeya broke down laughing at her disgust. It was so unlike her and what she would ever wear. It offered little to no easy movement, which seemed counterproductive for a ball if you asked Lumine, and it was frilly! What was she, twelve?
“If Aether really thinks I’m going to wear this to the Lantern Rite he has another thing coming. Plus how are the Fatui ever supposed to take me seriously when I look like this?” Lumine lifted up the dress as she tried very hard to maneuver herself into a chair, which the skirt took up the majority of the seat.
Kaeya couldn’t stop laughing at her misfortune, as was his way, but Albedo moved to her side. “So it is true. You’re betrothed to Prince Tartaglia.”
“Unfortunately, yes. Although I can’t say that it sounds unappealing being far away from my parents.”
“It’s too bad the cost is you essentially selling yourself to a Snezhnayan prince! Although he isn’t that bad-looking. That ginger hair of his certainly is quite a marvel to look at.” Kaeya looked like he was about to continue teasing her but Albedo quickly cut him off with a good kick to the knees.
“OW! The Hell, Albedo?!”
“Stop teasing Princess Lumine. We’re here to comfort her over the fact that after the Lantern Rite we will rarely see her.”
Lumine looked at two of her closest friends, one hunched over in pain, and frowned. That wasn’t something she thought too hard about. How she’d have to leave her friends, her country, and her brother so soon. She watched as Albedo and Kaeya bickered like the lovers they were and let herself bask in the familiarity of it all.
“I’m going to miss you guys.”
Albedo turned back to her, “You don’t need to say goodbye to us just yet. We actually wanted to tell you we were invited to the Lantern Rite as well.”
“And Klee is coming too! So you’ll be able to say goodbye!” Kaeya put his arm around Albedo, a smile on his face.
Lumine looked up at the two of them, nostalgia filling her, “Whoever decided it was a good idea to invite Klee to a ball and Kaeya to meet my fiance needs to be immediately banished.”
“Banishing your parents is usually frowned upon, you know,” Kaeya responded with ease.
A devilish smile lit up Lumine’s face, “Do you think I could convince Prince Tartaglia to banish my parents from Snezhnaya?”
“Probably not.” Albedo immediately shut the idea down, much to Lumine’s disappointment.
A fourth voice entered the fray, “As entertaining as this conversation is, I really should get Lumine out of this monstrosity of a dress and tell the dress designers what she really wants.”
“Noelle! You are a lifesaver!”
A younger woman in a maid outfit walked into the room bypassing the two men like she was used to their presence in the room. “Albedo, Klee has been scouring the castle for you, and Kaeya, Master Diluc has been asking for you.”
Kaeya's eyes lit up like a puppy being offered a treat, “Oh! He must be so angry that I specifically requested to ride with him to Liyue!” He left the room a pep in his step, excited by the prospect of messing with his brother.
“I should probably go make sure Diluc doesn’t burn the castle down. And the same with Klee.” Albedo nodded to Noelle and Lumine before following Kaeya out.
“Let’s get you out of this thing, alright?” Lumine nodded as Noelle helped her up.
“Aether can’t have thought I ever in a million years would want to wear this.” Lumine watched as Noelle undid the ties on the dress’s corset.
“I’m sure Aether just wanted to please your parents and keep up that little innocent princess look that they think you have going on.” Noelle snorted, just as much of a fan of the King and Queen’s antics as Lumine.
It was silent for a moment as Noelle helped Lumine escape the trappings of the dress.
“Will the dressmakers actually make me a new dress?”
“Oh of course and if not I’m sure I can ask for a few favors once we arrive in Liyue later. I already have a design in mind that is sure to knock Prince Tartaglia off his feet.”
Lumine let out a breath of relief, knowing that she won’t embarrass herself at the ball.
Noelle helped Lumine change into her normal white day dress and quickly ushered her out of her room. “The carriage to Liyue is waiting! You don’t want to be late do you?”
Lumine thought of what was waiting for her in Liyue. A fiance that she didn’t pick, her parents wanting her to be the pretty princess they’ve always wanted her to be, and the eyes of so many judgemental nobles. But also close friends from Liyue and Inazuma who she hadn’t seen in a long time and a way to completely subvert everyone’s expectations of her.
Honestly, Lumine was excited.
“Of course, I don’t want to be late.”