Chapter Text
Today was a warm and sunny day in Liyue, the sea was very peaceful. As I sat by the port, I should have been enjoying this beautiful weather, but there was something that keeps me worried all the time.
I reached into my pocket and all I get out of it were two mora. I won't be able to buy anything from that...
I sighed as I scratch the back of my head and thought of a solution for my mora problem.
I have been trying to find a job in Liyue since I came here from Mondstadt but no one accepted me so far, even though I made a really good housekeeper.
Maybe I have to use other methods to survive...
I stood up and went for a stroll through the streets of Liyue Harbour, watching all the people around me that seem to have enough to live here. I don't even have a roof to sleep under.
These folks also didn't pay any attention to me, all they saw in me is that I'm not from here so they don't want anything to do with me.
Maybe I can use that as an advantage. I don't like to admit it but I was thinking about stealing some mora and food, so that I at least have something to eat. Since people ignored me all the time, it might be a little easier to walk off with some apples or something like that.
While looking around I noticed a fancy looking wagon which I started to observe. I don't know who it belongs to but I think that person won't turn poor if I steal some of their stuff judging by the looks of that cart. I also didn't see anyone close to it, so I might have a chance to get in and out without anyone noticing. I started to approach the wagon slowly and still checking the area around me to see if anyone was looking in my direction, right before I jumped into the wagon and fastly closed the cover behind me.
After this I had to calm myself down for a second since my heart is racing from all the adrenaline in my body. I have never done anything like this before and I'm very scared that I might get caught.
But now was no time to relax. I had to grab some stuff and leave as fast as I could.
I started looking around and was surprised by how many different items are in here.
Some food, a lot of books and also different kinds of... stones? I step a little closer and they seem to be rare ores that I didn't know.
I didn't let them bother me anymore and grabed some of the food I found and put it into my bag. It is nothing special, some bread and fruits, but it's exactly what I need right now.
I kept looking around and suddenly I noticed something shiny in the corner. Is that.. Jewellery?
As I move closer I see different necklaces, bracelets and rings. If I take some of those, I can surely sell them for a good price. I don't even hesitate any longer and grab some of the jewellery and throw them in my bag as well.
After that I go back to the exit of the wagon. Now my heart starts racing again since I have to get away without being seen by anyone. I push open the cover just a little bit to peak through. No one is there.. so now is my chance to get away.
I jumped out of the wagon and wanted to start walking away from it but wasn't able to do so because someone grabbed me from behind by my ponytail. One second after that I felt a hand on my shoulder that forced me down on my knees. Shit... I have been caught.
The person was still holding my hair tightly so I couldn't turn around to look a them. I only noticed how they snatched my bag out of my arms and looked inside of it.
"Stealing my stuff, I see.", said the person with a deep voice. They relaxed their grib around my ponytail and I immediately turned my head around to look at the person that I have been stealing from.
Right in front of me stood Morax, the Geo Archon, looking at me very displeased. I looked back at him wide-eyed, unable to say anything. Of course it was the wagon of Morax himself that I sneaked in. And of course it was Morax himself that caught me doing so. As if I couldn't get any luckier.
He threw my bag filled with his things back into the wagon and grabbed my hair more tightly again which caused me to groan a little. "I'm sorry, but I can't just let you get away with that. You will have to come with me.", he said before he started walking and was just pulling me with him.
Where are we going? What is he going to do with me? Is he angry at me or not? Because he doesn't really seem to be angry. I'm scared that I have to go to jail now...
After a few moments I was finally able to actually say something. "Where are we going?", I asked him but he didn't react at all. Then I won't bother to ask all the other questions that are in my head right now if he ignores me anyway. I'm not even in the position to ask any questions since I am the one that committed the crime.
I didn't know where he was going but I tried my best to keep up with him since he wasn't really gentle while pulling me by my hair.
While we were walking there were a lot of people who passed by that looked at us in confusion. I can't deny that I was confused as well. I mean, I stole from the Geo Archon and now he himself is dragging me through the whole city? Doesn't he have guards to deal with troublemakers like me?
After a while we arrived at a big building that looked like a palace. So, that's where we were going. To his big palace. But why is he taking me here?
We entered throught huge gates into the building and the insides of it were very large as well. He just kept dragging me through different long hallways and some rooms, passing a lot of guards and maids that didn't seem to be bothered about Morax pulling some stranger through here.
We entered a room that turns out to be a kitchen, but no one else was in here. Finally he let go off my hair just to cross his arms in front of his chest. "Are you a good cook? I hope you are, because you will cook something very delicate for me now. And if you are able to impress me, your punishment for stealing from me might be less harsh.", he explained to me as I looked up at him. So, he wants to test if I would make a good cook? If I do well, maybe I won't end up in prison after all.
I didn't really know what to do at first, so I was just standing in the middle of the kitchen, probably looking very lost, and Morax staring at me, waiting for me to start cooking. "I would like to eat soon, so you better hurry up.", he warned me, whereupon I started to look for ingredients and to think about what dish I could make out of them.