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One of the many repercussions of closing Inazuma’s boarders was stifling it’s economic progress, and it’s a problem that Ei wishes to solve quickly to stimulate their economy once again. Liyue was an easy and willing trade partners, as the Tianquan was quick to accept the goods that had been missing from Teyvat for so long. Snezhnaya was quick to follow to try to cover their involvement in the borders closing in the first place, but Ei was not so merciful and imposed restrictions instead. What were they going to do? Send another Harbinger to die at her doorstep? The other nations quickly lined up, and last was Mondstadt.
The City of Freedom moves at its own pace, as its Archon allows it that luxury. Ei had also heard from the Traveler that it was left behind by the Grandmaster to go on an expedition of glory, leaving half of their Knights behind to defend it from Stormterror and the Fatui. That is why Ei was surprised when she heard the Acting Grandmaster herself was coming to handle trade agreements, rather than one of her subordinates.
“Are you ready to meet with the Acting Grandmaster today, Sara?” Ei asks. Since she is rather busy with everything else in running her nation, Ei has left the negotiations to Sara. She proved herself in the negotiations with Watatsumi Island, but she’s one of Ei’s most trusted advisors and her girlfriend.
“Yes,” Sara nods as she organizes her own notes for the meeting. “Since Mondstadt’s main export is almost entirely controlled by Dawn Winery, we will most likely only be discussing any trading restrictions and taxes. I am expecting that I will be holding most of the cards since Mondstadt is quite small, but I will leave the final approval of the terms presented by the Acting Grandmaster to you.”
“Perfect, I am always happy to see you so prepared,” Ei leans over her desk to kiss Sara’s cheek while she’s not expecting it, causing her General to blush. “If you’re free after the meeting, we can discuss it . . . at lunch.”
Sara smiles, “I would like that, Ei.”
“Good,” Ei returns her smile. She knows that relatively, she’s only been dating a Sara short time, but she’s loved and valued every second of it. “And I much as I would love to keep you here just a bit longer, if you don’t leave now you’ll be late.”
“Right, I do not want to keep the Acting Grandmaster waiting,” Sara gives Ei a quick kiss before she leaves, walking briskly out the doors. Ei catches herself staring at the spot she saw Sara before she left the room, and forces herself to go back to work. She’ll see her quite soon anyways.
Sara is late for lunch.
Ei really shouldn’t worry, but Sara’s never been late for anything. The meeting most likely ran long . . . which is why she’s gone to check on it.
In the administrative section of the palace, the only noise one could hear was the sound of boots against the tatami floor as soldiers patrol or office works move from meeting to meeting. Today, it was a cacophony of quite conversation.
Ei finds Sara outside of the set meeting room, talking with the Acting Grandmaster. What’s odd is that she is more relaxed than her usual professional demeanor, shoulders relaxed slightly and a small smile on her face as they talk. Ei wonders what the Acting Grandmaster could be saying to make Sara smile (as an odd feeling settles in the pit of Ei’s stomach) and slowly walks forward to listen in.
“– I find it admirable that you’ve been able to handle everything on your own,” Sara tells the Acting Grandmaster, her voice carrying the lighter tone she uses with friends, rather than the voice of the commander. How did the Acting Grandmaster win her over so fast. “It is truly impressive, Jean.”
“Thank-you Sara,” Jean says. “But truly you’re the impressive one. You managed to survive a war and forged peace on the other side. That takes a strong will.”
No titles? They’re already on a first name basis? It took Ei a month to finally get Sara to stop calling her ‘Almighty Shogun’, and she still trips up some times. And what’s with all of the compliments?
“It really is not as impressive as you say. I feel like I was more than a pawn in that, to my family and to the Fatui.”
“I understand dealing with family, but at least Inazuma has been able to stand up to the Fatui. I am still struggling to get them to give up occupation of a hotel Mondstadt.”
“That is all truly our Archon’s work,” Sara says. “Speaking of which, you must excuse me Jean. I have a meeting with the Shogun I must be getting to.”
“Don’t allow me to keep you. I shall see you tomorrow for the next day of negotiations,” Jean finally lets Sara go, who walks away with a smile on her face, straight towards where Ei is. Wait –
“Oh,” Sara nearly runs into Ei as she turns the corner. “Ei, what are you doing here?”
“I . . .” Ei clears her throat, trying to come up with an excuse. Wait, why does she need to come up with an excuse? Sara is her General, after all. “I just wished to find you, since you were late to our lunch date.”
“I’m very sorry about that,” Sara admits sheepishly. “I just got caught up in talking with Jean.”
“Jean, huh?” Ei glances around the corner of the hallway, and the Acting Grandmaster is long gone.
“Yes, her full name is Jean Gunnhildr, her family is one of the three ancient noble families of Mondstadt,” Sara explains. “We ended up talking about duty and the likes, as she is a very interesting woman. But, we should head to lunch.”
“We should,” Ei agrees. She puts her arm around Sara’s waist and pulls her close, causing her general to blush at the sudden close contact.
The two have lunch together, but the entire time Ei can’t get rid of the bad feeling she has about Jean.
“There’s something about the Acting Grandmaster of the Knights of Favonius,” Ei grumbles. Hours later, when the workday is done and she is relaxing with Miko, she can’t get this out of her head.
“Yes, I believe so too,” Miko says. Ei’s head is resting on her lap, and she’s scratching Ei’s scalp, which usually calms her. “It’s the fact she has a stick up her ass. No wonder she and our little bird get along so well.”
“Of course,” Ei growls.
“Wait,” Miko leans forward to look Ei in the eye. “Are you jealous?”
“No!” Ei insists.
“You are!”
“Why should I be jealous?” Ei sits up to glare at Miko. “I am an Archon. Jean is just the temporary Grandmaster of the Knights of Favonius, who just happens to have a lot of similarities with Sara and connected with her instantly!”
Miko laughs so hard she snorts, “You are so jealous, Ei!”
“I truly am not jealous, Miko,” Ei tries to argue. “But if I were, you would be too! You’re the most jealous person I know!”
She narrows her eyes at Ei, “What is that supposed to mean, my beloved wife?”
“Uh . . . nothing!” Ei quickly says. “But . . . are you jealous?”
“Not at all,” Miko shakes her head. “Trust me Ei, you don’t have to worry about Sara – especially if I’m not worried.”
Miko is right (as usual) but her attempts to placate Ei do not help in the slightest, mostly because Ei wasn’t jealous in the first place.
“I heard a rumor from my Knights that you’re as adept with a sword as you are with a bow, Sara.”
“That I am. I am aware that you are also no stranger to the art of swordsmanship, Jean.”
“Then, shall we cross our swords?”
“I would be most delighted to.”
Ei watches from her balcony as Sara and Jean duel below.
Sara has shed a few of her robes for the duel, giving Ei an appreciative view of her muscles glimmering in the sunlight from sweat. However, Jean has also taken off her coat, leaving her arms and shoulders bare, and she’s not lacking in muscles herself.
The two are clearly having fun, not necessarily taking the duel seriously. Ei doesn’t even think they’re keeping score. Sara is getting along very well with Jean. Almost too well.
Ei has to do something about this.
“How did the Mondstadt Trade meeting go?” Ei asks when Sara enters the office, still a bit sweaty from her duel with Jean.
“It is going very well,” Sara says as she begins to organize her papers. “Once we finish tomorrow, I believe you’ll be very pleased with the results.”
Ei isn’t sure that she will, “You seem to be getting along well with the Acting Grandmaster.”
“Yes, I truly admire Jean. I believe we are cut from the same cloth,” Sara says. “She’s incredibly hard-working and dedicated to protecting her home with her whole heart. I can appreciate her character.”
Ei can feel the pit in her stomach sink deeper and deeper. As she decides what to say next, it almost seems that Miko is whispering in her ear as she says, “I was thinking, would you like the spend the day with me tomorrow?”
Sara pauses, “The last day of the Mondstadt Trade talks is tomorrow.”
“I can always get Ayato to fill in for you,” Ei offers.
She walks over and stands next to Ei, resting her hand on the desk, “It’s only one more day and it would be less efficient for Jean to have to start over with Ayato. However, it shouldn’t take too long, and the rest of my day will be yours.”
“Alright,” Ei can agree to that, any time spent with Sara is good . . . but another idea pops into her head, “Sara, would you mind if I attended the meeting as well?”
Sara raises a brow, “You are really adamant about spending the day together.”
“I like spending time with you,” Ei insists. She truly does love being with Sara, but maybe this time there’s an added bonus of keeping an eye on Jean.
“That is fine with me,” Sara shrugs. “You are the Shogun, you have a right to attend if you wish.”
“Then I will,” Ei says. She lifts up and cups the corner of Sara’s face to tilt her head towards her, “I love you, Sara.”
Sara smiles and lays her hand over Ei’s, “I love you too.”
The next day, Ei accompanies Sara to the meeting room, where Jean is waiting outside of them. She’s clearly surprised that the Shogun is attending, and Ei can’t help but smile at her shock.
“Your Excellency,” Jean bows as soon as Ei approaches. “It is an honor to meet you.”
“Thank-you, Acting Grandmaster,” Ei says coldly.
“The Shogun wished to join us today, I hope that is agreeable to you, Grandmaster Jean,” Sara explains.
“Of course,” Jean says. “I am eager for Her Excellency to see the results of our agreements, and I hope they will please you.”
“We shall see,” Ei says. “Let us get started.”
Jean bows as Ei enters the room, and follows behind Sara. Ei sits right next to Sara, a bit closer than what is usually proper, while Jean sits on the other end of the table. Soldiers of the Doushin and Knights of Favonius filter in behind them to stand guard during the meeting.
The meeting itself begins and . . . it’s all business. Jean and Sara do not spare any time for frivolities as they discuss the last points of contention between the two nations during the talks. Ei really should have been worried about this part, because Sara is as professional as they come. However, it means that she’s dreadfully bored.
If Ei wasn’t so determined to keep an eye on Jean, she’d have half a mind to shove the Shogun into this situation so she can sit through the meeting. However, the Shogun would probably just chastise her for it, so she endures and watches Jean the entire time.
“I believe that is the last point of contention,” Sara says, and her voice brings Ei back to the present. “Do you agree the terms are satisfactory, Grand Master?”
“Yes, I am quite pleased with these outcomes,” Jean says. “But I will leave the final decisions to her Excellency.”
Sara hands the scroll to Ei, and she briefly scans it. Overall it’s quite fair, and it favors Inazuma on points Ei thinks are important. Trust Sara to deliver as she promised. She says, “This is agreeable to me.”
“Thank-you very much, Your Excellency,” Jean bows deeply. “I look forward to what relationship shall grow between Inazuma and Mondstadt as a result of this agreement.”
“Yes,” Ei mumbles as she signs. “I hope so too.”
Once both copies are signed by Ei and Jean, one is handed to Jean while Sara passes the other to one of Doushin to add to the records. Instantly, Sara becomes more relaxed beside her with the work done, and Ei has never seen her shift so instantly. At least Jean is still on edge with the Electro Archon in the room.
“With that done, I assume you will be heading back to Mondstadt,” Sara says. “How soon do you plan on leaving?”
“I’ll actually be leaving for Ritou this evening,” Jean admits.
“That soon?” Sara seems slightly surprised, with a hint of sadness in her voice. Ei restrained herself from pulling out the Musou no Hitotachi.
“Sadly yes,” Jean sighs. “There is much more work waiting for me at home, and I’ve been a little homesick, especially because my fiancé Lisa could not make the trip with me.”
“Fiancé?!” Ei sputters out loud in surprise, causing both Sara and Jean to look at her. She quickly clears her throat, “I wasn’t aware you were engaged, Grand Master.”
“I try to stay professional and keep my personal life private while working,” Jean says. IT’s clear she’s still slightly confused. “But . . . Lisa means a lot to me, and we are going to start planning for the wedding when I return to Mondstadt.”
Ei smiles warmly, “I wish you and your fiancé the best, Grandmaster.”
“Thank-you, Your Excellency,” Jean says. “And General Kujou, I will be free for the rest of the afternoon if you have the time as well.”
“I’m sorry, Her Excellency requires my assistance for the rest of the day,” Sara says.
“You can join us,” Ei offers, once again surprising both Sara and Jean. “Sara and I will not be doing anything in particular, so you can join us for tea.”
“O-oh,” Jean says. “Well, if Your Excellency is inviting me, I would be a fool to turn it down.”
Jean manages to take an Archon’s invitation in stride. Once both she and Sara relax, they begin to talk normally, and Ei only has to chime in occasionally. She enjoys hearing about Mondstadt’s progress in the past 500 years, and seeing Sara get along with someone so well. After tea, Jean has to prepare for her trip home, but promises to keep in touch with Sara.
“That was nice,” Ei says once Jean’s gone. Sara sits next to her, deep in thought.
“You really think so?” Sara asks.
“Why wouldn’t I?”
“I must admit, I thought you didn’t like Jean,” Sara says with a small frown. “You always seemed to get upset when I mentioned her.”
“I’m sorry Sara, it’s clear that you and Jean get along spectacularly as friends, and I shouldn’t have had my doubts,” Ei sighs. She takes Sara’s hand in hers and squeezes, “I was actually a bit jealous, because I didn’t know the Grand Master’s thoughts about you.”
Sara turns to face her, “You were jealous of Jean?”
“Ha! I knew it!” Miko saunters in the room with that knowing smirk on her face. Ei wonders if she was just waiting for her moment.
Ei rolls her eyes, “Yes, I fully admit I was jealous. Are you happy now, Miko?”
“Yes, very happy,” Miko sits on Sara’s other side and drapes herself over her shoulder.
“Were you jealous as well, Miko?” Sara asks.
“No, I knew Jean was engaged,” Miko says with a shrug.
Ei stares at her wife, “Then why didn’t you tell me!?”
“Because it was funny.” Miko leans over the back of the couch to pinch Ei’s cheeks, “You’re cute when you’re jealous.”
“I don’t think it was funny,” Ei pouts and turns away from Miko. She curls into Sara’s side to try and protect her face from Miko’s pinching fingers.
Sara wraps an arm around Ei’s shoulders, “While I agree it was not funny . . . you are acting very cutely.”
Ei gasps and stares at Sara, “Not only betrayed by my wife, but my girlfriend as well!”
“Next time, however,” Sara says. “Please talk to me when you are feeling jealous, so I can dispel your worries. You are not as obvious as Miko.”
“Now who’s being betrayed?” Miko huffs.
“My love,” Ei says. “You do get quite murderous when you’re jealous. Remember when one of Makoto’s suitors mistook me for her?”
“We hid the body, it’s fine,” Miko says.
Sara stares between her girlfriends, “Did you actually kill someone?”
“No,” Miko and Ei say a little too quickly.
She sighs, “If either of you get jealous, please tell me because I do not want to have to arrest you for murder charges.”
Ei laughs, “Understood.”