Chapter Text
Being sent as an envoy to Liyue had to be the biggest mistake ever in Tartaglia’s life. Not only he had to leave his homeland, Snezhnaya, but his position as Harbinger as well. Her Majesty did not give an explanation as to why this decision was made but only sent him as an envoy. To make even things worse, he had been living in Morax’s quarters for quite a while now and not once did the Emperor come and acknowldge him at all.
He discussed political matters with one of Morax’s trusted leaders instead, who managed Liyue while the Emperor was out for his long expedition. Her name was Ningguang, the Tianquan of the Qixing.
That was until one day, he appeared suddenly from who knows where and gave him a mere baby! With the the instructions of: Please take care of my child, Tartaglia. His name is Xiao. And that was it! The nerve of that guy! Does he think he can just dump a baby on me and leave?
The fiery anger that bubbled inside of the Snezhnayan man rivaled to the Emperor’s wraith himself.
But how could the ginger stay mad at such a small infant wrapped in a comforting blanket? He was small, frail-looking, and so innocent. A complete opposite of Morax. Maybe it was the feeling of longing to see his younger siblings again that made him want to raise Xiao. He’ll just take care of him and nothing more. No strings attached, right? Since, one day, Xiao will abandon him too for the Emperor. He was just a mere envoy, after all.
A few years later...
“Mister Tar! Look!” A child with puffy cheeks runs up to him with a Glaze Lily in hand which Tartaglia assumes he stole it from the garden that could only be accessed by those with the Emperor’s blood. He smiles down at Xiao, “Oho, what do we have here?” The envoy picks the child up and settles him on his lap.
“It’s a Glaze Lily!” Xiao says proudly, showing off the features of the flower. His academics are going along nicely since Xiao has been explaining what the Glaze Lily resembles.
“This is for you, Mister Tar!” The young Crown Prince grins, tucking in the Glaze Lily behind Tartaglia’s right ear. Tartaglia faintly smiles back, hugging Xiao in gratefulness, “Thank you, Xiao,” He whispers, “It’s beautiful.”
Xiao covers his giggles with his mouth and declared something that completely shocked Tartaglia himself, “Of course! It’s even more beautiful because you’re my mama!”
Yup, Tartaglia was not getting paid enough for this.
That day marked the day where Tartaglia, the envoy, the ex-Harbinger, had become the Crown Prince’s mama.
Xiao eventually turned eight years old. He became friends with the Abyss twins, Lumine and Aether. He found their friendship quite shocking actually. But he had gotten used to the twins visiting every so often to the point where both of them had been calling him “Auntie.” What’s with children calling him these titles?
Eight years later, and Tartaglia had yet to see Morax again. From a bit of eavesdropping, he’s learned he had been overseeing political issues in the East for his expedition. From his former days as a Harbinger, he remembered the East was home to a tyrant who’s greed was far greater than a dragon harbouring gold.
Tartaglia lets out a tired breath, his head aching in pain, once again. He clutches his head with his hand, waiting for the lingering pain to just go away.
The envoy attempted to stand up from his desk and lay on the bed. But to no avail as the pain became unbearable. His ears began ringing loudly, the room began spinning, and soon he fell onto the ground with a loud thump. Fuck, was the tea poisoned? I swear I checked..
“Mama! Look what me and my friends ma–” Xiao bursts the door open with his abnormal strength and is met with the scene before him: blood spilling from his mother’s mouth and completely in pain. His body barely moving, almost like it was becoming lifeless.
The sound of shattering glass alerted Tartaglia. There, he faintly saw the little Xiao surrounded by sharp glass and Glaze Lilies.
The Crown Prince shrieked in horror and fear, causing an uproar in the Palace. Tartaglia could hear faint cries from the child. He sees Xiao’s lips saddened face, and without thinking, the Snezhnayan man caresses his face. He smiles normally at Xiao, with loving eyes, even if the life was fading away.
Don’t be sad, Xiao. Tartaglia says in his mind. This was bound to happen anyway. Tartaglia wanted, no, he needed to say something to Xiao. To never let anyone control him. To live for himself and make himself happy. This is the worst...seeing Xiao possibly watch me die is the worst thing the Archons could’ve ever bestowed on me.
His eyes finally closed. The hand dropping from Xiao’s face was a silent goodbye from the envoy. Ah, maybe I’ll finally be able to be at peace.
...
“Why would the Emperor allow someone like him in the Palace?”
“Who does he think he is? Thinking that he could be the Crown Prince’s mother?”
“Wait until the actual Empress shows up! She would sure have him executed!”
“He’s just an envoy.”
“Do you think he’s just amusement for the Emperor?”
Tartaglia was used to the disgusting gossip said by the workers in the Palace. Even by the Qixing. Something between the lines of What is a Snezhnayan envoy living in Morax’s palace or how disgraceful for him to act like a mother to the Crown Prince. Tartaglia could care less though. Such people will say anything in jealousy.
There were some attempts of assassination but of course, none of them ever succeeded. It pissed him off more that they hired such cheap and untalented people to come after him.
The one who was once Eleventh Fatui Harbinger was being mocked by these people. He would’ve had them sent them to their demise but what power does he have in his Palace where nobody was on his side?
Not even Morax.
“I’ll be there soon.” A deep voice reassures. The deep voice carried promise and love. A feeling that maybe Tartaglia needed. “Wake up.”
Just then, Tartaglia awoke with a loud gasp. He greedily gasps for air, his hand clutching his shirt. His heart was beating rapidly like a drum, and he could feel sweat clinging to his body. How long had he been sleeping for? What day is it? What year? He head was getting a bit fuzzy.
The last thing he remembered was–
Tartaglia’s erratic thoughts came to a halt when the golden doors opens, revealing a familiar and powerful individual, Ningguang.
“Oh, good, you’re awake.” The tall woman with red eyes sharp enough to make people cower in her presence approaches him, “You’ve been poisoned.” She gets straight to the point as always. Tartaglia thinks to himself.
“Guess I was, huh?” Tartaglia let out an airy chuckle, “Thought I was gonna die.” He admits yet he looks at Ningguang with his lifeless blue eyes, “So why didn’t I?”
The Tianquan did not respond immediately, but instead a faint smile appears on her face. Tartaglia could read that smile. It wasn’t sincere or malicious. It was amusement.
“Well, you have to thank the Crown Prince for that.” She explains, “Because of his alerting scream, many people came to aid. If it weren’t for him, you’d be good as dead.”
The ginger could not hide his reaction as his eyes widen at that. “You seemed shock just as everyone was,” Ningguang says, “It seems that the Crown Prince does harbour familial feelings with you.”
Tartaglia chuckles faintly, “I guess so.”
A hefty silence dances in the air.
“Well, since you are alive and well, I will inform the physician that you have awoken.” Ningguang cuts the silence as the sound of her heels clicking against the ground fills the silence. She excuses herself and lets Tartaglia have time to himself.
So, Xiao, that little rascal saved me, huh? The man closes his eyes, and breaths in a handful of air. He’s actually alive. Living. All because of Xiao.
...
Was he grateful for him? Yes. Was he grateful that he’s again alive? He isn’t so sure.
Well, this is just temporary, after all.
A few hours later, Xiao had barged into his chambers with waterfall tears and red eyes. He clung onto Tartaglia like a koala, crying out to him to never leave him ever again. The child desperately told him how he was always by his side and there for every treatment. He even further reveals that he attended to every of his lessons and lessened his pranking in hopes it would save him.
Was someone cutting onions in his room? Because his eyes were getting a bit teary. Tartaglia embraced Xiao, promising to never scare him again and that he will try his best not to die.
“Pinky promise?” Xiao extends his pinky finger as snot drops from his nose. The envoy intertwines their fingers together as the Crown Prince says, “You make a pinkie promise, you keep it all your life.”
“You break a pinkie promise, I throw you on the ice.” Tartaglia seals the promise and Xiao continued to tell him what he has done in the past weeks since apparently Tartaglia fell into a deep coma for almost a month.
“Update on my envoy?” The voice asks, coming from a glowing golden globe.
“My Lord, he has just awoken today. He seems to be well.” Ningguang announces while adding on how there was an upcoming party, hosted by the Emperor and Empress of Khaenri'ah to who were inviting all nobility all over Teyvat.
“I see.” The voice silently thinks to himself, “Were the ones responsible for my envoy’s attempted assassination been dealt with?”
Ningguang gave the globe a flat look and thought to herself, That’s all you’re worried about, my Lord? “Yes, they’ve been dealt with. They’ve been thrown into the dungeon.”
“Good,” the voice seems content, “I’ll be the ones who will feed them to Azhdaha.”
Ningguang too, deserved a raise after being the official advisor to help Morax with his horrible love skills.
“I’ll be able to come to the Emperor Leon's party. If I do not make it in time, it’ll be left for my son to make his decision.”
“As you wish, Rex Lapis.”
Then the globe faintly lost its light.