Late at night…
The bright moon hung high in the sky, its cold light scattered across the land by the Lunar Goddess, enveloping all of Mondstadt. Under the night sky, Mondstadt lost some of its bustling energy but gained a touch of hazy beauty.
Suddenly, a streak of cyan light rose from the Anemo Archon Statue Plaza. When it reached the height of the clock tower atop the Cathedral of Favonius, it burst into countless strands of light, scattering in all directions and disappearing into countless homes.
The sleeping residents of Mondstadt felt a gentle breeze brush against their bodies. Then, they saw a figure that bore a striking resemblance to the Anemo Archon Statue appear before them. But when they widened their eyes to get a clearer look, the figure became ethereal and elusive. No matter how hard they tried, they couldn't make out the figure's face.
Though they couldn't see clearly, a voice in their hearts and their intuition told them that this figure was none other than Lord Barbatos.
"My devout followers," the figure spoke in a melodious, otherworldly voice that echoed in their ears.
"I, Barbatos, hereby acknowledge the relationship of Deaconess Barbara and bestow upon her my divine blessing."
Barbatos' divine decree consisted of only one sentence, but it sent shockwaves through Mondstadt. A relationship directly acknowledged by Lord Barbatos—what kind of divine match could it be?
"I never expected Lord Barbatos to acknowledge this…" Sister Victoria, who had just woken up from her sleep, recalled the divine decree with disbelief. She had already prepared herself to deal with the church elders' disbelief.
But now, it seemed unnecessary. Not only that, but Barbara's status within the church would also rise due to the divine decree, even surpassing her father, Simon Page.
"Lord Barbatos…" Acting Grand Master Jean, who had just fallen asleep after finishing her duties, also woke up, her expression complicated.
Similar scenes played out across Mondstadt. Of course, some people didn't wake up, simply dismissing it as a dream.
This night was anything but peaceful.
Early morning. After finishing her morning routine, Barbara stood in front of the mirror, fixing her golden twin-tails.
"Was the divine decree last night just a dream?"
Pssst—
Barbara took a pink perfume bottle from the cabinet and lightly sprayed it on her neck and underarms. After sniffing the pleasant fragrance, she nodded in satisfaction.
Normally, Barbara would have breakfast at home, but after last night's divine decree, she felt a bit unsettled. She decided to head to the Good Hunter to find Yun Fan and ask him about it.
After finishing her preparations, Barbara left her home. As usual, she hummed a little tune as she walked through the streets of Mondstadt.
"Good morning, Miss Barbara…"
"It's Miss Barbara!"
"How enviable…"
The residents of Mondstadt greeted Barbara warmly, and she responded to each one. However, her keen senses told her that something was different. Their tones and gazes were filled with respect and admiration.
This made Barbara even more certain that last night's divine decree was real. But… why would Lord Barbatos do such a thing? After learning that Venti was Barbatos, Barbara's faith had already been shaken. When it came to the divine decree, she couldn't help but think of Yun Fan. A girl's intuition told her that this had something to do with him.
"Miss Sara, I'm looking for Yun Fan," Barbara said after arriving at the Good Hunter. She didn't order anything but scanned the dining area. Not seeing the familiar silver-haired figure, she turned to Sara, who was busy at the counter.
"Ah, Miss Barbara! At this hour, Mr. Yun Fan is probably still asleep. You can find him in the living quarters on the second floor," Sara said, looking up in surprise. She hadn't expected the protagonist of last night's divine decree to appear before her. She knew about the relationship between her boss and Barbara, as Yun Fan had never tried to hide it.
"Ah… alright," Barbara's cheeks flushed slightly, but she didn't refuse. She pretended to ignore the curious glances from the diners and made her way to the second-floor living quarters.
With some trepidation, Barbara arrived at the door with Yun Fan's name on it. Taking a deep breath, she gently pushed it open.
The first thing she saw was a writing desk, adorned with the traditional Liyue ink, brush, paper, and inkstone. To the right of these were four stalks of lucky bamboo, symbolizing fortune, prosperity, longevity, and happiness.
Next to the writing desk were two chairs from the Feiyun Commerce Guild and a sandalwood tea table, on which sat a set of exquisite white porcelain tea utensils.
This was Barbara's first time entering Yun Fan's room. After briefly admiring the simple yet elegant decor, she quietly approached the large wooden bed against the wall.
When she finally saw the figure on the bed, her face turned bright red.
The young man named Yun Fan was still fast asleep. His silver hair fell naturally on either side of his face, making Barbara's heart race. A ray of sunlight broke through the window, illuminating his handsome sleeping face and adding an air of mystery and nobility.
"Yun Fan, time to wake up…" Barbara gently shook him, her voice soft and slightly slightly coquettish.
After a few moments of shaking, the sleeping boy finally opened his drowsy eyes.
"Hmm…? Barbara…?"
Seeing that Yun Fan was awake, Barbara sat down on the edge of the bed. Just as she was about to say something, she felt the world spin around her. By the time she realized what was happening, she was already in Yun Fan's arms, and the culprit had fallen back asleep.
For a moment, the room fell silent.
Barbara felt as if her thoughts had frozen. This was the first time she had been so close to Yun Fan. She could clearly hear the strong heartbeat in his chest.
She wriggled slightly, trying to free herself from his embrace. It wasn't that she disliked the feeling—she was just too shy.
After a few unsuccessful attempts, Barbara sighed and shyly placed her hand on Yun Fan's waist. Feeling the warmth radiating from him, her tense nerves gradually relaxed, and a wave of drowsiness washed over her. The two of them lay there, embracing each other, and soon fell into a deep sleep.
"Mm…" Around noon, Yun Fan's eyelids twitched as he woke from his slumber. Feeling something soft against him, he instinctively gave it a gentle squeeze.
"Ah…"
Hearing the sound beside him, Yun Fan's drowsy eyes snapped open. Wait, why is there a girl in my room?!
He opened his eyes and saw the girl's face—golden hair, skin as smooth as fine jade, and lips as pink and moist as cherries.
"Barbara?"