11. A Drink Offering for the Gods
He was strikingly handsome, dressed in carefully crafted garments trimmed with fur. The raven-black down accentuated his fair complexion, making his features appear delicate and aristocratic. Yet his eyes seemed dull and lifeless, his expression calm and unreadable, with an inexplicable air of listless melancholy.
She was stunned once again.
Previously, it had been the city that overwhelmed her; this time, she did not expect to encounter someone so visually captivating.
Pei Nana despised aggressive, domineering men—those with bright, sharp eyes that others would undoubtedly praise—but to her, such traits evoked fear and intimidation.
Besides that, she also loathed passionate, robust, towering men who carried an oppressive presence.
They unsettled her.
What most people considered masculine charm was, for her, a definite negative.
She preferred the almost adolescent form—like Kong—where one could distinguish between male and female, yet had not fully matured. That was when she felt safest and most willing to get close.
Though she was attracted to younger boys, she was by no means a predatory woman preying on children.
She would rather remain single forever than cross the line into becoming a criminal who harmed the nation’s future.
But the man before her...
He was not tall, had a baby face, wore impeccably neat and tightly buttoned clothes, and lacked any aggressive sharpness in his gaze.
Conservative, reserved, steady, upright, dignified...
Ah, truly wonderful...
Could this be what a legitimate “younger man” looked like?
Could this be the very meaning of her transmigration?
Mother, I think I’ve fallen in love...
Since returning home was unlikely given her temperament and skills, why not try settling down here?
Perhaps there really was such a thing as love at first sight, like a fairy tale, or maybe it was the lingering shock from before that unsettled her mind. In any case, Pei Nana instinctively held her breath at a glance, her heart skipping a beat.
Diluc: “...”
As the celebrated heartthrob adored by many in Mondstadt, Diluc was all too familiar with that look.
He stiffened instantly in his chair, as if Charles’ voice echoed in his mind:
“Master, I suspect the Traveler eloped with someone.”
“No need to buy a house and live together unless he intends to take responsibility for her life.”
At that moment, only one thought filled his heart—
(Traveler, where are you? Please come back! I might not be able to handle this girl...)
If he lived in the modern age, an anonymous post might appear online:
#Help: My brother asked me to look after his wife, but now she seems to have eyes for me. What do I do? Save me, please!#
Diluc dared not utter a word or run away. He sat there, scalp tingling, turning his head stiffly to gaze at the green fields beyond the city wall, forcing himself to act as if nothing had happened. Silently, he prayed for the Anemo Archon to send the Traveler back soon.
---
When he turned his head, Pei Nana belatedly realized and blushed fiercely. Embarrassed, she covered her face and hurriedly retreated into her room, banging her own head in frustration: “Are you crazy or what?!”
Wasn’t this just the behavior of a lovesick fool? How could a human be so reckless?
“Ugh—”
She crouched at the foot of the bed, biting the blanket, letting out a hopeless wail.
—What a disgrace!
Just let me die!!!
Diluc, sitting on the balcony, heard the despairing sobs from next door and quietly sighed in relief. He couldn’t help but feel a bit embarrassed and even amused, realizing he had misunderstood.
She was merely stunned and dazzled by beauty for a moment, likely without any ulterior motives.
That was good—at least now he didn’t have to worry about how to explain things to Kong later.
It was common to be struck by someone’s qualities or some detail at first sight; rare, however, was to still feel longing after calming down.
But until she regained her composure, it really wasn’t convenient for him to appear before her. Still, he had promised the Traveler to help look after her and could not just abandon the task.
Diluc rose and went downstairs to the bar, picking up the bartending tools.
Charles looked at him in surprise. “Master Diluc, you’re up so early today?”
Diluc said, “The girl has woken up. Go upstairs and see if she needs anything.”
Charles gave him a strange look but didn’t ask further and immediately went upstairs.
...
As dusk fell and the tavern grew livelier, a strikingly handsome young man in green clothes breezed in like a refreshing gust of wind, hopping onto a stool at the bar.
“Hey, bartender! One dandelion wine, please!”
Diluc shook the bottle in his hand without looking up, his voice cold and expressionless: “Minors are not permitted to drink alcohol.”
The youth’s face instantly fell, looking at him pitifully: “Aw, come on—cut me some slack, Master Diluc!”
Leaning on the bar, he winked and clasped his hands in a pleading gesture, extending his voice into a sticky, drawn-out whine: “Just this once, Master Diluc—please, I’m of age now! Pretty please~”
Diluc: “...”
Every time, this guy managed to push his limits even further.
Diluc slowly lifted his head and stared at him without expression.
—Gods forbid! At least, he shouldn’t!
The youth grinned mischievously, winking at him as if they were old friends, looking pitiful: “—Just one drink, come on~”
Diluc sneered coldly and held out his hand: “Pay up.”
This young man was the tavern’s resident singer and the finest bard in Mondstadt.
---
The youth’s smile stiffened for a moment, then he laughed again as if nothing had happened. “Money? Of course! But I didn’t bring any today. How about you just put it on my tab?”
Diluc’s lips twitched in a forced smile, his dim eyes glowing faintly. He said coolly, “Fine~ but first, settle your previous debts.”
The youth: “...”
“Next time, next time! I swear next time!”
Diluc: “You said that last time too.”
The youth: “...”
He sighed heavily in resignation and picked up his harp. “Alright, guess there’s no choice.”
“How about I sing you a song in lieu of payment?”
Diluc said, “That depends on how well you sing. If it’s bad, I won’t pay.”
As he spoke, he began pouring the drink.
The youth watched the amber liquid flow slowly into the wooden cup, eyes lighting up. He wiped the drool from the corner of his mouth, brimming with anticipation, and asked confidently, “What would you like to hear?”
Diluc thought for a moment. Though this was a transaction, it was merely their way of interacting. Like old friends who had to tease each other to feel comfortable.
The youth knew many things, but Diluc did not want to extract the answers he truly sought through such a trade.
Because if poetry and wine became mere tools for gathering intelligence, it would feel like a desecration for both parties.
He considered what trivial topic could pass the time, then recalled the person they had admitted today.
The Traveler seemed young; what was their relationship to that girl? Would his presence affect their feelings?
He had said he would investigate personally, but if the girl truly was the Traveler’s lover and admired his appearance, then for the sake of a longer, purer friendship with the Traveler, it was best he kept his distance.
Diluc casually said, “Tell me about the Traveler—the story between the Traveler and that girl.”
The youth: “...”
Though unnamed, the youth immediately knew who he meant.
His smile faded as he watched Diluc’s expression shift from curiosity to unease, as if the question crossed a forbidden boundary.
After a long pause, he sighed helplessly, “...That’s an expensive way to pay for drinks. But no.”
He raised his face again, playful and winking one emerald eye. His gaze sparkled with amusement, as if the earlier solemnity was just an illusion. Half serious, half joking, he warned, “You can’t ask about that, Master Diluc. It’s part of the taboo.
Let’s talk about a different story!”
Caught off guard, Diluc’s alarm shot through the roof:
Taboo?!
His alertness instantly spiked!