🔖

MONA MEGISTUS

With hunger comes a stomach ache, or a headache, or both.

All were not unfamiliar to the astrologist. After all, when Mona spent all her mora on expensive books and scrolls, food was at the bottom of her list of priorities.

She sighed as she flipped through the pages of a very-lengthy book she picked up today from an Akademiya scholar. All her savings practically went into this, for her master had given her a deadline for this particular project. And when that’s over, it’s back to working for more funds.

Oh, how she wishes she could be in the Akademiya sometimes. Maybe they could find some of her research.

But that was impossible. She couldn’t just move, not when things are a little too perfect here in Mondstadt.

It’s where she met you, after all—and even settled down with you. Plus, it’s not like she’d want to give her son the hassle of moving around to a whole new nation. The forest is so struck with kids and studying…

In addition, you seem contented.

So contented, in fact, that Mona always felt guilty. She didn’t want to show her face to you most of the time, because what kind of wife just spends most of her finances on books and astrology equipment instead of living funds?

It wasn’t completely her own fault since these were orders from her master, after all—but it still ate at her guilt. She was a master astrologist, but not a master wife or mother, it seemed.

Mona tiptoed home late today. She was exhausted, yes, though she couldn’t deny that a large part of her energy was spent worrying about you. She would walk in while you and her son were already sleeping, and then she’d quickly stuff the book in her shelf and head to bed with you.

But instead of such a plan…

You were already right there to greet her at the door.

“Oh, is that for a new assignment?” you questioned quite interestedly as you pointed at the heavy book your wife carried. “I’ll bring it to your desk—you head to the kitchen!” And before Mona could even greet you back, you were already pacing down the hall.

Stepping into the kitchen sent her into an even greater state of shock, for her son stood there on a stool over the stove, cooking away.

“Wah—!” he yelped when he saw her walk in. “Mom, you can’t look yet! It’s not done!” While the act was endearing, Mona could tell it was her favorite food from just the smell alone.

“He won’t let anyone in there,” you sighed from beside her, seeming to come back from her desk. But a smile still rested on your face, even when you shook your head. “He said that he wanted to surprise you.”

“Well I am very surprised,” Mona huffed out. “You didn’t have to spend too much on this, right? I can c—”

“Pssh, don’t worry about that, my love, we’re fine,” you laughed. “For now, let’s all just eat as a family together, okay? Our little one’s been practicing his cooking skills whenever you’re out.”

Mona couldn’t quite place why fate had been so kind to her.

JEAN GUNNHILDR

You are her cherished wine, of course.

Like the breathily breeze swirled into one bottle of Thousand-Wind Wine, you were a unique delicacy to her—one in which was a sacred delight to her life.

But the Acting Grandmaster does not have wine often. And similarly, she does not see you often, either.

She is almost like a prisoner, chained to the duties of Mondstadt that she alone chose to handle. It was a commitment she almost regretted every time she saw you holding your daughter by the cold window, her little hands waving goodbye as Jean sets off early in the morning for another long day at the headquarters.

And every day, by the time Jean gets home, it is too late in the night for either of you to still be awake.

She sighs into the cold air, breath fogging like it does so every other night. The streets of Mondstadt are empty at this hour, and the breeze is cold enough to make her shiver. By now, every other citizen is safe at home in the warm arms of someone they cherish. Everyone except for her, of course.

Since the moment she married you, she could not allow for such warmth—not when she made it her duty to protect you and the city from ever being cold again.

So when she quietly stepped inside your house…

The smell of fresh baked bread and melted cheese overwhelmed her. It was warm in the house, and the light in the kitchen was still on.

“Not too many, my darling!”

“But mama loves mushrooms on her pizza!”

Your giggles from the countertop made her freeze in place. The sound of her daughter still being awake at this hour completely caught her off guard—and at first, she felt a sense of motherly worry and rush to quickly put her to bed.

But the thought of you and your daughter staying up to make her dinner had her mind and body spiraling.

So much so, that she literally stumbled on a floorboard when she took one step forward.

A gasp, “Mama’s home!”

When Jean looked up, she saw the excited smile of her daughter looking up at her from the light of the kitchen doorway. The happiness on her face was unbearable. Jean felt her heart hurt.

“Hi.” Plastered on her own face was the most awkward of grins; her face flushed in embarrassment as she straightened her back. What made her so nervous in front of her own family like this?

“My love,” you called—and she swore she felt her body melt instantly—“don’t be so tense, now.” Your hands traveled down to plant lovingly atop the shoulders of your daughter, who was gesturing quite excitedly at the kitchen with a dough roller in her hands. “We worked very hard to prepare you dinner, so you’ll come enjoy it with us now, won’t you?”

She could only sigh. And yet, one sight of you and her daughter made her feel an endless warmth she never knew she craved for.

“Thank you both,” she smiled. “We should start before the food gets cold, right?”

KEQING

If you had a say, you’d bargain that she’s at the Jade Chambers a little too often. But whose words could rival Tianqian?

Or, it seemed the Yuheng was not even opposed to it herself, for not even you, her dear wife could get her to stay home. She always had that stern look on her face that meant business. When fuchsia eyes held that certain glare, you were inclined to just keep quiet.

She almost never seemed overworked, which is why you hadn’t bothered before. A tinge of annoyance from work is the most she ever held, though you’d admit that your wife is a rather tough one to read.

Keqing was the same, however. In fact, she was likely even more dense. She paid no mind when she had to travel from the Jade Chambers to areas even outside of the harbor. Food or rest was not even in consideration whenever she told you that she was going to spend time with her friends—for that, too, was also classified as “being busy” to her.

Busy, busy, busy. But she always kept an easy-going smile on her face as she was used to it.

“Keqing.”

The Yuheng turned her head to face the Tianqian.

“Ningguang.”

The lady mused, “Don’t you think it’s rather late?” Her metal nail guard tapped atop the sodden surface of Keqing’s desk, avoiding the litters of papers and pens. “You should be trotting along home now.”

“I don’t take advice from you,” Keqing rolled her eyes. “It’s your fault making the office the same building as your living quarters.”

The Tianqian scoffed for a moment, though she hid a sly smile behind the fabric of her opened fan. “Work away, then,” she waved off with dismissive hand as she sauntered to her private chambers. “Though if it were me, personally, I wouldn’t keep my wife waiting at home.”

Keqing had half a mind to chase after her and shove that fan down her throat.

But she was right. And now Keqing found herself walking along home with an empty stomach and a guilty pit in her chest—or was that the hunger? She doesn’t recall it being this late, but to lie in bed snuggling next to you and the kids sounded like heaven right now.

“I’m homeeee,” she muttered out of practiced tradition. Though it was much quieter today, for she figured everyone was already sleeping.

“Mom is home!”

“Mom!”

In an instant, both her son and daughter were suddenly right there in her arms, and she just barely balanced herself from falling. It was only now that she realized all the lights were still on, and both her kids were very much wide awake.

She looked down at the kids in concern, questioning, “Why are you two doing still up—”

“My loves, you two left the food still frying! It might burn!”

With two collective gasps, both kids rushed back into the kitchen where your voice came from. Keqing took a moment to breathe in the air—the smell of her favorite food cooked by the people she loved the most.

The sounds of you lecturing the kids about cooking was heard from the kitchen before you could even welcome your wife home. And yet, Keqing stood there, watching you talk about cooking shrimp as she herself fell in love with you all over again.

Hm. Maybe she should listen to Ningguang more often.