"You seem to be in a bad mood. What's wrong? Did today's events make you uncomfortable?"
Durandal looked at Shenhe, puzzled. She could see Shenhe's unhappiness. Was it because of Venti and Lumine's matter that made her angry?
Shenhe shook her head. She took out an envelope from her person. She had met Uncle Mingjun, who had returned to Liyue Harbor today, and received this from him.
The two of them chatted a bit about past events. Although the memories were painful, there were also happy parts.
So, strictly speaking, her mood today couldn't be described as unhappy; on the contrary, she was actually in quite a good mood.
It was just that Venti's matter had made Shenhe's mood slightly worse. The positive and negative feelings cancelled each other out, leaving her in a neutral state.
"So you came to find me this time because you remembered old things and couldn't sleep alone, so you came to find me?"
The night she returned to the village, Shenhe couldn't sleep alone because too many things had happened, so she came to sleep with her.
(The Indestructible: Actually, she just wanted to sleep with Durandal, no other meaning.)
Understanding this, Durandal nodded and patted the other side of the bed, signaling Shenhe to lie down there.
With Durandal's permission, Shenhe happily lay down on one side of the bed, cautiously observing Durandal's face to ascertain her mood.
"Durandal, how do you plan to handle their situation?"
Venti and Lumine's situation needed to be addressed. Durandal wouldn't want to see two people who were very important to her be so unhappy, would she?
Durandal shook her head; she didn't plan to get involved in their affairs.
Or rather, she simply didn't know how to resolve it, and she also had a feeling that if she got involved, things would only get worse.
Her current situation was... well, the feeling of 'strange knowledge increased. JPG,' completely clueless about the state of things.
So, rather than getting involved in something she completely didn't understand and making things worse, it was best to observe the situation's development. That was the best choice.
"I don't understand the situation, just like you didn't know how to handle interpersonal relationships back then, Shenhe."
Durandal put down the book in her hand, turned on her side, and looked at Shenhe.
Two beautiful young Damselettes, one tall and one short, met each other's gaze. They had both changed into light pajamas for sleeping, and any casual movement could easily reveal the other's skin.
Durandal didn't mind, but Shenhe's gaze couldn't help but linger. They were both girls, so why did Durandal feel more alluring?
Shenhe quickly closed her eyes and silently recited the 'Purity Charm' several times in her heart. This was the incantation she used in the past to suppress her killing intent. She hadn't expected to use it in such a situation.
Durandal looked at Shenhe, who had closed her eyes, in confusion. Thinking she was just asleep, Durandal prepared to rest.
The night, undisturbed by Lumine and Venti, was exceptionally quiet. Shenhe was indeed more obedient; with her by her side, Durandal could enjoy some rare leisure time.
"Durandal, what did that action you did to Lumine earlier mean?"
In the darkness, Shenhe, who Durandal thought was asleep, suddenly asked.
She actually knew what that action meant. She vaguely remembered secretly seeing her mother and father do that action when she was little.
It was something only intimate people could do, an action only lovers and those destined to be together for life would do.
Shenhe's mother had told Shenhe this, and Shenhe understood it, but now was not the time to say it. She had to maintain her facade of knowing nothing.
"It's an act of intimacy between male and female protagonists in novels. Humans generally use this action to express the feeling called 'like'. This action is called kissing, also known as 'KISS'."
Durandal kindly explained the details of kissing to Shenhe. Shenhe listened to Durandal's explanation "very seriously," like a curious child, and asked,
"A way to express liking? Then do you like Venti?"
"...I don't know if my feelings for her can be called liking. I've known her for a very long time. Because of her, my life has become noisy. Although she often brings me trouble, but... I don't dislike her."
Durandal would never say such words in front of Venti. If Venti heard Durandal say she didn't dislike her, she would surely jump up and excitedly pounce on her.
Not disliking means liking; Venti's concept would definitely lead her to believe this. While there was some truth to it, it was still better to be a bit more at ease.
"You don't dislike her? Then what about me? How do you feel about me, Durandal?"
"Hm?"
At these words, Durandal suddenly noticed Shenhe's abnormality. She recalled the look Shenhe had given her before, and upon closer thought, that look was very similar to Venti's recent gaze towards her!
Wait a minute, she suddenly came to find her, wanting to sleep with her. Could it be for the same purpose as Venti?
Durandal cautiously tried to get up from the bed, but Shenhe had already anticipated Durandal's move. Before Durandal could get up, Durandal found a figure beside her. Turning to look, she saw Shenhe's Ice Puppet Escort.
Moreover, as Shenhe came into contact with Durandal, the puppet's body gradually changed, becoming identical to Shenhe.
Shenhe: "During this time, besides trying to recapture the feeling of a Frozen time-space that I accidentally used before, I've also been diligently training in the 'dual-tasking' you told me about."
Puppet: "Although I can't speak simultaneously, the situation is much better than before. Holding you like this is no problem."
Shenhe's Talents were truly excellent. Most people would require long-term training to barely achieve dual-tasking, but she managed to figure it out in a short time.
Normally, Durandal would praise Shenhe's abilities, but the current situation was a bit special, as she was trapped between two Shenhes, unable to move.
She wanted to break free from Shenhe's grip, but the puppet had already embraced her from behind. Taking advantage of the puppet holding her, Shenhe also pressed close.
Durandal had many ways to escape from Shenhe's grasp, such as transforming into a black mist or directly shaking Shenhe off her. But... "Calm down, Shenhe. Your situation isn't the same as Venti's. She can at least exchange a few blows with me. But your strength... is still far from enough."
Venti's condition, affected by the erode, though she was at the bottom among the Seven Gods due to long neglect of Mondstadt, was still judged by the standard of the Seven Gods.
Venti could cause her a little trouble with her highly malleable Wind, but it would only be a little, and she would quickly suppress her.
Venti could do that, but Shenhe couldn't. If she mastered that time-freezing move, maybe she could, but the power she used for that move was borrowed from Durandal. How could she deal with Durandal?
"Yes, I know. Not just me, even if everyone in Liyue Harbor came, they probably couldn't force you to do anything."
"Since you know, then why are you still..."
"Because... I'm waiting. Waiting for you to push me off the bed, waiting for you to order me to leave the room. Only then will I completely give up."
Hm? Is it that simple? Just push her away?
Durandal blinked, placing her hand in front of Shenhe, preparing to push her off the bed.
Before she could make another move, Shenhe spoke again: "In that case, I can return to my master's side, completely severing my ties with the mortal world, free and unburdened."
Hm! What exactly are you trying to do?! How can I push you off the bed like this!
Memories of Shenhe's journey with them down from Mt. Aocang flashed through Durandal's mind. From the initial discomfort to later being willing to accompany them to Mondstadt and experience various new things, all of these were manifestations of Shenhe gradually integrating into human society.
Now she was saying that if Durandal didn't accept her, she would have no other attachments and could return to Cloud Retainer's side.
Even if she couldn't forget this experience, she could ask Cloud Retainer for help. She believed that with the methods of an adeptus, there must be a way to erase this memory.
"You... are you threatening me?"
"No, I'm just telling you what I will do. You are my greatest attachment. If you don't accept me, then there's no meaning for me to stay here."
"But it doesn't have to be that kind of relationship. Didn't we get along well before? Isn't it good to just maintain that kind of relationship?"
They had been getting along very well before, so why did Shenhe suddenly become like this?
"Maintain that kind of relationship... right? Maybe you're right, but... my feelings can change. I've been enduring before, but now I find that I can't endure anymore."
Previously, to avoid Durandal's dislike, she had always tried to maintain her role, which successfully earned her a good impression, making Durandal willing to take her along in her daily activities.
In the past, she was content just following behind Durandal, but as time went on, she found that she could no longer be satisfied with just observing.
She wanted to go further, to be like Venti, to get closer to Durandal, to feel her presence, to feel her body temperature.
Expressing her feelings to Durandal without reservation, Shenhe took Durandal's hand and placed it on her chest, letting her feel her heartbeat at that moment.
"Can you feel it? My mood, my feelings, and... my heart."
"Let me stay, okay? I've always been obedient, but this time... let me be willful, okay?"
Shenhe slowly moved closer to Durandal, speaking as she approached her face.
"If you don't want to, you can push me away anytime. I... won't resist."
"Shenhe..."
Human emotions were truly complex. Faced with such a Shenhe, Durandal found herself unable to be firm, only able to watch her approach.
"Ugh."
Feeling the touch on her lips, tears of joy streamed from the corners of her eyes.
"Thank you for accepting me as I am, Durandal."
---------------------------------
If you'd like to read the next 40 chapters in advance, you can support me on Patreon.
I regularly post chapter previews there, so you'll always be up-to-date and won't have to wait too long.
patreon.com/SolyuraMT
And if you enjoy the story, don't forget to give me a Power Stone. Your support really motivates me to continue translating!