"Adeptal energy may attract ordinary monsters," Ganyu said, "but it shouldn't have much effect on Abyssal monsters."
She turned to Cloud Retainer.
"Master, do you know why they would appear near Dawn Winery?"
Keqing's thoughts moved at once to what had happened before, when Yelan captured Aether and drew out a swarm of Abyssal monsters. Those creatures had seemed intent on killing him. The matter had been settled in the end, but many Millelith had been badly injured.
Was this connected to Tabibito somehow?
Cloud Retainer considered the question for a moment.
"Perhaps the Adeptal spring's pull was simply too strong," she said. "Or perhaps the Abyssal monsters needed the spring water for some purpose. One cannot say for certain."
Then she waved the matter away.
"Let Ryou trouble himself over it."
Diluc nodded slowly. "Then destroying it may have removed a hidden danger."
His expression remained thoughtful.
"But if Ryou could create one Adeptal spring, he should be able to create another."
Mountain Shaper gave a quiet sigh.
Diluc looked toward him. "Is something wrong?"
"This adeptus merely finds it difficult to believe," Mountain Shaper said. "The Mighty and Illuminated Adepti can do such things, yes, but even for us, creating an Adeptal spring is not something done lightly."
His gaze shifted toward the kitchen.
"For Ryou to manage it so easily… that alone says much about him. No wonder he can produce so much adeptal tea and adeptal fruit. This adeptus truly envies him."
Then he added, almost to himself, "It seems my choice was not wrong."
Cloud Retainer glanced at him.
When she had first seen Mountain Shaper working at the Ministry of Civil Affairs, she had found it absurd. An adeptus serving in a mortal office? It sounded like a joke.
But after seeing the adeptal tea, the adeptal fruit, and now hearing about the spring, she began to understand.
Keqing was about to ask Mountain Shaper what he meant when more people arrived at the entrance.
Baizhu had come with Qiqi, and beside them were two unfamiliar guests.
Keqing rose at once.
Baizhu had a close relationship with Ryou's family. Ryou's father had been treated by him, and Baizhu himself was on good terms with Ryou. Keqing naturally had to greet him properly.
"Baizhu, Qiqi, you're here."
Her gaze moved to the two strangers. "And these two are?"
Baizhu was about to explain when Amber stood up from the table.
"Collei? Why are you here?"
"Amber," Collei said softly.
Keqing looked between them. "You know each other?"
"This is Collei, my friend," Amber said. "And this is Tighnari. He looks after her."
"I see." Keqing smiled politely. "Then welcome."
She noticed their clothing and turned toward Dunyarzad.
"You're from Sumeru too. Do you know them?"
Dunyarzad looked at Tighnari.
"We may not have met before, but I know of you, Tighnari."
Collei blinked. "You know him?"
Tighnari was surprised as well. "You know me?"
"Tighnari," Dunyarzad said gently, "you know Cyno, don't you?"
"Of course."
"My family has some connection with Cyno. He once mentioned you to me. He even suggested to my father that you might be invited to help treat me, but my father refused."
"So you're a friend of Cyno's…"
Tighnari almost asked about her condition, but stopped himself.
This was not the place.
Dunyarzad seemed to understand what he wanted to ask. She only smiled and said nothing more.
"Everyone who comes is a guest," Keqing said, stepping in smoothly. "Please sit."
Since Dunyarzad and Tighnari were connected, there was no need to question anything further.
The problem was the room.
Keqing looked at the growing crowd around the tables and felt her head begin to ache.
Originally, tonight was supposed to be a small dinner. Baizhu, Dunyarzad, Ganyu. A few people.
Now?
Tighnari, Collei, Dehya, Baizhu, Dunyarzad, Amber, Diluc, Cloud Retainer, Mountain Shaper, Ganyu, Hu Tao, Qiqi, Yaoyao, and Xiangling made fourteen guests already. Add Mona, Shenhe, Keqing herself, and Ryou, and the total reached seventeen.
Seventeen.
This was no longer a dinner. This was a banquet that had ambushed her in her own house.
Mona leaned closer and whispered, "Keqing, should we arrange more seats?"
"No. There shouldn't be anyone else."
Keqing said it with more hope than certainty.
She looked around the room, then made a quick decision.
"Mona, help me look after everyone for a moment. I'll go check on my husband. He needs to make more dishes."
Mona froze.
Keqing saw the confusion on her face, but there was no time to explain. Someone had to tell Ryou the situation, and someone else had to keep the guests from sitting in awkward silence.
Mona would survive.
Probably.
Keqing headed toward the back courtyard.
She had not gone far when she noticed someone acting suspiciously by one of the pillars.
Dehya was half-hidden there, one hand braced against the wood, peeking toward the kitchen with intense concentration.
She was so focused that she did not even notice Keqing walking up behind her.
Keqing was about to speak when a voice came from inside the kitchen.
"Xiangling, I'm already married."
Keqing stopped.
Ryou's voice was calm, but firm.
"You're still young. You'll meet someone you truly like one day. You and I aren't suitable."
"But…" Xiangling's voice trembled. "But I like you. Can't you give me a chance?"
There was a pause, then Xiangling rushed on, flustered and desperate.
"I won't let Keqing know. I won't cause trouble for you. Is that still not enough?"
"No," Ryou said at once. "I married Keqing. I won't do anything that betrays her."
Keqing's fingers relaxed slightly.
Inside the kitchen, Ryou continued, "Don't think too much into it. Maybe you only feel this way because you think I'm decent. But I'm already married. You should look at someone else. Chongyun, Xingqiu—"
"I don't like them," Xiangling said. "I like you."
Keqing was not surprised.
She had sensed Xiangling's feelings during the last gathering. Xiangling had been too interested in Ryou, too quick to react whenever he was mentioned.
But Ryou refusing her?
That was exactly what Keqing had expected.
She knew what kind of person her husband was.
The voices inside lowered after that, too soft to make out clearly, but Keqing was no longer worried. She trusted him.
Then Dehya finally turned her head.
Their eyes met.
Dehya's face changed, and she nearly made a sound.
Keqing reacted faster. She covered Dehya's mouth and pulled her away before the kitchen noticed them.
Only when they were far enough from the door did Keqing let go.
"Sorry," Keqing said quietly.
Dehya shook her head, then glanced back toward the kitchen. "Keqing, Ryou is a good man. His character is good too. Don't misunderstand him."
"I know." Keqing's voice softened. "We haven't been married for very long, but I trust him. I know exactly what kind of man he is."
Then she looked at Dehya more seriously.
"But what you just heard stays here. Don't tell anyone."
Dehya hesitated.
Keqing understood the look in her eyes.
"If this spreads, no one benefits. Nothing happened. Ryou refused her. That's all."
Dehya scratched her head. "That's true."
"Then let's treat it as if we didn't hear anything."
"Right."
Keqing started walking back toward the kitchen with Dehya beside her.
"More guests arrived," Keqing said. "A few of them seem to know Dunyarzad's family."
Then she glanced at Dehya. "Do you know Tighnari?"
Dehya's expression shifted. "Tighnari?"
"He's a Forest Watcher from Avidya Forest in Sumeru. Very capable." Dehya thought for a moment. "I've heard scholars mention him before. Among his generation, he's one of the best."
She continued, "There are several impressive people from that circle. Cyno, the current General Mahamatra. Alhaitham, the Akademiya's current Scribe. People like that."
"That is impressive," Keqing said.
She knew a little about Tighnari and Cyno already, so Dehya's explanation only confirmed it.
Still, the thought that even Tighnari could not cure Eleazar while Ryou could made Keqing's mood improve again.
Her husband was still better.
She was about to go in when Dehya caught her sleeve.
"Keqing, should we really go in now?"
Keqing looked back.
"Why not?"
"It's probably very awkward in there. If we walk in right now, won't that make it worse?"
Keqing gave her a look.
"Awkward or not, we have seventeen people waiting to eat. The dishes in there definitely aren't enough, and we still need to go out later for the opera."
Dehya immediately understood.
"Oh. Right."
Keqing pushed open the kitchen door.
Inside, Xiangling was quietly handling seafood with her head lowered, her mood clearly not high. Ryou stood at the stove with his back to them, still cooking.
"Ryou."
Ryou turned. "What's wrong?"
"We have more guests than expected. We'll need several more dishes."
"How many people?"
Keqing took a breath.
"Seventeen."
Ryou paused with the spatula in his hand.
"Seventeen?"
He stared at her.
"Wait. Didn't we only invite a few people?"
Xiangling had told him that a few more guests had arrived, but no one had said anything about seventeen.
How had a quiet dinner at home turned into this?
[End of chapter]