33. Loyalty Is the Greatest Virtue

He was like a bat in the night; the slightest sounds gradually sketched out an almost lifelike scene in his mind.

He heard the rustle of someone getting out of bed, the soft shuffle of footsteps, and then a faint click as the door next door opened.

The footsteps then approached his room.

Could there really be something wrong?

Aether’s gaze grew somber, and a dim, nearly disappointed feeling surfaced in his heart.

He was not afraid of ambushes or betrayal. Whoever attacked him, he would calmly strike back. And if this was betrayal, he had rendered service to Mondstadt and shed blood for the Anemo Archon. Who would readily believe the wild accusations of some unknown outsider?

But…

He had only just acknowledged her as a companion.

If she truly intended to catch me off guard, how could she have been discovered so easily?

If not, then what is she doing?

Come, my “companion.” Let me see what you really want.

The Traveler turned his head and slowly closed his eyes, his expression peaceful and tranquil, as though he had already fallen sound asleep.

Click…

Someone gently pushed open his door. They seemed to pause at the entrance, then slowly walked inside.

Aether: “...?”

Wait, she got in that easily?!

Only then did he belatedly remember that, perhaps because he was accustomed to sleeping outdoors, he had apparently forgotten to lock the door. But that was beside the point. His attention soon returned to the uninvited guest who had arrived in the dead of night.

She seemed to pause at the doorway before tiptoeing inside. She stopped two or three meters from the bed and stood there for a full two or three minutes, staring at him the entire time.

Aether had excellent patience. Even with someone watching him, his breathing did not change in the slightest. He waited patiently and warily, eager to see what she intended to do.

Unexpectedly, however, she did nothing. After two or three minutes, she actually turned around and tiptoed back out.

Click.

The door closed.

Aether: “???”

Aether opened his eyes in confusion and scratched his head.

What on earth is that woman next door doing? She stayed awake in the middle of the night just to come over and take a look? What kind of problem does she have? Is she sleepwalking?

The more Aether thought about it, the angrier and more awake he became. At last, he had a warm, comfortable bed with soft pillows, and now he could not fall asleep no matter what.

After lying there for a while, he irritably sat up, wrapped in his blanket, and sat at the head of the bed. He stared darkly toward the room next door and kept watching all night.

So what, exactly, had that woman wanted?

---

The next day, Pei Nana was in high spirits. Not only had she risen early, she had also spent quite some time choosing clothes for the outing with Little Paimon.

By the time Haily brought in dinner, the two of them were still discussing which scarf looked best.

Haily acted as their judge while helping Pei Nana braid her hair. “Mr. Charles said that Miss Nana is going to look at houses with the Traveler today. Would you like me to accompany you?”

“I’m a native of Mondstadt, born and raised, and I know the city like the back of my hand. I’d make an excellent guide. Would you like to bring me along, Miss Nana?”

Little Paimon immediately grew interested. “Really? That would be wonderful! We’ll need to buy new furniture and everything else for the house. Having a guide would save us a lot of trouble!”

“No need.”

Pei Nana rejected the offer without hesitation. She scooped Paimon into her arms before the little fairy could say anything else and smiled. “Thank you for thinking of us, Haily. But Mr. Aether and I haven’t seen each other in such a long time. I’d also like to stroll around Mondstadt with him. Searching for things and arranging our new home together sounds like a fun experience, doesn’t it?”

“I see...”

Haily looked disappointed, her eyes dimming as she became visibly dejected.

Pei Nana pretended not to notice. Deliberately pinching her voice into an exaggeratedly sweet tone, she began teasing Paimon.

She might not have been clever, but she was not truly stupid, either. After enough repetition, she was bound to notice something suspicious.

Master Diluc had said that Aether would return in seven days, and Aether had indeed come back. That proved that Mr. Diluc had treated her sincerely and had not been plotting anything behind the scenes.

He really was Mr. Aether’s good friend.

Given that, Haily’s constant, elaborate praise of Mr. Diluc in front of her was rather awkward.

It was not that Miss Haily had any malicious intentions. It was simply that her behavior made it difficult not to think of those overenthusiastic aunts and uncles who appeared during holidays to promote the sons of their relatives, friends, and coworkers.

If it had only been the two of them discussing it in private, that would have been one thing. But now that Aether had returned, what if she said something in front of him and made him suspect that she had ulterior motives?

In ancient times, when bandits accepted a new member, that person had to kill someone as a pledge of allegiance. It was a way of cutting off the road behind them.

Only when there was no way back would others believe you.

Having come alone to this “game world,” Pei Nana knew all too well that she possessed nothing. She was like a beggar driven into a dead end, and her only chance of survival was to pray for the kind “hero” to show mercy.

Not to mention Mr. Diluc—even the care he had shown her was because of Aether’s regard for her. Without Aether, what was she? Why would the richest man in an entire nation spare her a glance?

She might already have been dead.

Even if she had been lucky enough to encounter someone who coveted her beauty, could she really expect to pay no price?

The only thing she had to offer was “loyalty.”

Blind loyalty: knowing that his sister was the enemy of the world, yet still choosing to stand with them. It was precisely because of this “loyalty” that Aether had taken the risk of keeping her, despite her lack of any practical value.

For Aether, perhaps from the moment he learned that his sister was the Princess of the Abyss, he had no longer possessed a true friend in this world with whom he could speak freely and trust completely.

Perhaps Paimon could have filled that role, but Paimon was too immature. Sometimes her childish remarks revealed things she should not have said. That made it impossible for Aether to casually tell her his true thoughts.

Walking alone through life was too lonely. He needed the encouragement and recognition of others, someone to whom he could pour out his troubles and despair.

That was the role and value Pei Nana had found for herself.

---

But what if her “loyalty” came under suspicion?

Even setting that aside, was it not awkward enough to insert a woman and all her romantic complications between two close friends who had been perfectly fine on their own? Even if she knew it was all a misunderstanding, would the two gentlemen not still feel uncomfortable and irritated?

Both Aether and Mr. Diluc had shown her great kindness. In this world, they were practically her backers. There was no need to do something that would disgust everyone involved.

Besides, the two gentlemen might merely be displeased, but if that displeasure made them dislike her, she would be the one to suffer. They might, for instance, keep their distance to avoid giving their friend the wrong idea.

That was a very common response, but for someone like her, who wanted to cling to powerful allies and benefit from their influence, the consequences would be severe.

And beyond all those objective, rational considerations, she did not particularly want anyone else tagging along for personal reasons, either. She desperately wanted to rebuild her relationship with her powerful backer. What sense would it make to add another person into the mix?

Especially since Miss Haily was lively, cheerful, and highly sociable. Pei Nana was no match for her at all. Once the two of them started chatting away, what would be left for her to do?

She could only sit there in gloomy jealousy, watching them enjoy themselves!

Damn it. Why didn’t I possess that legendary ability to get along effortlessly with everyone?

Although she felt a little sorry for Miss Haily, Haily was not her maid. Now that Aether had returned, how could she continue troubling her? Saying goodbye was only natural. Continuing to take advantage of her labor would be utterly unreasonable.

Pei Nana easily convinced herself of this.

After tidying her hair, Haily noticed that Pei Nana had been talking to little Miss Paimon the entire time and had paid no attention to her. She puffed out her cheeks, growing even more frustrated, and said unhappily, “Please take your time, Miss Nana. I’ll come back later to clear away the dishes.”

Pei Nana did not try to keep her. Instead, she smiled warmly and said, “Thank you, Haily. You’ve worked hard.”

Haily: “...”

Haily left in a huff.

...

After eating, Pei Nana waited in the tavern for a while longer before Aether finally returned from wherever he had gone for his morning exercises.

A thin sheen of sweat covered his forehead. He went to wash his face, and when he came back, he found that Pei Nana had already prepared an umbrella, a bag, a water flask, and a little folding fan. She stood spiritedly at the entrance, waiting for him with eager anticipation.

The sight made him feel as though he were about to take a group of elementary-school children on a spring outing. He paused, then said gloomily, “You look quite energetic. I take it you slept well last night?”

Pei Nana smiled brightly, her liveliness and endearing air reminiscent of a young girl. “I slept wonderfully! Knowing that you were right next door made me feel so safe.

“What about you? Are you adjusting well?”

“Heh... Very well.”

Aether gave a faint smile and spoke in a low, meaningful tone. He naturally walked over to the two of them, took the umbrella, water flask, and other belongings from their hands, and placed them in his personal space.

“Let’s go. We’ll try to get the house settled today.”

Paimon: “Yay! Let’s go, let’s go!”