Chapter 50 — Rosalyne: We Must Not Let Barbara Be Deceived by a Scoundrel
Kael hadn't expected trouble.
He hadn't provoked anyone. He wasn't looking for a fight. He had only wanted to test his new broadcast feature and enjoy a peaceful morning stroll with Barbara.
But fate, it seemed, had other plans.
Because striding toward him, heels clicking sharply against Mondstadt's cobblestones, came La Signora—the Eighth of the Fatui Harbingers, the Crimson Witch of Flame reborn as ice.
Her presence chilled the air itself. Pedestrians fell silent as she passed, their breath frosting in the mid-morning sun.
Her crimson eyes locked onto him with an expression halfway between disdain and amusement.
"Well, well… if it isn't Liyue's so-called messenger."
Her tone was honey dipped in venom.
Her gaze flicked briefly toward Barbara, standing at Kael's side, before she smirked—cold, cruel, and unmistakably condescending.
"I didn't expect Mondstadt to produce such quick results. First, you were nothing more than a pet under Lady Ningguang's care in Liyue. Then, after an unclear entanglement with the Yuheng, you were conveniently sent away. And now—" she laughed softly, the sound like shards of ice breaking, "you've managed to wrap the little deaconess of Mondstadt around your finger in just a few days? Truly, some men have no shame."
---
[Group Chat Reactions]
Ningguang: "A kept man? Excuse me?"
Keqing: "'Unclear relationship'? With me?! Preposterous!"
Zhongli: "Cough, cough… let us all remain calm and observe objectively."
Jean: "I-I'm sure this must be a misunderstanding… right?"
Venti: "Well, Kael is rather handsome. If I were a girl, I might fall for him too~"
Kael: "Venti, I swear—say one more word and I'll unplug your lyre."
---
Kael closed his eyes briefly, suppressing the urge to sigh.
That bastard Childe…
This had his fingerprints all over it.
No one else would have both the audacity and the stupidity to feed gossip about him to the Fatui.
Back in Liyue, Kael had humored Childe one too many times, teasing him about losing to Ningguang in business deals and sparring with Keqing. Apparently, the Harbinger had decided to get his revenge through slander.
Now, thanks to him, half of Teyvat probably thought Kael was Liyue's most scandalous diplomat.
Great. Just great. When I get back to Liyue, I'm finding Childe and punching that smug grin straight off his face.
Kael exhaled slowly, lifting his head to meet La Signora's glare. "And what," he asked, his voice even but sharp, "does any of that have to do with you? You show up here, hurl accusations, and act as if I owe you an explanation."
His tone hardened. "Unless you have a reason for confronting me, you'll find I'm not as easy to deal with as you might think."
Barbara stiffened beside him.
Fatui.
The word itself sent a shiver down her spine. Jean had warned her about them countless times—manipulative, dangerous, and untrustworthy.
But… what if there was truth in what she said?
Was Kael really the kind of man who toyed with women's affections?
Her hands trembled slightly. No…
No, she couldn't believe that.
He wasn't like that. He couldn't be.
She remembered the warmth of his touch when he'd reassured her earlier. The gentleness in his voice.
Jean always said the Fatui were experts at twisting the truth.
She bit her lip and decided—she would trust him.
---
La Signora chuckled, brushing a strand of silver hair from her face.
"Oh? You think you deserve an explanation?" she sneered. "Who do you think you are? Some self-proclaimed savior?"
Her voice dripped with icy mockery. "You're just a discarded pawn. Do you honestly think Ningguang will still protect you? Please. That woman would sell even herself if the price was high enough—let alone you."
---
[Group Chat Reactions]
Ningguang: "EXCUSE ME?! That woman dares insult me?"
Keqing: "If she wants to start a war with Liyue, she's welcome to try."
Zhongli: "It seems Lady Ningguang will soon have a diplomatic conversation with the Fatui."
---
Kael sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.
He didn't have time for this melodrama.
"Listen carefully," he said evenly. "I'll give you one minute to apologize. After that…"
He lifted his gaze, and his eyes flashed faintly with divine light.
"…I can't promise I'll hold back. Controlling my strength isn't easy when I'm angry."
---
[Group Chat Reactions]
Venti: "Ohoho~ That's a good one! I'm putting that in a poem!"
Zhongli: "Indeed… to balance overwhelming power with restraint is no small feat."
Jean: "Mr. Kael, please—don't escalate this. If you harm a Fatui Harbinger in Mondstadt, there will be political repercussions!"
Diluc: "Hmph. The Fatui don't care about diplomacy. If we let her walk away, she'll only return with reinforcements. End it now."
---
Jean's heart was pounding as she watched the broadcast.
She didn't like the Fatui either—but this? Killing one of the Eleven in Mondstadt's streets would shake all of Teyvat.
Yet Diluc, ever pragmatic, had a different philosophy. The Fatui weren't allies—they were parasites. Whether La Signora lived or died, peace with the Fatui was an illusion.
But what truly unsettled them both was Venti's silence.
The bard, who always had a song for every occasion, was suddenly quiet.
He knew what her arrival meant.
---
La Signora laughed—a sound like glass cracking. "You? Challenge me? How adorable."
Her heels clicked as she took a slow step forward, frost spiraling from her fingertips.
"Tell me, Kael—where does your arrogance come from? That little ego of yours? Or the cheap tricks you use to impress naive little girls?"
Her gaze shifted toward Barbara.
And for the first time, something flickered in her eyes—something not cold, but… haunted.
Barbara.
The girl's innocence reminded her of another life—her life.
Before the flames. Before the Abyss. Before the hatred.
Back when she, too, had been a devout, kind-hearted Mondstadter who sang hymns to the wind.
The resemblance was too much.
A surge of anger and protectiveness welled up within her.
She didn't care about Keqing or Ningguang—they could defend themselves.
But Barbara?
Barbara was pure. Fragile.
An angelic voice that should never be tainted by deceit.
And now this man—this smooth-tongued interloper—was standing beside her, smiling like he owned the world.
Unacceptable.
Her expression hardened into something cold and murderous.
She would not allow it.
She would not let another innocent girl fall for a liar's charm.
Her hands clenched, frost crackling around her fingertips.
When Kael casually placed his hand on Barbara's shoulder again, something in La Signora snapped.
"Enough."
Without hesitation, she lunged forward, a storm of frost swirling around her as her crimson heels struck the ground.
The air dropped in temperature instantly. Crystals of ice spiraled outward as she reached for his arm, her power crackling with lethal intent.
The Lady of Ice had spoken—
and Mondstadt was about to freeze.