Unexpected Hostility?

"Fischl wait, don't go alone." Lumine pleaded as she reached towards Fischl's arm but only fell short, "Party leader probably does not wish for us to be involved."

"Why have thou informed me of such important matters only now!? Why must the Prinzessin der Verurteilung wait when her Prince is out there, battling the foes of the unknown? I shall lend my assistance whether he wants it or not!"

Despite knowing he was capable enough to take care of himself, Fischl was beginning to worry about Yomite's safety, and despite Lumine trying to calm her down with small talk, she was too stubborn to accept her reasoning.

He had already been gone for over two hours and had not returned since.

She couldn't understand why the other girls had allowed him travel to a perilous location alone with a dangerous man.

Not to add that they didn't give her the whole truth, at least not until the little flying sustenance was bribed with some sweets...

Did the other girls not care about him?

Even Hu Tao waved her hand saying he was bound to be okay, which only infuriated her further..

Fischl was angry and extremely worried.

She shouldn't have run off back then out of embarrassment. If she didn't, she could have gone with him and covered his back instead...

Fischl was very well aware of the fact that the Fatui were disgusting.

They were professionals in economics, defense, and policy, and they would utilize all contemporary means at their disposal to gain complete dominion over all nations of the globe in order to realize their Empress Tsaritsa's vision, which made her even more worried for his safety.

It also led her to suspect that this battle wasn't going to be easy at all after she heard the specifics from Hu Tao.

This Childe was a strong opponent, highly skilled with both bow and other weapons such as daggers and swords.

(What if this Childe he left with, was the assassin he was warning us about!?)

It would make sense. Yomite would go intercept him instead, since he wouldn't want to put them in danger, but what would she do if something were to happen to him? He was protecting them, but who would protect him?

"Tsk. Ugh." Her lips curled into a tight frown as she straightened up her posture, preparing herself for what she must do next.

(This Prinzessin will save him for sure!)

She picked up her arrows and ran down the stairs.

Determination filling her heart, she set out towards where he was last seen going.

Until...Until she saw that the man she was worrying about all this time, was already downstairs, being caressed by a more than familiar girl she disliked very much...

"...Yomite...?" She started as she stood in the middle of the stairway, looking from side to side. "How art thou here?"

There were tears glistening in her beautiful emerald eye. There wasn't a single sound in the room except the gentle murmurings of his woman's voice. He was alive and well.

"I-I…" Fischl stammered as she approached them cautiously. "...Are you okay?"

Yomite nodded wordlessly giving her a smile of reassurence, and Fischl let out a breath of relief before sighing deeply, but after seeing Deaconess Barbara hugging him like that, a small frown creased on her face.

"So...Where did thou pick 'it' up?" Fischl, motioned towards Barbara with her hand, making no effort to hide her anger towards the girl.

Barbara raised an eyebrow at her rude remark, "It? Did you perhaps mean me?" She tilted her head sideways, a cheeky grin plastered across her face. "Hm. Perhaps not…"

"No, thou guessed correctly. Yomite, what ist this accursed female doing here? " Fischl looked accusingly at the deaconess giving the woman a rather menacing glare, before turning to Yomite, "Thou art better off without this woman, come along, the others are waiting."

"Accursed is a bit...uh...is something the matter?" Yomite asked bewilderedly, but didn't get a response from her.

Yomite could see she was staring daggers at Barbara, but he didn't know why. He knew that Fischl must have been worried about him based on how she acted, and he felt touched by the gesture, yet he didn't understand her sudden hostility towards Barbara. Did she mistreat her somehow in the past?

He was just standing there in the middle of this 'standoff' between two women, wondering what the hell was happening.

He then glanced over at Deaconess Barbara who only shrugged her shoulders with a sad smile, seemingly also clueless to what was happening.

Barbara unfastened the ribbon on her dress and waved it to cool off her chest, in the pleasant cool temperature of the room.

Droplets of sweat rolled down her neckline and onto her collarbone as she eyed Fischl with interest. She wasn't sure why Fischl was angry at her either, was she perhaps jealous, or was it something else?

But whatever it was, the problem lay solely on Fischl's shoulders as it hadn't been caused by her at all. At least she wasn't aware of doing anything to irritate the blonde-haired girl anyway.

Fischl finally pointed her finger at Barbara, "This Prinzessin is requesting that thou leave!" and commanded firmly, picking up her bow and loading an arrow onto her string, "I won't tell thee again."

"W-Wait..Fischl?" Yomite was taken aback by her sudden behavior, but he got a hold of himself quickly, raising his hands placatingly, "Don't be hasty, Fischl...What is wrong?"

But Fischl ignored his question and only ordered impatiently, "Leave. Now."

"Oh..." Barbara scratched her cheek before sighing, and then let out a quiet hum as she leaned her head against Yomite's chest and wrapped her arms around him. "B-But...Yum-Yum already promised me I would be sleeping in his room tonight..."

Fischl raised her eyebrows and snapped her eyes at him, "I beg thy pardon?! Yum-Yum...? What nonsense is that?" She squinted her eyes suspiciously.

Yomite covered his face with his hand and sighed. Now he had to resolve another misunderstanding.