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Xiao never thought he would leave his post guarding Emperor Zhongli in exchange for protecting you , a lowly royal hidden in the outskirts of Liyue.
The knight had just returned from a day-long battle with treasure hoarders in Jueyun Karst when Master of the Household Department Ganyu tells him that he is summoned to the emperor’s chambers immediately. Other staff did not dare look in his direction as Xiao made his way through the castle's busy hallways, drops of blood still dripping from his spear and soiling the clean carpets.
Xiao knows he's not the ‘ideal' knight— the number of bodies he's mangled and disposed of is more than proof of his brutal and vicious nature. However, Liyue’s Royal Court cannot deny that his skills outrank everyone in the palace, and the citizens’ trust in its leaders skyrocketed since the year Xiao started working for the emperor. There are fewer disturbances from the Fatui or treasure hoarders, enough to make women and children feel safe walking around at night. All because Xiao knows to leave zero traces of his enemies behind.
That's why he never thought that the day would come that he would be relieved of his duties, much less than the order would come from Zhongli himself.
“… Is this more urgent than my current tasks?” His voice doesn’t waver, but his balled fists hold the truth—Xiao is confused and upset. Liyue might not love him and avoid him like the plague, but he loves Liyue.
“More or less,” Zhongli states and gazes out the open window of the balcony, overlooking the harbor that seems to be busier at night. He spots three kids playing by a cargo ship. “You’re still going to serve a royal-like me, so it’s the same thing, is it not? You might even encounter… new experiences on the way.”
Xiao hates it when the emperor gets like this, acting like a parent urging his child to be independent. “I could care less about ‘new experiences’. There are still threats out there that need to be taken care of--” and you know there is no knight more competent than me, Xiao bites his tongue.
Zhongli merely hums and turns around to face him. “Have I ever led Liyue to its own demise, Xiao? Have I led you? ” There is a familiar glint in his eyes, and Xiao remembers the day years ago the older man found him under Dunyu Ruins, thin and hungry, and brought him back to the castle to heal.
Hook, line, and sinker. Xiao hates how much he trusts Zhongli with his life.
“If you don't like your new job, you are free to come back after a year. Take it as a practice for... interacting with the common people.” He then discusses Xiao's journey tomorrow as if sending him on a field trip and grants him a pat on the head as a farewell.
The following day, the knight finds himself boarding a carriage on the way to Qingce Village.
A fresh breeze greets him as he steps down, and an endless lush meadow is stretching out before his eyes. There are fewer houses compared to the city, but here, no one avoids Xiao. The merchants welcome him with broad smiles and offer him products, and a random kid gives him a Violetgrass as an ‘arrival gift’. The knight approaches an old woman that is kind enough to point him to his destination.
Searching through shortcuts, he spots the entrance to your house a few minutes down the road, and Xiao immediately feels out of place-- your home is decorated with plants and flowers and smells like baked cookie dough, nothing like the sketchy buildings he was always assigned to.
He knocks, and one of your maids greet him before leading him to a couch. She leaves to call for you. It unnerves Xiao that everything he sees is too soft, too bright, and too nice since this morning. He wonders if you’ll be the same.
“Please, call for me when the dough has risen-- I’m coming!” Footsteps patter on the wooden floor from the kitchen, and the knight stands to greet you.
Oh. Princess (Y/N) is a beauty.
“Hello! I was baking some Moon Pies and—my name is (Y/N). My father is currently away for business in Fontaine and Archons I shouldn’t get near you right now because everything is a mess,” You blush and wipe some flour off your apron. “I presume that you’re the knight Uncle Zhongli sent? We’ll be by each other’s side from now on, so let’s be friends!”
Ah. As expected, Princess (Y/N) is also stupid.
Time dragged on slow on his first week watching you. Xiao refuses to call it working because, in his definition, working means bloodshed and tearing of limbs, not picking flowers, and buying ingredients in the supermarket. Every day, he aches to go back to the frontlines if not serving Zhongli, then someone like Lady Ningguang of the Liyue Qixing. Or he can help Captain Beidou retrieve lost artifacts from the West Coast. Anything but guarding a lowly aristocrat that does nothing but her mundane hobbies every day. He only knows that your great-great-great-grandmother was an soldier who decided to live a simple life far away from the city after serving at the Archon War. You are a mere descendant that preserved her legacy for those who want to hear it.
(Deep in his mind, Xiao knows your presence awakened something primal inside him just like his enemies did-- but instead of wanting to kill, he wants to mark and ravish . You treat him the gentlest than anyone ever did and say the most understanding words. Xiao fears he might break out of the cage if he lets himself bask in your warmth for too long.)
But a job is a job, so he settles for what he does best: serving his master. Even if the said master is now dragging him by the arm to eat Almond Tofu in one of her weekly picnics in Mt. Aozhang. "Xiao, someone told me that this is your favorite dish, so, tada! How’s your first month working here? I know Qingce isn’t as lively as the city…" You trail off and sit on the grass.
His eyes drift to where your dress rode up to your supple thighs. He adjusts his spear. “These actions of kindness are unnecessary, your highness. In the city, it is inappropriate for lords to have their meal with their knights.”
“But we’re not in the city, are we?” Your smile fades, and Xiao is rendered with guilt. “I know you must think of me spoiled and gullible, and I admit that I am. All my life, I have resided in this village to take care of my ancestors’ legacy, or at least what remains of it. Once, I also wanted to be a knight like you, but my father disagreed.” You laugh bitterly, observing the high views from the mountain. The sunset glows on your skin. “I guess that’s why I admire you so much.”
He knows you didn’t mean it that way but Xiao stills. When you speak, he stares at your soft lips.
"Oh, wait! I have another gift for you,” Inside your picnic bag, you pull out a bouquet of Qingxin and beam up at him. “I saw you staring at these a lot. Bet you didn't notice that, did you?”
You flash Xiao a beautiful grin when he grumbles and finally sits beside you. His skin burns hot when your legs accidentally brush together.
To Xiao, this marks his point of no return.
In the following months, Xiao grew restless.
The distance between you closed in; he now walks beside you, close enough that your arms touch each other. On trips to the local market, he lets you cling to his arm, and he doesn’t think you notice how his breath hitch whenever you whisper funny jokes in his ears. Or the way he sends glares to fools who attempt to flirt with you. Or the way his hands grip your waist whenever you stumble on a rocky path on the way home. You merely smile at him as thanks and go on your merry way.
He also doesn’t think you notice him visiting your room at night. He hopes that you didn’t notice your missing panties too.
“... Oh? Xiao! How did you find me?”
The knight stifles a sigh. “You’re not exactly unpredictable, princess. I’ve come to this same spot on this field every day with you for the past year.” You motion for him to come to sit next to you, and he obliges. You often tell him how proud you are at how far your relationship has come.
The grass bows underneath his foot. The moon starts to rise. “You don’t have to keep an eye on me every second, Xiao. I know it’s technically your job, but… you’re free to do whatever you want.”
He doesn’t know what to respond to that, so he just nods. You lay your head on his shoulders, and he can smell your shampoo from where he is. “Thank you for everything,” You say, uncharacteristically sad, and Xiao knows this is bad news.
“I received a letter from my father this morning. He states that I am to be wed to a businessman in Fontaine by next month. I haven’t met him, Xiao, and I’m scared of marrying a man I don’t even love.” He clenches his fist, thunder brewing in the pit of his stomach. “My father assures me that he’s a good man… he was a strong knight too, just like you. But he’s not yo- never mind.” You stand up, and Xiao feels cold when you leave.
“Please send my regards to the emperor when you return to the palace.”
It was a rainy night when Xiao barged into your room with a bang, breaking your dreamless slumber. “We need to go.”
“H-Huh? Xiao? What the hell are you doing?” The frantic pushing of covers and his heavy stomps against the carpeted floor frazzled your nerves. He rushes to put your clothes in a bag, not caring if they got crumpled. You wonder why he knows which shelf is your closet.
He refuses to meet your eyes. “You are in danger, princess. Your engagement to the merchant elicited responses from high authorities, both the good and dangerous alike. Not everyone approves of your marriage.” You hurriedly put on a decent coat and struggle to run after him. He hands you a cloak for disguise and leads you through shortcuts of the village’s passages.
An empty carriage waits near the forest, hidden by trees. Xiao opens the door and throws your bag in the seats. “Who’s attacking us? Maybe my father’s connection around Liyue can help."
Xiao halts and glares. “But your father isn’t here right now, is he?” He tugs on the safety ropes of the horse. ”Don’t underestimate my ability to protect you. Now hurry up before the storm catches us.”
A few hours later, you arrive at the edge of Dihua Marsh.
“Is this a stopover?” You stammer. Xiao was quiet throughout the whole ride. All you could see from the small opening of the carriage was his spear thrown over his back. The blade glints even at night.
“Yes. We’re staying at my quarters for now.” His short answer disturbs you. Every twist and turn the carriage took during the journey was unfamiliar, and it did not follow the protocol of what should be the safest route taken when a royal receives threats.
You enter Wangshu Inn. Xiao’s conversation with Verr Goldet is incomprehensible from the balcony where you dried off. You distract yourself by playing with Wei the cat, its fur prepping at your attention. Eventually, Xiao led you to backdoors, a secluded place hidden from the standard path. His room is located on the far side of the building, devoid of any people.
Once you’re inside his quarters, the fresh blankets on the bed catch your eye, and you realize that this place looked too clean for someone who had not visited for a year. Had someone prepared his room in advance? Did they know that Xiao was arriving today?
You shrug off your cloak as the knight places your belongings on the makeshift table. “You alerted my father and my maids before we left the house, right?”
“I did.”
“Are you sure?” You wanted to believe Xiao, but it’s time to put your foot down. “You’ve been acting strange. If there’s something you don’t want to tell me, just--”
“And what would you do if you find out that I lied, princess?”
“Spit it out already because I don’t know if I can trust you anymore—what?” You both fall silent, and your words echo twice. This room is soundproof, and you see no windows. “Then what the fuck is all of this for?”
He only lays his eyes on you. Your shaking legs stomp towards the door. “I’m leaving.”
“It’s not safe out there, (Y/N), goddamnit!” Xiao growls. “Can't you see? Not even a month into that godforsaken engagement, and you’re already getting death threats.” You tug on the doorknob harshly, and it doesn’t budge. Scared and confused, tears well up in your eyes. “I can’t let you marry him.”
“You’re not in the position to decide that!” Your chest heaves as you shout back. It dawns on you how alone you are, miles away from civilization. “I've already accepted my fate years ago that I’ll just end up as a trophy wife for some bastard. I don't get why you're acting like this… let me- let me go.” Your voice cracks.
His words permeate through the suffocating silence and galloping of your heart. “He doesn’t deserve you, (Y/N). I wish… you’d choose me instead. Look at me just once and learn that I can take care of you better than any of those fools,” Xiao seethes. “I can do it, (Y/N). For you. I can spend my whole life devoted to you.”
You cry softly. “And if I don’t want that?”
“Then I have no other choice but to keep you by my side.” His gold eyes shone with such lust that it pinned you against the door, unable to move. Not that you can go anywhere as Xiao runs to grab you quickly.
He wrestles you to the bed, feral and ferocious, while you try to kick and scratch whatever you can. Xiao cups your jaw firmly. “Let me taste that soft little mouth, princess.”
Xiao kisses you for the first time, and your lips are as silky as he fantasized. So plush, so full, so warm that each press of your mouths heated his body. He can’t believe that you’re now in his arms, and he intends to enjoy every second. He strips you naked, your body now exposed to his hungry eyes.
“You don’t know how much I dreamed of you every night when you slept just a few doors away from me. How gorgeous you would be underneath me.” He breathes in your natural scent as his mouth moves behind your ears, travels on your neck, to your luscious tits, kissing slow and sensual but hungry, on your nipples suckling, on your navel, and lower over your clit to your hot virgin cunt. You squeal, and Xiao swears he could devour you.
His body ignites with lust. Only you could bring out such carnal desire within him. “I’m going to fuck you, so open your legs, your highness.”
And by Archons, did you try getting away from him. Pulling and trashing, but his strength unmatched yours by a wide margin. You’re genuinely helpless. He hums, hot breath over your cunt.
“Fuck, you’re so wet. You’re fucking dripping all over my fingers,” He plunges a finger inside your sticky pussy, and your cheeks burn at the sound of your own tenderness being violated. “And tight. Is one finger too big for you, baby?”
You kick him in his thighs, and he scowls. “I said stay put, (Y/N)! Or do you want me to tie you up?” Xiao rips a portion of your clothes and wound it about your wrists in front of you, right between your mounds. “You’re lucky I didn’t tie your legs together because I need them spread and ready.”
Your eyes shone with tears in the firelight, wriggling, feeling how tightly Xiao has bound you. His cock is getting harder, resting at your thighs, dripping a copious amount of precum all over your skin. “Look at you, beautiful girl. All mine to ravish. I would kill a thousand men and leave them bleeding in front of the palace just to get my hands on this plump body of yours.”
Xiao dips low, almost murmuring. He pants on your ears, sending goosebumps on your skin. “Maybe that’s what you are—my prize. Maybe you're given to me as a reward for protecting Liyue all these years. You wouldn’t deprive me of that, would you?”
His cock is now rubbing your cunt, thick and throbbing. “You’re going to take it now, princess. Deep and rough. I’m going to rut inside you like a beast.” He groans as you squirm, pressing the flushed pink tip of his cock above your slit. “You started this, and I won. I get to cherish you as much as I can.”
Xiao holds you down while you writhe and buck, and he lets out a blissful moan as he thrusts into your virgin slit. “Fuck! Just like this. Oh fuck. This pussy is heaven,” He growls in your ear as he thrusts wild and violent, jackhammering your core to his pleasure. “With the way you tempted me, I was sure you weren’t a virgin anymore. But that doesn’t matter. The only thing that matters is your pussy around my cock- ah! You’re clenching around me like a good whore.”
He grunts. “That’s it. Sing for me, your highness. Let me hear your moans while I ravish you.” His azure eyes shamelessly leer at you. He rolls his hips and defiles you, bruising your thighs again and again. “Fuck. That’s it, punch and kick and writhe and fight me while I fuck you. See how little strength you have? You shouldn’t have tried to get close to me.”
He kisses you hungrily, savagely, his voice in your ear husky. ”You’ll never be that nobleman’s little wife anymore or anyone else. You’re my princess. So take my cock, and you take it deep, (Y/N). There’s no way out of this. You’re mine.”
Your body is long gone; only pleasure remains as you gasp for air. The room is stuffy as two sweaty bodies slap skin against skin and a coil on your stomach that wants to snap any moment. “Gonna come on my cock, your highness?” Xiao mocks, his voice gone feral in his heat. “Tell me you love me.”
“I won’t—ah!” He thrusts hard at your refusal. “I can’t. Fuck, I did love you, Xiao. Now I just hate you,” From above, Xiao can see your tears of betrayal running down your cheeks to the pillows. He dips down and kisses your tears away.
“You don’t hate me, (Y/N). Your big heart isn’t capable of that.” He slows his pace and whispers. “Now say it!”
“I love—ah! I love you, Xiao! I love you so much,” Your confession tips him over the edge, and Xiao buries himself deep inside your womb, pumping you full of his seed while you cream on his cock. He cums hard that you still feel full even when it drips down your thighs and soaks the bedsheets. You both pant for air, the scent of raw arousal filling the room. Your body is sore, and your legs hurt.
You no longer cry when he pulls you to his arms, sighs tingling above his chest. Your hair sticks to your cheeks. He unties your wrists and soothes them with gentle kisses like how a lover would. You wonder what could’ve been only if he confessed to you earlier. You remember how he’s in his most handsome after your long trips at the market, panting and sweaty.
Just like right now. You hate that you still have feelings for him.
He kisses your forehead. “I’ve told the emperor of our plans. I’ll take you back to the palace, where I’ll resume my duties, and in return, you’ll be given the best treatment in Teyvat,” Xiao smiles, a genuine one you have wanted to see since he came to your house a year ago. “And no matter how much of a cruel bastard I am right now, and I’m going to win your heart again, Princess (Y/N). I’ll make you fall in love with me again.”