Arlecchino remained silent.
As expected, Luna would use her former name the moment she learned it, especially during intimate moments.
"Do you prefer me calling you 'Father,' 'Arlecchino,' 'Peruere,' or 'Peppy'?" Luna asked, wrapping her arms around Arlecchino's neck and nuzzling her nose against hers.
Facing Luna's blatant teasing, Arlecchino merely smiled faintly.
Then she countered, "And what about you? Do you prefer me calling you 'Daughter,' 'Luna,' 'Little Luna,' or 'Lulu'?"
Which one to choose?
Of course, I want them all.
Luna pecked a light kiss. "Call me 'Daughter' when I kiss you, 'Luna' when I touch you, 'Little Luna' when I lean against you, and whisper 'Lulu' in my ear when I rest my head beside you. That's what I truly desire."
Arlecchino gently scratched Luna's neck with her fingernails, thinking this answer was hardly surprising. Luna had always been insatiably greedy.
Even though it was a name Luna herself had abandoned, she now wanted to reclaim it. Fortunately, while Luna saw her as a mother figure, she never actually called her "Mother."
"I miss you so much, 'Father.'"
The petite figure who once beamed brightly at her had blossomed into an elegant young woman. Her former childish voice, once a vessel for pure sincerity, now carried the mingled breath of their intertwined intimacy.
Feeling Luna's warmth, Arlecchino couldn't help but recall the Luna of old.
The girl who used to blush easily was now sitting on her lap, shamelessly demanding more warmth. Luna had confessed that she had loved her since the night she was rescued.
Back then, Luna could never have imagined things would turn out like this.
Memories of the past flooded back.
Arlecchino recalled Luna's petite figure from those days, superimposing it onto the present. Her loosely cupped hand brushed against the slender strands of Luna's hair, her fingernails lightly scraping across the silken strands.
Her hair seems a bit longer now.
Her nails continued downward, skimming past Luna's nape and gliding down her spine.
"That tickles," Luna murmured.
"Shh," Arlecchino hushed, pressing her lips against Luna's. "Naptime is over. If you're too loud, you might attract the other children's attention."
"I doubt the soundproofing here is that bad."
Even so, Luna lowered her voice.
She wasn't afraid of being seen by the other children, but there was something pleasant about this hushed intimacy.
"Is 'Father' afraid our relationship will be discovered?" Luna teased with a smile.
"I'm not afraid of that. Though not as notorious as you, my reputation is hardly spotless. One more stain on my name won't make much difference."
"Besides, our current relationship remains that of 'father' and 'daughter.' You are still just my daughter."
Arlecchino spoke again.
Luna, slightly displeased, raised a provocative smile. "That won't be the case for long—no, it should be said, it won't be just that."
"You want to abandon your identity as a child?"
Luna stroked Arlecchino's lips with her thumb, shaking her head. "Why would I abandon it? To me, you truly are... my Mother. Forgive me for still calling you that."
"I don't mind."
After all, in terms of their relationship, they were indeed foster mother and daughter.
Luna pressed her face against Arlecchino's, nuzzling her cheek. "My birth parents never wanted to send me to the orphanage. I know they didn't abandon me. But after that night, you were the one who raised me."
"You saved me, understood me, taught me how to wield a weapon, and respected my choices."
"I could never give up my identity as your child."
She pulled Arlecchino's face closer, their gazes locking, their noses lightly touching, their eyelashes almost tangling together. She could clearly feel their breaths and the warmth of their skin.
"I want you to see me as more than just a child. I've grown up now."
Luna exhaled warmly. "Everywhere."
"...I understand. You've made that very clear, little Luna."
A smile bloomed on Luna's face.
"I'll claim you as mine."
Arlecchino smiled faintly. "I look forward to it."
The wait wouldn't be long.
Luna cupped Arlecchino's face and pressed her lips against hers again, her inner passion radiating warmth that made Arlecchino's eyes narrow slightly.
Just a gentle murmur of "daughter" brought a smile to Luna's lips.
Arlecchino had watched Luna grow up.
Every expression—from sadness to joy—was etched in her memory. But none of Luna's previous smiles had ever been so endearing.
What was it about this one?
A restless unease spread through Arlecchino's chest.
As she gently stroked Luna's hair, she recalled the radiant smile Luna used to give when her head was patted as a child. Touching Luna's fingertips brought back the image of Luna's shy, embarrassed expression when they played the harpsichord together.
These vivid memories offered warmth and solace, cooling the restlessness in her heart.
Yet the presence of the now-grown Luna before her only intensified the turmoil.
Arlecchino pulled Luna into a tighter embrace, immediately sensing the girl's flustered breath against her skin. A faint smile curved Arlecchino's lips.
It was the smile of a predator who had captured its prey.
"I once considered giving you the 'Bottled Flame' to erase your memories. After all, you had found a new home—right beside that adorable Former Miss God."
Arlecchino spoke again.
Luna's response was the same as before.
"Erasing my memories would be worse than granting me true death."
"I know. I only brought it up because I suspect that if I were to do such a thing, I would inevitably feel regret and remorse someday."
What does she mean...? Before Luna could fully process her thoughts, a gentle pressure pressed down on the back of her head, drawing her even closer to Arlecchino.
"Just as I felt a pang of longing when you left the House of the Hearth," Arlecchino whispered.
Luna didn't reply, nor did she have room to. The enveloping warmth drew her eyes closed, and she sank into it. Arlecchino's own eyes drifted shut—foster daughter, child... The words flashed through her mind, but failed to stir any resistance against their mutual desire.
Until Luna, unable to restrain herself, whispered in Arlecchino's ear, "Mommy..."
Arlecchino's eyes snapped open.
"...Mm."
Only ragged breaths and silence filled the room. This wasn't a mere pause, but an end. Even without crossing any physical boundaries, Arlecchino could feel a burning heat seeping into her legs.
Knock, knock. A knock came at the door.
"Who is it?" Arlecchino's voice regained its composure.
"Father, we've obtained the information you requested," Lynette's voice called from outside.
"Shall we deliver it now?" Lyney added.
Arlecchino gently stroked Luna's hair with one hand, while pressing a finger to her lips with the other.
Shhh. Arlecchino gestured for silence. Lynette had exceptionally sharp hearing; even the slightest heavy breathing might be detected by her cat ears.
"Give it to me later."
Lyney didn't ask why, simply replying, "Understood. Let's go, Lynette... Lynette?"
"Ah, hmm..."
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing. Must be my imagination."
Their voices faded into the distance.
Arlecchino murmured, "Alright, you can get up now."
But Luna remained motionless, still leaning against Arlecchino, showing no sign of wanting to move.
Seeing this, Arlecchino amended, "Then let's stay like this a while longer. We have plenty of time..."
"Mm."
"Also, don't forget to tell Lady Furina that I'll be participating in the performance too. At least she deserves to know."
If I tell Furina about this...
Luna could already imagine the expression on Furina's face...
-
"What?! You invited that... that woman to perform with us?!"
As expected, Furina's expression changed dramatically.
She wants me to perform with Arlecchino?! Although Luna had mentioned during their trip to Liyue that "it would be fun for everyone to perform together," this still came as a surprise.
After a long silence, Furina patted her cheeks.
"Fine, I'll perform! I-I'm not afraid of her!"
"Father also said she wants to speak with you privately," Luna added with a smile.
Furina's face twisted again. "Privately? No, no, no! You have to be there! I refuse to speak to that terrifying woman alone..."
"Just kidding. Father didn't actually say that."
Oh, she was just joking.
Phew... Furina let out a sigh of relief, then pinched Luna's cheek in mock annoyance.
"How dare you lie to me? Hmph."