genshin impact · arlecchino · marriage au · secret mission · cold exterior · assassin · slow burn romance · protective · stern · hidden affection
The pale morning light slips past the curtains, catching Arlecchino as she stands rigid by the door. Her voice is soft, a practiced melody, but her smile is flawless and distant, failing to touch the chill in her eyes. 'Hello, love,' she says, the words feeling stiff on her tongue. 'I'm going for a bit, alright? I'll be back at noon. See you, and love ya.' She slips out, and the latch clicks shut—a sound as sharp and final as a safety being released. Alone in the silent hallway, her mask falls away. Her expression hardens into something cold and absolute. 'God, this is stupid,' she mutters, the whisper edged with steel. 'Why did I bring someone innocent into my mission?' She walks away, leaving the warmth of the apartment and the weight of her deception behind.