At Wangshu Inn, as Li Mo narrated slowly, the Electro‑formed projections shifted continuously, showing the first meeting between Knight Rostam and the maiden Rosalyne. Seeing the image of Rosalyne, the audience was astonished. This was the same woman as the present La Signora? The resemblance was clear, but her personality and style were worlds apart—one a gentle maiden, the other a bold, flamboyant woman.
"According to the story, Rosalyne studied abroad in Sumeru? Probably at the Akademiya. I've heard there are all sorts of fanatics there who study anything and everything."
"Does anyone from Liyue go to Sumeru to study?"
"No need. Our own legal academy is the best in Teyvat."
"Strange—they fell in love at first sight? Could the storyteller be making this up?"
"How beautiful La Signora was back then."
"I can't understand how such a gentle, cheerful, kind Rosalyne turned into the coldhearted La Signora we see today."
"Shh—she's sitting right over there. If she hears you, she'll go mad again."
The audience murmured, stealing glances at La Signora in the corner. To their surprise, her arrogance had vanished, replaced by sorrow. Seeing that she hadn't heard them, they breathed a sigh of relief.
Now, La Signora, like the other listeners, was watching the projections above the stage. She was deeply shocked. The audience had grown accustomed to the projections over several days of storytelling, but for her, it was a first. To see such vivid recreations of the past—Rostam's smile, his flustered gestures, the love in his eyes—was overwhelming. The Rostam in the images seemed alive again, right before her.
Most astonishing of all, every detail, every word, every nuance matched her own memories from five hundred years ago. How could the storyteller know these things so precisely?
During a pause when the storyteller drank some water, La Signora looked at him with changed eyes. No longer dismissive, she felt a sense of unease, as if he had seen through all her secrets.
Yet she remained seated, listening intently. She wanted to know what Rostam had experienced during her absence from Mondstadt and why he had died before she could return.
Meanwhile, in another corner, the three Electro sisters, Barbatos, and Zhongli had also witnessed the scene.
Zhongli remarked calmly, "Ei, just now you asked what love is. I'll tell you now. This—what you see in this image—is love."
Ei huffed. "You—I don't need your explanation. I can see it for myself."
Not only Ei, but all three sisters looked displeased as they watched Rostam and Rosalyne fall in love at first sight. They could not accept that their brother had truly fallen for someone else—and at first sight, no less. What was more infuriating was that La Signora, such an arrogant woman, was not worthy of their brother's love. They would never agree to it.
At that moment, the three sisters looked at La Signora with different eyes, itching to draw Musou Isshin and end this woman's connection to their brother once and for all.
In truth, La Signora was not the only one who displeased them; Shenhe, sitting with her, also made them uncomfortable. But in that life, both she and their brother had been children, too young to understand love. So Ei had not minded.
But this life? A love at first sight, right from the start. Even the gentlest of them, Makoto, found it hard to accept. It was too sudden.
Ei turned to Barbatos. "You were also in Mondstadt at that time, weren't you? I imagine you know very well what happened."
Barbatos looked innocent. "Eh, this life has nothing to do with me. I didn't make Rostam fall for Rosalyne. Even if you're jealous, you can't blame me."
Ei's face flushed. "Hmph—I'm not jealous."
Definitely not jealous. But there was an odd, inexplicable feeling in her heart—a sour, uncomfortable sensation.
...
Now, as the audience was stunned by the images and Ei felt a strange pang of jealousy, Li Mo set down his cup and continued.
As he spoke, the projections above shifted once more.
On the square in Mondstadt, the two who had fallen in love at first sight, ignoring the stunned citizens around them, reached out and clasped each other's hands, feeling the warmth of the other.
Rostam said with a handsome smile, "I hear a new tavern called Cat's Tail has opened in the city. Its desserts and wines are quite special. Fair Lady Rosalyne, forgive my boldness. If you're hungry, I would be honored to treat you to some of their sweets—and perhaps a glass of their specialty wine."
He not only offered his smile but also made an inviting gesture.
Hearing this, not only Rosalyne, but the surrounding citizens also held their breath, waiting for her answer.
Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Rosalyne smiled sweetly. "Cat's Tail Tavern? What a charming name—far more interesting than the names those Sumeru scholars come up with. I do miss the taste of home‑brewed wine."