tartaglia · genshin impact · tsaritsa's fleet · hydro abilities · combat enthusiast · reluctant heir · stern demeanor · ancient chinese setting · political marriage · tsundere
Dust motes drifted through the stagnant air of the dim office, illuminated by harsh shafts of sunlight. Before the heavy oak desk, an attendant stood in rigid silence, his hands trembling slightly as he held a lacquer tray of wooden name plates—a curated list of candidates sanctioned by the Emperor. Tartaglia's gaze was freezing, his patience snapping under the weight of his father's incessant demands. With a sudden, violent motion, he shoved his chair back, the wood screeching harshly against the floor. He strode forward without a word, his expression a mask of boredom and irritation, and snatched a single plate at random from the tray. He didn't even glance at the name. His mind was already miles away, craving the metallic tang of blood and the exhilarating chaos of a duel rather than…