"False" accusation [1/2]

"So... what did you need to say to me to make me come out here?" Kaeya said behind the Favonius Church.

It was the middle of the night and the wind was cold. The cavalry captain Kaeya, was called by Rosaria to share important information.

"It's about Ezio." On a tree not far away, hidden in the shadow, Rosaria spoke while leaning toward the tree. "I couldn't tell it at the meeting... and I figured you're the only one that can do this."

"Is that so?" Kaeya crossed his arms. "Well then, if it's something as important as you claim it to be, I'll be more than happy to listen."

Rosaria nodded and walked out of the shadow. "It's about Ezio... He... He had a vision."

"A vision, huh?" Kaeya grasped his chin. "This is indeed useful information. What kind of element is his vision? Do you remember it? Does it have any features worth remembering?"

Rosaria immediately replied. "I do. He had a Geo Vision. As for his vision's features... I can't remember it very well..."

"All I remember is... his vision was encased in something..." She said with a troubled face.

"Good. If we can find all the Geo Vision wielders in Mondstadt, then there's a chance we can find Ezio." Kaeya commended her. "A Geo vision... I'll tell my informants to—"

"There's no need." Rosaria interrupted him. "I've already tracked down all the Geo Vision wielders inside Mondstadt."

"...Oh." Kaeya said, a bit surprised. "Aren't you helpful? Well? Go on, tell me who they are."

Rosaria nodded and took out a paper and handed it to Kaeya. "Here are all of them."

Kaeya took it and read the content of the paper. "Only two people, huh?"

"One is Albedo— someone that was recommended by Alice."

"And the second is a man named Albert who works at Good Hunter that recently got his vision..."

"Are they the only ones with Geo Visions in Mondstadt?" Kaeya asked.

"Yes." Rosaria nodded in confirmation. "They both are very suspicious."

"Albedo came shortly after Ezio appeared. I don't know if it's a coincidence or not but it's still worth looking into."

"The second is a man named Albert. According to the people that frequently talked to him, he recently got his vision on the same night Ezio made his first appearance in the Knights of Favonius."

"I see..." Kaeya hummed. "Good, since I've known miss Alice for quite some time now, I can talk fairly easily with Albedo."

"As for Albert... well, even if he is in disguise, what I have planned in mind should suffice." He shrugged with a smile.

Kaeya then turned around. "I'll start tomorrow. It should give me enough time to deploy some knights while interrogating the two suspects."

"Wait," Rosaria stopped him from leaving. "Let me come. You still owe me for covering up for you when you beat a fatui agent once."

"...Alright," Kaeya sighed. "Meet me tomorrow at the Knights of Favonius. We'll discuss further details there, okay?"

"Understood." Rosaria nodded.

"Very well then." Kaeya waved his hand while walking away. "See you tomorrow."

"...Likewise..." Rosaria nodded.

Meanwhile, on top of a roof near them, where only the darkness of the night was present, a figure wearing a white hood smiled.

Woosh—*

With a blow of wind, the shadowy figure vanished.

* * *

The next day.

"You've come." Kaeya put down some papers on a table nearby as he saw Rosaria enter the room.

"Yes, like you said I would." Rosaria crossed her arms. "So what now?

"Well, I just finished interrogating Albedo." Kaeya placed down a bunch of papers. "Turns out, he had an alibi."

"On the day Ezio first appeared, Albedo was with Alice the whole time." He sighed as he leaned into the wall. "Grand Master Varka testified this himself."

"Then that leaves..." Rosaria hummed as she read through the papers.

"Yup, our lover boy." Kaeya smiled.

"Yes, the lov– huh? What do you mean?" Rosaria heard what he said and was confused.

"Haven't you heard? Oh right, it just started spreading yesterday..." Kaeya shrugged with a smirk. "Apparently, this guy named Albert is getting a little too close to Jean."

"A few people— including her own sister— even saw them have a dinner date at Good Hunter." He added.

"...Is that true?" Rosaria couldn't believe what she heard.

Jean, the ever-so meticulous and relentless knight that always prioritized her training, was actual seeing someone?!

Kaeya shook his head in amusement. "I don't know. The rumor just started spreading last night."

Rosaria hummed with a troubled face before sighing. "Regardless, this doesn't change our plans. We'll test Albert first to see if he's Ezio in disguise. This is an assassin after all— they are experts in disguising themselves."

"Sure." Kaeya said before straightening his posture. "Well then, let's go."

"Right now?" Rosaria questioned.

"Yes, right now." Kaeya nodded without looking back. "Come on now, we don't want to miss an opportunity."

"...Alright...!" Rosaria said before leaving with him.

* * *

"This should be the place." Albert said while carrying a pack full of food.

Today, he was tasked to deliver a meal at the corner near the logistics area of Mondstadt.

It was currently the morning and this particular area of the logistics area was a bit secluded.

A relatively quiet and lonely place— perfect for ambushing someone.

Albert stopped before a house and checked its address. "Alright, this is the one."

Knock—" ×3

Albert knocked three times. "Hello? Is there anyone there? I have an order for uhh... Sir Alberich?"

It was a fairly old house with a few broken windows, but it was still habitable. Not far away from Albert were three people that looked like civilians that were minding their own business and were definitely not three knights in disguise.

After a few seconds, the door opened with a loud squeak. Out comes a tall tanned man with darkish-blur hair. "That would be me."

"Here's your order from Good Hunter." Albert unpacked the food behind him. "Since you've already paid for it beforehand, I'll be going now. Farewell."

"Hold on a second." Kaeya stopped Albert. He then looked at him with a sinister smile. "Why don't you come in for a bit? I Can't finish all these all by myself."

"...Sir I don't swing that way." Albert held his hand up.

"..."

"..."

An awkward silence fell upon them, and soon, Kaeya burst out laughing. "Kuk... Hahahahaha!"

"Oh, you have a good humor." He wiped his tear from the laughing. "But unfortunately, that was not what I meant..."

"...Ezio." Kaeya added as his eyes immediately flashed with malicious intent. "Now!"

Out of nowhere, three people jumped out and tackled Albert, one of them being Rosaria in disguise.

"H-Huh?" Albert acted surprised to see them. "Oh no! Out of instinct, I used my vision!"

Boom!"

A loud sound was heard as a shield formed from Geo was formed to protect him.

"Oh no, I lost control of my vision!" Albert said before the Geo construct crumbled away.

They soon managed to capture him.

"We got him!" One of them said.

Immediately, a cuff was placed on Albert's hands and he was pressed down to the ground.

"Well, well, that was... easy." Kaeya commented with a wry smile as he approached him.

He then reached for his vision and took a look at it with interest. "A Geo vision encased in something... fits the description."

"Take him." He closed the Geo Vision that looked like a pocket watch.

"W-Wait! what are you doing? I'm innocent!" Albert pleaded. "W-What am I even being accused of?!"

"I'm innocent!"

"Shut it, yo—" The disguised Rosaria tried to shut Albert up when someone interrupted them.

"What is going on here?"

All of them looked where the voice came from and saw Jean who was dressed as a knight with her sword in her arms.

However, once she saw Albert screaming that he was falsely accused, she instantly knew what was happening.

Without saying anything, she walked to them.

"Jean? What are you doing here—" Kaeya tried to talk to her but was abruptly stopped.

"That's my question." She interrupted him.

"What are you doing to him?" Jean grabbed Kaeya. "Forcing a citizen to this..."

"As the Dandelion Knight, how could I stand by and witness such cruelty towards the citizens?" Jean said with a serious face.

"No, this is—"

"Enough." She cut him off once more. "We'll talk about this in front of the Grand Master."

Hearing their conversations, Albert, who was left unchecked while on the ground, smiled.

'All according to plan.'

* * *

A/N: Seems familiar?