Beauty /Albedo x Reader/

[5] Medics

“Dad, why did you bring home a woman? Is she your lover?”
 
A man seemingly close to middle age gazed down at the seven year old Y/n, seeing the innocent questioning gaze一but filled with betrayal and hurt, like a knife pierced down her heart.
 
The old man was left wondering, a huge pang of guilt like a boulder rolled his chest一 and all of those within the moment he met eyes with his daughter looking up to him, demanding an explanation he couldn’t give himself. The lady beside him, beautiful as she was, her plump red lips spoke to the younger girl, eloquent as if she had a charmspeak ability.
 
“Hello, little girl. I’m Lora, nice to meet you.”
 
Hesitation washed over Y/n’s chest, her eyes jittered from the lady back to her dad, still hoping for an explanation. “Dad, you told me you won’t bring any woman, that your only love is Mom!”
 
Lora一as how she called herself一 curled down her smile, head tilted in annoyance. Her dad had seen it all, the fear and disappointment glistening one’s innocent eyes, meanwhile the others’ were glistened in something more…
 
Ah, he couldn’t describe it.
 
“Y/n, my daughter. Mom is in the past now, she wouldn’t want to see us being lonely forever, right?”
 
“Dad一”
 
Before the daughter could speak another word, Lora squatted down, the stare she gave disappeared一trying to convince the young girl. “Hi, Y/n. You have such beautiful eyes.”
 
That was all she said, the first time Y/n met the older lady. Her seductive voice, tempting lips, eloquent and elegant manner like polished pearls, scent like bathing in a pool of roses一she was beautiful.
 
Lovely and all that basked in, if only her father had seen what’s underneath the rose was thorns.
 
 ***
 
The night in the library was ghost silent, none spoke as the alchemist and the little helper whisked their way to their destination. Calm in manners, Y/n’s voice chimed in the empty hall, catching Albedo’s attention but wasn’t enough to have his eyes landed on hers. “What makes you interested in Human’s Emotions?”
 
Their footsteps echoed, he could hear her slow breathing followed each and every steps, her heart beating complemented his none beating one. Her fingers traced over the books, whilst searching for the specific kind she recommended.
 
“It’s for work, alchemy involves in humans’ emotions and philosophies, not only chemistry, physics, and biology.”
 
“I see, then you seem to know a lot of humans’ emotions, starting with their depth.”
 
“Not exactly.”
 
She hummed in response, nodding her head as if understanding his lack of understanding ability. Then, Y/n stopped her heels, a faint sound of her smile as she spoke quietly, a bit tainted with embarrassment,
 
“Then would you like to discover more?”
 
The man also halted his steps, turned to gaze at her self一her self basked in the tricks of the world, he could see the mystery and details of what he could insert in the painting with the eyes missing. Compared to the paintings he had done, nothing felt more complete as he looked into the calm girl. The real creation was here after all, standing right in front of him. But how she radiated herself at night tempted him.
 
It left him wondering, was it because of the darkness and there’s nothing to light up the library other than the candles and moon, she became more confident? “…I’m not sure I understand what you’re saying,” he replied.
 
Her fingertips crawled to the thick book, pulling it from the shelves of hundred of books, and carried it in her arms. Silence devoured once again, she hesitantly一tried to meet eyes with his, only for her to fail after multiple attempts. “I’m no alchemist or a philosopher, but it makes me wonder at times,” her voice trailed off, “there is a human emotion that isn’t written in any books clearly, which only leaves more questions than answers.”
 
Ah, what kind of emotion was she referring to… he wondered. Indeed, humans’ emotions raveled from one to another, enchanting the world with the powerful emotions, science couldn’t probably describe. Ineffable things would always leave someone wondering for more.
 
Yet, which was she referring to?
 
“Which one are you referring to?”
 
“Love. Before love, there are steps. Hate, before hate there is process. And yearn. Before yearn, there is a story.”
 
Albedo remained silent, still as a stone while he slowly was lost in thoughts. “I recommend to experience them yourself than reading in books,” Y/n ended her words.
 
“…I’m not sure if that’s possible. You have a deep thinking in emotions, half of your words are correct but while the other half, there’s no confirmation,” he replied to her statement.
 
“Then let me propose to you a deal, Mister Kreideprinz.”
 
He’d be a fool himself if he were to say she’d not know of his identity, and the fact that he held her case. Afterall, a girl like her wasn’t one to be underestimated… right? “What do you want to propose of?”
 
A smile一though, he may not be able to see it pass the veil, her voice depict a smile he couldn’t describe. “One month. I’ll help you with the theories and make you experience them, at least one of them. If I fail, you may bring me back and end the case there.”
 
…
 
The sun seeped through the window, his heavy eyelashes opened lazily, feeling the warmth buzzing in him after a long time. He didn’t know what caused his exhaustion, but the moment he tried to sit up, no energy came flowing his body.
 
Did he spend a whole night thinking of her proposal? A childish one at that. Had she really been stuck and desperate? Or was this another play to charm him to get on her side?
 
He let out a sigh, spreading his arms on the messy bed sheet. The ray of sunlight caught a flare on his azure eyes, warmth basking his light skin as if luring him to sleep a bit longer. The scent from the sun itself stung his nose.
 
There really wasn’t anything he could do today, nothing but seeing the sun rose and settled down again as he continued his work一except, ah.
 
Visiting the victim family.
 
…
 
Upon arriving the house, the metal barrier that once caged the window was placed outside the house, the place itself didn’t suggest much changes. Upon stepping inside, it felt as if he’s stepping into enemy’s territory.
 
The door creaked open, greeted by a middle aged lady as if she’d been waiting for his arrival all this time. The smile on her plump red lips could catch anyone’s attention, like a demon of lust一controlling anyone’s desires and lure them in despite her messy clothing.
 
“Welcome back, Mister. Please come inside, let’s continue the investigation of my absconded daughter.”
 
He hummed, entering the house.
 
Stepping into the house, per usual, the unlikely odor flew up his nose, replacing the sunlight scent. Though, the house didn’t seem to hint a single medication usage, nothing but a clean and striking living room, the chemical instances were stronger.
 
“Please, sit here. I’ll prepare a drink for you一”
 
“No need. I’m here just to visit and look for more clues. A drink wouldn’t be necessary,” he responded whilst still gazing around the house, leaving him wonderstruck. A house comfortable, a pharmacist mother, and a father whom died and gave all of his treasure to his family, and a decent living house一what caused the girl he met to be afraid with this?
 
Except…
 
“About the metal barrier I saw, it seems like you decided to take it off.”
 
“Why yes, since there’s no one residing Y/n’s room anymore. There’s no more trouble about her, trying to jump off her old room.”
 
The reason he couldn’t resonate with, his fingertips lifted to his chin. A girl very timid, yet confident during the night when her appearance was shun by the darkness, ever tried to jump off her room…?
 
Either way, wasn’t placing a barrier too much?
 
“Ma’am, I saw some medicines in her room during my last inspection. Is there a reason why she’s been consuming them? Perhaps like an illness?”
 
Lora bit her lips, her mind drifted ashore before stifling a smile… an exhausted smile. Was it really a right thing to ask her of so? “She had a weak body, easily sick. So as a pharmacist and as a mother, I gave her my meds with a prescription from the doctor, of course.”
 
He hummed, nodding his head. Another picture popped in his mind一 a box full of tablets and bottles that were painted, yet scented like medicines. So much smelled like drugs, but he couldn’t specify why.
 
“That explains the scent of her room. But does she have a certain condition that requires them?”
 
“She just had an illness一and a little… how do I say this… psychologically unwell,” Lora explained, her words trailed off in the middle, sounding like a hesitant whisper. Her eyebrows furrowed, lips sucked in the moment she uttered the last few words. “Maybe it’s because of her mother’s death. I tried to be a mother for her but it seems like I failed.”
 
Still, upon hearing that, he gave nothing but a solemn face. “She seems to read a lot of books as well. Had Y/n been a fan of books? Could they be related with her psychology well-being?” He shot back, eyes darted to the ground but his mind still stuck in his conspiracy. Fast enough, Lora replied, “Her father told me Y/n’d been a fan of romance books. So after her father left, I’d been spoiling her with those books you saw in her room.”
 
“May I ask what was one of the book she read?”
 
Lora hummed, remaining silent until something seemed to click in her eyes. “Ah, yes, yes. It’s something about a corpse bride… I can’t remember the title.”
 
An aspired biologist, timid yet confident during the nighttime, easily panicking but could stay calm during situations, were the little girl that absconded years ago had been the same as Y/n, the girl he met by chance in Windrise?
 
After confirming it just last night when he gazed at herself basked in deep moonlight, it might be a different person… right?
 
Hesitation filled him over, still not sure if he could remember things correctly last night.
 
“May I keep that book and some other things from her room?”
 
…
 
He.. didn’t know how he ended up here.
 
Sitting peacefully across her as they sat in the Good Hunter, wondering when their dinner might arrive. And that her, specifically was Y/n. “Uhm, is there something you needed from me… Mister?” her timid voice spoke. Where did her confidence go?
 
As the night was accompanied by the streetlights, sounds of children going back home to their houses, mothers calling out for her family一it was more peaceful than having to stay inside the library, with no one but Y/n to accompany his visits all the time. Perhaps he was more glad to know he was here, out in Good Hunter with Y/n.
 
“About the deal you proposed, I’ve given a thought about it. Are you suggesting we should be in a relationship?”
 
“I didn’t say anything about relationships, though. Haha… but relationships are the best way to explore one’s feelings.”
 
All that Albedo could do was hum. His eyes lazily looked around, seeing the crowds passing by them as if they were just ghosts, none paid any attention at all. When he turned back to glance at the girl fiddling her thumbs whilst eyes curiously looked around her surroundings, there were many questions he wanted to ask.
 
What was the psychological health problems did she have? Why would she run away when all her needs were full filled? Was she really the troublemaker Lora spoke of?
 
There were more questions than answers, but he’d put it all behind just to get through the first step:
 
 “Shall we give it a try, then?”
 
 
****

Written: 27 June 2021
Edited: 2 October 2022

Hello hello, it's your tired author here. I'm trying to edit and publish everyday but considering the amount of assignments I need to get done, I'm afraid that's impossible. Hahaha. If you're an old reader, in this chapter the reader was supposed to meet Childe, but I changed it so nothing in the plot seems rushed.

Still, this chapter was rushed though, I'm sorry.

Anyways, thanks for reading and your support! I hope you enjoyed it and see you in the next chapter!♡

Have a nice day☆