The god's last wish (Zhongli/Diluc x OC)

20

"You're as enthralling as the first day we met, dear wife." Diluc whispered as he held his wife's hand.

Anthea chuckled. "You literally spat to my face that I was a nuisance when we first met, dear husband." She joked, ever so lightly punching the side of his arm.

"Well, please pardon my ten year old self, M'lady. If you'd allow 28 year old Diluc to make it up to you, I'll see to it that you'll be pleased by a hundredfold." He muttered, kissing the back of her hand. His voice husky as the cold winds of Dragonspine.

"I'm already pleased. By a thousand fold."

"Then tonight, it shall be a million." He whispered, guiding her towards the entrance to the Gala.

"Mr. and Mrs. Ragnvindr, Master of Dawn winery." The usher announced as they entered the jade-filled hall. For a moment, all eyes were on the both of them.

Guests from all over Teyvat whispered and murmured to their hearts content as they eyed Anthea from head to toe. Some wondering who's designer was her dress ordered from, and some dying to know how much it had costed.

"Mr. and Mrs. Ragnvindr, it's a pleasure to meet both of you." A sophisticated woman greeted as she approached them. Her silver hair dance in sync with her foot steps, and the curves on her body complimented everu move she made. Perhaps everyone else saw her as a business woman. But all Anthea saw as she approached them was a strong and beautiful woman who is determined to reach her goal. And she has always adored her for that.

"Lady Ningguang. It's a pleasure to meet you too." Anthea greeted back, shaking the Lady's hand.

"before anything else, I'd just like to say that your gown is lovely. I've never seen anything quite like which you are wearing."

"Thankyou, Lady Ningguang. You look as beautiful as I imagined." Anthea replied, giving the compliment back.

"As for the gown, it actually relates a new business that my wife and I are stirring. My wife makes exquisite clothing with the finest quality, and we would be happy if you'd take into consideration investing for us."

The Tianquan held her chin gracefully, as if in deep thought. "Hmmm. That's quite a really good offer. But can she make up for the demands?"

"Absolutely. As a matter of fact, I. Make not only clothes but also everything else that can be worn." Anthea confidently said.

"What a shame then. Liyue has already decided to invest for the Winery alone. "

Anthea wore a sad smile. "Is that so. We'll be glad even if it's just the winery. "

Upon noticing how discouraged she was feeling by the minute, his husband gently squeezed her hand. Anthea's eyes widened. She need not words to hear what he was trying to relay.  'I'm here.' She could feel the message in her heart.

"I've heard you are looking for new investments Lady Ningguang. My wife prapered a paperwork, calculating how much you can profit if you were to buy 20 percent of the shares with the winery and botique combined. And according to my wife's calculation which is by the way always accurate, you'll have enough to rebuild the Jade Chamber in a few years." Diluc said, his voice unfaltering.

"20 percent you say. But how are you sure that the botique is going to blow up immediately?"

"As a matter of fact Lady Ningguang, every single guest around here is already murmuring who's designer was it made from. And it's only the first dress. We have two more nights to show."

"Very well. I shall decide after seeing the other two. For the mean to time, please enjoy the Gala."

Both of them nodded with a smile. When the Tianquan walked away, Anthea couldn't supress the grin forming on her lips. "You are the best,  Diluc. I don't know what I'd do without you."

A smile formed on Diluc's lips. Gently, he ruffled her wife's soft hair. Like how he always used to when they were younger.

Anthea's heart pounded, smiling like that made her see his younger self in him. She felt like a fourteen year old over again. When she was always following him around. It was when they cleared a domain together that he had finally acknowledged her as a partner. And it all started with a pat in the head. A pat that spoke a thousand words.

"It's been a while since the last time you've done that."

"What can I say dear wife, I prefer a kiss nowadays."

"And you've turned into such a flirt too." They both chuckled.

"You pamper me too much that this had softened for you." Diluc said, holding her wife's palm to his chest.

"Softened? Your heart never hardened Diluc. You've always been a cinnamon roll to me."

"Do you wish for me to be something else? Just say the word dear wife. I shall be anything for you."

Right when Diluc held his wife's slim waist, the musicians played lovely tunes out of their harp.

"I want nothing but a dance from Diluc Ragnvindr right now."

"Very well." Diluc whispered, holding her hands to the back of his neck and pulling her closer. 

"Take the lead, dear husband."

Anthea melted in her husband's embrace. With their arms wrapped around each other, the gently swayed with the music.

When they were younger, Diluc had promised that he was going to take her to the dance. But that promised never got to be fulfilled. Now that they are dancing together as if they were the only ones in the world, it was as wonderful as she had imagined.

"I love you." She heard Diluc whisper.

But before she could even say it back, the music ended, and it shifted to a nostalgic tune played by flute.

The music felt different. Unlike the first one, it felt sad, yearning, as if the musician itself had his heart broken. Every notes cried, and along with the tunes, flashes of memories played in Anthea's mind. She gasped for air. The  suffocating memories overwhelmed her.

Tears trickle down her eyes memories after memories. It was all coming back at once. Everything was coming back as the soft and sad tunes play.

"Zhong.. Hold me please.. Hold me tight."

"I'm here, love. I'm here."

"I don't want to leave. Please hold me tight."

"I will never let go, Love. I will never let go. "

"I see the light, Zhong. It's going to take me away. I don't want to leave." The Nymph sobbed as her vision darkened.

"No love. No. You'll be fine love. You'll be fine." The god of Contracts embraced the nymph's frail body tightly. His voice cracking, turning into hopeless sobs.

"I don't want to leave you Zhong.. " The nymph continued to sob. "Hold me please. Hold me."

"I'm holding you, love. I'm holding you tightly."

"I can't feel it. I want to feel you Zhong. I can't feel anything."

"I'm here.. I'm here love. I'm holding tight."

"Zhong I can't hear you anymore. Zhong please. Hold me please. I don't want to leave."

"It's going to be okay. We're going to be okay. I'll wait for you love. I'm not going anywhere until you're back in my arms."

"Zhong.. I don't want to leave you. I'm scared Zhong. I don't want you to be alone."

The lord of Geo continued to sob, burrying his face on the Nymph's shoulder. "I love you. I love you. I don't want you to leave too. I'm scared too, Love. I'm so scared." He whispered between sobs. "Please don't leave."

But she no longer heard him.

That day, the dark clouds gathered around Liyue. The storm raged, and the thunders growled.  The roar of Morax resounded through Teyvat. For he had just lost the only woman he ever loved.

When the memories dispersed, more tears fell from Anthea's eyes. "I left him." She whispered. "I left him all alone."

Azalea was awake.