❦ genshin oneshots ❦

keqing- maiden's longing

fem reader!
angst!
hanahaki!

"Miss Keqing, here is the cor lapis you ordered."

"Miss Keqing, I'm afraid the market isn't open today."

"Miss Keqing, here are the seeds for the flowers at Yujing Terrace."

I sifted through the countless documents regarding the problems of Liyue's people.

"Ah, I should sign this." I began searching my desk. "Now where did I put my pe-" I coughed up the petal of a glaze lily. Y/N's favourite. I gently cupped the slightly bloodstained petal, looking at it with sorrowful eyes. I wish you'd-

There was a knock on my door. I hastily stuffed the petal—along with the with the rest— under my desk. Clearing my throat, I said, "Come in."

You peeked your head through the door. "Miss Keqing?"

"Y-Y/N!" Keqing nearly hit her knee on her desk trying to stand up.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes, of course! So, ah, what did you need?" Keqing said, adjusting herself.

"I brought you some ginger tea. You've been coughing a lot these days and I thought this would help."

Keqing muttered a 'thank you' before taking a sip of the tea, even though it wasn't going to help her throat.

Or fix her heart.

"Also, Lady Ningguang requested to see you."

"..."

I briskly walked towards Ningguang's office, clenching and unclenching my hands nervously.

I arrived to see her facing a jade screen, holding one of her fans to her face.

I fidgeted with my gloves. "You...requested to see me?"

"Keqing, what's the matter with you?" Ningguang asked; the concern in her voice was subtle but it was there nonetheless.

"Hm? No, nothing, I'm absolutely alright." I sputtered.

Ningguang turned to face Keqing, pressing her fan closed against her palm.

"It's Y/N, isn't it?"

"N-no, of course not! I am not in love with her. How could you even think that?" I said defiantly.

"I never said you were." Ningguang sighed. "Keqing, you're not fine, you need help. I am giving you a month off whether you like it or not."

My eyes widened. A month?

"No way! I would lose so much work! I swear I'm fine. Despite what you think, I am completely capable of taking care of myse-" I began to cough again, more severe than ever before.

My hands flew to my mouth as bloodstained glaze lily petals began falling like rain.

Tears jumped to my eyes as I fled to the bathroom. I heard Ningguang call my name but I didn't dare look back.

I keeled over the sink and coughed the remainder of blood and petals. Tears fell along with them. My head hurt, my throat hurt and my stomach hurt. I felt like I was going to die.

Shaking hands had just disposed the last of the petals when you appeared at the door.

"Miss Keqing?"

"Y/N? What is it?" I croaked.

"I heard everything...with Lady Ningguang. Is it true that you-?"

"Yes, I'm in love with you. And I have been for an...embarrassingly long time."

There was an unbearable silence.

Keqing's grip on the edges of the sink tightened. "Well, yell, scream, say something. Anything."

"Well...I'm sorry I can't give you want you want right now." I apologised.

"..."

"You can at least take that break."

"I...okay."

I coughed again, not even trying to hide the petals. I was so tired.

You watched in disbelief. "Hana...haki?" You picked up one of the petals. "A glaze lily..."

You rushed over to me. "Miss Keqing, you...! How long have you had this?"

"I guess...two months now?"

You grabbed my wrist and began dragging me out of the bathroom.

"Wha-what are you doing? Where are you taking me?" Keqing asked indignantly.

"I'm not going to be sympathetic until you see a doctor." Your face said that you were genuinely mad and upset about my condition.

"Now, come with me! I'm not in love with you, but I still care about as a superior and a friend." You shot me a serious look. "So don't you dare die on me."

Right, we can still...be friends, even though I will no longer have feelings for you after the surgery.

I gave a bittersweet smile.

Perhaps it's for the best.

Good ending? I guess? I didn't really think about this plot too much, sorry if it seems rushed.