She too...Loved these flowers🌸 A DainsLumi Fanfic

Chapter 1~The Present

The sword isn't supposed to fall           in love with its master...
But, how could it not? When she looks so lovely smiling like that?

            •---------•

Dainsleif gazes at the princess blankly as she quietly goes through her remaining paperwork for the day. They were alone in her study, with him serving as her shadow, her loyal knight designated to guard her 24/7. It was his task, his responsibility, his sworn oath.

He's sure that he's fulfilling his role faithfully and doing his duties diligently. But why is it that every time he looks at the princess...it always feels like something is missing - like there's something he's supposed to do, something he's supposed to know?

"Dain," the princess' soft voice breaks through the silence. The sun rays stream through the panels of the study room's large window behind her, creating a halo around her head.

Dainsleif admits that it suits her; she looks ethereal like that, with her blonde hair and golden eyes looking more resplendent under the natural light.

She's radiant, truly deserving of her title as the light of all of Teyvat.

"Yes, Lumine?" he asks. He's quite unsure why he's allowed to drop the honorifics and call the kingdom's beloved princess by her first name, but that's what the crown prince, Aether, told him. It was the prince's very first order that he can remember. One that he couldn't ignore even if he had questions.

"I'm feeling quite stuffy after just sitting at this desk the whole day. Would you accompany me for a walk?"

Dainsleif could never say no to her. Of course, it must be because a knight never turns down his master's request. Nothing more, nothing less.

     •---------•

Lumine's hand brushes against the bushes of roses in the palace garden as she walks, her mind completely lost in her deep thoughts.

Honestly, it worries Dainsleif a bit. What if a thorn pricks her finger? He knows that it isn't life-threatening, but he hates the thought of the princess getting hurt while she's under his watch.

Besides, he's always been quite cautious around flowers. He's not sure why either, because flowers are commonly appreciated for their beauty. But for him, they feel ominous. They leave a sour taste in his mouth and a bitter feeling on his insides.

It was quite bothersome because Lumine loves flowers a lot.

Dainsleif almost tells the princess about his worry, when suddenly, she turns around and faces him with an equally troubled expression on her face.

"Why do you look at me as if I'm a stranger?" Lumine asks after letting out a deep sigh, her tone slightly accusatory.

Judging by his widened eyes and parted lips, her question knocked the knight off guard. "It's like you're not the Dainsleif that I knew."

The Dainsleif that she knew...? What does she mean? Was there a time when he looked at her differently? 

"How... how am I supposed to look at you, Your Highness?"

Lumine looked hurt when he asked that. But he doesn't understand why – how is a knight supposed to look at his master, anyway?

"I... I don't know," the princess mumbles, her shoulders slumping in what seems like defeat. The look on her face tells Dainsleif that she wants to say something, but she isn't sure whether she should.