paradoxical | genshin impact

32 : mystery.

so the plot aspect is starting to Actually pick up in this fic and i apologize in advance if it becomes too convoluted to easily follow T__T anyway, here's ch32 <3

...

"I didn't think he'd leave so soon without telling us."

Kaeya perked up at the sulking tone that accompanies your voice, setting down the blade he'd been polishing while you watered the hedges around the manor. He didn't move from where he's seated, but you felt his gaze on you, no less.

"Well, he's the new Cavalry Captain." The young boy shrugged. "He might be the same age as us, but Diluc's got lots of expectations to meet. Though if Father's concerned, I'm sure he'll pay the occasional visit or two whenever his schedule permits it~"

You turned to him with a scowl, and Kaeya just laughed it off with a breezy air. You'd be lying if you said you didn't anticipate Kaeya to slide in a few crude remarks about Diluc's departure from the manor. Knowing him, he'd probably say something along the lines of: I'm still here to keep you company, aren't I?

...Was he trying to cheer you up?

Once you made sure that all the shrubs had been sufficiently watered, you decided to take a seat beside Kaeya on the stone steps. A deep sigh fled your lips as you stared into the distance. The moment the sound registered in his ears, Kaeya shook his head as he inspected his sword—the blade glinting in the daylight.

"You won't just leave without a word like he did, right?"

The words were murmured into the late morning breeze, and you half-assumed that Kaeya might not have heard. Maybe it was better if he didn't, even. You were just reeling from Diluc's absence was all. And it's not like he owed any of the Winery's staff any sort of proper farewell.

But...

Kaeya quietly rose back to his feet, sliding his sword in its scabbard in the process. You looked up at him with puzzled eyes until he grabbed ahold of your arm—yanking you upward with a yelp. Before you could complain though, he wraps his lean arms around you in an embrace, which effectively made any protest melt on your tongue.

You stood there in stunned silence for about five seconds before awkwardly returning his embrace. This was unusual. Kaeya could be unnecessarily touchy if he wanted, but there's something...different about the intimacy imbued in his gesture.

With a soft voice that seemed like it didn't belong to him, he told you:

"Never. I swear it."

You swallowed the lump in your throat, breathing out a shaky sigh as Kaeya cradled you against his chest.

Even if you knew better than to trust that promise, at that moment, you held onto it like a lifeline.

...

On one of Dainsleif's usual scouting sessions, Kaeya appeared behind him in a wisp of smoke.

The Twilight Sword didn't startle at the presence of his charge. When he felt a surge of abyssal energy emanating from your apartment, Dainsleif was quick to investigate, so it was no surprise for Kaeya, the regulus, to reunite with him like this.

He did what had to be done.

"I didn't think you could carry it out."

Dainsleif's admission hung heavy in the stale evening air, with no one but Kaeya to hear the words. His eyes were transfixed on the prince, whose gaze trailed wistfully up to a place he dared to call home. Dainsleif felt as if he should be repulsed, but right now, Kaeya was no different from his father when the king watched Khaenri'ah fall from grace all those—