❝𝐃𝐈𝐕𝐈𝐍𝐄❞

𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙧𝙩𝙚𝙚𝙣

chapter thirteen: “the winery.”

—

     “PAIMON WONDER HOW LONG WILL MASTER DILUC TAKE.”

PAIMON ASKED herself, playing with the given tart from the bartender of Angel's Share. Due to the scheduled threat of the abyss, she and the Traveler were forced to help "the dark knight" to fend off the wretched mobs from destroying Mondstat and the Knights just needed to be distracted from the upcoming chaos that'll happen...

     "What do you think, Traveler—Oh?" The floating emergency food stopped, seeing the wrinkled face of her companion. "You weren't scrunching your face earlier. What got your mind worked up, hm?" She questioned.

     The blonde looked flustered, immediately clearing her throat, "It's nothing... I'm alright," she assured before sipping the iced tea. "Paimon, whenever Tsunotaro isn't near... Why am I always worried about her? It's not like she needs my protection or anything. She's capable of defending herself from enemies."

     "Maybe you're in love," the white-haired child suggested and the pink tints on the blonde's face turned into a red dark shade. "OH! MAYBE YOU ARE IN—"

     "NO NEED TO SHOUT IT!" Lumine immediately covered her companion's noisy mouth, irritated and embarrassed by it. "And no, I'm not sure if I'm in love with Her Majesty or what... It's not like she cares about me or anything. I'm just a traveler who found her."

     Paimon shrugged, "You never know."

Being responsible for the appearance of an unknown Inazuman foreigner, she couldn't help but be worried about her existence being known after years she tried her best to conceal her kingdom. (Name) is still nowhere to be found, even though Katheryne is near to not accepting finished commissions anymore...

     "Paimon, let's try to find them both."

—

Unbeknownst to the travelers, Diluc and (Name) are together inside a small cave. The velvet-headed male was resting as he watched the green fire spark above the wood while the (h/c)-haired woman watched the rain pour, her hand outstretched to measure how harsh the rain is...

     "... You should be careful if you're face to face with the Fatui," Diluc broke the silence between them. "Talking to them nonchalantly won't help you and especially if you're being outnumbered by them. They live up to their reputation as someone ruthless enough to earn an ounce of care on human lives," he warned.

     "I'm sure some of them aren't as bad as you described. Even though they have a ruined reputation, I'm sure they possess kindness, just afraid to express it easily," she testified. "It's as if you experienced something unpleasant concerning the Fatui, am I right, dear Mr. Ragnvindr?"

     He grunted, "That's none of your concern. You're just a stranger, so you better keep your nose out of people's businesses," he told her before returning his gaze to crackling flames. It's as he said—don't put your nose on other people's businesses, so that means he's included to not ask about why she can produce flames—green flames. "... Did the rain somehow grow weak?"

     She nodded and sat beside him, "Yes. I suppose it'll end around thirty minutes or so," she replied before looking at his wound. "You shouldn't have jumped to my aid. I'm capable of defending myself," she lightly reprimanded.

     He groaned when he felt her fingers brush against his wound, "You're talking to them as if they weren't a warning enough you're in danger. You talk back there as if they're the ones in danger," he argued. "It's as the saying goes: don't play with fire," he explained.

     She just chuckled, "I intended to brush them off, so no one will be injured. I'll take care of them in the end if they kept being stubborn," she smiled. "Now, now. Don't move and let me tend your wound for I'm at fault," she firmly said before fixing the lop-sided cloth covering it.

He blushed once more, overwhelmed by the tension between them. (Name), unaware of his reddening face, continued touching his stomach without shame...

     "I think that'll—do you have a fever?" She asked, seeing the fuming face he has. "Oh dear, this is quite a problem if you have a fever too." She said, worried his wound might worsen.

     "No, no. I'm alright," he assured her as he grabbed her wrists. "Don't... Don't worry about it," he assured her once more.

     "I'm not sure if I can trust what you're saying, Mr. Ragnvindr. It's better to return to Mondstat to call someone to fix your wound and give you medicine tablets for your fever," she argued while checking his temperature. "Your temperature is rising. Might as well indicate you do have a fever," she remarked.

     "Don't take me to Mondstat. Anything, but the City," he pleaded. "Take me to Dawn Winery."

The next thing he knew, he was knocked out by a fierce wind coming in his direction. His last memory before he fell into a deep slumber was (Name) carrying him and summoning a parasol to shield them from the harsh rain...

—

     "MASTER DILUC!" Adelinde, one of the maids, exclaimed after seeing the wounded master of Dawn Winery in the arms of the Queen. "DID YOU HURT HIM?!"

     "Don't fret, Miss. A couple of Fatui soldiers are the ones responsible for his wound since he saved me," she calmly responded. "Please take him for I fear he might have a fever."

     "Ah!" The maid stammered before opening the door of the mansion, beckoning the confused Queen inside. "Come inside. It's freezing and both of you are wet."

Two other maids took Diluc from (Name)'s hands, taking him inside a room to assist with his wound. Adelinde and (Name) were left in the living room, the maid guiding the Queen inside a room...

     "I'm Adelinde, the head maid of Dawn Winery," she introduced herself and curtsied before (Name). "It's a pleasure to be your acquaintance, Miss...?" She said, particularly asking what name does the maiden go by.

     "I'm (n/n), a pleasure to be your acquaintance as well," (Name) bowed. "I, thank you, for your kindness."

     "Oh, it's nothing!" Adelinde chuckled. "Please let me remove your damp clothes, so I can wash them as a service for saving our Master."

Adelinde was amazed by the beauty alone (Name) possesses, understanding why Diluc even saved her despite her looks and reliable enough to take care of herself...

     "Um, Ms. (n/n), what kind of meal do you prefer while we wait for Master Diluc's awakening?"

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マレウス