Kaebedo Royal AU

🔷 4: "it's never too late to come back to my side"

3rd person omniscient

Albedo sat at a bench in the garden, twirling a single Cecilia between his fingers.

'At least with Alice and Klee here I'll be able to take my mind off some things..' Albedo thinks to himself, resting his chin on his palm, 'Maybe things won't go so bad with them around'.

Albedo moves to lay on the bench he's sitting on, holding the Cecilia to his chest and sighing.

Albedo liked the greenhouse, it was one of the few places he can be by himself and think.

Think about the duties he has to give out (though, not anymore considering he won't be seneschal anymore), think about the upcoming wedding, think about Kaeya-

'Wait..' Albedo thought, slowly sitting up, 'I cannot be thinking about him right now..'

He fell back down, covering his face with his arm.

A voice in the back of his mind wondered, 'would it really be all that bad to love the guy I have to marry?'

And to that, he only groaned into his forearm, adding the possibility of love to his growing list of stressors.

The greenhouse door opened, the unmistakable sound of heels making their way to Albedo following.

Albedo took his arm from his face to see who was interrupted him, sitting up and moving to make empty room on his bench as he did so.

"Am I interrupting something?" Alice asked, sitting next to the man, "You seem pretty deep in thought."

Albedo shook his head, "no, I'm just.. thinking. About things.." he trailed off, looking at the ground.

"If there's anything on your mind, I'm happy to listen," Alice offered, reaching over and tucking a strand of hair behind Albedo's ear as comfort.

"It's Kaeya," Albedo admitted, looking at Alice for the first time since she walked in, "can I be honest about something, Alice?"

The woman nodded, and so Albedo went on, "we're only getting married to strengthen Khaenri'ah. It has a better chance of surviving the war with two rulers rather than one. With my tactical smarts, promise of an heir, other knowledge, as well as other things, Kaeya saw me fit to rule alongside him. We're only getting married to strengthen Khaenri'ah, but lately.. lately things have felt different."

This piqued Alice's interest, and her eyes widened, "how has it felt different?"

"Well.. I used to not be affected when he would look at me or talk to me but when I see him I get all sweaty and nervous. It's childish, but I thought I had a crush on him, but just before you walked in I was thinking about him, so he's become a part of my thoughts, too... I think I love him," Albedo whispered the last part almost to himself, biting his lip and picking at the Cecilia in his hands.

Alice took a deep breath, "well, the hug I saw when I first got here surely didn't seem like anything- you had me fooled, I thought you'd already been in love for years!" She replied in a teasing tone, "I can't believe my little Albedo's in love! It feels like just yesterday Rhine was asking me to watch over you- oh how time goes."

Albedo's face grew hot, and he cleared his throat awkwardly.

Alice softened her voice, putting a reassuring hand on Albedo's shoulder, "on a genuine note, I get it. Love is terrifying, but it's the best thing you'll ever feel. I can tell by the way he looks at you that he feels it too. Who knows, maybe love could come from this marriage, after all. It's not so bad to love your future husband, you know. Regardless of whether or not you get married for Khaenri'ah, continue the marriage for yourselves. Stay loyal to each other, help each other, communicate, and most importantly, use p-"

Albedo cut the giggling Alice off by shouting, "Alice! And to think you were actually giving good advice.."

"I can't help myself," The woman sighs nostalgically, "when I married Klee's father, I felt the most I've ever felt in my life.. only second to the day I lost him. I pray that you never have to feel that," She puts her hand on Albedo's chin, looking at him with a sad smile, "if you need anything, come to me. You can write letters, or if you need to get away for a bit then you are always welcome to visit me and Klee. We miss you."

"About that.." Albedo begins, "I'm sorry for not coming back.. I was made Royal Seneschal immediately upon my return, and was unable to come back.. and then the whole engagement happened and-"

Alice pulled Albedo into a hug, "You never have to be sorry for that. Ever. When Rhinedottir brought you to my doorstep and you became part of this family, I knew that you would grow up and go one day. I love you like a son, and that will never change. Whether we're in the same nation or not, I want you to be successful and happy with your life. I don't want to hold you back, and as much as I hate to say it, I think leaving was the best thing you could have done for yourself. Neither me nor Klee will ever blame you for doing what's best for you."

Albedo hesitantly hugged back, trying (and failing) not to cry from what Alice was saying- she was right. Leaving was the best thing he'd done for himself, "Thank you, Alice. It means a lot."
"Anytime," Alice replied, breaking the hug and smiling at Albedo, "now, I believe I should be told about this King Kaeya, hm?"

"Alice!"

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Hihi Venti here

thank you for reading! this was kind of a filler chapter before I rewrite the wedding, because that's gonna take a bit...

thank you for your patience and I hope you have a great day/night!

-Venti

word count: 991