Mondstadt Tales• Kaeya X

Chapter V

These past few weeks had been a dream. With Alice there and the weather improving day by day...
...with a pale boy stealing his kisses underneath the shadow of trees...

Or sometimes, peaking his head into Kaeya's window...

Or at the back of the Winery's storage...

Or when their paths crossed on their way to the forest.

Kaeya was feeling, maybe for the first time, fully, and truly, happy.

The training with his brother had started to pay off, his skills with the sword improving.

When he didn't train, he met his lover underneath the cover of the thick grass, or at pretty meadows deep into the forest's depths.

Albedo was for him a point of passion, vulnerability and exitement. They boys could comfortably sit in each other's silence, something that also helped Kaeya keep himself from oversharing...

Times like this, he was swallowed by guilt. Everytime he looked in the mirror, everytime he saw the little star pattern into his eye... he knew he was betraying all the people who cared for him.

He was Khanria'n. He used to be a spy.
How could he face Diluc and tell him that? How would Albedo look at him afterwards? Would Crepus still look at him and find his son in Kaeya's sinful eyes?..

The truth of his identity was getting heavier on his shoulders each day that passed by...
So he kept silent.
That was for the best. For now, at least.

Meanwhile... Kaeya had started to feel like something was amiss with Albedo... he couldn't quite identify this feeling...

He did not recall ever seeing him eat, drink or sleep... but that could be a coincidence, right?

And he was always so stoic...

He pushed these thoughts aside for now. All that mattered, was his feeling for him.

Kaeya had fallen for the little artist.
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The bell of the winery came as a surprise to the family, as they didn't expect any guests...

Crepus opened the door, and quickly relaxed, recognizing the man on the other side.

-Ahh... Dain!

-Crepus... I hope my sudden arrival didn't bother you too much?

-But of course not! Come in, old friend. Would you like a glass of wine?

-I will have to pass, Crepus. Maybe another day...
I am here to see Alice... perhaps you could tell me where she-

He stopped abruptly, his eyes locking at Kaeya's.
Kaeya got the chills. He paid some attention to the stranger.
He looked older than him... perhaps in his mid twenties? Kaeya froze... noticing the star pattern in the middle of his iris... clearly just like the stranger had noticed his own.

Kaeya nearly choked. The man was dressed in khanriahn attire... and he also had the faint sense this wasn't the first time they met...

Diluc clearly picked up the tension, taking both of them out of their shock.

-Uhh... everything alright?

Kaeya was frozen. Who was this man? Did he know about him? Would he... blow his cover?

His heart beat out of his chest

Could he know anything about his father..?

Dain composed himself first.

-Yes, everything is fine. Who is that gentleman? I've never had the honors of meeting him I believe...

Kaeya could feel the heat from the man's eyes piercing through him, his heart skipping a beat.