maid • kaeya

lviii

• third person •

A young girl was sat across a small table, as the restaurant they sat at soon became filled with the chatter of lunchtime. She had a newspaper in hand as she sipped from her cup, reading silently to herself as a familiar man was sat opposite her, casually eating the rice he had ordered.

"Hm?" The girl's eyebrow perked upwards upon what she had just read. "Isn't this..?"

She glanced up. Her big brother of course wasn't paying attention, much too focussed on the delicacy of the food he had left behind so many years ago.

"Brother," she called softly.

The man lifted his head, before swallowing. "Yeah?"

"This man... I recognise his name..." She pointed at it in the newspaper, turning it to show her brother. "Isn't he your... boss?"

She gulped as her brother stared at the newspaper. She couldn't help but frown when the smile on his face rapidly sank, his breathing instantly becoming shallow.

And then, he stood.

"I have to go," he muttered.

His sister stood immediately too. "Go as in..?"

Solemnly, he nodded. "Tell Ma I'll visit again soon, okay? I'm sorry. I have to."

The young girl frowned when her brother hugged her, before gently kissing her cheek. He handed her the mora for the food and some extra for anything else, and, before she knew it, he had rushed off again.

See you later, Brother...

• • •

The winery had been closed for a week or so. (Y/N) was partially quite glad about it, because it meant that she didn't have to see Diluc, and that she could spend more time taking care of Kaeya.

Each time she tended to Kaeya's wound, (Y/N) would feel a little more angry at Diluc. She couldn't help it, even if part of her mind told her it was just her feelings getting in the way.

She supposed it was a big deal if Kaeya, as a Knight, was an agent for another nation, but... Kaeya was loyal to Mondstadt. He was raised and grew up in Mondstadt. (Y/N) didn't see any reason not to trust him... especially if he was from a nation she had never heard of before.

Though... it did make her much more curious about him. But, every time she asked, he would always avoid her questions with half-truths or vague answers.

Maybe she could ask her father... Her father always knew something about anything... somehow...

But right now... it definitely wasn't a good time.

Today was Master Crepus' funeral.

(Y/N) had just arrived home from it, a little later than everyone else. She had been with Kaeya, who mostly kept his distance at the ceremony, though, once everyone had left, he sat there for a long time.

It reminded (Y/N) of herself when she was little. At first... she struggled to mourn her mother properly because her father changed so much immediately. Perhaps... it was the same with Kaeya and Diluc too...

Slowly, (Y/N) shut the door behind her, the sharp noise rushing immediately throughout the suffocatingly silent house.

It was only getting worse here ever since Master Crepus passed.

Auntie Lucien had stopped speaking to anyone. She was always curled up in her blanket on the sofa. And (Y/N)'s father always seemed to be blanking out, like he was trying to keep his emotions in check by simply not having any emotions at all.