maid • kaeya

lxxii

• third person •

Having lunch without Auntie Lucien here felt strange. She hadn't been staying at their house for that long, yet the lack of her presence had already created an empty space in (Y/N)'s heart. She was mostly silent as they ate, while her father and Kaeya shared a casual conversation.

Now, the couple were in (Y/N)'s room, Kaeya sitting on her bed while... of course, (Y/N) was fiddling with the jewellery in her jewellery boxes.

She tugged out a golden necklace, with three interlocked rings as the pendant. Her mother's necklace. Kaeya recognised it. She wore it quite frequently in the past month, but hadn't been wearing it recently.

Kaeya's head tilted when (Y/N) finally approached him, sitting beside him, the necklace's chain draped across her fingers, the pendant resting in her palm.

"You okay?" Kaeya questioned. She seemed lost in thought.

(Y/N) nodded. "Yeah... I just... This necklace makes me feel bittersweet now." Her head turned away slightly. "Even more than before."

Kaeya set his gaze on her attentively. "I've always seen these three rings as me, Dad and Mom... But now... What am I supposed to see it as..? I can't... just forget Mom..."

"I still feel guilty learning to fight... I wish I could just talk to her one last time, just for her to reassure me that everything really is okay..."

(Y/N) glanced at Kaeya when the warmth of his hand met hers. Well, his hand was actually quite cold, yet it only filled her warmth.

"You don't have to forget her just because your father is in a new relationship. He hasn't forgetten her; you know that." (Y/N)'s gaze fell. "I'm sure she agrees that whatever you choose to do with your life is a good decision. You have people who love you around you to help you make those good decisions."

Carefully, Kaeya took the necklace from (Y/N)'s hand, unclasping it. And then, he leant forward, gently fastening it around her neck, before fixing the pendant beneath her collarbones. (Y/N)'s face reddened slightly: his pretty face was really close as he did that.

"Y-yeah..." she murmured, a little flustered. "I guess so..."

Kaeya's lips curved as his hand reached up to cup her face. (Y/N) snuggled into it just like a cat, the pair sharing a soft kiss.

"So..." (Y/N)'s eyes narrowed for a moment, a small sigh escaping her, "what happened last night..?"

Kaeya's gaze fell. He pulled his hand away, fiddling with his fingers in his lap. (Y/N)'s head tilted patiently.

"I hope you're not upset that I went in your dorm while you weren't there..." she mumbled. "I was looking for you and then... I just... I saw the things you left on your bed."

Kaeya took a small glance at her. "Did you... read... that one thing..?"

(Y/N) rubbed her arm. "About... your father..?"

A sharp breath left Kaeya's chest. (Y/N)'s head dropped. "I'm sorry," she mumbled. "I-"

She blinked when Kaeya reached, taking her hand in his. Their gazes met, his stare so gentle, the star in his eye... strangely comforting.

"I'm not upset," he reassured her, shaking his head. "You were looking for me, so it's natural to look for clues while you're at it. And, well," he smiled, "you did find me."