maid • kaeya

lxxxi

• third person •

"Are you alright, sweetheart? You've seemed a little down since you came back from August's last night. Did you not have fun?"

"Oh..." (Y/N) shook her head swiftly, as a nervous smile curved her lips, "no, I had lots of fun. I'm so happy I got to see Auntie again, and Mr August was fun to talk to too."

Luca smiled, leaning against the desk behind him. "Is that so? That's good. What's on your mind then?" he asked softly, tilting his head.

Her gaze dropping, (Y/N) fiddled with her maid dress. Once again, she had come to visit her father during her lunch break at the winery. But this time, she was a lot less cheery than usual. It only caused a pang in her father's heart the longer he saw her like this.

"I'm just worried about Kaeya," she mumbled.

Luca pursed his lips momentarily. Even Lucien was saying that she was worried about him. But it almost seemed impossible to make him feel comfortable enough to accept help. And if even his own girlfriend couldn't help him...

"He was so quiet yesterday. And... he always puts that fake smile on. He thinks I can't tell, and I hate it. I hate it when he pretends to be happy. And I hate pretending that I'm fine with it."

Luca frowned. "You don't have to pretend that you're fine with it. You can tell him... that you'd feel more at ease if he gets some help. He has gone through so much in such a short time. It's no doubt damaging if he keeps it all bottled in."

"I know... I tell him not to pretend, and that I'm always here for him, but... no matter what, he always prefers to keep it all inside instead. But I can tell how much it's hurting him, but it's like he doesn't want to acknowledge it at all. I don't know what to do, Dad. I'm so scared."

"Scared..?" Luca questioned softly.

(Y/N)'s eyes clamped shut for a moment, her brows furrowing as her breath shook.

"Scared... that I'm going to lose him..."

Her eyes glossed over, her hands trembling as she stared at them. "I don't want to lose him, Dad. I love Kaeya so much. I... want him to be happy. This Kaeya... is just so different to the Kaeya I'm used to. He's so much more secretive and keeps everything to himself. I can't blame him after what happened but... but..."

Without hesitation, Luca stepped towards his daughter, pulling her into a tight hug. She sniffled into his shoulder, eventually unable to hold back her soft weeps. It was evident to Luca that she had also been bottling this all in.

"It'll be okay..." Luca whispered. "We'll figure something out..."

(Y/N) noticed how her father's voice seemed to trail off. His head had lifted, staring at the door behind her. She turned slightly, her brows raising.

"Oh, there you are. I was looking for you everywhere! The maids need some help in the basem- A...are you alright?"

Luca glanced at his daughter. (Y/N) wiped her eyes, hurriedly releasing him, before nodding swiftly, a firm expression almost immediately painted over her teary one. Luca frowned slightly, his lips pursing in silence.

"Oh, yes, Adelinde. Sorry, I didn't realise my break was already over. I'll head down there now."

"Alright. Thank you, (Y/N). Also, Mr (L/N)," Adelinde spoke, meeting his gaze. Luca blinked. "There's someone here for you."

There is? "Ah, thank you." I don't usually get visitors unless it's a scheduled meeting. I suppose that wouldn't really count as visitors then...