paradoxical | genshin impact

10 : perfect.

You had to recalibrate on what you thought a "waltz" was.

That was the first thing that crossed your mind once a medley of flutes began to accompany the orchestra's early baritone. The song that drifted across the high ceilings was nothing short of elegant. Sophisticated. It was the kind that nobles absolutely adored—making it a far cry from the drunken shanties you've grown so used to hearing over the last six months. You knew that waltzes were danced only after rigid hours of practicing the routine into perfection. Though, the thing was, one: you did not practice said routine to said perfection, and two: you had little to no talent for it.

But when Diluc had started to take the reins, Adelinde's words echoed in the furthest part of your head.

He might not look like it, but he accommodates novices even better than Master Kaeya.

Despite how light and rhythmic the orchestra had played, Diluc's stare smoldered with an unfamiliar passion. It's as if his eyes alone could outstrip the ballroom's musical backdrop, and with each second your body moved in time with his, the less capable you were to contest that. The more he mapped the dancefloor with lithe footsteps, the more it felt like he was intent on stealing the breath straight from your lungs. You hardly had time to breathe, let alone keep your movements in sync with his. But despite how awkward you felt, Diluc maneuvered you across the ballroom well enough to mask your inexperience.

This was the fruit of all those formative years Master Crepus had invested into raising his son to be an ideal gentleman. All those lessons, and all that dancing he did with...

No. You weren't going to dwell on that. Not when Diluc's undivided attention was focused solely on you.

"What's on your mind?"

"Mmm...a certain winery owner," you mused as you let him spin you around. "I didn't know you were such a great dancer."

A lie. You knew that perfectly well.

Diluc exhaled long and hard, clamping his large hands on your waist to lift you up and gently bring your feet back to the ground. "This is hardly what I'd consider 'great'. I'm rather out of practice."

"Don't start being modest on me now, mister." You stifled a laugh, shoulders quaking ever-so slightly. "I thought I'd be a laughing stock in front of your venerable guests, but you're so good at this, my experience hardly even matters."

"So I'm doing a good job then? At keeping your mind off of them?"

Even if the flow of your conversation had somewhat faltered, Diluc's fervor with gliding you through the music did not. If anything, he took advantage of your momentary surprise to pull you even closer, eliciting a soft squeak from your lips. He breathed out a noise that sounded eerily similar to a laugh, but you couldn't find it in your heart to tell him off for it. A traitorous grin snaked its way past your defenses as a lone voice in your head insisted that everything was alright. That his guests did not matter when your silly childhood dreams were unravelling right before eyes.

The audience's meticulous stares no longer felt like shadows looming over you from every direction. Each pair of eyes was nothing but a spectator to the waltz that only Diluc and yourself could muster. And that knowledge was enough to keep you grounded altogether.

"More than you know," you admitted in a soft murmur.

When the song had finally come to an end, Diluc punctuated the performance with a bow that you clumsily mirrored. Your face flushed red as you swallowed thickly. The orchestra was no longer belting out that lovely song that brought your head to the clouds, and despite your boss' reassuring presence, the fear of being unable to curry his guests' favor still lingered.