Paradoxon [Kaeya x Reader]

8. Admittance: Hot Breath

It felt like he was avoiding you. Since one and a half weeks you had seen no trace of Kaeya, not even at the tavern. He was still in Mondstadt - you knew from talking to others - but for you to stumble over him seemed to be as impossible as catching a goldfish with your bare hands.

You knew he was elusive, so not getting a hold of him wasn't what bothered you. It was the timing of his disappearance from your sight. The last time you had seen him was as the mansion, when he had visited you. When the two of you had shared your first kiss.

Even just thinking back to the scene made your cheeks turn red, but at the same time your blood turned cold. It was utterly suspicious that that had been the last time you had seen him.

Did he regret what he did? Maybe he just felt bad for you in that moment, so he consoled you with his actions? Was that why he was avoiding you? The more you thought about it, the deeper you put yourself in a state of panic.

In that moment, Jean entered the room and saved you from spiraling down even deeper into your paralyzing thoughts. You put down your hand, releasing the nail of your thumb from the bite of your teeth, which you hadn't even noticed happening.

"Jean..." you said, not comforted at all by the worried look on her face.

"I'm sorry you had to wait." You shook your head to tell her it was okay. "I have some news for you."

She took a seat on the chair opposite you and scooted closer ever so slightly. Her tone was gentle, but still filled with worry.

"That man that attacked you," she started, "Rich of the Belladonna Clan, the heir to his family's name, estate and riches. He was engaged to you, wasn't he?"

You nodded, then averted your gaze. "It didn't end in a good way. I want nothing to do with him anymore."

"Hm," Jean scrunched her face. " I thought as much from the information I already had. As far as I know he didn't seem to be interested in pursuing you any further once you had left your country. So I was wondering what might've made him change his mind."

"Did you find out?" As much as it disgusted you to think and talk about Rich, you were curious as well.

"Through some connections, I think I did. It seems the Belladonna Clan is not as wealthy as it once was anymore. In fact, Rich is facing a huge debt, brought on by his father's gambling. He probably wanted to reactivate your engagement to gain access to your wealth through marriage... Since you are your father's only child."

With a tightness in your throat and cold blood running through your veins, you processed this information. Rich didn't care about you, that much you knew. No man that cares about someone would be able to do what he had done to you. It didn't surprise you. But that he had the gall to come back to you, to even think that he could have you back - after how cruelly he had shattered you - just for money! You felt sick. Just how could you have ever had feeling for a person like that?

Abruptly you stood up. "Thank you for that information, Jean." Without another word you stormed towards the door, not listening to her gentle whisper of your name to stop you.
 

❅

Where you finally met him was the least likely place you'd have ever thought of meeting Kaeya. Even though he was the Cavalry Captain, there were no horses left in Mondstadt, only foals. Having been asked to run an errand, you arrived at the stables and were completely taken by surprise by his presence, and by him petting the young horses.

Your heart sank at the sight of him and you might've left without even talking to him if he hadn't heard you enter. For a second, you both started at each other. He probably hadn't thought of the possibility of running into you at the stables. Finally you decided to break the silence.