Chapter Text
The invitation, wrapped in a purple envelope and tied with a thin red ribbon, arrived exactly four weeks before the ball.
And even when Diluc expected to receive it at some point, it threw him off.
If he had to be honest, the heavy burden of carrying the Ragnvindr’s name paled in comparison with the hassle of dealing with the responsibilities of being born in a noble house: hosting parties in his own very home, actively participating in social events and dealing with the unsolicited marriage proposals. The last one was definitely the worst.
Every time he hosted a party or attended one he was severely harassed by lords and ladies with the same questions: “Did you find a partner yet?” “Isn’t it about time you find a proper maiden to marry?” “Is there a particular type of woman you like?” “May I introduce you to my daughter/granddaughter/niece?”
“Is everything okay, Master Diluc?”
He stopped pinching the bridge of his nose to look over his shoulder, finding Adelinde at the entrance of the studio, carrying a flower vase with her. A mild smile bloomed on his lips and he approached her to hold one of the flowers in his hands: his father loved Cecilias, and he picked that thing after him.
“The invitation arrived.” he told her, showing her the envelope, “Four weeks from now we got to go to Fontaine.”
“Is it that time of the year again? So soon...” she shrugged, “Oh, well, I will make the preparations.”
“... I might not go.”
Adelinde arched her eyebrows, “Are you sure, master?” she entered the room to leave the vase over the desk. “Even when Elzer is in charge of the management, it is you who pops into people’s mind when someone asks about Dawn Winery and the Mondstadt’s wine industry.” she tilted her head, smiling at him, looking almost proud of the following words. “After all, you are the Uncrowned King of Mondstadt.”
“That’s perfect…” Diluc huffled, “another title I didn’t ask for.”
As the one who spent the longest time working for the family, Adelinde couldn’t help but smile at the view of his slightly distressed master. Diluc had always been someone who cared too much about things, ever since he was a child: he was kind and sensitive, taking things too seriously sometimes; but most importantly, he was passionate about everything he did, especially the things he did for others.
Having his father taken away from him had put down the fire that burned within him, that burning passion that moved him to do great things. He became someone much less passionate and open, making it hard for him to openly express his feelings. Yet he would open up, just a little, for a few people. Adelinde felt honored to be one of them.
““Is there a reason you would like to skip this event?” Adelinde asked, guessing what was the reason.
“I’m running out of reasons to reject--” Visibly uncomfortable with saying it outloud, Diluc simply shrugged,shifting his eyes away, “I rather not go.”
“Master Diluc, you got to be honest.” Adelinde said firmly, “Not going will do nothing… they will keep pushing until you accept. It’s a business for those people as well: A marriage with the heir of the biggest and most successful business in MondstadT? of course they won’t give up on you.” she crossed her arms, “Have you tried a different approach to the problem? How about you bring your ‘wife’ with you to this ball?”
Diluc looked back at her, blinking slowly, “I don’t have a wife.”
“Why don’t you get married?”
His skin crawled at the question, coaxing a sincere laugh from Adelinde. “--What are you saying?”
The maid cleared her voice before speaking again in a more serious tone, “It wouldn’t be a real marriage, master. You could ask someone to pretend to be your wife for the ball. That way, you would completely avoid proposals from other ladies.”
As crazy as the idea sounds, Diluc can’t help to imagine how comfortable his stay in Fontaine would be if he didn’t have to worry about the indecent proposals made to him before, during and after the ball. He would love to stroll freely around the city, and properly enjoy the views.
“I…” he squinted his eyes, “I don’t think I know anyone that could help.”
Adelinde dragged a chair near to his master’s desk, encouraging him to take a seat as well. After a moment of hesitation, Diluc pulled out paper and quill, taking a seat in front of Adelinde. “Do you have someone in mind?”
“Miss Jean?”
Diluc shook his head, “I would get no one from the knights involved, less someone in a high position. It would compromise her job if we ask her to lie for us.” he finally crossed his arms, “And ultimately, I don’t want to ask someone I knew since we were children. It would be uncomfortable.”
“Then, I guess Miss Lisa isn’t an option either?” she rested her cheek on the palm of her hand, glancing at the cecilias, “I can’t suggest a normal citizen…”
“What are you implying?” Diluc arched his eyebrows at Adelinde’s words, “That I only would marry a noble? Am I that superficial to you?”
“Not exactly, but may I remind you the reasons to reject meeting fair ladies at the balls was because you had a very specific type.” she giggled, “So now, the person you bring to the ball must fit those requirements or…”
“They would know I lied…” Diluc dropped the quill and sunk his face in his hands, “You are right, I completely forgot.”
“Well, it’s not too late,” she said in a cheerful tone, “let’s review the requirements first.”
“Do I have to?” he asked, coming out from his hiding spot, “It’s quite embarrassing.”
The maid reached the paper and the quill, getting ready to write down his master’s irrational lies.
He started with the first ones he spat: silk hair, fair skin, a thin frame, big round eyes. Those were the most traditional things he could point out in a desirable partner. However, as there were many pretty maidens in Teyvat, that didn’t work to drive away the profit-seeking nobles. Glancing at the cecilias, Diluc tried to reminisce about his conversations with the several lords he met who came to him with the same question; “They thought… it would only take someone who looked good.” he put down his hands, “They always present their daughters as if their only good quality was their face… or their name.”
“And that isn’t enough, right?” Adelinde dipped the tip of the quill in the ink, “What did Master Diluc tell them then?”
“Cecilias grow up in high cliffs, where harsh winds blow…” Diluc continued, througfully fascinated by the beauty of those flowers, “Yet they look so genuinely gentle.” the edges of his lips twitched, “I remember I used that analogy a lot when they were talking about the attributes of a good wife.”
“Beautiful and strong, like Mondstadt’s cecilias...” Adelinde wrote down, “Pretty enough to light up a room but strong enough to survive coming from living on a high cliff to grow up in a private garden, like the one you own.” she looked up at her master, “Master Diluc, you are quite romantic.”
He would have glared at Adelinde, but something caught his attention first: the sound of wind blowing, followed by the cheering of women he recognized as his maids. Diluc lifted from his seat and turned around, reaching the window to open it.
“Thank you, traveler!” the maids said, clapping their hands as the traveler shook off his head, getting rid of some leaves stuck on his hair as Paimon floated next to him. Aether must have felt Diluc’s eyes on him, because he lifted his head and found him looking out from the window.
A smile bloomed on Aether’s lips. “Good evening, Master Diluc.”
The maids looked up, pale as they got caught. “M-Master!”
“What is the meaning of this?” Adelined asked, looking out through the window as well. “Are you two making the traveler work for you again ?”
Adelinde ended up leaving the office to leave the house and reprimand the maids for “taking advantage of the knight’s kindness.” Aether insisted he was okay with it, and even offered to help by himself, trying to save the other maids. Adelinde thanked him for his work but insisted they had to take care of their own work without compromising someone as important as a knight of favonius.
“Well, I’m technically not a knight.” Aether explained, pushing his long hair behind his back, “right?”
“Honorary knight would be a better tag.” Paimon added, “We really don’t mind helping.”
“I always see him running across the city doing all kinds of commissions,” tired of being left out, Diluc joined the conversation, coming to stand next to Aether. “I hope not too many people are dumping their commissions on you.”
“I only take what I can handle,” Aether promised, “Talking about commissions, I should go to receive my payment.” he waved a hand at the maids and smiled at Diluc. “I’ll see you later, Master Diluc.”
Adelinde quickly noticed the way her master’s expression changed as he talked with Aether. That gentle side that he only saved for a few seemed to easily spark when Aether was near. If only he could find someone like him to lend a hand.
Then, the maid had the greatest idea she could ever come up with.
“Traveler!”
Aether stopped walking, turning towards them, “Yes?”
“Master Diluc has a question for you.” She rushed to her master’s side, sticking her elbow on his side; a startled Diluc looked at her, then at Aether, then back at her. A faint flush took over his cheeks, so mild only Adelinde noticed it.
“I…” he shifted his eyes towards Aether, who looking right through him with his big round eyes; “Would you like to have dinner with us?”
“Sure!” Aether happily accepted, “then, I will come back at night.” he waved a hand, “Good bye!”
Diluc timidly lifted a hand, waving Aether goodbye as he ran towards the forest, getting away from him. He noticed the gazes of the maid on him and furrowed his brows. “What are you looking at me?”
“It’s the first time Master Diluc invites someone over.” One of the maids said, hands hidden behind her body, “Is there an special occasion?”
“It kind of is.” Adelinde crossed her arms, “Master Diluc is making a proposal to the traveler.” she giggled, “Am I right?”
“He won’t accept.” Diluc blurted out, turning on his soles and returning to his house “But it would be nice to have him over.”
“Master Diluc, have a little faith in you!” Adelinded quickly followed him, “Aether wouldn’t be able to find a better husband prospect!”
The other maids were left behind, confused by the exchange; they looked up, trying to read between lines. After a moment they both look at each other, eyes widening at the jaw dropping conclusion they came to.
“Master Diluc is proposing to Aether?!”
It wasn’t the first time for Aether in Diluc’s manor, much less the first time they spent time together. He enjoyed interacting with him very much, even when sometimes he had to be away from so long to travel around the continent. Diluc has always been kind to him, taking care not only of the people around him without taking any credit, but taking care of Aether as well.
“I wonder if something is bothering him…” Aether told Paimon as they walked towards the manor, “Maybe he needs help?”
“Then we should help him.” Paimon concluded, “You know how important he is, did you know they also call him the Uncrowned King of Mondstadt?”
Aether chuckled, “I get the feeling he must not like that name.”
“Yeah, he didn’t like the “dark knight hero” either.”
By the time they arrive, the sky had already turned dark, the lights across the manor lighting up and giving the place a very ethereal image. That place definitely felt like Mondstadt’s heart at those times.
“Must be nice living in a place like this, don’t you think?” Paimon asked.
“Do you think that?” he shrugged, “Being a manor or in the open air… I think both options are nice.”
Surprisingly, Aether found one of the maids outside, sweeping the floor at the entry. The moment she saw him, a smile spread across his face; she left the broom aside and politely bowed towards him. “Welcome back, traveler.” she gestured to the door, “My master is expecting you.”
“Hello~” he greeted, “Are you okay? You are being really proper now.”
“No, no, that’s how we should treat him!” the girl said, holding her own face with her hands, “Please, come in!”
Aether glanced at Paimon before they both entered the house, not really sure of what was happening that night.
Diluc’s home looked particularly pristine that night: there were candles around the place, the table already set, and the smell of honey and spices hanging in the air.
“Thanks for coming.”
Aether glanced at the stairs, watching Diluc descend with light steps.
“Are you celebrating something?” Aether wondered, spinning on his own place as he looked around, “The place looks great.”
“That--” he cleared his throat, his cheeks slightly flushed, “The maids got excited, that’s all.”
“Something smells delicious~” Paimon casually pointed out, “When are we eating?”
“Paimon!” Aether hushed, “Don’t be like that.”
The edges of his lips curved up, a sincere chuckle purging to come out from his throat: those two were so refreshing to have around. “No, she is right, let’s take a seat already.”
Diluc approached the table and pulled out a chair for Aether to sit on, “Go on.”
Aether blushed, taken aback by that random show of chivalry. Still he took a seat and Diluc pushed the chair forward, allowing Aether to sit comfortably. He looked up at Diluc, smiling softly, “...Thank you.”
Diluc had to turn around and rush to his own seat, fearing Aether would notice the blush on his face.
The dinner is served by one of the enthusiastic maids, who wouldn’t stop smiling at Aether, and apparently driving Diluc mad. Aether had the chance to try different types of dishes: Barbatos Ratatouille, the traditional Sweet madam and Mondstadt Hash Brown. They accompanied the dinner with apple cider, a fresh and fruity drink that both Diluc and Aether enjoyed.
“Everything was delicious~” Aether said, taking a last piece of the sweet madame into his mouth. He chewed on the meat and gulped, releasing a satisfied sight once he was done. He glanced at Diluc, noticing he was staring at him, “Master Diluc?” his flushed, “I’m sorry… I’m not used to eating in fancy places…”
The master of the house blinked, shook his head and put down his fork. “That’s not it--” he put down the fork, “I need to talk to you.” he gave Paimon a pleading look, “In private, if you allow me.”
“Eh?!” Paimon looked at Aether and then to Diluc, “Is something wrong?”
“Paimon!” Adelinde appeared again to pick up the dishes, stopping next to Paimon, “Why don’t you come with me? I got a dessert just for you.”
“Alright!”
Surprisingly for Diluc --but not for Aether, Paimon left the dining room as soon as food was involved.
“She is a very food motivated person.” Aether commented, suddenly forgetting he was the same kind of person, “Anyway…” he looked back at Diluc, leaning towards him, “Did something happen?”
The worried look on Aether’s face only made him feel guiltier. “It’s not something bad…” he explained, not wanting to worry his friend, “I want to ask you a favor.”
“Sure!” Aether nodded, “Whatever it is, I will help you.”
Diluc grimaced, “You shouldn’t offer your help so easily, you don’t know what I’m about to ask you.”
“What would Master Diluc ask for? You got everything you need.” he chuckled, picking up his cup to take another sip of his drink, “I’m actually curious… you don’t lack any--”
“A wife.”
Aether set the glass over the table with slightly more strength than necessary, making the cutlery jump. “ Haha , I think I drank too much,” he rubbed the back of his hands over his lips, his face heating up despite the lack of alcohol in the drink, “What did you say you need?” he tried again, smiling with his eyes.
Diluc parted his lips, trying to speak again but no sound came out. He looked down and ran a hand through his hair, allowing Aether to notice the flushed color of his ears.
He was genuinely embarrassed.
And because of how expressive he was in that moment, Aether realized he had heard correctly the first time. Inevitably, he blushed as well, his face becoming as red as an apple, matching the color of Diluc’s hair.
“--May I have another drink?” Aether asked after a moment of silence. “While you explain what you mean?”
Diluc nodded, “Sure.”