Chapter Text
The crowd was thick tonight. She expected as much. People from Mond spoke of such affairs fondly and the very location of the celebration, Dawn Winery, was cemented in the region’s history.
The heir to Dawn Winery, Diluc Ragnivindr, hadn’t been seen in his family home in years.
Not since Ursa the Drake.
She hadn’t been here for that. Back then, Fontaine had still been her home.
The wooden floors and railings of the manor were polished to such brilliance that Karina spotted someone checking their teeth in the reflection. She was certain that the winery’s motto, Shine True , wasn’t meant to be taken so literally.
She wandered among elegant dresses and finely tailored suits; uniforms for the evening she clearly missed the memo about. After all, what use was a dress in her line of work? Her well-preserved coat, along with clean trousers, dead Vision at her hip, and freshly polished boots would have to do. She stood out no less than others in service, wearing dress uniforms reserved for such an occasion.
Slinking upstairs was the easy part, if one knew where to look. Few others, save two brothers and perhaps one Acting Grand Master, knew precisely where the servants' pathways in the house were. Karina worked her way through the barren halls, up a staircase, and through a narrow corridor until she came through to the upstairs balcony.
From her vantage point, she could see the entire party unfold. Wine flowed freely, music swelled in time with the ringing of laughter, and there was enough food to feed just the Knights of Favonius for a week.
It was well-deserved.
And yet so hollow.
Court was like this. Dresses, food, sometimes music. Always being watched. One had to be careful to do the correct thing and only the right thing. Follow etiquette, follow law, and never criticize Her Honor. The Hydro Archon was a harsh judge of character but even She wasn’t above the Laws of Justice and the Heavenly Principles.
Walking on broken glass bare-foot in winter was easier and less painful than an event at the Court of Mirrors.
At least she never had to go back. It was best if she didn’t, anyway.
Few in this room actually knew of the events preceding the celebration. Such news was hidden away by the very red-faced figures who were spilling their wine as they told stories of the old days. Recent weeks’ happenings added an incredible weight to the darker parts of Mond’s history than most wanted to think about.
That was the magic of freedom, wasn’t it? To be able to choose your truth, your reality. What a luxury.
“You’re late.”
And her host was right on time.
“Yes, well, some of us had to ensure Dottore’s notes got into the right hands,” she shot back.
Karina took the proffered glass of juice, raised it in thanks, but didn’t drink. She was glad to have something to occupy her hands.
Diluc always found her when she wandered too far. Even now, he used her as an excuse to duck away, even for a few minutes. Both of them were hesitant, unsure of what to say in another’s company. It came with the territory, the nature of their relationship broken by differences, but it was no less uncomfortable.
“No Delusion back-fire?” She asked, her eyes trained on the crowd below, old habits that refused to die from her days as a soldier, a knight.
Obviously not, she reminded herself. He wouldn’t be here if that was the case. She’d seen enough of them to know that.
He shook his head.
“The ambush will hopefully teach the Fatui a lesson. Keep them second-guessing themselves for a while,” Diluc muttered. “I have no doubt someone recognized the device but that was the point.”
He crossed his arms as Karina leaned forward onto the wooden railing, propped up on her elbows. She dangled her glass between her fingers and watched the light below pierce through the crystal glass and into the dark liquid, revealing its vibrant burgundy shade.
“I want to go investigate the ruins he was using,” she said softly, finally taking a swig of the juice.
It was sweet but not sickly so. The natural sugar from the grape mingled with...was that Valberry?
“You’re a free agent. You can do as you please.”
He said it so disdainfully it made the grape juice sour in her mouth for a moment. Always making her ask . He threw her venomous words from months ago back at her without ever having to say them.
She could go alone. It was more that she didn’t want to.
Perhaps even shouldn’t.
Neither of them wanted help, to tangle others in their troubles. They knew what came of that.
Karina sighed, exasperated. “Will you come with me?”
Diluc let out a breath through his nose and she half-expected him to deflect and say he would think about it. But instead, he said, “As if I’d pass up a chance to get inside this demented screwball’s head. Pick a day. I’ll make time.”
Karina nodded, looking down again into the burgundy liquid. Just darker than fresh blood. She pushed that thought down. Deep, deep down. Not tonight. Maybe this time her mind would listen.
Diluc turned to go but paused and looked over his shoulder as he said, “I found that book you mentioned.”
Her brow raised in interest and she pushed herself off the railing to follow when he began walking away without another word. They stepped through a set of double doors into the humble and cozy library at the back of the manor. This room was one of the few she still had permission to enter whether Diluc was on premise or not; a bargain from years ago after she divulged just why, exactly, she carried a dead Vision.
The once-purple stone was dark as night, as though all color was drained from it. Its setting was just as pristine as the stone, both polished meticulously. Much like oiling her sword, it was a ritual she couldn’t shake. To some it was pointless.
For her, it was a necessity.
Diluc pulled a book from her ‘loan’ shelf. She could never take anything from the room but she was allowed to keep track of her reads. He’d clearly intended for her to find it at a later date. Why did he want her to have it now?
As soon as she saw the color of the binding, she knew. He held it out to her, the cover title all but burned away and the corners severely boxed, leaving only the author’s name. It hadn’t held up well at all.
“It’s damaged, obviously. But it had a name in it.”
Karina placed her cup on the nearest surface and took the book gingerly. She opened the cover with care as the binding snapped and cracked under her fingers. Her sister always took such good care of her books, even repairing them when necessary. She thumbed the pages, forced herself not to stick her nose in and smell it. That could wait. Trembling fingers flipped to the back cover. A book plate as fresh as the day it was applied bore a drawing of Fontaine’s skyline and a note in cramped, elegant writing from one Rhiannon Alexandre. It wasn’t in the shared Common script, clearly intended for the owner of the book.
She traced the ink, thoughts of the room around her forgotten. For a moment, she was back in Fontaine, safely tucked into bed, reading to...
“How did you…?”
When she looked up after receiving no response, Diluc was already near the door.
“Lisa may have mentioned it to her Sumeru contact, who came across it on their way to Mondstadt. I wanted to verify its safety first.”
Karina closed the book and held it close. An old friend, dearly missed. She bowed slightly at the waist as she said, “Thank you. It’s a debt I won’t be able to repay.”
With the slightest smile, he said, “You’ll think of something, chevalier.”
Diluc closed the door behind him.
Alone in the library again.
She silently appreciated the escape from the rest of the party. It meant no one would see her dip her nose to the pages as she thumbed them, smelling the ink, the paper and the scent of burning firewood and juniper. It smelled like home.
A home that, even if it took her back, would never be the same.
Karina came to the book plate and pressed her lips to the words before she whispered, “ Je promets de t'apporter la paix, soeur.”
I promise to bring you peace, sister.