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The festivities are in full swing.
The walls of Angel’s Share are plastered with decorations. A mouth-watering feast lies at the center of the tavern, filled with an assortment of delicacies from Good Hunter.
Loud chatter resonates throughout the room as the knights and citizens of Mondstat, friends and acquaintances alike, mingle and drink in good cheer. Seated near the food table, Paimon and Amber spend no qualms devouring their hearty meals. The duo gleefully shoves bite after bite into their mouths without pause, earning both looks of concern and awe from the others.
Languid azure eyes watch the room from one of the tavern’s most secluded tables—tucked away in the corner, far enough to be absolved from joining the festivities yet close enough to witness all the merrymaking. Perfectly content by his lonesome self, Kaeya comfortably rests his back against the wall as he nurses the drink in his hand.
If this was a normal night, he'd be sitting front and center with all the other patrons of the tavern. But it was a celebration, and for the Acting Grand Master herself! Of course she should be the highlight of this evening; the cavalry captain absolutely wouldn't accept anything less.
Surprisingly, everything went by without a hitch. Albeit, there were a few complications that left the knights wondering whether they could pull through.
If they were to judge by Jean's reaction, it was safe to assume that the surprise party was a success. And as per usual, the credit rightfully belongs to Lumine, who unknowingly played a major part in the event. All the piled up commissions were seen to by the traveler. She assisted Jean well-throughout the day and then brought her over, just as planned. The honorary knight even had a hand in cooking the feast before them!
Kaeya Alberich may be the mastermind behind this occasion, but even he has to admit: Lumine is certainly one of the most impressive people to grace the streets of Mondstat.
And it seems she’ll be gracing him with her presence. The thought piques his interest as Kaeya spots the blonde female approaching his table.
“You must really like her,” Lumine says, as soon as she slides into the seat across him.
Her random statement makes him raise an eyebrow. “Oh?” he tilts his head curiously, an innocent smile plastered on his face. “And what makes you say that?”
“Except for the fact that you organized this whole shindig for her sake?”
“Shindig?”
Lumine rolls her eyes in exasperation, eliciting a laugh from Kaeya.
“To answer your question, of course I like her. She’s our acting grand master after all,” he complies, leisurely taking a sip of his drink.
A familiar voice suddenly echoes through the tavern and Kaeya’s attention shifts as the anemo archon loudly demands another glass of dandelion wine. He smirks as Venti courageously sucks up to Diluc, the strumming of a lyre suddenly filling the room as the bard bursts into a tune.
'Pfft, as if showering the wine tycoon with songs would get him a free drink,' Kaeya muses, 'with his antics, that drunken bard would only have a higher chance of getting kicked out.'
The cavalry captain shakes his head in good humor and his amused gaze slowly trails away from their archon, until it unconsciously lands on the subject of their conversation: sitting on one of the counter stools, talking with the red-haired tavern owner as both actively ignored the noisy bard.
'Perhaps Venti might get that free glass after all.'
The thought wasn't as far-fetched as it seemed, especially if one could read into his half-brother's demeanor as well as he did. And judging by the small smile on Diluc's face, Venti might even get two glasses of wine for that matter.
Even while conversing with Diluc, Jean’s fatigue is still evident by the slight slouch of her usual straight-back posture, but she looks better than this morning—more refreshed and rested.
'More happy,' Kaeya concludes as he sees her chuckle at something Diluc says. Her smile was as lovely as always, yet it seemed softer now that it's directed at his brother. The cavalry captain suddenly feels his chest tighten, but he brushes it off. Perhaps he's had too much to drink or maybe he's simply feeling a bit claustrophobic, given that the tavern's more crowded than usual.
But he hears another laugh.
He sees another smile from Jean, and all his excuses fall silent.
“Your eyes.”
His companion’s voice suddenly tears him away from the pair by the counter and brings him back to the present. He turns his head towards Lumine, only to see her looking at him intently—lips pursed, eyes slightly narrowed. Like she was some renowned painter who was studying his details to make a portrait.
“Hm?”
“You asked what made me say it,” she shrugs and leans her back against the wall beside her, mimicking Kaeya's position to give her a clearer view of the counter. “And I’m telling you that it’s your eyes.”
“You look at her differently,” she continues, “none of your usual arrogance or elusiveness.”
‘You’re unguarded,’ is left unsaid. But as she spares him a glance, the words shine in her amber eyes—as vivid as the scorching sun on a bright summer day.
Kaeya chuckles, the usual off-handed laugh he uses to evade sticky conversations. And if Lumine noticed, she makes no move to object.
“I never knew you’d be one to watch me so closely.”
“Don’t make me send you flying.”
The celebration goes well into the night and Lumine still hasn’t left his table. The cavalry captain finds it odd for the traveler to willingly be in his company for this long. During regular days she was always up-and-about without a minute to spare. But he isn't complaining, certainly not in the least. Throughout the evening, amidst their trivial conversations and shared laughter at the anemo archon's drunken antics, Kaeya finds that he doesn’t quite mind her presence.
A few drinks in and they've settled between comfortable silence and the occasional anecdotes of their lives, travels, and whatever else crosses their intoxicated minds. Kaeya couldn't recall the last time he'd been freely at ease in another's company, and it's surprising he'd find it in the traveler—a pleasant and welcome surprise, yet still a surprise nonetheless.
However, Lumine has been silent for a while now and Kaeya almost suspects her to be asleep, worn out from the day's tasks and festivities. He debates over whether to wake her and urge her to head in for the night or to simply let her rest a few minutes more.
“Did you ever tell her?” The query suddenly falls from her lips and jolts his brain to attention.
Her simple question triggers a sense of bitterness in him; buried deep within the recesses of his subconscious. Though there isn't a single name attached, Kaeya knows who she's referring to—there really wasn't anyone else after all.
And he scoffs, as the loathsome thoughts he'd pondered over and over begin to once again claw their wretched way up his mind. Of course not. How could he?
Not when they’re so obviously made for each other—Jean and Diluc of course. Even since then, it has always been Jean and Diluc. The Acting Grand Master and Mondstat’s Richest Wine Tycoon. Two of the land’s most powerful, influential individuals.
A match perfectly crafted by the archons.
How could an adopted orphan of unknown origins possibly fit into the picture? Just the thought itself was too preposterous to consider. And that is the cold, hard truth that Kaeya Alberich has long accepted.
So he shrugs and downs his drink in one go, the bitterness of the alcohol overpowering his own—even for just a moment. “There’s nothing to tell.”
Silence shrouds over them, but neither of them mind. Both were seemingly content, watching as the blaze of festivities dwindled to a steady calm. The boisterous noise that filled the tavern earlier finally simmers down to soft buzzes of conversation, and Venti’s snores could be heard as the bard finally passed out from too many drinks. Near the slumbering bard, Paimon and Amber are blissfully asleep with content smiles, the pair surrounded by stacks of plates and a few leftover food that they were too full to finish.
“As long as they’re happy.”
He feels Lumine’s gaze shift to him, but Kaeya’s eyes remain on the two people by the counter. The pair converses in hushed tones—their voices drowned out by conversations of other patrons.
Yet their smiles speak volumes. Just by the slight upturn of his half-brother’s lips and the gentle smile on Jean’s beautiful face, Kaeya knows he lost.
No.
He never had a chance to begin with, did he?
Lumine huffs and Kaeya turns to catch her exasperated expression, “Never took you for a martyr.”
“What can I say? I’m full of surprises.”
His companion merely hums, and the cavalry captain knows she’s holding back a sharp retort.
“Besides, why would I wish for another?” he says as his usual flirty smile graces his lips, “I find your company to be wonderfully enjoyable.”
“And the sweet-talking’s back in business.” The dryness laced into her tone does nothing to contain her mirth, as the teasing smirk on her lips gradually grows into a grin.
A few chuckles escape him. Who knew the quiet traveler had so much sarcasm hidden within her?
He opens his mouth to retort, but she suddenly meets his gaze. Perhaps it was the alcohol in his system messing with his brain, but a lump forms in his throat as his eyes lock onto hers. And for the nth time today, Kaeya is rendered speechless.
The traveler's usually firm gaze was now unguarded. As if she’d been stripped of all her burdens. As if she wasn’t an outlander haunted by her sibling’s separation. As if she was just Lumine and nothing else.
Under the soft glow of the dim lights, Lumine’s eyes reminded him of pools of molten gold. So rich, so luscious, that any moment longer and Kaeya feels he’ll drown.
'If I do,' he muses, 'how many centuries’ worth of treasure would be hidden within her soul?'
“Penny for your thoughts, captain?” her grin softens into a genuine smile, and it unknowingly becomes his undoing.
She does not often smile, instead choosing to wear a somber expression on her face; her emotions only reflecting through vivid amber eyes. Oh, but when she does, it’s as if the whole room lights up.
Just like now.
“You’re beautiful when you smile.”
The words leave his lips before he could fully comprehend, and Kaeya immediately freezes in place once he realizes what he said.
Amber eyes widen; probably caught off-guard by the sincerity of his words. Even he has trouble recognizing his voice; for it lacks the playful, flirtatious lilt it oh so often held.
Kaeya sees her cheeks start to redden as Lumine grasps for a retort, and he feels his own cheeks start to heat up as well. He’s highly amused and embarrassed at the same time.
But he means it, though. Lumine was definitely beautiful.
She possessed strength and grace that other adventurers could only dream to achieve, all while maintaining that kind and helpful heart of hers. She was as sturdy as rock and as gentle as wind. A truly magnificent woman.
And under the soft luminescence of the tavern lights, Kaeya wonders why he only noticed it now.
The festivities finally come to an end. Others have already left, and Kaeya isn’t sure why he’s still standing outside the tavern.
But then he sees her step out, her floating companion unexpectedly absent. Her eyes widen as she spots him and she’s clearly surprised to see him. Yet he’s even more surprised at himself.
“Will you, ah—“ Kaeya stumbles through his words. He sees amusement dance in Lumine’s amber eyes and it makes him even more flustered.
“Can I—“
“Care to walk me home captain?” she tilts her head and shoots him a teasing smile.
He’s dumbfounded. But he’s being completely out of character and they both know it. Lumine breaks the silence first, giggling at his confused face. The melodious sound is infectious, because before Kaeya knows it he’s chuckling as well.
Their laughter slowly dies down and they fall into step with each other; arms almost grazing, hands almost touching.
Perhaps things will be different this time.
As he glances at her, azure eyes soften at the serene look on her face; the soft glow of the moonlight illuminating her features, bathing her in its tranquility. He steels his resolve.
It definitely will.
He’ll make sure of it.