Chapter Text
Diluc Ragnivindr wakes up on a Saturday morning with much contemplation. If it were a weekday, he would be calling over the wine guild to discuss recent sales, working at the Angel’s Share for a shift or two, or even overseeing the vineyard with his winery employees. Rolling up the sleeves on his cotton shirt, he would’ve plucked a few grapes off the vine with Connor and discussed shipments of new bottles to Liyue with Ernest. If it were a Sunday, Diluc would’ve already been in a carriage heading towards Mondstadt City to pray for good business and good weather from the Anemo Archon. Wearing a clean coat and a freshly starched tunic shirt, he would’ve clasped his hands in reverence during mass, listening to one of the Sisters sing the praises of Barbatos while young deaconess Barbara prepares the organ and choir books.
However, today is neither a weekday nor a Sunday. He has no responsibilities towards his business or to the Anemo Archon today. The new shipment of wine that’s set for Liyue Harbor is five-hundred bottles in quantity, and is set to begin moving on Tuesday. The batch that’s moving towards Angel’s Share will travel later that day in the afternoon. The storehouses are stocked with plenty of wine, and the vineyard has been doing great with that new fertilizer from Sumeru, along with Connor’s supervision. Elzer has neatly managed the wine guild’s finances during the Thursday that’s already passed. Adelinde and the maids have already cleaned and bought all the supplies needed in preparation to host a wine-tasting party for Mondstadt’s outdated aristocrats and resident drunkards alike. So, Diluc is left sitting upright in his bed, legs and hair sprawled out over his cream-colored sheets, wondering what to do with his time.
Like the frogs that hop around in Cider Lake, Diluc finds himself walking out of the winery with the intention of heading towards Falcon Coast. He loathes his free time, especially his time alone. Not only does the Dawn Winery require his careful management to keep running, Diluc takes up more work as the Darknight Hero in order to protect the nation that he has pledged his entire life to. As a businessman and a local legend, time spent slacking off was time spent unwisely. The protection and well-being of Mondstadt came before any personal endeavors.
“Or at least, they should,” Is what Diluc thinks as he trots by the vineyards. Gentle crystalflies float gracefully towards him, when they would usually scatter and disperse when people approached them. He cannot help but reach out his arm to touch them as they circle around his face. Their gentle little wings brush air over his face, tickling him with the Anemo Archon’s blessing. They sparkle and dance around him, almost like they’re trying to cheer him up.
Feeling blessed but not cheered by the wind’s embrace, Diluc continues walking. The road has not been particularly hard or unreadable, but his mind is heavy with thoughts and his shoulders feel burdened by his legacy. There is an unspoken understanding that Diluc has with himself- that he hates free time because free time is time spent thinking about Kaeya.