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During your first meeting with the maid from the Knight of Favonius, she had stolen your heart. You were only an outlander from another region, unfamiliar with Mondstadtians' customs. When you arrived in the aforementioned city of freedom, you were unsure of how or where to begin the start of your new life, having separated from your family to subsist alone as a young adolescent. You're very sure a lot of Mondstadt residents would look at you with sympathy, but you didn't care.
What you didn't expect was a gaze of adoration from a young Mondstadt maid.
1. Words of affirmation
Your everyday routine is roughly the same a few weeks after you've (barely) settled in the city of freedom and gotten a job with a florist named Flora. Flora claims that because she is still a kid, she is unable to care for her flowers at night. You, who were walking by her business as she was complaining to Donna about her issue, volunteered to take her position during the night because you had nothing to do as a newcomer to the city and needed Mora as well.
And that's how you know how vibrant Mondstadt is at night, with taverns and bars open every night. What is more appealing to your eyes at night is the image of a specific maid returning from her chores late at night, fatigued but content with her own daily accomplishments.
You just admired her hard work throughout your first few interactions with her. Then there's another, followed by another. Until one night, as you were arranging flowers at the stall, Noelle glanced at you and grinned sheepishly. To say you're taken aback is an understatement. You never anticipated her looking at you the same way you looked at her. You smiled back at her, clearing your throat while holding a bouquet of Cecilia in your hands. Somehow, that same night, you couldn't dismiss Noelle's red face, which was most likely caused by the warm temperature. At least, that's what you told yourself to keep your hopes minimal.
Your friendship with Noelle strengthened over time with little smiles and waves. You weren't sure if you were friends or simply acquaintances at this point. But, you reasoned, at the very least, you are on good terms with Noelle. You knew deep down that you desired more than just a simple wave.
Barbatos seems to have heard about your wish since Flora assigned you an extra task to pick up some fresh Windwheel asters from Windrise in the afternoon, precisely two months after your first day in Mondstadt. After strolling around Windrise for a few hours, you decided to take a quick nap under the well-known tree, only to hear footsteps approaching from your left side. You opened your eyes, blinking, to see your acquaintance (perhaps a friend) filling your vision from above as she stood staring down at you.
"O-oh, did I wake you? I'm sorry, I didn't mean to, "Noelle apologised profusely.
You shook your head, stating it was OK because you weren't exhausted, but your body appeared to disagree as you let out a yawn that was hastily hidden by your hand. Noelle was amused at your attempt and sat alongside you in the shade.
"If you don't mind, you may take a nap on my lap. I'll be here for a while too, taking a break from my duties. If that isn't too much for you.." Noelle made a proposal. You blushed because you knew you were a stranger to her, yet she still goes out of her way to make sure you get enough sleep.
At first, you were hesitant to sit on her lap, but you eventually did. You lie down facing her face because you thought it would be embarrassing to face her stomach. You were startled to find Noelle gleaming in the sunlight in the windy weather of Mondstadt, staring down at you with a look you had never seen on her before. You've lived long enough to know that's how you see the captains of the knights going about their business in the city, protecting their people. It's an adoring expression.
It didn't help that Noelle's hand was brushing your hair.
As you felt the blood rush to your face, you hurriedly covered it with your hands.
"Wait, why are you staring at me like that?" you asked.
"I hope I'm not being too straightforward in saying this in front of you when we've only just met, in front of each other. But I sincerely admire you, Y/N. You've been working hard since you arrived in Mond, especially since you're here alone. I've seen you assisting citizens in the morning, even when you're meant to be working at night-"
You had to stop Noelle by putting your hand over her lips to prevent her from saying any more compliments. You couldn't even handle her soft features staring at you, so how can you endure this?
Even though you were shaking your head, Noelle's eyes were drawn to your scarlet face. She bursts out laughing, and you feel that your relationship has truly begun. Or, at the very least, that's what you believed at the time.
2. Quality time
After the Windrise incident, the following month was spent learning as much as you could about Noelle and vice versa. You would insist that Noelle take a break whenever she went by the shop to greet you. It quickly becomes your favourite thing to look forward to every day.
Even someone as dense as Albedo could tell that Noelle's performance in her training routines increased as a result of your attempts to get her enough rest.
At some point, Noelle and you will meet at least once a week to catch up on each other's lives or simply to relax in peace under the Windrise tree. Sometimes Noelle would bring a picnic basket full of her specialty pancakes, while other times you would bring your own cooking, using your mother's recipes.
"Is it really okay for you to take such frequent breaks with me?" I don't want our meetings to be a bother for you, Noelle." During one of your weekly meetings, you asked her.
"It is not at all an issue. I wouldn't trade these meetings with you for anything else in the world. Even when I'm short on time, I will still try to make time for us. You are really important to me, after all"
Noelle continued her reasoning by adding that even Acting Grandmaster Jean had approved her for longer breaks, but all of them merely flew past your ears as your head replayed that one remark by Noelle.
You are really important to me, after all
Oh. You're fairly certain you'll have difficulty sleeping that night.
3. Acts of service
The blankets that were wrapped around you were ineffective. Your feet were extremely cold, in stark contrast to your warm and sweaty frame. Because of how feverish you were, the damp towel on your forehead became warm over time. Laying down on your bed should have helped you feel much better, but it made you feel worse since you couldn't assist Flora at the shop that night.
You called in sick after helping Flora preserve some flowers by planting them in the snow at Dragonspine on your own. Flora had assured you that she would just ask the traveler for assistance, but you insisted on going since you didn't want to bother the traveler with a little issue.
The approach backfired when you didn't foresee how cold Dragonspine would be when you arrived. You promised Flora that you would do the job, so you simply hoped it would be done in a few hours. This indicates you neglected a few Dragonspine preparatory measures, such as igniting all the fire places you encountered and taking breaks to heat up your body with some soup.
And that's how you get a terrible cold, incapable of getting out of bed to eat even a single bite.
"So be it. It was all my fault in the first place. But I need to distance myself from Noelle."
You sulked under the blankets, expecting a short nap to ease your sickness or hoping for Barbatos to send you an angel to care for you.
Barbatos seemed to have developed a liking for you for the second time when you heard knocks on your door. Getting out of bed takes a lot of effort, and it's even more difficult when you have to drag yourself to the door.
Once you opened the door, you were startled by a silver-haired girl who you had been avoiding for several days. While short of breath, she appeared to be clutching several paper bags in which some fruits and vegetables could be seen.
"Noelle? What exactly are you doing here? Are you all right? Did you get here in a hurry?"
A cracked voice erupted from your throat, followed by a flurry of coughs. To keep Noelle from catching your cold, you had to move your head to the side.
"Haa.. So, I heard from someone that they couldn't get some flowers from Flora, and she told me that she couldn't fetch the flowers, which were actually planted by you in Dragonspine, which you were supposed to do but couldn't due to your cold, as well as which I couldn't find you anywhere else in the city for a few days because I missed you-" Noelle explained in one breath, but she soon realized the last sentence she added.
"A-anyway, may I enter? I brought some fruits and other stuff with me. Please let me know if you have any food preferences, and I will do my best to serve them."
If you fell in love with Noelle a few months earlier, you are certainly falling in love with her again now. She is without a doubt the angel Barbatos sent for you.
Perhaps you are so exhausted or unwell that as Noelle starts placing the items she purchased in your kitchen, you end up giving her a hug from behind, leaning your head on her shoulder. There's a minor height gap between you and her. Noelle stiffened in your arms, but she didn't fight it.
"Thank you."
Your lips produced a muffled voice. From the front, a gloved hand sought yours, while the other lovingly caressed your head.
"Please take a seat and rest. I'll be there quickly, my princess. "Noelle teased, but her words made your heart race. You complied so that she may complete her job in peace.
You awoke from your short slumber to the aroma of some kind of soup and the sound of precise foot steps outside your bedroom. When you lifted your head to the door, you noticed Noelle carrying a tray towards your bed.
You sat up to eat by yourself while Noelle carefully placed the tray down. Despite this, Noelle insisted on feeding you herself. You gave in to her demand since you were too tired after moving so much.
You apologized to the maid for not finishing the meal, but she dismissed it softly. Noelle urged you to rest more while saying that you should leave all the housekeeping to her. Before she could finish her chores around the house, you stretched out your hand and tugged Noelle close until your nose brushed hers.
"Thank you for being by my side. I love you so much.."
Noelle had prepared various things to take care of you before heading to your place, but this was not on the list. It really doesn't help that you went to sleep immediately after that, while she had to calm down after your sudden confession.
Noelle sat back down beside your bed, and used the back of her hand to cool her blush while reaching out the other hand to interlock your fingers.
"You can't just go to bed and leave me with that. That's really unfair, Y/N."
4. Gifts
For the maid knight, a day off is a rare occurrence. Noelle felt as though she was doing something wrong because she had nothing to do at the moment. From cleaning her own knights' quarters to baking some pastries. She still felt like she was procrastinating, sitting alone in the living room.
Which is why you decided to pay her a visit as soon as you heard from the knight on duty that Noelle had been given a day off, to thank her courtesy for caring you when you were sick.
I have free time anyways, it's not like I wanted to see her..
Shaking your head, you knocked on Noelle's door, the sound echoing down the corridor. The bouquet of roses and cecilia that you were holding was carefully wrapped with the expertise of your hands. You silently thanked Flora for teaching you all the good things about daily flower care, although giving you the most challenging task a few times to ensure you have the necessary experience in a short time, she said.
The knight in training opened the door in a matter of seconds, just as you had predicted. She's Noelle, after all.
"May I assist you—oh, it's you! Please enter." Noelle ushered you inside, as if you had been living with her for as long as anyone can remember. You thanked her while handing her the flowers you were carrying.
"It's for you. Thank you once again for looking after me; I truly appreciate it. But I'm not sure you'll love it. It's my first time putting together a bouquet for someone dear to me."
You averted your gaze as Noelle took the bouquet from your grasp, feeling a little self-conscious about giving roses to someone who was only a 'friend' to you. Nevertheless, your relationship with Noelle has never appeared to be merely platonic. The yearning eyes for each other, weekly friendly dates that were sometimes misunderstood by others, or simply being there for one another every so often.
A simple 'thank you' and a smile from her brightened your day tenfold. After inviting you to make yourself at home, she waltzed around her house looking for an empty vase. You obliged her request by picking the couch in her living room.
"Feeling empty not doing anything?" you teased her as soon as she showed up in your view with a tray in her hands. One of the things you constantly ponder is how Noelle handled her job swiftly while remaining silent.
Her lips formed a slight pout in response to the teasing, attempting to be upset but failing miserably when she caught you laughing. You couldn't help but poke her cheek as her pout grew. Your loving touch reminded her of your unexpected confession, causing her to flush immediately.
"Maybe.. Just now, I had an idea to pass the time. Do you want to join me, or would you rather do something else?"
"Then please enlighten me."
-----
You should have expected that whatever Noelle had in mind would be a productive pastime. But you didn't expect to learn to knit with her. Sure, your hands are wonderful with flowers, but never with needles and threads.
After a few attempts, you gave up with a sigh as the gloves, which were meant to look like one, turned out to be a pair of mini gloves instead. The maid next to you chuckled, but she was still focused on her task. Her long and slender fingers, which are typically hidden by her gloves, are weaving a rose-colored scarf.
Oh my god, her fingers are so attractive..
The temperature in the room began to rise suddenly.
Calm down, calm down! Begone, these thoughts!
Noelle called for your attention just to reveal that she had finished her scarf knitting. She closed the space between you two on the couch and put the scarf over your neck gently.
"It's for you. I made this for you to use when you need to travel to Dragonspine. It's not as good as the one in the store, but I'm hoping you'll use it. I don't want you to get sick as much as I love taking care of you though.."
Her hands remained on the scarf around your neck, her fingertips caressing the smoothness of the fabric. With the way she carefully chooses her words, you can't almost feel the trembling from her touch.
You realised what you'd always wanted from Noelle at that moment, and you hoped she felt the same way.
You lifted your hands to pull her by the collar and kiss her, your heart racing. Noelle, taken aback, widened her eyes for a few seconds before shutting them to take in more of you. Her hands moved from the scarf to your waist. Due to your lack of experience with both kissing and being in a relationship, it took a bit too long for the two of you to find the right pace.
Even after Noelle drew away from the kiss, the butterflies in your stomach didn't stop. During the kiss, your arms formed a circle around her neck, your breath mixing together.
"You know how much I adore you? I was worried about confessing because I thought you didn't want to be in a relationship since I would be a nuisance to you if you became a knight. But you made it very hard for me by being so unfair and always doing it for my sake."
Noelle, still in a daze from the kiss, nearly missed the confession. Searching for lies in your eyes and finding none, she responded.
"I'm being unfair? But you're the one who made it difficult for me by confessing to me and then going to sleep."
"What did I do? When? How?" Thousands of thoughts raced through your mind. But they all vanished from your head as Noelle caressed your waist with one of her hands. You gasped, burying your face in the crook of her neck.
"S-stop doing that, I can't handle it."
You tightened your grasp on Noelle's blouse on her shoulder. If you are standing, you are fairly certain that your knees will go weak. Oh, to have such an impact on you. You're madly in love with her. Of course, Noelle, being oblivious, obviously didn't understand, but she halted the action in case you were upset with her. She couldn't resist the warm sensation inside her as she saw you collapse in her arms.
5. Touch
You don't know why, but after the entire confession thing, you started acting clingy towards Noelle. And the maid, being herself, will go to any length to make up for all the time she has been busy.
Seeing your face light up when you got to embrace her arms after she finished her maid duties? Her fatigue will simply vanish. What's more, the fact that you'll be sharing your day as you walk back home with Noelle is a precious thing to her.
Most of the time, you'll spend the entire evening with Noelle, eating dinner together before returning to your own home. Nonetheless, these days you would find yourself staying at her home later than usual in order to spend more time with your lover.
Today's parting embrace lasted longer since you didn't want to let go, but you also didn't want to be selfish. After a hard day of serving others, Noelle deserved to relax. As her significant other, you should allow her to prioritise herself.
"Y/N? Are you all right? Feeling cold? Or would you like me to take you home?"
Stop! You are making me want to stay with you more, Noelle!
"Oh well, it's nothing. I just love your scent so much. It is as if I cannot let go of you." You confessed silently, whispering into her neck.
"So, do you want to stay for the night? You may sleep on the bed, and I'll sleep on the couch." Noelle offered. You peered at her with eagerness, and she smiled knowingly.
And that's how you ended up laying in Noelle's bed while waiting for her to finish her bath. With the amount of roses she wears for her outfit every day, you could smell the flowers even in her bed. In some ways, it made you feel secure.
You had drifted off to sleep when a familiar hand brushed some strands of your hair. You caught Noelle's eyes as you squinted to adapt your eyes to the light. She had rested her head on the bed right near your frame.
"I'm sorry, I hope you are having a nice dream, my dear. I'm going to sleep on the couch in the living room. Just call me if you need anything, okay?" Noelle spoke in a soothing voice, as if it were a private moment between the two of you. Perhaps it is; after all, she is a maid who will keep everyone's secrets above everything else.
Hence, if she can keep some secrets, it's all fine to include this moment in the list, right? To have an affair with the maid knight of Mondstadt. Oh, how heinous!
You chuckled at your own joke, which puzzled Noelle. Cradling her cheeks in your hands, you muttered.
"Will you not sleep with me, my rose? You can't possibly wish to abandon your lady in this lonely place, can you?"
Noelle stuttered her response and reddened tremendously. A series of "yes" and "no" came out of her lips, which made you laugh.
"I'm only teasing you, darling. But, yes, having you here would be preferable. The bed is ideally sized for the two of us." You invited Noelle by sliding to the left side of the bed to make space.
You eagerly latched onto Noelle as she climbed up the bed. When you cuddled into Noelle's neck, her hands patted your head as if on cue. You don't need to guess what Noelle wished to say when she planted a kiss on your forehead before following you to the dreamland.