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It was nightfall when Diluc had set off when he received information on strange Abyss activities happening at Stormbearer Mountains. He scoured the mountains and eventually found a group of hilichurls helmed by an Abyss mage. The battle fought between them and him was fierce but in the end, Diluc came out on top mostly unscathed. Once the ashes of the last body had dissipated, Diluc turned to make his way back to the Dawn Winery, exhausted and vowing to take the next day…today (when he realised it was in the wee hours of the morning) off instead of going to Mondstadt to prepare to open Angel’s Share. Charles can handle that for today instead of him, right now, all he cared about was to go back to the winery and hit the hay.
(He could almost hear Adelinde nagging at him to go to sleep at a respectable timing like everyone else lest he start growing grey hair at a tender age of thirty or worse, give her grey hair.)
As he continued to walk, he passed by a bush of wild valberries, its bright pink exterior and its plump outlook signifying its proper ripeness. He hurried over, examining the fruit closely, pleased to find that it was currently at the perfect amount of ripeness to make a few cocktails he had in mind many weeks ago. And even if he did not want to make a cocktail, it could be used to make a refreshing juice without anything needed to add in to balance the taste.
He wondered if the Traveller had a chance to drink valberry juice as it was often hard to find valberries that are properly ripe for the picking. Unripe and it would be too sour to stomach, too ripe and it would be too disgustingly sweet. Valberries were also notoriously hard to grow in a proper farm, only having been able to grow on mountainous areas that have to be both humid and windy. And even then, they had to be spread apart, too close and they would not grow at all. The yield per year would not be worth the money spent to grow them, as a result, there were many people who were not that interested in growing them as compared to easier fruits like sunsettias and apples.
(He would know, he had tried before and failed like everyone else.)
When he finished picking the valberries (not all, the animals in the area need them as well), he placed them in his sack, the one he had normally used to store evidence or information. He hauled the sack over his shoulders, adjusting his body to take on unwieldy bulk. And as he turned back to the road back to the winery, he began thinking of the recipes he could use for the valberries.
By the time he reached the Dawn Winery, the sun had already taken its place in the sky and Adelinde looked rightfully furious as she stood at the entrance of the winery.
“I can explain,” Diluc said, feeling like he is seven again and trying to hide the broken remnants of what was once a vase while Kaeya tried his best to hide behind him.
“While I am sure that you can and that you are also old enough to know better, perhaps informing us that you would be out for the night instead of letting us find out by ourselves would be something for you to consider next time,” Adelinde said, smiling and still looking displeased about her master’s actions.
“Right…” Diluc said, looking away guiltily.
Adelinde sighed but chose not to pursue the matter any further, instead, her focus shifted to the sack over Diluc’s shoulders. “What do you have there, master Diluc?” she asked and Diluc could not help but sigh in relief at the change in topic.
“Valberries. I want to try out a few recipes.”
Adelinde nodded and Diluc was finally free to enter the winery unimpeded. However, before he could close the door, Adelinde stopped him. “Master Diluc, one more thing,” she said while Diluc tilted his head in question. “Happy birthday.”
Ah, Diluc had forgotten today’s date. How many years has it been since that fateful day? His mood soured instantly and his original plans were forgotten in the change of his mood. “Thank you, Adelinde,” he said, not wanting to sound impolite and disrespectful before shutting the door in her face.
(She is definitely going to nag about it later.)
The sack of valberries dropped to the floor as Diluc sighed and leaned against the wooden door. He pushed himself off a moment later, the sack forgotten as he walked over to his drinks cabinet to pull out a bottle of his homemade grape juice. He pulled out a wine glass and poured himself a cupful before taking a long drink out of it. He lowered the glass and he stared into the juice, almost making out his own reflection in the glass. He turned his head to the door and spotted the sack of valberries he had discarded on the floor. The glass was placed on a table as he went to the sack to pick it up from the ground.
Right, he had wanted to make valberry juice for the Traveller.
He set the sack down on the table where he left his half-empty glass of grape juice before picking up the glass and finishing the last drop of juice in it. He set the glass aside to be washed and a maid quickly walked over to pick it up. At the same time, Diluc poured out the contents of the sack to the table and examined his spoils.
(How many years has it been since that fateful day? Diluc did not want to remember.)
He set up the equipment to juice the berries, his movements mechanical as he tried to forget the memories that haunt the place.
(How many years has it been since that fateful day? Does Kaeya even remember?)
He watched the juice drip down into the container he had set below. He would have to set another one up later for Paimon. No doubt if he sent only one, the Traveller would not taste even a single drop.
(How many years has it been since that fateful day? But the Traveller told him once that it was okay to not want to remember, to want to forget.)
He set aside the containers full of valberry juice to be placed in the cooler with his other experimental drinks and looked back at the remaining valberries. There was still enough left to experiment with some new cocktails. Perhaps he should invite the Traveller and Paimon over to sample them, he could always use their opinions in improving the drinks.
(How many years has it been since that fateful day? Diluc did not want to be alone.)
After placing the containers into the cooler, he went into his study to take out his writing materials and began to pen out the letter.
If this opportunity hadn't come, I'm afraid I wouldn't have even thought of it.
The Valberries are at their best right now, crisp, plump, and sweet to the taste.
(It was not a lie, he did stumble upon them.)
Unfortunately, they only grow in the humid and windy areas of the mountains and are difficult to cultivate.
There's only so many that grow naturally that they can't be used feasible in the wine industry.
(It was not a lie, he had tried before.)
But I digress, I have already taken care of everything without any issues. How are you doing?
(It was not a lie, he had taken care of the abyss mage that was wandering in Stormbearer Mountains.)
If you have time, let's have dinner tonight.
(It was not a lie, he had intended to invite the Traveller and his friend over.)
I'd like to make a drink from the Valberries I've freshly picked and share it with you. No expense should be spared on occasions like these.
(It was not a lie, he had wanted to make a drink for the Traveller and his friend.)
As for matters that I am unable to say in this letter, I will tell you personally when we meet.
(It was not a lie, he kept telling himself, because he really had something to tell the Traveller. But it was not a lie because he will never lie, not when lying led to that fateful day so many years ago.)