Chapter Text
I could’ve sent anyone to find dandelions but here I am…
The acting grandmaster thought while picking up the dandelions scattered up the mountains of stone gate, near the border of Liyue and Mondstadt. There were a few scattered Hilichurl camps around and she had already cleared up some as she looked for more dandelions.
“Oh— Help! Help!”
Her ears picked up the cries of help almost immediately. It wasn't loud, almost muffled, clear sign that the person screaming was up the mountain. Jean followed the voice, tucking the dandelions she picked up in the basket she brought with her and ran.
“Where are you? Speak!” she called.
“H-Help— hili…” and silence.
She didn’t hear the voice anymore. It was close, she IS close, just up ahead. She heard someone ‘tsked’ and followed by ‘thank you’s”.
“Hello? Where are— Oh!” She saw Pallad… No wonder the voice sounded familiar, she thought. “Are you okay?”
“Master Jean! Oh Thank goodness! I need help, your healing!”
“Where are you hurt?” she squatted down and looked over Pallad, checking for injuries, aside from the small scratch on his arm. “Give me your arm.”
“It’s just a scratch but it stings… and oh! Master Diluc, thank you for the help.” He said, looking up at the man who just came, which made Jean look up.
Diluc stood before her… and Pallad. Looking like he just killed a Hilichurl. He sighs and hands Pallad an envelope, only glancing at her once.
“Here.” He says as if he was disturbed during his nap.
The reckless adventurer immediately stood up and accepted the envelope, scratching the back of his neck and smiled. “Thank you, Mr. Diluc!” turned to her and said, “Thank you, Master Jean! I have to run and report this envelope to the Adventurers Guild immediately! Thank you so much!”... and ran.
She wasn’t even able to ask what happened.
It was confusing… and a little bit infuriating.
“Seems the Knights are pretty lax now, Acting Grand Master Jean?” She heard the Young noble say stoically, facing at the direction where Pallad just ran off before looking down at her… and her basket.
She stands up, chin high and basket gracefully handled. “More like we are lacking manpower due to high requests for the Knights.”
“Requests to pick some… flowers?” He raised a brow and glanced at the dandelions.
“No, to deal with monsters and—”
“Doesn’t look like to me, Master Jean.”
“It is still a request, Master Diluc.” she replies, emphasizing the title.
He shook his head and sighed as if disappointed. “You say that…” he trailed and turned to walk away.
Diluc winced once his face was out of her sight and walked to the adventurer camp he found earlier before he heard reckless Pallad asking for help. This day couldn’t get any worse. He thought and took deep heavy breaths.
“You look like you’re distracted.”
He was startled by the voice behind him. Damn, I completely forgot.
“You’re awful.” She says, brows furrowed.
“I know.”
“Sit, Diluc.”
“Forgot about the Honorifics?”
“Sit, Master Diluc.”
“I was about to.”
“Scoot over.”
He glanced at her, annoyed. “Why should I, you should hurry up and go back.” he says, although he has already adjusted to his seat, the Dandelion knight sitting beside him. “Honestly, why would you sit—”
“Because you need me.”
“Why would I ever need you, pray tell?”
“You’re injured.”
“I sure as hell am not.” he says, confidently.
“Give me your arm.” At that he went silent and stared at the woman beside him. He made sure he was moving normally, no crooked suit nor flailing arm. “I know your arm is injured Diluc.”
He sighed and gave his arm, since they are sitting beside each other, he placed his arm on her lap.
The blonde immediately holds his arm in place, her left hand hovering over his left arm, just above the injury.
Her brows knotted at the unmistakably deep wound, something like… it was stabbed by a sword or a knife.
She peeked her eyes through her bangs and saw his irritated expression. Hah, even Master Diluc gets annoyed by his wound— or perhaps about me noticing it and healing him.
“This is quite a deep one, isn’t it?” She inquired, breaking the silence.
“Is it?” He replied, as if unbothered, eyes straight looking forward.
“Hilichurls?”
“...and a Mitachurl. They made camps around the area.”
“This area is close to the border with Liyue.” She says, glancing sideways to the view from the mountain. “I’m surprised I haven’t seen any Fatui yet.”
“Apparently they made camp on the other side of the mountains, in Liyue. Since there have been a lot of Hilichurl camps here, they opted to be in Liyue near the border to Mond.” He said and lifted his arm, checking for pain. “It’s healed.” Diluc doesn't usually go around Mondstadt during the day to find Fatui or monsters, but the bar has gotten quite crowded even with the sun still up, and the Dark knight hero does not like crowds. “I’m surprised you didn’t know the situation here?”
The statement made her sigh. Indeed, Jean was not aware of the camps near the border, although she had some knowledge about the growing number of the monsters in the mountains.
“There have been a handful of complaints about stolen goods lately, about Nobles and merchants getting stopped on the road but I didn’t expect them to be— no, I should have sent knights to check the mountains during the day and night. It is my responsibility after all.” The Nobles are also having a banquet soon, which makes the knight even more occupied. She bowed her head in shame and disappointment, and she is sure that Master Diluc is disappointed about this situation.
“You should take it easy, Jean.” Though, I’m not one to talk. He stood up and looked at her. Before he could continue what he was about to say, they heard a voice from behind them.
“Ah, I see.”
A very familiar and annoying one. Great. “Kaeya.” He mumbled under his breath.
“Did something happen?” Jean immediately stood up to face the Cavalry Captain.
“Oh nothing, really.” His eye looked at the two alternatingly, a smug smile hiding under his friendly manner of speaking. “The Nobles are looking for the Heads of the Ragnvindr and Gunnhildr Clan. Apparently, they are quite agitated on your personal matters.”
A hand placed on Jean’s chest, nervous, and confused. “Agitated on our Personal matters?” she repeats.
“Eula Lawrence is betrothed to me. Although she isn’t much liked in the Lawrence clan, the Ragnvindr and Gunnhildr viewed it as something else, I am not sure what they think exactly but personally, I think Eula and I may have… prompted the elders to think about marriage. Especially that we all are of age and the Gunnhildr and Ragnvindr—”, he eyed the blonde and the redhead, “---have never mentioned nor showed any signs of settling down. Not even an interest in a potential lover.”
This did nothing to Diluc, the thought of having his own family was something he didn’t pay attention long ago. He could always adopt just to have an heir for the business or appoint Kaeya to continue the wine industry (since he loved drinking so much), he can even just have a board of directors.
“I don’t know what you’re thinking dear brother but no, unless you have the blood in your veins, the people won’t acknowledge your child.”
“We don’t know tha—”
“Oh yes, I do. Very much so.” a somber look on his face.
At that moment, he was reminded how Kaeya is not truly his brother in flesh. Diluc had a hard time accepting him after their father died, their relationship as brothers has always been sour since then, and although Diluc, as much as he doesn’t want to admit it, grew fond of his presence.
“As brothers, you have tolerated me and my mischief. However, not the Ragnvindrs, especially the elders.” he turned to the blonde and smiled sweetly, “It seemed that we now know what the banquet will be all about.”
“It’s too soon.” She says, looking tired.
Kaeya scoffed. “Not really, we are of age.”
“Just because we are older does not mean should be settling down, if you’re not ready for a commitment, then don’t do it.” Diluc interjects.
“Now, now, Diluc, don’t be cold to the elders. After all, you are a noble.” Kaeya reminded him.
He knows this of course. It is instilled in them since they were young, Jean also knows this. It was absolute, to be able to settle down, pick a partner, dedicate your life to your family, and raise your children is one of the reasons why people trust you. It meant you are devoted in doing what is right.
“The banquet will be held in 5 days, no wonder why the elders are so engrossed about what I should wear.” She sighed, “I had thought… I had thought something more important would happen or discuss the issues in Teyvat.”
“Right, you are called Jean to meet with the Knights and the nobles.” he added.
“You’re just saying that now?” Diluc says.
“Well, the meeting will be about what I just relayed to you both. Just a heads up. Hahaha!” He laughed and started walking back to the direction of the city. “Come one, you both.”