Chapter Text
Y/N didn’t like getting up early in the morning. She much preferred sleeping in until the sun was right up in the sky, floating above the dancing clouds and melodious bird calls of Liyue Harbor’s afternoon scene. She would drag herself out of bed and put on her finest garments, calling on her servant, Xiuli, to fetch her some midday tea and cookies. For the remainder of the day, she would spend her time strolling peacefully through Liyue’s many courtyard gardens and fields, unbothered and undisturbed while she admired the shimmering glaze lilies swaying gently in the wind. Having grown up as the daughter of one of the Liyue Qixing’s most accomplished members, Y/N lived a privileged life where money and familial love were never in any shortage. She could do whatever she wanted, wake up whenever she wanted…
But today was different. Y/N’s father had just passed from an illness three weeks ago, leaving her with nothing but a message. She remembered the exact moment she parted the scroll with her shaking hands, tears clouding her vision and Xiuli’s palm placed cautiously on her shoulder. She recognized her father’s neat handwriting on the expensive parchment between her fingers, and began to cry even harder. Y/N missed her father dearly, and she told herself that she would honor and hold on to anything she was about to read in that scroll, soon realizing that it may not have been the best decision to do so. Ominously, it read:
Dearest Y/N,
I am sorry to leave you like this, but it appears my time has come to an end. I hope I was an adequate father - I tried my very best to raise you with as much love and affection as I could after your dear mother died when you were born. I’m afraid it’s time for me, too, to go.
I don’t have time to explain, but the estate and servants have been sold off to the Guangs. You have three weeks to pack your things and leave to look for a job at Dawn Winery in Windwail Highland, Mondstadt. It is where you must go.
When you get there, tell Adelinde that you’re my daughter. She’ll know what to do with you from there.
I know this is sudden, my dearest. But you must go to Dawn Winery. You must do it for me.
I love you. I’m sorry.
Baba
Y/N didn’t know what to think of the message at first. Not only did her father leave her with nothing of value - he had instructed her to travel across Liyue to a foreign land she had never set foot in before. She was confused, yes, but she was willing to put in her best efforts to fulfill her father’s last wish.
“Don’t be nervous, miss. I’m sure your father has a plan.” Xiuli spoke gently as she added the finishing touches to Y/N’s elegant attire, her words laced with reassurance.
“I sure hope so.”
Soon she would be leaving her homeland, possibly for a long time. She couldn’t bear to say goodbye to the home she grew up in, to the servant who accompanied her from when she was a child, to the city that raised her with as much warmth as her father did. She would miss Liyue Harbor achingly. Still, Y/N had a habit of finding the light in even the darkest of times, and today was no exception. After grabbing her bags, she held Xiuli in a tight embrace and said her final goodbyes, and stepped into the bright glow of Liyue’s sunrise.
...
The journey across Liyue was a bumpy and unpleasant one. It turned out that traveling along a vast expanse of rock-covered terrain for the better part of three hours didn’t exactly guarantee a smooth and luxurious experience. A pang of longing swept over Y/N as she held up the carriage window’s dusty green drapes and watched Liyue Harbor disappear behind the mountains over her shoulder. Despite all this, as she finally crossed the border between Liyue and Mondstadt, she couldn’t help but feel a small spark of anticipation for what she might find at the winery. She wondered with excitement about all the different types of jobs they could give her while she lived on the estate; sommelier, manager, secretary… The possibilities were endless.
Y/N watched as the yellows and oranges of Liyue’s grasslands faded from view, replaced with the lush greenery and boundless fresh air of Windwail Highland, Mondstadt. She spotted Dragonspine in the distance, a monstrous yet familiar beauty that she strangely found solace in having ventured into a new land. A tall cathedral loomed somewhere ahead. That’s probably the city. This, at last, was Mondstadt - the City of Freedom. She couldn't help but like it already.
The carriage pulled to a stop outside one of Dawn Winery's many vineyards. Y/N was more than glad that the five-hour-long ride was finally over. Aching from head to toe, she jumped out of the carriage and swiftly made her way across the vineyard, trying her best to avoid bumping into carts of hay and huge barrels while balancing heavy bags of her possessions on either aim. The winery was close; she could see it in all of its grand, noble glory and couldn’t wait to bust through those polished wooden doors, plop onto a cozy couch by a welcoming fireplace - preferably the largest one they had - and begin her new life of learning and leisure.
As she approached the winery’s main building, an intimidating mansion-sized establishment with pointed roofs, she noticed what appeared to be a group of housemaids and servants waiting by the main entrance. They must be here to help with my things! Y/N grew increasingly desperate to get to the door and hand her bags over to the servants, and before she knew it, she was running.
“Finally, some help! Hello there! I’m–” Before she could finish her introduction, Y/N’s foot caught on on a cartwheel nearby and she couldn’t stop herself in time - she fell face-first onto the muddy ground, covering herself in a layer of soil and sludge. She wanted to hide. An overwhelming sense of embarrassment filled her as the housemaids rushed forward to see if she was alright.
“Oh goodness, are you hurt, dear?” A woman dressed in a housemaid outfit knelt by Y/N’s side, a look of concern on her face. She had short blonde hair and green eyes, and there was something warm about her that mildly comforted Y/N, though she couldn’t pinpoint exactly what. Looking down at her mud-stained dress, she could only imagine what her face looked like at the moment. She was a mess. How was she supposed to spend her first day at a place as sophisticated as the winery like this?
On the brink of tears, she managed, “Can I please speak to Adelinde? My father sent me…”
“You’re looking at her,” the blonde lady replied, a sweet smile stretching across her features. “I’m Adelinde, the Head Housemaid at Dawn Winery. You must be Y/N. I’ve been told a lot about you.”
Confused, Y/N stuttered, “B-But how…? How do you know about me? Did you know my father?”
“There’s no time for chit-chat. The annual wine tasting ceremony is about to begin. Come with me, I’ll show you to the servants’ chambers and get you a new maid’s uniform.”
Now she was really lost.
“Maid..? I-I don’t understand…”
“Yes. Maid. You’re going to be working here as a housemaid for Master Diluc. Didn’t anybody tell you?”