Work Text:
Once upon a time in the prosperous land of Mondstadt, a couple worked as high-ranking knights in the noble organization Knights of Favonious. The couple lived comfortably too, for the wife was from the prominent Gunnhildr clan. They were the parents of two lovely daughters named Jean and Barbara. When the two were still children, a rift formed in their parents' marriage and they parted ways, with their father taking Barbara. Jean was overwhelmed with grief and confusion at the loss of her father and younger sister; day and night she wondered why her family was separated, but her mother never explained it.
Her mother too was secretly unhappy, but she sought to get rid of her sorrow by marrying another husband; an amiable man who might be a wonderful companion to her, someone to share her happiest and lowest moments with; a man who will also be a second father to Jean so she won't be missing a parent for the rest of her life. Unfortunately her choice fell on a widowed man of a proud and overbearing temper who had two daughters from a former marriage, named Jennifer and Odessa. The two daughters mirrored their father's personality. They always tried to please him but failed, for nothing ever seemed to satisfy their strict father.
Before marriage this man had the cunning to conceal his bad qualities so well that he appeared amiable to Jean's mother, who fell in love with him and eventually married him. In truth, the man held no affection for her and wanted to marry her for the wealth and renown she had as a knight of Mondstadt and a daughter of the Gunnhildr clan.
Jean enraged her stepfather and stepsisters. She always got the most attention from her mother and it was clear she was very loved. Every week she taught her the art of fighting with a sword and raised her to be righteous and brave. Meanwhile, Jean's stepsisters were not allowed to train because their father heavily disliked the thought of his daughters—his "real" daughters—taking part in such a sport.
Two years passed, and when Jean was only twelve years old, her mother fell terribly sick. Finding death approaching, she called Jean to her and thus addressed her, "My child, you are destined for something great, but in this world good things will not come so easily. You must bear everything with patience and righteousness, as your father and I have taught you before." After uttering these words the poor lady died, and Jean was struck with even more grief at losing her biological parents and sister, grief that a child like her shouldn't be experiencing.
Upon her mother's death, Jean was subject to hateful and neglectful treatment from her stepfather. She was given the most degrading occupations, and was urged to wash the dishes, clean the stairs, and sweep the rooms of her stepfather and stepsisters. Other times she took care of the orchard behind the manor, due to her stepfather neglecting it too. She tried getting help from Odessa and Jennifer, but they simply ignored her and looked the other way. On bad days, Odessa—the more cunning of the two sisters, similar to their father—would mock Jean and laugh at the latter's fate. Jean did not bother complaining to her stepfather. She didn't ask why he did the things he did either, despite the confusion she felt when she watched her stepsisters take lessons for swordfighting and even fighting with a bow and arrow under the wing of a tutor their father hired. Watching was all she could do, for she was not permitted to partake in it. She endured the haughty stares from Odessa and the averted gazes of Jennifer, but sometimes she swore she saw an expression of pity and sympathy on Jennifer's face.
Jean's stepsisters matured into women who dressed in luxurious gowns and jewelry, while all she had were her simplistic and often dirty clothing. However, Jean was still ten times more beautiful inside and out than her sisters, with her ash blonde hair always tied to a ponytail and her blue eyes that could be compared to a calm pond. Her sisters never had to work a day in their life, while it was Jean who kept everything in order at the manor.
Whenever she felt lonely, Jean would look at a small portrait sketch of her family which she was forced to hide by her stepfather who threw away any reminders of her biological family. She would reminisce about her family members, and wonder how her father and Barbara were doing.
The outdated sketch wasn't the only comfort she had; there was also the apple orchard, the setting of limited yet wonderful memories of her old family, and even more good memories with the person she often met there.
A mysterious witch about the same age as her, who introduced herself as Lisa Minci. They met one fateful day when Jean was walking by the end of the orchard, the boundary between the Gunnhildr plot of land and the wild forest. Jean saw Lisa under the shade of the dense trees, where she conjured an orb of purple electricity on her open palm. Jean was in disbelief, she didn't know magic was real until then, yet her attention was not on the magic but rather on the brunette witch who was just as electrifying as the spells she conjured. Jean met with Lisa regularly when she tended to the orchard. Sometimes she listened to her talk about a new field of magic she was researching, other times Lisa gave her advice on a grievance of hers, or they simply enjoyed the afternoon in peaceful silence. Afternoons with Lisa felt too short. It was like they never had enough time together, so Jean patiently waited for their next meeting. They successfully kept them a secret from her stepfather for years, for this is one thing she won't let him take away from her.
It happened that the prince of Mondstadt, Diluc Ragnvindr, would be hosting a two-night ball in a few weeks, and invitations were particularly extended to all the eligible maidens in the land. Recently, the king of Mondstadt passed away leaving Diluc as the only heir, due to his brother Kaeya having run away from the kingdom with the chief alchemist. As per Mondstadt traditions, Diluc was holding the ball to find his queen who would rule alongside him once he took the throne.
Of course, Jean's sisters were invited and they were extremely delighted. They talked endlessly about preparations for the ball, including how they will dress themselves and how they will impress the prince and woo him. Their happiness was almost contagious, because Jean was glad for her sisters despite the immense amount of work she had that involved ironing the linens, starching the ruffles, and so on. The joyous mood they had was instantly quashed by their father announcing they were no longer allowed to swordfight; their jousting lessons were soon replaced by lessons that trained them on being a lady, particularly one of a royal status.
She felt empathetic towards her sisters, and wanted very badly to console Jennifer who threw a childish tantrum at the announcement. One afternoon when their father was away, Odessa called Jean to their aid to unlock the shed of training weapons and shields then keep watch for their father while they jousted . She assisted in the most amiable manner, and listened attentively as they opened up about their dreams to become knights .
"Do not let Father hear about this, but I have no interest in the prince," whispered Jennifer as she took a break from the mini-training. "A life of prim and properness doesn't suit me at all, sparring is where I shine. Don't you agree, Odessa?"
Odessa smirked. "I agree. Oh, since we don't want to go to the ball at all, why don't we have Jean go in our stead? Would you like to go to the ball?"
Her question was thinly veiled by mock kindness, but it was easy to see through. "I'm not likely to go to the ball," Jean replied.
She cackled at her response. "You're right. People would be amused to see someone like you there. It'd be an instant turn off for the prince. The moment you step in, the ball is instantly rescheduled so you wouldn't be attending—"
Jennifer cleared her throat, interrupting her sister. "Let us go back inside. I'm tired." Jean was mildly grateful for this, she was slowly feeling worse as the barrage of insults from Odessa continued. If she was never interrupted, perhaps the insults would've been an endless stream; Odessa was never scolded for her cruel behavior as a child, and as a woman she felt no guilt in bullying those around her. If Jean acted cruelly like her stepfather and like how Odessa was taught to be, she might have told him what the sisters did while he was away, but she returned good for evil and quickly packed up the training materials once her sisters went back to the manor.
The sisters were in decent spirits as they awaited for the night the ball started. They spent their time before the looking glass—dress after dress and accessory after accessory tried on until their father proved their attire satisfactory and enough to somehow impress the prince. Jean yearned to attend the ball too, with Lisa as her companion. She planned it out in her head, Jean would attend the ball in secret, gleefully spend the two nights together, and return home before her family. But it was too risky; Jean didn't know where she'd get a presentable dress, nor a ride to the castle which was quite far from her home.
At last the long wished-for evening arrived. Odessa and Jennifer proudly stepped into the carriage with their father who will chaperone them for the evenings, and they rode off to the palace. Jean watched the carriage until it disappeared down the road, and then returned to the manor where she was surprised to see Lisa waiting for her by the entrance. Lisa had been gone for the past weeks, rarely showing up at the orchard. She told Jean she was busy practicing hard spells, spells she had to keep secret.
"Oh Jean, it hurts me greatly to see you like this," she said as they sat down in the living room. "Are you upset over the ball? I thought you had no interest in the prince."
"No, no, I don't. Besides, I think the concept of the ball is foolish, there's no way I'd marry someone after only two nights of knowing them." Jean sighed deeply. "It would be wonderful if I could attend the ball for some nights of freedom, though. I'd dance my worries away, sneak off to the gardens and feel the peace of the night, and if you were there with me…"
Lisa's face momentarily turned a bright pink, but it was hard to tell.
"But that's just a dream. People are too judgmental. All eligible maidens are supposedly invited, yet I'd be stopped at the doors if I tried to attend."
"You know what?" A mischievous smile started forming on Lisa's face, a smile Jean knew well. "There is a way for you to get to the ball. The spells I've been practicing are actually spells for you, they can help you attend!"
Jean lit up. "Really? How?" She had almost a dozen more questions to ask the witch, she wanted to ask her what drove Lisa to learn such spells for an extended period of time, all for Jean of all people, but she decided to save it for another time.
"We have to fetch some odds and ends, but it'll work. Trust the process." And odds and ends indeed they were. They took an apple from the orchard and Lisa turned it into a beautifully shaped coach. They found a murder of nine crows; four were turned into majestic stallions, one into a coachman, and the rest into footmen.
Excitement brewed in their hearts for the best part was about to come, they both knew it. Lisa had Jean stand in front of her, and after concentrating all her potent purple magic on Jean's graceful figure, her clothes were instantly changed to an evening gown. The sleeves and long gown were decorated with flower prints of varying shades of blue, while the torso was an elegant black with smaller flowers dotting it. She was also given a pair of comfortable glass slippers that fit her size. Lisa's outfit changed too, she was now wearing a simple dress the color of purple with silver designs. It had a lot of lace and it hugged her figure.
As the pair boarded the carriage with the assistance of the footmen, Jean guiltily voiced her worries to Lisa. "Do you think this will draw attention to me? To us?"
The latter pursed her lips. "I hope not."
Jean frowned. This whole plan of theirs relied on her family not recognizing her, someone they've lived with and interacted with for almost the past decade. It made her heart ache and she tried not to think about it.
Outside, the horses neighed and took off to the castle . They were now on their way.
"I should inform you of this; we have to leave before the clock strikes twelve. If we remained past that point, my spells would wear off. We would have no way of getting home, unless you want to take a shortcut through the woods," Lisa advised.
She gulped and nodded. She would have to pay a lot of attention to the time then. Her eyes fell on the woman sitting across from her, and she had a feeling that doing that may be a bit challenging.
The ball was more splendid than anything Jean imagined. Bright shimmering lights shining upon her almost blinded her, and the sudden attention she received from the crowd of nobles made her nervous. She held Lisa's hand, and the latter squeezed it as comfort.
As the two of them walked into the ballroom, all attendees looked at them in awe, wondering who the mystery women were. Royals with a close bond, reigning from a kingdom far away?
From a balcony up above, Diluc observed Jean and Lisa walking through the ballroom. The other attendees subconsciously made way for them, so it was easy to find them. His eyes were particularly on Jean. She looked familiar, but he didn't know where they met, or if they met at all.
"My lord , shouldn't you go down to the ball and mingle with the attendees?" asked the royal advisor.
"I will go down there when I want to," he muttered. He had no interest in balls like these and even less interest in the purpose of this ball. Diluc noticed Jean take to the middle of the ballroom with her companion, and he mentally noted that if he was forced to choose a maiden from the ones in this ball, it would be her. There's something in her eyes , he told himself, Kindness. Determination.
He scowled. If only his brother was still here. Diluc could've passed the throne to him, he could rule alongside the chief alchemist he took a liking to, but annoyingly the both of them were gone.
Pinned beneath the pressure of duties with no way of taking them off him, Diluc exited the balcony and joined the festivities.
Jean and Lisa danced and glided together across the ballroom floor like they were the only people in the world. Their hands were gently wrapped around each other's bodies, and despite Jean's lack of experience in ballroom dancing, she felt like a natural dancing with Lisa. When supper was served, they sat together and enjoyed the delicacies the ball had to offer. Coincidentally, Jean was sitting close to her stepsisters, so she engaged in friendly conversation with them and shared her desserts. They were greatly surprised, as they were certain they didn't know this mystery girl. Their conversation was immediately cut short by their father interrupting them and insisting that Jennifer and Odessa meet the prince.
The night was full of surprises, for Diluc approached Jean some time after supper started. The beginning of their conversation was short and clipped, yet it picked up when they were on the topic of sparring. Jean expressed her interest in fighting with swords , sabers, and rapiers, and found that Diluc preferred to fight with heavier weapons, such as claymores. Diluc also met Lisa, and they discussed amiably.
When the clock sounded, signalling it was quarter to midnight, the pair was outside walking through the royal gardens after sneaking away. Luckily they weren't too far from the clock, so they heard its sound and were able to take their leave before twelve.
As soon as they reached the Gunnhildr manor, Lisa's spell was immediately reversed. The carriage turned into an apple again, and the horses, coachmen, and footmen turned into nine crows that flapped away with a caw. Their clothing turned back to normal, but Jean was unbothered. She thanked Lisa over and over for the opportunity she was given. They shared a long and tight embrace, then Lisa disappeared into the night with only electrifying energy in the air as proof she was there at all.
Soon enough, her family arrived from the ball. Jean welcomed them into the manor, rubbing her eyes and yawning. "It's quite late. Did you enjoy the ball?" Of course, she was only feigning being tired. How could she be tired after a magical evening like this?
"If you were at the ball, you wouldn't be tired at all," Jennifer chirped happily. "There was the most beautiful girl who attended, and we spent some time talking to her. We shared dessert!"
Odessa rolled her eyes. "She's just a random tryhard with no substance, only there for the prince." Her face fell. "She… She doesn't matter."
Jean smiled patiently. "I hope she'll be there tomorrow, then. You seem to like her a lot."
The next evening she was indeed at the ball with her brunette companion. Jean and Lisa danced and took part in the feast , and occasionally Diluc would join them to have a chat. The prince was more introverted than Jean expected, he often let a conversation drift as if he was waiting for someone else to continue it. His face was always blank and deadpan, but he was never outwardly rude.
"I know a wonderful tavern in the city we can visit. My family runs it so I know it well," said Diluc, his offer subtly directed towards Jean, who also realized this.
"My apologies, I'm not sure if I can do that."
He looked sheepish. "I understand, the offer was made on short notice after all… I'm not sure I caught your name—?"
"Please excuse me." Jean bowed and walked away from the prince, not knowing what to do. She knew she couldn't share her real name, but if she told him a fake one, she might end up digging an inescapable hole of lies. Luckily, some attendees approached Diluc to talk to him, so his attention was forcefully shifted.
Jean made her way to the gardens, far away from the awkward conversation that just passed. Lisa was by her side, with a few things in her mind.
"The prince looks like he's taken a liking to you."
Jean waited for her to continue, thinking she had something else to say, but there was silence after that. Her eyes widened. "Are you jealous?"
"Not at all! It's not like that! It's just… There's a clear opportunity to change your life, right in front of you." Lisa's smile softened. "I don't want you to miss it."
"Oh, Lisa… I've told you many times, I have no interest in any of the sort. I can find my way through life just fine, I don't need to become a queen to change it."
She chuckled. "You're certainly an enigma of a person, I'm glad I met you."
They held each other's soft hands, fingers intertwined together, and for the thousandth time in the past two evenings Jean thanked her for everything. So enraptured in the moment the women were, so enraptured with each other, they were startled by the first stroke of midnight when they thought it was still eleven o' clock. They started sprinting for the exit, but to do that they had to pass through the ballroom. Diluc saw them running and tried to intercept them, but Jean simply pushed past him and ran out the castle . In her hurry, Jean accidentally tripped over herself and one of her slippers fell out. She paid no mind to it and went into the forest with Lisa to take a shortcut back home. The witch's spell had been reversed so they had no carriage to use. Their clothes turned back to normal as well, so when they arrived back home Jean was shivering from the cold night air. Lisa embraced her, acting like armor against the cold and giving her warmth.
"I'm so sorry, I should've been more careful," Jean sobbed. She didn't feel worthy enough to return Lisa's hug.
"Don't apologize, dear. We had a good time at the ball, didn't we? It's alright."
Jean felt like the dumbest jester of them all, but Lisa's words comforted her. "I did enjoy the ball… but only because you were there."
"I feel exactly the same."
The next few moments flew by in a blur, and Jean cursed herself for not remembering it clear enough. If she did remember it clearly she would replay it over and over in her head until she had every second memorized.
They leaned closer and closer, opposite magnets attracting the other, constellations falling into place. There was an electrifying moment, a moment of pause, one second Lisa was there, the next she was not. Jean's fingers grazed her lips where they had been previously touched, and she yearned for more.
When Jean's stepsisters returned home, she heard stories and rumors about the two ladies who hurriedly ran through the ballroom. There were no reports of them exiting the castle , except for two plainly dressed women who certainly were not attending the ball. One of the women who did attend—the one who caught the prince's eye—left a glass slipper behind which he found by the forest. Jean recalled that her remaining glass slipper did not fade away like the rest of Lisa's spell; she had it hidden well in the attic.
A few days later, the prince announced that every maiden, especially the ones who attended the ball, were encouraged to try on the left-behind slipper to see if it'll fit. If the maiden was found to be the owner of the slipper, then she would most definitely be the mystery lady in blue. The slipper was first tried on by all the princesses, then by all the duchesses, and next by all the persons belonging to the court, but in vain. Eventually the slipper was taken to the Gunnhildr manor for the sisters. They tried every possible thing they could think of to get the slipper to fit—and why wouldn't they try when their father was secretly glaring at them from the other side of the room, threatening them—but the sisters failed too.
Jean watched them from the stairway leading to the second floor. Tucked into a satchel she brought was the other glass slipper to complete the two of a kind. In the case that no one would believe she was the slipper's owner, she would reveal the one she had.
Deep down she was doubting this, and she told so to Lisa who encouraged her to step forward as the mystery lady. In the end, she decided to follow through with Lisa's plan in the hopes that Diluc would hear her out and avoid marrying her. But that was for the future. Now, she had to act.
She made her way downstairs and intercepted the gentleman who had the job of bringing the slipper around. "Excuse me. I'd like to try on the slipper," she said.
Her stepsisters laughed at her and her stepfather was aghast. "Don't you think about it, fool!" he shrieked, but realizing that there was someone else with them in the house he cleared his throat and spoke politely to the gentleman before them. "My apologies, sir, but she may not try it on. She didn't attend the ball, so there's no way the slipper would be hers—"
"Oh, but you are mistaken." Jean's voice was louder now, more confident. She opened the satchel hanging by her shoulders and presented a glass slipper matching the one in the gentleman's hands. "I own the matching slipper."
"How dare you! Did you steal it?! I can't believe you would go this far—"
The gentleman was visibly annoyed. "Sir, I have been appointed to try this slipper on every eligible maiden . The ones who did attend the ball are simply the ones I go to first, but that doesn't mean they're the only ones I approach." He ordered Jean to sit on the sofa, and carefully put the slipper on her foot. Indeed, it fit her wonderfully like wax, as if the slipper was customized just for her. She tried on the second slipper, which fit as well. Her stepsisters immediately realized she was the one who talked to them at the ball, for the smiles on the mystery lady and Jean's face held the same kindness, respect, and friendliness.
"So it is you! The maiden the prince has been searching for!" the gentleman proclaimed.
Her stepsisters surrounded Jean and begged her for forgiveness, worried she'll throw them into prison once she's crowned queen. Even Odessa apologized profusely. She simply embraced them and sincerely forgave them. She also approached her stepfather and forgave him too, no matter how many times he denied treating Jean with any cruelty.
Jean was then taken to the palace a few nights later. Lisa accompanied her at her request, and when they arrived at the prince's castle they had an important conversation with him.
"I had no idea you were a Gunnhildr," said Diluc.
"My stepfather married my mother for the Gunnhildr family fortune, I believe he's given it to his daughters by now. I'd like to request the fortune given back to me, but I don't want to leave my sisters with nothing either…"
"Jean," Lisa interrupted, reminding her that she was forgetting something.
"Oh, right." She cleared her throat. "I am sorry to say this Prince Diluc, but I have no desire to be queen."
He was visibly taken aback.
"My sisters hold the same opinion too. My father was only pressuring them to marry you."
Diluc arched his brow. "What do you want then? If you didn't want this in the first place why did you get the shoe fitted?"
"I'd like to apply for the Knights of Favonius, just like my ancestors before me. I have not received much training in the past few years but I am self taught."
"And I would like to work as a librarian here," said Lisa. "I have knowledge in many fields but I'm still interested in learning what the world has to teach me."
He nodded slowly, his mind racing as he came up with a decision. The women stood there in silence inside the prince's study, anxiously waiting for him to come to a conclusion.
Suddenly, he grinned, which was perhaps the rarest sight someone can come upon in Mondstadt. "The citizens will surely be riled up if I go against royal traditions and avoid marrying someone, but I'm ready for a lot of things to change within the upcoming years. Jean, you and your sisters will start training as a knight next week, and Lisa, you will be the current librarian's apprentice by next week too. Are you satisfied with this?"
Filled with joy, Jean and Lisa happily accepted his proposal. They shook hands over it and as they left the office, Diluc started writing a letter for the Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius, and a letter to the current librarian. Odessa and Jennifer were overjoyed too, and their father didn't bother stopping them when they began training at the manor's courtyard.
Things were finally looking up for Jean. She recalled her mother's last words to her, and she was indeed right—things didn't start out wonderfully for her, but now, the life of her dreams has been reached.
BONUS ENDING
Knocking on the door of Jean's office causes her to look up from her paperwork.
"Come in!"
The door swung open and Lisa stepped inside with a casual smile. "Hey cutie, Diluc called for you."
Jean nodded and exited her office after finishing up the paperwork. She traveled by horse from the Knights of Favonius headquarters to the royal palace. Diluc wasn't at the throne room, he never was, so she went to his study. It was the same study he always had, he never bothered to move to the more spacious office his father used.
"You called for me, Your Majesty?" she asked.
"Indeed. I have a new mission to assign you. There have been some disturbances in the regions of Dragonspine. I'd like for you to gather some people and investigate the area."
The regions of Dragonspine, the harsh and snowy mountains where Diluc's brother disappeared to.
"Of course. We'll get on to it as soon as possible. Results may take a while to arrive but not to worry."
The ghost of a small smile entered his face, but it disappeared quickly after. "I wish you luck, Acting Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius."