The windows were closed tightly so as the curtain, blocking the light from entering. Y/n was all alone in her room, staring at the closed-window blankly. Growing up with daily hatred and sense of distrust in the family, she learned not to get attached.
She was supposed to be at the Dawn Winery, taking care of the gardens there. Yet, she decided to skip for a day. Her small fame felt weak and burning with fever一adding another reason for her absence.
Not only was she in fever, she was at the edge of the brimming tears that formed without permission.
Knock knock
She heard knockings from the door and some faint voice that chirped, "It's us, Kaeya and Diluc." She was left with no choice but to let them in. The h/c quickly opened the curtain, giving access for sun to light her room. "Come in!" She holored with the dried and raspy voice.
The door was opened, revealing the children that quickly walked in the room一not forgetting to close the door of course. The presence of the small children gave a little light to the blank e/c. Their tiny legs climbed to the bed, watching her as she gazed at the window outside. They held her hands side by side, giving her the best comfort they could give.
"We heard about your family."
Ah yes,
The fight from her parents that never ended. "Are you okay?" Now it's the red's turn to talk. The h/c didn't give any response, still keeping her gaze to the window as the birds flew passed by. "It's fine if you can't work and play today. We can play all we want once you got better!" Kaeya chirpped, trying his obvious attempt.
"Yeah, we'll also help and comfort you when you need us to. You don't have to go on alone," Diluc agreed, also trying his best.
Those words一ah, how long had she not hear them? Those words were what she exactly needed now. "I'm having fever. That's all." Well, it wasn't a total lie for the h/c.
"...Y/n?" Diluc called softly to her. "Yeah?"
"We'll give our best support to you. So let us know if you need anything."
Just like that, her eyes were at the edge of tears. They were shinning, reflecting her own e/c better. "I'm scared..." she sobbed under her breath, giving into her tears. There was nothing else for her to fight back. There was nothing else for her to look up at. Even if she at least tried to...
All of them were all in vain.
The two Ragnvindr wrapped their tiny arms around her small body whilst giving her a small comfort. Albeit they were also fighting back their tears, they held still for the small h/c as she cried on their arms. "What if I failed? What if they decided to divorce? What if I can't accept him as my father?"
All those questions floated in her own head, finally letting it all out for the day. Oh, how she missed the day where she was playing outside with her two friends together while she worked at the garden, helping the servants there.
****
"I wish you well, Y/n."
A sweet voice rang through her ears. She knew whose voice was it, but didn't dare to look back一she still couldn't let go of her mother. "Thank you, Mother," she spoke softly to herself or maybe to the spirit一hallucination she had. Either way, it's enough to convince herself so.
A birthday drinking party was held in a building一no, not her birthday party. But engagement ceremony between the humans she couldn't stand. She really wanted to intervern, but who's she to do so? Even if she were his legal daughter, she couldn't bring herself to destroy the ceremony.
It wasn't anyone's fault in the family.
Was it?
Just as she was about to leave and stepped closer to the door, she stopped herself from opening the door一as if someone would scare her as soon as she opened the door. Her eyes wandered and landed on boots she was familiar with.
'Big brother!'
Forgetting all the thought she had, Y/n quickly opened the door一not forgetting to close it back. There, she saw a familiar man, sitting on the sofa. He was reading a 'WEEKLY NEWS!!' newspaper.
"Anwyll!"
The brother, Anwyll, turned his head一staring from up to down of the h/c. "Who are you? A stranger that walks in the house?" Anwyll joked whilst embracing Y/n一messing with her well-dressed hair. "Happy birthday," he announced calmly before planting a small kiss on top of her head. "Thanks, are you here for the engagement cermony?"
They fell into silence. She noticed how the sweet smile curled down to a frown for a second. Like how Y/n was, Anwyll was against with the idea of their father having a mistress. "Mmm, nah. Must be boring. What ahout you?" He quickly shook off the changing atmosphere with a smile一that seemed to be fake.
"I'm going. Afterall, I was the one who paid things." She gave a small awkward smile before going to her own room. "You know, you're not going to be credited there."
"Yes, I know. I just一wanna visit and say hi."
A dress appeared before her once she opened the door, followed by creak noises. 'It's gonna break any time now.' She jokingly smiled whilst walking inside the room. The dress was perfectly laid on the bed neatly一though, there's some missing pieces.
The flowing dark blue dress like the night sky flowed down to the knees. Long sleeves hung around the dress' top. Turning her gaze, she saw the pieces of flowers that were一shred. Still, she was astonished looking herself in the old dress from her sweet seventeenth birthday.
Some parts were ripped as if this was a Cinderella's story一where the main character's dress was ripped apart by her stepmother along witht the stepsiblings. Welp, it's not like she could do anything about it. Even if people commented on how improper her dress was, it's best to ignore them.
Like hell, it's easy.
...
All attentions were thrown to the main couples as they danced on the floor as the light from above illuminated the hall. Y/n lifted her fingers to pull back the hair that fell, blocking her gaze of the apple juice glass. She lost count how many glasses had she drunk the apple juice albeit she didn't care a single bit.
The hall was decorated with so much flowers as gifts for the happiness of the engaged couple. Her e/c was drawn to the statue一rather more interested than the dance that rhymed with the song. The accompanimant reminded her the song she used to hear in a... manor?
'Ballads of Breeze, huh?'
Where had she heard this song before? Either way, the h/c still didn't pay any mind to the detail of the hall. "Hi, uhm, are you Y/n L/n?" A nervous voice spoke as she was about to sip from the tip of the glass. Her e/c met with the bronze and could only lift a polite smile. "Yes, I hope you're enjoying this enormous party."
The man chuckled nervously while averting his gaze from the sharp e/c. "If you don't mind, I've been paying attention to you. So, would you like to一"
"Dance? I'm sorry, before the song starts, you'd be humiliated by crowds here."
Oh, how she hated this situation. Why did her father invited men from families? Was he planning to sell her away? Not to mention, the man straight up asking to dance without introducing first. She continued drinking the glass, not even paying a single mind to the man that walked away. Her smile shifted to straight face right away before she could even reach for another glass.
The song stopped, ended with a violin. Attentions scattered around the hall, only to bring back by some knocks of a glass. "May I have your attention please?"
Ever since she arrived, all she did was drinking and not paying attention to the surroundings. "I would like to say, thank you for you arrival in this small party."
'Small party my head. I spent a lot of moras for this.'
"I've made this party for all of us to enjoy and celebrate my engagement with my一now, fiancee, Diane Lysafia that's now, Diane L/n."
'I'm the one who made this whole big party, you old hag.'
Though, all her thoughts were cursing at who her father acclaimed, she still kept her gaze calm, stuffing her mouth with some chocolate fountain. Once the announcments ended, her face was still clam as ever一watching the crowds from afar.
She had no interest in social gatherings, even this big. Her blank e/c stared at whatever it wanted to stare, could be the chocolate fountain, Barbatos' statue, the rainning sky, or watched the crowds as they had their small conversation.
"Oh, Y/n一!"
"Afternoon, Ms Lysafia. How may I help you in this wonderful evening?"
The blonde stared at the e/c, searching for some lights in it. Of course, like the abyss, there wouldn't be any light deep within her straight e/c. Her h/c was tucked neatly behind her ears. "Please call me, Diane or Mother if you're一" Diane stopped her words when she saw the shaking glass from the h/c's lips. Diane knew about her background as one of the Captain in the Favonius, not using violence unless it's needed.
Albeit Diane's knowledge, she still didn't dare to trigger her anger. "I apologize if I offend you in any ways. But I would like to be close to you."
"How about you keep your beautiful bronze eyes to your fiancee?"
She gestured the glass to her father that was talking with another woman一moving her gaze the next second to drink the apple juice again. Diane's arrival wasn't necessary for Y/n, rather finding it to be一sore eyes. "I believe in your father as much as I do with you."
"100 or less?"
"200!"
The h/c scoffed, smirking coldly whilst placing the glass on her lips. "I-I'll try my best to be a better mother for the baby in me."
"I'm sure you'll be one. They showed up with the wrong father," Y/n shot back like it was nothing for her, drinking another sip of the apple juice. "You could've choosen a better man than him," Y/n added without an expression, using her monotone. The smell from the blonde was acrid, giving some stings on her nose.
"Will you accomadate me and our future family?"
'Accomadate?' She quickly turned her gaze, giving a small death glare一making the blonde flinched in wary and fear. "I'll support that child, but not you and the father. Know your place, Ms. Lysafia," she warned with full of threat一not even a word did she not miss.
"F-forgive me. Don't worry about that! I'll be the best mother you'll ever have in your life一"
The glare became sinister, that sinister turned to a calm face, as she continued to drink the apple juice calmly. The way his father acclaimed the girl in front of her was either expected or not. Even if it was, Y/n chose not to waste her anger一
"And be a better mother than yours!"
***
⚠️There are no date for the birthday! This is just for the plot and nothing else!⚠️