It had been three weeks since you had joined the wait staff at Daybreak Manor. Adelinde helped you settle in, and beyond that you were expected to know what you were doing.
Master Diluc had not talked to you since the first night. In fact, he seemed to be avoiding you. Every time you entered a room he was in, he stood and left. The other maids whispered behind your back.
"I hear she's sleeping with him!"
"No, really??"
"Why else would he avoid her so much during the day?"
"Maybe he just hates her," they snickered.
They always shut up when you entered the room, but their voices carried down the hallways. You wondered if they knew you knew. The rumors they came up with, however, were nothing compared to the truth. You didn't care what they said as long as they didn't guess anything close to reality.
In the middle of the week, on a sunny day, Master Diluc was standing by the window, letters from the city in hand. The way the sunlight lit up his hair like fire caught your eye and you couldn't help but stare. The moment was broken, however, when the other maids surrounded him.
"Sir, we've finished our work!"
"Please let us go!"
"Please!"
His eyes turned stormy and the girls took a few steps back. He sighed. "Adelinde isn't here to stay back. Who will take her place?"
"I will."
The girls turned, surprised. A few curled their lips in disgust. You could read the insults on their faces.
I'm helping you. Stop being so judgmental.
"Alright. Y/N will stay back. The rest of you can go to the Windblume Festival." The maids squealed and thanked him before rushing off. You stifled a laugh watching him rub his temples.
Soon, the manor was still and quiet. You finished polishing the tables in the entryway and turned to collect your cleaning supplies.
"You can go tomorrow," a rumbling voice said behind you.
"Sir?" You turned to find him closer than you had expected.
"The Windblume Festival. You've never been, have you?" You shook your head. "I'll take you tomorrow."
"I don't—I don't really feel comfortable out in public—"
"I know. I'll be there. No one will recognize you." He turned and walked away.
The blood drained from your face. How does he— You shook your head. He couldn't possibly remember. He would have said something. Right?
Diluc locked himself in his study for the rest of the night, and you finished cleaning the house by yourself. As you did so, you couldn't help but dwell on memories of your childhood.
•••
"Y/NNNN!"
You giggled, bark under your calloused hands and a soft breeze blowing through your hair. You grinned at the boy next to you, whose blue hair tangled with yours. He held a finger up to his lips and smiled back.
"Kaeyaaaa!"
The leaves around you rustled in the wind as you watched Diluc search around the stream for you.
"Hey, I said I give up!" he said. "Just come out already!"
The two of you waited until Diluc was under the tree again before you jumped down together and tackled him.
"Hey!" he yelled. "Get off!" You and Kaeya just laughed, and all three of you rolled and fell into the stream.
"We win!" you cheered.
"Whatever," Diluc grumped. "You guys are the worst."
"You're the worst," Kaeya laughed, splashing water all over Diluc. What ensued was a water fight that left the three of you drying off after dark when Crepus wouldn't let you back inside.
That night, your rooms were lit by firefly jars.
•••
"Y/N?"
You snapped back to the present as Adelinde called your name. You touched your face with a fingertip. It came away wet with tears.
"Sorry," you said. "Everything's finished for the night."
"I know that," Adelinde said gently. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah. Yeah, sorry. I guess I was just lost in thought."
Adelinde smiled kindly. "Go ahead and go to bed, dear. I'll wait up for the others."
"But it's your day off—"
"Go to bed," she said, more firmly this time. She turned you by your shoulders and gave you a gentle push.
"Thank you. Goodnight."
"Goodnight, Y/N."