Chapter two: Temporary

Diluc gestured to the stairs. "I'll show Aether to his chambers."

With his arm resting on Diluc's, Aether made his way up the grand staircase, leaving the Ragnvindr's behind. He was a Ragnvindr himself now, but he wasn't feeling like one.

They turned the corner and padded down a long hallway. Diluc knew where he was going, so Aether let him lead the way as he took in all the treasures of Dawn Winery. There were busts, extravagant paintings, expensive chairs, and decorative trims on every doorway. Aether felt like royalty on the gold-trimmed red carpet that led to his room. He could get used to this.

A few more steps and Diluc stopped, turning the knob on a wooden door that was at the very end of the hallway on the left. Unlike the doors at his home, this door opened fully without any creaking.

The room was three times the size of his room from home. It was a two story ceiling with a canopy bed, soft off-white carpeting, and two large venetian windows facing the river. Diluc dropped his arm so that Aether could enter and explore for himself, which he immediately did, bounding into the bedroom.

The canopy bed had birchwood logs as its posts and thin white curtains that could be pulled around the bed for privacy. The walls were a light blue, covered in landscape paintings that Aether assumed his family could never afford. There was a desk and mirror covered in tiny wrapped boxes, and a sliding door in the corner of the room that, upon opening, revealed a large closet with tons of new clothes and shoes. Aether plopped onto the bed, breathless. Was all of this really his?

"Do you like it?" Diluc asked. Aether lifted his head to see the red-head walking to the window and peering outside.

He let his head fall again, nearly sinking into the soft comforter. "I do."

"Good," Diluc replied, matter-of-factly. The man crossed from the window to the desk, where he picked up a small wrapped box and turned it over in his hands. "I ask that you stay here unless escorted by myself or a servant. They will check on you routinely."

Aether sat up again. "Stay here?" And what did he mean, they would check on him routinely? Did that mean he wouldn't be around? Did that mean he-

"Please. My father won't appreciate you roaming the mansion at this time." Diluc eyed Aether. "And before you ask, yes, I have my own chambers. I convinced my father that newlyweds should have separate living spaces until we are prepared to copulate."

Aether was bright red again. "I'm sorry, c-copulate?"

Diluc shrugged. "Not to worry. I guarantee that time will never come. You can live your life here until my father passes the winery down to me. I'll set you free thereafter."

Set him free? Aether's face slacked. So this wasn't forever. As soon as Diluc was in charge of the winery, he could legally release Aether from the marriage. By then, his father Walter would likely have retired and Aether could simply begin working again. A wave of relief washed over him. His situation was temporary.

"Thank you, Diluc."

Diluc nodded politely. "I'll leave you be. My room is across the hall if you need assistance."

With that, the red-head exited, closing the door behind him. Aether was alone for the first time since that morning. It had been a rollercoaster, but he was feeling very optimistic about his future. Just a few years and he would be free.

For now, he planned to enjoy the luxury. Over the next two weeks, Aether slept as late as he wanted in his comfortable bed with more than enough room. The servants were more than willing to bring Aether any book he requested, so he spent hours reading. He was served three meals a day in his bedroom, the food more exquisite than anything he had ever tasted. After two weeks of checking in on the boy, the servants came to love Aether and stayed to keep him company when they could.

"We only ever talk about me," Aether whined as a servant braided his hair one morning. "Please, tell me about you, Alice."

Alice chuckled. "Well I've worked here for four years-"

"Not about your work! I know what you do!" Aether laughed. "What do you do for fun? What is your favorite season? Do you have any hobbies?"

Aether got as many servants as he could to open up and teach him a thing or two. From Henry he learned to knit, from Jacques he learned how to play chess, from Katie he learned which wildflowers are edible. Unconsciously, perhaps, he was preparing himself for the day he would have to leave this place and make his own living. But Aether's kindness kept the servants coming back for hours every day with a smile on their faces.

"Master Aether!"

Aether laughed, spinning around to face the servant. "Joel, I told you to call me Aether. Please, Joel, you are my friend."

Joel sighed. "I won't be your friend for much longer if you can't hold still."

Aether obliged, turning to face the window again, as Joel hemmed his pants. "Are you a bard in your free time?"

Joel gently tugged at the fabric to make sure it was secure. "What makes you ask that?"

"You're always humming."

Joel stood, moving to his bag to put away his supplies. "No one has ever noticed that before. You have keen ears."

Aether stepped off the stool and moved to Joel's side. "Maybe I just care about who you are and what you like to do." Joel gave Aether a look that made the blonde burst into laughter. "What can I say? You have a beautiful voice. Will you sing for me, Joel?"

Dropping the kit next to the door and moving to make the bed, Joel grumbled. "You're asking a lot, here." He pulled the sheets tight. "I've never sung for an audience before."

"I'll go easy on you," Aether teased, sitting at his desk and folding his hands. "Show me what you got."

The servant hesitantly began to sing, quietly at first, but slowly gaining volume as Aether smiled wide. Joel moved about the room, his eyes closed as he sang for Aether. Aether started clapping along, encouraging his friend to sing even louder, enjoying the moment.

Then the moment was over. The door flung open, Diluc entering with a scowl. Aether and Joel immediately stopped what they were doing, Aether was rising to greet the red-head when he was met with a shout.

"You," Diluc snapped at Joel. "Get out. Now."

Aether watched as his friend quickly grabbed the sewing kit and left. He took a step forward, the joyful mood immediately dying. "What is wrong with you?"

"What is wrong with you?" Diluc scoffed back. You shouldn't be distracting the servants, much less mingling with them."

Was he serious? Diluc looked as if he had run to the room to stop them, his chest rising and falling quickly. Why was it his business?

"Diluc-" Aether breathed.

"Sir Diluc. Don't forget your place." The red-head crossed his arms, not lessening his glare. "For your information, my father is having an important financial meeting downstairs, that he finally allowed me to be a part of. You were being so loud that my father asked me to come handle the situation." Diluc sighed deeply. "You've embarrassed my father, and you've embarrassed me. Do you think he'll let me sit in on another meeting in the future? Or do you think he'll have me babysit you? Because I think I know the answer."

Aether's breath faltered. He was embarrassed and Diluc's hostility wasn't helping. "I'm sorry, I had no idea. It was all my fault, I asked Joel to sing for me."

Diluc turned his back to Aether. "I don't care who's fault it was. It will never happen again."

"But it- It was my idea, okay?" Aether moved closer to his husband, already knowing where Diluc was headed in his anger. "Please don't fire Joel. Please."

"From now on, servants will bring you what you need and leave immediately." Aether could see his stability crumbling before his eyes. His only friends and form of contact. "Don't make me regret this more than I already do."

To add insult to injury, Diluc slammed and locked the door, leaving Aether to crumple to the ground alone.

Just as he instructed, Joel left the estate for good the next morning. Every meal for the next week was brought by servants who didn't dare to look Aether in the eye. Eventually, Aether accepted his seclusion and stopped getting out of bed each day, letting the servants bring him a fresh meal to replace the uneaten one from the previous mealtime like clockwork.

On the eighth day - Aether wasn't sure, he had lost track - the servant Alice entered and woke Aether from his sleep.

"Master Aether," she whispered. "Please wake and pack your things."

Aether groaned, rubbing his eyes as he sat up. "What for?"

Alice collected Aether's trash and moved to the door. She looked back with a gentle smile. "Master Diluc is taking you on a trip."