The moonlight shines on the city of Mondstadt and through the windows of the Knights of Favonius Headquarters, glistening in many unlit rooms. However, there is one place that remains lit up as a young woman continues to work behind a desk. A faint sound of a quill pen interrupts the stillness in the air, occasionally pausing in a thoughtful manner before resuming. With the exception of the evening guards outside the building, Jean Gunnhildr, the Acting Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius and Dandelion Knight, carries on her remaining duties into the night.
After some time, she places the quill down and holds up the paper to carefully read over her words. Once satisfied with its message, she adds her signature to the bottom and evenly folds it into thirds. Her hand reaches for an envelope with the recipient's name and address written in advance and inserts the letter inside. She stamps the closed envelope with an official Knights of Favonius wax seal.
"Finished at last," she sighs in relief.
Stiff from the limited movement, Jean lifts her arms above her head and pushes them upwards before releasing the tension. She then brings them down onto the desk and briefly pauses before lowering her gaze. The empty mug nearby her right hand emits a bitter aroma from the small traces of leftover coffee. She lightly clasps the handle and tilts it towards her as if looking to see if there was more. Her eyes narrow while she stares inside the mug for what seems to be quite some time before a familiar, feminine voice breaks the silence.
"Jean, are you still here?"
She recoils, quickly lifting up her head towards the door and placing the mug down on her desk. It takes her a second to collect herself as she returns to reality.
"Lisa, you startled me," she finally replies, trying to maintain a composed tone. "I thought you left a few hours ago."
Known as the Librarian of the Knights of Favonius, she chuckles and places one hand on her hip.
"I did but as I was going to get some dinner, I noticed that your office light was on," Lisa affirms. "I should've known that you'd still be working. Speaking of food, have you eaten yet?"
"I…suppose I haven't," Jean admits, somewhat embarrassed by her self-negligence.
"Well, if you're all done, why don't you join me?"
"Ah yes, I would be happy to," she responds, pushing her chair back to stand up. "Where were planning to go?"
Lisa's smile widens upon hearing her favorable reply.
"I was actually going to Angel's Share," she answers. "Rumor has it that there's a limited time appetizer and drink special on the menu. Not to mention that the man himself is also working behind the bar tonight."
Although seemingly obscure in who exactly Lisa is referring to, almost any citizen of Mondstadt could guess that she is talking about the owner of Angel's Share, Diluc Ragnvindr. In addition to being a nobleman, he is an exceptional tycoon in the wine industry as the owner of Dawn Winery despite his aversion to alcohol. Unfortunately, his contempt towards the Knights of Favonius remains strong in how to protect Mondstadt and its people.
Despite conflicting ideologies and approaches, Jean maintains the upmost admiration for him. She acknowledges his resentment and understands why he parted from the Knights of Favonius regardless of her current title of Acting Grand Master. Through her devoted commitment, she hopes to one day change his views.
"Is that so…" Jean mutters to herself, then raises her voice as she continues to speak. "It has been a while since we last spoke."
"All the more reason to go," Lisa insists, turning around and motioning her arm towards the exit. "I'm sure he'll be surprised to see you. Come on, let's go."
Jean gives a slight nod and then pushes her chair into the desk, taking one final glance at the room before flickering the lights off and locking the office door.
The crisp air refreshes Jean as she accompanies Lisa to Angel's Share, the most renowned tavern in all of Mondstadt. The two knights at the headquarters entrance salute them as they leave, Lisa responding with a small wave and Jean returning the gesture.
"May the Anemo Archon protect you," Jean proclaims to them.
Even though she is technically off-duty, Jean persists the formalities out of respect for those who continue their obligations. When the two are out of earshot, Lisa lets out a short giggle.
"Still in work mode, I see," she jokes, folding her arms.
Jean stays silent as they descend down the staircase near the Goth Grand Hotel. Putting herself as a knight first is deeply ingrained in her system. After all, as the Gunnhildr saying goes, "For Mondstadt, as always." Lisa furrows her eyebrows and exhales.
"Oh Jean, you know I jest. I know how important it is for you to be a role model for the knights."
"No need to retract your words," she softly replies. "You're only looking out for my well-being and for that, I appreciate."
"But of course," Lisa chuckles, slightly looking down to watch her footing as they walk down another set of stairs. "Just remember that when we get to Angel's Share, you're there as Jean, not the Acting Grand Master."
She nods in affirmation of the reminder, turning her eyes at the sky above for a brief moment before making a left turn towards an additional staircase. They acknowledge a knight on patrol in the area and then make their descent. Both Jean and Lisa give a short hello to Hertha, the Knights of Favonius Coordinator, and a few more knights as they pass by.
The outdoor seating on both sides of the tavern is nearly full of patrons, chatting and laughing amongst themselves. Food sizzles on one of the plates as a server puts the dish in front of an enthusiastic guest. Glasses clink together at a different table in a celebratory fashion with the holders of the mugs cheering in delight.
"Looks like business is thriving as ever," Lisa remarks upon seeing the lively customers. "Not that I expect any less from the owner of Dawn Winery."
Inside the tavern, even more seats are filled with people enjoying their food and drinks. To compensate for the large crowd, a handful of servers hurriedly walk pass each other on the main and second floor to maintain customer satisfaction. At the bar table, two bartenders share the counter as they mix and serve non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages alike.
One of the bartenders is Charles, a longtime employee of Dawn Winery who has been working at Angel's Share for over a decade. He is regularly the barkeeper on most work shifts and is quite skilled in mixology. The other bartender next to him is none other than the owner himself. He sweeps his section of the bar with a cool rag when Jean closes the door behind her.
"Well, hello there," Lisa greets as she seats herself on one of the bar stools. Jean leisurely sits next to her, watching Diluc clear off any remaining spots.
"Interesting," he responds somewhat sarcastically. "I didn't imagine that the two of you would be here tonight."
"Now, now," she teases, leaning a bit forward in her seat. "Is that how you treat paying guests at your fine establishment?"
Diluc lets out an inaudible chuckle and tosses the damp rag in a nearby sink.
"My apologies," he retorts, though his tone remains unchanged. "What can I get you two?"
Both women order the limited time special. Lisa asks to substitute meat with mushrooms on the appetizer and chooses Dandelion Wine as her drink. Jean selects the Berry and Mint Burst instead of alcohol. He grabs a bottle of the requested wine and pours it in a glass. Diluc then collects the ingredients for Jean's drink, skillfully mixing the concoction in a short time and presents it in front of her.
"Thank you," Jean utters graciously. She takes a small sip of her drink, enjoying the taste of fresh berries and mint. It gives a cooling sensation that seems to gradually invigorate her. "This is exceptionally good."
"Glad to hear it meets your expectation," he responds, then turns his attention to their appetizers.
Within ten minutes, Diluc places their food on the bar table and begins to hand-dry some of the washed glasses. In the middle of their meal, he asks for their verdict on the dish.
"What do you think?" Diluc inquires. "Is it something that you would order again?"
"I really enjoyed it," Lisa answers with a smile. "The portion size is great and accommodating to my preferences is a plus in my books."
"We wouldn't be much of a business if we couldn't make simple adjustments," he replies straightforwardly. "Besides, we planned in advance for a non-meat variation for people in your circumstance. In any case…Jean, your thoughts on the original recipe?"
Jean swallows a bite of her food and wipes her mouth with a napkin. She nods in agreement, sharing her sentiments with Lisa.
"It's delicious," Jean beams as she reaches for another piece. "I could see people walking around with this in hand during Ludi Harpastum."
"I'll keep that in mind then," Diluc imparts, putting the clean glass on a rack.
Jean looks around the main floor to see the joy and carefree attitudes of the indoor patrons. The laughter from the second floor resonates above them. Charles finishes up a few cocktails before placing it on a tray for a server to take. He then resumes his casual chat with the customers sitting in front of him.
She turns back her attention to Diluc, noticing his crimson eyes occasionally scanning the tavern as he dries another glass. His hair is in its usual messy ponytail to keep most of it behind his back. Being a man with little interest in small talk, Jean is hesitant to start a conversation with him. Fortunately, Lisa decides to cut the silence between the trio.
"You know, Jean," she starts with a slight hint of mischievous in her voice. "You ought to remember to eat dinner next time. The last thing we need is our Acting Grand Master passing out at her desk again."
Jean blinks a few times as if to properly register Lisa's words. She briefly glances at Diluc before quickly looking away in shame. Her hand lifts up instinctively to move part of her blonde hair behind her ear.
"I…of course," Jean responds, attempting to mask her embarrassment. "I will be more mindful in the future."
"That makes me wonder…" Lisa ponders inquisitively. "When is the last time that you've taken a vacation? Have you taken an actual break ever since you've became Acting Grand Master?"
She tilts her head slightly upward to consider Lisa's questions. The only time Jean recalls receiving a break is when she collapsed from work exhaustion a short time ago. Aside from that, she is unable to confidently say that she has taken break from work on her own accord.
"To be honest," Jean admits, somewhat dejected. "I can't think of a time where I haven't work. The only exception is when I fell ill while the Honorary Knight was last in Mondstadt."
"If that's true, then you're clearly overdue for a paid vacation. Why don't you take a personal trip for yourself? Think of it as…reenergizing your body and mind as a knight."
"Even so," she replies with a frown. "I couldn't possibly leave my duties as Acting Grand Master unattended. My conscience wouldn't allow me any peace of mind."
Before Lisa continues to persuade her, Diluc suddenly interjects.
"Then might I offer a solution?"
Jean and Lisa turn their heads towards him, rather stun to hear Diluc speak up in the middle of their conversation. His cynical outlook of the Knights of Favonius is steadfast ever since his father's death four years ago. It isn't uncommon for him to take a jab at the organization when the topic arises. Jean almost anticipates that his next comment would be no exception.
"According to my intel, the neighboring nation of Liyue recently conducted the Rite of Parting to commemorate the farewell of the Geo Archon and, as a result, the beginning of a new era," Diluc acknowledges discreetly. "The Qixing who govern Liyue also declared that the Fatui were responsible for the revival of an ancient god that threatened to destroy its people. Considering the dealings with Dvalin here in Mondstadt, this may be an opportune time to arrange a meeting with its leaders to strengthen our nation's diplomacy."
Jean brings her hand to her lips in a thinking manner. She also recollects the information provided by the Knights of Favonius about the incidents in Liyue. Although the Abyss Order was at fault for the manipulation of Dvalin, the relationship with the Fatui diplomats in Mondstadt is vigilant to say the least. If it is true that the Fatui almost destroyed Liyue, Diluc's proposition may be worth pursuing.
"I have been in correspondence with the Tianquan of the Liyue Qixing," Jean adds. "Perhaps it is time that I send a formal request to meet in person to discuss the recent events in both Mondstadt and Liyue."
Lisa's eyes seem to glimmer with excitement at the notion.
"A trip to Liyue would be perfect for you," Lisa reckons, encouraging the idea. "Sure, it would technically be considered a business trip but it also gives you the chance to get some much-needed time to yourself along the way."
"I suppose that you're not wrong," Jean mutters softly and pauses for a moment. "I could delegate some of my duties during my absence."
"As you already should," Diluc scoffs without hesitation.
Jean averts her gaze. She is well-aware that she often overburdens herself with even the smallest tasks. Yet, she takes these requests as a way to constantly develop her skills as a knight and protector of Mondstadt. Jean believes there is always room for improvement.
"However, there is a slight problem," Jean confesses. "With the recent reports of increasing monster activity, I don't think it would be in Mondstadt's best interest to reassign any guardsmen as escorts."
"No need to concern yourself with that," Diluc discloses calmly. "As it just so happens, I've already made my own preparations to visit Liyue Harbor to become better acquainted the alcohol produced there."
She raises her head and turns toward him in surprise. Her grey-blue eyes meet his piercing gaze, unwavering and stern.
"You and I—" she begins, but then stops herself. Diluc folds his arms and furrows his eyebrows.
"Is there an issue?" he asks, his tone slightly perplexed. The bar owner takes a deep breath and carefully leans against the tavern wall. "As much as you want to rely on the Knights, I doubt that they could keep up with you in combat. Or do you simply not trust traveling with me on your own?"
Jean fervently shakes her head to deny his claim.
"That is absolutely not the case, Master Diluc. You are more than qualified for such a task. I…hesitated because I didn't anticipate that you would volunteer as an escort."
Her words are earnest yet she withholds her initial thoughts. She has difficulty in remembering if she ever traveled with only Diluc in the past. Their most recent travels revolved around Dvalin but included the company of Venti, the carefree bard, and the Honorary Knight. Jean halts her contemplation further and continues.
"Truly, I would be honored to have you accompany me to Liyue Harbor," she reassures with a smile. "Thank you, Master Diluc."
"Then it's settled," he responds, unfolding his arms and standing up straight. "Let me know when you've agreed on a day for your meeting and we can go from there. I recommend scheduling out one week at minimum. That should be plenty of time should something else comes up while traveling to and from Liyue."
"Noted," Jean confirms and drinks the remainder of her beverage. "I'll contact you as soon as I hear back from the Liyue Qixing."
She then pushes her bar stool back to stand up to indicate her leave. Lisa, who has been rather quiet for some time, finally speaks up.
"Heading off so soon?" Lisa inquires.
"Unfortunately so," she reveals, securing all of her belongings. "I have another early day tomorrow. But thank you for inviting me to eat, Lisa."
"Anytime," she giggles as she wiggles her fingers as a goodbye gesture.
"Good night, Lisa," Jean beams, then turns to Diluc and places her payment on the bar table. "Have a good evening, Master Diluc. May the wind lead you both."
Once Jean exits Angel's Share, Lisa immediately redirects her attention to Diluc to see his back facing her. She lets out a small laugh and takes a sip of her Dandelion Wine as he begins washing Jean's empty plate.
"That's quite the coincidence, already having a business trip to Liyue Harbor planned out," Lisa snickers, lightly swirling her wine glass. "Then again, you were the one who suggested it first. I merely wanted Jean to take a nice vacation."
"We both know that Jean would never concede to a day off, much less a vacation," Diluc emphasizes. He momentarily turns around to grab the empty drink and returns to the sink. "I merely considered my word choice and presented it in a way that she couldn't refuse."
"Fascinating," she chortles, taking another drink in between. "It seems like you really understand Jean when it comes to her duties as a knight."
Lisa looks around before leaning on the counter towards him. She lowers her voice and smirks.
"I hope you take this opportunity seriously or you may never have a chance again," she mutters slyly.
"…Excuse me?" Diluc snarls as he shuts off the faucet. His eyes dart to the side, as if to look behind him even though he refrains from turning his head.
"Ah, did I misunderstand?" Her voice is playful but Diluc easily discerns the true intent in between her words. "If so, disregard what I just said. Perhaps someone else will be the one to show her that it's okay to be a little selfish once in a while."
Lisa gulps the rest of her wine and stands up, reaching into her purse and placing her payment next to Jean's. She adjusts her hat and smiles at Diluc, his back still facing towards her. His lack of a response does not faze her and instead widens Lisa's grin.
"Thank you for the meal," she expresses sincerely and walks toward the exit. "And good luck."
Author's Note:
Thank you so much for reading! It's been a long time since I've written any sort of narrative and if I'm being honest, I'm a bit nervous to share this.
I was highly inspired by many Jean, Diluc, and Diluc x Jean fan art and writing in the Genshin Impact community. A special shoutout to Rome_Romedo on Twitter for all of their stunning (and sometimes steamy) Jealuc art and JessWritesWasTaken here on Fanfiction for her two Jealuc fanfic stories. I recommend checking out both of their works if you haven't already, although please be aware that Rome_Romedo does include 18 NSFW content.
This story is based on a discussion between my wife and I on how a romantic relationship could develop between Diluc and Jean. I have quite a bit planned out so if you're interested to see more, I hope you'll stick around!