I took a deep breath, 'here goes nothing,' I thought to myself. The old tavern door creaked and the bell tinkled as I entered angel's share. Charles was cleaning a glass cup when I entered. The tavern feels so lively, compared to the dead night outside at this hour. The drunken adventurers and the knights of Favonius sat together, drinking and laughing all their problems away. All of my weariness and fatigue were gone the moment I entered the lively bar.
The music here is fun and soothing at the same time. I should find my way here more often. But where is Eula? She called me here tonight but I don't see her anywhere today. I walked upstairs and saw her swirling the jug until the glass she held was filled with foam and a tiny spinning whirlpool formed inside.
Her face is red and her eyes are drowsy. "What" *hic* "are you" *hic* "doing here so late at night". She is so drunk that she does not even remember that she was the one who called me here. She poured another shot to her glass.
I feel like this is not the right time to ask nor to talk, not like this. It had been a while since we first met but this is the first time she called me herself, not by the name of knights of Favonius but to me as her friends, or so I thought.
"Hey, Aether. *hic* you and I are both outsiders to the people of Mondstadt right?" She put the drink down. "And yet, why do they welcome you with open arms but spit on me when I have done nothing wrong?" She frowned. "With all of my heart Aether. I truly, truly hated you." I was wondering why she would call me here today, but is that all that she wants to say?
"You have everything I have yearned for. Freedom, trust, cheers, love." She ordered more drinks, round after round.
I know she did not mean it. Jean trusts her, Amber sees her as a friend, and I...
Before I stopped talking she cut me down, "If you don't believe me, look for yourself."
She pointed at something behind me with her eyes and I looked behind me at a group of drunkards gossiping in whispers. They diverted their looks away when they noticed me.
"I envy you Aether, so much that it hurts." Her tears started coming out but she lowered her head to the table, refusing to let me see her face. "I hate this so much."
I have grown attached to you, hanging around with you, and laughing with you without once realizing your feelings. Never once had I thought it was fair for her. Hated by the people for her name, hated by her own kin for her righteous self. I fully understand the reason she closed her heart. The pain inflicted on her solely because of her ancestry. The more she opens her heart the more she would be hurt.
"I'm sorry Aether, I didn't mean to throw it all onto you. I don't hate you at all." She spoke softly while her face was on the table. I smiled and patted her head.
"I will remember this humiliation." Her tense tone finally relaxed.
But to be honest, her words struck me where it hurt, I slapped my cheeks. I felt like a fool, being sleepy had messed up my reasoning. And Eula was already sound asleep. I tapped her shoulder but she is not waking up. The sun was almost up and nobody wants to carry drunk Lawrence to her home in the morning, not even her fellow knights.
I carried her on my back. She was heavier than I thought and she is taller than me, so her legs are dragging along the floor. The people in the taverns looked at me in pity and decided to help me carry her down to the first floor and open the tavern door. But I could still see the hatred in their eyes.
The streets of Mondstadt are shrouded in the fog of the early hours. And her words are still echoing in the back of my head. I thought that we could be closer but she really hated me huh? Not like her usual pretend-to-hate play, but her words today...
The dormitory door is locked and nobody is waiting for her. I placed her on the nearest bench and sat next to her. Her thick eyebrows captivate me, I caress her cheek. "If that's how you feel all this time, then I won't bother you anymore," I whispered to her. "But I can't help," I moved her bangs to the side, I took a deep breath. "falling in love with you." That was all I needed and wanted to say. As she slept, I kissed her forehead and left.
As the sun rose, I planned on walking away once the knights started patrolling. I wanted to stand up but I was stopped, her hands holding on to mine firmly. Her eyes are open but her face remains unchanging, "Did you really mean everything you said?"
She heard it.
I nodded. "Even after everything I've said?" she asked again and I nodded again. She smiled mockingly, "That's because you don't know what my ancestor did."
It is true that I do not know very well what the Lawrence family has done in the past. But one thing I do know. I know how kind Eula is, how strong she is, and how caring she is towards the people of Mondstadt.
And most importantly, how cute and pretty she is.
She covered her mouth with her hand in embarrassment. "Aether, there is something I need to say.
You might not have realized it because you were always travelling, but I overheard townsmen spreading a rumour about us and they are speaking ill of you because of your affiliation with me. I can stand it myself, but I can't bear people bad-mouthing you." That explained everything. "So please, you deserve someone better than me. Someone who can cheer you up. Someone who is not a Lawrence."
I could not hold it any longer. I held her hand and pulled myself towards her lips before I could think before I could hesitate before I could falter.
She pushed me away at first but she gave in eventually. "You do understand that if we are going out openly, the amount of backlash you will receive..."
I am sure that Mondstadt, the knights and your family will understand. Even if they do not, Teyvat is a vast world. We could move to Liyue and start a new life, or we could go even further and settle in Snezhnaya, or if you prefer, we could travel all over the world after I have found my sister.
"For me, as long as I am with you, everything else does not matter because I love you."
"You will regret this Aether." No, I will not. "You will." I will not. "Oh, but you will." I will say it one more time. I kissed her on the lips once more and held her cheeks, pulling her head towards mine. I will have no regrets loving you Eula.
She held her head, having a headache from too much alcohol. But she was fully awake. She stood up and crossed her hands.
"Aether, I never thought that you were such a bastard. You took advantage of a drunk lady, you kissed me in my sleep, deviled me and stole my first kiss." I stood up and bowed to her, begging for her forgiveness.
"One day you will pay for this. Mark my words." She smiled and walked away.
"And one more thing I will not forgive you with," She stopped. "I will never ever forgive you for stealing my heart. I will soon have my vengeance." I could feel my head spinning in disbelief from what I just heard. "Meet me again tonight to receive your punishment."
I giggled. "Okay, but I won't get down without a fight," I shouted. "Haha, bring it on Aether!"
She may not have realized it, but she always cheers me up. Eula Lawrence, I am sure that one day, the world will finally see you for who you really are. And when that day is to come, Will, you give me the chance to be the man to stand beside you?