Click!
Click! Click!
Adelinde was currently taking photos of the cute scene before her:
Master Diluc and Master Kaeya sleeping deeply while cuddled together~
*And the way the two decided on this was just as cute...~
"...Kaeya, why did you bring me here? I thought I already told you I am fine and..."
"Diluc, I thought we already talked about this: You are tired from the recent...Well, everything really and need to have a good night's sleep! Look, I will even join you in order to make it fair! How does that sound?"
...
"...Fine, whatever, I will do as you suggest...I fear that if I don't agree to this, you will just continue bugging me…"
"...Oh, you agreed to it quite easily, dear brother~ Might I propose a suggestion...?~"
...
"...What is it, Kaeya...? I surely hope it's not something overly strange or stupid."
"Nope~ It's something that I wanted to do for a while now and I am quite certain that you do too! Do you remember when we were children and loved cuddling together? How about we do the same now...? Surely, you don't hate me anymore, rig...?"
"Do as you wish. As you noticed, I am already done with everything, so let's just get it over with."
"Oh, so you are agreeing just because you have no energy to argue...? How mean of you, Diluc!"
"I am not agreeing just because I am tired! If it was just that I would have already asked the staff to prepare another room for you! It's just, your idea...Truthfully, I…"
…
…
"..."Your idea", "Truthfully, I…", are you going to continue that sentence or are you going to leave me hanging...? My, is it just my imagination or did your face suddenly gotten red...?~"
"It's merely your imagination."
"Really...?~ You are not lying to me, are you...?~ Because to me, it looks like you just can't admit that...~"
"Y-you are overthinking it! I-I agreed to your "Cuddle sleeping" already, so stop babbling nonsense and go to bed already! I-I don't have all day for...!"
"My, your face just got even redder! Are you that embarrassed to admit that you miss our...?~"
"K-KAEYA! T-TO BED! N-NOW!"
...
"...As you wish, my "Dear brother"~ I really wonder when you will be truthful to yourself and..."
"Kaeya, stop talking. Please."
...
"...Fiiiineeeeee. You are really no fun, you know that...?"
"...Yeah, yeah. I can't take a joke. Stop talking and let's just go to sleep..."
...
...
"Goodnight big brother."
"...Goodnight little brother."
...
...
Seeing that cute exchange, Adelinde knew she would have to memorialize it somehow,
And what better way to do so than by taking a few photos after the two fell deeply asleep...?
*So she ordered Hillie and Moco to accompany her here, asking them to be her "assistants" for this endeavor,
Opening the door for her and quietly organizing the room so that she could take the best photos...~
...
Speaking off which...~
-There's already enough good photos to commemorate this "view"...-She couldn't help but mumble, upon putting the Kamera away, before turning towards the two maids. -Hillie, Moco, it's time for us to return to the servant headquarters. Make sure to gather the staff there. Everyone would surely LOVE to see those photos...~
-...Y-yes, Head Housemaid...! W-we will do as you order...! -The two soon shakily saluted, making sure to still be fairly quiet, before quickly tiptoeing out of the room.
...
...
Leaving Adelinde to look at the still sleeping brothers in rising amusement...
*If they were awake now, she could have already started her "plan", but seeing as things currently were...
...
Wasn't this situation even better for her...?
*Instead of "embarrassing" the two with the stories of their youth now,
With only Hillie and Moco to join her, if all of the Dawn Winery staff joins her instead...~
...
The two masters would be for quite a shock,
As their "bullying" was soon going to start...~
*After all, this was her way to get back at the two brothers,
About having her and the rest of Dawn Winery's staff worry about them...
...
"When will Master Diluc finally resolve his issues with Master Kaeya...?"
...
"When will Master Diluc finally make up with Master Kaeya?"
...
...
For making her constantly worry about their relationship,
Wondering wherever there would come a time when they could reconcile...
*She surely needs to thank Miss Eula and Miss Rosaria for their help, once again...
...
...
This reminded her about another "amusing" situation,
Her small discussion with the Honorary Knight at that time~
"What can you tell me about the rumors?"
"Was it Moco and Hillie you heard that from? It sounds like they've been telling tall tales to the guests again...
Don't take them too seriously. Nothing they tell you is worth paying too much attention to.
Did you really think there could be quite so much drama... Heh...
"Is that how it is..."
"Haha, you're overthinking things, that's just nonsense.
...Ah, yes. How's your appetite been recently?
I made some extra steaks today. If you're not picky, please take them.
Like I said, don't overthink it. These are perfectly normal animal steaks. There's nothing wrong with them at all..."
She made sure to chuckle there at the end,
While giving them the Delicious Sticky Honey Roasts...
*Surely, doing this at the end of their "interesting" discussion gave an eerie effect,
A feeling that something was not right, but you "can't quite put your finger on it"...
...
It was quite amusing to see the Honorary Knight and Paimon questioning themselves like that,
The same way it was amusing to see Hillie's and Moco's reaction to herself acting creepy about her "other" work...~
*She was simply helping Master Diluc in his vigilante work, yet the two maids didn't know that,
So when guests started to "disappear" from the manor and remembering how they loved slacking off...
...
When the two gossiping maids asked her what was going on,
She made sure to appear as eerie as possible, which included mumbling:
"Next year when these flowers are in season they will look gorgeous."
As she was watering the flowers in the garden~
*She was acting eerily absentmindedly back then,
But a small glance and she saw how "fun" Hillie's reaction was~
...
...
Having Hillie and Moco be wary of her and her intentions,
This was indeed a good punishment she made for those two~
*As long as they stop slacking off and start doing their maid duties...
...
Well, she didn't mind it if they even though she was a cannibal~
*And seeing them so afraid of her was indeed quite amusing~
When Venti opened his eyes and looked around,
He found himself slightly confused...
...
The room he was in at the moment, was indeed recognizable,
As it was the same one he shared with Barbara at the Cathedral...
*Still, this situation somehow felt very familiar, as if he already experienced it before...
...
"That's right, this is not the Favonius Cathedral, but Yiyan temple instead. Morax made arrangements for us to stay here.
...It's already been four days since then, but I still can't get used to waking up here..."
...
...
Right, only yesterday he wondered why he wasn't home,
For a few moments, having forgotten of his holiday in Liyue...
*If only it ended in a more peaceful and pleasant manner,
Instead of...
"Barbatos, please return to Mondstadt as soon as possible!
There's been a sudden attack and things are pretty bad...!"
...
...
How was everyone doing now...?
*Were they alright or...?
"...What I mean is...I am basically a part of you, so...Want to discuss how adorable everyone is sometime, look through the presents again, decide together how we should repay them, maybe later on make a plan to...?"
...
"Sure, let's go somewhere more "private" and discuss these together~
...We have to find a way to show appreciation to all those overly dutiful and loving children, right...?~ We should make a big and simply unforgettable surprise for them all~"
...
...
Right, he and "Wendy"...
*He and himself/herself...?
That sounded a little weird…
...
...
Anyway, at the moment their plan was as follows:
1. Write an emotional song for the people of Mondstadt, showing appreciation for all their warmth, faith and love.
2. Welcome Collei into the Mondstadt family, as she is already a dear friend to his people.
3. They still didn't decide on this one. But a grateful song and Collei's invitation alone is probably not enough, right...?
...
So much happened during yesterday's crisis,
And all he could do was...
...
...
With those guys in Celestia watching him more closely now,
There is not much else he could have done without it being risky...
*He truly did all he could in that situation, right...?
...
If things were different, he would have...
"Barbatos! about that second plan of yours, Spindrift Knight Eula already decided to do something similar!", the Winds suddenly said, interrupting his saddened thoughts, before they started explaining the other's plan, "So, how about it, want to cooperate with Spindrift Knight Eula in order to give Needs-Lots-Of-Love Collei the best welcome ever?~"
They soon asked, sounding pretty enthusiastic,
Before getting quiet, eagerly waiting for a reply...
*Venti found their reaction pretty cute, but as for the small news...
...
Yes, it would be good to discuss this with Eula later,
In order to better organize the whole thing and make it special...
*Similarly to how Diluc Jr. and Charlotte's marriage was done,
An unforgettable and...
-VENTI, YOU ARE BACK!
-YAY, VENTI'S BACK!
A loud yell was suddenly heard, as a bunch of children ran into the room,
And before Venti could as much as blink, surrounded the now surprised Archon from all sides!
-It's good to see you, Father!
-Lily missed you a lot, Papa!
-Daddy Venti, I heard about what happened, are you...
-...ARE YOU OKAY, VENTI?!
-Venti is fine, right...?
-Papa Venti looks fine, so he's fine, right?!
The children soon asked in some confusion and rising worry,
Proceeding to look him up and down in concern, as if to ascertain that everything was truly okay...
*Honestly, as taken aback by this whole situation as Venti was, he was grateful for those adorable children's concern.
-I am 100% alright, so there is not need to worry, everyone! -He soon reassured, as he looked between them all in turn with a warm smile, which thankfully seemed to have helped. Still, since they were all here now...-...Now that I am back, the circumstances notwithstanding, can you tell me what you all did during this time...? The only thing the Winds told me is that it's a surprise.
He added in some amusement and intrigue,
Trying not to look or sound too enthusiastic about it...
*As much as he wanted to know what they were hiding from him,
He was still supposed to be a lot older than them and as such...!
-We were sad after you left, Venti, but then the lively boat came to play with us!
-The friendly boat helped Lily to be less scared of the lake! I can now put my legs in the water!
-Daddy, Timmie had Lily make a "Squirrel battalion" to help her be less scared of the water...?
-My pigeon friends helped me a lot in the past, Father! So I knew how to help Lily!
-They are very cute and fluffy and listen well! Lily is very glad to have made new friends!
-...They are cute, but they seem to like you the most, Lily.
-Yeah! I tried to pet one of them and it started growling at me!
-...Those are really Lily's squirrels, only friendly with her...
-...What if they see Lily as one of their own?! Is Lily a squirrel...?!
-...They are...? Lily didn't notice...Squirrel...? Lily is...?! Lily is a squirrel?!
Was the discussion that followed and Venti couldn't help but feel very amused,
As he tried really hard not to laugh even as it continued...
*Just imagining Lily leading her own "battle regiment", consisting of squirrels...
...
The Archon wasn't sure how this was going to help her with her Aquaphobia,
But as long as Lily was having fun, it should be just fine, right...?
*Still, just imagining her sending those squirrels on an enemy...~
It was not a bad idea to take those furballs with him at that time, after all~
...
...
"...I, uh...In the middle of my fun, I seem to have forgotten about the presents, again...
Everyone, I am sorry for leaving you so suddenly, but..."
"Let me accompany you, Venti.
As Mondstand's Acting Grandmaster, I wish to pay for my Archon."
"I am also going to join, if you don't mind. I can help you choose the presents!
...It would be really nice to spend more time with you and my big sister...If only our parents were here, it would have been a lot better..."
...
Right, the gifts that Barbara helped him choose and Jean paid for...
*How could he forget about them, once again...?
...
-Everyone, remember how I promised to buy you some nice souvenirs during my time in Liyue...? -The Archon soon said, pretty much stopping the children's earlier discussion of whether Lily was actually a squirrel or not, as he proceeded to summon the gifts from his "Hammerspace". -Well, here they are, for each one of you adorable children~
He warmly added, distribute them to each one of the now enthusiastic children,
As he couldn't help but wonder wherever Klee already gave them hers or not...
*Surely, even if Klee forgot at the moment, she would surely remember it soon...
...
...
"Anemo Archon, there's something I wish to tell you.
I heard of your plight and so I decided to buy you a gift to lift up your spirits. My companion helped me in choosing it.
I hope you like it, "Venti"."
...
"W-w-what kind of present is that...?!
Y-you want Venti to wear...! T-to wear...!"
"...I, uh…As much as I and everyone else already knows that Venti doesn't mind revealing clothes...
...Isn't this too much...? He is still an Archon…!"
"...I really don't mind how revealing it seems to be, but well...How do I wear this, exactly...?
...Can you help me put these on...? If I do it myself, I fear I might mistakenly tear them..."
...
Oh, right, that "outfit" he was gifted by Shenhe and Yelan,
And one that made Barbara and Jean react so strongly...
*Apparently this "outfit" was a lot more open than his Archon attire,
Which was somehow very bad and not just because he might have tore it...?
...
From what he heard, it seems that Frederica took it in the end,
Saying she was going to use it for an "alone time" with Seamus...
...
He didn't really mind this,
But well, what was this "alone time"...?
...
...
The two were Husband and Wife,
So wherever Seamus and Frederica were doing...
...
He should just leave it to them, right...?
*This was also part of their freedom, after all.
...
...
Though, he might have an idea about what it was,
And unintentionally imagining it, made him feel very embarrassed...
...
...
...
But he wouldn't mind it if Jean and Barbara had another sibling,
No matter what gender, they would surely be as adorable~