A/N:

Remember when I said I don't remember anything? Yes. I do not. Confession, this is a filler chapter, you guys can ignore this. Honestly.

Also, I don't know if I have mentioned this, but when I made this plot, Genshin was fresh and new, and this was made when Barbara was still bubbly so I'm more likely to try and keep Barbara like that.

I also admit, that I was on a low, feeling unappreciated in my other fandom and then someone so happened to comment on this fic and I reread the comments here and I was so touched and inspired.
I really love receiving and reading comments theories and things. It really helped me and motivated me to write even if this is a filler chapter.

Another thing, that live rent-free in my mind. I don't know if you are still reading this, but to that someone who shared a link to this fic on Twitter when I still had like 1 chapter, I was so touched and would look at the post every now and then because I was so happy… but now it's gone, I just wanted to say, whoever you were, I was so touched, I cried a little.

Enjoy! (this filler)

~.~.~.~.~.~

Chapter 6: A Longing That Cannot Be Shared

Jean Gunnhildr was talking to a man who was about her age and was her assistant for the inauguration planning. Currently, they were at the main hall of the biggest hall in Mondstadt discussing the inauguration party for her cousin. She wore a long black skirt as she always does when taking up the role of Frederica Gunnhildr's first-born child. She looked rather casual but still prim and proper.

A hall that was a blank slate, filled with large white marble pillars, floors, and stairs surrounded Jean and her companion. The ceiling was so high people would often wonder how to put the drapes for the party they were planning and how long the clothes would be. But such details are small for the Gunnhildr Clan, especially for Frederica's first daughter.

Even though the said first daughter was discussing plans, a big space in her thoughts was filled with the red-haired man that she had not seen for weeks.

Jean did not want to admit it or more like she couldn't admit it. Because if she did then she would have lost. But she knew that she had lost a long time ago.

Jean missed Diluc immensely and perhaps only she felt this way due to the unorthodox relationship that they have developed in the months since they have been meeting in secret. She was missing him a bit too much than she should be. And so, with that said, she would put that longing into a tightly sealed jar and hide it at the back of her mind. With a nervous heart that beats erratically at the thought of him being with another blonde who wasn't her and who appeared to always be by his side.

And yet she knew of how deep her longing for him was. She couldn't pinpoint exactly when, but she had clearly lost.

However, Jean had other pressing matters to worry about than a red-haired man and his Head Maid. She swallowed the lump that had formed in the base of her throat and closed her eyes as she inhaled deeply. She couldn't focus on the paper that she was supposed to be reading because her mind had strayed back to that man.

She didn't miss him.

She shouldn't.

She convinced herself and as her eyes opened, the noise from around her became louder as people were walking around doing tasks for the party.

"Lady Jean?" The man before her looked at her with the slightest hint of worry.

The woman who was called to attention smiled politely, "My apologies, with all the planning–" She chuckled, "I think it has really taken its toll on me."

"In that case, I suggest you take a rest. I can oversee everything that you have approved of in the meantime– as you rest." He offered and Jean seriously considered his offer.

"I think–" She began to say but a brighter voice came and cut her off.

"That is a wonderful idea!" Jean turned to the voice and saw her younger sister who ran to hug her.

"Sister, you must take a rest." Barbara looked up at Jean with big doe-eyes and the older blonde chuckled.

Barbara wore a dress that stopped below her knees but wore white leggings underneath as it was easier for her during expeditions.

Between Jean and Barbara, it was the younger sister who was often out and about exploring, especially when a lot of people requested her services. Jean was more focused on the logistics of the family. Still, even with Barbara's clothes being mostly white, there was never a speck of dust on her pristine white clothes. Sometimes, Jean thinks Barbara's hydro vision was the reason why her clothes were always so clean. It would make washing stains easier at least that was what Jean had thought.

"Barbara, you are a lady of the Gunnhildr Clan and that of the main family, you should not be acting like this." Jean lightly scolded her younger sister despite hugging her back gently.

Barbara smiled and snuggled her head against her sister who chuckled.

"Since I am here, I demand that you take a rest from planning Klaus' inauguration." The twin-tailed lady spoke haughtily. But to the eldest daughter, it was nothing but a younger sister acting cute.

Jean couldn't help but reach out to Barbara with both her hands and pinched her cheeks, "And here I thought the child that I used to look after had disappeared and grown into a woman."

Barbara's cheeks flushed, "I am an adult!"

Jean smiled and so did her male assistant.

It was no secret that the two sisters were quite close. And the people also knew how the sisters acted accordingly depending on the situation. Since the sister's mother was nowhere near, they were lax.

Barbara turned to the man and smiled politely, "Sister will take up your offer."

The younger Gunnhildr did not notice how a blushing maiden could make a man react.

But as Diluc told Jean on multiple occasions, she had a sharp gaze and was observant. She was also not the type to show the candidness that her sister often displayed. Perhaps that was why relationships were harder for her to maintain compared to Barbara.

Jean was often told that her face and attitude were more of a get-down-to-business and lacked an intimate approach. She would argue that she was friendly enough– well, apparently not enough to some.

With this line of thought, she thought that maybe she shouldn't judge Diluc so harshly as she had been doing so due to his get-to-the-point attitude that was similar to hers.

Jean sighed aloud, how is it that her mind always wandered to that man?

"Lady Jean?" The man asked just as Barbara called out for her too.

"Sister, you should really rest." Barbara gently suggested with pleading eyes and a small pout.

The older sister was grateful that the young man could not see the face of her sister, it would have caused the man to swoon.

Barbara held her sister's arms and pouted even more, her back towards the man. Jean smiled and brushed the younger lady's cheek.

"A young lady like yourself shouldn't be looking like this in public." She gently told Barbara, knowing that her sister would listen to her. And in Jean's way, she was protecting Barbara from being lusted over. Well, at least Jean hoped she was.

But it was likely that Barbara did not understand her sister's true intent.

Barbara blinked and smiled, "Oh sister if you take a rest now, I swear I will never!"

Jean's neutral face then scrunched up. She recalled how often her younger sister would do this to her to get her way, and yet she always fell for the same tricks.

Jean smiled tenderly and as always relented to her younger sister's wishes affectionately, "Oh, you child."

And if Diluc had seen how the man before the two Gunnhildr sisters reacted, at seeing the softest smile on Jean's face, Diluc would have likely retracted his remark about Jean's superb observational skills. It was a good thing the red-haired man wasn't in the vicinity.

When Jean turned to give the man a small bow, with her eyes cast down and a small curtsy, she missed seeing how the man had swooned at her elegance and beauty.

If Barbara's beauty was that of a bustling market on a lovely morning day, filled with laughter, joy, and warmth– an endearing kind of liveliness that probably came with her youth. Jean was the colors of the sky as the sun set– quiet and elegant and often overlooked as the day was ending and people were too busy trying to finish their tasks. But then there would be those who would stop and look up and be amazed at how beautiful the sky was even if it was just for a few seconds.

That was the kind of effect Jean had. Not that it mattered to her. Not that she was aware.

If someone stops to purposely stare thoughtfully at her, they would see a beauty that would take their breath away just by breathing.

"Sister, let's go up to the drawing room so you can close your eyes for a little bit." Barbara pulled her sister's arm gently.

"Yes, yes, I know." Jean lets her sister pull her, the gentle smile on her lips fading, but her heart is full of love for Barbara and the man across from them can tell. "If you need anything, please do not hesitate to look for me." Jean softly added, smiling politely to her assistant and he nodded.

Barbara mouth, "Please hesitate." with her big blue eyes. The man couldn't help but smile endearingly.

"Don't think I don't know what you are doing," Jean warned, but secretly more to the man as she thought that he was a tad too enamored by Barbara.

If only she knew, who had caught his eye now.

"Oh, sister, whatever do you mean." Barbara sang back, looping her arm on her sister's arm as she skipped and guided her sister to the stairs, "Farewell, good sir!"

"Rest well, Lady Jean." The man bowed, "Best wishes, Lady Barbara."

Jean internally frowned and wondered if she should warn the man about pursuing her sister. But her sister's love life was hers and she shouldn't meddle.

In truth, Jean would love it if her younger sister, the baby of their family, would remain just that, the baby of their family. However, Barbara was already eighteen, and falling in love and getting married was down the road for her.

After all, who was Jean to judge when she was getting hot and heavy with a certain red-haired man? Oh, how she wanted those rough hands to roughen her up even more. Oh and how often it is that she thinks about it.

Jean's ears turned red and Barbara noticed as she said, "Sister, are you running a fever?"

The older woman was embarrassed for being caught, "No! Of course not!" She suddenly yelped and it just made her feel worse.

How could she let her mind stray about such dirty thoughts when her sister was right beside her?

Jean cleared her throat and gathered her wits, "I was just thinking, maybe it is time I think of marriage."

Barbara froze, "What?"

Jean turned to look at her sister who had stopped in her tracks, "You are not getting younger, and I must marry first before you can."

Barbara frowned, "I don't want you to marry because of that."

"But isn't there someone you want to be with?" Jean asked carefully, eyes glancing at the space of the grand halls for Klaus' inauguration. She was thankful that no one was in the vicinity.

"There is no one like that!" Barbara quickly said, but her bright face said otherwise, not noticing that she pulled away from Jean as she spoke. She relinked her arm with her sister's and tugged at her, "Let us go, I think the weariness is making you not think clearly."

Jean couldn't help but chuckle at her sister, "Alright." She relented; how could she not know how her sister was swooning over a man? However, if Barbara was not ready to talk about it then she, as the responsible and kind sister that Jean was, would not pry. She too had secrets that she wished her sister would not know of, for the time being, that is.

As the two continued their way to the stairs leading to the second floor, "How was your latest excursion?" Jean asked Barbara who then smiled at the question.

"Oh, it was fantastic! Mister Albedo taught me some things." She smiled brighter and Jean raised a brow.

"Some things? Like what?" Jean explored as they got to the stairs and the two made their way up. She felt how her sister's fingers were shaking against her arm.

"Oh," Barbara's ears were red, "It's nothing, it must be boring to you."

"Oh, Barbara, please, indulge me a bit while we walk to the drawing room." Jean softly said, brushing her sister's fingers trying to calm her.

"He taught me about plants." She shyly said.

"Medicinal plants?" Jean smiled.

"Mmhm!" Barbara hummed, the joy clear in her voice. "He also told me how to make better ointments and salves– just in case I can't heal with my vision and if I'm out in the woods, I can– I must sound like a bore." Barbara shook her head.

"No, no, not at all." Jean patted her sister's hand. "Tell me more."

Barbara shared about the experience merrily and Jean smiled at her sister's enjoyment of her excursion. The two finally got to the drawing room and Barbara guided her to the couch.

"You must take a rest," Barbara said as she made Jean sit on the couch.

"But–"

Barbara gave her older sister a stern gaze.

"I will close my eyes, but can you read this list for me?" Jean smiled, pulling out a couple of pages of paper from her bag.

The younger blonde sighed; in the end, her sister was still going to do some work. "Fine." She accepted the paper.

And Jean got cozy on the couch, propping her back on the armrest with some pillows.

"Oh, the list of guests." Barbara perked up and then frowned. "Must we invite Master Diluc?"

Jean barely registered the question and it took a few seconds for her to respond, "We must… Diluc is the heir of the Ragnvindr Clan and has made a name for himself… Having him present would be good for Klaus…"

Jean didn't realize just how tired she was until now. She had just closed her eyes and her body felt like it was underwater. Everything was fading away.

Barbara too noticed that her sister was more tired than she had thought, she had even called Diluc plainly as Diluc. Her own sister who had always placed proprietary before anything else, did not add 'Master' before his name. She was thankful now, that she had insisted for Jean to take a rest.

Now, for the eldest Gunnhildr sister, if only Barbara knew, just how much Jean was used to calling Diluc by his name alone and that it wasn't actually– not completely– a slip-up on her part. Because behind her closed eyelids, she saw the man her sister had brought up, just a breath away from her lips as she called him by his name and his name alone.

She could taste the familiar flavor of his lips. She could smell the familiar scent of his body. And she could feel the familiar calluses on his hands as they glided against her skin.

Jean had only slept for a mere fifteen minutes before her eyes opened up wide. It was embarrassing to admit, but her chaste dream had started to become hot and heavy. Admittedly, she has been having such steamy dreams of a red-haired man's rough hands touching more than just the dress over her skin.

And she longed for it. His touch. His lips. His breath was on her skin.

She was frustrated. Quite literally.

Jean's mind was still stuck on the last image her brain had graciously given her before she jumped herself awake.

They were in a room that was brightly lit by the orange hues of a setting sun. There was an open balcony door with white muslin curtains fluttering into the room due to the wind. Diluc was shirtless but wearing his black pants and Jean who was before him with her chemise dress and corset was flustered by the firmness of his chest.

He smiled at her and pulled her closer to him by her waist and as their lips locked, her hands found his hair that was bound in a low pony. Her fingers after a moment found the end of the black ribbon that held his bundle of red hair and as she tugged on it, undoing the bounds, Jean too felt how easily Diluc undid the laces at the back of her corset. Her breasts bounced as it was released from the tight confines of the boned cage that restricted not just her breath but the mounds on her chest.

Barbara cleared her throat, startling Jean upright.

"Sister, are you sure you are not sick? You were in a daze." Barbara peered at her sister with the worry clear in her eyes.

Jean gulped down the lump in her throat and nervously darted her eyes away from her sister, "I was having a dream about Klaus' inauguration. In the dream, I had forgotten something. I think it is a sign."

Barbara sighed aloud, "I think you are overworking yourself and thinking too much about this party."

"Everything has to be worthy of the Gunnhildr Clan, especially since this is the official announcement of the future head of the clan." Jean reminded her sister calmly. The expression on her face did not reveal the lie she had so easily told her sister. The embarrassment was completely gone, but the tingling between her legs, well, not quite so.

But Jean was a master of being nonchalant just as Barbara was as it was necessary for their status in society. The thing was, Jean had more years under her belt and the secrets that she had been keeping for years paired with her newest secret had sharpened said skill.

In other words, lying has become easy for Jean now. And her longing for Diluc had really tested this skill recently.

"Everything must be perfect. If Master Diluc does not attend then that is on him. What matters is we sent the invitation." Jean had added recalling Barbara's remark before falling asleep.

Barbara nodded helplessly, "But he is known to not attend…" She sighed, "Well, you are not wrong." She had also noticed that her sister referred to the young heir of the Ragnvindr Clan as Master Diluc. So, she could only really chalk up Jean's slight misstep as a result of her weariness.

"Have I been asleep for long?" Jean asked as she looked around the room and checked on her hair with her hands.

Barbara shook her head, "No and I rather that you had."

"I feel quite energized already, I think I should go back down now." Jean stood up, her mind recalling the last image in her head. And of course, her mind would feel more awake after such a steamy dream.

Jean had never thought of herself as such a vulgar woman, but recently, Dear Barbatos, her dreams were telling her otherwise. Sure, she was secretly a hopeless romantic but she never had such dreams or desires to be held in such an intimate manner until Diluc came crashing onto her lips and body with all their clothes still on. It didn't help that he always stopped short when it got to the part where she was expecting skin-to-skin contact in places, she had never dreamed someone with rough hands would graze.

She often wondered how his bare skin would feel against hers. How would he please her? Roughly or intimately? Would the way he held her reveal just how much he valued her or desired her? Would she be touched by how he held her if he did?

She had so many questions, especially about intimacy in such a manner as it was something she never thought about seriously. If she had to provide a child for her family, she knew that she would do it. It would be out of duty but everyone in their social group often married for duty, therefore, providing a child was easily a duty to be fulfilled too. And thus, she never thought about such an intimate thing as well, intimate.

But now things have changed and she couldn't help it when her mind often wondered, like a helpless little damsel dreaming of a prince to save her, how it would be to be held by her husband whom she loved and loves her back.

Would it be like how the books write it? A feeling that would make your heart burst in joy?

"Sister, you are in a daze again." Barbara sat beside her sister, reaching out for her hand.

"Sorry, just so many things in my mind." Jean smiled politely as she gathered her wits. She cannot be consumed by the thought of Diluc. She had duties to attend to and for all she knew right now his face was between another blonde's slender and pale legs–

"Sister, now you look angry?" Barbara whispered.

"What if they got everything wrong!" Jean stood up fuming. "I have been gone for too long."

Barbara sighed aloud, "Sister, you really don't know how to take a break."

But those words struck a nerve in Jean, Diluc had told her the same thing once.

"I am sorry, sister, I know you mean well, but I cannot rest until I know everything is done right." Jean sat back down and reached out for Barbara's hand, who then sighed yet again at her older sister. "I must use this extra energy more productively."

"I know. You should go." Barbara finally relented, settling for the thought of having her older sister sleep for a mere fifteen minutes.

"Thank you for everything." Jean hugged her beloved sister as she swore that she would not think of Diluc who was likely with more than one woman.

Jean stood up and brushed her skirt of invisible dirt. She will use this newfound energy to focus on nothing but the party. Red-haired man in her dreams be damned.

And so, Jean did what she swore.

She never thought of herself as hormonal or emotional but it seemed that Diluc had an effect on her that she could not deny. But as the days continued and she heard nothing from said man, it made her recall that perhaps it was only her feeling butterflies in her stomach. And if that were the case, she should just keep such trivial things to herself. Diluc would not care, after all, he said it himself, his nightly activities would not stop because of her. She had already cried to him about being upset over planning Klaus' inauguration party and it had to come out perfectly or she would feel embarrassed for crying for a disaster of a party.

And just like that the days passed with no word from her trainer and the inauguration party around the corner. But despite his absence, it did not mean that the longing Jean was feeling wasn't building up inside of her.

And the inauguration day finally came. Jean's months of planning had finally come to fruition and she had not seen or heard from Diluc for almost a month. But during the few days before the inauguration date, Jean was truthfully too busy to think about him completely so she had not noticed just how much she had come to miss him.

And that in itself was dangerous. Like a dam about to overflow with no one noticing just how close it was to spilling.

In a room bustling with people who were invited to celebrate such a joyous occasion was Jean in the center with her cousin Klaus. She had only recalled Diluc because she had thought she had seen the familiar red that was his hair, but it appeared that she was mistaken. She had not seen a similar man when she was making her rounds of greetings.

The room was splendidly decorated. It was simple yet luxurious, filled with white drapes and golden fixtures and decorations. To add a splash of color there were baby blue drapes and the tablecloths were either baby blue or white.

It was the desired appearance that Jean wanted as their family was known to be gentle people who cared for Mondstadt. Doing it this way will show that their family was not a threat. They never were.

A soft kind of elegance was what she had created.

"Jean?" Klaus stared at her openly with worry and the woman being called shifted her gaze to her very distant cousin.

Klaus was almost four years older than her, come to think of it, he and Diluc likely would have crossed paths. Her cousin was a slender and tall man. His gracefulness from a distance had often mistaken him as a woman to onlookers, a rather tall woman. If Jean and Barbara were the embodiment of a true lady then Klaus was the epitome of a true gentleman.

He had the lightest blonde hair between Jean and Barbara to the point that it was often described to be platinum blonde. His waist-long hair was straight but curved at the tips and it was tied in a low ponytail at the back of his neck with a dark blue ribbon. His eyes were the deepest and darkest blue that you could see almost like when you try to see the bottom of the ocean.

Jean and her family along with Klaus wore the colors of their clan with golden threads or embroidery on their clothes. Klaus could be mistaken as their brother if their other features were not scrutinized for no longer than a minute because if someone did, then they would notice fairly quickly that they could not be related. Still, when you see him, you think of Gunnhildr.

Jean smiled at Klaus but the worry was still clear in the young man's eyes.

"It's just the party– you would say it is a success, wouldn't you?" Jean gave a pressed smile and Klaus looked baffled.

"Of course, it is a success, I cannot thank you enough for the effort you put into this." Klaus' blonde brows were etched closer together.

Jean looked relieved, "I'm glad to hear that. Oh, have you seen Barbara?"

"I'm sorry, excuse me." He frowned and placed a hand on Jean's mid back and the other on her arm as he pulled her while also taking a step back in a rather gentle manner. Jean turned her head to see why Klaus did what he did and a drunken older man barely missed her by a few inches.

"I think it's a bit too successful." He mumbled, sighing. Thankfully he was quick and reacted fast enough had he not the older man would have touched Jean inappropriately.

Jean turned her head back to Klaus and opened her lips just as the music shifted and the bustling guests' chatter became even louder for a moment.

"It seems like the dancing has commenced." Klaus studied the halls with a sharp gaze, he then turned to look at Jean gently and bowed, "May I have this dance?"

In a matter of seconds, Jean had weighed the pros and cons of dancing with Klaus. Something she had come to understand to be just how she was.

"But what of your reputation?" She quietly said but there was a twinkle of mischief in her eyes.

He extended a hand out for her, "Jean, I am a grown man, I can look after my reputation myself."

She smiled, holding in her laughter and putting her hand atop his, "I am still Frederica's daughter and the Gunnhildr Clan's image is my responsibility too."

Despite her words, Jean clearly accepted Klaus' invitation to dance.

"You do need to relax a little, I at least know that you can relax a bit if I dance with you." He said as he guided her to the dance floor and Jean smiled knowing his words were right.

Klaus was considered to be a brother to Jean and Barbara, and for the most part like Frederica's adopted son, and yet it was not announced as such. Thus, to everyone's knowledge, it seemed that Frederica was keeping the option of having him marry into her family as he was not introduced as her adopted son. Jean had also considered their line of thought. But in the public eye, when the two reached marriageable age, they kept their interaction to a minimum.

People think that the two hated one another and were only amicable for show.

But Jean had already made plans and the pawns were already set in motion. If her mother does suggest one of her daughters marry Klaus, it will not be her.

The two chatted politely not knowing that they had become a hot topic of discussion for some of their guests. Even if they kept their interaction in public to a minimum it didn't mean they could avoid being the topic of gossip completely.

But at this point, the two were used to it. It came with the family name after all.

When the dancing ended, Jean looked at Klaus with a confused gaze, "Have you seen Barbara?" She recalled that she had not gotten an answer.

Klaus too looked confused as he quickly looked around the area, "As a matter of fact, no. I saw her talking to someone rather animatedly, the man in question did not look happy though."

Jean thought deeply at his words, "Do you recall if it was Albedo by chance?"

"Now that you have mentioned it, I believe it was." Klaus looked serious, "You don't think he was forced to enter a dialogue with her, do you?"

Jean giggled, "Of course not, Albedo is not like that."

Her companion sighed and the relief in his voice was clear, "I thought so." He hummed and then added, "It would probably be best if I check up on her though."

"I would appreciate it if you do, I think she would be in the drawing room upstairs." Jean smiled, "I will keep the guest occupied."

"Thank you, I kind of need the break." He chuckled a bit.

"I figured as much." She nodded, even though Jean was not the woman of the hour she was being pulled and pushed to whichever way and more so for Klaus who was the reason why everyone had gathered. It was unfortunate but her mother was called out an hour after the inauguration party which left Jean to fill in her mother's role with Klaus. Katerina had joined her mother even though she should have been by Klaus' side as she would be his aide. But since Klaus had to be here at the party, Katerina's absence was preferred.

Klaus went his way and Jean continued entertaining the guest. There was one guest though that she hoped she could have seen in attendance but she unfortunately had not. Perhaps this was his way of saying they should keep their distance. If he was here in the first place.

When the party ended, Jean was still at the venue making sure that even cleaning up was properly done. Jean stepped out of the building and stared up at the sky, it was pouring, and she sighed aloud.

She heard footsteps approaching her, and one of her hands extended out to feel the rain, "It's a good thing that it only started to rain after the party had concluded." She sighed.

Klaus stood beside her and studied her for a moment and then the courtyard of the venue. The smell of the rain filled both their noses. And as if a higher being wanted them to not be yelling at one another, the rain lightened up.

"Yes, I wouldn't want your party ruined." Klaus looked at her with playful shock. It was clear that he was teasing so to speak.

Jean held the laughter in but couldn't control the smile, a glance at the surroundings, and with the rainwater that she had gathered in her hand, she flickered it towards Klaus.

Klaus shook his body and Jean smiled after being sprayed by the water droplets.

"Okay, okay, but in all seriousness, do you want to go home? I can go and get you a carriage." Klaus said, studying the droplets of water falling from the sky and Jean continued to collect more water with one of her hands.

"It's quite alright, I still have to check how everything is going inside." Jean turned to peer through the main entrance door. There was a group of people cleaning up.

"You know, I can handle things here, you prepared everything, the least I can do is tend to the mess." He offered and Jean shook her head.

"I prepared it, I will see to the mess." She said firmly as she turned her gaze at her hand filled with rainwater. She then extended her fingers a little and watched the water she gathered slip from her fingers.

"You really don't know how to relax." Klaus sighed heavily and she smiled and gave him a side glance and he looked at her with the same gaze. The mischief in her eyes was clear.

"You need to rest, don't you have somewhere to be tomorrow?" Jean asked, her fingers closed up again, gathering more water and Klaus' dark blue eyes shifted to her outstretched palm.

"Speaking of expeditions and excursions, I brought you something from my latest trip." He smiled and Jean's eyes brightened up and then she frowned, her eyes bolting to every corner discreetly without moving her head.

But admittedly to Klaus, it looked like she was having a seizure. He however knows her well enough.

Klaus studied their surroundings very steadily, turning his head and body not as carefully as she was but just as thoroughly, "Well, no one is here Jean." He whispered and she smiled brightly.

Taking one last peek she poured the water from her hand and shook it, making Klaus sigh and taking a white handkerchief from the inner pocket of his jacket. He then extended a hand to her and she gave her wet hand to him which he wiped with his handkerchief.

"I've already sent Barbara home, are you sure you want to stay?" He asked as he carefully wiped her hand.

"This venue has a couple of bedrooms; I think I will stay in one of them," Jean answered back.

"I tried; Barbara cannot get angry at me." He let her hand go. He then offered an elbow to her as he tucked his handkerchief in his pocket. "I noticed you didn't eat much; I had asked the kitchen to stow away some food for you just in case."

Jean gasped a little and he added leaning to her, "We can have some inside the bedroom."

"Klaus, don't say it like that, what if someone hears?" Jean chided but locked arms with him and patted his forearm.

He rolled his eyes, "The people remaining are from our clan, they are tight-lipped, and they won't tell anyone how close we are. Barbatos forbids people to stop thinking that we secretly hate each other's guts. It will ruin their fun, they love pitting us against one another, don't they?"

The blonde woman giggled at his sarcasm.

"Barbara seems to have gained a higher love for her plants recently, hasn't she?" Klaus suddenly asked, studying a bush beside them.

"Oh, she does, especially with Albedo showing the same level of interest as she does," Jean confirmed with a small nod.

"Same level of interest?" Klaus looked doubtful with his etched brows and Jean bumped his shoulder a little.

"Oh, don't be like that." She chided again.

He sighed, "It's hard to tell if he is interested in anything with his tone!" The older man whined and Jean shook her head, turning to face her. "I do remember someone else, another blonde, who loved plants." He stood before her with a smile.

She sighed and looked uninterested as she looked away from him for a second, then in the next smiled shyly with her teeth showing a little, "Dandelions?"

"Dandelions." He said just as she said the word and he smiled, the corner of his eyes crinkling. "I remember gathering all the dandelions I found on the way during trips and giving them all to you."

"And you'd make me blow a wish on them in front of you." Jean sighed.

"I hope your wish came true." He smiled and Jean cast her gaze down at his slightly crooked white ascot tie.

If Klaus knew of what his words entailed then maybe he wouldn't be saying that at all. Jean closed her eyes to blink and in that moment, she recalled how many times she wished on those dandelions to give her what she wanted. His spot in her mother's heart. The role of being the heir of the Gunnhildr Clan. The respect he gained from the people of Mondstadt and the Knights of Favonius. Wishes that wished him out of her life, so she could bask in the glory he had.

In some sense, there was truth to the rumors of how Jean and Klaus hated each other's guts. At one time in their life, it may have been true.

Jean opened her eyes and gave a gentle yet ghostly kind of smile as she glanced at Klaus' blue eyes in the next second. But Klaus was not difficult to like. She recalled the effort he placed into getting to know her and befriending her.

How could she continue to live in hatred?

She reached out for his ascot tie and realigned it perfectly as he glanced down, "I am no longer a kid Klaus, such fleeting fancies are for children." She patted his chest satisfied that it was no longer crooked and put her hands at the side of his arms. "I now know the value of doing the hard work myself if I want something, to know when something is out of reach and to work with the cards I was dealt with."

Klaus still kept his gaze on his tie, "You really didn't have to fix it, no one will see it…"

Jean shook her head, "We are the faces of our clan, nothing less than perfect."

She felt Klaus tense up, they had heard those words before. It was practically their motto.

"Nothing less than perfect." He mumbled back out of habit.

Jean smiled gazing up at him as he was taller even when they were this close. She wondered if Diluc was taller than him. She choked at the thought and to avoid further thinking of that man whose shadow she could not even spot, she wrapped her arms around Klaus' arm again.

"You promised me some trinkets, where did you hide them, huh?" She asked and he chuckled.

"Alright, alright." He smiled and turned to the entrance. "But you should eat first, don't think I haven't noticed that you've lost some weight."

Jean licked her lips and hummed in agreement. She must have lost weight because of Diluc's training. But she can't tell Klaus that.

"Jean, I'm serious." He glanced at her and she smiled but rested her head briefly on his arm. "I promised your mother I would look after you and Barbara."

"You're not that much older than me." She answered back.

"I made an oath." He replied mechanically.

"I can hear the sincerity." Jean chuckled.

"I'm just recalling childhood." His eyes were wide. "I am recalling now how you mentioned that you wanted to travel." His eyes cleared up.

"I still do." She quietly reaffirmed and he nodded, watching the water droplets fall on the wet ground.

"I wish I could join you." He mumbled and she glanced at him. "Oh, there is something I wish to discuss, but we can do it while you eat and rest." He patted her hand that was holding his arm. "Let's get inside before you start getting cold."

Jean nodded as the two turned and made their way inside. But both their expressions turned serious and it appeared like they were merely acting to like each other's company as they chatted casually. This was how they were in public, the moment they weren't alone the two would revert into a colder version of themselves when talking to one another.

As they entered, the two were none the wiser that when Klaus approached Jean another man was waiting for his chance. He had taken a few steps closer to her, but then Klaus suddenly appeared and he quickly hid in the dark. A witness to their affectionate exchange.

At least to the man hidden in the shadows, their interaction was nothing less than affectionate. Perhaps even from someone who romantically likes one another.

The white long sleeves of the man's shirt had been rolled up to his elbows and his strong, scarred, and firm arms were crossed over his chest. His hands are strongly gripping his upper arm. Even the black vest he wore looked like it was about to rip open from his solid chest tightening up with each slow inhale.

Even in the darkness, his red hair was vibrant. And he heard and got a glimpse of the blonde woman's expression as she talked to the man of the hour. The reason why he was even here in the first place. In fact, he was surprised to get an invitation but upon further inspection, it did make sense as to why he got an invitation in the first place.

In truth, the reason why he came was because of her. Jean Gunnhildr. He wanted to see her, but it appeared that he wasn't even in her mind at all. Well, how could he be when she had such a charming man beside her? For most of the party Klaus was beside Jean and in all honesty, they looked like a happy couple who happened to be the hosts too.

If he didn't know any better he would have thought they were together.

Diluc had been in the party all along but hid himself well because this was clearly not the time and place to act familiar with one another. He did hope that he would be able to see her, but she didn't slip away this time but it made sense as this was a party that was for her clan. So, then he thought that maybe he could sneak around and meet her somehow. And so, he waited and waited, but the woman was busy.

Still, patience was a trait that he honed a long time ago.

When he finally got the chance, a blonde man he had not disliked at all came swooping in his only chance to see her. But perhaps tonight he finally developed a hatred towards the Gunnhildr Clan's future Clan Head, Klaus Gunnhildr, just because of his unwitting interruption to his plans to see the blonde woman.

Jean had never looked nor talked to Diluc the way she did with Klaus. His rationality told him that their closeness made sense as they had known each other since they were kids. But the truth was, there was a louder voice in his head that didn't care about how long they had known each other for. Jean never gave him so many gentle smiles or was that playful when they were alone.

He was even annoyed by how they could talk about their childhood– their childhood– because Jean and Klaus shared a childhood together. Diluc had never wished he shared a childhood with her but when he heard them reminisce about it, he did. He wished Jean and him met a long time ago and yet he knew how unreasonable he sounded.

He had kept his distance from her by choice but looked at him now chasing after the woman's skirt.

Diluc gritted his teeth as Jean and Klaus' interaction replayed in his head over and over. How their hands kept touching one another.

And then he recalled how she touched him when they would train– well, specifically when the training became more than just training. How her hands would hold him by his jaw as she kissed him. Him. Not Klaus.

Diluc's jaw unclenched slightly and he sighed. He promised himself that there would be no distractions, yet here he was.

Diluc was not an honest man and everyone knew this, but with her, he couldn't help but want to be honest. At least in regards to his feelings about her, he mostly was. And in all honesty, he wanted her so much and even more these past few days as the inauguration day and party approached since he got the bloody invitation written with her familiar writing.

There was a moment when he read the invitation wherein, he thought that maybe Jean sent it to him as a concealed way of asking to see him. But these flights of fancy are just that, illusions.

Why would she seek him out when their commitment to one another was just him providing the training she wanted and the freedom she wanted?

She was using him just as he was using her.

But not having her was messing him up even more than he would like to admit. He needs to be near her soon or he will lose it.

An idea came to mind and as the idea formed, a plan brewed. And a smile could not help but bloom on his lips.

He will have her. He will see her.

This plan will make it so.

~.~.~.~.~.~

A/N:

Initially, Klaus was supposed to just exist but no one is supposed to know more about him… and here I am, I hope you like him or hate him, he was random as hell. But now he shall serve a bigger purpose than initially intended.

Can I say, that the tension in this fic is so high, that I get nervous, but also it gives 'just kiss already!' in bold letters.

Next chapter let's just jump into the smut. I hope I don't disappoint…

Speaking of smut, you can check A Promise Close to the Heart, it is a Jealuc explicit (erotic) fic if you want your fill of smut… but if you want a full story, don't go there, and I stress, that one is NOT FOR KIDS.

PS: my is wonky, I can't see views or anything and I just so happened to see someone comment which was a nice sign when I was so down. And so, thank you to you. It got the ball rolling even though it is a filler chapter.

PPS: I will try and make a summary for this fic to put those who are curious of the story. Just also know I am inconsistent so who knows when that will be (I am making one summary for a fic for my other fandom and it is at 11k words and counting and I do want to finish this first before I start anything else but we shall see).