"Miss Alice is the guest?" Mieko asked as Albedo stood with his chin on her shoulder, holding her from behind as she made them some tea.
"Yes, she insists on meeting you in person." Albedo said, sighing a little. Mona had been visiting frequently to try and scry for Mieko, only for the effort to be thwarted consistently by the "fog" that kept appearing in the scry glass. "It would be nice to get some… Alone time, for a bit."
"It would be." Mieko replied with a small smile. "But in the meantime…" She reached up and pet his head as he continued to cling. "Will you settle for just some tea and rest?"
"Yes, at least until Alice is gone." He replied. They took the tea out to the table and Mieko poured the drinks as Albedo went to answer the door. Mieko looked up as Alice came inside the house. "Aunt Alice, this is-"
"It must be Mieko, isn't that right~?" She hugged the woman with a big smile. She really was, as Albedo described, an older version of her daughter.
"A pleasure to meet you in person, Miss Alice." She smiled, the woman practically crushing Mieko to her chest. "Would you like some tea and sweets?"
"Oh, goodness, you're so well prepared." She chuckled. As they sat and talked, Mieko just listened attentively as Albedo and Alice did most of the conversating. Mieko answered when prompted, of course, but she could also feel herself slipping a little. But then, Alice said something that made Mieko's heart ache. "Experiments are all well and good, but I believe that Albedo shouldn't go about his relationship with you this way, Mieko."
"Ah, but I don't mind, because it is what Albedo wants." However, she knew that it was true. She was, after all, just an experiment, he would eventually move on. Especially knowing that she was human, and he was not. This revelation hurt her immensely. She sat through a bit more of them talking when Alice got up to wash her hands, Albedo showing her to the kitchen. Mieko took the opportunity to get up and leave the house, feeling suffocated.
"Mie?" Albedo asked as he heard the door, not seeing her in the room. He sighed, turning to Alice. "You did that on purpose, didn't you?" He asked.
"It is better to work it out now, Albedo. Besides, you've been holding back on her because you didn't have the words. But you have them, don't you?" Alice smiled. "Someone had to play the villain in this instance, since there's no one else vying for your attention in that way."
"It was uncalled for, Aunt Alice. Especially when she's reeling from losing her shop." Albedo headed out to find his darling, Alice chuckling. "Oh, goodness. That's a first." She smiled. "Don't you agree?" She asked, even though no response came.
Mieko ended up leaving the city, shaking her head to clear it. The realization and confirmation from an outside party hurt. Jean and Lisa, even Diluc didn't know it was an experiment. Just her, Albedo, and Alice. She kept walking, ending up near the flowers where she had taken Klee, staring at a distance at the tree. "Don't be a fool, Mie… You knew… You always knew, and yet…" She paused, turning when she heard footsteps. There he was, the ashy-blonde head of hair with the most beautiful ocean-hued eyes she had ever seen. Albedo had followed her.
"Why did you leave?" He asks, Mieko shaking her head, unable to reply. "Mie? I… Did what Alice said bother you that much?" He asked. "I know she speaks her mind, but if it makes you upset, please, you should speak up… I know you don't like to, but if it upset you…"
"Albedo." She interrupted him, tears in her eyes. "I'm just an experiment, aren't I?" Mieko asked. "I am… Simply an ongoing experiment for you… That's all, right?"
"Mie…?"
"Albedo, when I get old… Or when I die… Will you miss me? Or will it just be the end of the experiment?"
"Mie, why are you asking such a thing?" He took her hand, and all her tears came pouring out. "Mie, darling, why are you crying?"
"Albedo…" She sobbed, falling to her knees, Albedo kneeling with her and trying to calm her down. "Albedo, I don't want to… I can't… If I start growing older and you stay the same, how can I…?" Mieko shook her head. "I'll never be able to turn back time, I… I'll feel so inadequate standing next to you… I already do." The woman balled her hands up into fists in her lap. "Albedo, I can't…"
"Mie…" He took a deep breath and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her to him. "Mieko… My sweet, darling Mie…" He nuzzled her, letting her cry into his shoulder. "I adore you, Mie… I… I know I said this was an experiment, but… In truth, I only continued to say that as an excuse, to cover up this feeling you give me." He said in a whisper. "Please, Mie, don't think I'd ever leave you… Not after everything." Albedo added, cradling her head and playing with her hair. As her sobbing settled down, he let her up from his shoulder. "I wouldn't have put forth so much effort for anyone else."
"You… You wouldn't have…?"
"No, Mie. You're the only one." He said. "Normally, once a relationship becomes… Troublesome to upkeep, I would normally stop interacting except for pleasantries. I would break off most contact, and just exist in the same space. However." He took a breath to pause, preparing himself for the words he was about to say. "I need you, Mie…" He took her hand, placing it over his heart. "Can you feel my heart beat increasing?" He asked her. "This heart of mine… doesn't react quite the same way to things like excitement and to other emotional things… But for you, darling…" The alchemist pressed his forehead against hers. "For you, my heart races… It yearns for more of your attention, for more of your smile… And it aches when I see you hurt or sad." He added. Mieko stared at him in disbelief, the tears welling up again as she shut her eyes.
"But I'm human, Albedo!" She exclaimed, shaking. "You can't… If it's going to hurt you in the end, we can't…"
"I know… I know you are." He said softly. feeling that strange tug in his chest. Even now, she was being considerate? "That's one reason why I was terrified to even admit these feelings. I was willing to bottle everything up, never let anyone know about it… But…" He lifted her chin with his hand, smiling softly at her. "Mie… You're… The only human who has ever gotten me to react this way…" He added. "I know that the world around me changes with time, and I know you will too… But if it bothers you, I shall put in all my efforts into researching a way to keep you with me. Forever."
"Forever…?" She asked as Albedo reached into his pocket, pulling out a small ring. He held it up to her and performed a small alchemic feat, changing the ring into a more decorative one, with branches and flowers. "A-Albedo…?"
"My beloved Mie…" He smiled. "Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife? And making this 'experiment' of ours a lifelong endeavor, that I never want to stop?" The tears began to flow from Mieko's eyes again, but she nodded and Albedo slipped the ring onto her finger before wiping her tears away. "Don't cry, my darling." He said before planting a kiss on her lips. "I promise, Mie… If you won't leave me, then I will never leave you."
"Albedo… I… Albe-edo." She hiccuped between her sobs, clinging to him tightly. Her heart felt so full. Was this the feeling? The thing she had been so scared of having again? Albedo held her and let her calm down before escorting her home.
"Aunt Alice?" A note was left under the tea cup she had been drinking from. "Seems like she left." He stated, Mieko sighing.
"Ah, she must think me rude, running out like that."
"On the contrary, she says that you were well within your rights, and that she will come back again sometime soon. And thank you for the snacks." He stated, noting that the plates were all empty.
"Shall I make more?"
"You should rest."
"No, no, that won't do. You didn't get to have many, so let me at least make one batch." She said, petting his head before meandering to the kitchen.
Mieko sat in the shadow of the wall outside of Mondstadt, staring out across the lake and remembering the day Yuki died. It was the anniversary of that dreadful day, and she had told Albedo that it was probably better for her to go and be alone. "Yuki…" She said softly, tears welling up in her eyes a little, but not falling. "You're probably up there, scolding me for crying over you again, huh?" She asked, sniffling a little. "You know that I can't help it, not today…" She added, gripping her weapon in hand as it lay next to her on the ground. "Did you know, Yuki? That we're 31 this year… I feel so old…"
Meanwhile, Albedo stood watching her, feeling his chest tighten. She was talking to Yuki again. She was getting worse day by day. He didn't know what else he could do. She was smiling, but he knew she felt like she was going to cry.
"Yuki, want to know something else?" He heard her ask. "I think I'm actually happy now… I'm so scared something is going to happen to someone around me… Is it wrong, for me to be happy?" She asked, Albedo not hesitating a moment longer. He walked right over to her, and before she could even say hello, he scooped her up and held her against his shoulder. She was too light. Albedo smiled at her and kissed her temple.
"Mie…" The softness he spoke with made her feel like falling apart right then and there. She couldn't stop her tears from flooding out and spilling over her cheeks. "Are you really happy?" He asked, smiling at her that way he always did when they were alone. "If you are… It makes me happy too." Mieko closed her eyes and began crying as hard as she did the day Yuki died, but this time it wasn't just because she'd lost someone.
"A-Albedo." She managed through her sobbing. "Thank you, for loving me, Albedo…" Albedo just stayed there with her, letting her cry, tightening his grip on her. Why did it sound to him like she was saying goodbye? He toted her off to Dragonspine so they could have some peace and quiet for a while, making her dinner and letting her cling to him. They spent most of the time in silence until Albedo heard her take a deep breath. "Albedo. I… I have something for you."
"Something for me?" He asked. "What could it be?" He smiled as she took his hand and took off his glove, placing it aside. He stared as she rummaged in her jacket, then pulled a ring from her inner pocket.
"I made this, so I don't think it's going to be as sturdy as yours, but…" Her cheeks were so red, Albedo thought she would pass out. "I… If… If you wouldn't be opposed to accepting it…"
"You… Made me a ring?" He asked, staring at it. He took her hand and helped her put it on his finger, smiling. "A perfect fit." He pulled her closer and held her, chuckling at how embarrassed she clearly was. "I can reinforce it so it stays just as it is, darling. I might have to make it larger to put it on the outside of my gloves." He said, admiring it a little.
"I-It would probably be uncomfortable to wear them inside the gloves, so…" She glanced up at him, Albedo nodding in agreement. They looked at each other again after a moment, smiling and starting to chuckle to themselves. In the light of the fire, their rings listened as they held hands, intertwining their fingers and enjoying their moment alone.
"You should try and rest." Albedo said, Mieko pouting a little.
"I'm not tired yet."
"Shall I make you tired?" He asked, Mieko shaking her head. "Then please, indulge me?"
"Nn, you know I can't refuse when you ask like that." She grumbled, Albedo chuckling again. "Only for you."
"Thank you, my Mie." He replied, letting her lay down and petting her head until she fell asleep. He was glad she listened, but now he was even more frustrated by being unable to help. He got up carefully, doing his best not to wake her, going to his desk and continuing his research. "There has to be something… Anything I can do…" He said to himself, getting right to work, trying to find a way to remedy whatever it was that was ailing his beloved.
((It'll take me a month I said. Nope. Writing brain came back strong for this chapter, and I'm working on the event chapters as well~ (Check out Instagram to see the event post later on. I appreciate your support and I hope you continue to enjoy my content~
- Winter Cheshire))