Archive of Our Own

Diluc absentmindedly twirled the engagement ring on his finger, sized perfectly to match. It was a beautiful ring - a gold band with a sapphire jewel sitting in the center. It gleamed wonderfully in the light, and Diluc often found himself lost staring at it. He recalled how Kaeya took his hand gently, slipping it onto his ring finger with a soft smile. The redhead would never forget that look in Kaeya’s eye, so relieved...

Of course it was. Diluc’s agreement had helped secure Khaenri’ah’s future. Their marriage would reestablish Kaeya’s fallen kingdom.

The king sighed. He’s happy he’s marrying Kaeya, he loved his knight for so long and never  dared dream that they would end up together. Still, Diluc wished Kaeya loved him too. 

For Kaeya, this marriage was for Khaenri’ah, a necessary sacrifice. For Diluc, this was a slow torture knowing the person he loves would never share his affections. He agreed because it would make Kaeya happy and, more selfishly, it would allow him to pretend that he’s loved at least until Kaeya leaves.

In the middle of his thoughts, Diluc heard the door open. He didn’t have to look to know that it was his fiancé.

Kaeya walked into their shared room, yawning slightly and taking a seat on the bed. He glanced over to the thinking redhead, “Are you alright? You seem lost in thought.”

“I’m fine, Kaeya. It’s just been a long day.” he replied, not turning his head to meet the other's eye.

“Hm?” Kaeya hummed softly, getting back up to walk closer to Diluc, “Wanna talk about it?”

Diluc shook his head. “No, I’m alright.”

Kaeya frowned slightly, pulling over a stray chair from the side of the room and taking a seat next to Diluc, “Are you sure, love? Do you need to take a break from paperwork?” he asked, his eye glancing over the mess of papers all over the desk.

Kaeya really was too gentle with him, even away from prying eyes. The redhead looked at his neglected paperwork, Kaeya’s suggestion sounded nice… “I really should finish these. I assure you, I’m fine.” It sounded like a lie even to himself.

There were appearances to keep in public after the engagement announcement. Kaeya flirted, gave smiles and touches freely. He’s so warm and kind - always making Diluc’s heart flutter. It’s bittersweet; Diluc knew they were empty gestures. It’s worse behind closed doors, how intimate and genuine it all felt. Kaeya would take his hand and kiss it, or hug him after a long day. Diluc could feel the impending heartbreak when he thought how it would inevitably end. 

He’s in too deep. How foolish he’s been, allowing his knight to bury so deeply into his heart. But who would have thought that the little boy his father saved that day in the pouring rain would turn out to be the ruler of the lost kingdom? 

Kaeya sighed lightly, “...Alright, just take a break when you need to, okay?” He reached over, leaving a kiss on Diluc’s forehead. He knew Kaeya most likely didn’t believe his fib, but the blue haired male also knew how stubborn he was.

Diluc didn’t like hiding things from Kaeya, but this was one secret he wasn’t going to let slip. For now, he’ll pretend that the kiss was meant just for him outside of the role Kaeya had to play.

His heart ached in his chest.

Kaeya turned away from Diluc, putting the chair back in its place and heading back over to the door, “Don’t stay up too late. I’m going to go take a walk in the garden if you want to join me after your work~” he mused, waving to his lover and exiting their room.

Diluc had been like this for...quite a while now. Ever since they had gotten engaged, really. And it was steadily getting worse with every day their wedding grew closer. He wondered if he had done something wrong. Diluc just...wouldn’t talk to him.

Kaeya breathed a sigh, heading out to the garden area and taking a seat by a patch of lamp grass. Before they had become official- when they were still a naive prince and his knight, new to love, they often sat here. He remembers when he would pick a lamp grass, putting it in Diluc’s hair to compliment the red. How beautiful he thought Diluc to be back then, and even more so now. He smiled at the memory, gently picking one of the flowers. He’d apologize to the garden staff later- maybe all he needed to do was reignite a little childish romance in their relationship.

He nodded decidedly, standing up and heading back to their room to gift his fiancé the glowing blue bud.

“Luc~” He mused, dancing into the room.

Diluc glanced up from his work, an eyebrow raised, “You came back quickly.”

Kaeya nodded, humming, “I missed you too much~” He walked over to Diluc, sitting back down and presenting him with the lamp grass, “I picked this for you.”

Diluc gently took the lamp grass from Kaeya and smiled slightly. His eyes were full of fondness, gazing at the flower, “Thank you, Kaeya.”

“Do you want to take a break from your work now and tell me what’s been on your mind?” Kaeya tried, brushing some hair out of Diluc’s face.

“Didn’t I tell you that I’m fine?” Diluc said, sighing once again and placing the lamp grass down beside his paperwork.  Kaeya could see his lover shutting himself away again, his gaze going distant.

Kaeya’s smile immediately fell, his gut dropping, “Diluc, please…. ”

“Why does it even matter?” Diluc bit back softly.

“Because I care about you? And love you? And I want to know if you’re okay?” Kaeya wondered why that was even a question.

“Can you stop?” Diluc again, answered immediately. His voice was soft and tired, but held a questionable amount of annoyance.

Kaeya paused for a second, confused by this statement, “Stop...what? Caring about my fiancé?”

“Stop, this . This charade. It’s just the two of us here, you don’t need to pretend.” The red head kept his eyes away from Kaeya, as if suddenly afraid of looking directly at him. Kaeya’s brows furrowed as he leaned back a little from Diluc.

“What do you mean?-” Was he missing something? His head almost hurt from the utter confusion left by the other male's words.

Diluc averted his eyes and crossed his arms. “Don’t. I’m not some naive little kid anymore. You don’t have to pretend that you love me. You’ve already gotten what you wanted.”

“Got what I- What?” Kaeya was a little speechless, not sure how to wrap his mind around these accusations, “But I’m not pretending?”

Diluc stood up abruptly from his chair, his fists clenched at his side, but holding himself with all the regalness of a king. His glare burned into Kaeya. “ Enough. Do not play these mind games with me, Kaeya. You’ll have your kingdom restored. Isn’t that all that matters?” 

Kaeya was caught off guard for a moment, staring up at Diluc, dumbfounded. It took a bit to process everything before his face also grew serious, “What ever made you think that? I’m not playing any mind games with you, Diluc. Yes- Khaenri’ah will be restored, but out of everything, the most important thing to me is you. ” 

“I-? What…?”

“I love you, Diluc. I’m not sure how you convinced yourself otherwise, but that's the truth.” Kaeya stood as well, analyzing Diluc’s response. He seemed...apprehensive still, his wide eyes locked onto Kaeya, but not fully looking at him. Diluc looked scared.

Kaeya let his eyes soften slightly, letting a breath go that he didn’t even remember holding. He gently grabbed Diluc, pulling him into a tight hug, “ I really really mean it. Please, believe me. I love you.” He repeated, pulling back from the hug slightly to pick the lamp grass up off of Diluc’s desk, and gifted it to him once again, “For you.” 

Diluc’s fingers curled delicately around the flower, his fingers brushing Kaeya’s. He seemed to finally relax, his eyes watering slightly “Kae- I-...” He bit his lip, gaze focused on the glow, “I’m so sorry-” he choked out, voice wavering. Kaeya just pulled him back into a tight embrace, and this time, Diluc hugged back, wrapping his arms around Kaeya, and holding onto him, tears escaping him.

Kayea let Diluc cry on his shoulder for a moment before gently lifting Diluc’s face to look at him, a hand cupping his cheek, “You’re okay, Diluc.” He smiled, wiping the tears from his lovers eyes and placing a small, soft kiss onto his lips.

“I love you, Kaeya.”

“I love you too, Luc.”