It was the next day after you had awakened.

The maids had helped you bathe and into a simple sleeved deep blue dress since it was difficult for you now with the bandages wrapped around your burns here and there on your body, most specifically your hands. Holding things for too long causes a burning sensation to resurface where you held whatever.

They happily helped brush and style your hair with a blue ribbon to match, you were now able to go see Diluc, after eating breakfast and downing some honey tea for your throat per his instructions during your breakfast together in the morning.

"Thank you, you may now be dismissed," you say as you stand up from your vanity chair.

The two maids who helped you, gave a small bow as you then turned and walked out of the room when one opened the door for you.

You made your way, down the hall. Already knowing where the Dawn winery's owner office was after coming to the house a couple of times with your father and older brothers, always waiting outside the office trying to sneak what they discussed.

But young ladies mustn't do that....

Your mother's voice rang in your ears.

That was all in the past along with everything else....

So with a shake of your head, you walked past several servants, none of them paying you attention as you walked as gracefully as you could manage to that man's office with your burns and scrapes.

You turned the corner of the house and saw at the end of the hall the doors were opened as he sat in his desk seemingly working.

Your heels to your flats clicked rhythmically as you cross down the hallway to his office, catching his attention as he set down his paperwork and quill.

You stopped at the doorway, and gave a small curtsy to him.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Ragnvindr," you say, standing back up. "May I come in and continue our discussion from yesterday?"

Diluc looked at you for a minute before nodding.

"Yes, please come in Ms. Y/n," he agrees, gesturing over to the small sitting area chairs. "Have a seat."

You walk over and sit down as Diluc gets up and away from his desk and sits in the chair across from you.

You wasted no time and began speaking.

"I first just wanted to thank you and your staff for taking care of me and my injuries these past few days. I'm sure I'll recover in no time. However you asked why I showed up to your door that night in that drastic weather..."

Diluc crossed his hands together, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees. His interest now intrigued, as expressed with his raised brow.

"Go on," he inquired. "As I remember you asked me to help you before you collapsed inside my front door."

You take a deep breathe as your hands fiddle lightly with the ribbon ends around your waist from the dress.

"I-I came here in search fo your help yes, you see my father and my older brothers they have gotten into some trouble... And our winery got wrecked and so I fled here and..."

Diluc held up his hand, stopping your story as he looked at you.

"Sorry, but I do believe you would have gone to the knights of favonius for that kind of thing," he said immediately standing up from his chair to stand behind it as he leaned against it.

You realized what he was implying, standing up yourself.

"Are you accusing me of lying of what happened to me, Mr. Ragnvindr?," you question him. "You didn't even let me finish my reason-"

"Well not exactly, but I do have a feeling you are hiding something, I know your father and your older brothers for awhile now. I'm sure you're just the same," he tells you honestly.

"I don't know what my father and brothers have done to offend you, Mr. Ragnvindr. But I am not them," you rattle back.

"Oh really? And how am I suppose to believe that? How do I not know you aren't lying about that either?"

"Because unlike them I care what happens to my future!," you shouted, already having reached your last nerve that man he did. However you quickly realized what you did, covering your mouth as though you perhaps said a horrible word.

"Ms. Y/n," Diluc says calmly, his voice a bit softer. His expression, now puzzled in worry.

You shake your head, and sit yourself back down. You busy your head in your hands, biting your lip to comfort your pain you feel rocking itself in you. You take a shaky gasp of air.

"I am not like them, please. Believe me, just this once," you say, your voice laid heavily with a held back sob.

You hear the sound of Diluc sitting back into the chair across from you.

"My apologies, Ms. Y/n," he starts off with, keeping his voice gentle for you," Please go ahead and continue."

You shake your head, dropping your hands to fold in your lap as you grimaced at the memories being held back were too painful to speak about now. "I can't... Please not right now. I tried, and you wouldn't listen."

"Well I'm listening now, I promise. But I need to know what happened so I can report it-"

"To the knights? What exactly will they do? They have been no help since the start," you reply, sinking back into the chair, as you stared off into the window.

Looking back at Diluc who was looking at you, his deep red eyes meeting your own e/c ones.

"I see," he sighed, tapping his fingers on the arms of the chair. "Then please, Ms. Y/n tell me what happens that stormy night."

You closed your eyes in relief, opening them again before you started telling your story to him on how you ended up at his door.