Mondstadt's first grand festival of the year belonged to freedom, the Anemo Archon, and lovers. During the celebration, people offered flowers to those they admired or respected, and they also presented the legendary "Windblume" to Lord Barbatos, the Anemo Archon. This was the Windblume Festival.
In Victor's eyes, the Windblume Festival was markedly different from the Lantern Rite he had just experienced not long ago.
For example: the banners representing the Four Winds, decorated all throughout Mondstadt, were all shades of teal, though each subtly different. Then there were the various blossoms that sprouted atop the deep green branches and pale green leaves, all blooming in unison. The Windblume Festival was painted in teal.
Firecrackers, couplets, candied hawthorn skewers, lanterns, lucky knots, and Xiao Lanterns—these made the Lantern Rite crimson red.
The Windblume represented the green vitality of spring breezes that swept away snow and ice, and the freedom to rise skyward. The Xiao Lanterns symbolized the light that broke the darkness, lit up the night sky, and guided the path forward.
Both were beautiful, with no need to compare which was better.
Delivering Diluc's message to Kaeya was, in a sense, more difficult than expected. Normally, there were only two guaranteed times in a day when Kaeya could be found: when he clocked in at the Knights of Favonius, and when he clocked out.
But today was an exception. In fact, this entire period was an exception.
"The Windblume Festival is always hosted by the Knights of Favonius. During the festival, Acting Grand Master Jean personally patrols outside, and all the piled-up paperwork is handled by Captain Kaeya."
The guards' words matched exactly with what Victor remembered.
Although delivering a personal message during office hours wasn't exactly proper, Kaeya wasn't the type to care about such things. With that in mind, Victor knocked on Jean's office door.
"Well, well, what wind blew you here?"
"'Tell Kaeya his order of Apple Flower Cider has finished brewing, and he should come pick it up himself.' Also, 'The Dawn Winery's Windblume Festival is waiting for you.'"
"Is that so… I see."
There wasn't much joy on Kaeya's face. In fact, his expression was somewhat complicated. Ever since the day he confessed his secret to Diluc, his heart had felt unburdened—yet ever after, whenever they met, a strange awkwardness always lingered.
He quickly smoothed his mood and asked with a smile: "You attended Liyue's Lantern Rite, didn't you? How was it?"
"Good. Lively. Joyful."
"Your tone and your expression… they don't exactly match your words."
"...My feelings are a little complicated."
"Oh? Just how complicated?"
"Let's put it this way: imagine you've prepared yourself to face a difficult, uncertain exam, only to suddenly be told it's postponed, giving you a few extra days to play. But then, in those few extra days, you learn the exam's difficulty has been raised."
"That really is complicated…"
Kaeya thought for a moment, then walked around his desk, clapped Victor on the shoulder, and said:
"But there's a saying in Liyue: 'Drink today's wine today; tomorrow's sorrows will come tomorrow.' Food, wine, flowers, love, and freedom—for now at least, you should enjoy Mondstadt's Windblume Festival!"
With that, he stepped out first.
"What, you're not working anymore?"
"Already finished~. Time to get some fresh air."
—Windrise Plaza—
"Bard, we gave all those people advice just like you said! That's good enough, right?"
"You did excellently. Thank you for your hard work. Now let's look for others in need—"
"What are you three talking about? Mind letting us join?"
"Kaeya? And Victor too? Are you two also here for love advice?"
"Haha, the best bard must surely also be the best love advisor—I don't doubt it. But… I heard you've started a crash course in love poetry. I came to sign up, while Victor is here in search of happiness."
At that, not only did Lumine and Paimon freeze, even Victor himself was stunned. "In search of happiness? What are you talking about?"
"Then let me phrase it differently—you came to clear your mind. That much is right, isn't it?"
"Why phrase it so strangely…"
"?…???…?…"
"Listen… the wind plucked the strings of the lyre. In its melody, it tells me—you are indeed troubled."
"Hey! That was you strumming, bard!" Paimon mercilessly exposed him.
"Hehe~ don't mind the details. But as for happiness… that's beyond me. Happiness is simple: the smiles of the joyful are always alike, but the sorrows of the troubled come in countless forms. Perhaps… try some wine?"
"Wine? Forget whether wine can bring happiness—the tavern won't even sell to us!" Paimon stomped in the air, indignant.
"That really is a pity. The festival's brews are not to be missed."
Once, Venti himself had been denied a drink. Now, he could smugly tease Paimon and Lumine. Turning back to Victor, he extended the invitation: "Once I've helped my pupils here, let's drink together?"
"I told you—I came to clear my head. Stop throwing around the word 'happiness,' you make it sound like I'm here to indulge. …Fine. Let's drink. Tonight, we won't stop until we're drunk!"
Having declared boldly, Victor then quietly sat on a bench in the plaza. He watched Venti and Kaeya squabble, watched Venti and Lumine help the "love poetry crash course" students with their woes—then saw a familiar figure rush through the crowd.
"Vice President? Where have you been? As Vice President, no matter how busy you are, you must join Lady Barbara's support activities during the Windblume Festival!"
"But even if I don't show up for a while, Barbara and I are still friends. You? After all this time, have you become her friend yet?"
"Th-that, I…"
Albert's cheeks flushed red. He stammered, and finally lowered his head. "I admit—you and Lady Barbara are the closest among our members. So… help me. Please."
"I shoulder all the members' hopes. We plan to give Barbara our blessings at the Windblume Festival. Originally, we wanted to gather all the flowers the members picked and build a giant flower statue behind the Church. But that experienced bard and his assistant harshly shot it down. From your perspective, what would be better?"
Albert's eyes shone with hope, placing his trust in Victor.
"You said it yourself—it's the Windblume Festival. Isn't it said that an unmarried Mondstadter who asks others for help will be abandoned by love?"
"You think I'd be afraid? In front of Lady Barbara, even the Anemo Archon's oracle would pale in comparison!"
"...Since you're not concerned, fine. My suggestion: just give the flowers directly. Barbara won't refuse. If you're worried about too many supporters disrupting the Church, explain the situation and move the gathering to an open outdoor venue."
"T-that feels… a little too ordinary. A gift should be memorable."
Memorable? Like writing a threatening note, luring her to dig something up in fear, only to discover your "gift" buried there?
Unforgettable, yes—but probably for the rest of her life.
Sadly, if left unchecked, this was indeed the kind of idea Albert would later hatch and carry out.
"If you think flowers are too plain, fold paper ones instead. Each member folds one, writes a blessing, and you deliver them yourself. Romantic, isn't it? Plus, far easier to handle alone."
Albert hesitated, silently asking: Isn't there another idea?
"Or hold a fireworks show. Or disguise the gift as a treasure chest hidden outdoors, and hand Barbara the map. Unique, right?"
"That's brilliant! I've learned so much. Inviting you into the fan club was a stroke of genius!"
Watching Albert leave with a goofy grin, Victor sighed. Sometimes, such pure conviction was almost enviable.
When Venti finally wrapped up guiding his students, he fondly patted his bulging coin purse and beamed.
"Let's go. Let's drink ourselves senseless!"
The sharp bite, the headaches and vomiting after, had left Victor with poor impressions of alcohol. Yet he couldn't deny the intoxicating allure of a pleasant buzz.
Besides, with strong hangover cures at hand, he could drink freely.
Apple Cider's sweetness, Dandelion Wine's fragrance—cup after cup, gulped like water. Even Venti raised a thumb in admiration.
"Are you lost about the future?"
Victor, drunken and hazy, wagged his finger. "I'll manage, whatever comes. But the Chief Instructor… I heard news of him. And I keep thinking… even if I destroy that cursed blade, he won't come back…"
"So that's your burden…" Venti rested his chin in thought. "I bear some responsibility for his fate. If you can bring him back alive, I can heal his spirit."
"You can?"
"No matter how long that blade tormented him, only 137 days have passed in reality. That's not too long. Trust me."
"You… you remembered that number too… Good! Venti, you're… amazing… Cheers!"
When Victor awoke in his room, it was already late morning.
"Blackout drunk? Where's the hangover cure? Little Wen, what happened in between?"
["Eh? You two just drank, from noon until night! You drank every coin out of Venti's purse, then went your separate ways."]
"Huh? I swore to pay the bill."
["Huh?! Master, your purse has been in my body the whole time. You did pay—but with Venti's coin pouch. He said you've got a good stomach but bad manners, and he'll never drink with you again."]
"...No, this is a misunderstanding. I'd never stoop to stealing a friend's drinking money… I'll have to return it."
…
—Windrise Plaza—
"He's not here. Did he already went to find Kaeya?"
…
—Knights of Favonius HQ—
"No, Why? Why is Captain Kaeya in Acting Grand Master Jean's office? My poem and flowers were almost wasted!"
"Ellin? Did you see Lumine and a bard here earlier?"
"They came and went. It's been a while."
"...Am I too late?"
"Hey, don't go yet! Can you help me?"
Ellin tugged Victor's cloak, her eyes darting between him and the dandelion bouquet in her arms. The meaning was obvious.
"It's the Windblume Festival. Wouldn't it be better to give them to Acting Grand Master Jean yourself?"
"No way! N-no way, no way… How could I possibly hand such a shy poem face-to-face? Even giving it to a guard was already my limit, but Captain Kaeya wasted it… I don't care anymore, please help me!"
"...I don't really mind, but to be sure—did you at least sign your poem?"
"Of course! After that green-hatted bard and his assistant enlightened me, I rewrote it with my name. No chance it'll be mistaken as some anonymous gift and thrown out!"
After carrying messages during the Lantern Rite, offering ideas, and even delivering flowers now… Victor sighed helplessly.
When he finally found Jean on patrol, Lisa was by her side.
Ah… this might be a mistake.
Keeping his distance, he locked onto them with Thousand Winds for ten minutes before finally spotting a moment when Lisa and Jean separated.
"Acting Grand Master, here have this bouquet."
"For me? Thank you!"
"No need to thank me. Uh… it's complicated. There's a poem hidden inside—you'll understand when you see it."
Jean nodded, puzzled, carefully searching the bouquet so as not to scatter the dandelions.
"Happy Windblume Festival. I'll be going now."
Mission complete, Victor quickly slipped away.
At last, Jean found the pink card and softly read aloud: "Even if the Anemo Archon hides his trace, the winds of two thousand six hundred years ago still stubbornly blow today. Just like my admiration—and my love—eternal and unwavering."
"This…"
As the scion of the 'noble' Gunnhildr clan, as one 'powerful' enough to earn the title of Dandelion Knight at fifteen, and as someone whose conduct was always 'proper'—Jean had never once received a love confession.
Those words—"my love"—burned on the page the longer she looked.
No wonder Victor had said it was complicated. This was a confession. Absolutely a confession.
She recalled her secret purchases of Romeo and Juliet, The Butterfly Lovers, and even The Merchant of Fontaine, Dust's new novel in which lovers finally found happiness. She thought of countless romantic tales. And her cheeks warmed.
But… though she and Victor had some acquaintance, calling it love was far too much. Ignoring such a gift wasn't polite, but how should she respond?
Perhaps she could claim the poem was misplaced… or that she'd simply been too busy and forgotten. After all, everyone knew she was always busy!
Yes. That would do.
Jean silently resolved herself.