Venti clearly remembered that it was the second day after they confirmed their relationship. As they walked through Liyue Harbor, she, being short on funds, could only find a somewhat cute doll to give to Durandal.
She didn't expect her to still have it, and it even looked like it had been taken out occasionally.
"When you thought of me in Inazuma, did you ever take it out?"
"No... no, I didn't. Why would I take it out when I was thinking of you? Besides, I had Shenhe with me, so I didn't have time to think of you."
"Oh? But didn't you say you missed me when you communicated with me earlier? Was that false? Did I mishear?"
She remembered it quite clearly. She had been happy for a long time because of that. Was Durandal now trying to deny it?
Wuwu~ Durandal couldn't lie. Although she could stubbornly claim she hadn't said it, but... saying such a thing at this moment would be too strange.
"And, you've kept it so well. It looks just like when I first gave it to you."
"It's always been in my storage space, never taken out. Of course, it looks almost new."
Venti shook her head, placed the teddy bear at the corner of the bed, and moved closer to Durandal again.
"Can't you just say something from your heart to make me happy, Durandal? I was very lonely during the time you weren't with me."
She always wanted to run to Inazuma to meet Durandal, but she had to watch over Mondstadt to prevent potential disasters, so she could only suppress the urge to see her.
Now that she had finally returned to Mondstadt, she shouldn't say such things. Could she just say something she wanted to hear, to make her happy?
"Say... say what? What do you want me to say? I... I won't say strange things just to please you."
"I know, so you just need to say what's on your mind but you're too embarrassed to say out loud. I believe those words will already make me quite happy."
Durandal didn't need to specifically think of flattering words; as long as she spoke her mind, it would definitely be what she wanted to hear.
Of course, she could also use sarcasm to mask her shyness, and Venti was prepared for this. If she said something like that, she would just interpret it in reverse.
Though it was a bit regrettable, wasn't this also Durandal's most charming quality?
"Words I want to say but am too embarrassed to speak..."
This person... this person said it on purpose, didn't she! If she really said it, wouldn't that mean Venti was right!
This... at a time like this, she couldn't let her have her way, otherwise she would become even more arrogant and difficult to deal with.
But... she said she was very lonely, and her eyes weren't lying, which made Durandal completely unable to say those words.
She still had Shenhe by her side, but Venti didn't have anyone like that.
Although she had many friends and could go to the tavern to drink, when Durandal wasn't by her side, she could only occasionally relieve her emotions through communication.
Thinking of this, Durandal really couldn't bring herself to refuse Venti. After a long hesitation, Durandal lowered her head and mumbled softly.
"I... I miss you too, Venti."
"Mm."
"I want to see you, I want to sit with you under the tree at Windrise and listen to you play your lyre."
"Mm."
"I want to lie with you in the flower field, surrounded by the small animals in the field."
"Mm."
"Every time we meet, you always do things that bother me. But... but I still want to see you, which is why I rushed back as soon as Guizhong's body was complete. It was so I could see you quickly, like this, holding your hand."
"Mm."
Venti always responded simply, but on the surface it was like this, while inside she was incredibly happy.
She thought that was all, but Durandal gave her a huge surprise; her words weren't finished yet.
"I... I like you, Venti."
These were words Durandal had buried in her heart for a long time. Before, she would only say them in her mind, but this time she had thrown caution to the wind and said them directly.
Venti was stunned by these words, her eyes wide, intense surprise filling her heart, and she almost took off on the spot.
"Durandal..."
"You... didn't you say to speak the words buried in my heart that I was too embarrassed to say? This... are you satisfied now?"
Durandal kept her head down, not letting Venti see her flushed cheeks.
The next moment, Venti suddenly pounced, tackling Durandal onto the bed. She then sat on Durandal, smiling as she looked at her.
"Ven... Venti?"
"I'm very happy, Durandal, thank you for telling me these things. But, is that all you want to do?"
Just listening to her play the lyre, just lying with her in the flower field? Such wishes were too simple, weren't they?
"Since I'm here, tonight won't be so simple. It's been a long time, hasn't it? You'll satisfy me, right?"
"Lumine... Lumine, Shenhe, and Paimon are all here, don't mess around."
"It's fine, as long as they don't hear anything. I can manage that much."
There was still plenty of time left tonight, and Venti wasn't planning on resting so soon.
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