Fragile Flower.
Okay so, I came across two artworks on pinterest where Argenti just looks so pathetic, and I felt inspired. So, this is very self indulgent, the reader is meant to be perceived as Idrila the aeon of beauty, but reader is gender neutral (refered to as you).
Enjoy, I guess, I enjoyed this.
Honkai Star Rail | Main Masterlist
The room is made up of white marble floors and walls, and a detailed and ornate ceiling held up by pillars of the same material. The throne you sit on is made of stone and wood, a red cushion covers the cold wood. Red fabric is draped along the walls and over the windows, warm sunlight scatters across the white floors and walls that cast a blinding gleam, like sunlight on snow. Red roses grow in alcoves under the windows and behind the throne, they lean in your direction and bow under your stare.
Before you stands a knight, honoured in your title and searching your name. He is clad in well polished silver and gold armour, decorated with roses and carvings alike. His hair is a piercing red that puts your roses to shame, they know this and turn away at his presence. His eyes are pale and green, a small dot of magenta makes up his pupils, it is an artistic contrast, one you appreciate. His skin is fair and clear, unmarked despite his duty as a knight, you wonder how he managed such a feat.
You beckon him closer, he hesitates and stops before the steps to where you sit. You tilt your head at him, he fails to meet your eyes, you laugh quietly to yourself. His shoulders stiffen and he takes a shaky breath, your laugh quiets and you look down at him.
“Please, come up and stand before me,” you beckon gently. He moves up the steps slowly, taking great care in every step, unlike you every sound he makes echoes across the walls. The temple does not dare to mimic a sound you make, just as the roses bow for you and the sun gently strokes your skin, never burning.
Once he reaches the top of the stairs, he kneels down and bows before your feet, the tips of his bangs barely graze the skin of your thighs. His breath hitches and he lets out a quiet apology, if he expects you to condemn him, he is going to be surprised. You suppose you can’t be too surprised by such an expectation, it is rare that anything touches your skin, only the finest silk made out of stars may graze your body.
“There is no need to apologise.” You reach down and gently run a finger along his bangs, moving them aside to see his face. His shoulders stiffen, but his hands remain at his sides, he doesn’t look up. You think it’s a shame his eyes are covered by his lashes, you wish to see them.
“Look at me, please” you ask gently. He hesitates and takes shaky breath after shaky breath, he raises his head before he raises his eyes. He goes silent the moment he locks eyes with you, for a moment you worry he’s stopped breathing, until he takes in a stuttered breath and looks away from your eyes.
Tears like pearls line his eyes, you worry you may have pushed a limit. Mayhaps his mortal eyes couldn’t handle the godly gleam of your own, you hadn’t considered that. A tear runs down his cheeks, more follow and they drip down onto the cold floor, the walls mimic the sound like rain. Your face saddens and you reach out, gently you cup his cheeks and rub at his tears. By the way his breathing stutters, his eyes widen and his mouth opens slightly, you’d think his heart had stopped. The way he barely reaches for his heart and the choked sob he lets out, certainly don’t help this conclusion.
“Oh my knight, please, it was not my intent to sadden you,” you apologies.
“But my flower, you do not sadden me,” he gasps out between breaths and quiet sobs, it all echoes along the walls, the temple mocking him.
“Then why do you cry?” You tilt your head, flowers flow down your hair like lilies in a stream. He breathes in deep, an attempt to compose himself you suppose. His hand flattens along his chest, and he looks up at you, still avoiding your eyes.
“I have dedicated my life to following you.” He breathes every word. “I have searched for you across the cosmos.” His features soften. “I have met many beautiful souls,” he says these words with sincerity. “I believed you to be just as beautiful as the cosmos, but now I see you are more beautiful than I could have ever imagined.” His voice begins to waver, his words of flattery echo off the walls, and they resonate in your chest and a gentle smile crosses your face. “I am quite overwhelmed, why would such beauty as yourself ever let a mortal like myself look upon you?” His question is one you expected, you do not allow many to look upon you, even the stars you weave into fabric to not dare to let their glow gleam on your skin.
You smile down at him and gently stroke his cheeks, his skin glistens in the sunlight and the stars in his hair are highlighted by the light.
“Because you, my knight, are exceptionel.” His skin warms under your fingers, you giggle softly as his cheeks turn red at your praise. “One as beautiful as you, who rivals my own roses, belongs nowhere else but in my temple.” His face nearly matches his hair, and he attempts to hide in your hands. You wonder if he realises what he’s doing, or if it’s involuntary.
“Your words are too kind, I for one have never had a way with words, combat is more suited for a knight such as myself.”
“It is a wonder your skin has stayed so clean and unmarred, truely a feat I admire.” While your praise is honest, a part of you is only voicing it to watch him squirm and blush. Quite quickly, maybe even alarmingly quick, the battle wise knight at your feet melts into your hands. You quietly coo at his soft expression, and he shies further into your hands.
“I may be godly, but I still feel I ought to ask; do you wish to stay by my side? As a part of my temple?” You ask quietly, his gaze lifts to look into yours, there are remnants of shock in them. The walls stop echoing his uneven breaths and the roses raise their heads cautiously, for only a moment even the sun warms on your skin.
He smiles wide, rosie lips pull at laugh lines across his skin. “I would be honoured to stay by your side, wherever you’d like me,” he answers after a beat. You remove your hands from his skin, he lets out a quiet noise and nearly pouts. You smile and coo again, how cute, already addicted to your touch. You summon an ornate sword, its details are carved and layered in gold, it reflects rays of sunlight across the room.
“With this sword I, the aeon of beauty, hereby knight you.” With your words you lay the sword down on both his shoulders. “You, my dearest, are now the only true knight of beauty.” These declarations are the only words of yours the walls dare echo, ingraining them into the stone.
“I am truly honoured, I shall guard this temple with my life, as long as I can stand no one shall pass those doors without your permission. I shall bring every soul, beautiful or not, to their knees for you, only for you.” He must be feeling bold, for he leans over and softly kisses the blade still resting on his shoulder.
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