Purple lightning, like fireflies, slowly gathered in his palm. Ken raised his hand and lightly swept it over Jean's body.
"Mm…"
A tingling numbness washed over her. Jean let out a soft moan in her sleep and slowly opened her clear eyes.
The moment she saw the unfamiliar surroundings, she instinctively reached for the Favonius Sword at her waist.
"Master Jean."
Seeing her guarded posture, Ken folded his arms and called out with a faint smile.
The instant Jean saw Ken, the wariness in her eyes faded completely, replaced by a mix of other emotions. She rubbed her heavy head, looking a little tired.
"I just…"
She trailed off, recalling what happened before she fainted.
"You overworked yourself and passed out. I carried you into the room," Ken said frankly, not hiding the fact that he had carried her.
Jean's cheeks flushed. "So that's how it was…"
Noticing her clothes were intact, she relaxed a little and silently labeled Ken a gentleman in her heart.
Just like the gentlemanly male leads in the romance novels she often read.
"Thank you, Mr. Ken. I haven't been resting well lately."
Jean patted her head, a bit troubled.
She had been running around constantly to resolve the matter of Dvalin.
"What do you think it takes to be a good Acting Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius?"
As Jean was feeling vexed, Ken suddenly asked.
Sitting on the bed, Jean looked up at the man standing at the bedside, a little dazed that he would ask such a question.
"A commander who leads their subordinates well is better than one who micromanages everything. The world's myriad complexities—how could they be borne on a single pair of shoulders?
"Mondstadt has been rebuilt for over a millennium. This ancient, free city-state has endured not only thanks to the Anemo Archon's favor, but also through the toil, struggle, and convictions of countless people.
"But if a city's basic drive to strive and struggle gradually fades—that is what's truly disastrous. Protecting Mondstadt doesn't mean footing the bill for everything.
"Sometimes learning to enjoy life is also an indispensable lesson on this journey called life."
Ken's tone was calm as he watched Jean sit in silence, slightly stunned.
It wasn't that he suddenly wanted to meddle, but the spoiled overgrown babies in Mondstadt really were something else. It was about time to manage them properly.
Endless indulgence and appeasement isn't real governance.
"Mr. Ken, I…"
Jean hesitated, not sure how to respond.
The heavy family education and training that filled her childhood and girlhood had branded knightly spirit deep into her soul.
For her, being the Dandelion Knight was both an honor and an invisible pressure.
Influenced by the first Dandelion Knight, Vennessa—who founded the Knights of Favonius and revitalized Mondstadt—she had shouldered responsibilities unimaginable to her peers since the age of fifteen.
Those responsibilities doomed her to never have a complete, ordinary life.
"It's about time. Eat before you head back."
Ken didn't press the point.
Many things are best left at a nudge; talking too much can backfire.
Jean is smart—she just hasn't yet learned how to be a true leader.
"Thank you…"
Jean lowered her head slightly, her voice tinged with an indescribable mix of embarrassment and complexity.
…
The Sweet Madame and Jewelry Soup were both delicious.
Jean ate with graceful poise, yet her mind lingered on what Ken had said.
Perhaps…
Once the Dvalin matter is settled, visiting the cliff of oath before dawn—should be… fine, right?
Or, in Mondstadt during the breezy spring, savoring her favorite shoujo novels.
That… should be okay, right?
…
Two in the afternoon.
Jean and Lumine were getting ready to leave with Paimon.
"Mr. Ken, aside from Mona's situation, is there anything else in Mondstadt you need my help with?"
Though they had only just met, Lumine felt grateful for all the information he'd shown her and had already considered him a friend.
"Not for now. I wish you success with Dvalin."
Ken smiled.
Mona was running the specialty shop herself. Fearing she might get swamped if trouble cropped up, Ken had asked Lumine to check in and help Mona as needed.
"Okay, see you later then."
Lumine waved to Ken and tugged Paimon into the vortex gate, her face burning as she looked at Paimon's sneaky expression.
Who goes home from a visit lugging a whole bag of snacks!
Seeing a snack bundle bigger than Paimon herself, Lumine felt mortified.
"Mr. Ken, what you said today enlightened me a great deal. Perhaps I really should reflect on how to manage Mondstadt… Once we're done with Dvalin… let's meet again."
Jean gave Ken a slight curtsey and headed toward the vortex gate.
Ken raised an eyebrow.
If he wasn't mistaken, the etiquette Jean just used wasn't a knight's salute, but a lady's curtsy.
"System? Paimon doesn't count as a person?"
Once the three had left, Ken opened the system.
Seeing only 17 lottery chances, he asked the system a soul-deep question.
[Response to Host: Counts as half.]
Ken: "…"
Damn stingy system.
Still, with Jean's assurance, he wasn't in a rush.
Because, barring any accidents, once the Dvalin situation is fully resolved, all the key figures of the Knights of Favonius would be coming to his home.
Then there'd be no shortage of pulls.
Looks like it's time to speed up the Genshin schedule. Ken decided to throw himself into work for now—only after Genshin officially launches will the system unlock more benefits.
As for invitations… that can happen sooner or later.
In any case, he'd already found a free publicity team.
…
…
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