Compared to wind-swept Dragonspine, the weather in the Magic City was bright and warm.
The chill clinging from Dragonspine was quickly blown away.
"Change into something dry first."
Seeing Eula dripping wet, Ken fetched a simple outfit from the wardrobe and tossed it to her.
Because he was on good terms with many of Mondstadt's characters, he had prepared some simple clothes to avoid situations like today.
"Okay…"
Feeling uncomfortable in wet clothes, Eula picked them up and headed for the cloakroom.
She'd been here several times and knew the layout well.
While Eula changed, Ken took out a medical kit.
A pity he hadn't obtained any healing powers yet; that would've been more convenient.
"Mr. Ken…"
Soon, a slightly uneasy voice floated down from upstairs. Eula, changed, stood at the stairs, hesitating.
Her usual dashing outfit was gone, replaced with a simple white tee and shorts.
The tee was a bit tight, snug across the chest, revealing a slim but powerful waist and fair arms.
Black shorts hugged her curves; her long legs were beautifully shaped.
But her pure, cool face now showed some embarrassment, ice-blue hair faintly shimmering in the sunlight.
"Ahem…"
Ken's eyelid twitched—he hadn't expected a simple white tee to look this good on Eula.
"Sit."
He kept his eyes straight and had her sit on the sofa.
The sleeveless tee exposed the jagged wound on her arm. After soaking in icy water, the skin around it had whitened.
"Maybe… let's forget it."
It was her first time so close to a man. Feeling Ken's warm breath on her skin, she turned her face away instinctively to hide her awkwardness.
"Don't move." Ken's voice was calm but brooked no refusal.
Eula stiffened and went still.
Ken opened the kit and gently cleaned the wound with alcohol pads.
Eula's cherry-blossom lips pressed together. The sting of alcohol and his warm breath mingled, making her dizzy for an instant.
But she quickly regained her composure, keeping her usual elegant, icy look on her jade-like face, though her body was taut.
"If it hurts, say so."
Ken glanced up at her faint frown and smiled.
Eula gave a soft snort. "This little pain is nothing to me. But don't underestimate it—this vengeance, I'll remember."
Despite the words, there was no displeasure on her face.
Lady of vengeance talked like this only with friends.
After carefully cleaning the wound, Ken bandaged it. "The Abyss Order is active on Dragonspine. If you don't have to be there, avoid it for now."
Given her nature and habits, she preferred the lonely, icy mountain to Mondstadt's lively beauty.
To her, at least, Dragonspine had no worldly prejudice.
"The people in the city don't seem to welcome me either." Eula's lips curved in a wry smile. "The mountain may be desolate, but it's a good place to train my body."
Putting the kit away, Ken looked at her self-mocking expression and spoke softly.
"Sometimes people's prejudice is like a mountain. If you can't move it, then stand on its peak. Don't care about their rumors—just be yourself."
He knew the seemingly cold, tough Eula bore an uncommon pressure.
Most of it came from her family.
Mondstadt had suffered a dark era under aristocratic rule; the Lawrence clan was among those nobles.
After the tyrant's rule was overthrown, the old seat of godhood crumbled and a new god was born.
Barbatos split mountains and blew away snow with divine power, making a free city-state. He wanted a romantic, beautiful nation, so he refused to be crowned a new king.
After Barbatos left, Mondstadt continued to develop.
At first, the nobles retained their original intention and pushed the city forward, even achieving merits.
But as time passed, power and desire corroded them. The nobles fell into debauchery.
They ruled brutally, brought slavery to the land, and made Mondstadt a living hell.
Ever since then, the people hated the man-eating aristocracy.
Centuries later, Barbatos returned.
He heard the call of the foreign slave girl Vennessa and helped her overthrow the old nobility, settling accounts with them.
The Lawrence clan was on the list.
Though many years had passed, the cruel history left the people hating the old nobles, and their descendants were naturally unwelcome.
"Different positions, different views. All we can do is follow our hearts."
With memories from a past life, Ken could understand the people's feelings.
Their forebears bled and suffered under nobles. Even after hundreds of years, the hatred and prejudice flowing in their veins was hard to erase.
But as Eula's friend, he knew she, though of Lawrence blood, was nothing like the rest.
Gifted Eula had, as a girl, received the clan's highest honor:
The Ice-Sealed.
In a thousand years, only a scant few passed the trial to attain it.
It symbolized the Lawrence clan's supreme martial power and the will they held before their fall, back when Mondstadt was being opened.
Cold, pure, unafraid of blazing wrath; steady, unshaken.
Bearing that original, pure honor, Eula resolutely left the family. The clan's sick model was a cage to her.
But even after breaking with her family, she wasn't accepted by the world.
The sinner's descendant clung to her like the blood in her veins, inerasable, inescapable—shadowing her life.
Though she'd learned to walk beneath the high walls of prejudice, she still preferred hunting in the wild, avoiding contact with Mondstadt's citizens.
Because her every appearance tore open Mondstadt's ancient scar anew.
"I just didn't expect you wouldn't mind my identity—even letting Klee play with me."
Eula no longer questioned prejudice like before.
Now she focused more on self-digestion and growth.
"Because I know you're warm inside despite the cool exterior. If you're ever idle and don't know where to go, come to Blue Star. That's far better than Dragonspine."
"Here you don't have to pretend. You can release your true self, bare all your softness and vulnerability, and fully relax."
Ken spoke earnestly.
But in Eula's ears, it made her cheeks pink. "I'm not pretending. And you called me 'soft'—I'll remember that vengeance!"
Seeing her like this, Ken didn't call her out.
Wife really is tsundere!
"Hmph…"
Eula snorted without expression, her two fair long legs rubbing unconsciously—betraying her inner ripples.
Just then, her belly growled, shattering her cool image.
"Got anything to eat?"
Cold weather makes one hungrier. After clearing the Hilichurl camp, she hadn't eaten. Now that she'd relaxed, she felt it.
"I'll cook you some noodles," Ken said, checking the time—nearly lunch.
Since he had another appointment soon, he didn't make anything complicated—just tomato-egg seafood noodles.
Simple to cook, rich in taste.
The aroma drew the two little cuties from the third floor.
"Eh? Sister Eula?"
Little Klee peered over the third-floor railing, surprised. "Sister Eula looks so pretty even dressed like that!"
Even with a simple outfit, her innate nobility and cool, resilient grace shone through.
"She does look pretty!"
Diona trotted downstairs, tsundere praise on her lips.
Though Eula didn't interact much with Mondstadt's people, Diona was an exception.
Both were knife-mouthed, tofu-hearted tsunderes—they got along well.
"Diona's here too…"
Eula was a bit embarrassed to see Klee and Diona.
"I'm here searching for a recipe to make wine taste bad. I'm honored Mr. Ken guided me—I'm inspired now. Eula, you're often on the mountain—know where to find lots of Mint?"
She could call Ken "uncle," but it just wouldn't come out.
He looked too young and handsome, and she was already an adult; calling him "uncle" felt weird.
"The Abyss Order and Fatui have been active there lately. Best not to go. If you want Mint, I'll bring you some."
Eula never hesitated to help a friend.
"Those bad guys again—plotting something?" Diona rubbed her chin.
"Looks like a plan. I'll inform the Knights when I get back," Eula said thoughtfully.
"Yay! If you need help, bring Klee! Klee's learning new bombs—super strong!" Klee's eyes sparkled.
Since publicly blasting off Stormterror, she'd found a new bomb path.
If secret blasting got her confined…
Blasting bad guys was fine, right?
That's why she'd been helping Kaeya clear Hilichurl camps lately.
Openly blowing stuff up… felt great!
"Stop thinking about blasting fish. I'll take you to Blue Star to blow things up when I have time."
Ken served the noodles.
Diona inhaled deeply. "Wow… smells amazing! Thank you for the treat, Mr. Ken. When you come to Mondstadt, I'll treat you too!"
Eula eyed the appetizing bowl, her appetite opening.
Though she didn't usually like heavy broths, she didn't mind this one.
"Mmm… so good… Can I come to Blue Star often?" Diona squinted happily, her cat tail swishing.
Simple ingredients, but such delicious noodles—her stomach was conquered.
"Of course! Then Klee can play with Sister Diona!"
Klee drained her broth and looked at Ken with shining eyes. "Daddy, more!"
Eula ate elegantly, but her expression showed she was very satisfied.
"Dragonspine's been restless lately. I suspect the Abyss Order or Fatui are plotting something. I won't stay. My clothes should be dry—I'll change and head back."
After eating, Eula stood.
Though outwardly cold to many Knights, she cared deeply about their affairs.
"All right. It's about time. Klee and Diona, you two should head back too."
Ken handed Diona a gift box filled with ingredients for mixing drinks.
As for Dragonspine, he offered no judgment.
His involvement had already changed many things; he couldn't predict specifics.
The Knights had seen spoilers of Genshin and would make their own calls.
"Mm… thank you, Mr. Ken."
As she passed him, Eula said softly.
…
At that moment.
In Liyue's Jade Chamber, a thousand miles from Mondstadt.
Unlike freewheeling Mondstadt, Liyue was a nation of contracts; whether exports or otherwise, it was the most prosperous of the seven.
The Jade Chamber was one of Liyue's wonders.
A skyborne palace of extreme luxury, like a magnificent palace standing over Liyue—Tianquan Ningguang's private residence, overlooking the port and its commerce.
Noonday light bathed its carved beams and painted rafters. Glazed tiles flashed with splendid colors.
But the mistress of the Jade Chamber frowned slightly at the letter in her hand.
On its envelope: Acting Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius, Jean Gunnhildr.
…
Advanced chapter here: p-atreon.com/Sajaboyzzz
<><><><><>><>>><><><><>
Keep the Chapters coming - Support with Power Stones!
Every 200 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter!