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Chapter 48 - Chapter 48: Four Manifestations of Affection Level 10

"That sounds like something he would say. That man's mouth is always spouting some crooked, grand theories."

After hearing Noelle's story, Keqing felt even more pity for this hardworking but unappreciated girl.

"So, have you found your path to imperfection yet?"

Noelle shook her head. "I guess I have."

"What do you mean, 'I guess'?"

Noelle thought for a moment and replied, "In the past few months since the Honorary Knight's disappearance, because I was worried about his safety, I messed up many things I tried to help others with. Everyone gradually started treating me like an ordinary person, instead of the all-capable Maid Miss 'Noelle'."

"...Then you really have worked hard."

Noelle returned her a shy smile.

"He is not a perfect destination. You are still young and have more choices."

"Maid Miss shouldn't be much older, right? Didn't you also choose the Honorary Knight? And it seems Senior Lisa also made the same choice as me."

Keqing forced a smile. "You're surprisingly perceptive in this area. Shouldn't you be the type who's a bit slow when it comes to feelings?"

Noelle, however, said earnestly, "I don't know if this counts as feelings, but whenever I think of the Honorary Knight, my heart beats 'thump-thump,' but when he looks at me, I'm no longer nervous; instead, my heart feels at peace. It seems as long as he's by my side, I can do anything."

This child is too deeply infatuated!

Keqing was also a young woman who had only recently gotten married; how would she know how to counsel a love-struck girl?

She could only end the conversation and let the person involved solve it himself.

"Alas, I don't know why, but seeing you is like seeing my past self. They've been waiting outside for a long time too, let's go out."

When they entered, Noelle led Keqing.

When they exited, their roles had swapped, and their mindsets had undergone different transformations.

"Oh? Jack and Noelle are out?"

Jack, who was leaning against a wooden stake, stood up.

"What, it looks like Jack has told you everything?"

Seeing Keqing's silence, Jack immediately guessed that she had been defeated by Noelle's stubbornness.

No wonder, Teyvat is a world of idealism.

Those who possess a god's eye are more or less afflicted with some "psychological ailments," after all, those without pursuits cannot attract the attention of the gods.

"Honorary Knight, I have a request, could you please grant it?"

"Oh? A request from Noelle? That's quite rare. Tell me, as long as it doesn't violate my personal principles, I'll agree."

Seeing Jack agree before she even spoke, Keqing, watching from the side, somewhat enviously swung her twin tails.

Lisa, meanwhile, covered her mouth and gave an auntie smile.

Noelle took a deep breath, then placed her right hand over her left chest.

"Apprentice Knight Noelle, I hereby swear to you, that from now on, I shall become your exclusive Maid Knight, forever by your side, by this covenant, unwavering and unchanged for life!"

Pfft!

Jack almost choked on his saliva.

He looked at Keqing in astonishment.

Did you go to counsel her, or did you go to add a catalyst!

Before going in, she could at least have a normal conversation, but now she comes out and directly pledges allegiance? Should she also break Acting Grand Master Jean's staff to make it more fitting?

Keqing glared back at him fiercely.

What can I do! This is my first time doing something villainous, so what if I'm not skilled?

The internal communication between the husband and wife ended.

Lisa, who was enjoying the drama, also lost her smile, muttering internally: If things continue to fall apart like this, the Knights of Favonius might as well be classified as a subordinate organization of Jack.

Wait, my dear met the Anemo Archon before, right? But how did he manage to find the Anemo Archon directly? Could it be that the Anemo Archon has also been paying attention to him? Speaking of which, is our Mondstadt's Anemo Archon male or female? Could it be that…

Lisa was startled by her own thoughts and quickly deleted the relevant records, no longer speaking presumptuously about the gods.

...

Perhaps Jack's thinking time was a bit too long.

Noelle, who was initially full of confidence, had now begun to overthink, guessing whether she was disliked.

Covenant, Knights of Favonius, Noelle…

Jack's mind raced, and finally, before the highlights in Noelle's eyes completely disappeared, he nodded heavily.

"Noelle, I… accept your allegiance."

Noelle turned from worry to joy: "That's great, I'm not disliked!"

"But!"

Jack's voice took a turn.

Noelle nervously watched him walk towards her, his warm large hand stroking her head.

"But the Knights of Favonius have taken care of Noelle for so long, it wouldn't be right for Noelle to just leave, would it? So, please continue your studies in the Knights of Favonius for a few more years, or until Grand Master Varka and the others return."

"Otherwise, when the Knights of Favonius are short-handed, and I abduct Noelle, one of their key figures, what if Acting Grand Master Jean comes to cry to me?"

"Noelle wouldn't want to see the strong Acting Grand Master Jean cry, would she?"

Noelle could not refuse Jack's request.

At the same time, through physical contact, the original grass element divine power also allowed Jack to discover the truth of the girl's feelings.

She didn't harbor romantic love for him.

Instead, it was a kind of yearning, a yearning for an ideal person.

This yearning gave her the illusion that she liked Jack, making her want to approach him like a moth to a flame.

In reality, it is difficult for altruistic Noelle to develop love, a need that originates from herself; it is more of a part of her self-realization.

That feeling wasn't love; it was peace of mind.

As of now, this is the 4th manifestation of Affection Level 10 that Jack has discovered.

The first type is the romantic love between men and women, as seen in Keqing, Lisa, Acting Grand Master Jean, and others, which is a manifestation of undying love.

The second type is the friendship with Venti, a same-sex or equal-status friend. To describe it with an idiom, it's a friendship unto death. Zhongli in the future will likely also fall into this category.

The third type is the familial affection with Klee. Although he doesn't know how this girl developed familial affection for him, that kind of childlike adoration is clear even to outsiders.

And this fourth type was discovered in Noelle—yearning, or perhaps, faith.

In her heart, Jack is more like a spiritual pillar. If forced to compare, it's more akin to the Gatekeeper's worshipful devotion to him.

Watching the warm interaction between the two,

Keqing and Lisa's jealousy gradually faded.

They all misunderstood.

Noelle was not even on the same track as them.

More than lovers, these two were more like master and disciple, or a god and his devotee.

By viewing this emotion through colored glasses, they, on the contrary, defiled its purity.

Keqing: So, were we both misunderstanding each other when we talked earlier?

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