Chapter 51: Plato
Mondstadt has its noble families, such as the Gunnhildr Clan, the Ragnvindr Clan, and the chief culprit of the old aristocratic era—the Lawrence Clan.
Compared with the first two families, the Lawrence Clan can absolutely be considered sinners of Mondstadt.
However, when the rule of the Lawrence Clan was overthrown, the Knights of Favonius did not exterminate their descendants. Instead, their bloodline was allowed to continue to this day.
The once-noble aristocrats refused to accept the reality that they had been overthrown, and they still exercised their former authority.
But this authority was limited to within their own family.
If they dared to act so arrogantly in Mondstadt City, what awaited them would be the anger of the people of Mondstadt.
By tradition, banquets of this scale always invite nobles.
For example, the host of the banquet, Diluc, is from the Ragnvindr family.
And the invited "Dandelion Knight," Jean, is from the Gunnhildr Clan.
As for the Lawrence Clan…
As former nobles and descendants of criminals, the Lawrence Clan no longer has the qualification to step into this hall that symbolizes freedom.
There is only one exception.
"Spindrift Knight" Eula Lawrence.
As the captain of the Knights of Favonius Reconnaissance Company and the renowned Spindrift Knight, Eula has long led her unit on patrols outside the city and has earned numerous merits.
Knights stationed among high mountains and deep valleys are often targets of monster attacks. Eula can provide the fastest support to eliminate danger and resolve crises. She has also repeatedly led her team in proactive assaults, destroying Abyss Order strongholds and strangling their conspiracies in their infancy.
But Eula's background is especially complicated, riddled with contradictions—she is the last descendant of the Lawrence Clan, regarded by the people of Mondstadt as the embodiment of a sinner's blood.
Yet many years ago, she severed ties with her family and joined the Knights of Favonius.
In fact, at the beginning, she was unwilling to join the Knights.
As a descendant of the Lawrence Clan, she had been instilled since childhood with so-called hatred and revenge by her family. Naturally, she knew that the reason for the Lawrence Clan's downfall was the Knights of Favonius. If not for the teachings of the very first Reconnaissance Knight, she would have long since sunk into the vortex of revenge.
But Jean's warmth allowed her to experience something she had never felt before.
So, in hesitation and unease, she accepted Jean's invitation and joined her family's sworn enemy—the Knights of Favonius.
At the time, Eula's enlistment caused a massive uproar.
Ordinary citizens wrote joint petitions demanding the Knights revoke the decision. Members of the Lawrence Clan also caused trouble at the Knights' headquarters.
If not for the Grand Master Varka and many knights insisting on the decision despite opposition, it would have been difficult to suppress the conflict.
Eula did not disappoint the Grand Master or Jean. In just a few short years, through her own efforts, she successfully rose to become the captain of the Fourth Company—the Reconnaissance Company.
But even so, she has still not been accepted by the citizens of Mondstadt.
Even those who had once received Eula's help merely changed the label on her from "enemy" to "outsider." They never truly accepted her.
And this sense of distance was especially obvious at such a grand banquet.
The knights of the order were fine, but most of the elites from the merchant guilds basically ignored her, all keeping their distance.
She, being quite self-aware, moved to a corner of the banquet hall and drank alone.
It wasn't that the Knights were deliberately cold toward her.
Rather, years of experience had caused her to build an invisible shield around herself. Ordinary people found it difficult to reach the fiery heart hidden beneath her icy exterior.
"Miss, drinking alone? Want to chat?"
To be honest, Bai Luo might be the most suitable person to approach Eula.
Because he wasn't from Mondstadt to begin with. The hatred Mondstadters felt toward the Lawrence Clan didn't concern him.
To him… this girl was simply an ordinary young woman.
And when it comes to girls—well, if there's a chance to flirt, you might as well try.
"At times like this, you should address me as Knight, shouldn't you? Yet you use such a soft term to refer to me… how irritating. I'll remember this grudge."
Setting down the wine glass in her hand, a faint haze of intoxication had already crept onto Eula's face.
But even under these circumstances, she still didn't change her style.
"..."
Even though he had mentally prepared himself, Bai Luo was still a little confused after being inexplicably snapped at.
But precisely because he understood her well enough, he didn't get angry.
Although she spoke harshly, judging from her tone… she actually seemed happy that someone had come to talk to her.
And in this kind of situation, it was the perfect moment to coax—well, flirt with her.
"S-Sorry… my friend tends to talk nonsense after she's had a bit too much to drink. Please forgive her."
Before Bai Luo could continue trying to sweet-talk her, another girl with fiery red colors all over rushed to Eula's side.
"Ridiculous! It's just this little bit of alcohol. Amber, do you really think I'd get drunk? You actually dare to underestimate me—later I'll definitely settle both old and new grudges with you!"
"Alright, alright! If that's the case, tomorrow I'll just let you order me around and make me cook extra food for you. You can punish me properly then!"
"I don't need you to teach me how."
"Okay, okay, whatever makes you happy. I was only a little late and you already started drinking. Did you forget what I told you? Before drinking, you should eat something to line your stomach first."
"Amber…"
"What is it?"
"I want to go to the bathroom…"
"…Go by yourself!"
Watching the interaction between the two, Bai Luo didn't feel awkward at all.
He raised his wine glass and drank it in one gulp, letting the slightly sweet liquid with a hint of herbal fragrance moisten every corner of his mouth.
Compared to the fire-water of Snezhnaya, this level of Dandelion Wine was so mild it felt as bland as plain water.
Just as the famous adventurer of Teyvat and one of the elders of the Hexenzirkel, Alice, once said:
Everything comes with a price.
Through the door, one can obtain what they desire—but at the same time must pay a corresponding cost.
By becoming a Fatui Harbinger, he gained supreme glory and authority beyond what most people could imagine.
But what he lost was the approachability of a so-called "positive character."
Back in Inazuma, he could already feel it.
If he hadn't used certain methods to change the impression ordinary people had of him, he probably wouldn't have been able to walk openly under the sunlight for a long time.
Justice is not justice for everyone.
Even if the Fatui believe themselves to be righteous, in the eyes of others, that's not how it looks at all.
As someone from the Chaotic Evil camp, his favorability with those from the Lawful Good camp would always be –500.
Even Amber, the most energetic and warm-hearted among Pyro users, looked at him with a hint of caution and vigilance.
How heartbreaking.
Though he said it was heartbreaking in his mind, Bai Luo showed no trace of disappointment on the surface.
Then again, if you started a game with 100 favorability, it wouldn't be fun anymore, would it?
Sure enough, games are only enjoyable on nightmare difficulty.
Except for the battles.