Jack took another sip of black tea.
Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed everyone was still staring at him.
Even with his thick skin, he felt uneasy.
He surrendered. "Alright, maybe the timing isn't great. How about I introduce everyone first?"
"No need. I've already introduced them," Keqing replied.
"Oh, I see…"
Silence fell again.
"Ahem, Keqing, weren't you returning to Liyue to handle your resignation? How did that go?"
Jack had to break the ice; otherwise, everyone would just keep staring.
"I… handled part of it. Then I ran into Ganyu and Shen He on the way. They wanted to find you, so I brought them."
Keqing winked at Ganyu.
Ganyu caught the signal and said softly, "Yes. Shen He and I came here to see you. It's been a long time, Traveler."
"Is that so, Shen He… or should I call you He'er?"
Shen He didn't react to her formal name, only giving a small nod when her pet name was used.
It was hard to tell if she was naturally cold or simply shy.
"Oh my, this little sister is truly tsundere, isn't she? Maybe I should try that too. My dear, if you don't call me Sa Sa, I won't answer~"
Lisa's playful words sparked tension, and Shen He immediately drew everyone's attention.
Keqing: This is bad! The harem is heating up! Should I say something?
Ganyu: Hm! Senior and junior sisters should act together. Maybe I should ask the Traveler to call me by a special name too?
Jean: Is this what they call a Shura field in Yae Publishing House novels? But… those novels never said what the fourth, fifth, and sixth girls should do!
Lisa: She's calm. Even though I provoked her, she's ignoring me. Very impressive.
Amber: H-huh? What's happening? Why is everyone so quiet?
"Lisa is just Lisa—my Rose Witch. You don't need to copy He'er. All of you are my unique gems."
Jack wasn't shaken by the Shura-field tension.
He never wanted to suppress anyone's will. Their rivalry was proof of their individuality.
Whatever happened, as their partner, he would accept, endure, and embrace everything.
Jack openly held Shen He in his arms.
Her eyes softened, and instead of clinging to him like guarding prey, she rested against him like a bird returning to its nest.
The atmosphere eased.
Kaeya raised an eyebrow. Impressive. First time I've seen someone this openly scummy. As expected of the Traveler.
"Since Ganyu and Keqing aren't in a hurry, let Eula and Amber report on the Dragonspine situation first. Afterwards, I'll host dinner in the Serenitea Pot."
Jack glanced at Kaeya.
Kaeya coughed. "I have a gathering tonight, so I won't join your family dinner."
As always, the most tactful one. His "family dinner" phrasing instantly soothed the tension.
"Huh? Why are you here? When did you come in?"
Eula tilted her head. She really hadn't noticed Kaeya since entering.
Kaeya touched his barely healed wound but chose not to argue. He smiled. "Acting Grand Master, I just remembered—I haven't fed my horse yet. With the Outrider and Reconnaissance Knight here, you don't need me, right?"
"Alright. Take care of your business first," Jean replied, then closed the door behind him.
Bang.
Click.
Kaeya: …
Closing the door was fine, but locking it?
…
"Irrelevant personnel have left. Everyone, speak freely."
Lisa rose and brewed tea for everyone.
Jean gave an awkward smile.
Lisa really didn't hold back—if Kaeya heard, it'd sting.
But the door lock alone had already hurt him enough.
Soon after, Eula and Amber joined Jean at her desk to discuss Dragonspine.
At the coffee table, Lisa chatted with the Liyue group.
"Thank you."
Keqing accepted the tea and smiled politely.
Lisa sat beside her and whispered, "Are these sisters joining us too?"
Her fragrance drifted in.
Even Keqing, a woman, felt flustered by Lisa's charm. She quickly nodded.
"Yes. Shen He and Ganyu have waited for Jack a long time. When they heard he returned, they cried."
"Only two? What about the one with glasses?"
Though Lisa spoke softly, everyone here had sharp senses. Cloud Retainer heard it clearly.
"Presumptuous! Which woman with glasses!"
She pushed up her own spectacles with two fingers, feigning dignity. "I am Cloud Retainer, Ganyu and Shen He's master. That makes me their elder."
Lisa quickly smiled. "My apologies, Senior Cloud Retainer. I thought you were the same as us."
"Hmph."
Cloud Retainer crossed her arms, cheeks faintly red.
This junior… how rude! How could I… fall for the same person as Ganyu? We're like mother and daughter. That would be…
Pah! It's all her fault, spouting nonsense and disturbing my heart!
Ganyu noticed her master meditating, Keqing and Lisa whispering, and the three Knights working seriously.
She once again felt like an outsider.
"Ganyu."
…Who called me?
"Come, let me see you properly."
The Traveler? He's calling me?
Ganyu could hardly believe it. Her thousand-year-old heart pounded. Compared to the younger, beautiful rivals, she felt inferior, unworthy.
Then Cloud Retainer gave her a sharp kick. She wasn't hallucinating.
Ganyu raised her head, eyes misty.
Keqing smiled at her in support.
Lisa, surprisingly, smiled warmly too.
Even the three Knights kept sneaking glances, cheering her on silently.
Everyone…
Ganyu wiped her tears, stood up, and gathered courage from her sisters. She cast off her inferiority and threw herself into Jack's arms like a swallow returning home.
Ding!
Jack's diamond armor registered an "attack."
"…"
Ganyu had never minded her horns.
But as she thought of pulling away, his hand reached out, and her body went limp.
"Don't move."
Jack held her still, his hand sliding up to caress her horns. "You don't need to be troubled by them. They're cute. I… like them very much."
Then, he kissed them softly.
Ganyu's eyes widened. All thought vanished. Even as he touched her most sensitive horns, she felt no shame—only one voice ringing in her mind.
He said he likes me.
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
patreon.com/TripleCrown07
If you guys wanna check it out.