"Looks like you don't need to do anything after all."
In the inn room, Paimon stretched comfortably on the soft mattress.
No more sleeping on grass, no more wind biting into their faces—
Tonight, at last, they could sleep peacefully.
"I feel like Su Xuan really respects this Acting Grand Master Jean of Mondstadt."
Paimon mumbled through a yawn.
"She went to him personally to ask for help. He'll definitely agree to save Dvalin."
"He's a good person inside, just like I thought."
Lumine smiled faintly.
Her mind had already settled.
There was no point dwelling over Aether right now.
Su Xuan knew more than anyone else, and he had already told her the truth clearly:
Right now, going to find her brother was meaningless.
So she would follow his advice —
earn her way in this world
and rebuild her strength gradually.
"Then we don't need to care about Barbatos anymore," Paimon stretched happily,
"since he doesn't even have half a Mora."
Lumine snorted in agreement.
Meanwhile — Lisa's underground laboratory
Su Xuan's hands rested gently on Jean's back, kneading the knots out of her long overworked muscles.
"I don't really understand. You work yourself to the bone every day…
Why wear something so restrictive? Doesn't it cut off circulation?"
He paused—then added, tone suspiciously casual:
"Is it because… it's too shapely?"
Jean's brain nearly short-circuited.
What does that even mean!?
"T-That is the proper uniform of a Knight of Favonius. A Knight must not… be too lax."
The moment the words left her mouth, she regretted them.
Why did I say that? Why does this sound embarrassing?
Su Xuan clearly knew exactly what the Knight's uniform meant.
He was teasing her.
Yet his hands—
His hands brought a warmth that seeped bone-deep.
A soft pulse of telekinetic vibration relaxed her muscles from spine to fingertips.
Jean felt her body melt—
The tension she had been holding for years slowly uncoiled.
Su Xuan spoke softly:
"You don't need to carry everything alone.
A leader controls the direction.
Not every lost cat or broken fence requires your intervention."
"Being a good person does not mean being a doormat.
That is not protecting Mondstadt."
Jean bit her lip—breath unsteady.
Since learning Barbatos' and Vanessa's true history in the diary,
she had begun to understand—
Her so-called "duty" was slowly strangling her.
"…Thank you. I will… try to change."
Her voice trembled.
Then—
Smack.
A light slap.
A sudden tug.
Jean stiffened—hands clutching the sheets like they were her last lifeline.
Heat rushed up her spine—
She gasped as something unfamiliar moved—
"Look at you," Su Xuan chuckled behind her ear.
"The brave Acting Grand Master, trembling like a little deer."
"If it's too scary—just say it with me."
"Everything… for Mondstadt."
Jean's breath caught.
Yes.
For Mondstadt.
She inhaled—
"Everything for— ah—!"
The Next Day
Jean woke slowly.
She stretched—
And for the first time in years, her body felt light.
Her mind felt clear.
"…I haven't felt like this… since I was a child."
But before she could reflect, the door opened.
Lisa stepped in.
"Still willing to get up, I see. It's already noon."
Jean blinked—
"What!? I'm late for duty!"
She moved to jump up—
Only to abruptly realize her clothes were hanging neatly on the opposite wall.
Her entire body went stiff.
"L-Lisa. Leave first—please—"
Lisa laughed, flicking her hair.
"Please. I just woke up myself."
She sighed dramatically.
"My lab's sound-insulation isn't very good, you know.
All night, all I heard was 'wait—please—slow down—'
Truly tragic. My beauty sleep suffered."
Jean: "!!!"
Her face ignited.
And then—
with that same calm smile—Lisa continued:
"By the way, Su Xuan left."
Jean froze.
"He… left?"
Lisa raised a brow.
"He went to find Dvalin, of course. You already paid the price, didn't you?"
Advance Chapters available on P@treon
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