Knock, knock, knock.
The door of the Knights of Favonius office echoed with a firm knock.
Lisa straightened up and stepped aside.
Meanwhile Jean regained her usual dignified composure.
"Come in."
A knight guard opened the door, saluted, and reported:
"Acting Grand Master, Jiang Chen and the Honorary Knight have returned to the city."
"Understood."
Jean waved for him to leave.
Jean's Distraction
Among Jiang Chen's adventure team, the most talked-about figure among Mondstadt's citizens was naturally Jiang Chen himself.
But others had become well known too:
Lumine – the newly appointed Honorary KnightNoelle – the maid-knight traineeBarbara – the Church's deaconess and idol singer
Both the Knights and the Church paid close attention to their safety.
Yet Jean suddenly found herself unable to focus.
She repeated several pointless administrative steps while working.
Lisa quietly watched her with amusement.
Finally—
Jean took a deep breath, as if making a decision.
She stood up and lifted a wooden box from beside her desk.
"I'll deliver the Favonius Warbow."
She paused at the door.
"…And check on Barbara while I'm at it."
Outside the Good Hunter Restaurant
Outside Good Hunter, a beautiful maid with short brown hair had been waiting.
Over the past few days she had become a small spectacle in Mondstadt.
Elegant noble household maids weren't something people saw every day.
When Jiang Chen arrived, he paused in surprise.
"Adelinde?"
He asked.
The maid bowed gracefully.
"I'm honored that you still remember my name, Boss Jiang Chen."
Adelinde had come under orders.
"I was instructed by Master Diluc to wait here for you."
"What is it?"
Jiang Chen asked.
Adelinde gestured politely.
"This is Master Diluc's token of thanks."
"Two bottles of vintage wine from the Dawn Winery's special cellar."
"They were made from grapes harvested in the finest weather of that year."
"We hope you will accept them."
The Priceless Wine
A carriage rolled out from the alley behind the restaurant.
Two winery servants carefully carried down a wooden crate.
Their hands trembled.
Each bottle inside was worth over ten million Mora.
If they broke one…
Did they remember what happened to the bartender at Angel's Share?
That man had only broken a display bottle.
These, however, were the winery's treasures.
Breaking them could mean mining punishment for life.
Jiang Chen rolled his eyes.
Diluc was clearly trying to offset the two artifacts he "borrowed."
He had already taken two before.
And now two more.
Sending wine was probably his way of saving face.
"Fine."
"I'll accept them."
Jiang Chen picked up the crate casually.
The servants nearly fainted watching him carry the priceless wine so casually.
Adelinde bowed again.
"Then we shall take our leave."
"May you have a pleasant day, Boss Jiang Chen."
Her etiquette was flawless.
After all, Adelinde was the head maid of Dawn Winery.
Rumor said the winery's gardens grew especially well…
Perhaps thanks to a certain maid's strict management.
Barbara's Goodbye
Barbara looked slightly reluctant.
"I should go back and report that I'm safe."
But she soon brightened up.
It was already afternoon.
After bathing and preparing, she still had to go to the cathedral.
Her evening performance was scheduled.
The people of Mondstadt were surely waiting for her.
Though…
She wouldn't get to stay beside Jiang Chen today.
Barbara suddenly stepped closer.
She stood on tiptoe.
Jiang Chen suddenly felt something soft touch his cheek.
A quick kiss.
Barbara blushed intensely and immediately ran away.
Lumine's Reaction
Lumine stared at Jiang Chen's cheek.
For a moment—
She seemed tempted to do the same.
But the thought made her blush immediately.
Noelle Stays Behind
Meanwhile, Noelle followed Jiang Chen back into the restaurant.
Jiang Chen blinked.
"Noelle, aren't you going back?"
She answered seriously.
"I want to help clean the restaurant before I leave."
"…Sara already handles the cleaning."
"And no one stayed here these days, so there's barely any dust."
"Oh…"
Noelle hesitated.
"Then I'll prepare hot water."
After returning from an adventure, bathing was necessary.
Jiang Chen smiled teasingly.
"Want to help scrub my back too?"
Noelle froze.
Her face turned bright red instantly.
She remembered the Whiteblind sword Jiang Chen had given her.
That weapon carried a romantic legend.
"I… I will try my best."
She said nervously.
Jiang Chen immediately regretted joking.
"…It was a joke."
"You should go back first."
"Kaeya and the people of Mondstadt still need you."
Noelle secretly sighed in relief.
"Then I'll finish my tasks quickly and come back later."
She bowed and left.
In her mind she had already decided:
She would visit the library and study proper servant duties.
If she did something—
She had to do it perfectly.
Lumine Volunteers
Jiang Chen sighed.
"Noelle can be a little too serious."
He had no idea the misunderstanding came from the sword he gave her.
Then suddenly—
Lumine spoke quietly.
"…I can help too."
She had gathered the courage to say it.
Jiang Chen stared at her.
"…I'm not some noble lord."
He gently pinched her soft cheek.
Then smiled.
"Well then."
"Go prepare the hot water."