Knights of Favonius Headquarters, Office.
Jean closed the last document in her hands and exhaled softly.
After a full day of work, she had finally finished dealing with every single matter.
Standing up from her chair, she stretched her arms and back out of habit.
But this time, unlike usual, she didn't feel any stiffness in her neck, nor the usual soreness in her waist. Her whole body felt relaxed and at ease.
Jean blinked in surprise, rubbed her shoulder, and then suddenly realized:
"Could it be… because of Mr. Xia's massage today?"
She lowered her head and glanced at her desk.
It wasn't just her desk as Acting Grand Master—it was the same desk that had been used by generations of Grand Masters before her.
Over the years, countless official documents concerning Mondstadt had been signed and stamped on this very surface.
And yet today, something happened on this historic desk that had nothing to do with government affairs.
What lay sprawled across the desk wasn't paperwork—it was her.
Thinking of that, Jean's mind involuntarily drifted to a romance novel she had read once. There had been a similar… special scene that happened at a dining table.
Her cheeks flushed slightly.
How could I think about Mr. Xia like that!
Mr. Xia is a good person!
And his massage was perfectly proper!
Jean shook her head, brushing away the inappropriate thoughts.
Then she walked out of the office.
At the doorway, she spotted a familiar figure in a maid outfit diligently mopping the corridor floor.
"Noelle, good evening."
The maid stopped, turned around, and gave Jean a perfect, ladylike smile.
"Good evening, Acting Grand Master! Have you finished your work?"
"Yes."
"You haven't had dinner yet, have you? You must be hungry. I saved some Fisherman's Toast for you! I'll go get it right now!"
Without waiting for a reply, Noelle set down her mop, lifted the hem of her skirt with both hands, and hurried off toward the kitchen.
Jean watched her dash away and couldn't help but smile, a mix of warmth and helplessness.
That child… Her meticulous nature and exceptional housekeeping skills really do fit her role as a maid.
Even though she's working hard to become a full-fledged Knight of Favonius, her heart is still too soft. She's not ready yet to face the dangers of the outside world. Better to give it some more time…
Before long, Noelle returned, carrying a plate of Fisherman's Toast topped with onions and chicken.
It was one of Noelle's specialties, and a signature dish of Mondstadt.
The reason it was called "Fisherman's Toast" was because fishermen had invented it. It became their staple meal, something they'd stuff into their packs before spending whole days squatting by the riverside.
Back when Jean worked overtime, this was also the meal she ate the most.
It wasn't that Noelle couldn't cook other things—she was excellent in the kitchen and could make most of Mondstadt's dishes—but Fisherman's Toast was easy to eat cold. Noelle could prepare it ahead of time and deliver it whenever Jean got hungry.
Now, finally taking a break, Jean did feel a little hungry. She smiled, thanked Noelle, accepted the plate, and took a bite of toast. The familiar taste blossomed on her tongue.
But unlike before, she didn't find it particularly delicious.
It tasted… bland, somehow. Like chewing wax.
And yet her tongue told her the flavor was the same as always—nothing had changed.
The reason it felt tasteless was because she was still under the lingering effect of the dessert Mr. Xia had given her earlier.
That extraordinary flavor experience had raised her taste threshold so high that ordinary food now felt dull in comparison.
Noelle noticed Jean's subtle change in expression.
She asked softly, "Acting Grand Master, is it… not good?"
Jean shook her head. "No, it's just as tasty as always."
She took another bite, maintaining her composure.
Seeing that, the little maid sighed in relief and happily went back to mopping the hallway.
Jean quietly finished the plate of toast, feeling completely full.
Noelle came over, took the empty plate, and said, "Acting Grand Master, Miss Lisa returned this afternoon."
Jean was a bit surprised. "Really?"
Noelle nodded. "I saw her sitting alone in a corner reading when I was cleaning the library. She's still there…"
Jean raised an eyebrow. "She hasn't left? Still reading?"
That was rare. It didn't sound like Lisa's usual lazy, carefree self.
"I even checked to make sure all the lights were off in the library," Noelle added in a whisper, "but then I saw a light still on in one corner, and there she was, reading."
Jean thought for a moment. "Alright, I'll go check on her."
"Mm-hmm."
"It's late. You should get some rest too."
"I will! Just need to finish mopping the hallway."
"Thank you for your hard work."
"It's not hard at all!"
Noelle carried the plate back to the kitchen.
Jean headed toward the Knights' library next door.
She pushed the door open. By the glow of the wall's lamps, she could see the shelves packed with books.
This was the largest library in the northern continent of Teyvat. Aside from the Restricted Section, all the collections here were freely accessible to the public.
Jean remembered Lisa once mentioning that the library had suffered a great fire in the past, which destroyed most of the books.
The current library was only about one-sixth the size it had been before the fire, yet it was still the largest in all of Teyvat.
In the basement of the library stood a pair of sturdy poplar doors. They'd been there even before the library itself was built. Not even the flames of that disaster had blackened them. Behind those doors lay the so-called Restricted Section.
Even as Acting Grand Master, Jean didn't know what was written in those books. Probably only the current librarian, Lisa, knew the depths of the secrets hidden there…
Jean walked toward the brightest corner of the library and, sure enough, found Lisa curled up on a bench, reading in an absolutely terrible posture.
Hearing footsteps, Lisa looked up and smiled. "Oh, Jean. I thought it was Noelle again. You're not staying up late working tonight?"
Jean sat beside her, patting her slightly full stomach with a sigh. "I just finished working overtime."
Lisa glanced at her small bulge and teased, "How far along are you?"
"Don't be ridiculous. I just ate a whole plate of Fisherman's Toast. Noelle said you were still here, so I thought I'd come keep you company."
"How sweet of you."
"Of course, I also have something to discuss."
"Oh?"
"Some guests arrived from Liyue yesterday. Their identities are a bit special…"
Jean briefly explained about Xia Zhi, Ganyu, and the others.
"They say they're planning to build the best school in Teyvat. They'd like to borrow some books from the library—not just borrow, actually. They're willing to exchange volumes we don't have for ones they take."
Lisa chuckled. "Interesting…"
"What do you think?"
"A win-win that enriches both libraries and strengthens relations between the nations? Of course I'm in favor."
"I'll let Mr. Xia know tomorrow."
As Jean spoke, an image of Xia Zhi's reaction popped into her mind, and an unconscious smile appeared on her lips.
Lisa glanced at her, sensing there might be something more to this story.
Jean added, "By the way, where have you been these past two days? Otherwise I could've just let you handle this directly."
Lisa replied casually, "I went out to collect some materials and brewed up a new batch of potions."
Jean smiled, relieved. "I see."
Lisa's responsibilities included not only managing the library's vast collection but also providing alchemical supplies for the Knights.
As a once-in-two-hundred-years genius in the Akademiya's eyes, Lisa's knowledge was unmatched. Whether it was forbidden lore about monsters, how to process elemental plants, or how to reduce a distillation step with just two porcelain bowls—she could explain it all clearly. The potions she brewed last year during the Dvalin crisis had greatly helped the Knights.
Now, with a new batch of potions ready, the Knights' ability to handle emergencies during the upcoming festival would be even stronger.
That was a good thing.
Jean chatted with Lisa for a while. When she felt less stuffed, she stood up. "I'm heading back."
"Back to the office for another overtime shift?"
"Not tonight. I've finished everything. Besides, I pulled an all-nighter yesterday and still haven't showered. I feel kind of gross—I need to get clean… You shouldn't stay up too late reading either. Staying up all night is really bad for you, you know? You'll faint."
"Mm."
Jean's footsteps faded into the distance.
Lisa lowered her head, fingertips gently sliding across the pages of her book, her expression growing a little strange.
Jean said she'd stayed up all night and then worked straight through today, yet she looked so radiant—not at all like someone who was exhausted.
So… what exactly happened while I was away? Could it be related to those people from Liyue?
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