On the way back, after hearing Eula talk about Barbara's condition, Kael couldn't help but worry.
The very first thing they did upon returning to Mondstadt was head to the Church of Favonius to see Barbara.
The moment they stepped into the room, they saw her pale and weak, her hair loose around her shoulders as she leaned against the headboard, staring blankly at the blanket over her legs like someone whose life force had drained away.
"Barbara, are you alright?"
At the sound of his voice, the dead stillness in Barbara's eyes suddenly lit up with dazzling brilliance, as though her soul had been reignited.
She snapped her head toward Kael, tears welling up as her eyes shimmered.
"Kael… you're back!"
She tried to get out of bed, but after exhausting herself earlier, her body was limp. Her knees buckled, and she nearly collapsed—
Kael rushed forward to catch her.
Barbara, soft and boneless, sank into his arms. Her violet eyes, brimming with tears, locked unblinking onto his face. Her delicate, trembling hand slowly rose to caress his cheek.
"Thank goodness… thank goodness… I was so worried about you…"
Barbara turned her gaze toward Eula, who stood just behind him. "Thank you… for bringing Kael back."
Eula arched a brow and replied, "I saved him not just for you. I did it for myself, too."
Barbara froze. "You mean… you also…"
Forcing down her shyness, Eula didn't hide behind her usual tsundere front this time. She voiced her feelings with unshakable resolve.
"Yes. Just as you think. I like Kael too."
Normally, Eula would never have admitted such a thing so directly in front of someone else.
But today, she and Barbara had both faced the possibility of losing Kael forever. And both of them had fallen for the same man who didn't return their feelings.
That shared pain created a strange bond between them. In front of Barbara, it was easier to be honest.
Even if, in Kael's heart, she could never measure up to Jean…
She still wouldn't step back.
Barbara went quiet, thoughtful. "So that's how it is…"
She had suspected something before. No wonder Eula had kept calling out Kael's name even while unconscious.
Yet hearing Eula's confession didn't stir jealousy or bitterness in Barbara's heart.
Maybe because Kael's love had never belonged to her… it belonged… to her sister.
And after what happened today, she realized—as long as Kael was alive, that was enough.
Barbara gave Eula a genuine smile. "Then let's both do our best."
Seeing this strange harmony between them, Kael suddenly recalled a past choice the System had shown him…
"If you want to be with her, then she must accept Barbara too—both of them loving you together."
Kael shook his head, trying to clear away those wicked thoughts before…
"Well, well, aren't you lucky? Since they're both into you, why not take them both? Each has her own charms… how about a two-for-one…"
Tch.
There it was again.
He couldn't let his guard down for even a second—this bastard was always lurking, waiting.
Come to think of it, what even was this thing inside him? Maybe he should pay Venti a visit, see if the Archon could sense something was off.
He gently laid Barbara back on the bed, then turned to Eula.
"Weren't you supposed to be finding reinforcements for me? How did you end up running back yourself?"
"Right! Mondstadt's still under attack by Hilichurls—I need to help!"
Ever since waking, Eula's head had been full of nothing but Kael. Everything else had slipped her mind.
His question snapped her back to reality—the city was still in crisis.
"I'm going now!"
Without another word, Eula bolted from the room at full speed.
Kael turned back to Barbara.
"Mondstadt is under attack by Hilichurls? What happened?"
At his words, the image of Jean's departing back resurfaced in Barbara's mind.
That same helpless, despairing feeling from earlier welled up again, and tears brimmed in her eyes.
She looked at him sorrowfully. "Kael… please… don't love my sister anymore. Even if you don't love me, that's fine… just… don't love her…"
Seeing her tears stream down without stopping, Kael's heart ached. He reached out to wipe them gently from her face.
"What's wrong? What happened?"
"My sister… she led the Knights of Favonius to fight the Hilichurls… but she didn't send anyone to save you. She didn't care about your safety at all… She doesn't deserve your love! Don't give your heart to her anymore!"
Sigh.
Kael let out a long breath.
When he'd been reading the text in Text Mode, he'd thought Jean had feelings for him.
Turns out… was he just imagining things?
He gave Barbara a bitter smile. "Jean is the Acting Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius. She's responsible for Mondstadt's safety. In that situation, it's only natural she'd make that choice."
But hearing him defend Jean made Barbara cry even harder.
"Do you realize you could've died?! If you had, there would've been nothing left… If you had died, I would never forgive her for the rest of my life…"
Seeing Barbara's emotions spiral, Kael rubbed his temples helplessly. "Look, I'm standing here safe and sound, aren't I? Don't cry, be good, you—"
The door suddenly burst open, and Kaeya Alberich stumbled in, his clothes in tatters.
"Barbara, a lot of Knights of Favonius are badly wounded, we need your healing—hurry!"
Then his gaze landed on Kael, standing beside her bed. He froze.
"Kael? Didn't Eula say you were trapped in the Hilichurl camp?"
"I escaped on my own."
Urgency flashed across Kaeya's face. "Why wasn't Jean notified? She just finished wiping out the Hilichurls at Springvale, and immediately led the uninjured knights to rescue you. She's injured herself, but no matter what anyone says, she refuses to stop."
The moment he finished, Kaeya barked at a cavalry knight nearby: "Head northeast of Mondstadt at once. If you encounter Jean, tell her Kael is safe and have her return to the city immediately!"
After issuing his orders, Kaeya turned back to Barbara. "Many knights are hurt. Barbara, we need your help."
"Alright, I'll come right away."
Barbara immediately tried to get out of bed.
Kael quickly blocked her. "Didn't you already use up all your elemental power? How can you help in your condition?"
"What? She exhausted her Vision?!" Kaeya's brows knit tightly. "Several knights are gravely injured. Medicine won't work—elemental power is the only way to heal them."
Barbara firmly pushed Kael's hand away.
"I've rested enough. My elemental power has recovered quite a bit. I can heal those severely wounded knights."
She looked at Kael seriously. "Don't think only my sister can protect Mondstadt. I have my own way of protecting everyone too."
Her unyielding gaze told Kael this was her lifelong burden.
She'd always wanted to surpass Jean.
She wanted to be someone greater, someone more beloved.
He knew he couldn't stop her now. He could only lower his voice and say, "Just don't push yourself too hard. If you feel unwell, stop and rest immediately. Understand?"
Hearing his concern, Barbara's face bloomed with a sweet smile. "I know."