Dawn was breaking over Mondstadt. The crisp morning air was a mix of the lingering scent of malt from the taverns and the fresh fragrance of blooming flowers from the florist.
At the city gates stood a tall, slender young man with a striking resemblance to Sasuke Uchiha. He held a delicate lunchbox and a bouquet of Cecilia flowers, still wet with morning dew, clutched tightly to his chest.
The guards, leaning against the weathered stone walls, were long accustomed to this sight.
A young knight yawned, rubbing his sleepy eyes. He nudged his partner with his elbow, his voice hoarse and full of undisguised amusement.
"Hey, you keeping count? This must be... the ninety-ninth time, right?"
The older guard next to him stroked his beard. His gaze fell upon the young man's handsome face, which seemed to glow even in the dawn light. His tone was thick with a mixture of pity and confusion.
"Young Yichen, it's not my place to say... but with this kind of perseverance, you could succeed at anything! Why are you so fixated on that..."
He paused, searching for the right words, but ultimately settled on the common street slang.
"...'remnant' of the Lawrence clan? You know how many girls in this city have their hearts set on you."
Three years ago, this young man named Yichen had arrived in Mondstadt like a breath of fresh air. He possessed a strange blend of youthful spirit and grounded maturity, which, combined with his flawless looks, instantly earned him the uncrowned title of "Mondstadt's Most Handsome Man."
If he wanted, he could have been buried under a mountain of love letters and admiring glances from the young women of Mondstadt.
However, to everyone's astonishment, his gaze never lingered on any of those bright smiles. Instead, it was locked firmly on Mondstadt's loneliest figure: Eula Lawrence.
From a certain day onward, rain or shine, through heat and cold, he could be seen at dawn and dusk, holding a carefully prepared meal or a bouquet of flowers. He would stand wherever Eula might appear, repeating a confession that seemed destined to go unanswered.
After ninety-eight failed attempts, today marked the ninety-ninth charge.
This nearly obsessive pursuit, far from diminishing his charm, had earned him another, more resounding title in the tavern chats and sighs of maidens: "Mondstadt's Most Devoted Man."
Just then, Yichen's clear voice rang out.
"Hmph. How can a sparrow understand the ambitions of a swan?"
His gaze swept over the old guard who had just uttered the word "remnant." Beneath the gentle exterior of the "Most Devoted Man," a sharp edge emerged.
"Furthermore, she has a name. It's Eula Lawrence. For a knight to use a word like 'remnant' is truly distasteful. If you continue to speak so carelessly..."
He shifted the lunchbox in his arms, which was emitting an enticing aroma. His tone was calm but carried a clear threat.
"...you can all sort out your own special-order sandwiches and energizing coffee tomorrow."
"Whoa! Don't do that, brother!"
The young guard immediately panicked, his face breaking into an apologetic grin as he fumbled for his coin purse. This "devoted" man had made it a daily habit to bring the city's most sought-after breakfast for the gate guards, a small act of kindness that had become an indispensable comfort in their tedious routine.
"Miss Eula! It's Miss Eula!" he corrected himself hastily while counting his Mora, his tone utterly sincere. "Brother, I truly hope you succeed this time! When the good news comes, I'll be the first to celebrate with you. I'll make sure to give a hefty wedding gift!"
Yichen accepted the Mora, still warm from the guard's hand. His own fingertips felt cool.
His gaze had already drifted past the guard's shoulder, locking onto a familiar figure at the far end of the street—a solitary, blue silhouette, as elegant and aloof as an orchid on a frozen plain, was slowly approaching with the morning light.
He took a deep breath. The cool morning air, mixed with the crisp fragrance of Cecilias, filled his lungs. Holding the lunchbox and flowers tighter, he strode forward, meeting his ninety-ninth heartfelt objective head-on.
In the distance, the dawn light coated Mondstadt in a layer of pale gold.
Eula Lawrence's figure slowly emerged from the end of the long street. Her steps were steady, but her beautiful eyes flickered almost imperceptibly the moment they fell upon the familiar figure at the gate.
As expected... he's here again.
The thought, carrying a hint of secret anticipation she herself had never bothered to analyze, rippled across the surface of her heart.
Eula subconsciously took a deep breath, the cool morning air forcing down the warmth that threatened to break through her icy mask. She tilted her chin up slightly, tensing every muscle in her face to ensure her "keep your distance" expression was flawless.
Check appearance—uniform is crisp, not a single wrinkle. Silver hair accessory glints coldly in the light.
She even turned her head slightly, letting a breeze brush against her neck, confirming that the subtle, cool fragrance of pine and mist flower she had specifically chosen still lingered around her.
Every step was a balance between the proud aloofness a Lawrence should maintain and the frantic beating of her own heart.
Yichen was already approaching, his steps light and full of youthful energy. The smile on the face that the maidens of Mondstadt revered was as pure and dazzling as sunlight piercing through the clouds.
He held out the bouquet of Cecilias, their petals as white as snow and dotted with crystalline dewdrops that seemed to hold tiny stars.
"I like you, Eula. Please, with the intention of marriage, go out with me."
The sunlight fell generously upon him, dancing on his eyelashes and coating his gentle lips in warm gold. It outlined his tall figure, making him look like a statue bathed in divine grace. The sheer, breathtaking force of this beauty was almost suffocating.
Eula's heart clenched.
No! I can't look!
The painful "lesson" from the 91st time exploded in her mind. It was because he had lowered his head and smiled, his eyes so focused, that she had stared into them, lost, and nearly blurted out the word "yes"!
She practically tore her gaze away, forcing it to fix on the vines climbing the city wall or the reflection on a guard's pauldron. To cover her fluster, she snatched the bouquet from him rather brusquely, but her fingertips unconsciously curled, feeling the soft petals and the cool dampness of the dew. A crisp floral scent instantly filled her senses, undermining the coldness she was trying so hard to maintain.
Eula let out a cold snort, deliberately lowering her voice.
"To think you would tease a Captain of the Knights of Favonius on her patrol route again, interfering with official duties. This grudge, I will remember it!"
-------
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