Three days had passed since that day.
Not only had the Knights failed to gain the slightest advantage, but they had also lost another top-tier fighter.
In a temporarily requisitioned house in Mondstadt.
Eula Lawrence knelt on the carpet beside the sofa, her fingers interlaced on her knees and her back perfectly straight.
The Lawrence family's etiquette was etched into her bones, even when she was serving someone as a maid.
Her nails dug into her palms.
Humiliation.
The feeling cut deeper than the scornful looks Mondstadt's people gave her and the curses they hurled behind her back.
Ever since childhood, her elders had forced her to learn noble etiquette: how to sit, stand, speak respectfully and serve tea... Every movement had been corrected hundreds upon hundreds of times.
How high to raise her fingertips, how far down to press her skirt-even the curve of her neck when she bowed her head was subject to rules.
And in the end, she had learned all those skills to massage someone's legs.
Ye Xuan leaned back on the sofa with his legs crossed and shot her a casual glance.
"What? From that expression, you seem rather dissatisfied, Eula Lawrence."
"You wouldn't want your friend Amber to go out scouting and never come back, would you?"
Eula went rigid.
She raised her head and met Ye Xuan's smiling eyes.
There was no warmth in that smile. He was like a cat watching a mouse trapped beneath its paw, in no hurry to bite it to death, merely admiring it as it trembled.
She took a deep breath and bent forward, the words almost forced through her clenched teeth:
"Honorable Lord Ye Xuan, how could that be? I am delighted to serve you."
"Good, as long as you're doing it willingly." Ye Xuan's smile softened a little. "I never force pretty girls. If Eula were sad, I'd be very upset."
He looked her up and down and clicked his tongue.
"That maid outfit you're wearing belongs to Noelle. It's too small for you."
The outfit pulled taut across Eula's shoulders, and the row of buttons over her chest looked ready to pop open. She instinctively drew her shoulders in.
"I'll have someone make you one that fits better later."
Eula's eyelashes fluttered twice, but she said nothing.
"She addressed you incorrectly just now."
Ronava suddenly spoke up.
She had been curled up on Ye Xuan's other side all along, but now she sat a little straighter, twirling a lock of her silver hair around her finger.
Ye Xuan paused.
Of course he understood what she meant. But why had Ronava chosen this moment to say it?
Was she jealous, or was she staking her claim?
Perhaps even she didn't know why she had suddenly said it.
...Forget it. I'll go along with her for now.
"Hmm? Eula, what did you call me just now?"
"Honorable Lord Ye Xuan."
"Wrong." Ye Xuan shook his head and rapped his knuckles twice on the armrest. "You should call me master."
Eula closed her eyes.
When she opened them again, the humiliation, anger and moisture in them had all been pressed down into a pool of stagnant water.
"...Master."
"Good." Ye Xuan nodded in satisfaction and fell back, resting his head on Ronava's soft lap. "Continue."
Ronava lowered her gaze to him, the corners of her lips curving ever so slightly. She picked up a grape, peeled it leisurely and held it to his lips.
Ye Xuan opened his mouth and took it.
The juice spread over his tongue, just sweet enough.
Beside him, Eula placed one knee on the edge of the sofa and set both hands on his calf.
Her touch was neither too hard nor too soft, and her fingers moved with unexpected skill.
Ye Xuan narrowed his eyes in comfort.
"The Lawrence family taught you this too?"
"...Family etiquette lessons, chapter fourteen: serving one's husband." Eula's voice was utterly flat.
"Wow, a family trade passed down through the generations." Ye Xuan closed his eyes. "Grapes, beauties, a massage. What a wonderfully carefree life-"
"Open up! Open up! We're back!"
Amber's clear voice rang out from outside the door.
"Go open the door."
Eula stood, her skirt rustling. She walked over and drew back the bolt, and the wooden door creaked open.
"Eula-"
"Amber-"
The two spoke at once.
Outside, Amber's eyes went round. Earl Bunny poked his head out from behind her, his big eyes meeting hers.
Her gaze traveled from the maid's headpiece atop Eula's head down to the edge of her apron, and she froze for three seconds.
"Y-your outfit...?"
"Eula! What's going on? Did he-"
"Amber." Eula cut her off, her voice soft but steady. "I'm fine. Go back for now."
"How can I go back? He's already-"
"What's taking so long to open the door?"
Eula's shoulders slumped for a moment. She glanced back at Amber, then turned and walked back to the sofa. She knelt again and placed her hands on Ye Xuan's leg.
She pressed a little harder than before.
Lumine leaned against the doorframe with her arms crossed. "You're really enjoying yourself."
"Of course." Ye Xuan smiled with narrowed eyes. "You think everyone's like you? At least the Knights each went to one place. You went to three temples all by yourself."
Lumine snorted.
"Why not forget Aether?" Ye Xuan rose from Ronava's lap, walked over to Lumine and raised an eyebrow at her. "I can be your good big brother too."
"How old are you? And you want to be my big brother?"
"I'm not even thirty-" Ye Xuan's grin grew even more punchable. "As for you, I'd be going easy on you if I said you were only three thousand."
Lumine's expression froze for half a second.
Paimon immediately sprang up from her shoulder and planted her little hands on her hips. "Hey! Who are you calling an old lady? Lumine isn't old!"
Keeping the Traveler happy was a required lesson for any competent guide.
"And what about you?" Ye Xuan looked with interest at the little white creature. "You're no spring chicken yourself, are you, Paimon?"
Paimon's mouth fell open in an "O," and then she zipped behind Lumine, leaving only half her head showing. "...Paimon didn't hear anything. Paimon's emergency food."
"Hmph." Lumine turned her face away. "Then take your hand off this old lady and go find yourself a young girl."
"No matter how old you are," Ye Xuan said leisurely, "you still look like a young girl, and I'm quite fond of that. You know what they say: women are like fine wine; the older they get, the richer their flavor. That describes you perfectly, Lumine."
"I'm eighteen forever!"
"All right, all right, you're eighteen forever." Ye Xuan smiled and waved a hand. "Lumine, go spar with Ronava. You hadn't gotten back into shape when you first woke up, so get some exercise, or you might develop osteoporosis."
Lumine's expression changed at once.
Ever since Ronava had frightened her last time, Lumine had felt that she wasn't strong enough, so Ye Xuan had "thoughtfully" arranged for Ronava to be her sparring partner.
To put it plainly, he had given Ronava a legitimate chance to get even for that arrow.
At first, Lumine had flatly refused.
Then Ye Xuan had said: three hundred thousand Mora a month.
She had compromised.
"Do we have to fight?" Lumine asked, her face falling.
Ronava had already risen to her feet. She flexed her wrists, and her knuckles cracked crisply.
She smiled at Lumine. "Don't want your three hundred thousand Mora?"
"...I love Sister Ronava the most." Lumine took a deep breath, her expression changing in an instant. "I'm Sister Ronava's dog. From now on, wherever you tell me to strike, that's where I'll strike."
Paimon covered her face. "...What happened to your pride?"
"Pride can't be exchanged for Mora." Lumine spoke with perfect confidence.
"Hmph." Ronava gave a satisfied huff and crooked a finger at Lumine. "Come here."
She led Lumine and Paimon, who wailed all the way, out the door.
A dull bang soon came from deeper in the courtyard, followed by Paimon's scream: "Lumine, dodge!"
Listening from inside the house, Ye Xuan laughed out loud.
He turned to look at Amber, who was still standing in the doorway.
"Amber, I don't provide meals here. Or are you planning to stay tonight and sleep with me?"
"You...!"
"Master." Eula remained kneeling, but she raised her head. "Please don't lay a hand on Amber."
"Oh?" Ye Xuan looked down at her. "Are you telling me what to do?"
"No." Eula lowered her eyes. "I'm merely making a request."
She paused, her voice dropping until it was barely audible:
"...Please."
Ye Xuan stared at her for two seconds, then suddenly laughed.
"Don't worry." He lay back down and closed his eyes. "I'm not interested in little bunnies."
Amber trembled with anger and clenched her fists, ready to charge inside.
"Amber." Eula stood, walked to the doorway and blocked her path. Her voice held a cold hardness it had never had before. "Go back for now. I can manage on my own."
"What do you mean, you can manage on your own? Do you even know what you're-"
"I know."
"I know better than anyone. So go."
"I'll come back tomorrow," Amber said through clenched teeth.
Eula did not answer. She simply watched Amber turn and run off, watched that flash of red disappear around the street corner, and then gently closed the door.
She turned, walked back to the sofa and knelt again, placing her hands on Ye Xuan's leg.
"Let's continue, master."