"I understand what you've said, but I have important things to do tonight. Let's put these tasks aside until tomorrow." Jean said to the knight who had just entered.
"Yes!" The young knight saluted Jean with a knight's bow, sighing inwardly at Acting Grand Master Jean's hard work tonight, and then turned to leave.
After tidying all the documents on her desk, Jean quickly got up to arrange the table and chairs, then walked out of the Grand Master's office.
It was probably the first time in her life she had left work so eagerly.
Her heart was filled with both anticipation and nervousness.
"Jean? Are you already planning to go back?" As luck would have it, it was also Lisa's time to leave work.
Jean had just stepped out of her office when she ran into Lisa, who was coming out of the Library.
"Oh, it's Lisa. Yes, I have some things to do today." Jean glanced at the purple figure and nodded.
"Important things?" Lisa blinked, very interested in Jean's so-called important matters.
Because, according to Jean's personality, there should be nothing more important than the work of the Knights of Favonius.
To make Jean leave work so early, she was very curious about what had happened.
"Hmm, it's just… I plan to invite Stelle for dinner." Jean hesitated and nodded, finally telling Lisa.
"Oh? Inviting that cute little guy for dinner, huh…" Lisa's mind recalled Stelle's figure.
Although one could say it was only a brief encounter, Lisa had been thinking about that Grey-haired girl named Stelle ever since.
Unfortunately, there hadn't been any opportunities to meet again afterward, and it was much later that she learned Stelle had also been involved in the Dragon Disaster.
"Jean, can I also come and get a free meal?" Lisa couldn't help but ask Jean.
She really wanted to see Stelle again. If it were normal times or a different person, she would never have shamelessly made such a request.
But Stelle was different, and her relationship with Jean was very good, so asking this way should be fine.
"Eh?" Jean's expression instantly stiffened. "But, but…"
She didn't know how to refuse Lisa, but no matter what, she absolutely could not agree to Lisa coming along.
It wasn't for any other reason; if it were a different time, it would be perfectly fine, but today was absolutely not.
Because, this meal, besides being a nominal thank you, was more of something she had personally prepared for Stelle.
After all, what happened last night, she needed to have a good talk with Stelle.
She had said she would take responsibility, and those words weren't just to comfort Stelle; she had to show it with actual actions.
"Jean… is it difficult?" Lisa looked at Jean with some surprise.
She and Jean had been good friends for so many years. Although her request was a bit sudden, based on her understanding of Jean, the other party shouldn't show such a troubled expression.
"Be-because I haven't prepared too much food…"
Jean was lying, and Lisa could tell at a glance, because Jean was not a good liar.
"That's a pity, next time then." Although Lisa was very puzzled and subconsciously felt that there might be something fishy between Jean and Stelle, she did not insist.
Lisa looked at Acting Grand Master Jean with a meaningful gaze, then a smile reappeared on her face.
"Then I'll be going now, see you tomorrow."
She decided to investigate a little herself to see what exactly happened between Acting Grand Master Jean and that Little Cutie.
"Mm, see you tomorrow." Acting Grand Master Jean watched Lisa leave, feeling a slight sense of relief.
-
"..."
Looking at the door of Acting Grand Master Jean's house, Ann felt a bit hesitant.
Finally, she slowly extended her hand and knocked on the door.
Soon, before she even had to wait for more than two seconds, the door opened.
It opened so quickly that Ann's outstretched hand hadn't even had time to retract.
"Ann, you're here." Acting Grand Master Jean immediately smiled when she saw Ann standing at the door.
"Mm." Ann lowered her hand and nodded with a smile.
Could Acting Grand Master Jean have… been waiting at the door all along?
Otherwise, there was no way to explain why the door opened so quickly.
"Come in quickly."
Walking into Acting Grand Master Jean's living room, it felt slightly different from the last time she was here.
It was clear that Acting Grand Master Jean had done some decorating, and the most obvious part of this decoration was the lavish meal on the table.
Ann herself wasn't very familiar with Mondstadt banquets, but she thought that if it was a thank-you banquet, there shouldn't be… candles, right?
And this cake and wine, why did it feel so strange?
"Ann, come sit down quickly." Acting Grand Master Jean greeted Ann, then turned to bring out another plate of new dishes from the kitchen.
"Acting Grand Master Jean, did you invite anyone else?" Ann couldn't help but ask from her seat.
"Hm? No, it's just the two of us today." Acting Grand Master Jean looked at Ann, a little puzzled.
"This, for the two of us… we probably won't be able to finish so many dishes, right?" Ann's lips trembled slightly.
"Sorry, I couldn't help but make a bit too much, and I was afraid you wouldn't be used to it, so I went to Hunter's Deer and bought some of the dishes you usually order." Acting Grand Master Jean said somewhat sheepishly.
She also sat across from Ann, her gaze softly fixed on Ann.
"It's okay, let's eat quickly. We can save what we don't finish for tomorrow."
"Mm." Ann picked up the knife and fork on the table, but didn't rush to eat.
She hesitated, looked at Acting Grand Master Jean, opened her mouth, but didn't know what to say.
The atmosphere seemed to have become a bit awkward.
"Ann, do you drink alcohol?" Acting Grand Master Jean suddenly asked.
"I… probably haven't reached the age to drink yet?" Ann looked at the bottle of wine on the table and slowly said.
She knew very well that in this situation, even if she could drink, she definitely wouldn't.
Otherwise, who knew what might happen.
"Mm, that's true." Acting Grand Master Jean nodded, secretly feeling a bit regretful.
In truth, she wasn't as bold as she imagined. The words she had long prepared in her heart, the actions she had planned, became difficult to utter at this point.
At such a time, alcohol was, of course, the best seasoning, capable of easing the atmosphere.
It could also make her bolder.
Now, if she were to drink alone, it would be a bit awkward, because she genuinely didn't want Ann to think her words were drunken ramblings, so she decided not to drink either.
However, even without alcohol, what needed to be done still had to be done.
There were some things she absolutely had to make clear to Ann.
"Ann, I thought a lot last night." Acting Grand Master Jean slowly began to speak.
She looked at Ann, her gaze even making Ann feel a slight burning sensation.
"It all started because of my own sordid desires, which led to me doing things that were unfair to Ann. Although Ann said she forgave me, but…" Acting Grand Master Jean's voice gradually faded.
She slowly lowered her head, seemingly a bit shy.
"I, I like Ann. Please let me take responsibility for what happened yesterday. At least, please give me a chance, okay…?"
Acting Grand Master Jean spoke this sentence as if it took all her strength. She had never felt such nervousness.
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