Things always go wrong after you've made thorough preparations.
For Lumine, the current situation was completely unexpected.
Schubert was near Springvale, seemingly camping, and he was easy to find, as that combination of a dilapidated tent and luxurious chairs was truly a rare sight.
However, just as Lumine approached to greet him, he spoke first.
"Is that you?" Schubert frowned, looking at Lumine with a hint of disgust.
"Huh? You... *cough*, good afternoon, sir, your demeanor is truly impeccable, but since this is our first meeting, why do you seem so cold?" Lumine almost gave herself away, then organized her words and asked somewhat stiffly.
"Hmm? I didn't expect you to be different from those ordinary commoners?" Schubert stood up and scrutinized Lumine, realizing that both her posture and the way she had walked earlier were indeed impeccable, as if she had received noble etiquette training.
"Could it be that you are also a noble?"
"Oh, of course, I come from a distant, unknown small country, traveling all the way to Mondstadt, and I don't know this gentleman..."
"Heh heh, listen well, I am Schubert Lawrence, a true noble descendant," Schubert said, hands on his hips, looking proud.
"So it's the famous descendant of Lawrence, your family's glory... *cough*, even an outsider like me, who has just arrived, knows of it." Lumine almost forgot what Eula had told her earlier, and only managed to remember after a dry cough.
"Oh? How rare. Seeing you with that good-for-nothing Eula, I thought you were also like those uncouth commoners, but I didn't expect you to be a person of insight." Schubert's attitude instantly improved significantly, and he kept nodding.
"You, you saw me and Eula?" Lumine was a little surprised.
"Yes, I saw you two enter the city gate together earlier."
"Well, we're just acquaintances, I really didn't expect Eula to also be a member of the Lawrence, how rude of me..."
"Hmph! Does she even deserve the Lawrence surname? As the eldest daughter of the family, she joined some Knights of Favonius, it's simply incomprehensible!" Schubert said angrily.
Lumine wasn't particularly surprised by his attitude and didn't say anything.
"Oh, by the way, for our first meeting, a small gift as a token of my respect, please accept it."
"This is, Pickled Vegetable Stir-fry?"
"Yes, I couldn't find any dishes particularly to my taste at Hunter's Deer, so I specifically asked the owner what kind of dishes Mondstadt nobles prefer," Lumine nodded and explained.
"Then it seems you have a discerning eye. It just so happens that I'm very... *ahem*, I mean, it's just the right time for a meal, so I'll gladly accept this gift." Schubert's attitude clearly improved even more, and he even used honorifics when speaking to Lumine.
"Ah, please sit down as well." Schubert pulled out another chair and said to Lumine.
"Thank you very much." Lumine nodded, secretly relieved that the other party hadn't shared this extremely sour dish with her.
She probably couldn't get used to it.
After the meal, Schubert nodded with satisfaction.
"This is an enjoyment that only nobles can understand."
"You seem to have come specifically to find me, and with such a sincere gift, you must have a favor to ask, right?" Schubert asked, looking at Lumine.
"No, no, you misunderstand. I merely admire the glory of Mondstadt's nobility, which is why I visit noble descendants everywhere." Lumine shook her head. She had just made contact with Schubert, so she certainly couldn't be too direct.
"If possible, I would like to ask you to tell me about the history of the Laurence Family, so that someone from a foreign, small country like myself can also feel a bit of that glory."
"Hahaha, good, good. It's rare to find a truly insightful person like you, so I'll reluctantly share it." Schubert seemed to have not been this happy in a long time and immediately began to enlighten Lumine about the deeds of the Laurence Family.
Of course, what he said might disgust other Mondstadters, but Lumine was also curious about how the Laurence Family viewed their own history, so she patiently listened.
However, she soon realized that Schubert seemed to only be recounting his family's earliest contributions to Mondstadt, completely avoiding any mention of the family's later decay and corruption.
The few times he did mention them, Lumine could tell he had significantly embellished them and spared no effort in slandering the Knights of Favonius.
Lumine's patience quickly ran out. No wonder Mondstadters didn't have a good attitude towards the Laurence Family.
Compared to these uninteresting topics, she thought it would be better to talk about something else.
"By the way, Mr. Schubert, regarding Eula, she seems... a little different from you?" Lumine asked cautiously.
She was curious about Eula, and Schubert, as her uncle, should know something.
"Hmph, she has completely defiled the glory of the Laurence Family, it's simply incomprehensible." Lawrence's face instantly darkened.
He began to tell Lumine all of Eula's faults.
Eula was a rare genius in the Lawrence, having passed the family's trials and obtained the family crest at a very young age, with the entire family placing high hopes on her.
But under these circumstances, Eula chose to join the Knights of Favonius, completely falling out with her family.
However, Eula's choice was also not recognized by the people of Mondstadt and some members of the Knights of Favonius; as a member of the Laurence Family joining the Knights of Favonius, it was hard not to suspect her true intentions.
In such a thankless environment, if it weren't for the guarantees of Grand Master Varka and some high-ranking Knights of Favonius members, Eula's situation would probably have been even more difficult.
"Eula really has it tough," Lumine couldn't help but exclaim.
"Tough?" Schubert's brows immediately furrowed.
"Ah, I mean, the eldest daughter of the Laurence Family is truly courageous, but, unfortunately, this courage was not used in the right place." Lumine reacted, quickly trying to amend her previous statement.
"Hmph, you're absolutely right." Schubert nodded.
"She has completely forgotten that she is a descendant of the Laurence Family... However, from your appearance, you must have some acquaintance with Eula, right?"
"Yes, that's true." Lumine slowly nodded, pondering why the other party would say such a thing.
"Indeed, when I saw you two this morning, Eula's gaze was constantly on you." Schubert nodded. "That look of hers is very rare; perhaps you are somewhat special to her."
"Eh? Is, is that so...?" If Lumine hadn't remembered to maintain her so-called noble demeanor, she probably would have broken out in a cold sweat.
"Although my relationship with her isn't good, I've watched her grow up since she was little, so I understand her very well." Schubert frowned, looking at Lumine.
The only problem was, Eula's gaze towards Lumine didn't seem like she was looking at a friend; rather, it was...
This really surprised him; Eula actually liked women.
But he wasn't unable to accept it. Nobles played more extravagantly than commoners, and such things were common among nobles; he didn't think much of it.
For him, this was actually a good thing. If Eula truly fell for this girl in front of him, then he would have a way to control Eula...
"Hmph, the glory of Lawrence will soon be restored in my hands." Schubert snorted coldly, and then finally unconsciously said something that interested Lumine.
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