Seeing Eula clearly care yet stubbornly maintain her cold façade, speaking in pointed half-meanings, Yichen couldn't help but grin.
"Don't worry, Eula," he said cheerfully.
"When your birthday comes around, I'll put on a grand event just as big as this—maybe even bigger! I guarantee it'll leave a deep impression!"
Eula shot him a sideways glance and let out a soft snort through her nose. Despite the tone, there wasn't much real chill in her eyes.
"Tch. A grand event?"
Her gaze swept over the absurdly luxurious sea of flowers.
"I heard—purely by accident, of course—from Captain Kaeya that a certain someone nearly racked up debts in the tens of millions of Mora for this spectacle."
She paused, voice dropping slightly.
"What, didn't the creditors line up outside Knight Headquarters to have a 'heart-to-heart' talk with you?"
"…Do you need me to lend you some Mora to help you get by?"
The concern was awkward, clumsy—wrapped in ice—but unmistakably there.
Yichen's smile widened, even carrying a hint of smugness. He leaned in a little, lowering his voice.
"No need, no need! Relax—everything's settled! All debts cleared! Not a single Mora owed!"
Eula raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. A possibility flashed through her mind—the most logical one, and the one she absolutely didn't want to be true. Her voice cooled instantly.
"You didn't… marry into the Gunnhildr family, did you?"
"Of course not!"
Yichen straightened instantly, denying it with righteous indignation. Then he puffed his chest proudly and gave it a light pat.
"Do I look like that kind of man? I made my own money! Well—anyway, the point is, I'm rich now! Rich enough to never run out of Mora! Next step—I'm buying a big house in Mondstadt!"
That finally caught Eula's attention. Arms crossed, she studied him carefully, judging how much of that was bravado.
"Where do you plan to buy?"
"Land inside the city is outrageously expensive. Anything that qualifies as 'big' won't come cheap."
She paused, as if remembering something.
"Unless…"
"…you're willing to settle near the old Lawrence clan estate. That area's avoided by most people because of its 'past sins,' but there are several abandoned villas—cheap, spacious, and long unused."
Her words were barbed—habitual self-defense, and a subtle test.
Yichen's reaction completely caught her off guard.
His eyes lit up as if she'd delivered the best news of his life. He clapped his hands, beaming.
"Really?! That's perfect!"
"Cheap and big villas? That's practically tailor-made for me! That settles it—I'll go take a look there!"
Eula froze.
No hesitation. No discomfort. No trace of avoidance.
Did this man genuinely not understand what "sins" and "shunned" meant…
—or did he simply not care at all?
Watching him excitedly plan renovations, the frozen lake in Eula's heart felt as if a blazing sun had been dropped into it. The ice didn't shatter—but it melted, just a little.
A complex feeling welled up—sour, yet strangely warm.
She abruptly turned her head away, leaving only her graceful profile and faintly reddened ears. Her voice tried to refreeze, but lacked conviction.
"…Suit yourself. If the neighbors' 'sins' affect you, don't say I didn't warn you."
"Hmph. I'll remember this grudge."
Yichen didn't hear the muttering at all.
"Neighbors? Even better!" he said happily.
"If I live there, it'll be so convenient to visit! When you come back from patrol tired, you can drop by my place to—uh—visit for dinner!"
Eula's shoulders trembled slightly.
Who would go to your place for free food?!
…Though—
…it's not completely impossible.
The thought startled her.
She quickly shook it off, forcing her expression cold again.
"Who wants to be your neighbor?"
At that moment, louder laughter erupted from the plaza. Jean seemed to be saying something under the crowd's encouragement, and Venti's music grew ever more lively.
Yichen's attention snapped over. He rose on his toes, eager.
"Eula, let's go! The party's hitting its peak! I heard Master Diluc even brought out several barrels of his finest wine!"
As he spoke, he naturally reached for her wrist—just as casually as he always did with his fellow Knights.
Eula's gaze dropped to his hand. Her heartbeat skipped.
Before he could touch her, she pulled her hand behind her back.
"You go by yourself."
"I'm not interested in noisy events."
Yichen's hand closed on air. He blinked, confused, then shrugged with a grin.
"Alright then! I'll go check it out and bring you something tasty! Wait here!"
And off he went—boisterous as ever—vanishing into the joyous crowd, leaving Eula alone.
The sunset stretched her shadow long across the stone.
Behind her lay the quiet western district—toward the Lawrence estate, toward her heaviest chains.
She sighed softly.
"…Idiot. Who said I'd wait for you?"
"…I'll remember this grudge."
Yet she remained where she was, unmoving—
as if waiting for something.
Perhaps just the wind.
Or perhaps… his return.
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