43. The Solution

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Little Paimon was tormented by Nana’s anxiety as well, to the point of losing the will to live. Hugging her head, she curled into a ball and sighed. “Sigh... What good would it do to knock her unconscious now? Once the party begins, won’t she still have to show up?”

“When the moment actually comes, Nana will be able to hold herself together. Think about how she was when she first met us. Perhaps once she sees them in person, she’ll stop letting her imagination run wild.” Aether pinched the bridge of his nose, both headache-ridden and exhausted. “Besides, Acting Grand Master Jean is very reliable.”

Were officials not frightening? Was being transported to another world not frightening? Was having one’s entire worldview shattered not frightening?

And yet, with the situation so urgent, Pei Nana had managed to remain perfectly composed.

Because she had no time to let her thoughts run wild.

Aether had come to realize that, for some people, thinking things through was a sign of foresight. For others, thinking too much only led to terrifying conclusions.

Perhaps... it would be best not to give her too much time to think in the future.

Paimon gave a cold laugh, as though mocking his naivety. Then she sighed again and again until, all at once, her eyes lit up.

“I’ve got it! Why don’t we have her pretend to be sick? That way, she can avoid dealing with the guests!”

“Lisa handles illnesses, and Barbara handles injuries. Do you really think they wouldn’t be able to tell if she were pretending?”

Little Paimon wailed, “Then what are we supposed to do?! She’s made me start thinking the Knights of Favonius are kind of scary too!”

“I have an idea...” Aether suddenly said.

He placed Pei Nana on the sofa, then turned and hurried into the study.

“What is it? What is it?” Little Paimon immediately followed him.

She watched as he took out a sheet of stationery and quickly began to write.

“Dear Acting Grand Master Jean,

“Greetings. Regarding the invitation to our housewarming banquet, there is something I hope you will kindly take into consideration.

“My companion, Miss Nana, is an ordinary girl who is rather timid and easily flustered. After learning your identities, she became extremely anxious and frightened. If she behaves improperly in any way during the banquet, I hope you will forgive her. She is simply too nervous.

“By the way, I heard that little Klee has been confined once again. How is she? Has her confinement ended? May I invite her to come along? Please rest assured that I will prepare cake, sweets, and an adorable stuffed bunny for her in advance.

“Your friend,
Aether, Honorary Knight”

When he finished, Aether set down his pen and let out a long breath. A faint smile appeared on his face.

“That should just about do it.”

“Acting Grand Master Jean is calm, gentle, and dependable. Once she knows how nervous Nana is, she’ll surely treat her with even greater gentleness and understanding. With Jean keeping things under control, Kaeya and Lisa won’t dare tease her too openly. And then there’s little Klee, innocent, adorable, lively, and cheerful...”

“If Nana still can’t hold a normal conversation with the members of the Knights, we can have her play with Klee instead. Faced with a little girl of five or six, she can’t possibly remain nervous. Besides, having Klee as a companion will give her a perfectly legitimate excuse to avoid talking with the adults.”

Sigh.

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...

The Acting Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius, Jean Gunnhildr, received the letter soon afterward. At noon, while taking a coffee break with her close friend Lisa, she casually passed the matter along.

Lisa Minci was the librarian of the Mondstadt library. Sensuous and alluring, mature and elegant, she was physically frail yet exceptionally intelligent.

Stirring the coffee in her cup, she rested her cheek in one hand and gazed at Jean like a languid, bewitching cat.

“Everyone in the city is saying that the two of them are lovers. Do you believe it?”

Jean was a dignified knight, but she never demanded that others observe the same propriety and restraint she did. Her friend sat beside her as softly as though she had no bones, while Jean remained perfectly upright, her words solemn, precise, and entirely free of frivolity.

“Love is, by nature, something without reason. It arrives suddenly and cannot be grasped. Just like in those romance novels, there is often no warning at all before one falls in love at first sight.

“Although the Traveler is brave, steadfast, and powerful, he is also a young man. There is nothing strange about him yearning for love.

“I hear that the young lady is an exceptionally beautiful woman. A hero and a beauty, brought together by fate... Don’t you think that sounds romantic?”

Lisa laughed at her, replying in a careless tone, “Perhaps. But I reserve judgment.”

She narrowed her eyes with a smile.

“I simply don’t think that Traveler would fall in love with just anyone.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Jean said. “The Traveler has done Mondstadt a great service, and he went out of his way to warn us that the young lady is timid by nature. Until we discover anything suspicious about her, we must not frighten her. Otherwise, it could very well damage our friendship with the Honorary Knight.”

“Yes, yes, yes, I understand. I’m not an idiot.” Lisa rolled her eyes charmingly. “You’re always worrying about everything. Be careful, or you’ll turn into a little old woman before your time, Jean.”

“I’m worried that your fondness for mischief will flare up and you’ll deliberately tease her instead.” Jean shot her a sidelong glance and continued earnestly, “The Honorary Knight is broad-minded and mild-tempered. The banquet is almost upon us, yet he still felt the need to remind us again. He must care very deeply about this matter.

“We are his friends. There is no need to upset him over it.

“Besides, I once heard Kaeya mention the young lady. He said that she was staying at Senior Diluc’s tavern and was extremely afraid of strangers. He merely greeted her, and she ran away in fright.

“She truly sounds like an exceptionally shy and timid girl.

“As knights, we should show compassion toward the weak and protect the vulnerable. The members of the Knights of Favonius must not deliberately bully a frightened young woman.”

“All right, all right, I said I understand.” Lisa gave an alluring roll of her eyes. “I’ll treat your little darling as gently and carefully as a porcelain doll. Will that satisfy you? Honestly.”

...

That evening, night fell over Mondstadt. The busy Acting Grand Master and temporary administrator of the city made the rare decision not to work overtime. After taking care of the most urgent affairs, she set off with her friends for the Honorary Knight’s new home.

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Since the western gate opened directly onto a freight wharf, the road was constantly crowded with large cargo crates being loaded and unloaded. To avoid accidents, ordinary sightseers rarely came this way. As night fell, the western gate of Mondstadt was usually especially quiet and deserted.

Tonight, however, the area around the western gate was unusually lively.

Small wrought-iron lanterns with four-sided frames illuminated the road. Delicate lights from Fontaine were wound around the gatehouse and pine trees. Perhaps because the homeowner was from Liyue, two large red lanterns also hung beneath the eaves. Beneath each lantern stood a large flowerpot filled with brilliant scarlet windwheel asters.

The incongruous mixture of styles left everyone speechless at the gate.

Only a little girl in red clothes and a red hat widened her eyes in delight.

“Wow! It’s so pretty!”

She wriggled free of her brother’s arms and dashed into the courtyard on two short legs, loudly calling in her childish voice as she ran, “Big Brother Honorary Knight! Klee’s here!”

“Klee!” Albedo shouted, hurrying after her.

The remaining adults exchanged glances. Captain Kaeya folded his arms across his chest, gave a slight shrug, and laughed heartily.

“Quite lively, isn’t it?”

“Yes,” Lisa replied.

She too folded her snow-white arms across her chest, then let out a cold, half-smiling laugh.

“But is that little girl discriminating against Sumeru?”

Everyone stared at her in confusion.

Lisa pointed at the various lights one by one.

“Mondstadt, Liyue, Fontaine.”

Amber, whose tied ribbons looked like a pair of rabbit ears, bravely spoke up for her friend.

“But they didn’t put up any lights from Inazuma, Natlan, or Snezhnaya either!”

Kaeya rubbed his chin, speaking with complete seriousness.

“Perhaps when His Excellency the Traveler went shopping for decorations, these were simply the only styles left in the store. After all, aside from Mondstadt, he doesn’t know much about the styles of the other nations yet. Maybe he only thought they looked attractive and bought them on the spot?”

“Exactly! That must be it!” Amber hurriedly agreed.

Jean saw that someone had already come out of the house to welcome them and quickly interrupted their idle chatter.

“All right, that’s enough. Don’t be rude.”

The group turned around and saw Aether and Paimon already outside. Beside them stood a young woman dressed in a Liyue-style flowing ceremonial gown.

In the gentle breeze, her light garments drifted like smoke and mist. Graceful and willowy, dignified and refined, she possessed a fresh, ethereal beauty.

She looked just like an otherworldly fairy from the myths and legends of Liyue.