Chapter 5 Eula has something to say...

[9 years old: You've mastered all the noble courses. When you ask your mother to take you to Mondstadt, she reluctantly agrees after some hesitation. However, your father finds out and they argue fiercely. To placate him, you abandon the plan. That night, your father promises that if you complete your swordsmanship training, he will take you to Mondstadt.]

You're puzzled by their overreaction to a simple trip. You assume their concern is about potential thieves.

[10 years old: You continue to study swordsmanship diligently.]

[11 years old: At another banquet, you see your cousin Eula. Envious of her life in Mondstadt, you want to talk to her, but she glares at you and leaves before you can approach.]

[12 years old: Having completed your swordsmanship training, your father decides it's time to show you the outside world. Under the pretext of buying food, he takes you to Mondstadt. You're excited, but your father remains silent throughout the journey.]

After a day of travel, you arrive in Mondstadt. The city's grandeur and bustling streets are overwhelming. You want to buy a gift for your mother. After some hesitation, your father agrees, and you enter a store alone.

[You choose a bracelet made of ice-blue stones. At the counter, the cashier charges you double the price. Furious, you ask why, but she only looks at you with disdain, as if you're garbage.]

Seeking justice, you go to the Knights of Favonius, but they react with the same disdain and refuse to help, saying it's not their concern. Suppressing your anger, you return the bracelet with proper etiquette and leave.

Your father witnesses the incident but does not intervene, simply holding your hand in silence.

As you walk away, you notice the disgusted expressions of Mondstadt's people and hear comments like "It's unlucky to run into the Lawrence family." Your father appears more humble than ever.

[Back at the manor, your mother explains that the Lawrence family, once rulers of Mondstadt, was overthrown by Vanessa, the founder of the Knights of Favonius. Despite retaining noble status, the Lawrence family is still hated in Mondstadt.]

You ask why, after a thousand years, Mondstadt's people still harbor such hatred. Your mother has no answer, perhaps unsure herself.

[13 years old: Your personality becomes much more stable, almost adult-like. Your father develops a drinking problem and often laments that taking you to Mondstadt was his biggest mistake.]

[14 years old: After the trip to Mondstadt, you redouble your efforts in swordsmanship and noble etiquette, determined to prove that the Lawrence family can live proudly in Mondstadt despite the disdain.]

The character's purpose is now clear, and the narrative aligns with this revelation.

[15 years old: Your father dies from alcoholism, and your mother soon dies from grief. Your relatives, saddened by the news, take you to live in the Lawrence family's main house in Mondstadt. You see Eula again.]

[16 years old: Living with Eula for a year, you notice her strange behavior. Sometimes she engages with you, but often she avoids you or looks at you with a mix of expectation and hostility. You wonder why Eula harbors such a negative attitude and don't delve deeper into her issues, assuming she's just a distant cousin who can't betray the family.]

One night, Eula knocks on your door. Surprised to see her, you decide whether to...

[1. Open the door and welcome her.]

[2. Close the door and refuse.]

Choosing to open the door and welcome Eula, you prepare for the next segment of the simulation.

"Entering an important plot, the host will enter immersion mode next. Please behave well and do not do anything contrary to the character of the protagonist in the simulator."

As Kujo Tsumugi made her choice, the environment around her began to change. She found herself in an unfamiliar house with Eula standing before her in an ice-blue nightgown.

"This is..." While Kujo Tsumugi was still disoriented, she felt a sharp pain in her head. Unfamiliar memories of Tsumugi Lawrence began to surface. Soon, she acquired all the memories of Tsumugi Lawrence up to this point.

"It's Miss Eula, please come in."

After regaining her composure, Tsumugi Kujo welcomed Eula into the room. The simulation system's voice echoed in her mind:

"Triggering side quest: Miss Eula has something to say..."

"Mission content: Listen to Eula's troubles."

"Hint: Since your arrival at the Lawrence family, Eula has grown increasingly irritated. Tonight, she has decided to confide her troubles to you."

"Completing side quests can improve the evaluation of this simulation."

"Eula, what's the matter?" Tsumugi Kujo asked, trying to remain composed.

"What... do you think of the Lawrence family?" Eula asked nervously.

"My opinion is... that there must be something hateful about a pitiful person, or vice versa, there must be something pitiful about a hateful person."

"Our ancestors once ruled Mondstadt with extreme brutality and were overthrown by Vanessa, the founder of the Knights of Favonius. Though we retained noble status, we're hated by everyone in Mondstadt."

"Hatred should be remembered, but it should not be perpetuated."

"The people of Mondstadt, fearing a resurgence of the Lawrence family, have suppressed us harshly. This is understandable, but it's been over a thousand years since our family was overthrown—longer than we ruled. Yet the oppression has only intensified."

"Yes! Exactly!" Eula exclaimed, seemingly relieved to find someone who shared her feelings. She grabbed Tsumugi's hands, shaking them excitedly. "That's why I plan to join the Knights of Favonius. I want to improve the Lawrence family's image in Mondstadt. If I succeed, the Lawrence family won't be discriminated against anymore!"

Eula's expression shifted to anger as she continued.

"My father opposed my joining the Knights. He said it was beneath our honor. It's absurd. Our situation is dire. If this continues, we won't be able to support ourselves."

"I think the master's idea is correct."

"I'm sure you'll support me!"

The voices of Tsumugi Kujo and Eula seemed to overlap, but their meanings were entirely different.

"Huh?" Eula looked surprised as Tsumugi didn't support her.

"There's an old saying in Liyue: 'The first bird to stick its head out gets shot.' The first person to try something new rarely ends well, Sister Eula."

"So you want the Lawrence family to continue declining?" Eula's voice grew hostile. "Why can't you and my father understand me?"

Eula slammed the door and left, leaving Tsumugi in silence.

"Side quest: Miss Eula has something to say... failed."

Kujo Tsumugi felt a pang of regret as she realized her mistake.

"Ahh, what am I doing?!"

But it was too late. The simulation ejected her from immersion mode, and she could only watch the remaining information:

[Since that night, Eula has treated you with hostility. You're familiar with her disdain, as it mirrors how she treats other Lawrence family members.]

[1. Just buy a bracelet or necklace or something like that in the store to fool people.]

[2. Give the sword that you always carry with you to Eula.]

[3. Buy a red ribbon and wrap it around yourself, then give yourself to Eula.]

Considering Eula is your cousin and this is a significant coming-of-age gift, you decide that a mere piece of jewelry would be too insincere. Hence, you choose option 2.

[You look around the store but find nothing worthy of the noble Lawrence family. You leave the store and decide to give Eula the sword you always carry. This sword, given to you by your father during your swordsmanship training, holds great personal significance. Despite your feelings towards Eula, you believe this sword is the only fitting gift for her important banquet.]

[That night, you present the sword to Eula. She is taken aback and solemnly promises to cherish it. She fastens the sword to her waist and regards you with less hostility.]

[The banquet proceeds without incident. Following tradition, Eula performs a ritual dance on stage, bringing the ceremony to a successful close. The nobles watch with anticipation as Eula Lawrence gracefully steps onto the stage in her light blue dress.]

"Entering an important plot, the host will enter immersion mode next. Please behave well and do not do anything contrary to the character of the protagonist in the simulator."

Surprised by the prompt, Tsumugi Kujo prepares herself for the next phase. Moments later, she finds herself at the banquet, with Eula standing elegantly on stage.