Chapter 10 Eula's Depression (Part 1)

After several hours of traveling, the Reconnaissance Company disbanded upon returning to Mondstadt. While the team members went home to rest, Eula still needed to report to Jean about the progress and results of the operation. However, before that, she had to visit the Cathedral of Favonius.

As Eula walked to the Cathedral of West Wind, she felt the weight of the Mondstadt people's stares once again.

Fear... Hatred... Disgust... Greed...

The people of Mondstadt seemed to channel their repressed negative emotions onto the Lawrence family without any hesitation. If it were Eula five years ago, she might have felt fear or reluctance. Now, she simply felt numb.

Eula had lost interest in the people of Mondstadt, whether they had come to accept her or continued to despise her. All she could think of them now was: boring.

If it weren't for the fact that Eula had nowhere else to go and her only remaining friend stayed in Mondstadt, she might have already traveled to another country.

In the Mond Cemetery behind the Cathedral of West Wind, Eula stood quietly in front of her sister's tombstone, wiping the dust off with her handkerchief.

A priest from the Cathedral was supposed to clean the tombstones, but even he avoided the Lawrence family's resting places, leaving them to accumulate dust.

Even in death, the Lawrence family isn't given equal treatment.

"Humph, you made a bet with me, but you died without my permission. You prevented me from fulfilling the bet. I will remember this grudge!" Eula muttered, her voice tinged with unresolved anger.

As usual, she poured out her feelings to her sister's tombstone. She recounted everything from her battles with the Hilichurls to the scenery she encountered on the road. Her conversation was disjointed, jumping from one topic to another without any coherence, but no one interrupted her.

Eula talked non-stop for two hours beside the tombstone. After finishing the last bit of wine from her water bag, she wiped her lips and gently touched the tombstone.

With a deep sigh, she left the cemetery in silence.

Upon arriving at the Knights' residence, Eula knocked on the door and walked into Jean's office.

"Eula, what did you gain from this operation?" Jean asked, looking at Eula with a hint of relief.

Jean's decision to recruit Eula into the Knights of Favonius was one of her few sources of pride. As a noble, Jean had attended many noble banquets in her youth. At one such event, she had heard about Eula and her sister Tsumugi.

Eula Lawrence, despite being from the Lawrence family, was a prodigy in both noble etiquette and swordsmanship. Jean had even sparred with Eula once, and though Eula used the West Wind swordsmanship—which was not particularly strong in combat—they had tied. Eula's qualities as a knight were undeniable. The only tragedy was her family background.

If Eula had not been born into the Lawrence family, she could have become a respected and selfless Knight of Favonius. Jean always felt sorry for her.

Although Jean's own family, the Gunnhildr, were rivals to the Lawrences, Jean had attended Eula's coming-of-age ceremony, making her familiar with Eula's potential.

When Eula broke away from the Lawrence family, Jean seized the opportunity. As the vice-captain of the Knights of Favonius, she was able to recommend new members. Jean immediately went to the headquarters to offer Eula a position.

However, when Jean finally saw Eula again, she was shocked by the drastic change. Eula was like a lifeless statue, hunched in a corner, lost in thought. Her depression was palpable.

Jean learned that on the day Eula left the Lawrence family, Tsumugi had gone after her but had died fighting monsters. This tragedy had left Eula in a state of despair, making it difficult to persuade her to join the Knights.

Fortunately, the people of Mondstadt, seeing Eula's condition, supported her joining the Knights. They felt Jean's decision to offer Eula a position was compassionate. Despite some opposition, the pressure was less than Jean had feared.

Ultimately, with Amber's help, Eula agreed to join the Knights of Favonius, although reluctantly.

Jean's judgment proved accurate. Even under the simulation's influence, Eula, despite her indifference to the Knights, performed her duties effectively and became the captain of the Reconnaissance Company.

"...This is the summary of the operation. What other tasks do you have for me?" Eula asked, her tone almost mechanical.

Eula had become a workaholic, not out of passion for her duties but to avoid staying in Mondstadt.

Jean smiled faintly. "I have a mission for you, but it doesn't require you to leave Mondstadt. This morning, the envoys from Inazuma arrived. I need you to transfer 5 million Mora from the Knights' warehouse to them. As for their hotel, we don't have that information, so you'll need to find out. If possible, you might also show them around Mondstadt."

"I understand." Eula nodded and headed for the door. Just as her hand touched the handle, Jean called out.

"Also, the Inazuma envoys don't know much about Mondstadt's history, so... try to make friends with them."

Eula paused, then replied after a long silence, "You're just the acting leader of the Knights of Favonius. Are you trying to interfere in my personal relationships? Humph, I'll remember this grudge!"

With that, Eula left Jean's office without looking back.