Chapter 31

"How are Klee and Famas?"

This was the first question Jean asked after waking up in bed.

Jean raised her hands, stretched lazily, and then looked at the sunlight streaming through the stained glass windows of the Favonius Cathedral, casting colorful patterns on the floor.

"They're both reflecting in the newly repaired Confinement Room," Barbara said gently by Jean's bedside. Kaeya stood nearby, watching Jean with concern, and let out a slow sigh of relief as he saw the Acting Grand Master fully conscious.

"Repaired so quickly? How long have I been asleep?" Jean asked with a hint of suspicion.

"Two days. It was Mondstadt's Chief Alchemist, Albedo, who handled the repairs..." Kaeya, who had been standing by the door, walked over to Jean's bedside, holding a thick stack of papers about the width of a palm.

"These are the cases and documents that piled up during the two days you were asleep. Lisa and I tried to handle some of them, but there are still many urgent matters we couldn't make decisions on."

Kaeya handed the stack of documents to Jean, who looked at them with a resigned expression from her hospital bed.

"Ah, Albedo... That explains it..."

"And here's the bill for the repairs to the Knights of Favonius headquarters, along with the wages for Albedo and the various craftsmen..."

Kaeya kept pulling out various receipts and proofs from his pockets, making Barbara frown deeply.

"Captain Kaeya, Acting Grand Master Jean is still a patient and needs rest!"

Barbara, who was holding Jean's hand by the bedside, almost wanted to push Kaeya away as he kept producing more papers. She secretly scolded him in her heart for being so inconsiderate.

"It's alright. Captain Kaeya has been handling a lot these past two days, hasn't he?"

Jean gently took the stack of documents from Kaeya. She knew how busy the Knights of Favonius were, and during her two days of "rest," Kaeya must have dealt with countless registrations, permits, trade documents, and financial reports.

"Thank you for your hard work."

Jean thanked Kaeya, while Barbara pouted and lowered her head.

Jean reached out and patted Barbara's head.

After the work handover, Kaeya tactfully left the room.

Once Kaeya closed the door, Jean turned her attention to the petite, adorable figure in front of her.

Dressed in a pure white dress, her golden hair naturally cascaded down, tied into two lively pigtails. She wore a hat symbolizing the Mondstadt Cathedral, and her porcelain-doll-like face exuded a unique charm and vivacity.

Just standing in front of her could lift the spirits of even the most somber heart.

"Be good, Barbara."

Jean smiled and held Barbara's small hand.

Barbara, the Deaconess of the Mondstadt Cathedral.

Her father was the famous adventurer Simon Pegg, now known as the "Dawn Cardinal," the head of the Favonius Church. When Grand Master Varka led the elite Knights of Favonius to the mountains to subdue monsters, Barbara, as a church member, accompanied them.

But there was more to Barbara.

She was also Jean's younger sister.

Barbara Gunnhildr and Jean Gunnhildr.

The Gunnhildr family was a long-standing knightly family, with origins tracing back to the early days of New Mondstadt. As a direct descendant of this family, Jean's lineage came not from her father, Simon, but from her mother.

However, due to certain events in their childhood, their parents went their separate ways. Jean, who stayed with their mother, lost contact with the young Barbara. After a long time, Simon brought Barbara into the Favonius Church, where she rose to a high position. But perhaps because of their parents' strained relationship, even after the sisters reunited, their bond became somewhat awkward.

Jean clearly wanted to say something to get closer to her sister, but seeing Barbara's evasive gaze, she couldn't find the words.

"Acting Grand Master Jean, do you still have work to do?"

The sisters never addressed each other as family, always using names or titles instead.

"Yes."

Jean, who practically single-handedly supported the entire Knights of Favonius, didn't know what to say either and simply responded gently.

Their way of communicating was rather clumsy.

"Then, that guy Famas... he set the Knights of Favonius headquarters on fire and caused you to faint..."

"I know."

Barbara clenched her small hands tightly.

"Then why...?"

"He's a guest of Mondstadt. He's just arrived and might not be familiar with this era... this era of peace with undercurrents of turmoil."

After all, Barbara was someone who brought joy to Mondstadt. As the sisters chatted aimlessly, Famas and Klee, who had been "repenting" in the Confinement Room for two days—or rather, resting—were now planning their escape.

"So, Klee, want to go out and play?"

Famas knew Jean had just wanted to rest and had faked fainting. After two days in the Confinement Room, he figured Jean must have woken up by now, and he was ready to stir up some trouble again.

"Go out and play!" At these words, Klee, who had been bored for two days, visibly perked up. But then she hesitated.

"But Brother Kaeya said Klee has to stay in the Confinement Room and can't leave... Klee also made Acting Grand Master Jean faint..."

"It's fine, Klee."

Famas coaxed her gently.

"Look, I can turn into pure Pyro Element and take you out. As long as neither of us says anything, there won't be any traces left!"

Famas glanced at the newly repaired door made from Frostbearing Tree roots.

Ancient Wisdom: Nothing can contain the God of Flame.

Famas sneered at the Confinement Room door.

"R-really?!" Klee gulped, her eyes darting toward the door. It was the same look Paimon had when she saw delicious food.

Sensing Klee's longing, Famas leaned in close to her ear and whispered, "Come on, come on, feel the darkness in your heart, and join me in the realm of shadows... Let's go out and blow up some fish!"

He almost slipped up.

Famas's words were like a demon's whisper, lingering in Klee's ears until the two of them slipped out of the Confinement Room unnoticed and left Mondstadt. By the time Klee fully realized what had happened, it was already too late.

A/n - Read chapters ahead on my patreon.com/nneol