Early the next morning, a series of thump, thump, thump knocks sounded at the door of Elliot's home.
Elliot closed his book and walked out from the study on the third floor.
"I'll get it," Shenhe said gently from the second floor, smiling softly when she saw him.
"Alright."
After responding, Elliot followed her downstairs.
As the door slowly opened, standing there before them was Captain Jean, dressed in casual clothing.
"Jean, how come you have time to visit today?" Shenhe asked, puzzled.
"Isn't your wedding tomorrow? I took the day off just to take you wedding dress shopping. Well? Feel touched?"
It was the first time even Elliot had seen Jean in civilian clothes. Her pale yellow ponytail, usually tied neatly, now draped freely over her shoulder, giving her a much softer appearance than expected.
"Pick... pick a wedding dress..." Shenhe instantly recalled what Elliot had said the night before, and her face flushed bright red.
"Yes, you need a beautiful wedding dress for your wedding. You don't interact with people much, so if I let you choose on your own, I wouldn't feel at ease," Jean explained.
"And as for—"
"Him? Forget it. He's never been married, so he doesn't understand any of this. He's about as clueless as you are."
Seeing Shenhe about to point at Elliot, Jean immediately grabbed her hand and pulled it down, grumbling as she did.
"But Jean, you haven't been married either, have you?"
If not being married meant not understanding weddings, then Jean shouldn't be much more knowledgeable.
"You must remember that I'm the Acting Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius. I may not have married myself, but I've attended over a dozen weddings. I know far more than the two of you."
Hearing this, Shenhe nodded in agreement.
"Alright then, Jean. Please take Shenhe to pick out a wedding dress," Elliot said approvingly.
"What are you talking about? Aren't you coming too? You still need to choose your wedding attire." Jean crossed her arms sternly.
Shenhe also turned to look at him.
Elliot walked to her side, unhurried, and said with a soft smile, "You two go ahead first. I still have a few things to take care of. I'll come over shortly."
The moment he said this, Shenhe grew anxious.
But before she could speak, Elliot placed a hand gently on her cheek and murmured, "Don't worry. It's just a small matter. I'll finish it quickly. There won't be any problems."
"Elliot, this is completely unreasonable! What could possibly be more important than choosing your wedding attire?" Jean scolded, hands on her hips.
"Precisely because we're getting married, I need to settle everything beforehand. Only then can I devote myself wholeheartedly," Elliot explained.
"Can't you put it off? Today—"
"It's alright, Jean. I trust him."
Jean's words were cut short by Shenhe.
Hearing Shenhe's insistence, Jean sighed in frustration. "Shenhe, you spoil him too much! Your wedding is tomorrow, yet he insists on dealing with things today. What if something delays him?"
"It's alright. Elliot said he'll come. I should believe him."
"Fine, fine. Since you insist, I have nothing more to say," Jean conceded helplessly.
"Then let's go... pick... pick the wedding dress," Shenhe said shyly, lifting her gaze toward Elliot. "Make sure to come early, okay?"
"I will. I'll be there as soon as I can." Elliot kissed her forehead gently.
"Alright, that's enough. Let's get going. If we arrive early, we can try more dresses," Jean urged, unable to watch any more.
Soon, Jean led Shenhe away toward Mondstadt.
Elliot watched them leave in silence. Only after they had vanished completely from sight did he turn and depart from the house.
...
Mondstadt.
"Welcome~"
The moment Shenhe and Jean stepped inside the shop, a fresh, pleasant voice greeted them.
"You... you're... Captain Jean?" the shop owner gasped, clearly shocked. She likely had never seen Jean dressed casually before.
"Yes. Hello, Yuna. This is my friend—she's getting married tomorrow, so we came to pick out a wedding dress."
Jean offered a gentle smile, then turned to introduce Shenhe. "This is Yuna, owner of Mondstadt's finest bridal shop. Most couples marrying here choose their wedding gowns and attire from her."
"Hello, I'm Shenhe..." Shenhe still felt uncomfortable around strangers—or perhaps more accurately, fearful.
"Shenhe, you're so beautiful. I'll definitely help you find the most stunning wedding dress," Yuna said warmly.
Her friendly smile immediately eased Shenhe's nerves. Her cheeks, however, turned faintly red—after all, she rarely heard such compliments.
"Th-thank you..." she murmured shyly.
"You're adorable." Watching Shenhe blush with just one compliment left Yuna briefly stunned, then delighted.
"Alright, let's start picking out a wedding dress. This is my first time helping someone choose one," Jean said, sounding unexpectedly excited.
"Perfect. My store has the largest selection of wedding dresses, all handpicked by me. I'm sure we'll find one that suits Shenhe beautifully," Yuna replied enthusiastically.
The three of them began selecting dresses together. Each chose styles they liked, and then they compiled their picks for a second round of filtering.
After several rounds of narrowing down their choices, they finally selected a gown that all three of them loved—and one that suited Shenhe best.