"Hehe~ Are you surprised? It seems this operation went smoothly, successfully conveying our feelings to Acting Grand Master Jean."
Seeing Acting Grand Master Jean's bewildered expression, Amber, by the dining table, smiled contentedly.
"Operation? What exactly is going on? Didn't you have something to tell me, Kaeya?"
Acting Grand Master Jean clutched her head. She still hadn't quite processed what was happening and could only look at the person who had asked her to come, asking him what this was all about.
"This is everyone's sentiment, Acting Grand Master. It's rare to have a day off, so why not take this opportunity for a party and have some fun?"
"That's right, Acting Grand Master Jean works so hard, bearing so much work all by herself. She even got sick from exhaustion, so everyone specially prepared this 'Comfort Party' for you."
With everyone's explanations, Acting Grand Master Jean finally understood what was going on. Feeling everyone's sincerity, Acting Grand Master Jean was uncharacteristically shy.
No, it couldn't be said to be uncharacteristic, because her way of relaxing outside of work was to read Damselette novels. Despite her usual majestic demeanor, she was actually just a nineteen-year-old Damselette.
Durandal stood in the corner, watching everything. Seeing Acting Grand Master Jean, cared for and loved by everyone, her expression softened slightly.
While everyone else's attention was focused on Acting Grand Master Jean, Durandal intended to leave, but before she could walk out of Angel's Share, someone stopped her.
"Where are you going, Durandal? Aren't you going to stay and celebrate with everyone?"
"This is your party; it has nothing to do with me."
She did not belong to Mondstadt, nor to the Knights of Favonius. This party was clearly an internal banquet of the Knights of Favonius, with only people related to the Knights of Favonius participating.
Durandal did not belong to this group, nor did she intend to shamelessly join. She planned to return to Cape Oath, her own little world.
But Lumine clearly didn't want Durandal to leave just like that. She keenly sensed Durandal's intention and grabbed her hand.
Durandal and Lumine's actions attracted the attention of others. The crowd, who had just been focused on Acting Grand Master Jean, noticed Durandal's presence.
Because of Durandal's performance during this period, most of the Knights of Favonius members present knew who she was. Aside from a few who only met her today, others had seen her more or less during patrols.
Feeling the gazes of others, Durandal exerted a slight force, trying to break free from Lumine's hand.
This fellow directly reached out with both hands, making it impossible for Durandal to easily break free without a major movement.
"Sister Durandal!"
Klee, noticing Durandal, excitedly ran over and threw himself into Durandal's arms, hugging her waist tightly.
"Hehe~ Is Sister Durandal also here for the party?"
"No, I'm not..."
She was just here to watch, to prevent Acting Grand Master Jean from being dragged back into tedious affairs.
"Please stay, Durandal... *cough*! Miss Durandal. You've helped so many residents with incurable diseases during this time. Consider this the Knights of Favonius's thanks to you; please join this party."
Acting Grand Master Jean was troubled about how to repay Durandal. Now that there was finally an opportunity to reciprocate, Acting Grand Master Jean did not want to miss it.
"I did all that because I wanted to; I never expected any reward."
"Precisely because of that, it's even more necessary for us to express our gratitude to you."
Preacher Barbara of the Church of Favonius stepped out and said, "Among the people you've healed, many were incurable. Although the Church of Favonius tried its best to do something for them, it only alleviated their pain."
As a Preacher of the Church of Favonius, Barbara faces various patients every day. Besides those with normal injuries, there are also patients whose conditions cannot be healed even with the power of a Vision.
Whenever the families of those patients looked at her with hopeful eyes, Barbara felt terrible. She was unable to heal them and could only watch them suffer and grieve.
Durandal's appearance changed all of that. Those whose lives were once bleak regained hope. Seeing the smiles return to their faces, Barbara was truly happy.
She had actually wanted to meet Durandal for a long time, but due to work, she never had the time to find her.
Mondstadt owed her too much gratitude; one party's hospitality was far from enough. Although it was a small gesture, she hoped to do something to show her appreciation.
"Among the people you've healed, some are family members of the Knights of Favonius. Please stay and participate in this party, and give us a chance to express our gratitude, okay?"
Is it to express gratitude? To make herself stay for such a reason? These people... they really know how to come up with reasons.
Not only people she knew, but even the Knights of Favonius she had only met once looked at her expectantly, hoping she would stay and participate in the party.
This was truly... a rare occasion to be wished to stay. In the past, she was someone people prayed to stay far away from them. She didn't expect to receive such treatment.
Facing everyone's gaze, Durandal gently stroked Klee's head and nodded, "I promise you."
Upon hearing this, Klee showed a brilliant smile and pulled Durandal's hand to the table to chat.
Lumine watched this scene with a smile. Although Durandal was only listening to Klee speak, that was already enough. Staying was better than leaving.
"Little Klee has made a contribution. If it weren't for little Klee, Durandal might not have been willing to stay."
It was clear that Durandal truly doted on Klee. A large part of her reason for staying was because of Klee. If it weren't for Klee's assistance, she would most likely have left.
"Mm, she kept mentioning Klee before. Klee is so cute, it's normal for her to dote on Klee."
Klee was already the darling of the Knights of Favonius. Her innocent and cheerful personality easily moved others. It was certain that something had happened between them for Durandal to care so much about her.
The party continued, with Knights of Favonius members who were off today and those who had just finished work rushing over.
Diluc was very considerate today, making all drinks free. Normally, the drinks here were very expensive, and the Knights of Favonius's salary wasn't much, so they had to seize this opportunity to drink as much as possible.
Klee really liked this lively environment, but there were too many adults drinking here, so she couldn't chat with them and could only find Amber and others to play with.
After Klee went to find others, Durandal sat alone at the bar, not knowing what to do.
[Clink]
Just then, a glass suddenly appeared in front of Durandal.
Diluc had poured it for her. Looking at the liquid inside, Durandal knew it was wine.
"I don't like the taste of wine, you should know that."
She had just been entertained last time, and he had forgotten so quickly that she didn't like wine? Or did one have to drink a glass when visiting a tavern?
"This is different from those wines. You'll understand if you try it."
To create this drink, Diluc had spent a lot of time researching. Success or failure depended on Durandal's single word.
A different kind of wine? Even if changes were made, it wouldn't change its essence as wine, would it? What exactly did he want her to try?
Taking a small sip, Durandal unexpectedly opened her eyes, looking at the wine in the glass.
"How is it? Is it different from what I served you last time?"
Durandal nodded, "Not bad. It's an acceptable taste."
Not bad... well, that's a rather reluctant evaluation, but to receive such an evaluation from a God, Diluc was already very satisfied.
To suit Durandal's taste, Diluc had made many adjustments. It was almost outside the scope of alcoholic beverages and had no room for further modification, so he could only work on the flavor.
"Oh my~ Excuse me, may this big sister sit here? Little cutie."
As Durandal enjoyed this rare drink, a slightly lazy voice came, and a woman with a better figure than Jean sat down beside Durandal.
The librarian, Lisa, looked at Durandal with a half-smile, wanting to chat with her, but Durandal didn't even think about looking at her, putting all her attention on the drink in front of her.
Hmm~ This was the first time Lisa had encountered such a situation. Usually, the little darlings who chatted with her, whether male or female, would show some reaction, but Durandal's lack of regard was a first.
"That..."
Lisa was about to say something else when Durandal shot her a look. It was the same indifferent gaze as before, yet Lisa felt a sharp hostility from it.
This truly frightened the Damselette. She felt that if she stayed here any longer, she would probably be in trouble.
Really, what had she done to offend Durandal? She just wanted to have a good chat with this God, why did it fail before it even started?
She should be a kind God, why was she full of hostility towards her? Was her way of striking up a conversation wrong?
Glancing at the departing Lisa, Durandal narrowed her eyes slightly, and an uncomfortable figure appeared in her mind.
"Hulder..."
That despicable woman who had schemed everything. Even though she knew they were completely different people, Lisa's identity as a Damselette made Durandal very uncomfortable.
Phew~ Even after so many years, her hatred for that woman hadn't changed at all. She wondered if that group of Adventurers was still being manipulated by that woman? Had she already achieved her goals with the help of those Adventurers?
No matter what she did, it had nothing to do with her anymore, because that Durandal, the black plague, had already died in the space-time rift.
"What's wrong with you? Why the long face?"
Lumine, who had approached at some point, cupped her cheeks and asked, looking at the frowning Durandal.
It was her first time seeing Durandal like this. Was she dissatisfied with the tavern's environment?
"Nothing, just thinking about something."
"I see."
Lumine and Durandal each held a drink, watching the bustling tavern.
At this moment, Paimon was at the table laden with various foods, wolfing down everything, not even bothering to pay attention to Lumine and Durandal.
Although it was a bit noisy, Lumine didn't dislike this environment. It was lively like this, which was actually not bad, wasn't it?
"What do you think of this atmosphere, Durandal? Do you dislike it?"
Durandal hesitated for a moment, looking at the brilliant smiles on everyone's faces, and shook her head.
"Not bad."
"That's good then."
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