"Why did I wake up in Gunnhild's house? What happened last night?" Eula asked Leon, completely confused.
When she woke up, she found herself staring at an unfamiliar ceiling. And only a few steps after leaving the room, she bumped into Jean and Barbara—both members of the Gunnhild family.
To be honest, the situation was a bit awkward.
After all, the Lawrence family and the Gunnhild family had always been in conflict.
If not for Leon's intervention, the two sisters' families would have already been wiped out.
"You were drunk last night, Eula. I wanted to send you home but had no idea where you lived, so I temporarily rented you a room here at Jean's place. Don't worry. It's time to explain the situation to them."
Leon ate the breakfast Barbara had prepared, replenishing the energy he had spent with the two sisters the night before.
Although the taste didn't compare to the meals prepared by the professional maids in his castle, the affection Barbara put into it could be considered the finest seasoning.
"As for what happened last night while I was drunk… Eula, there are many things in this world that are better not known."
"Okay, okay, I won't ask anything." Eula wisely chose not to pry.
Her last memory before the blackout came back to her. She seemed to have kissed Leon.
Combined with the dream she had had afterward, she simply couldn't bring herself to look directly at him.
"Miss Eula, I heard about you from His Highness. I'm really sorry. If I had known sooner, I could've helped," Jean said apologetically.
Although she still held resentment toward the Lawrence family, Jean wasn't irrational, nor would she direct that resentment at the innocent Eula.
Jean even felt guilty.
As the acting Grand Master of Mondstadt, she had allowed such a situation to occur. She truly felt unprepared—and unworthy of the trust Leon placed in her.
"It's fine, really. I don't care what others say. Miss Gunnhild, you don't need to blame yourself. Besides, considering the relationship between our families, the fact that you haven't insulted me even once already proves you're a good person."
Eula shook her head as she spoke.
Given her current civilian status, if Jean had held any grudge, Eula would not have survived in Mondstadt for long.
Honestly, she was barely managing as it was.
"And you can call me Eula. Whatever positions we held before, at least now we stand on the same side."
"All right then—please call me Jean."
Jean and Eula shook hands, and both realized the same thing at the same time:
This person is really nice. I can get along with her!
Despite their completely different personalities and appearances, they both emanated a similar elegance—likely a result of the strict upbringing they had received in their families.
"By the way, want to train with me? I've been wanting to see the Gunnhild family's swordsmanship for a long time."
"I'm also very interested in the Lawrence family's sword traditions."
Seeing the two of them acting like best friends already, Leon and Barbara were slightly surprised.
"Barbara, your sister doesn't have many friends, does she?"
"Yeah, that's true. But Miss Eula is probably the same."
"Well, looks like they hit it off. Haha, seems we're about to watch a great show."
Leon narrowed his eyes and took a bite of his sandwich, smiling in anticipation—he loved watching women fight.
---
In the mansion's backyard.
Leon and Barbara were seated on the bleachers.
Eula and Jean stood in the open courtyard, wooden swords in hand.
"Who do you think will win, Your Highness?"
Barbara asked curiously.
Leon thought for a moment before answering.
"Well… Jean will probably lose."
"Huh? But my sister—"
Leon predicted her defeat before the match even began. Barbara felt a spark of dissatisfaction, but knowing how rarely Leon's predictions were wrong, she quickly fell silent.
Leon raised his hand and gently patted her head.
This adorable girl had given him wonderful moments. She was completely different from her sister—delicate and fragile—making Leon want to protect her… but also wanting to make her cry and suffer.
There were still faint traces of last night on her.
"Don't worry, Jean won't lose because she's weak. It's because… she isn't in good condition."
"Huh?"
Barbara blinked, then looked toward the two women already clashing.
To her amazement, Eula's swordsmanship wasn't inferior to Jean's at all.
In fact, not only her—
Even Leon beside her, and Jean herself during the fight, were shocked by Eula's strength.
"What beautiful swordsmanship!" ×3
The three exclaimed in unison.
A moment earlier, Leon simply wanted to enjoy a good show. But now, he had changed his mind. He was fully focused on admiring the blue-haired girl's elegant sword dance.
Compared to Leon's supreme swordsmanship, Eula's was still inferior…
But in terms of elegance, she was the clear victor.
"Interesting… very interesting. She truly blends dance with swordsmanship. Her posture isn't just graceful—she actually amplifies her strike power with it. She's more skilled than I expected."
"To think such beautiful swordsmanship exists…"
Barbara blinked in awe. It was the most exquisite swordplay she had ever seen. It didn't look like a battle, but like a dancer performing a magnificent dance.
After pondering for a moment, Leon understood the essence of Eula's style.
"So that's it. She fused her family's inherited dance into her swordsmanship, making her movements rhythmic, smooth, and unpredictable. It not only boosts power, but also enhances the beauty of the performance."
The Lawrence family had once been noble and famous for both their dance and sword arts. Particularly in dance, they were said to be the most elegant in the entire Kingdom of Palettia.
What Eula had incorporated into her swordsmanship made it graceful and beautiful—the dance of the soul once taught only to the eldest daughter of the Lawrence family.
But now, the artistic quality that belonged solely to dance—the indescribable beauty of rhythm and cadence—flowed within Eula's bladework.
Her footsteps were poised and graceful.
Her slender, elegant figure moved as if dancing beneath the moonlight: distant, perfect, unattainable.
"Excellent!"
Leon couldn't contain his excitement and applauded.
And when Eula, still locked in combat, heard Leon's applause, the corners of her lips rose unconsciously—and her sword dance grew even more beautiful and powerful.
Jean was under heavy pressure, but…
"Eula, you're amazing. It's my first time seeing such beautiful swordsmanship, but I won't give up easily."
"I don't want to lose in front of the prince. I want to show him my feelings."
---
(End of chapter)