Jean’s gaze settled back onto Soren.
That look resembled silk soaked in warm water, soft enough to smother every ounce of resistance within him.
She slowly walked to the bedside.
The hem of her skirt brushed across the floor, carrying faint whispers of wind so quiet they were nearly inaudible, as though she feared disturbing him.
Leaning down, she sat beside him.
The mattress dipped slightly.
Her cool palm rested against Soren’s shoulder.
The movement was unbearably slow, like touching a fragile porcelain doll.
Though her fingertips bore the strength of someone long accustomed to wielding a sword, she deliberately softened that force, rhythmically patting his back again and again.
The pace and pressure were unmistakably the way one soothed a child to sleep.
Even the sensation of her palm brushing across the fabric carried an almost obsessive tenderness.
“Good boy.”
Her voice lowered impossibly soft.
Mixed with the distant turning of windmills outside the window, it sounded like a hypnotic lullaby.
“It’s time for your afternoon nap now.
You didn’t sleep well yesterday, so you need to make up for it today.
Otherwise, your injuries won’t heal properly.”
Soren’s body remained stiff.
He could clearly feel the warmth of her palm seeping through the thin fabric of his clothes.
Even the mint scent carried in her breath wrapped tightly around him, making even the smallest movement feel unbearably heavy.
The pink heart at the tip of his tail trembled faintly against the bedsheets from lingering fear.
Jean’s other hand gently pressed down upon it.
“Don’t be nervous.”
Jean’s thumb softly stroked the fur at the tail tip, satisfaction slowly blooming within her eyes.
“I’ll stay right here.
Once you’re asleep, I’ll go to the study and find that illustrated copy of Records of Teyvat’s Scenery for you.
It has the Anemo Archon’s statue and windmills you like in it.
I can read it to you this afternoon, alright?”
Her hand never stopped patting his back.
Suddenly, her gaze drifted toward Soren’s wrist, where soft ribbons tied him to the bedframe.
She had chosen those ribbons personally.
Pale purple silk.
Soft enough not to injure his skin, while strong enough to firmly restrain every impulse he had to struggle.
Seeing that Soren remained silent, she leaned closer.
Warm breath brushed past his ear.
“See?
I even picked out picture books for you already.
From now on, every day can be like this.
All you need to do is lie here obediently, listen to me read stories to you, and let me take care of you.
Wouldn’t that be nice?”
Soren kept his eyes shut.
His throat tightened.
Even so, he didn’t dare argue.
“Sleep now.”
Jean’s voice softened further.
Even the force of her pats grew gentler.
“I’ll stay here watching over you.
And when you wake up, there’ll be warm milk and picture books waiting for you.
From now on, every day will be like this.
I’ll never let you suffer again.”
Her fingertips still rested against Soren’s tail like an invisible anchor, firmly pinning down every trace of resistance.
Outside the window, the sunlight gradually tilted westward.
The patches of light slipping through the curtain gap slowly shifted, illuminating Jean’s gentle profile.
Soren lowered his head and tightly shut his eyes.
His body trembled faintly.
I can’t stay like this… I have to escape.
I need to find a way out.
Soren buried his face into the pillow and pretended his breathing was gradually evening out.
Even the trembling of his tail tip was deliberately suppressed.
He knew Jean was still watching him.
That focused gaze pierced into his back like needles.
Any unusual movement would immediately be noticed.
Jean continued patting his back for a very long time.
Only after confirming he had “fallen asleep” did she slowly rise to her feet.
Her footsteps were as quiet as a cat’s.
Soren could hear her walking toward the bedside cabinet.
The soft rustling of notebook pages turning.
The scratching sound of pen against paper.
She was probably recording how “smoothly” he had fallen asleep.
After a while, the door gently clicked shut.
The sound of footsteps gradually faded down the hallway.
Only then did Soren abruptly open his eyes.
His back was already drenched in cold sweat.
How am I supposed to escape?
And even if I do escape… what then?
Soren’s thoughts raced desperately.
Then suddenly, he recalled Jean’s earlier behavior.
Her heart really does seem filled with this twisted maternal love… She probably needs my approval.
It’s humiliating, but this is the only thing I can do.
The fingertips clutching the bedsheets turned pale.
The pink heart at the end of his tail still trembled uncontrollably.
He knew how absurd this decision was…
But the splint on his left leg.
The soft yet unbreakable ribbons around his wrists.
And the madness constantly simmering within Jean’s eyes.
All of it forced him to seize this one and only “opportunity.”
Outside the window, the wind chimes suddenly rang.
Mixed with the distant battle cries of Knights of Favonius training, the sound brought a fleeting trace of ordinary life into the sealed room.
Soren drew in a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.
His fingertips unconsciously brushed against the edge of the pillow.
The lingering mint scent Jean left behind there had now become the most important “bait” in his plan.
After an unknown amount of time passed, the door hinge creaked softly.
Jean walked back inside carrying a tray.
Upon it rested a small bowl of sliced Sweet Flower Candied Fruit and a neatly folded piece of velvet cloth.
The moment she approached the bedside, she saw Soren awake.
The usual resistance in his eyes had vanished.
Instead, there lingered timid dependence.
Like a rain-soaked kitten finally willing to approach someone.
“Awake?”
Light gleamed in Jean’s eyes instantly.
She set down the tray and hurried to the bedside.
Just as her fingertips were about to touch Soren’s cheek, he gently grabbed her hand instead.
His palm was cold as ice.
Regardless, he proactively rubbed against her palm.
Jean’s breathing abruptly hitched.
Wild joy spread through her silver-blue eyes at once.
Even the hand holding his began trembling.
“Y-You touched me on your own?”
Soren lowered his lashes.
His voice was soft as a mosquito’s hum.
Yet the tip of his tail quietly curled around Jean’s wrist.
The movement carried deliberate affection.
The soft fluffy touch nearly melted her heart.
“Jean… Grand Master Jean…”
He intentionally paused.
Allowing the grievance in his tone to deepen.
“This afternoon’s picture book… could you read the story ‘The Promise Beneath the Anemo Archon’s Statue’?
You mentioned it yesterday, and… I kind of want to hear it.”
Those words struck Jean’s heart perfectly like candy.
Earlier, she had only casually mentioned the contents of the book.
Despite that, he had remembered it.
And had even asked her for it on his own initiative.
In Jean’s eyes, this was the greatest proof possible of “dependency.”
She immediately sat beside the bed.
Her free hand gently stroked Soren’s hair.
Her voice grew so tender it almost dripped sweetness.
“Of course.
I’ll read you anything you want.”
Secretly glancing upward, Soren saw the obsession in Jean’s eyes deepen even further.
Only then did he continue.
His voice carried carefully feigned vulnerability.
“But… lying here is a little uncomfortable.
I want to lean against you while listening.
Is that okay?”
He intentionally paused again.
The tip of his tail tightened more firmly around her wrist.
“Like… like a child leaning against their Mama’s arms…”
The moment the word “Mama” left his lips, Jean’s entire body froze.
Then, in the very next instant, she pulled him fiercely into her arms.
The force was so strong it felt as though she wanted to crush him into her very bones.
Her chin pressed against the top of his head, her breathing rapid as though she were desperately suppressing overwhelming excitement.
“Good… good, of course!
I’ll hold you while we read, then you won’t get tired!”
Soren could barely breathe from how tightly she held him, yet he didn’t dare struggle.
He shrank a bit deeper into her embrace, his fingertips lightly clutching the corner of her clothes.
“Grand Master Jean… don’t hold me so tightly.
It hurts a little.”
Jean immediately loosened her grip somewhat.
Still, she kept him firmly wrapped in her arms, gently patting his back.
Her movements were even softer than when she had soothed him to sleep earlier.
“I’m sorry.
I was just too happy and didn’t notice my strength.”
She lowered her gaze toward the pale side of Soren’s face resting in her arms, along with the heart-shaped tail obediently curled around her wrist.
The possessiveness in her eyes nearly overflowed.
“One day, you’ll rely all on me.”
Resting against her chest, Soren could clearly smell the mint fragrance clinging to her body.
He could also feel the frantic pounding of her heart.
He knew this gamble had worked.
Right now, Jean’s mind was consumed by the joy of believing he had finally begun depending on her.
Her vigilance had dropped to its lowest point.
Quietly, Soren brushed his fingertips against the ribbons tied to the bedframe.
The knot was a slipknot.
Earlier, for the convenience of “taking care” of him, Jean had intentionally not tied it too tightly.
It had only been symbolic restraint.
While softly listening to Jean describe the picture book, Soren slowly worked the slipknot loose with careful fingertips.
His movements were so faint they barely made a sound.
Jean didn’t notice at all.
She simply continued lowering her head to tell him details from the book, occasionally brushing his cheek with her fingertips.
“Look at the Anemo Archon’s statue here.
If the weather’s good tomorrow, I can push you there in a wheelchair to see it.
It’s right outside the Knights of Favonius headquarters, very close by.”
Soren’s heart stirred.
He deliberately forced anticipation into his expression.
“Really?
I can go see the Anemo Archon’s statue?”
He knew that as long as he could leave this room, even under Jean’s watch, it would still be better than remaining trapped in this tiny space.
Seeing his excitement, Jean immediately nodded.
She even pressed a kiss against the top of his head.
“Of course you can.
When have I ever lied to you?
Once your leg gets a little better, I’ll take you all around Mondstadt.
We’ll go see the windmills and pick Wolfhooks together, alright?”
Soren quickly nodded.
By now, he had already completely loosened the slipknot around his wrist.
At last, his hand could move freely again.
Suppressing the wild joy surging inside him, he continued pretending to depend on her and curled himself deeper into her embrace.
“Grand Master Jean’s so kind… I’m a little thirsty.
I want to drink that mint tea you made before.”
“Alright, I’ll make some for you.
I’ll be right back.”
Though Jean hated letting him go, she still carefully laid him back onto the bed.
After tucking the blanket around him, she even stroked his tail before standing.
“Stay here obediently.
I’ll be back very soon, so no moving around, alright?”
Soren nodded and watched Jean quickly leave the room.
She even deliberately left the door slightly open, probably afraid he would feel scared and wanting him to still see movement outside.
The instant the door closed, Soren’s whole expression changed.
All the earlier weakness and submissive affection vanished.
Quickly, he untied the ribbon around his other wrist.
Then, enduring the agonizing pain in his left leg, he used his uninjured right leg to support himself as he slowly moved toward the edge of the bed.
The splint restricted his movement, but it hadn’t fully immobilized him.
Earlier, for the convenience of “taking care” of him, Jean also hadn’t restrained him too tightly.
Just as he managed to stand while supporting himself against the wall, footsteps suddenly echoed through the hallway.
Jean had returned with the tea unbelievably fast.
Panic surged through Soren.
He immediately hid behind the door and held his breath.
The door swung open.
Jean walked in carrying a teacup.
The moment she saw the empty bed, her expression instantly changed.
Terror exploded inside her silver-blue eyes.
“Soren?
Soren, where are you?!”
Her voice trembled violently.
The teacup in her hands nearly slipped free.
Just as she turned to rush outside, Soren suddenly slammed into her from behind the door.
Using all his strength, he knocked the teacup from her hands.
The sharp sound of shattering porcelain rang piercingly throughout the quiet room.
“Soren!
How dare you hide from me?!”
Jean’s expression shifted from panic into fury in a blink.
She reached out to grab him.
But Soren had already prepared himself.
Turning immediately, he ran toward the window.
Though the room’s window had bars, there was still enough space for a person to squeeze through.
He had carefully observed it many times before.
Enduring the agonizing pain in his left leg, he scrambled onto the windowsill with both hands and feet.
Behind him came Jean’s furious scream.
“Get back here!
You can’t leave me!”
Soren glanced back once.
Jean was charging toward him like someone insane.
The madness in her eyes made his scalp go numb.
He didn’t dare hesitate any longer.
He immediately leapt from the windowsill.
Fortunately, the room was only on the first floor, and soft grass covered the ground below.
Though the pain shooting through his left leg nearly made him black out, he still forced himself back up and limped desperately into the distance.
Behind him echoed Jean’s heartbroken scream.
“Soren, why are you running away?
Is it because I still haven’t taken good enough care of you?!”
Soren didn’t dare look back.
Enduring the agony, he ran with everything he had.
The heart-shaped tail at the end of him trembled constantly from fear and pain, yet he still gritted his teeth and forced himself forward.
Because he knew…
If he got caught this time, Jean would never treat him this “gently” again.
What awaited him would only be even stricter imprisonment.
Or perhaps truly having his other leg broken as well.