The last rays of the setting sun reluctantly left the blades of the tallest windmill in Mondstadt, ceding the sky entirely to the indigo night and the rising stars.
Skirk stood before a magnificent building, looking up at the gilded sign on the lintel—
Goth Grand Hotel.
“Whoa, as expected of one of the most high-end hotels in Mondstadt.”
She muttered under her breath.
The building before her was brightly lit; through the massive floor-to-ceiling glass windows, she could see an elegant environment and waiters in neat uniforms bustling about.
This was worlds apart from the cold, guarded atmosphere when it was occupied by the Fatui later on, which allowed her to breathe a small sigh of relief—
It seems the main storyline isn’t that close yet.
Perfect, let me develop properly!
The reason she was standing here was all because of yesterday’s night, which could be described as’social death plus.’
When Eula Lawrence, that ice-blue Spindrift Knight, pushed open Amber’s door covered in dust and worry, the sight she saw—Skirk herself, wearing Amber’s pajamas, fresh out of the bath with a head of messy, wet hair—
Its impact was probably no less than seeing an Abyss Herald doing square dancing.
Thinking back now, Skirk could still clearly recall Eula’s instantly Frozen expression, the shock and disbelief churning in her ice-blue eyes, and a hint of…
immense loss, as if her ‘home had been stolen’?
That look could practically freeze a person into an ice sculpture.
The scene that followed was once extremely awkward.
Eula’s questioning carried the characteristic cold hardness of the Lawrence family and a trace of imperceptible hurt; Amber explained in a frantic rush, while Skirk…
Well, at that moment, she wished she could perform an Abyss Teleportation on the spot and just run right out of Teyvat.
Fortunately, Amber’s sincerity and Skirk’s dazed look as an ‘amnesiac Damselette’ (most of which was real!) eventually cleared up the misunderstanding.
After Eula figured out the situation, that cold hardness was quickly replaced by an emotion mixed with immense embarrassment and shame, and a rare blush even appeared on her fair cheeks.
She very solemnly apologized to Skirk for her previous loss of composure and aggressiveness.
To express her apology and welcome, this Spindrift Knight, famous for ‘holding grudges,’ took the initiative to invite Amber and Skirk to have dinner together at the Goth Grand Hotel.
Thus, Skirk was having her first experience of a ‘high-end social gathering’ at this moment.
“Skirk!
Have you been waiting long?”
Amber’s energetic voice rang out.
She had changed out of her knight’s uniform and was wearing a set of crisp red-and-white casual clothes, running over like a warm little sun.
Beside her was the tall and upright Eula.
She had also changed out of her knight’s armor and was wearing a well-tailored deep blue formal dress that outlined her graceful curves.
Her sky-blue hair draped softly behind her shoulders, and her ice-blue eyes looked much softer under the hotel’s brilliant lights, though a hint of imperceptible bashfulness still remained deep in her gaze when she looked at Skirk.
“No, no, I just arrived too.”
Skirk shook her head quickly, trying her best not to look like a ‘country bumpkin.’
Eula nodded slightly, her voice cool but sincere:
“Miss Skirk, thank you for coming.
Please, come in.”
She handed over an exquisite meal voucher printed with the Goth family crest.
Stepping into the Goth Grand Hotel, Skirk felt as if she had walked into another world.
Beneath her feet was thick, soft carpeting, and the air was filled with a faint floral scent and the aroma of high-end incense.
Melodious classical music flowed almost imperceptibly.
A waiter politely led them to an elegant window seat, outside of which were the brilliant lights of Mondstadt’s thousands of homes.
After being seated, Skirk curiously looked over the dish names on the menu, written in ornate script, which she had only seen in game loading screens.
“Don’t be formal, Miss Skirk,”
Eula seemed to see her constraint and spoke up, her voice gentler than usual,
“The ‘Pan-Seared Mondstadt Bass with Windwheel Aster Butter Sauce’ here is very delicious, and the ‘Slow-Roasted Wild Boar Ribs with Sunsettia Jam’ is also a signature dish.
Or…
try the ‘Mushroom Cream Soup with Crispy Croutons’ as an appetizer?”
Amber added from the side:
“For dessert, the ‘Honey-Stewed Mille-Feuille’ and ‘Berry Mousse’ are both super great!”
Under Eula and Amber’s recommendations, Skirk ordered the pan-seared bass and the Mushroom cream soup, plus a serving of Berry Mousse.
“A fragrant seared Fish, isn’t it?”
Amber ordered the ribs, while Eula chose the more refined ‘Springvale Lamb Chops with Mint Pesto.’
When the exquisitely plated dishes were elegantly presented by the waiter, Skirk’s eyes lit up.
The appetizer, Mushroom Cream Soup, was served in an exquisite white porcelain bowl; the milky-white soup was rich and silky, topped with golden-brown crispy croutons and a few green herb leaves.
Using a silver spoon to take a sip, the fresh aroma of Mushrooms instantly exploded on the tip of her tongue, mixing with the richness of the cream and the freshness of the herbs, warming her stomach comfortably.
The main course, Pan-Seared Bass, was even more stunning.
The Fish skin was seared to a golden crisp, making a slight ‘crunch’ sound, while the Fish meat was white and tender, almost melting in her mouth.
The Windwheel Aster butter sauce drizzled over it had an indescribable fragrance, as if it concentrated the flavors of the Mondstadt wilderness, perfectly complementing the freshness of the Fish without any fishiness.
The side dishes were perfectly roasted small potatoes and asparagus, which had absorbed the essence of the sauce and were equally delicious.
Amber’s ribs were a generous portion, roasted to a fragrant char and drizzled with sweet and sour Sunsettia jam; the meat fell off the bone with a gentle touch of the knife and fork, and the aroma of meat mixed with fruit was mouth-watering.
Eula’s lamb chops were more delicate, the meat tender and juicy, paired with a Mint pesto that brought a touch of refreshing coolness, balancing the fattiness of the lamb.
“Mmm…
so delicious!”
Skirk ate with her eyes narrowed in delight, temporarily forgetting all her troubles and awkwardness, fully immersing herself in the happiness brought by the food.
She even secretly dipped her fork into some of the Sunsettia jam on Amber’s plate; that rich sweet and sour taste made her unable to resist eating two more bites of Fish.
“[Ding!
Detected the host’s immersive enjoyment of top-tier Teyvat cuisine!
‘Stomach of the Abyss’ achievement progress +10!
(๑´ڡ`๑)]” The system screen popped up at the right time.
“Shut up, don’t disturb my meal!” Skirk protested internally.
The post-meal dessert was Berry Mousse.
The mousse was as delicate as a cloud, with a layer of sweet and sour fresh Berry jam, paired with a crispy biscuit base at the bottom; the texture was rich and layered, sweet but not cloying, bringing a perfect end to this sumptuous dinner.
Under the catalyst of fine food, the dining atmosphere became relaxed and harmonious.
Amber chattered away, sharing interesting stories from the day’s patrol, and Eula would occasionally chime in, her tone much softer than usual, with a shallow smile in her ice-blue eyes.
When the last bite of mousse disappeared into Skirk’s mouth and she satisfiedly put down her small spoon, Eula sat up straight and looked at her seriously with her ice-blue eyes.
“Miss Skirk,”
Eula’s voice carried a hint of solemnity,
“Once again, I apologize to you for my rudeness last night.
I…
I was a bit…
well, overly agitated at the time.”
She didn’t seem used to speaking so bluntly, and the tips of her ears turned slightly red,
“I hope it didn’t cause you too much trouble.
This dinner is both an apology for my previous offense and a sincere welcome to Mondstadt.”
Looking at Eula’s serious yet slightly awkward manner, the last bit of resentment in Skirk’s heart vanished.
This Spindrift Knight has a sharp tongue but a soft heart; she’s quite cute!
She quickly waved her hands, a sincere smile appearing on her face:
“Miss Eula is too polite!
Last night’s situation was indeed a bit…
uh, dramatic.
It’s good that the misunderstanding is cleared up!
And this meal was really super great!
Thank you!”
It might not seem tempting right now but who knows what the future holds?
“And If you’re enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!”