"Then I’ll leave them in your care."
Jean breathed a sigh of relief.
Her own house was certainly large enough, but they had only just met, and bringing an unfamiliar man home with her would admittedly be rather inconvenient.
After watching Eula leave with the Kamisato siblings, Jean returned to her seat and stared at the ceiling, sinking into a brief moment of contemplation.
Dark clouds still hung stubbornly over Mondstadt City, while biting winds howled between the buildings.
When they reached the western district of the city, an elegant Gothic-style residence appeared before them. Even the flowerbeds by the entrance had been meticulously maintained.
Click—
Eula swiftly pulled out her key and opened the front door before turning sideways toward the siblings.
"We’re here. This is my home. Come on in and make yourselves comfortable."
Once inside, Eula casually lit the candelabra on the table before heading to her room to change.
Satoru looked around.
The interior was decorated primarily in warm beige tones, giving the place a clean and cozy atmosphere. There were no particularly extravagant furnishings, though quite a few bottles of fine wine were neatly arranged on the shelves.
A faint, pleasant fragrance lingered in the air.
It certainly had the feel of a home belonging to an accomplished woman living alone.
"This place is pretty comfortable. Though it looks like you don’t spend much time at home."
Satoru rubbed his chin as he offered his assessment.
"As Captain of the Reconnaissance Company, I’m out in the wilderness almost every day. There really aren’t many times in a year when I get to come home."
By then, Eula had already changed out of her heavy knightly attire and into a light-blue silk nightgown.
Some of her usual heroic air had faded, replaced by the fresh, innocent charm of an ordinary girl next door.
For a moment, both Kamisato siblings simply stared.
Glug—
"Want some?"
Eula casually opened a bottle of aged apple cider and elegantly poured some into a wineglass, every movement carrying the refinement of an aristocrat.
"Of course I have to try it. Mondstadt’s wine is famous even in Inazuma. It’d be a waste to come all this way and not have a taste."
"Ayaka, we’re already abroad. Forget all those tedious rules and formalities for once. Just do whatever makes you happy."
Satoru did not stand on ceremony. He poured a glass for himself and another for Ayaka.
The cider had a very low alcohol content and smelled sweet and fruity.
Ayaka hesitated for quite a while before finally taking a tiny sip, like a cautious kitten testing the water.
"Now that’s authentic."
Satoru smacked his lips appreciatively.
The cider went down exceptionally smoothly, filling his mouth with a rich fruity aroma. The alcohol content was probably only around five or six percent, making it particularly easy to drink.
"Ugh... Brother, why are there suddenly so many of you? Even Eula’s swaying around..."
Ayaka’s face instantly turned bright red, and her eyes had already begun losing focus.
The glass in her hand, meanwhile, was completely empty.
Before she could even finish speaking, her body tilted sideways and she collapsed onto the table, immediately falling fast asleep.
"Seriously?"
Satoru slapped a hand against his forehead before looking apologetically at Eula.
"Sorry about that. This is probably Ayaka’s first time drinking alcohol. Could I trouble you to help her back to her room?"
Back in Inazuma, Ayaka had lived an exhausting life.
She constantly had to maintain the perfect image expected of her in every social situation.
Satoru had seen it all and hated watching his sister burden herself like that.
That was exactly why he had insisted on taking her out to see the world this time.
"Leave it to me. Your room is the one at the end of the downstairs hallway. I clean it regularly, so you can sleep there as it is."
Eula stared at the completely unconscious Ayaka, nearly speechless.
That level of alcohol tolerance had somehow managed to redefine her understanding of lightweight drinkers.
She carefully supported Ayaka and led her upstairs.
Satoru shook his head before turning and entering the guest room downstairs.
The furnishings were simple, while the bed was soft and clean.
Satoru dropped onto it and fell asleep almost immediately.
...
"Yaaawn~~"
Early the next morning, Satoru abruptly sat upright and stretched his entire body with immense satisfaction.
Although it still looked gloomy outside, his internal clock was frighteningly accurate.
He knew it was breakfast time.
After quickly washing up, Satoru casually tied on the apron Eula had left in the kitchen—complete with an adorable pattern—and began showing off his culinary skills.
Sizzling fried eggs, fragrant potato pancakes, freshly ground soy milk, and Sweet Flower porridge.
After bustling around the kitchen for quite some time, he finally had all four of his specialties neatly prepared.
"Something smells amazing... That smells incredible..."
Eula wandered out, still half asleep.
Her blue hair was a complete mess, and one side of her nightgown had slipped halfway down her shoulder.
Satoru’s eyes nearly popped out of his head at the unexpected sight.
Fortunately, he had already finished cooking. Otherwise, he might genuinely have ended up blowing up the kitchen.
Wasn’t it a little early in the morning for this kind of bonus?
"You’re awake? Hurry over and eat while it’s hot."
Satoru forced himself to remain composed as he greeted her.
"Okay... Ah!"
The previously drowsy Eula instantly snapped wide awake.
Realizing how disheveled she looked, she let out a startled cry, hurriedly covered herself, and dashed straight into the bathroom.
Only then did she suddenly remember—
She wasn’t living alone right now.
Great.
That guy had gotten another free look.