The strangest part was that, in the dream, she had married a member of the Lawrence family along with another women, and one of them was Eula, whom she had never really gotten along with.
"It seems I've been reading too many romance novels lately, which is why I'm having such absurd dreams," Jean chuckled to herself, mocking the idea. "Sharing a husband with Eula... that's completely ridiculous."
Yes, just like before, Jean had experienced the life within the simulator during her dream.
It's worth mentioning that events in the simulator usually affect real people as "vivid and unforgettable dreams."
Even if the dream only lasted a minute, it could encompass an entire lifetime from the simulator.
Since Eula hadn't slept yet, she didn't have any of the memories from the simulator.
"But I really envy the dream version of myself," Jean thought, her face blushing slightly as she recalled her dream husband, "being able to meet such a gentle spouse."
Despite her usual mature and composed demeanor, Jean shared a common interest with many other girls—reading romance novels.
So, even though her real-life romantic experience was zero, Jean still longed for a sweet and romantic love story.
What made it even more memorable was that the dream also included scenes of intimacy between her and her husband—so vivid that she could still recall the happiness she felt at that moment.
This made sense, of course, since, among the vast number of romance novels Jean had read, a few risqué ones with explicit descriptions—and even illustrations—had slipped in.
Although most of those books had been destroyed by Jean herself as "prohibited material," the content had stayed with her, providing ample "inspiration" for her daydreams.
Two of those books were still secretly hidden deep in her drawer, only taken out during quiet, lonely nights to relieve some boredom.
A quick peek… that should be fine, right?
Jean nervously opened the drawer and pulled out the two novels hidden between the cracks.
The Melancholy of Young Abin and Heart of the Fountain.
One told the story of a young man named "Abin" from Liyue and the various women who became his confidantes throughout his life.
The other was about a boy from Springvale named Finch and his feelings for a spirit who loved "fountains."
Both had excellent writing and captivating stories.
Even if the inappropriate parts were removed, they were still worthwhile romance novels.
Jean opened Heart of the Fountain and started rereading one of its iconic chapters. Before long, she found herself lost in it, the vivid descriptions of the fountain making it easy for Jean, who had no personal experience in such matters, to imagine the scenes.
"Later, Finch left his hometown. He never saw the fountain spirit again, nor did he witness a spring as radiant as that night."
Jean closed the book, her eyes tearing up… and feeling something else stirring within her.
Each time she reached the end, she couldn't help but feel emotional… and a bit flustered in other ways.
One quote from the novel resonated deeply with Jean: "A fountain spirit will only spring forth for one person in their lifetime. Does a human girl only ever fall in love with one man?"
Will I… ever meet the man who makes my heart race?
Jean's thoughts drifted back to her dream, where her husband indeed had the power to make fountains appear.
Just then, a knock at the door interrupted her daydream.
"Come in."
The knock snapped Jean out of her thoughts, and she hurriedly shoved the two forbidden books under her desk in a fluster.
Eula walked in, leading a young man dressed in Liyue attire.
"I've brought the person you requested," Eula stretched lazily, looking somewhat tired before turning to leave. "I've got the night patrol later, so I'm off to catch some sleep."
Few people in the Knights of Favonius would dare to be as casual with Jean as Eula was, but Jean didn't mind in the slightest.
"Greetings, Acting Grand Master Jean!" The young man offered his hand politely. "I'm Lucas, in charge of this escort mission."
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Lucas…" Jean responded courteously, reaching out to shake his hand.
However, the moment she saw Lucas's face, she froze, and her grip unconsciously tightened.
Luckily, after several rounds in the simulator, Lucas's physical strength had improved. Otherwise, a normal person might have yelped in pain from the strength of her grip.
How is this possible?
Jean's thoughts were in chaos.
The man standing in front of her looked exactly like the husband she had in her dream.
Even his voice and expressions were the same.
But Jean quickly pushed the idea away, dismissing it as mere coincidence. It wasn't possible. The man in her dream was just that—a dream. It was pure chance that his appearance resembled someone in real life.
"Um…" Jean couldn't help herself and asked, "Are you… married?"
What a strange question! Why would I ask something like that?
How rude!
"I… I'm single," Lucas tilted his head in confusion. "Why do you ask?"
"Please don't misunderstand!" Jean quickly tried to cover up her slip-up. "It's just that Mondstadt's annual Wine Festival is happening right now, a time when couples enjoy themselves, so I thought… I'd recommend you check it out."
"Ah, I see," Lucas smiled, not reading too much into it. "It would be nice to go if the Acting Grand Master could accompany me, but you're probably too busy for that, right?"
Is… is he hinting at something?
Jean's heart skipped a beat. She wanted to go with him, but Lucas was right—there was so much work to be done.
She wasn't the type to neglect her duties for personal matters.
But… her happiness was important too, wasn't it?
And this gentle, handsome man from another land—he would be irresistible to Mondstadt's free-spirited women at the Wine Festival.
Letting him go alone would be like sending a lamb to the slaughter!
No, even if she couldn't go with him, she had to find someone trustworthy to keep an eye on him!
Jean was a reserved and mature woman, even when meeting someone who stirred her heart. She wouldn't make her feelings obvious.
"I'm sorry, I am very busy today," Jean said after a moment of thought, "but since you're an honored guest of Mondstadt, I'll arrange for someone to accompany you. Please wait a moment; she should be here soon."
The person Jean had in mind was none other than her younger sister, Barbara. With her by Lucas' side, no other women would be able to approach him.
Since Jean had already made her decision, Lucas felt it would be impolite to refuse. So, he nodded and sat across from her in the office, waiting patiently.
There wasn't much conversation between them, but the atmosphere wasn't awkward at all. In fact, it felt rather harmonious and warm.
It reminded Lucas of their time in the simulator when he and Jean would sit together like this, with him handling family affairs while she quietly read by his side.
Reality seemed to overlap with the dream for a fleeting moment.
The sunlight streamed through the window, casting a soft glow over Jean, who appeared almost ethereal in its light. Lucas found himself momentarily entranced by the sight.
Sensing his gaze, Jean suddenly looked up, and their eyes met, both of them blushing slightly.
At that moment, Lucas felt something strange under his foot. Perhaps to break the tension, he bent down and said, "Huh, I think I stepped on something."
He pulled out one of the novels Jean had hastily shoved under the desk and placed it on the table.
Jean's face turned pale. Thankfully, the book's cover looked normal, and the title wasn't too revealing.
"This… this looks like a novel?" Jean quickly put on an innocent expression. "I think it might belong to Barbara? She often reads books I've never even heard of."
"I see…" Lucas nodded thoughtfully and asked, "Would it be alright if I read it? I have some time to kill."
Sweat discreetly trickled down Jean's forehead.
This was the third biggest dilemma she had faced this month, right after dealing with the Fatui's political interference and the "Stormterror Suppression Plan."
If she stopped him now, wouldn't that imply she had already read the contents of those books?
Right! Jean remembered that although the novels contained inappropriate material, it was mostly in the latter half. If Barbara arrived before Lucas got that far, he wouldn't see anything inappropriate.
"Of course, go ahead," Jean nodded nonchalantly, trying to remain calm. "But they're just stories for young girls, so you probably won't find them interesting."
Sorry, Barbara, please forgive your sister just this once!
I'll get you that spicy meal box you love next time!
"It's fine," Lucas replied casually. "I actually enjoy reading."
With that, he picked up Heart of the Fountain and began flipping through the pages.
Jean finally breathed a small sigh of relief. After all, Heart of the Fountain was written with a delicate and intricate style, and the plot wasn't particularly dramatic. Most male readers would probably find it dull after a while.
However, contrary to her expectations, Lucas seemed completely absorbed in the story, showing no signs of boredom.
Not only that, but he was reading at an impressively fast pace. Before long, he had already read through half of the book.
Jean, pretending to work, felt her heart pounding, as if it might leap out of her throat.
Strangely, even as Lucas reached the latter chapters, his expression didn't change. It was as though he were reading a perfectly ordinary novel.
Could it be that he was skimming through it and not paying attention to the details?
This thought gave Jean some relief, though she couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed. Heart of the Fountain was a novel she held in high regard, and seeing someone rush through it so quickly was like watching a food connoisseur wolf down a gourmet meal without savoring it.
"I've finished it," Lucas closed the book quietly, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. "It's such a beautiful story."
Due to his extensive experience with the simulator's text-based mode, Lucas had developed an impressive reading speed.
"You… you think it's a good story too?" Jean asked, her voice filled with excitement.
Reading romance novels wasn't just a hobby for Jean—it was a personal secret. Few people knew about it.
Although she had read many such novels, Jean had never found someone to discuss them with. Hearing Lucas praise one of her favorite books, she couldn't help but feel she had found a kindred spirit.
"Absolutely," Lucas nodded. "Especially the line, 'The fountain spirit will only spring forth for one person in their lifetime. Does a human girl only ever fall in love with one man?' That was beautifully written."
He understands! He really understands!
Jean blurted out, "I… I love that line too!"
"Wait," Lucas asked, slightly puzzled, "weren't these books someone else's?"
"Well… I may have read a little bit," Jean replied, her face flushed with embarrassment. "But some parts of the content are a bit… improper, so…"
As she spoke, Jean's cheeks turned even redder.
The idea of the dignified Acting Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius secretly reading explicit novels in her office was a scandalous thought!
"You're referring to those parts?" Lucas laughed, unconcerned. "I think they were written quite well. They captured the characters' love for each other beautifully. Especially the part where the fountain spirit's waters nourished the entire town—it elevated the whole story. That's not dirty at all, it's pure."
His words hit Jean like an arrow straight to the heart, dissolving the doubts that had troubled her.
Yes, passionate love between two people wasn't something dirty—it was pure and natural.
The problem wasn't the story—it had always been her own perception.
She had been seeing everything through an impure lens, making even the purest of things seem improper!
"Um… could we…" Jean's voice wavered with emotion. "Could we talk more about this book?"
"Of course," Lucas smiled. "Sharing a good story is always a pleasure."
---
Half an hour later.
"Oh no, I've spent too much time chasing down Sister Rosaria… I hope I haven't kept my sister waiting for too long," Barbara hurried through the corridors of the Knights of Favonius, looking slightly flustered.
As she approached the Acting Grand Master's office, Barbara suddenly heard the sound of familiar laughter coming from inside.
It was her sister Jean's laughter.
Barbara rarely heard Jean laugh so openly, and her curiosity was piqued. Rather than barging in, she pressed herself against the doorframe to listen.
This isn't eavesdropping, she thought to herself. I'm just concerned about my sister. Surely Lord Barbatos would forgive me.
Soon enough, Barbara heard Jean talking to a man.
Jean: "What happened between us that night was just an act of drunken foolishness. Please don't pester me about it anymore."
Male voice: "Don't lie to yourself. You weren't drunk at all that night—everything was done willingly."
Jean: "But… our love is wrong…"
Male voice: "Don't care about what others think. Even if I'm seven years younger than you, love doesn't care about age."
---
Author's Note: Thoughts on reverse rape of Lucas by Barbara? 🤔