Eula x Reader - Disgraced Yet Defiant

Chapter 13: Teetotaller Secrets

It had been just over a week since I had that friendly duel with Eula, where the ending result had Eula promise to show me around the festival grounds as recompense for losing the duel. But unexpectedly to her, I also gave her the prize that she had requested of me should I have lost also.

Jean: "Y/N, as Acting Grand Master, I recognise the gravity of the feats you have accomplished in recent times."

Originally, I was quite hesitant to join the Knights. Worrying that the public appearance of myself in such a capacity would only cause issues for the people of Mondstadt. But Eula really drove it home and insisted that this wouldn't be the case at all, and that if the Knights of Favonius could weather the protests when she first joined the Knights, then they would be more than capable of handling anybody upset by my existence in the ranks also.

Jean: "I also acknowledge that you might be considered to have a somewhat... troubled past to some. But we, The Knights of Favonius, as well as Mondstadt as a whole have chosen to look beyond that, and to embrace you into our family without any mistrust or doubts into your character."

And, well... this was what Eula had asked of me to honour, should I have lost the duel between us. But halfway through that duel between us, it became quite obvious to me that she wasn't trying as hard as she could have been. As if she didn't want to coerce me into having to join the Knights of Favonius against my will, but had only put it as the losing bet to gently try to persuade me into it.

I don't think she ever had any intention of winning that duel after she made that wager against me. That or she just wanted to lose on purpose so she'd have an excuse to force her to go to this festival with me!

But, well... seeing as how Eula has been so incredibly welcoming to me ever since my arrival into Mondstadt, I can't help but feel like I owe her this at the very least, to trust her judgement in this regard and allow myself the chance to fit in here, in this new city, knowing that my new friend will be looking out for me.

Jean: "And so, from this time forth, and with the power vested in me, I officially declare Y/N an official Knight of Favonius!"

Crowd: *Applause*

* LATER THAT EVENING *

Despite my feeble protests, Jean insisted that we hold my enlistment into the Knights of Favonius in an official medium, with both Knights and civilians present to watch and welcome me into the fold. Before I was asked to approach Jean at the center of the onlooker's attention, I had heard her talking to them all about who I am and who I was.

There were definitely some worried voices in the crowd, rightly so I suppose. But it seemed that the Acting Grand Master was prepared for this, as she then confirmed to them that she had full confidence in my loyalty to both Mondstadt and it's people. But not only that, she then brought up that she had been in contact with the Tianquan of Liyue regarding my trustworthiness — and according to what Jean had said, Ningguang had given quite the letter of endorsement in response.

This obviously didn't relieve all of the people's worries, but it certainly seemed to abate a lot of them. As when I came to stand beside Jean and all of the onlookers that came to watch my Knighting Ceremony, I really didn't see anywhere near as many fearful faces as I had expected to see. And the Knighting Ceremony didn't have any heckling or protests at all!