Fischl was instantly speechless. Wasn't the plan to help Acting Grand Master Jean and Barbara reconcile?
Why was everyone starting to gossip about her instead?
However, after thinking it over carefully, she realized this wasn't exactly a secret, so she decided to just tell them directly.
"When I encountered the Adventurers Guild recruiting new members, I immediately joined. After registering with Miss Katheryne, I brought the Adventurers Guild uniform home with me."
"Speaking of which, my Imperial Father and Imperial Mother were quite shocked when they saw the Adventurers Guild uniform in my hands."
"At that time, I had a huge fight with my Imperial Father and Mother, and then we entered a cold war for several days."
"In the end, my Imperial Father and Mother couldn't persuade me and agreed to let me continue staying at the Adventurers Guild, but they required that I couldn't take on dangerous commissions."
Recalling that dark history, Fischl's eyes grew deep, as if returning to that pitch-black night, the little girl having a major argument with her parents.
"At that time, I borrowed three months' worth of the lowest-level commissions from the Adventurers Guild. My entire day's work consisted of deliveries, searching for lost pets, and helping look after children. I thought it was tiring and hard work back then, but now I actually miss it."
Rosaria summarized: "Fischl's method was to act first and report later. She completed the registration at the Adventurers Guild before her parents found out. But this trick won't work on Acting Grand Master Jean."
"If Acting Grand Master Jean gives the order, the Adventurers Guild will probably quickly process Barbara's resignation papers."
Noelle quietly but firmly rebutted: "Acting Grand Master Jean would never do that!"
"Acting Grand Master Jean would never abuse her authority for personal gain."
Rosaria reached out and pinched Noelle's little cheek: "Little Noelle, why are you being so serious? Alright, alright, it was my mistake. I shouldn't have said that."
"Mmm.", Noelle puffed out her cheeks, looking as round and angry as a pufferfish. However, in the hands of that bad woman Rosaria, Noelle couldn't hold out for more than a few seconds before breaking down and becoming cheerful again.
"As expected of a child, so easy to fool," Rosaria muttered to herself.
Arkz smiled: "That's because Noelle believes you are a trustworthy good person. The current Noelle has grown up; she isn't that simple good person who believes everyone anymore."
Rosaria: "Oh~ is that so? No wonder I wondered why Noelle would express her dissatisfaction. Isn't that quite good as well?"
"Not knowing how to protect herself, she could easily get hurt."
"Just like a beautiful rose needs thorns to defend itself."
Arkz smiled, then lowered his voice toward the group: "Everyone, I think we've missed the main point!"
"Our goal is to reconcile Acting Grand Master Jean and Barbara, the two sisters, not to dissuade Barbara from joining the Adventurers Guild, nor to persuade Acting Grand Master Jean not to stop Barbara's choice."
"They are both mature individuals capable of taking responsibility for their own choices."
"What we need to do now is investigate the deeper reasons behind this, to see the essence of the problem through the surface."
Fischl: "Surface?"
Fischl: "Essence?"
Rosaria looked at Arkz, saw him spread his hands in an inviting gesture, and then spoke to explain to the other two:
"Simply put, we need to figure out why Barbara wants to join the Adventurers Guild, and why Acting Grand Master Jean wants to stop her!"
...
Barbara looked up at Acting Grand Master Jean, who towered over her, her expression complicated.
This was her biological elder sister, the person she loved and admired the most. She had spent countless nights gazing at her sister's photo, missing her, and had even shed tears at night because she couldn't see her sister.
Yet today, she had to have a fierce argument with her sister, Acting Grand Master Jean.
"Sister, do you know?"
"I was a clumsy child since I was young, often failing at things. Perhaps my only virtue was being able to quickly recover after every failure."
Barbara mocked herself, beginning to recount the true thoughts deep in her heart.
"Since I was little, you, Sister, have always been the object of my envy and the role model I chased."
"Sister, you are the 'Pride of the Family' in everyone's eyes. The word 'excellent' in the dictionary seems to be the best explanation for you. Between you and me, it feels like there is a vast chasm—seemingly within reach, yet completely unattainable."
"No, Barbara, I..." Acting Grand Master Jean heard this and was about to speak up to explain, but Barbara gently covered her lips with her delicate, boneless little hand.
"Sister, please let me finish!"
Barbara's tone was gentle, but her words were so firm that they were impossible to refuse.
"I am very happy and very proud to have an excellent sister like you."
"But when it's deep in the quiet of the night, I often think, if only I could be as excellent as you, Sister."
In the bushes, Fischl wanted to shout in her heart: "Barbara, in my heart, you are no less than Acting Grand Master Jean!"
Noelle whispered: "Barbara, as Mondstadt's most popular idol, you are also very excellent!"
At this moment, Arkz suddenly interjected: "It seems like Barbara is the only idol in all of Mondstadt, right?"
Ugh!
Three icy glares instantly shot toward Arkz. If looks could kill, Arkz would have been frozen into an ice sculpture by now.
Even the little angel Noelle passed judgment on Arkz's heinous act.
Noelle: "Mr. Arkz, you're so mean!"
"Hmph!" x 2
Rosaria and Fischl beside him actually nodded in unison, clearly strongly agreeing with Noelle's statement.
Arkz, having incurred the wrath of the crowd, chuckled sheepishly: "Quickly look over there, look over there! What is Barbara saying?"
A diversionary tactic. The attention of the three immediately shifted from Arkz to the two sisters in the distant pavilion.
"In the beginning, I also tried hard to catch up to you, Sister, to stand beside you and receive the cheers and praise of the crowd."
"However, whether it was academics or swordsmanship, no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't compare to you, Sister."
"Father said that effort is the most miraculous magic, but what should I do when effort is useless? I don't know?"
Barbara wiped away the tears at the corner of her eyes, smiling brilliantly, like a lotus flower greeting the sunshine after the rain—pure and beautiful, yet tinged with faint sadness.
People always say that storms will pass and the sun will arrive on schedule, but can the sunlight truly heal the petals that fell because of the storm?
Barbara quickly wiped away her tears and adjusted her emotions. As a qualified idol, being able to greet her fans at any time and place with the sunniest, most cheerful, and most perfect demeanor was a basic requirement.
"My initial motivation for joining the Church and becoming a Sister who heals people wasn't that grand."
"At that time, I thought, since I'm not good at fighting, I should be responsible for logistics!"
"Under my father's guidance, I became a healer in the Church. The healthy smiles on the faces of the patients and their gratitude are the best medals for me."
"I often think, if only I could become a little more excellent, I could share a little more of the burden for Sister!"
A happy smile bloomed on Barbara's face. As usual, she shouted: "Barbara, charge!" to cheer herself on.
However, whether it was Jean or the four people hiding in the bushes, they could all sense the hidden sorrow behind that heart-healing smile.
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