The One with the Outrider and the Dandelion Knight

Amber was worried.

To start with, she woke up this morning to a basket of freshly-baked moon pies on her bedside. Experience taught her that they were most likely poisoned. Heavens knows what had happened when she ate that pot roast just sitting there in the cafeteria last month. She went out of commission for a week.

It was delicious, though— both the pie and the roast.

Secondly, she spotted the harvested corpses of boars and pigeons while out on patrol near the city. Her discerning eye told her that they were hunted a mere day prior, and were found near some fruitless apple trees— stripped bare almost as if an extremely large squirrel came in and gulped them all down.

She would have reported it immediately to the Acting Grandmaster if it wasn't for the third thing. A note had been stuck outside of her dormitory window, brought to her attention by one of the cleaning maids. Amber recognized the époque handwriting anywhere.

It reads:

'Lawrence Estate. Tonight. Come alone.'

"Eula…"

While she knew the Spindrift Knight could take care of herself, Amber could not quell the seeds of worry clawing her throat. Eula had been acting odd lately— more so than usual. For one, just recently, Eula wouldn't look her in the eye during their bi-monthly dinner date over at Good Hunter's. It felt weird because, of Eula's own admission: 'a meal without conversation is alcohol without wine— tasteless and a complete waste of time.'

To hear not one of her friend's trademark 'I will have vengeance' threats over a plate of indulgent fries was… troubling.

Eula, what happened…?

As quick as her legs could take her, Amber ran towards the estate. It was nearing evening now. She rather not be late and take the chances when her best friend might be at risk— or worse.

Was that it? Did Eula finally snap after all the years of pressure and discrimination? What did she plan on doing now? Harsh questions with even harsher answers; Amber brushed them all away. She had faith that this was all one big misunderstanding— as per usual.

After all, today was…

"Jean!" Amber shouted faster than her mind could keep up. The Acting Grandmaster was standing in front of the Lawrence Estate gates, face stern and her sharpened sword hanging from the waist. "What are you doing here?"

"Amber?" Noticing the Outrider, Jean relaxed slightly. "I could ask the same to you. I received a note summoning me here."

No way. "You too?!"

"Not just me, almost all ranking officials in the Knights did— including Lisa."

Oh no. Did that mean Kaeya and Klee got one too? Sucrose and Albedo?

Jean nodded.

"Not only that," she continued, eyeing the manor cautiously, "there were multiple complaints filed by the citizens against the 'Lawrence clan daughter.' Witnesses state that she had been going in and out of the city suspiciously and instigated arguments with shopkeepers all day long."

Amber reeled in shock. "Eula did?!"

"There is no denying the reports." Jean bit her lip. Even she seemed to deny the claims too, yet pressed on. "I firmly believe it to be a misunderstanding as well… however, we have an obligation to investigate— needless as it may be."

Damn it, Eula!

Amber was typically not one to curse— she still managed to hold her tongue— but the mounting accusations and incriminating notes painted a not-so-well picture in her mind. Arguing with the citizens was one thing, but sneaking off during patrol duty, alongside Eula's recent distant and dismissive behavior...

She couldn't bring herself to say it. She held fast to her beliefs even as the evidence pieced together a painful reality that this may very well be the last time she would see her dearest friend.

Why now, of all days…?

The door to the mansion creaked open, beckoning them to come inside. It is once said that the Lawrences were too proud to hire servants, and had left the estate to their daughter alone. Frankly, Amber didn't even realize Eula kept the key. The emptiness that greeted them as they entered only sold the feeling that the place was long abandoned— stuck forever in time.

Despite that, every piece of furniture had been dusted clean, and the stone hearth at the end of the hall breathed to life with bright orange embers. A banner emblazoned with the Lawrence Clan Seal hung proudly above.

An icy voice spoke— one Amber knew all too well. "You've come."

"Eula!"

There, atop the long flight of stairs, stood beauty and elegance itself, dressed in the garments of aristocrats. Sharp purple-yellow eyes gazed like fiery icicles, panning over the arrived guests. Eula brought a white-gloved hand to her chin while harboring a look of contempt and confusion. "Where are the others?"

"They will arrive shortly," Jean answered. Gone was the compassionate and gentle face of the Dandelion Knight, and in its place were the war-bred fangs of a lion. "Explain yourself, Eula Lawrence. What is the meaning of all this?"

"They dare arrive late when I specifically set the time and place? Don't they know how rude it is to make a lady wait? I cannot overlook such an offense."

"Eula!" Amber yelled, panic constraining her voice. "Talk to us! What happened?"

Eula scoffed. While her petty grudges were oftentimes ineffectual, this time it felt genuine. "You mean you came here without even knowing the injustice you caused? The considerable distress you made me go through? Unforgivable. I'll have my vengeance on that too!"

"Wha—?"

"Doesn't matter," Eula said, her tone venomous. "Allow me to clarify for you. Follow me."

Heels clicking on the floor, Amber and Jean kept their guard up as Eula brought them further into the mansion. None of them spoke a word, nary a comment on the blown-up portraits of the Lawrence family creeping the halls. Or the fact that the entire house was spotless, with lit braziers everywhere. Even Eula's dress was immaculate, flowing gracefully with every step she took.

When did she have time to do all that? Clearly, this had been all planned for a long while— months, perhaps. The mere thought of it sickened Amber to the stomach.

Had she been that ignorant of her friend? She assumed that the people were starting to warm up to Eula, and because of that, maybe had taken their friendship for granted. Dealing with the recent aftermath of Stormterror, and accompanying the Traveler whenever she could, the times where she could hang out with Eula became less and less frequent. She felt as guilty as her stack of gliding violation permits.

No wonder Eula caved.

Was this really it? Was this the day when her bestest friend in the world will finally enact her vengeance? The dreaded day they will finally have to say their goodbyes?

They stopped in front of a pair of large double doors. Amber faintly remembered that beyond it was the mansion's banquet hall. The handles shone with golden light and were blanketed with pale bouquets and lavish ribbons— all handmade and intricately detailed. Eula had always been a perfectionist and an artist, as crude as her mannerisms may be.

And now, the embodiment of that perfection and nobility stood before them with glacial poise. It was as if she were a towering sculpture of ice that could never be broken, nor thawed.

In a sense, the same could be said of her heart.

The anxiety suffocated Amber. Under Eula's complete mercy and with only Jean by her side, the weight of the Lawrence Clan's aristocracy bore down on her. She tried to sputter words, but bereft of the courage to face the inevitable, she choked.

The doors opened.

"Behold," Eula shouted. "Witness the glory of my vengeance, tenfold!"

Eula…!

…

Silence.

It was Jean that spoke first, though even then it was barely a mumble. "This is…?"

Amber stared slack-jawed. "...A party?"

Definitely looked like one. The entire hall was decorated with festive, party paraphernalia. From the designs, all of it was seemingly prepared by Eula herself: hats, balloons, streamers, banners— down to the tasty-smelling food and wine.

Probably the only things missing were the guests.

What?

Eula opened her arms wide and spun gleefully like a girl under half her age. "Feast your eyes upon my hard work. What do you think? This is definitely my greatest payback yet!"

One could not find the words.

"Wait a minute…" Amber said. The realization dawned on her and Jean's face. "Is this about Jean's thank you party we threw a while back?!"

Eula smirked. "Took you a while to remember. You have some nerve keeping me in the dark about it and not bothering to invite me. If I weren't busy at the time, I would've crashed the party myself and enacted my vengeance then and there."

She pounced upon the two of them, leaning close enough to smell their breaths. "But then, a golden opportunity presented itself. The perfect chance for masterful revenge— a date and an occasion. One in which the true karma of my vengeance shall play for all to see."

Expressions took two steps north of flabbergasted. Amber spoke slowly, cleverly dismantling the nefariousness of Eula's plot.

"So… you threw a party for yourself, cooked all this food, decorated the entire house, then lastly invited everyone in the headquarters to come…"

"That is correct."

"...For your birthday?"

"Brilliant, isn't it?"

…

"Well?" Eula asked, looking far too pleased with herself. "Does it not fill you with shame? You could have had as a swell of a celebration as this if I had come along. And now, you have no choice but to admit my superiority and must invite me to parties from here on out!"

Amber and Jean glanced at each other.

"Yup!" "Yes, I am filled with unbearable shame."

Eula smiled radiantly. "I win."

"Wait, so you're NOT leaving the Knights?" Amber had to ask. Eula's baffled expression threw all doubts out the fragile, rime-encased window.

"Leave the Knights? Why would I ever do that?"

"O-oh, nothing. Hehe…"

"That still leaves the matter of the citizen's complaints," Jean said. "Nor the fact you were seen moving suspiciously in and out of the city. Care to elaborate?"

"Hmph." For a moment, Eula appeared about ready to strangle someone but stopped a second short. "If you asked me, I'm the victim here. All I wanted to do was buy produce fresh from the market, but those blasted merchants kept offering me a discount just because it was my birthday. The last thing I needed was sympathy from some stuck-up old clerk that won't accept me paying full price. They shall regret this one day."

She brushed the hair from her face, sighing in annoyance as she continued. "So, instead of pilfering their hard-earned wares, I went out and hunted for the ingredients myself. Do you know how many apples are needed to bake a decent apple pie? The nerve..."

Amber tilted her head. "And the clothes?"

Eula crossed her arms, a pink blush gracing her cheeks as she squirmed self-consciously. "Unfortunately, because of all the distractions, I had not the time to run back to the dorms for a change of clothes. This dress was the only thing I had still presentable in my old room. I simply will not accept fulfilling my vengeance covered in sweat and mud."

"Ah, well." Amber giggled. "I guess you could say vengeance was well served! You got me good, Eula."

"Naturally."

"Indeed," Jean chimed. She smiled softly. "We musn't tarry such sweet vengeance any further. Amber, go and set the tables. I'll let the others inside."

"Roger that!"

And by sweet, Jean probably meant the deliciously savory and sweet scent of chicken wafting in the air. Eula rarely ever let anyone taste her home cooking; sampling a feast like this was literally a dream come true.

"Ah." Eyes wide, Eula tried to seize Amber's plates before they could be set down. "Let me do that— "

"Nuh uh uh. Today's your birthday!. I'm not gonna let you work any more than you already have."

"But— "

"And besides!" Amber beamed, hair bow bouncing in excitement. "It's been a while since we hung out together. Let me make it up to you!"

"You don't have to— "

"Tell you what: Clear your schedule. Tomorrow, you and I are going shopping till we drop! Lunch is on me!"

"..."

"No good?"

Eula pouted. "You'll pay for this…"

Classic Eula.

"Yup. Looking forward to it!"

"...thank you…"

Amber only barely heard it. "Huh?"

"Nothing," Eula said. As much as she tried to hide it, there was no mistaking the redness on her pale face. "You shouldn't concern yourself with it."

"Wait, you just said 'thank you', right? Right?!"

The Spindrift Knight glared.

Right?!

AKA the one when Eula felt lonely not being invited to parties. She is one precious cupcake, I swear.

Yes I know its not her birthday. I just had to write this. I'm not sorry.

As for the title, this might turn into another mini-series. Depends how much she inspires me to write. Definitely plan on including Yanfei too.