The One with the Astrologer

People say that it takes a particular set of perfection to please a noblewoman. For Eula, that prejudice could not be farther from the truth. In reality, she enjoyed living the simple life: waking up in bed, working throughout the day before spending the night in some pub or tavern drinking away the stress of the job and eating a fulfilling meal.

Tonight, however, she felt a touch more than peckish. Putting down the menu, Eula waved for the waitress and ordered the house specialty meal.

Curiously, she found herself in an unfamiliar restaurant— probably one that was built recently. If she had to describe the menu, it would be Good Hunter's homeliness mixed with Angel Share's fine selection of wine. It was also new and interesting, so Eula had no reservations to at least sample the food. When she had arrived, the tables were already packed to the rafters, and like always she had to share one with another patron.

Fortunately, though, the one sitting at the opposite end was a quiet, young girl. She was dressed in the rather peculiar clothes of a mage and an astrologer— a rare sight in Mondstadt. The enormous hat hid her head, and Eula had to wonder if the girl even noticed her, as she has yet to open her eyes.

Eula didn't mind. Silence meant peace. Maybe this way she could enjoy a night without being unjustly discriminated against for her name.

"Here's your appetizer!"

About time. Any later and she would have had the chef's head.

Nodding to the waitress, Eula dug her eyes into the bowl of steaming, golden-brown fried radish balls she ordered. Just from a single waft, she could already tell what sort of spices the chef used, being knowledgeable around the kitchen herself.

And as expected, they were delicious.

The sea salt was definitely an unexpected touch— though not unwelcome one if she had to admit. Patrolling the coast all day and night, she and the rest of the Reconnaissance team considered the sea to be their second home.

Speaking of which, she should really plan their patrol route next—

"…?"

Eula glanced around. It felt as if someone was watching her. She knew it far too well, sometimes to the point of paranoia. Whether it be from Abyss Order spies or even the very people of Mondstadt, there was no mistaking the ill intentions that nearly made her skin crawl.

Noone seemed suspicious— at least, not yet.

Pushing a radish ball into her mouth, her sights eventually settled on the young astrologer, eyes still closed in meditation.

Has she not ordered yet? It could be that she had already ordered something and that it simply took more time to prepare. Eula wouldn't put it past her. The menu listed some very exotic and extravagant cuisine— some of which she hadn't even heard of. Those dishes were quite expensive too, obviously. While she was by no means poor and could easily afford it, Eula favored practical food. They were easier on her budget and tended to be more filling, unlike the pretentious piecemeal dishes aristocrats like her family ate.

Still, she was not one to judge; it was only food. People should eat what they like. Life was much simpler that way.

Eula chuckled. Perhaps there was a kernel of truth to the rumors about astrology being a lucrative and highly sought-after profession. She would be lying if she said she was interested in it before, but now? Maybe she'll go star-gazing sometime. There was no better place to look at the stars than out in the ocean, after all.

She took a bite out of the steak the waitress delivered moments ago.

…?!

There it was again. A piercing gaze colder than ice. Eula looked around harder, trying to pinpoint the source, but found none.

Her eyes were drawn again to the astrologer. It seemed that she was still in a trance, staring into space while mumbling something under her breath. Eula strained to listen yet hid it well. It would not do to be caught eavesdropping on someone else's business.

"...rent costs 3000 Mora, water is 500 Mora, food is… I can skip renewing my journals this month; I have to keep up the loan on my celestial globe. That means I can eat all week if I…"

...

Did it make sense to Eula? Nope. It sounded as though the girl was talking about paying the bills. Hardly suspicious.

Not exactly an interesting topic for conversation, either, to be honest. It wasn't that Eula couldn't relate to it; she really wanted to, but certain circumstances prevented her otherwise. Her living space was accommodated to her in full by the Knights of Favonius, she literally had no utilities to speak of given that she spends most of her time away from the city, and pretty much everything else, taxes included, were paid for by Amber.

The girl straightened out a crumpled piece of paper on the table. Peeking at it, Eula saw that it was a help wanted poster— similar to the ones pinned near the Adventurer's Guild. Was the girl also an adventurer? How admirable. Not only was she an upstanding citizen paying her dues, but she also made time to help out the common folk. Eula could only wish there were more kindhearted and selfless people like her.

Of course, that also meant the girl was technically stealing jobs meant for the knights, and that was unforgivable. Regardless though, Eula was in a good mood, so figured she could let it slide this time. She had dinner to finish.

"Here's your caramel sundae!"

Who in their right mind would forget dessert? Eula looked around one final time, still wary of the suspicious gazes, before squealing in delight as she engorged herself into the cold and caramel flavored goodness. She had not been kidding when she said she was hungry. Eating alone was her only way of satisfying her glutinous cravings, and she'd inflict rapid physical violence on anyone of her friends that finds out and teases her about it.

"Here's your order, ma'am," the waitress whispered. It took a moment for Eula to realize she wasn't talking to her.

"Uhm, thank you…"

One eye pried open, Eula observed as the girl beside her gingerly poked at her food: a plate of salted vegetarian noodles with apple juice on the side.

Contrary to what she had thought before, it was a humble meal, costing no more than a hundred Mora. How odd. Why would someone so auspicious choose to order something like that? Even Eula couldn't bring herself to order it, as tasteless as it appeared. It could barely be even called food, not when there were a bunch of other cheap alternatives. The only reason she could think of for ordering vegetarian noodles was—

She stopped.

The hand holding the spoon to her mouth trembled ever so slightly. How could she have been so naïve? The only reason a fine young woman would order something like that was when they were on a diet.

Eula felt her cheeks flushing red, suddenly deathly aware of how many calories she had ingested just this night alone. Amber would have a fit, having always nagged at her for being careless with her weight.

Maybe this time, she was right.

Eula did notice her clothes were fitting tighter than usual— especially around the thigh area. Her chest felt constricted too, but she merely assumed that was because her breasts had gotten bigger again. How about her waist? She couldn't remember the last time she held a measuring tape. Probably months ago.

Dear goodness... Was it on her face?!

She pulled her cheeks hard, desperately wishing she had a mirror on hand. Sadly, there were none. What she did have, however, was an entire glass full of horrifyingly tempting (yet delicious) ice cream melting atop her table.

Comeuppance. This must be what it felt like to be thoroughly shamed by the fullest extent of irony. Biting her lips, Eula did the only righteous thing she could do given the situation.

She pushed the glass away… and ignored it.

Dinner finished shortly afterward, but sensing her chance, Eula decided to stick around for a while longer. It was when the astrologer finished her meal did the both of them stand up to leave the restaurant.

Eula spoke first. "You."

The girl looked around before pointing at herself. "Me?"

Who else would she be referring to? After all, she didn't even know her name. "Yes, you. I have something to say."

"What?"

The girl seemed irritated, but it did not matter. Eula couldn't help but smile. Never had she met a woman so diligent, so decorous, and so unscrupulous in her duties to have won over the respect of a knight in a matter of minutes.

And for that, she had to pay.

"Mark my words," Eula muttered, just low enough for the both of them to hear. "I swear I'll have my vengeance on you someday. Just you wait."

With that parting speech, Eula nodded to the girl, a renewed sense of determination burning in her eyes. Oh, she will have vengeance all right… but for that to happen she needed to come up with a dietary plan right away. Amber knew a lot when it came to food— healthy ones especially. Perhaps she could start there.

Revenge tasted calorie-free sometimes, but at the end of it all, she will triumph and reign supreme. There was no doubt about it.

Eula's soft laughter echoed with her footsteps, until they, too, faded into the night.

…

GRUMBLE~

Mona wiped her brow. "Phew…"

Thank the Archons that strange woman finally left. She was one step away from allowing her stomach to humiliate her like that. As starving as she was, it was a miracle it kept quiet for this long.

And what did the woman mean about swearing vengeance, anyway?

The more Mona thought about it, the more her insides protested. She really, really should have asked if the woman was going to finish her ice cream. It just sat there, wasting away while taunting her with its lusciously smooth and creamy texture. But, with how the woman was glaring at it like a lion, Mona couldn't muster up the courage.

Tonight looked to be another hungry night, it seemed. Hopefully Sara could spare her some grub… probably…

Stomach rumbling for the ages, the Astrologist Mona Megistus sighed.

"Oh, to be rich…"

AKA the one when a broke astrologer inspired her to be more diligent with her diet. How shameful.