"Alright—don't tell me the answer yet."
"I've got real work to do."
Without waiting for Istaroth to reply, Rowan cut her off. If he let her keep talking, who knew how much time they'd burn? First the assembly—after that, there'd be plenty of time to talk things through with Istaroth.
Seeing this, Istaroth didn't press him further. Still, in her heart, she was excited—eager for something to happen between them. Since Celestia took the reins of Teyvat, this was the first time she, Istaroth, had truly felt her heart stir. Call it love at first sight, perhaps?
Rowan drew a long breath and cleared his throat.
The murmuring below fell instantly silent. All eyes lifted, solemn, awaiting his orders.
"Ahem. I'll keep this brief."
"First: from today, the Knights of Favonius will be limited to military duties—defending Mondstadt, clearing monsters in the wild, and handling all matters strictly related to defense."
"Second: the Church of Favonius will be limited to sacred authority—spreading the teachings and faith of Barbatos, training priests and sisters, and healing the wounded."
"Third: Mondstadt will establish a Chancellor of Internal Affairs to oversee civil governance—everything in the city not covered by the military."
"Any objections?"
When Rowan first stripped the Knights and the Church of civil duties, Jean looked ready to speak. But when the third decree landed, she shut her mouth at once. It was clear Rowan had thought it through: a cleaner separation of powers—military, civil, and sacred. No one in the hall raised an objection.
Seeing no hands, Rowan continued.
"Effective immediately, officials are forbidden from accepting random errands from residents. I will name one example: Acting Grand Master Jean of the Knights of Favonius."
"Please stop running around doing every petty chore the townsfolk toss at you."
"Remember who you are. You're the acting leader of the Knights of Favonius, not free labor. Is finding lost cats and dogs the work of a nation's top commander?"
Frederica turned, surprised, to look at her daughter. She had taught Jean to be a proper Knight of Favonius—a true Dandelion Knight—but never to fritter away her time on household errands. A rank-and-file knight helping out was one thing. For the acting grand master? That was… less than ideal.
Seamus also looked helplessly at his daughter. What had gotten into her? Had Frederica led her astray? Judging by Frederica's face—apparently not. So this was Jean's own idea?
No wonder Barbara had been complaining that her sister was never home for dinner. So this silly girl really had been doing everything for everyone. No wonder she was busy from dawn to dusk.
Behind Jean, the Knights traded wry smiles. Lisa, Kaeya, and the others had advised Jean more than once to stop handling every request personally—but Jean? After a while she gave up even explaining and just kept doing it her way.
Now that Rowan had dragged it into the light, they could only sigh.
Jean lowered her head, wrong-footed by the public scolding. In her heart, though, she didn't think she was wrong. Should the highest leader stand aloof? Couldn't she share in the people's burdens? Couldn't she be approachable and hands-on?
Catching the stubborn tilt to Jean's mouth, Rowan shook his head.
"Jean, you think I'm wrong?"
"To be fair, it isn't wrong to want a leader who listens and stays close to the people."
"But have you considered the consequences?"
"Do you know why, in outsiders' eyes, Mondstadters are seen as… overgrown children?"
Overgrown children?
It was a phrase most of them had never heard; curious, they looked up at Rowan.
"Because too many Mondstadters are the image of eating and idling—working a bit, then slacking off to drink."
"And this runs through the Knights as well."
"I've been in Mondstadt a month. Not once did I see two guards at the city gate through the night."
"And the logistics back gate? Often unmanned. Is this how you 'guard' Mondstadt?"
"Tell me: why do they become like this?"
Frederica couldn't help but object. "But, my king, we can't pin all of that on my daughter. Isn't sloth their own failing?"
Rowan smiled—genuinely pleased. It was exactly the pushback he'd expected.
"You're right."
"But don't forget—our acting grand master also has a little super-fan."
The Knights knew at once whom he meant.
"Noelle—the girl who idolizes Jean. The two of you formed a 'yes-to-everything' duo: no payment asked, no attitude refused."
"The result? Some lazy townsfolk learned to exploit the gap—dumping everything on Jean or Noelle."
"So tell me—whose fault is that?"
"Mondstadt's reputation is in tatters across nations. Is that not, in large part, coddled into being by you and Noelle?"
Jean opened her mouth and found nothing to say. Thinking it through… he wasn't entirely wrong. Some citizens were genuinely grateful. But many more never even bothered with a thank-you—as if her help were owed, compulsory.
"So, adjustments follow—and the next decree."
"Since Grand Master Varka is absent from Mondstadt— and a Knights order cannot go a single day without a grand master— I will appoint a new one."
"I announce that the Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius will be— ..."
(End of Chapter)
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