Asking for the permission.

Noelle, who went inside the room, slowly bowed as she smiled at Jean. "Good morning, Acting Grandmaster Miss Jean. Please pardon my intrusion."

Looking at the two others inside the room, Noelle greeted them also.

Although Noelle looked composed and calmed at the moment, she was getting nervous deep inside. She hoped that whatever she was doing didn't look that different compared to 'Noelle'.

She couldn't imagine what they could do to her if they ever found out that the 'Noelle' in front of them was not the same person anymore.

'I definitely don't want to know what is in the basement of this place,' Noelle anxiously thought.

Thankfully, Noelle has the memories of 'her' so it wouldn't be that hard to act like 'her' and imitate 'her' speech in front of the others. But in the end, she was still not 'her'. She doubted that any person that was close with 'her' wouldn't notice anything.

Jean smiled back at her and said, "No need to be so stiff, Noelle. You can be at ease."

Noelle nodded. "Thank you very much for the thought, but I am merely doing what I am supposed to do. Additionally, it would be an act of disrespect to act so informally in your presence," she replied back respectfully.

After all, a Grandmaster was the highest rank a knight could possibly obtain. And as a knight apprentice, she should pay her a great amount of respect for 'she'— who aspired to be a knight, was in the presence of someone who leads the knights.

It was the least she could do for 'her' at the moment— respecting what 'she' wanted to be.

That being said, Noelle wished to maintain the status quo as of now. Respecting it was different than pursuing it.

Although it would be nice to advance to the actual knighthood, she liked her current job now. There was no need for her to advance to a harder job.

As for not being able to pass the knight examination, Noelle has some ideas as to how 'she' couldn't make it, and she couldn't blame them for that reason.

Lisa then laughed a bit as she pat Noelle on her shoulder. "Fufu, now, now, sweetheart. You could relax for a bit. Am I right, Miss Acting Grandmaster Jean?" she said as she winked at Jean.

Lisa signaled to Jean that it was at this type of situation that it was the most appropriate to use her power as the Acting Grandmaster!

Jean— who understood the assignment, nodded and seriously said, "Yes, she was right Noelle. As a knight-apprentice, you should be able to form a sense of camaraderie towards the others."

Turning around and melancholy looking at the sky through the window, Jean continued to speak. "There was a saying that the previous Grandmaster— Varka, once said. For, uh… ah! for thy family! Yes! For thy family," she said as she cleared her throat.

Jean turned back around as she continued and said, "Kuhum. So as the current Acting Grandmaster, I am able to understand those words. It meant that as a knight, we should and must treat each other with a sense of familiarity, treating each other as if we are family."

Lisa— who had been listening, whispered to Kaeya who she knew was the closest one here to Varka.

"Did he really..?" Lisa asked, trying to know if there was actually such a saying.

Kaeya answered immediately with utmost confidence. "Nah, there's none," Keaya whispered back, holding back his laughter.

"Oh, pfft!" Lisa covered her mouth.

"S-stop Lisa, d-don't— pfft!" While Kaeya also did the same

It appeared that the current Acting Grandmaster was not just well-versed in being a knight!

Jean, whose ear turned into a red, shouted internally. 'I can hear you two..!', she said to herself, amazingly maintaining her smiling face.

Noelle— who was not the same naive girl as before, looked at Jean with a blank face. Thankfully, she was not as merciless as those two so she just pretended that she gained something profound.

Clasping her hands, Noelle said, "O-oh..! I see! Thank you very much, I gained a very valuable insight."

Jean smiled and said, "Well that's that, you can act more informal around us."

Noelle nodded. "Alright, I'll try to do my best, Miss Jean," she said as she smiled.

"That's better," Jean said as she smiled. She then continued as she asked, "So, what might be your actual business here?"

'Here it is..!' Noelle— who had been waiting for this moment, carefully opened her mouth to reply.

Noelle put her hand on her chest and answered. "I came here to ask for permission to take a day off of the duty. As you can see, the Knight Examination just ended, so I.. might be feeling under the weather," she said, trying to sound a bit pitiful.

At this moment, the three people inside the room had their eyes widened from surprise. They couldn't believe that Noelle, THE NOELLE, would ask for a day off.

Jean stumbled over her words as she replied. "O-o-of course! Of course you can!" she replied with great joy as she abruptly stood up.

But then, she took her focus on what Noelle said in the latter. 'Feeling under the weather huh..,' she thought to herself as she smiled bitterly.

Jean's face became softer as her expression went gentle. "Noelle, was the test hard? It's okay, I know you did your best," she said, reassuring Noelle.

It couldn't be helped. Jean knew that it might be stupid but the higher ups and her had decided to fail her again this time. Frankly speaking, Noelle was one of the people she knew that held the most absolute selflessness. She honestly feared at what length Noelle would do if she were to become a knight.

It might just bring more risk and danger to this young girl.

Noelle— who heard those words, mysteriously let out a single drop of tear on her right eye.

Noelle realized that and touched her right cheek. "H-huh..?", Noelle said confusingly, unable to understand the cause of it.

"I-I'm sorry, just, please give me a second," Noelle said as she tried to wipe her tears.

Lisa, who couldn't bear seeing such an expression, patted Noelle's head as she said with a warm voice, "Hm, you really worked hard huh? Don't worry, we know that you did your best. Failing doesn't change the fact you're an amazing person."

It was the same for Kaeya. Although he was not saying anything and that he was not the type to give words of comfort, he was definitely sympathetic.

They both heard a rumor of how just a certain maid kept on appearing in every part of Mondsadt and helped everyone that the maid laid sight on.

Noelle fixed herself and said, "I'm very thankful for the kind words. Don't worry, I'm rather fine now."

She smiled as she assured others. And more importantly...

During that small period of time, Noelle managed to understand something.

'Noelle' was still there right inside her heart.