"Genius… are you really sure you want to go to that cursed place Inazuma, instead of coming back to Snezhnaya with me?"
At the moment of parting, the Tsaritsa—Her Majesty the Ice Queen herself—looked at Su Ran with undisguised reluctance.
Anything would've been fine—anywhere would've been fine— so why did he have to choose that storm-ridden land ruled by Baal?
"General Winter," Raiden Ei said smoothly, standing tall with the calm arrogance of a victor, "you may as well stop struggling.
Just admit it—Su Ran is a Harbinger of the Fatui."
Because Su Ran's next destination was Inazuma, not Snezhnaya, the Shogun couldn't help feeling triumphant.
He had chosen her domain.
And that was all the proof she needed.
She even took a small step back and smiled ever so slightly— the smile of a woman who had successfully stolen her rival's treasure.
The Tsaritsa, meanwhile, ground her teeth so hard she nearly cracked her jaw.
It was that feeling— that maddening, regretful ache— like realizing only after it's too late that your precious childhood sweetheart has been stolen away.
And in that moment, the mighty Ice Goddess became the tragic figure of the story— the abandoned heroine.
The pure-hearted lover who had just been cuckolded.
Wait, why does this feel like I'm the victim in a bad love triangle…?
The Tsaritsa clenched her fists, trembling with complicated emotion.
If anyone said one more word, she might actually start another divine-level duel right here and now.
Su Ran, wisely, chose not to enjoy the drama.
If she lost her temper and followed him to Inazuma, the "Traveler vs. Shogun" plotline might turn into "Ice Goddess vs. Shogun" instead— and then the so-called "main character" wouldn't even have a place left in the story.
"Now, now, don't cry, Duckie," he said, reaching out to ruffle her hair.
"You're supposed to be the one who'll overthrow Celestia, remember?
A girl with such lofty dreams can't be acting like a jealous housewife."
He patted her head affectionately.
And—ah, it had to be said— patting a goddess felt amazing.
So soft. So divine.
Honestly? Even better than Keqing's cat ears.
Raiden Ei, standing nearby, blinked suspiciously.
That line about a "jealous housewife"… was that supposed to be referring to her?
"But if the goal is to overthrow Celestia," the Tsaritsa murmured, pouting slightly, "isn't having you enough?"
She had a point.
Why bother building armies, when she already had him— a walking apocalypse in human form?
"And what would that make the Fatui then?" Su Ran chuckled.
"If I did all the work myself, your organization would just look like clowns."
"The process doesn't matter," the Tsaritsa said coldly.
"Only the result does.
Celestia's rule must end."
It wasn't ambition that drove her— it was conviction.
Even if her five hundred years of effort amounted to nothing, if Su Ran could break their chains in her stead, then so be it.
"You really have some kind of personal vendetta with the Paramecia, don't you?"
Su Ran sighed.
It felt like some karmic joke.
In another world, Bronya and Kiana couldn't stop fighting— and here in Teyvat, the Ice Goddess and the "Grasshopper" (as she called Celestia's Sustainer) were sworn enemies too.
"Who's the Grasshopper?" the Tsaritsa asked curiously.
"The Sustainer of Heavenly Principles," he said casually.
The Tsaritsa went silent for a long time.
Then, with growing suspicion, she asked:
"You don't happen to have… something going on with her too, do you?"
Su Ran blinked.
"What? Why would you even think that?"
"You call me Duckie," she said, narrowing her eyes.
"So maybe Grasshopper is your little pet name for her."
Su Ran nearly choked.
"I haven't even met her!"
"Really?"
The Ice Goddess stared at him, unblinking.
"Truly, Your Majesty—I swear," Su Ran said solemnly, giving her an almost overly respectful bow.
The Tsaritsa stiffened.
"...Could you not call me Your Majesty?
Hearing that from your mouth just feels… wrong."
She hesitated for a moment, then sighed softly.
"Just… call me Duckie. It sounds more natural."
Because in that simple nickname, there was still something warm— a tiny reassurance that he still cared.
"Well then," Su Ran said at last, "it's time to say goodbye."
The Tsaritsa watched as he turned and walked away, Raiden Ei following at his side.
Only now did she truly understand what "white moonlight" felt like— that quiet ache of something beautiful that was never meant to be hers.
Behind her, two figures had been standing silently the entire time— La Signora and Childe.
The "supporting cast," now reduced to awkward spectators in someone else's love triangle.
"Your Majesty," Signora finally spoke, "forgive my bluntness—but letting Su Ran and the Raiden Shogun leave together… isn't that a loss for Snezhnaya?"
Even she, prideful as she was, could see that letting him get too close to another god
was not in their best interests.
Su Ran's power was far too dangerous to risk sharing.
"But the Electro Archon's Gnosis is still in Inazuma, isn't it?"
Childe interjected, confused.
It was true. The Gnosis was vital.
Someone had to reclaim it eventually.
And with even Morax gone, who among the Harbingers could dare step foot in a land ruled by another god?
Going now would just be suicide.
Signora shot him a sharp glare.
"When one possesses power like Su Ran's," she said, "what need is there for a Gnosis?"
Ever since that day when the Tsaritsa had smiled and said,
"If you like it, take it," as Su Ran borrowed the Shogun's Gnosis for his own experiments—
Signora's entire view of "divine relics" had changed.
What was a Gnosis compared to him?
A Gnosis could create a being who rivaled a god.
But Su Ran?
He could casually grant such power to others— and still have strength to spare.
Why chase scraps when you already had the source itself?
"I suppose… you're right,"
Childe said quietly, the first to relent.
After all, he'd experienced Su Ran's gift firsthand.
If even he couldn't defeat certain foes— then what use was a crystal heart stolen from a god?
And so, as the two women and one man watched the fading silhouettes in the sky, the Ice Goddess could only whisper under her breath:
"As long as he's happy… that's enough."
Signora and Childe exchanged uneasy glances.
Oh no, they both thought.
The Tsaritsa's really become the tragic heroine…
~~--------------------------------------
To read future chapters head over to p@treon:
patreon.com/YonkoSlayer