"Miss Lumine, we meet again," Severin said, glancing at her profile.
"Or perhaps it would be more appropriate to call you the Princess of the Abyss."
Lumine lifted her chin slightly. The faint curve of her lips carried a subtle, inscrutable smile—one that blended innocence with danger.
In Snezhnaya, countless beautiful women had once thrown themselves at Severin's feet. Even during this diplomatic journey, he had seen all manner of stunning figures.
Yet only Lumine possessed that uniquely contradictory aura—
purity intertwined with wickedness.
She waved her hand lightly, and the Abyss Lectors behind her retreated into the distance.
"Prince," she said coolly, "you may call me whatever you like. After all, you were the one who rejected our marriage proposal back then. We are no longer friends—only partners of mutual interest."
Her voice was cold, devoid of warmth.
And there were reasons for that.
In recent years, after inheriting the power of the ancient nation of Khaenri'ah, the Abyss Order had revered her as their Princess. Seeking revenge against the Heavenly Principles, she had attempted to ally with Snezhnaya, secretly traveling there multiple times to negotiate cooperation.
The Abyss Order's reputation across Teyvat was abysmal—one of the Seven Nations' primary targets for eradication. Without allies among the nations, vengeance against the heavens would remain nothing more than a mirage.
Snezhnaya, openly opposing the gods, naturally became her first choice.
Yet during a meeting two years ago, the Tsaritsa suddenly asked her a question:
Would she be willing to marry the Prince of Snezhnaya?
At that time, Severin had already begun to rise, but due to the Tsaritsa's deliberate secrecy, his reputation had not yet reached its current heights. Outside of the Tsaritsa and the Eleven Harbingers, most believed that the Prince's greatest strengths lay in technological innovation and governance—not personal power.
Lumine was no exception.
Having personally witnessed the fall of Khaenri'ah five hundred years ago, she understood better than anyone that technology and external tools would always crumble before the Heavenly Principles.
Only absolute, overwhelming personal strength could challenge them.
Still, after weighing the pros and cons, she agreed.
For the sake of vengeance against the heavens, any price was acceptable.
Even if the Prince were a fool.
Even if he were hideous beyond words.
Then, the very next day, the Tsaritsa informed her that the marriage had been canceled—and explained why.
It had been rejected by the Prince himself.
In other words, the Abyss Princess—who had never thought highly of him to begin with—had been formally refused.
What angered her most was the reason:
He believed her intentions for marriage were impure.
Impure?
Was she expected to marry him out of love and devotion?
The Prince of Snezhnaya was absurdly confident.
Unable to swallow that humiliation, Lumine went straight to the Prince's residence that same day.
She needed answers.
When she finally saw Severin in person, she faltered.
He was dressed in his princely cloak, quietly reading a military treatise. Refined and striking, with calm, penetrating eyes that seemed capable of seeing straight through one's heart.
His presence was extraordinary—
Like a hidden dragon coiled in the abyss.
Judging from the divine power flowing within him, his strength likely surpassed even that of the Eleven Harbingers.
Only then did Lumine realize she had misjudged him.
By any measure, she was his equal.
Her resentment dissipated before it could even find an outlet.
In the end, she used her visit as a farewell, explaining her intentions. Their conversation drifted from literature to art, and Severin's vast knowledge left a deep impression on her.
Still—
She had been rejected once.
Meeting again now wasn't exactly awkward, but it certainly wasn't pleasant.
One thing, however, was undeniable.
Three years later, the Prince of Snezhnaya was at the height of his influence. His reputation and authority were rapidly spreading across the Seven Nations, turning him into an idol for countless young people.
Even with the Fatui's notorious reputation, Severin remained widely respected and admired.
That alone spoke volumes about his personal charisma.
"Your brother, Aether, has awakened from his long slumber," Severin said.
"He's been searching for you. I brought him here so the two of you could meet again. Are you truly unwilling to speak with him?"
"Brother…"
Lumine gazed at the distant figure gliding through the sky with a wind glider. Her eyes misted over, but she shook her head firmly.
"If I meet him now, he'll only ask me to leave Teyvat with him and return home. But you know this, Prince—we carry the wishes of countless亡 souls. We shoulder a mission too heavy to abandon."
"Every day, I hear the wails of Khaenri'ah's people. Every night, I wake in hatred and rage. Until that mission is complete, how could I dare speak of leaving?"
She clenched her lips, forcing herself to remain resolute.
"My brother's journey has only just begun. I cannot soften now. I will wait for him at the journey's end. When that day comes, I believe he'll understand why I made this choice."
"If he cannot grasp the meaning of this journey… then he will never see me again."
She then turned to Severin.
"Still, I must thank you for bringing my brother to see me today. As repayment, I need to offer a warning—one that may sound impolite."
"The road the Tsaritsa walks is far more perilous than ours. If you continue to follow her, your future will be drenched in danger."
"I command the power of the Abyss. I possess knowledge of the Heavenly Principles. Yet many things lie beyond my control—the Abyss Order itself is facing tremendous difficulties."
"Prince of Snezhnaya," she said earnestly,
"I need your overwhelming strength. Your unparalleled talent. Your extraordinary wisdom."
"Join the Abyss Order. Together, we can overthrow the Heavenly Principles."
It was a direct invitation.
With Severin's support, the Abyss Order's chances of success would rise to unprecedented heights.
"All of Teyvat," Severin replied lightly, "and only the Abyss Princess dares to steal the Tsaritsa's right-hand man."
He looked toward the boundless sea on the horizon.
"Celestia or the Abyss—I don't particularly care which of you wins in the end. What I seek is lasting peace for Teyvat."
"In other words, a world where people live and work in peace—that is my greatest wish."
"And you," he continued calmly, "are the most unstable factor of all. I often wonder whether, after dealing with the Heavenly Principles… I should then deal with the Abyss as well."
Lumine scoffed. "How arrogant. The power of the Abyss surpasses the Seven Elements—don't overestimate yourself."
A strange force surged around her—something entirely different from elemental power.
At that moment, Lumine exerted a faint but undeniable pressure.
It was a sensation Severin had only felt once before—
From the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles.
Clearly, compared to their meeting two years ago, Lumine's strength had grown to rival that of the Seven.
No wonder she dared to poach Snezhnaya's Prince.
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