Severin accepted the sealed letter. With a light brush of his fingers, the thin layer of frost—meant to ward off prying eyes—dissolved at once. On the envelope were eight simple words:
"As if meeting face to face. To be opened by the Prince himself."
It was a handwritten letter from Tsaritsa.
The Mirror Maiden immediately straightened, her expression solemn, and led the nearby members of the delegation away.
They all knew this well.
In Snezhnaya, most official correspondence was drafted by scribes. The Tsaritsa rarely wrote in her own hand. The last time she had done so was more than two hundred years ago.
Back then, Morax had invited the ruling gods of other nations to Liyue to celebrate the Moonchase Festival. The Tsaritsa declined in a personally written letter, citing poor health, and sent Tartaglia to attend in her stead and deliver the message.
Across all of Teyvat, the only person who could refuse Morax so directly was the Tsaritsa herself.
Which meant that anything worthy of her personal handwriting was undoubtedly important—and urgent. Naturally, no one else was fit to remain.
After reading the letter, Severin folded it and put it away.
In truth, its contents were not especially alarming.
The Tsaritsa wrote that while he was away, Snezhnaya remained peaceful and stable, and that he should focus on completing his diplomatic mission without worry. She added—almost casually—that without him, the Ice Palace seemed to have lost its warmth, and that she found herself unaccustomed to life without Severin nearby.
The rest was made up of ordinary concern—gentle inquiries, reminders, and familiar warmth.
Only the final passage truly caught Severin's interest.
According to the Tsaritsa, long ago—right under Morax's very nose—she had been "tending cold stoves and playing idle moves." In simpler terms, she had quietly laid groundwork in Liyue, supporting or investing in certain individuals through various means.
Those people now owed her favors yet unpaid.
If necessary, once Severin arrived in Liyue, he could contact them for assistance. While they would not obey the Tsaritsa unconditionally, they were far more reliable than complete strangers.
Among them was one individual with the codename "Golden Shrimp Ball." The Tsaritsa mentioned this person specifically, noting that if the delegation chose to visit Liyue, they could play a decisive role.
"The Empress has spent so many years alone in the Ice Palace," Severin said with a faint smile, glancing at the Mirror Maiden. "I've been gone less than a month, and she already wants me back. Tell me—can I really return now?"
"Of course you can, Your Highness," the Mirror Maiden replied at once. "If you wish to return, I'll notify the captain to turn the ship around immediately. Her Majesty has been thinking of you constantly. If you suddenly appeared in the palace, she would be overjoyed."
The other members of the delegation quickly echoed her sentiment.
"You're all clearly biased toward Her Majesty," Severin sighed. "I finally step out to get some fresh air, and you're already rushing me back."
"We just know that Your Highness wants Her Majesty to be happy as well," someone said with a grin.
Laughter spread through the group—an unusually relaxed moment. Everyone could tell that the Prince was in good spirits.
And truth be told, so were they.
The diplomatic missions to Inazuma and Mondstadt had gone smoothly. As members of Severin's entourage, they shared in that honor.
"Tell me," Severin said, standing at the bow of the ship. "Do you all miss home?"
His voice, carried by divine power, reached every corner of the vessel.
Five to six hundred voices answered almost in perfect unison, firm and resonant:
"Sacrifice the small family, for the greater one!"
Severin raised an eyebrow. "I'll ask again. Do you miss home?"
"Sacrifice the small family, for the greater one!!!"
"Good."
He turned to the Mirror Maiden. "Write back to Her Majesty. Tell her it's not that I don't want to return—it's that they refuse to let me."
The Mirror Maiden pursed her lips. They had just become the Prince's official scapegoats.
"Your Highness, then I'll have to 'disobey' your order," she said helplessly. "Even if this letter were sent back with all our heads attached, it still wouldn't calm Her Majesty's displeasure."
Severin laughed heartily at the delegation's aggrieved expressions.
"Then rewrite it."
"Yes, Your Highness."
The Mirror Maiden immediately began recording his words.
"Reply to Her Majesty: my plans have changed. The next destination of the diplomatic mission will shift from Fontaine to Liyue."
"Also, issue orders for Pantalone and Sandrone to depart immediately and rendezvous with me in Liyue."
"The Snezhnayan delegation stands united. We will not fail our mission."
The moment the word "Liyue" was spoken, it wasn't just the Mirror Maiden—nearly everyone present stiffened.
The delegation had discussed the order of nations in private. Opinions varied, but on one point they had all agreed:
Liyue would be last.
If there was any nation they least wished to visit, it was the Nation of Contracts.
Morax's reputation was overwhelming, his authority shaking all directions.
Beneath him stood the fearsome Adepti, the so-called Three Eyes and Five Manifestations, whose combined strength could rival that of Snezhnaya's Harbingers.
Then there was the Liyue Qixing, a perpetual thorn in the Fatui's side. Any plan involving Liyue increased in difficulty severalfold.
This was why Snezhnaya usually dispatched only a single Harbinger to other nations for special operations. Yet in recent years, the Tsaritsa had successively stationed Tartaglia and Pantalone in Liyue—Tartaglia permanently, Pantalone intermittently.
This journey to Liyue would be anything but easy.
And from Severin's orders, it was clear that he understood that perfectly.
With Pantalone and Sandrone joining Tartaglia, three Harbingers would converge in Liyue—a lineup nothing short of extravagant.
"Your Highness," the Mirror Maiden said carefully, "Liyue holds the Rite of Descension every year. Morax appears in his half-qilin, half-dragon form to guide the nation's development for the coming year."
"Liyue exists under his constant protection, much as Snezhnaya stands beneath Her Majesty's unblinking gaze. Add the Adepti and several dangerous ancient gods, and fulfilling Her Majesty's task may require immense time and effort."
She hesitated, then added, "I believe it may be necessary to summon two more Harbingers to assist you."
"So you're worried that Pantalone and Sandrone won't be enough?" Severin asked calmly.
The Mirror Maiden lowered her head. "I have absolute faith in you, Your Highness. But this time… the opponent is Morax."
"Morax's fame has endured for ages," Severin replied evenly. "His prestige in Teyvat surpasses that of any other god. Your awe is only natural."
"I never underestimate a god—but neither do I overestimate one. I made this decision with full measure."
"Pass the order down. As long as you follow my plan precisely, this journey to Liyue may not be as difficult as you imagine."
As he spoke, an unprecedented fighting spirit ignited in Severin's eyes.
Only an evenly matched opponent could truly excite him.
And the plan he had prepared for Liyue was meticulous.
Even Morax, in the end, would willingly hand over his Gnosis.
"Yes, Your Highness," the Mirror Maiden replied respectfully.
Severin's composure and certainty galvanized the entire delegation. Confidence surged through them.
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