At the Snezhnayan diplomatic residence—
Accustomed to the biting cold of Snezhnaya, even Liyue's mildly cool nights felt chilly to the delegation. As usual, they lit bonfires outside.
Flames danced in the evening breeze.
Small groups gathered around—drinking, chatting, singing, even composing poetry.
A lively, relaxed atmosphere.
But inside the Prince's room—
it remained as quiet as ever.
Severin sat alone at a low table, reading while sipping tea.
From time to time, laughter drifted in from outside.
He listened silently, a faint, unreadable expression in his eyes.
After a while, he spoke.
"Aren't you tired, standing there?"
His gaze shifted toward a corner of the room.
"Your Highness."
The surprise on Sandrone's face flickered for only a moment before she stepped forward respectfully.
Every time, she thought she had concealed herself perfectly.
And every time—
he still noticed.
She picked up the teapot and began pouring tea.
Smiling, she asked:
"Your Highness… how did you know it was me?"
Severin answered simply:
"The smell."
"…Huh?"
"There's a faint scent of machinery on you."
Sandrone froze.
She immediately lifted her sleeve and sniffed it, frowning.
"I've been dismantling the Ruin Serpent you gave me," she said quickly.
"At the same time, I've been monitoring Rex Lapis."
"I'll go change into a clean dress."
"No need."
Severin closed his book.
"It's… a distinctive scent."
Distinctive?
This was the first time Sandrone had ever heard someone describe machine oil that way.
Still—
"distinctive" didn't necessarily mean he liked it.
After pouring the tea, she quietly stepped back a few paces.
What she didn't know—
was that the scent reminded Severin of something else entirely.
Of crowded streets.
Of machines and motion—
from a distant world long gone.
Sandrone began her report.
"Your Highness, Rex Lapis has remained in seclusion recently."
"Yesterday, he suddenly left and went to the ruins of Guili Plains."
"He stood there for half an hour without moving before leaving. The reason is unknown."
"After that, he visited an ancient adepti cave dwelling."
"He sat outside on a stone bench until dusk, seemingly deep in thought."
"Only after nightfall did he return to his place of seclusion."
She lowered her voice slightly.
"To avoid being detected, I kept my distance. I may have missed some details."
After reporting the facts, she added her own judgment:
"I believe those locations may contain hidden treasures."
"If you permit it, I can lead a team to investigate tonight."
After all—
they were speaking of Rex Lapis.
If they were to search his belongings, it required the Prince's approval.
Otherwise—
if the Geo Archon were to take offense—
no one here could withstand his wrath.
Severin asked calmly:
"At that cave… was there a stone table and three stone stools?"
"Yes, Your Highness."
"…As expected."
Guili Plains—
the place where Guizhong, the God of Dust, had fallen.
And that cave dwelling—
once belonged to Madame Ping.
During the Archon War,
Morax, Guizhong, and Madame Ping had often sat together there—
drinking tea and discussing the future of Liyue.
There was no doubt.
Zhongli had gone there to remember the past.
To mourn.
And that—
only confirmed one thing.
His erosion was worse than expected.
"Continue monitoring Morax closely," Severin said.
"Those two locations don't need to be searched. There are no treasures."
"And be careful. Don't get discovered."
"Your safety comes first."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"I'm using puppets—not my real body."
"Don't be careless."
Severin's tone sharpened slightly.
"He is a god."
"His abilities are beyond measure."
As he spoke, he took out a small object and handed it to her.
"This is the Dust-Cleansing Bell."
"Borrowed from Liyue's adepti."
"If your life is in danger—use elemental energy to activate it."
A warmth spread quietly through Sandrone's chest.
She recognized it immediately.
A relic created by Guizhong—
later one of Rex Lapis's personal items.
In a critical moment—
it could disrupt even the Geo Archon's mind.
The fact that Severin had obtained it for her—
said everything.
Her expression grew serious.
"Your Highness… has Rex Lapis's condition really deteriorated that far?"
Severin answered calmly:
"The Yaksha, Xiao, recently encountered a 'Night of a Hundred Demons.'"
"That alone proves Morax's suppression over Liyue is weakening."
"…Understood."
"I'll be extremely careful."
After a brief pause, she added:
"Your Highness… you once said I resemble Guizhong."
"If necessary… should I impersonate her?"
Severin smiled faintly.
"That's exactly why I brought you to Liyue."
Sandrone's eyes widened slightly.
So—
even before arriving in Liyue—
he had already anticipated this situation.
After a moment, she spoke again:
"Your Highness, the Mirror Maiden mentioned your strategy."
"Using the 'True Immortal techniques' to push the adepti into borrowing money from the Qixing…"
"It's a brilliant move."
Severin lifted his tea and blew gently across its surface.
"And what makes it brilliant?"
He asked deliberately.
Sandrone wasn't skilled in politics.
Her expertise lay in machinery—
not schemes.
Sure enough, she answered without hesitation:
"The adepti and the Qixing already have ideological conflicts."
"If the adepti ask them for money, they'll likely be rejected."
"The amount is enormous—tens of billions of Mora."
"The Qixing won't agree."
"This will intensify their conflict…"
"and trigger a new round of confrontation."
"Your strategy divides the enemy perfectly."
She finished speaking and watched him carefully.
But seeing the faint smile on his lips the entire time—
she puffed her cheeks slightly.
"Your Highness… don't laugh at me…"
Severin set his cup down and looked out the window.
The firelight flickered in his eyes.
"This is not just a plan to consume Mora."
"It's also a test of human nature."
"The adepti will soon realize—"
"those who claim to support them are only using them for profit."
"And the one who opposes 'divine rule'—Keqing—"
"will be the one who truly helps them."
"In the end… after the pain passes—"
"the adepti and the Qixing will become more united."
Sandrone blinked.
His conclusion was the exact opposite of hers.
If anyone else had said it—
she wouldn't have believed a word.
But because it was him—
she accepted it without hesitation.
"Your Highness…"
"Even though you refused Rex Lapis's offer to become Regent—"
"you're still helping Liyue from the shadows."
Severin closed the window.
"Morax's condition is deteriorating."
"He needs to focus entirely on resisting erosion."
"As long as I'm here—"
"he can do that without worry."
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