Ganyu confirmed it once more.
The young man standing behind her—his princely cloak—was identical to what she had seen on the docks that morning. That quiet, sovereign presence, restrained yet overwhelming, could belong to no one else.
He was unmistakably the Severin of Snezhnaya.
"Y-Your Highness… I–I'm so sorry…"
Realizing she had ordered the Snezhnayan Prince around for an entire night, Ganyu's heart fell into panic. She lowered her head, too shy to meet his eyes.
"Miss Ganyu, there's no need for formalities," Severin said gently. "I merely passed by last night. Even in Snezhnaya, I've heard that the Chief Secretary of Yuehai Pavilion is the most diligent soul in Liyue. Seeing it with my own eyes today, I'm not disappointed."
Seeing her still flustered, he added lightly, "If you truly wish to thank me, how about brewing me a strong cup of tea to sober me up? Lady Ningguang's liquor at the banquet had quite the aftertaste."
"Ah—Your Highness likes tea, but…" Ganyu looked around in a panic. "I think I've used up all the tea leaves in my office."
Despite her impeccable composure at work, once nervous, Ganyu fell into complete disarray.
Severin glanced at the pale dawn light outside the window.
"Then why not invite me to the docks for breakfast?"
"Ah… alright."
She agreed almost without thinking, surprising even herself.
Every day at dawn, Ganyu would go to the docks for her "morning meal."
Of course, her breakfast was not fried dough sticks or buns—but morning dew. And in more than three thousand years, she had never shared that dew with anyone.
The Snezhnayan Prince was the first.
At Liyue Harbor, the sky had just begun to brighten. Sea and sky blended into one, a few sailboats drifting in the distance. With no one else around, Ganyu stood at the edge of the dock, facing the moist sea breeze, arms outstretched. Her curves were outlined clearly, blue hair clinging lightly to her cheeks, the small tuft atop her head swaying with the wind.
The Cryo Vision tied at her waist flared with light. The surrounding temperature dropped, and countless tiny droplets condensed in the air.
She removed the small bronze bell from her neck, collecting the droplets until it was full.
This was no ordinary dew, but the purest elemental essence formed at the moment when yin and yang shifted. To ordinary people, it was lethally toxic—but to a qilin, it was the finest delicacy in the world.
"All done, Your Highness."
Sensing the unfathomable depth of Cryo energy within Severin, Ganyu felt reassured and offered him the bell.
The taste was faintly bitter, yet sweet.
Severin felt his mind clear instantly, the fatigue from the night swept away. It could not compare to tea in flavor, but it filled both body and spirit in a way words could not convey.
Afterward, Ganyu filled the bell again for herself, sipping delicately, lips pursed as she drank.
This was the happiest moment of her day—eating brought her comfort, especially since she consciously restrained her diet.
Few knew that before attaining her current graceful figure, Ganyu had once been quite plump. During the Archon War, she had been so round that she became lodged in a monster's throat, accidentally choking it to death—a story that left everyone laughing.
From that day on, she vowed to diet.
She succeeded, and her figure remained so to this day.
"Your Highness… about that letter—"
Realizing her slip, Ganyu's cheeks flushed. "I mean… your advice. It meant a great deal to me. I should work for myself, not merely for a contract, not merely for Rex Lapis."
"Working for yourself is only the first step," Severin replied. "When one day you find that even without a contract, you are still willing to devote yourself to this land—then you will truly be acknowledged."
"I… understand." She sighed softly. "But I'm still confused. Sometimes I don't know whether I should exist as a human or as an adeptus. I don't know who I really am."
"Adeptal beasts and immortals share one trait," Severin said calmly. "Long lives. After witnessing too many partings of life and death, you instinctively distance yourselves from the mortal world to avoid pain. But I know—deep down, you long more to live as a human."
"Perhaps…"
Ganyu still looked lost.
"You'll find your answer. Now, Miss Ganyu, it's time for you to return to work."
Before the sun fully rose, she had to be back at Yuehai Pavilion—just as she had for over a thousand years.
"Then I'll take my leave. Thank you again, Your Highness, for working overtime with me last night."
At last, she gathered the courage to look up—only to find Severin already turned away, gazing out at the sea.
For a brief moment, she thought she saw, in the void behind him, a massive draconic claw reaching forth, scales faintly visible.
Such a claw—how vast must its true body be?
She blinked, rubbed her eyes.
It was gone.
So was the Snezhnayan Prince.
In Liyue's folklore, there were those born with the aura of a true dragon—children of destiny, blessed with immense fortune.
Perhaps the Prince of Snezhnaya was such a man.
...
As the sun rose, Liyue's streets came alive—vendors selling breakfast, tea houses opening, storytellers and performers taking their places.
Yet before one particular building, the street remained strangely deserted.
Passersby hurried past, wary of bad luck.
At times like this, a twin-tailed girl with plum-blossom eyes would shout after them:
"Hey, hey! You clearly don't understand the rules of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor! Disrespect the Director and don't come crying to me when there's a funeral at home! Though… pay a bit more Mora and we can talk~"
The pedestrians would immediately rush back, bowing apologetically.
"Haha! I'm very generous. How about coming inside for a visit?"
"No, no, Director Hu Tao!"
They fled as if for their lives.
Everyone knew—living people did not enter Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. Aside from its consultant, only the dead did.
"Mr. Zhongli, you're early today."
Hu Tao greeted the approaching man cheerfully.
"Is there a major rite today?" Zhongli asked.
"There is, there is! A Fontaine merchant died last night. The Deep-Sea Vishap he bought at the auction vanished too—Millelith are investigating. But hey, our rites can proceed regardless!"
A flicker of surprise crossed Zhongli's eyes.
He recalled the Snezhnayan Prince's certainty at the auction—that the Abyss Order would stop at nothing to reclaim the vishap.
The merchant's death proved the Prince right.
This Snezhnayan Prince was formidable. With his help, Liyue could advance rapidly.
Unfortunately, he had refused the regency—and even declared a commercial war against the Liyue Qixing.
Still…
Lady Ningguang and the others would not lose.
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