"Why can she come, but I can't?"
"Or are you saying I'm not even allowed a glance at my own son?"
Setting aside whatever was happening outside, after a short rest Rowan returned to his room.
Only to find that it wasn't just Istaroth inside—there was someone else.
It wasn't Venti, the Anemo Archon; that guy had bolted the moment the meeting ended, clearly having zero intention of sticking around.
With his "mom" present, he really didn't dare linger.
The new arrival had waist-length blonde hair—and, more strikingly, mismatched pupils: one shaped like an X, the other like a Y. She was chatting and laughing with Istaroth as if they were old friends.
Obviously, many of you have already guessed who she is.
Correct—she was Rhinedottir, Albedo's teacher and creator.
Of course, her identity was no longer "Gold," the sinner among the Five Sinners.
Now, she was Naberius, the Life-Sovereign, one of the Four Shadows of the Primordial.
"Heh. The four of you are really something—one traitor, three with minds of their own. Bored, are we, that you're all coming down here?"
"And where's Ruonava? She's watching too, isn't she?"
"Don't just spy from up there—come down with the rest."
Rowan couldn't help but grumble.
These Four Shadows might be projections of Fanes, but their personalities were wildly different—and very much their own. If anything, they'd probably had issues with Fanes for a long time and had been working in the dark.
Just look at Istaroth: always giving a helping hand to this person or that one. On the surface she obeyed "Heaven," but behind the scenes she'd done plenty that defied Fanes.
There was someone else just as bad.
Ruonava. She'd gone even further—she lent her power to Shibarak, letting him wield the authority of the Death-Sovereign. With that borrowed power, Shibarak not only perfected Natlan's "Requiem of Return" and the unique leylines of the Night-God's land, he also left a portion of that authority in the Pyro Throne so that every Fire Archon thereafter could draw on it.
The price? Merely a single life.
And Ruonava hadn't even stipulated whose life. Any life would do.
Turning a blind eye, in the most literal way.
Maybe because her behavior had been so blatant, "Heaven" punished her for it. Otherwise why is she forever lecturing about rules? It's because she's paid dearly for breaking them—so now she never stops hammering them home.
As for Naberius… even more outrageous.
She outright quit—handing both body and authority to Rhinedottir.
That's betrayal at its peak.
And the Void-Sovereign? Vanished. Even skipped the Four-Shadows council—something that had never happened before.
Put plainly, every last one of the Four Shadows had a rebellious streak.
Who knows what Fanes will think when he finally awakens and sees all four have turned their backs.
"Oh? So you noticed all that."
"In that case, I'll come."
The very next second, another figure appeared in Rowan's room.
Dark-red regalia, a body sheathed in black silk. Compared to the other two, her chest was… substantial.
The moment Rowan saw her, his gaze never left that heavy, generous curve.
Truly—ambition writ across the chest.
She was the heaviest hitter among the Four Shadows: Ruonava, the Death-Sovereign.
A very tsundere young lady.
Looking at the three Sovereigns who'd suddenly gathered in his room, Rowan was completely stunned.
What the hell—why are all of you here?
If Asmoday showed up too, they could hold a Four-Shadows council on the spot.
Ridiculous.
"You ladies chat. I'm out."
Three women make a play; one woman is five hundred ducks; three women are fifteen hundred ducks.
Rowan had no intention of being quacked to death.
So he slipped out without another word.
"Uh…"
But the moment Rowan left, the three women—who had been mid-banter—fell silent.
Clearly, they found Rowan far more interesting than each other.
They'd known one another for millennia—knew each other inside and out. For all Fanes's importance, the four of them were closer to one another than to him. Which meant they also understood one another best.
Only Rhinedottir was a newer addition to their ranks, still a bit of an unknown.
"Istaroth, are you truly going to stay by his side and aid him?"
"You mean to follow Asmoday's example?"
After a long silence—just when Rhinedottir was about to lose patience—Ruonava finally spoke.
They'd worked together for ages. Ruonava might often stray, but she'd never thought of betraying Fanes. Then Asmoday disappeared, and the others began to stir. Rhinedottir's restlessness was understandable—she'd been one of the Five Sinners and a remnant of Khaenri'ah. Swallowing Naberius was likely her way of striking back at "Heaven."
But Istaroth? What was her deal?
Rhinedottir hadn't even run yet, and Istaroth was already making moves?
"I want to know what his world is like."
"And I'm curious about him."
Istaroth admitted it openly—she intended to follow Rowan.
She wasn't the least bit embarrassed, leaving the other two staring at each other in surprise.
They chatted a while longer. Then Ruonava vanished, departing first. Rhinedottir lingered, standing far off to gaze at Albedo's workshop before she, too, left with clear reluctance.
By devouring Naberius, she could briefly reclaim herself from the curse of madness—but it still wasn't true lucidity. She needed to return to her domain and properly recover.
When Rowan finally returned to his chambers, only Istaroth remained.
"They're gone. You're not leaving?"
She sat at the edge of the bed, looking out over Mondstadt's night view. Rowan frowned in puzzlement.
Don't tell me Istaroth has actually taken a liking to me?
Or because she saw everything this morning, she thinks I have to "take responsibility"?
No way. If so, the Four Shadows are way too naïve.
"I'm already your queen consort," she said. "Do you really think I'd leave?"
"Or… do you not like me?"
(End of Chapter)
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