The moment Severin stepped out of the Plane of Euthymia, the Mirror Maiden waiting at the entrance froze in shock.
It had only been a few days.
Yet the Prince's cloak and Snezhnayan attire had lost all luster, as though they'd been dug straight out of the earth—
the fabric is dull, aged, almost rotten.
His face was weathered with exhaustion, utterly unlike the vibrant, commanding presence he'd carried before arriving in Inazuma.
She didn't know what existed within the Plane of Euthymia, but one thing was certain—
His Highness had endured a battle far beyond her imagination.
And all of it—
Had been for Snezhnaya.
"Your… Your Highness…"
Her voice trembled.
The Mirror Maiden's figure was already full and graceful; now, as she fought back tears, her chest rose and fell sharply.
She wanted to cry.
She even reached for her blindfold, ready to let the tears fall freely.
"I've already weathered Snezhnaya's frost," Severin said lightly.
"How could Inazuma's lightning bring me down so easily?"
"Rather than grieving here, help me bathe and change."
"Living unkempt for once… was an unforgettable experience."
The Mirror Maiden quickly reined in her emotions.
She'd nearly forgotten her duty.
Her strength and abilities were limited—she couldn't help him in battle.
But attending to him was something she could do.
Back at the Snezhnayan delegation's residence, Severin soaked in a hot spring while listening—through the heavy curtain—to reports from several senior aides.
Most of it concerned diplomatic matters.
After a few concise instructions, the capable subordinates departed at once to carry out their orders.
In terms of execution, the Fatui truly deserved to be called Teyvat's finest.
No matter how dangerous or difficult the task, they would carry it out without hesitation—
failure was never an option.
From the outside, Snezhnaya was often seen as a villainous nation.
But only by truly engaging with them did one see their strengths.
After the bath, the Mirror Maiden carefully combed his hair and dressed him in a brand-new princely uniform.
With the dust of battle washed away, the Prince of Snezhnaya once again looked radiant and imposing.
"Your Highness," the Mirror Maiden reported,
"Kujou Sara came earlier."
"She conveyed that Kujou Takayuki, head of the Tenryou Commission, wishes to host a banquet for our delegation."
"Additionally, Lady Hiiragi Chisato of the Kanjou Commission, and Kamisato Ayato, head of the Yashiro Commission, have also extended formal invitations."
"I suspect there may be a trap."
"The Tri-Commission acts on the Raiden Shogun's will," Severin replied calmly.
"For them to suddenly invite us en masse means one thing."
"The Raiden Shogun has thought it through."
"Continuing to snub the Snezhnayan delegation would only harm Inazuma."
"She's realized my value to Inazuma—and is offering the respect that value deserves."
"She's not as obstinate as people claim."
The Mirror Maiden nodded vigorously.
"Your Highness is wise! With the Shogun's signal given, Inazuma's elites are scrambling to curry favor."
"They want to gain her approval—and by befriending you, suppress their political rivals."
"What a calculating bunch."
For once, the Mirror Maiden felt deeply vindicated.
The Fatui's repeated failures in Inazuma—and their heavy losses—were largely thanks to the Tri-Commission.
Especially under the Tenryou Commission's suppression, the Fatui had recently become little better than hunted rats.
Who would've thought those same people would now come courting them?
"Your Highness," she said hesitantly,
"My cousin came to Inazuma last month on a mission assigned by Lady La Signora."
"The Tenryou Commission confiscated his Vision under the pretext of the Vision Hunt Decree."
"He argued with them… and was beaten half to death."
As they'd traveled together these past days, the Mirror Maiden's respect and admiration for Severin had only grown.
She'd also discovered he was approachable—
unlike the Eleven Harbingers, each more temperamental than the last.
So she dared to speak more freely.
"Your Highness, my cousin possessed a Vision—not a Delusion."
"After it was taken, he became… hollow."
"He wanders aimlessly now, like a walking corpse."
She clenched her fists.
"I beg you, Your Highness—refuse the Tenryou Commission's invitation."
"Snub them. Break their arrogance."
Severin glanced at her.
The Mirror Maiden immediately dropped to one knee, her heart pounding.
"Your Highness, I spoke out of personal feeling. I should not have let it influence your judgment."
"The Tenryou Commission holds the greatest power among the Three."
"They also work most closely with the Fatui."
"For Snezhnaya's interests… accepting their invitation would be the optimal choice."
"Stand up," Severin said.
"We're not going to the Tenryou Commission."
She stared at him in disbelief.
"I've said this before," Severin continued evenly.
"The people are Snezhnaya's source of strength—its greatest asset."
"Your cousin is one of those people."
"He suffered injustice in Inazuma."
"Recovering his Vision is how we protect Snezhnaya's true interests."
"Your Highness…"
Her voice broke again.
"Have the banquet times been set?" Severin asked.
"They said… you may decide."
Severin swept his sleeve decisively.
"Then inform the Yashiro Commission."
"Tonight, I will personally lead the delegation to their estate."
Among the Three Commissions, Severin was most familiar with the Yashiro Commission.
Since he was visiting Inazuma, meeting the Kamisato siblings would at least add some pleasure to the journey.
More importantly—
The Yashiro Commission maintained the closest relationship with the Grand Narukami Shrine.
Which meant—
Yae Miko would certainly be present tonight.
The Gnosis was still in that sly fox's hands.
It was best to secure it tonight—
lest complications arise.
Tenryou Commission — Kujou Estate
The white-haired patriarch Kujou Takayuki frowned deeply after hearing the urgent report.
The wrinkles on his forehead seemed to deepen by the second.
Seated beside him, his son Kujou Kamaji wore a grim expression.
"Father," Kamaji said darkly,
"the Fatui have been trying to destabilize Inazuma."
"We used them to enforce the Vision Hunt Decree—cooperating on the surface while suppressing them in secret."
"After a year of this, we finally forced them into submission."
"But this Prince of Snezhnaya—he refuses to give us face."
"I personally hosted Scaramouche and La Signora before."
"They weren't nearly this arrogant."
"Who is he?"
"Could he be the Tsaritsa's illegitimate son?"
"Why was there no prior intelligence on him at all?"
Kujou Takayuki answered slowly, gravely.
"Kamaji… who he is does not matter."
"Then what does?" Kamaji demanded.
Takayuki narrowed his eyes.
"The Shogun's attitude."
Kamaji immediately calmed.
Orders from Tenshukaku had already arrived—
All institutions were to receive the Snezhnayan delegation with the highest diplomatic courtesy.
That alone spoke volumes.
No matter how much resentment he harbored toward the Prince, he could only swallow it for now.
The Raiden Shogun's will was absolute.
Disobedience was unthinkable.
It was the Kujou family's iron rule—
and the reason they had ruled the Tenryou Commission for generations.
"Father… what should we do?" Kamaji asked quietly.
Takayuki placed a hand on his son's shoulder.
"Prepare yourself."
"We're attending the Kamisato family's banquet tonight."
"But—we weren't invited," Kamaji said in surprise.
Takayuki smiled thinly.
"My foolish son."
"Precisely because we weren't invited, we must lower our posture and go anyway."
"Only then will our sincerity be unmistakable—to the Prince."
Kamaji's eyes widened in realization.
"As expected of you, Father."
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