"Change my clothes."
Severin set the book in his hand aside.
The Mirror Maiden helped him into his princely uniform, fastened his cloak, then glanced at the book still lying on the desk.
It was a collection of folk histories recording ancient legends of Teyvat.
Compiled by generations of Liyue storytellers from oral traditions passed down by their ancestors, such books were usually read by common folk to pass the time after meals.
"Your Highness, the Liyue Academy houses countless classical texts," the Mirror Maiden said softly. "I could help you borrow some for reading."
The Liyue Academy possessed the richest collection of books on the entire continent. In her view, since the Prince loved reading so much, he shouldn't miss out.
"Secrets are often hidden within obscure old legends," Severin replied calmly.
"Histories officially recognized by the world are often embellished and revised by later generations. Their credibility is, instead, lower."
Then he asked casually,
"This cloak—was it sent by the Yuheng?"
When Severin met Keqing, he had draped the cloak over her shoulders.
It had been returned promptly.
"Yes, Your Highness. The messenger who delivered the intelligence brought it along as well."
The Mirror Maiden knew her master well. Severin had always valued dignity and propriety—he would never casually leave his cloak in another woman's residence.
Unless something… ambiguous had occurred.
With that thought, she cautiously offered a suggestion.
"Your Highness, if you hold feelings for Miss Keqing, you could petition Her Majesty the Tsaritsa for a marriage decree."
Matters of the heart were often inconvenient for a master to voice himself.
In such cases, it was the duty of subordinates to help open a path forward.
"Do not speculate about my thoughts."
The Mirror Maiden's face went pale in an instant.
"This subordinate acknowledges her fault."
"Enough. Come with me to the Northland Bank."
Severin swept his sleeve and stepped out.
...
Northland Bank.
Pantalone, The Regrator, was locked in a tense confrontation with a group of merchants.
"I'll say this once—Northland Bank answers to me. If you dare cut in line or disrupt order again, don't blame me for being ruthless!"
The moment news of the Prince's endorsement spread the night before, Pantalone had anticipated a surge in deposits.
Reality, however, far exceeded his expectations.
The entire street outside the bank was packed with people waiting to deposit Mora.
Aside from Liyue's local gentry, wealthy landlords, and major merchants, even ordinary townsfolk had come to join the excitement, carrying the little Mora their families had saved to deposit it here.
Pantalone couldn't understand it.
These commoners clearly had no chance of securing the endorsement—weren't they just cannon fodder?
Yet seeing the overwhelming enthusiasm of Liyue's people this morning, he finally realized—
This was public support for the Snezhnayan Prince.
The Prince's influence in Liyue was terrifying.
Problems arose when dealing with the wealthy merchants.
Under the blazing sun, the rich refused to queue. They collectively attempted to cut in line, clashing with the bank's security staff.
When Pantalone stepped in to mediate, the situation only escalated further.
The merchants demanded that the Prince personally come forward—or they would withdraw and refuse to deposit their funds.
Left with no choice, Pantalone sought Severin's help.
The moment Severin and the Mirror Maiden appeared, the merchants surged forward.
"Your Highness, I came for your endorsement. I brought ten billion Mora—why should I queue with them?"
"I brought fifty billion Mora. Shouldn't I receive special treatment?"
"Your Highness, the service attitude at Northland Bank is terrible. I'm about to leave."
Their stance was clear.
With such vast sums in hand, they believed they shouldn't be treated the same as ordinary customers.
Pantalone, however, had insisted on equal treatment—earning intense dissatisfaction.
"Your Highness, please back me up."
Pantalone cast a pleading glance at Severin.
"Any customer making a one-time deposit of over ten billion Mora will receive VIP treatment," Severin announced publicly.
"Northland Bank will open dedicated service counters for them, exempting them from queuing."
The merchants instantly beamed, expressing full approval.
"As for all other customers," Severin continued, addressing the crowd,
"we will adopt a numbered ticket system. Business will be handled strictly in order. No one may cut in line."
The two measures resolved the conflict perfectly.
Many merchants felt admiration in their hearts.
The Snezhnayan Prince's solution wasn't just applicable to banks—it could be used in their own businesses as well.
Within minutes, Severin defused the situation and entered the bank's office.
"Your Highness, this was my recklessness," Pantalone said hurriedly, his head bowed.
"I shouldn't have clashed with the merchants. I nearly affected your grand plan."
Severin's expression was unreadable.
Pantalone hurriedly admitted fault.
"Your mistake wasn't recklessness," Severin said coldly.
"It was arrogance."
"Northland Bank is, at its core, a commercial bank. It must always consider and serve its customers—only then can it survive and grow."
"Do you believe that because Liyue currently has only one Northland Bank, with no competitors, you can do as you please?"
"Then let me tell you—you're gravely mistaken."
"Once this currency war ends, the Liyue Qixing will realize the power of banking. They will certainly establish local banks and money houses to compete with us."
"Have you considered the harsh environment Northland Bank will face in the future?"
Severin's words were sharp.
Pantalone felt a chill run down his spine.
After Northland Bank crushed the smaller money houses and became Liyue's only major bank, he had unconsciously begun to view the market as monopolized.
No matter how much the wealthy complained, he hadn't cared.
Because Northland Bank truly had the leverage.
But as Severin pointed out—once the commercial war ended, and the Qixing recognized the importance of banks, they would inevitably develop local financial institutions.
At that point, Northland Bank would no longer be the public's only option.
Offending these crucial clients now was equivalent to handing them over to future competitors.
Fortunately, the Prince's foresight had awakened him in time.
"Better late than never."
"Later, you will personally go to the VIP lounge and apologize to each of them," Severin instructed.
"Remember—your attitude must be gentle and sincere."
"Engrave this principle in your mind: the customer is our lifeline. Even if they strike you, do not strike back. Even if they curse you, endure it."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Pantalone bowed deeply.
The customer is our lifeline.
Even after years in business, he had never heard such a thunderous truth.
By his judgment, this principle was nothing short of an absolute commercial law.
If Northland Bank wished to expand across all of Teyvat, it would have to abide by it.
"Wait. I'll go with you."
Severin suddenly spoke.
Pantalone and the Mirror Maiden both looked startled.
"Your Highness… your status is invaluable. This isn't appropriate."
Pantalone could already imagine the mockery and abuse awaiting them.
He could endure humiliation for the sake of the plan.
But the Prince's reputation must never be sullied.
"Even Fatui Harbingers can bear disgrace," Severin replied calmly.
"Shouldn't I, as their Prince, lead by example?"
With that, Severin pushed open the door and stepped out.
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