**Chapter 60: Scaramouche Obtains the Raiden Shogun's Heart**
The entire battle was a one-sided, predictable rout by Scaramouche.
The ship was engulfed in towering flames, which also became Rosalyne's final ashes.
Scaramouche gazed down at the dying Rosalyne, mocking her mercilessly.
"Barnabas, Dottore—they're all just chasing their own so-called interests. We were merely using each other. As for you, you're nothing but a pathetic, insignificant insect. An ant should know its place."
Rosalyne trembled as she looked up at Scaramouche.
"Scaramouche, you've betrayed Her Majesty the Empress! You'll pay a terrible price for this one day!"
"Heh, a price? What price can a clown who seeks to collect the so-called God's Hearts and overturn the established order—a godless sinner—possibly impose on me?"
Scaramouche continued to look down at Rosalyne with the gaze of a victor, then slowly lifted his head to gaze north.
He sneered at Rosalyne, "Oh, right! Didn't Barnabas make some promise to you? Hah, her promises were nothing but castles in the air—utterly absurd."
"You! You wandering, abandoned dog!"
The words "wandering" and "abandoned" only fueled Scaramouche's rage, driving him to unleash relentless attacks that eventually knocked Rosalyne unconscious.
He forcibly seized the Raiden Shogun's Heart from her grasp and kicked her into the sea.
As Rosalyne sank deeper into the abyss, Scaramouche continued his maniacal laughter.
"Heh heh, Rosalyne, you brought this upon yourself! Blame Jingchen for entrusting you with the Raiden Shogun's Heart.
How utterly absurd! If Columbina had been by his side, combined with his own power, I wouldn't have dared to act so rashly."
Scaramouche raised the Raiden Shogun's Heart, feeling its power surge through him—the key to his ascension to godhood.
"Baalzebub! I will ascend to godhood! You pretended to respect my choices while ignoring me entirely.
Too merciful to interfere with my fate?! Heh! Such sanctimonious deities only fill me with utter disgust."
He finally stepped onto Guyun Stone Forest, letting the rain patter against his wide-brimmed hat.
*Baalzebub, you will be overthrown by me. And this world that betrayed me? I will plunge it into oblivion!*
***
Ying and Paimon arrived at the Kamisato Estate. As the Honorary Knight of Mondstadt, Toma introduced them to Kamisato Ayaka.
They hoped that through Ayaka's connections, they could successfully meet the Raiden Shogun.
Ayaka remained troubled, her appetite gone, as if longing for someone.
The wedding ceremony at Grand Narukami Shrine kept replaying in her mind, along with their actions during the ceremony.
She remained silent for a long time.
Ying and Paimon could only awkwardly sip their tea, whispering to each other.
"Traveler, what's with this White Heron Princess?!"
"I... I don't know either. Could it be like Blue Serpent's Long Dream, where she's longing for that Executor named Jingchen?"
"What a coincidence! Though I guess he does seem like quite the catch. The Tianquan and Yuheng of Liyue, even the Director of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, all long for Jingchen. And now the White Heron Princess too?!"
"Maybe I should try asking about Jingchen?"
"Ah, okay."
Ying softly addressed Ayaka.
"Princess Heron, Jingchen..."
The moment the name "Jingchen" was uttered, Ayaka abruptly stood up and looked toward the door.
There was no sign of Jingchen. Outside the window, a light rain mingled with a gentle breeze, scattering fallen sycamore leaves across the ground.
*Yes, Jingchen is already Columbina's husband. What reason do I have to miss him?*
Kamisato Ayaka quietly resumed her seat across from Ying and Paimon.
"Um, Traveler, Princess Heron seems just like Hu Tao and the others," Paimon whispered.
"This... *sigh*. I'll try asking her again."
"Princess Heron, it's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Ying, the Traveler, and this is Paimon."
Kamisato Ayaka gave a polite nod.
"It's a pleasure to meet you too, Ying and Paimon. Toma has already told me you're the Honorary Knight of Mondstadt who resolved the dragon crisis, correct?"
"Yes."
"What brings you here?"
"I wish to request your assistance in gaining an audience with the Raiden Shogun."
Kamisato Ayaka took out the talisman Jingchen had given her and clutched it tightly in her palm.
She spoke softly to Ying.
"Oh... *sigh*... I understand. If there's nothing else, please return for now. I wish to be alone for a while."
Paimon whispered urgently in Ying's ear.
"Traveler, Princess Heron seems to be dismissing us! What should we do?"
"Toma mentioned we could also seek an audience with the Raiden Shogun through Lady Guuji Yae or Kujou Sara. Let's head to the Grand Narukami Shrine first."
"Alright."
The moment Ying and Paimon stood up, she glanced back.
The longing in Princess Heron's eyes surpassed even Ying's own yearning for her brother. What would become of her in the end?
They say longing can become an illness. I hope she can escape her predicament soon.
Amidst thunder and torrential rain, Ying and Paimon arrived at Grand Narukami Shrine.
A shrine maiden approached them.
"Are you here to draw a fortune slip or offer prayers?"
"Is Lady Guuji Yae at the shrine?"
The maiden paused, studying Ying and Paimon again.
"Well... Lady Guuji Yae hasn't been in good spirits lately. Please visit another time."
"Ah?! Okay."
Ying and Paimon reluctantly left.
Inagi Hotaru hurried to the Sacred Sakura Tree.
There, she found Yae Miko leaning against the tree, drowning her sorrows in sake.
"Lady Guuji Yae, a blonde girl came looking for you earlier."
"A blonde girl?! Didn't I say—?! If it's not Jingchen, don't bother me!"
"Ah... Lady Guuji Yae, Jingchen... he's already Columbina's..."
"Stop it!!!"
Yae Miko smashed the wine bowl in her hand, her words tumbling out in a frantic, incoherent stream.
"A thousand sorrows, ten thousand cups of wine, yet never could I catch a glimpse of my beloved."
"Fate's cruel jest, its fleeting joy, ends with a shattered dream as he finds his true pair."
Unnoticed, tears streamed down Yae Miko's cheeks, mingling with the rain as they dripped onto the fallen cherry blossoms.
Suddenly, she burst into wild laughter.
*Why love someone only to hurt them?!*
*Isn't it better to simply watch others' misfortunes, to find amusement in their suffering, as I've done for most of these five centuries?!*
*Ah, perhaps... perhaps all that remains now is endless regret.*
Inagi Hotaru stood helplessly by, watching Lady Guuji Yae's descent into this state.
*What will become of Grand Narukami Shrine's future now?*
....
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(End of Chapter)