It wasn't just the Mirror Maiden who froze in place.
Even Editor Kuroda stood there dumbfounded.
He had never heard of his mistress being acquainted with the Prince of Snezhnaya.
Severin, however, remained silent.
I met Yae Miko in the game—how exactly am I supposed to explain that to you?
At the summit of Mt. Yougou stood a grand shrine—the Grand Narukami Shrine.
If one were to name the liveliest place in Inazuma, it would undoubtedly be here. Every day, countless worshippers came to pray and seek blessings.
A young shrine maiden approached respectfully.
"Your Highness, would you like to draw a fortune slip?"
It didn't surprise Severin at all that his identity had been recognized. By now, he was something of a celebrity in Inazuma—his portrait circulated through the streets and alleys alike.
Fortunes ranged from Great Misfortune to Great Blessing.
Severin shook the box. A single slip fell out.
He picked it up and examined it carefully.
There were no words on it.
A blank slip.
The shrine maiden stared, stunned.
"A blank fortune… must be interpreted personally by the Guuji."
"Where is your Guuji?" Severin asked.
"Under the Sacred Sakura."
So Severin led the Mirror Maiden toward the Sacred Sakura.
Beneath the tree sat a low tea table—tea leaves, a brazier, cups—everything prepared.
Yae Miko looked radiant as ever, lips curved in a knowing smile.
"Prince of Snezhnaya," she said lightly,
"since you've come for the Gnosis, you're qualified to meet Ei. Inazuma's Gnosis has always been kept in her hands."
Severin smiled faintly.
If I didn't already know the plot, I really would've been played by this sly fox.
In truth, Inazuma's Gnosis had been in Yae Miko's possession all along.
He didn't expose her lie. Instead, he wanted to see what game she was playing.
"So, Lady Guuji," Severin asked calmly,
"has the Shogun agreed to let me meet Raiden Ei?"
"The things you said were rather difficult for her to accept," Yae Miko replied with a soft laugh.
"She left you hanging for three days—she's probably cooled down by now."
"The Shogun isn't good at opening her mouth, so I'll make the decision in her stead."
"Besides," she added, eyes gleaming,
"if you truly wanted to enter the Plane of Euthymia, who could actually stop you?"
Smooth. Incredibly smooth.
Yae Miko's emotional intelligence completely outclassed the Raiden Shogun's.
But Severin knew better.
One played the villain.
The other played the mediator.
"Well, not necessarily," Severin said leisurely.
"If the Guuji of the Grand Narukami Shrine were to advise me against it, I might truly abandon the idea of entering the Plane of Euthymia."
Yae Miko paused—then smiled faintly.
"Prince, you flatter me. I don't hold that kind of influence."
"Still, I'd like to ask you something."
She personally poured him a cup of tea.
"Is meeting Ei your decision… or the Tsaritsa's instruction?"
Severin accepted the cup. "What difference does it make?"
"If it's the Tsaritsa's order," Yae Miko said calmly,
"then you're merely carrying out a superior's task. Knowing Ei as I do, she might not be inclined to listen."
"After all, things were… less than pleasant between the Tsaritsa and Makoto."
"Oh, right—Makoto was Ei's—"
"—older sister," Severin finished.
Yae Miko laughed lightly, but inside, she was shaken.
The twin Archons of Inazuma were a secret known only to the Seven.
For the Tsaritsa to share such information with Severin—
Her trust in him ran far deeper than expected.
This Prince of Snezhnaya was clearly far more dangerous than he appeared.
Severin merely smiled.
"Thank you for the reminder, Lady Guuji."
With strength rivaling the Seven, Severin could afford to address her by name.
"You're too kind," Yae Miko replied smoothly.
"Helping you is helping myself, after all."
"Ei can be… stubborn," she continued.
"But if she hears everything you said to the Shogun, she might truly be shaken."
"She's sealed herself away for far too long. Perhaps you're the one who can pull her out."
Severin didn't respond.
He quietly sipped his tea.
I'm not going to Ei to reason with her.
"Prince," Yae Miko said suddenly,
"would you like me to interpret that blank fortune slip for you? Though you don't seem the type to believe in divination."
Narukami Shrine's fortunes—especially those concerning destiny—were things Severin naturally didn't believe in.
Fate was something you grasped yourself.
"You can skip the 'sincerity brings miracles' routine," he said plainly.
"Just interpret it directly."
Yae Miko took the blank slip and studied it with exaggerated seriousness.
Then she smiled mischievously.
"Great Calamity."
Severin raised an eyebrow.
He'd expected Great Fortune or something equally flattering.
But Great Calamity?
"Great… calamity?"
Yae Miko chuckled.
"The Prince has been surrounded by romantic luck lately—beauties everywhere."
"You'd best beware… of your harem catching fire."
Ah.
That kind of calamity.
Then it was fine.
With so many fish in the pond, a fire was only a matter of time.
Even Severin was helpless in this regard—
the Prince's halo was simply too dazzling. Wherever he went, women gravitated toward him.
Sensing the awkward turn, he deftly changed the subject.
"Lady Guuji's tea is exceptional. Even as Prince of Snezhnaya, I rarely taste something of this quality."
A polite courtesy, nothing more.
When someone treated you to tea, etiquette demanded a response.
"Your Highness," the Mirror Maiden blurted out from behind him,
"didn't you once say that Snezhnaya's tea was the best—"
She froze.
"…I apologize, Your Highness. I misspoke."
She immediately bowed in apology.
The reason for her slip, however, was clear.
She was jealous.
Yae Miko's attentive hospitality had struck a nerve.
"Cough… did I?" Severin said dryly. "I don't remember saying that."
Yae Miko laughed softly.
"Your attendant is quite proud."
"I never interpret fortunes for free," she continued.
"So, Prince, you'll have to do me a favor."
"I've prepared a few snacks."
"You've probably guessed already—this is a gift from an old friend."
"Please take them to Ei for me. They're all flavors she used to love."
As she spoke, a trace of melancholy surfaced in her eyes.
"My dear friend can be so cruel. After all these years, she won't even let me step into the Plane of Euthymia."
"But… I can't simply abandon her."
Yae Miko led Severin to a room.
She opened the door.
Severin's eyelid twitched.
The room was piled high with snacks—wall to wall.
You call this "a few"?
This would take an entire cart to move.
Fortunately, Severin had once received a spatial ring as a system reward—
its internal space far exceeded even the Serenitea Pot.
With a casual wave of his hand, the mountain of snacks vanished into the ring.
The shrine maidens stared, mouths half-open.
Their understanding of reality had just been rewritten.
"Snezhnaya's spatial rings," Yae Miko mused,
"the perfect fusion of technology and elemental power. I've heard they're your invention, Prince."
Her gaze held admiration—and deeper caution.
With a genius like Severin, Snezhnaya truly had grown wings.
The young shrine maidens were utterly stunned.
Such a miraculous artifact—
created by a young, handsome, and extraordinarily talented Prince.
Their hearts fluttered.
"Since Lady Guuji treated me to tea," Severin said lightly,
"I should return the favor."
He produced another spatial ring.
"Would you like one?"
Snezhnayan spatial rings were never sold publicly.
On the black market, they were priceless.
Yae Miko's eyes lit up—but she remained composed.
"One such ring could buy the entire Grand Narukami Shrine," she said calmly.
"I don't accept gifts without reason."
"What do you want me to do, Prince?"
She didn't believe for a second that a cup of tea was worth a spatial ring.
Severin clearly had an agenda.
And she intended to hear it—clearly.
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