"Drip."
Large water droplets fell from Qin Yu's forehead.
He didn't know if it was residual rain or nervous sweat.
The air around him seemed to grow even colder.
It was over.
Qin, a certain person, had the word "danger" looming large over his head.
He had secretly kissed the Empress's small hand, and she had caught him.
Recalling everything he had done along the way.
Princess carry, secret kiss…
Holding hands was just the basic.
He had taken so much advantage of the aloof Empress of Snezhnaya.
Thinking about it was quite thrilling… Ptooey!
How could he have revealed his true thoughts!
What should he do now?
Waiting online, a bit anxious.
"..."
The surroundings were terrifyingly silent.
The Empress's gaze slowly shifted.
She stared at Qin Yu's hand still holding hers, her eyes flickering.
How long did he plan to keep touching it?
"Ahem, sorry."
Qin Yu reacted and released the Empress's hand.
He probably wouldn't be chased with a knife, would he?
Just as Qin, a certain person, was feeling a chill all over, an accident happened.
"Plop."
The Empress weakly let her hand fall, hitting a small puddle on the withered wood beside her.
As expected, she was splashed all over by the rainwater.
Her once pure and flawless dress was now dirty and stained.
It was also covered in many red leaves.
"..."
The Empress frowned, propping herself up as if trying to sit up with force.
But perhaps due to the reassuring weight of her chest, her body went limp, and she was on the verge of losing her balance.
"Careful!"
Qin Yu's expression changed slightly. He didn't bother with formalities and quickly moved to the Empress's side, supporting her.
"You...!"
Suddenly being approached by a man, the Empress's delicate body trembled, and she looked up to glare at Qin Yu.
But now, completely lacking strength, she had lost the pride and authority of the Cryo Archon.
Instead, she looked fierce but weak, like a drowned big duck.
(ᗜ˰ᗜ)
"You're so weak, why don't you rest for a bit first."
Qin Yu helped the Empress lean against a tree and said softly.
Sorry, it was his arrow that was too fierce, making it difficult for you to get up.
Next time, he would try to be gentler.
There were still so many leaves on her body, they needed to be removed first.
"..."
The Empress's beautiful eyelashes fluttered slightly as she gazed at the earnest young man by her side.
Her crystal-clear silver-gray eyes subtly rippled.
Qin Yu's gentle warmth was very close.
It was the feeling she had when he guarded her side while she slept.
Warm and reassuring.
"..."
The Empress's eyes drooped slightly, and she raised her hand.
She trembled and, with all her might, clutched the hem of Qin Yu's clothes.
"?"
Qin Yu, noticing the Empress's extremely serious gaze, was stunned.
"Return to the Tsaritsa's palace with me, and I will bestow upon you everything you desire."
"Power, status, strength."
"...And me."
After saying this, the Empress slightly raised her delicate chin.
Raindrops trickled down her fair, slender neck.
Finally leaving glistening traces on her alluring collarbones, they disappeared into the dim darkness.
The Cryo Archon offered terms that could drive any man mad.
She had kissed his hand, was he not going to take responsibility?
"..."
Qin Yu looked at the disheveled Empress, who, despite her weakness, still exuded pride and dominance, and was momentarily stunned.
They looked at each other, a moment of silence.
Finally, Qin Yu smiled.
"What, you still want to negotiate with me?"
He looked at the beautiful Cryo Archon, smiling and shaking his head.
Don't forget, who was the victor now.
Qin Yu stood up, looking down at the Empress who had no power to resist.
Surely Her Majesty the proud and cold Empress wouldn't want others to know about her loss in the Archon War, right?
Then just behave yourself…
Rest well, understand?
"If my full power wasn't sealed..."
The Empress closed her eyes and murmured tiredly.
"Sealed?"
Qin Yu caught the keywords and asked curiously.
So the Empress's current weakness wasn't caused by him?
"Hmph, it's the god beside you."
The Empress snorted lightly and turned her face away aloofly.
"The leaders?"
Qin Yu murmured.
Just then, a message arrived in a group chat from "Tai Tai."
After reading it, Qin Yu was amused.
He had to admit, Tai Tai always had the best ideas.
"Ei has sealed the Empress's elemental power, and Tai Tai and the Dendro Archon weakened the Empress's mental strength."
"No, then the physical weakness...?"
Qin Yu looked at the little blue cat crouching not far away, a strange expression on his face.
Miss Furina, the Hydro Archon of Justice, you didn't take the opportunity to let a pure water spirit cast a delayed water spell, did you!
Good heavens, a bunch of gods dealing with one Cryo Archon.
Qin, a certain person, really liked this way of playing.
The benefits of clinging to the gods, weren't they showing up now?
Qin, a certain person, was getting a little carried away.
"..."
The "ambushed" Empress turned her face away, unwilling to say more.
She had regressed to a level of frailty worse than an ordinary woman.
Just then, the rain gradually lessened and finally stopped.
Warm sunlight shone on the resting Empress, making her look warm and beautiful.
Just as Qin Yu was admiring the scenery.
[Have a good chat with the Cryo Archon, I'll take Ei and the Dendro Archon out for a stroll.]
The gentle voice of the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata sounded, with a light laugh.
It was clearly most suitable for Qin Yu to accompany the proud Cryo Archon, who had just experienced failure and setbacks.
Seize this opportunity well, my sunshine. httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
[Absolutely don't do anything strange.]
"Ahem, I'm a decent person,"
Qin, a certain person, coughed lightly and assured Tai Tai, who was teasing him.
[You've worked hard, come find me tonight, and I'll check if you have any hidden injuries, okay?]
Tai Tai's gentle words were suggestive.
Qin, a certain person, nodded silently.
There was no other meaning, mainly because he liked checking bodies.
But soon, he couldn't laugh anymore.
Messages arrived in two group chats simultaneously.
[Yu.]
"Ei? I was just about to bring the Empress to find you all."
Qin Yu was still anticipating Tai Tai's body check, beaming.
[Are you injured anywhere from the fight just now?]
The wife-like Ei asked softly.
Qin Yu stated that he was in good health.
[Alright, come to the hot springs tonight to relax your body.]
"Ah...?"
[You don't want to?]
"I do, I do."
Qin, a certain person, wiped the sweat from his forehead and could only agree for now.
The thing he feared most had happened.
The schedules of the wife-like figure and Tai Tai had clashed!
What should he do?
Qin Yu quickly shook his head and returned to reality.
He should look at the Cryo Archon in front of him.
After resting for a while, she finally regained some strength and sat up.
Qin Yu extended his hand and said softly:
"Let's go, I'll take you out of this small grove."
"..."
The Empress looked at her messy, damp, and dirty dress and frowned.
To meet other gods like this?
The noble Empress could not accept herself like this.
"How about... changing clothes?"
Qin Yu thought for a moment and suggested.
He still had some clothes he'd "borrowed" from Candace.
"?"
Cryo Archon: (ᗜ˰ᗜ)
"I'll turn around."
Qin Yu smiled helplessly and raised his hands in assurance.
"...Okay."
Finally, the Cryo Archon could not bear her dirty state and agreed.
Her silver-gray eyes looked at Qin Yu, as if asking, where are the clothes?
"Don't rush, I'm picking."
Qin, a certain person, rummaged through them, somewhat hesitant.
Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck him.
The biggest toy store owner in Snezhnaya.
How about...
Letting the Empress try on an OL outfit?