"Qin Yu..."
Nilou murmured, her beautiful eyes shining.
The familiar yet unfamiliar name made the slightly youthful, beautiful maiden clasp her chest.
Her heart beat faster.
"..."
Once, she was just an ordinary girl who loved to dance.
Practicing dance and performing were her daily routines.
Of course, she had a small wish.
To present the true Flower God's Dance to the Lesser Lord Kusanali.
Nilou was content with such ordinary yet fulfilling days.
Until...
The appearance of the Flower God's soul.
The ordinary her was no longer ordinary.
Qin Yu.
That name also appeared alongside the extraordinary.
Nilou had been confused before, unsure how to deal with this change.
"Go see Qin Yu, he will help you," the Flower God had said.
Nilou agreed.
She also wanted to clear her head and go out for a walk.
So, she embarked on a long journey to a strange land.
By chance, she met Miss Yelan.
From her, she learned more about Qin Yu's stories.
Alone, challenging gods.
Stopping the Vision Hunt Decree and promoting the lifting of the Sakoku Decree.
Inazuma became more beautiful because of him.
...Even ordinary people felt so.
Nilou propped up her small face, listening intently.
Her beautiful eyes sparkled.
Simple girls were always drawn to heroic tales.
She began to care about things related to Qin Yu.
Ordinary and extraordinary...
Nilou believed that Qin Yu could help her, the confused her, and give her an answer.
Now, they would finally meet.
This increasingly urgent feeling...
"He's really too cunning."
Nilou bit her lip lightly.
It was the Flower God, who had awakened from her slumber and influenced her.
It wasn't because Nilou also wanted to see Qin Yu...
As the maiden tried to convince herself,
"Nilou, I will not interfere with your feelings."
A light, ethereal voice sounded in her heart, with a hint of amusement.
Silly girl, you were the one who couldn't wait, right?
"I, I haven't done anything to Qin Yu...!"
Nilou, her thoughts exposed, became flustered and instinctively raised her voice.
But the next second, she realized and her face flushed crimson.
"?"
The people around them looked over, their gazes curious.
What a beautiful girl.
Did she just say...
"Nilou, did you just mention Qin Yu?"
Yoimiya leaned in, asking curiously.
The emotional expert of Hanamizaka hadn't realized the gravity of the situation.
"Hmm?"
Beside them, Keqing's ears perked up alertly.
Qin Yu?
She looked at the blushing, adorable Nilou with suspicion.
Such a beautiful girl... and with twin tails.
That bad guy definitely wouldn't be able to handle her.
The respectable Qin:?
"Qin Yu... Who is he?"
Facing the probing gazes of the two women, Nilou tried to play dumb.
A curious look, as if she had just heard the name for the first time.
What ill intentions could a dancing girl visiting Inazuma possibly have?
"Who is Qin Yu?"
Yoimiya and Keqing exchanged glances.
They hadn't really considered that question before.
But recalling Qin Yu's absence from Inazuma City these past few days...
They had to queue up just for a video call with him!
The reason was simple.
There were too many girls in the Komore Teahouse.
"..."
Thinking of this, the two women looked at Nilou.
Be careful of Qin Yu.
"?"
Nilou blinked her innocent big eyes.
Why were everyone's expressions becoming so strange?
"Let's talk as we walk, more people are coming," Keqing suggested, urging the stall owner to pack up quickly.
She had also specifically bought some close-fitting clothes.
Like black stockings, for example.
Once Qin Yu returned, these would be consumables.
"Yes, let's hurry!"
Yoimiya smiled brightly, full of energy.
In her hands, she held various ingredients.
She still had to prepare dinner with Ayaka and the others for a gathering with Qin Yu tonight.
It would surely be a harmonious and loving scene.
Suddenly, Yoimiya thought of something and shouted,
"Sister Sandrone, come quickly—!"
...
On the street in the distance.
"Sigh."
Sandrone heard Yoimiya's voice and shook her head slightly.
Unfortunately, she couldn't get away.
She subconsciously looked at the cold, elegant woman beside her.
Her superior, the Tsaritsa.
"...Qin Yu."
The Tsaritsa murmured, her tone seeming to hold more emotion.
They were about to meet.
Should I just capture you and bring you to Snezhnaya, locking you in my palace?
Plunder, conquest.
The proud Empress was clearly more adept at these.
"Qin Yu is different, Your Majesty."
Sandrone reminded her softly.
She had been suspecting something for a while now.
Her Majesty usually never went out.
Why choose today, when the sun was so bright, to be out on the street...
It couldn't be to intercept her partner, could it?
As the Puppet wondered silently,
"Are you speaking up for Qin Yu?"
The Tsaritsa looked at Sandrone, speaking indifferently.
Her voice, like cold snow, betrayed no emotion.
But precisely because of that, it felt even more dangerous.
The air slowly began to freeze.
"Your Majesty, Qin Yu is my partner."
Sandrone slowly clenched her small hands and replied calmly.
Being stared at by the Tsaritsa was immense pressure.
But even so, Sandrone chose to speak.
There was no rule stating that an Harbinger couldn't be in love.
The Puppet was starting to side with outsiders.
"Partner?"
The Tsaritsa's voice grew colder.
That useless, fragile tenderness...!
The two women met each other's gaze, the atmosphere at its peak of oppression.
The proud and cold deity cast a scrutinizing look.
And the maiden who had tasted love was unwilling to back down.
Because she firmly believed in one thing.
A warm heart could also withstand the relentless wind and snow.
The cold Empress would never understand.
"..."
The suffocating pressure continued for a long time.
But the coldness of the ice and snow was gradually melting.
Finally—
"Very nice eyes, Sandrone."
"Firm, brave, unwavering."
"So... this is the tenderness he spoke of."
The Tsaritsa murmured, retracting her scrutinizing gaze.
As if nothing had happened.
"Your Majesty?"
Sandrone's eyes slowly widened.
In that moment, she sensed a different aura.
No wonder...
Sandrone finally realized what the sense of unease from these past few days had been.
Her Majesty seemed to have become gentler.
How was this possible?!
Who was "he" that the Tsaritsa spoke of?
The Puppet fell into contemplation.
"I know about your relationship."
The Tsaritsa said softly, slowly lifting her cloak.
Her exquisite face was pure and flawless.
Her silver-gray hair was smooth and beautiful.
Most striking were her eyes, as brilliant and dazzling as ice and snow.
"So beautiful."
Sandrone couldn't help but murmur.
Her looks, her aura, her figure, all top-tier.
The Tsaritsa, just standing there, was the epitome of perfection.
"Then, compared to the Electro Archon, who is more beautiful?"
The Tsaritsa's lips curved slightly, proud and confident.
"Naturally, it is Your Majesty."
Sandrone answered without hesitation.
I just don't know who is bigger.
The Puppet was very sensitive about chest sizes.
"Next, with Qin Yu..."
"Qin Yu?"
"You are not allowed to help him."
"What?"
Sandrone asked, confused, not quite understanding.
Help whom? Qin Yu?
"Qin Yu and I have a bet."
The Tsaritsa said softly, her calm gaze fixed on Sandrone.
Without Sandrone's support, Qin Yu would be restricted everywhere.
She had never guaranteed fairness in this gamble.
As long as she could get Qin Yu, it was enough.
"Understood."
Sandrone nodded.
She knew this was Her Majesty's command.
My partner, how will you deal with this situation?
Shall I try...
To snatch me away from Her Majesty?
Fun.
The Puppet had a premonition.
The "clash" between Qin Yu and the Tsaritsa would surely be very interesting.
What if the Raiden Shogun got involved?
That scene...
Would be more than just a question of who was more beautiful.
...
ps: I haven't rested even after getting sick, and my cough has worsened. I'm coughing so much that my head hurts and I can't breathe. Today, I'll have one update to adjust my irregular schedule. I apologize.