Genshin Impact: I, the Winter Prince, reign supreme.

Ignoring her struggles, Su Yu insisted on taking her hand and walking side by side on the way back to the mansion. Everything was so tacit and quiet, with only the sound of snowflakes falling and the sound of their hearts beating faster.

"Be good while I'm not around. Learn to control your emotions and don't let the songs ruin this country. If you miss me terribly, don't open your eyes, understand?"

In the vast Kingdom of Winter, the only thing that Su Yu couldn't let go of was the [Girl]. Her singing voice was not just a song, but a terrifying mental weapon. If it got out of control, the consequences would be unimaginable.

"There is no one more suitable to listen than Your Highness, so I will remember Your Highness's words. But please also remember what I said: you must return safely."

The girl said very seriously, and at the same time, she felt extremely depressed thinking about the man in front of her who was about to leave her.

“Columbia, I’ve thought it through. After we’ve settled things outside, take me to see your parents and your people. I will show them what a foolish decision it was to abandon you.”

"Your Highness, this...isn't this inappropriate? I am a guilty person, a person burdened with sin."

"That trial was a mistake from the start; they are the guilty ones!"

The girl extended her soft fingertips and pressed them against Su Yu's lips.

"Shh, Your Highness, be careful, they will hear us."

Su Yu pulled the girl into his arms and inhaled her delicate fragrance.

"What does it matter? You'll be mine sooner or later anyway."

The pale-skinned woman's pretty face flushed red instantly. She was incredibly shy, yet she didn't know how to refuse the prince's domineering advances.

Suddenly, she let out a coquettish cry, pushed Su Yu away, and her slender figure quickly disappeared into the wind and snow.

The ethereal singing voice was no longer sorrowful, but transformed into a cheerful and happy melody.

This little girl is always so easily satisfied; just one hug can make her happy for a long time.

A patrol team approached, carrying torches that, despite the extremely low visibility and snowy conditions, brought a strange sense of warmth.

"Your Highness, we think we just saw someone standing next to you."

Su Yu was slightly annoyed that these people had interrupted her romantic moment, but it was their duty to do their job, so she couldn't really criticize them.

"You've got the wrong person. What do you need me for?"

“It’s the House of Hearths…the children knew His Highness was about to embark on a long journey, so they prepared a special program for him.”

……

The House of Hearths is essentially an intelligence agency that trains spies, but Su Yu prefers its other name, the Winterland Welfare Institute, because it takes in a large number of Teyvat orphans.

In this cold country, this is one of the few places Su Yu likes to visit often.

Besides enduring brutal training every day, the happiest thing for the children here is sitting around His Highness the Prince and listening to him tell legendary stories of various heroes, such as the Monkey King who fought against the heavens, which is their favorite story.

In fact, the children of the Hearth House regard His Highness the Prince as a great hero and take him as their role model to train and study hard. When they heard that His Highness was going abroad to carry out a mission, they immediately organized a farewell party.

When Su Yu stepped into the welfare home, thunderous applause erupted like an endless tide. In the children's eyes, besides fervent admiration, there was also a deep sense of reluctance to part.

After watching the children's performance, it was almost noon. Only these children had the privilege of freely taking up His Highness's precious time throughout the winter.

Before leaving, Su Yu gave the children a message of encouragement.

"I am a wounded wolf who was betrayed by the whole world. We will eventually build a new world that no one will abandon."

"If you too are burdened with dreams that are not accepted and wounds that cannot be healed, then join us and let our military boots thunder and shake the earth."

Outside the door, an executive with short silver hair, codenamed "Servant," stood respectfully, gazing at Su Yu.

As the founder of the House of Hearths, she would personally accompany His Highness whenever he visited, no matter how busy she was, and this time was no exception.

When Su Yu finished speaking, the fervor and adoration in her eyes were no less than that of the children—although the blood-red cross pattern in her black pupils made her look somewhat effeminate.

Chapter 3 The Executive's Gift

“Aregino, my trip wasn’t even announced yet, but the children found out immediately. You leaked my itinerary. Or rather, you used the children to lure me here. What are you trying to do?”

Su Yu bluntly exposed her scheme.

Arecino, the servant who dared to confront the other executives to their faces, lowered her proud head in shame.

"In the past, the House of Hearths has provided the Empire with a great many talents, but I have never seen any generation of children who have such unwavering faith and such a strong sense of belonging as these children. In the past, the children called this place an orphanage, but now they call it home, and all of this is thanks to Your Highness. It is only right that the children see you off."

"I'm afraid it's more than that."

Upon hearing this, a hint of panic appeared on Arecino's face, who was usually calm and collected.

"Your Highness is currently on a busy official trip and may not be able to return in the short term. I would like to take this opportunity to see you again... I apologize for disturbing Your Highness with my personal desire."

With a wave of his hand, Su Yu created a miniature barrier composed of magical elements, blocking their conversation.

"Why act so subservient in front of the children? I am merely their mentor, while you are their true parent. To uphold parental authority, I hope you will never apologize to anyone again, because in the children's hearts, parents never make mistakes. Do you understand?"

[Servant] Tears welled up in Arecino's eyes. His Highness the Prince was loved not only for his unparalleled ability to govern, but also for his incomparable personal charm.

"And also, Arecino, what I like about you is your free-spirited nature and flamboyant personality. You don't need to please anyone, whether it's the Queen or me. Do what you think is right and stick to what you believe is right. Your code name is [Servant], but no one is qualified to be your master."

“You, Arecino, are your own master.”

Su Yu's feelings toward the servant Arecino were rather complicated. Unlike the simple-mindedness of the girl Columbia, Arecino's personality was multifaceted. Establishing the orphanage showed that she was compassionate and had a conscience, but at the same time, Tartaglia called her a madwoman and said that she would not hesitate to draw her sword against the Queen for the sake of profit. Su Yu did not deny this.

But it is precisely this ambition that proves she is a unique executive in the world.

A beautiful appearance is a dime a dozen, but an interesting soul is one in a million. Without a doubt, in Su Yu's eyes, Arecino is that interesting soul.

As for Arecino's feelings for him, Su Yu treated them with caution, maintaining a cool and detached attitude that was neither perfunctory nor serious. Women are easily blinded by love, and he didn't want Arecino to turn her love into hatred and go down an extreme path.

In fact, Arecino has always fit Su Yu's definition of a "cool and aloof older sister". Who would refuse to like a cool and aloof older sister?

But Su Yu was unsure whether that feeling was mixed with fanaticism and blind worship, or with exploitation for personal gain.

Therefore, it's best to maintain the status quo until then.

Time will tell.

"Take good care of the children for me."

Leaving the fireplace house, Su Yu gently rubbed his temples to relax.

One day of preparation time is indeed a bit rushed. Long-distance travel is always so troublesome. Perhaps this time I can travel light?

Lost in thought about his itinerary, Su Yu found himself back at his doorstep, leaving a long trail of footprints behind him that reminded him of his home on Earth…

Su Yu's current home is located next to the Winter Palace. It is a huge mansion with as many as five or six hundred servants.

He was originally entitled to move into the palace according to the Queen's decree, but he chose this place to avoid gossip.

The armored guards at the door knelt on one knee before him, their voices ringing out in unison.

"Your Highness."

Su Yu's strength is now vastly different from what it was three years ago when he first arrived. He no longer needs any guards to protect him. However, the guard system is a tradition of Zhidong, and even the Zhidong Imperial Palace is no exception.

Majestic and imposing guards, courteous maids, and throngs of servants have always been symbols of royal and noble status.

Su Yu's gaze fell on the eight or nine carriages at the door, clearly indicating that guests had come to visit.

"Your Highness, Lord Clown, Lord Doctor, Lord Rooster, Lord Puppet, Lord Rich Man, Lady... all the executive officers are here and are waiting for your audience in the reception room."

"What a lively day! Well, I'm in a good mood today, so I'll go see what big gift my old friends have prepared for me."

Su Yu knew these greedy executives all too well. They were all meticulous and stingy, always asking him for advice and strategies. Now that he was about to visit the other six countries, these guys would definitely not come empty-handed. In their eyes, this should be the best time to invest in His Highness the Prince.

It's time to generously display their "friendship".

With the arrival of His Highness the Prince, the atmosphere in the hall immediately became lively and bustling.

[Rooster] As mayor, Puchnera presented a Teyvat travel map on behalf of the city hall. This was no ordinary tourist map; it detailed the secret outposts of the Fools in various locations. With this map, Su Yu could easily contact the organizations in each place.

[Prince] Dadalia presented a painting depicting the tall, one-eyed little boy. The artist was Dadalia's most beloved younger brother. According to Dadalia, the painting represented the whole family's best wishes for His Highness.

You've got a free lunch, you're something else... Datalia.

【Puppet】Sandonie sits on the hand of a giant autonomous mechanism. The gift she presents is a master key, which, according to her, can control the vast majority of the ruins' guardians. It is the result of her painstaking efforts.

[Doctor] Dottore presented a box of Evil Eyes, and they were of the highest quality, with only minor side effects after use, making them perfect for gifts or bribes.

[The Clown] Piero, in return for his loyalty, publicly declared his willingness to serve Su Yu and fully cooperate with His Highness the Prince to complete the task assigned by the Empress.

Piero, as the commander of the Fools, certainly had the qualifications.

Following that, the lady and the captain also presented their gifts.

Rosalyn's gift is a Hellfire Butterfly, a part of her soul. Su Yu only needs to communicate with it to summon Rosalyn to fight, or use it to chat when he is lonely.

[Captain] Capitano presented secret intelligence about Nata, one of the seven kingdoms, the land of fire elements. He had been working in Nata for many years under the Queen's orders, and this invaluable intelligence was crucial for collecting the Heart of the Fire God.

Compared to these fancy gifts, Su Yu preferred the simple and direct gift from the "rich man" Pantalone—a Supreme Gold Card specially issued by the headquarters of the Northern Bank. This was a bank card with the highest level of privileges, allowing unlimited access to large amounts of Mora at any branch in Teyvat.

When representing the Queen on visits to various countries, whether to save face or to showcase the strength of the Winter Kingdom, Mora is always indispensable.

Moreover, the principle of subduing the enemy without fighting has always been Su Yu's guiding principle. If he can force the six countries to submit through commercial warfare, he does not mind risking the entire fortune of the Northern Bank, even though Pantalone might vomit blood at that time.

Finally, the executives present all bowed respectfully.

"Wishing Your Highness all the best!"

Chapter 4 Scheming Against the Six Kingdoms

The people at the Prince's residence worked all night to take care of His Highness's daily needs. They even dismantled the entire kitchen overnight to transport it away.

The library maids carefully selected and packed thousands of books into boxes, just in case His Highness the Prince got bored on his journey.

However, all their preparations were in vain. His Highness the Prince ordered that nothing from the Prince's residence be brought; he only needed a personal steward to take care of his life.

The Prince's Mansion has three female stewards, namely the Thunderfire Sorcerer, the Icefire Sorcerer, and the Hidden Mirror Lady. The one who accompanied Su Yu on this trip was the Hidden Mirror Lady.

The Lady of Hidden Mirrors was the weakest of the three stewards. She originally thought that her two older sisters had a better chance, but in the end, she was the one who was chosen.

She was completely stunned when she received the notification, but fortunately, she had good professional qualities and quickly calmed down from her flattered state.

She went straight to the prince's bedroom, where she combed his hair and helped him bathe and change.

The ladies who hid their eyes covered their eyes with blindfolds all year round, which made their hearing more sensitive than most people, and no slightest movement could escape their ears.

"Your Highness, the 'Empire' has arrived at the port; I heard its horn. This is the Empire's fastest warship; it will only take three days and two nights for us to reach Inazuma. It is an honor for them that you chose Inazuma Castle as the first stop on your visit. However, I have heard that General Thunder is not very friendly to outsiders; you should be prepared."

The response I received was:

"They should be the ones who are mentally prepared. So should you."