Morning sunlight of Teyvat streamed through the wooden window of the rooftop suite in Goth Grand Hotel.
"Mmm…"
On the large white bed, La Signora turned over.
The sudden chill against her skin made her snap awake.
The medicine had originally been prepared by Lisa for Jean—no matter the dosage, it caused no lasting harm.
It only affected how long someone slept.
Signora looked around the familiar room.
Memories of last night flooded back.
Her cold expression twisted into pure killing intent.
In an instant—
The entire hotel was engulfed by frost.
Ice crept across the walls, the floors, even the fountain outside the hotel entrance froze solid.
Outside the Hotel
At the entrance, a Fatui guard named Luke was just finishing his shift.
He shivered violently.
"It must be Lady Signora being angry about last night."
Meanwhile, Mondstadt citizens passing through the square toward the Statue of Barbatos or heading for morning prayers at the Mondstadt Cathedral saw the frozen hotel.
Surprisingly—
No one was shocked.
Someone even shouted encouragement.
"Stay strong, Goth Grand Hotel!"
Since the Fatui moved in, the hotel had become a disaster zone.
Electro cicins dying from static electricity…
Mist Flower powder mixed up with pepper…
Debt collectors fighting each other over unpaid money…
If the building collapsed one day, nobody would be surprised.
Inside the Grand Suite
Inside the hotel's largest suite, the atmosphere was like midwinter.
Several Fatui agents knelt on the ground.
Anastasia, the Fatui adviser, trembled uncontrollably.
She had spent the entire night in terror.
Her face was pale.
She looked ready to collapse at any moment.
Gone was the arrogant woman who had confidently confronted Jean at the hotel entrance.
"L-Lady Signora…"
Her voice shook.
The freezing storm in the building proved one thing:
Signora had woken up.
And she had already learned that the operation to steal the Holy Lyre der Himmel had failed.
For a long time—
No response came from inside the room.
Anastasia felt like the fear alone might kill her.
Finally she forced herself to speak.
"Lady Signora… the operation to steal the Holy Lyre failed."
Inside the Room
Signora stood inside wearing her battle dress.
Her golden hair draped over one shoulder.
Hearing those words—
A violent flash appeared in her frost-covered eyes.
"The Goth Grand Hotel was robbed last night."
"Our defense map and the Holy Lyre operation plan were stolen."
"The failure may have been caused by that."
Those words unknowingly saved Anastasia's life.
Signora remembered something.
Jiang Chen's voice from last night echoed in her mind.
"Our target is also the Holy Lyre. If we accidentally ruin your plans…
Don't get angry."
Signora's throat tightened.
A trace of blood appeared at her lips.
"Jiang Chen!"
The room instantly turned into a frozen hell.
Countless expensive decorations turned into ice sculptures.
Meanwhile — Gunnhildr Family Estate
Inside a classical room belonging to the Gunnhildr Clan, Jean had just woken up.
She loosened the clasp on her shoulder.
Her white nightdress slipped to the floor.
Sitting at the edge of the bed, she pulled on her gold-trimmed knight trousers, sliding them carefully up her long legs.
Next came her knight uniform.
She fastened the elegant gothic collar with the emerald gem.
Then secured the belt holding her Vision.
Standing before the mirror, she tied her golden hair into a ponytail, leaving two strands framing her face.
After washing up, she gently patted her cheeks.
"Do your best today."
She murmured.
Putting on her sleeves and cloak, she reached for her gloves—
Then paused.
"Today… I'll be going on a mission with Jiang Chen."
After a moment of hesitation, she returned to the mirror.
In the cabinet beside it was a lipstick Lisa had given her long ago, purchased from a foreign merchant caravan.
Jean applied a light touch.
The red color brightened her expression slightly.
She walked toward the door.
Then stopped again.
Returning to the mirror, she wiped the lipstick away with a handkerchief, revealing her natural soft lips.
"…This is more natural."
"We're going on a mission."
Jean said quietly.
Then she left the room.
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