When he opened his eyes again, it was because Sandrone was calling him.
The sky had already brightened.
For once, Sandrone had risen early—she had even already changed out of her pajamas.
“Don’t tell me you actually sat here the whole night?” Sandrone wore a look of complete incomprehension.
“I rarely see anyone this stupid.
You could’ve just picked any room to sleep in—there are so many empty rooms next door.” Damn frost-breathing Marionette—I keep watch over you all night and you still scold me.
Next time, while you’re asleep, I’ll quietly unscrew all your screws.
“Wasn’t I just afraid that Lady Marionette wouldn’t sleep well?
Ensuring you can rest at ease is one of my duties.
Seeing how energetic you look, you must have slept quite well last night.” “More or less.
I’m planning to head to the testing grounds to check on the latest experimental progress.
Do you want to come with me?
You probably didn’t rest well last night either—if you’re really tired, don’t force it, go get some sleep.” Sandrone was the tsundere type—sharp-tongued but soft-hearted.
Even when she cared about someone, she did it with an air of indifference.
“Hey, little brother, what exactly is the relationship between you two?
I only realized this morning that you two have been in the same room this whole time.
Don’t tell me you’re…” This Guizhong—I’d always assumed Guizhong was the wholesome girl-next-door type.
How could she be such a gossip?
Guizhong had a thoroughly gossipy look about her, but since Sandrone was present, Piers didn’t answer.
If he answered directly, from Sandrone’s perspective it would look like Piers was talking to thin air all by himself—she might think he’d developed some kind of delusional disorder.
“No need.
My duty is to stay by Lady Marionette’s side.
Besides, I actually slept quite well last night.” This was true.
Even though he’d spent the whole night studying adept arts, Piers now felt full of energy—most likely thanks to the effects of adept power.
“Suit yourself.
Follow along if you like.
But if you dare fall asleep while working, I’ll punish you all the same.” After tossing out those words, Sandrone turned and left.
…
A few minutes later, Sandrone, wearing the cloak unique to the Harbingers, sat with Piers on a bench in front of the station, drinking hot coffee.
Getting from the Zapolyarny Palace to the testing grounds required taking a dedicated train.
Pronia couldn’t fit through the train doors, so they didn’t bring it—though there was no need to.
Within the borders of Snezhnaya, no one would dare make a move against a Harbinger.
The private train soon arrived.
Piers boarded behind Sandrone, and the two sat in separate carriages—after all, Piers was nominally a subordinate.
“Hey, hey, hey, little brother, you still haven’t told me—what’s your relationship with that girl?” Guizhong circled around Piers, looking anxious, practically on the verge of begging him.
“She’s my superior.
And aren’t you quite well-versed in mechanism arts?
Can’t you tell she’s a mechanical creation?
What was with that gossipy attitude of yours earlier?” Of course Guizhong could tell—she’d seen it the very first moment she laid eyes on Sandrone.
But it was the first time she’d ever encountered a mechanical creation with self-awareness, one that was identical to a real human in every conceivable way.
“So what if she’s a machine?
Besides, this little lady has plenty of personality.
If you like her, I could help play matchmaker for you.” “Come on, Sister Guizhong, you’re an Archon who’s lived for thousands of years—could you act a little more proper?” “Don’t be angry~ I spent thousands of years inside the Ley Lines.
Now that I finally have someone to chat with, I’m only being kind, hee hee.” The train soon reached the station.
Piers got off behind Sandrone.
The testing grounds lay just ahead, but it was nearly buried under snow—you couldn’t tell it was a testing ground at all.
Fortunately, the entrance was fairly clear and not entirely covered by snow.
Beside it stood a girl in a Fatui uniform, wearing a grayish-white fluffy hat and holding a snow shovel.
Her frame looked very thin—either she was young, or she was malnourished.
“The contamination from the remains of an Archon is very strong.
Stay outside.
If I haven’t come out in three hours, do not come in—go find Arlecchino for help.” Piers nodded in agreement.
Just as Sandrone was about to turn and go in, she suddenly stopped and looked back.
Raising her hand, she pulled off the Harbinger’s exclusive cloak from her shoulders and tossed it to Piers.
“Take it.
It’s cold out here—don’t freeze to death.” After throwing it, Sandrone hurriedly turned and walked into the testing grounds.
The girl in the Fatui uniform who’d been shoveling snow froze at the sight, but she only dared glance up once before continuing to shovel.
Piers took the cloak Sandrone had tossed him and draped it over himself without hesitation, because he really was a bit cold.
He’d only just woken up, and he’d given his own cloak to Sandrone earlier—he had no idea where she’d put it.
The train had been fine, with heating, but the testing grounds were genuinely cold.
“‘Don’t freeze to death’~ Piers, I think she just likes you.
She feels like she has the same personality as Liuyun—just a bit nastier than Liuyun.” “Cough, cough…” “Oh, right, little Piers, she just mentioned the remains of an Archon—can that thing actually be used for experiments?
One careless slip and this whole area would get contaminated.” “Who knows.
To be precise, this experiment isn’t Lady Marionette’s—it’s another guy’s.
He went all the way to Liyue to bring back the remains of an Archon, hoping to use machinery to create an Archon.” Just as Piers was recalling the original plot, his peripheral vision suddenly caught the girl holding the shovel beside him—she was staring at him with a strange look in her eyes.
“No, I…” Piers figured he’d most likely been taken for some kind of lunatic.
Just as he was about to open his mouth to explain, the girl, seeing Piers look at her, suddenly lowered her head shyly.
“It’s okay, I understand.” No—what exactly do you understand?
I haven’t even said anything yet.
And what are you blushing for?
The girl in the Fatui uniform gripped her shovel tightly and nodded.
“When I was little, I often had imaginary friends too.
It’s nothing to be ashamed of.” She looked up and glanced at Piers, then buried her head again after seeing his face.
This is bad.
Now he really had been taken for someone with a delusional disorder—and there was no way to explain it.
“Um, what’s your name?
You look like you’re not even an adult yet.
Are you a Fatui reserve member?
Under which Harbinger do you serve?” Piers tried to change the subject, rattling off a whole string of questions in one breath.
“Um, my name is Katayena Snezhnitsyna.
I’m a Fatui reservist, temporarily assigned under the Second Seat, Lord Doctor.” The girl was trembling, seemingly not very good at socializing—a rather introverted girl.
“Katayena Snezhnitsyna…
why does that name sound so familiar?
How is Katarina Snezhnitsyna related to you?”