Negotiations hit Ice

Kokomi folded her hands neatly in front of her exposed body and delivered her proposal with serene, strategic calm.

“In exchange for full support of your goals regarding the Raiden Shogun, I offer two things. First… I will bear your child. A blood tie between Watatsumi and the legendary Traveler would strengthen our position immensely.”

Most of the room accepted that part without issue.

Then she continued.

“Second, I propose marriage. Public, official marriage. Under the Shogun’s law, marriage between an Inazuman and an outsider is punishable by death. Doing so would be the highest possible act of defiance this nation can imagine. It would force every citizen to confront the cracks in her Eternity.”

Rosaria’s expression twisted in pure mortification and fury.

Ganyu and Cloud Retainer remained composed. Neither harbored romantic feelings for Aether, and both were politically sharp enough to see the strategic value. They stayed silent.

Rosaria and Shenhe, however, began to boil.

The temperature in the war room plummeted.

Frost spread rapidly across the floor, the walls, the maps. Outside, the coral formations of Watatsumi Island began freezing solid as two powerful cryo users lost control of their emotions at the same time. Rosaria’s vision flared. Shenhe’s red restraining ropes stopped smoldering and started burning openly at the tips like candle wicks, the bindings visibly failing under the surge of possessive emotion.

Cloud Retainer’s eyes widened in panic.

She immediately tried to suppress Shenhe with her adeptal power — and failed. The very thing she had always feared was happening. She could no longer contain her student.

Then Aether spoke.

His voice was calm, stoic, and completely final.

“No.”

The single word cut through the freezing air like a blade.

He looked directly at Kokomi, expression unreadable.

“I decline. Both the marriage and the political statement.”

The effect was instant.

Rosaria’s frost stopped spreading. The burning tips of Shenhe’s ropes flickered… then died down to their usual state. The island stopped freezing. Both cryo women fell silent at once, their raging emotions snuffed out the moment he rejected the offer.

The war room was left in stunned quiet, ice slowly beginning to melt.

Cloud Retainer stared at Aether, then at Shenhe, realization slowly dawning on her ancient face.

It was never Aether who caused Shenhe to lose control.

He was the only thing that gave her control over herself.

The monster inside her student didn’t rage when he was near.

It calmed.

Kokomi regarded him with a new, sharper interest, still perfectly composed despite the near-catastrophe.

“…I see. Then let us discuss alternative terms.”

Rosaria moved closer to Aether’s side without a word. Shenhe did the same, standing slightly behind him like a silent guardian, restraints stable once more.

Cloud Retainer remained quiet, reassessing everything she thought she knew about her disciple and the man who had somehow become her anchor.

They could not reach an agreement.

Kokomi remained polite but firm to the end. Without a willingness to make real sacrifices for the greater good of her war, the Traveler and his companions were of limited use to her. By noon they parted ways — not in bad blood, but clearly not as allies either.