–“To save the kingdom, you must kill Her Royal Highness the princess.”
Bai Lixin left the palace hall with the Royal Magician’s desperate cry for help still echoing in his mind.
He hadn’t gone far before his path was blocked.
The one blocking him was none other than the king himself, the former Prince Rapunzel— Prince Mia, who was known to possess the seed of evil, as the silver-haired wizard had put it.
The king was alone and he looked at Bai Lixin with a complicated expression for a long time before he finally spoke in a deep voice, “Follow me.”
Bai Lixin followed the king to a study.
All the curtains in the study were tightly closed, and after entering, the king walked straight to the window and beckoned to Bai Lixin, “Come here.”
In the dimly lit environment, the king’s expression was tangled, and his back seemed somewhat sorrowful.
Bai Lixin walked up with a puzzled expression, and as soon as he reached the window, the king opened the curtain and the scenery outside the window came into view.
All around was gray and white; the sky, the land, the forest, the river, beyond the castle, everything was black and white as far as the eye could see.
“Look outside, Prince Xin,” said the king.
“Everything outside the castle has become like this.”
“You are my child, and Princess Miu Miu is also my child. No matter what you do, you are always the treasures in my heart.”
“But I am not just your father; I am also the ruler of this country.”
“Although I don’t want to admit it, everything happening outside is due to Princess Miu Miu.”
Bai Lixin glanced at the king, who had looked like a man in his thirties before but now looked helpless, with wrinkles climbing up his face, turning him into a man in his fifties in an instant.
The king sighed, “The changes are like maggots, and we didn’t even realize when they began.”
“By the time I realized it, the world had become a colorless black and white world.”
“I once saw a prophecy book, which had a passage saying…”
“The witch will devour all the colors in the world, and when the last trace of color disappears, the world will cease to exist.”
“In this world, there is me, your mother, you, and Miu Miu. But not just us, there are many other beings in this world, and they also have their own families.”
“I discovered the truth about Miu Miu being a witch a long time ago. Her emotions can change the weather here, and her anger or happiness can even change the personalities of others.”
“I have seen Miu Miu holding a dying bird in her hand several times, and the next second, the birds would become alive again.”
“I often see Miu Miu changing the status quo with just a word.”
“This power scares me, but I still love her and her mother.”
“We’ve been happy all these years, but our happiness is built on the pain of others.”
“I am her father, but more importantly, I am the king of this country. I must protect not only you, but also my subjects.”
“Son, although it is difficult to make this decision, please kill Princess Miu Miu on the escape route for the sake of this world and my subjects.”
Bai Lixin frowned as he looked at the dejected man in front of him. The man took a deep breath, and his gaze became firm. “I am now making this request as the king of the kingdom.”
“Prince Xin, I command you as the king of Shancheng to kill Princess Miu Miu.”
The king paused for a moment and spoke slowly. “Don’t let her suffer too much. She is my beloved daughter, and I hope she can be happy in her final moments.”
“Also, don’t let the queen know about this. Miu Miu is her favorite, and after you kill her, run away and come back twenty years later when people have gradually forgotten about this incident.”
“Bai Lixin, you are my only son, and I only have you now and in the future. When you come back, I will pass the throne to you. By then, your mother and I will be old, and we will find a beautiful place to retire.”
“When you come back, tell your mother that Miu Miu found love outside. Of course this is a lie to make your mother happy.”
Bai Lixin lowered his head and pondered over the king’s words. He sneered where the king couldn’t see, then raised his head with a sense of helplessness. “Are you sure Miu Miu is a witch? Can such a little girl who grew up as a pampered princess bear the pot for destroying the world?”
The king pursed his lips and was silent for two seconds before speaking slowly, “Whether she is or not, she is a disaster.”
“The burden of saving the world is now in your hands, do you hear me?”
Bai Lixin: “…”
The king casually assigned such a heavy burden with just a few words. Who did he want to crush?
Seeing that Bai Lixin still refused to speak, the king sighed and patted Bai Lixin’s shoulder. “I know you and your sister have a deep bond. Suddenly hearing the truth is hard to accept. Take some time to think about it.”
“Don’t worry. Today is Miu Miu’s sixteenth birthday. I will hold a feast tonight and invite the people and officials to attend.”
“Perhaps observing tonight’s banquet will change your mind.”
“Go back first and don’t tell your mother about our conversation.”
Bai Lixin looked out the window at the black and white scenery outside before turning to leave.
As he walked along the winding corridor, he heard a low whimpering sound coming from the garden.
Bai Lixin followed the sound and saw Princess Miu Miu squatting on the ground, crying. A few maids stood nearby, watching the princess with concern. The yellow warbler still circled around her.
As Bai Lixin approached, the warbler did not run away and just chirped a few times.
When he reached Miu Miu, he saw that she was holding a butterfly covered in mud.
Bai Lixin half-crouched down and asked, “What’s wrong, Miu Miu?”
The girl held the butterfly in her hands and looked up at Bai Lixin with red eyes. “Big brother, the butterfly died.”
“There is life, and there is death,” replied Bai Lixin.
The girl pouted and handed the butterfly to him. “But look, it’s so young, at the prime of its age. It should have been flying among the flowers, looking as beautiful as them and flapping its wings like other butterflies to collect nectar.”
“Why does the world have death?” A tear fell from Miu Miu’s eyes, landing on the butterfly.
The next second, the butterfly’s wings suddenly trembled, and it woke up as if it has been in a deep sleep. It flapped its wings hard and flew into the sky.
The girl’s sad face suddenly turned into a smile, and she happily pulled Bai Lixin’s arm, pointing at the butterfly flying away. “Look, big brother, it’s alive! The butterfly came back to life!”
Bai Lixin looked up at the butterfly flying away. The butterfly hovered above Princess Miu Miu’s head for a while, seeming to thank her, before flapping its wings and flying away into the distance, gradually disappearing from view.
Bai Lixin glanced at the maids standing next to her, who were all standing respectfully, but if you looked closely, you could see the fear and dread hidden behind their respectful demeanor.
Miu Miu happily took Bai Lixin’s arm and said, “Brother, do you remember what day it is today?”
“Of course, today is your sixteenth birthday,” replied Bai Lixin.
Miu Miu’s emerald cat eyes shone brightly in the sunlight as she lowered her head and said happily, “Yeah, after tonight, I’ll be an adult. Let’s hurry up and go. I am becoming an adult today so I have to dress up beautifully.”
Miu Miu quickly passed by the maids, and as she did, her clothes accidentally brushed against one of them, causing the maid’s expression to change suddenly.
Miu Miu ran ahead without waiting for Bai Lixin.
Once the girl disappeared around the corner, Bai Lixin glanced discreetly at the maid who had been touched by Miu Miu. He saw that she was frantically wiping her clothes with a handkerchief, as if trying to remove some dirt.
Sensing Bai Lixin’s gaze, the maid froze instantly, her trembling fingers gripping the handkerchief as she stood there, at a loss.
Bai Lixin walked up to her and looked down at the frightened maids, asking, “Do you all despise Princess Miu Miu?”
The already scared maids turned even paler at the question and immediately knelt down, saying, “No, of course not.”
“Why would we despise Princess Miu Miu?”
Bai Lixin’s gaze fell on the maid who was cleaning her clothes, “Then why are you cleaning yourself?”
The maid lay on the ground, looking helplessly at the maids around her, and then looked up at Bai Lixin who was staring at her intently.
With a white face and shaking shoulders, she gritted her teeth and frowned, “I don’t despise her, I’m just scared of her.”
“She’s too scary. She can do black magic.”
“She knows resurrection magic! Resurrection magic is the scariest black magic in this world. All life is born to die, and resurrection violates the principle of life and comes at a cost.”
“She repeatedly resurrects these small birds and butterflies, and all those costs are transferred to us, to this world!”
“She’s too scary!”
At the mention of “resurrection magic,” the other maids also began to tremble.
Upon seeing these people’s behavior, Bai Lixin also recalled what the silver-haired wizard had said before.
The silver-haired wizard had said that “resurrection” was a forbidden technique and came with a painful price.
In theory, this fairy tale world and the one where the silver-haired wizard was in were not the same, but everyone had a negative attitude towards the word “resurrection.”
It was a prohibited magic.
But he had also read many fairy tales where the main characters are resurrected after death, such as Snow White.
Bai Lixin looked at the maids for a while, then heard Miu Miu’s call, “Brother, come on, what are you waiting for?”
Miu Miu was standing at the end of the hallway, and the kneeling maids were out of sight.
The maids pleaded with Bai Lixin, “Prince Xin, we beg you, please don’t tell Miu Miu about this.”
Bai Lixin: “Are you afraid she’ll know?”
The maids looked at Bai Lixin in horror and embarrassment. “We’re afraid to get struck by dark magic.”
Bai Lixin looked at Miu Miu’s innocent figure in the distance, and then at the maidservants who were well-versed with reality. He sighed softly and said, “I understand. You can get up now and do whatever needs to be done.”
The maidservants were relieved and helped each other up, scattering around the garden to busy themselves.
Bai Lixin came to Miu Miu and before he could say anything, she grabbed his hand and pulled him forward, running ahead.
The girl in the ginger red dress was full of energy as she ran and laughed, seemingly unaware of the suffering in the world and the meaning of fatigue.
Bai Lixin followed closely behind, his gaze fixed on the girl’s figure.
“Why are both of you running?” A gentle yet authoritative female voice rang out. “You’re both adults, yet acting so childish.”
Upon hearing the voice, Miu Miu immediately stopped running and stood still.
The person who stopped them was the queen, Miss Xihai.
The queen’s beautiful eyes scrutinized the two of them. “Miu Miu, you will be an adult after tonight. You must always remember your identity as a noble princess. Your every word and deed must befit your status. Understand?”
“And you, Xin,” she continued, “Miu Miu is still young and ignorant. But what’s your excuse? As her brother, you spoil her too much. Not only did you not stop her from running, you even followed along with her.”
“You two give me no peace of mind.”
Miu Miu smiled sweetly and pulled the queen’s hand with both of hers, pouting. “Mother, please spare us this time. And don’t blame brother. I was the one who pulled him to run with me. Brother did try to stop me.”
The queen looked helpless as she glanced at Miu Miu. “When will you ever grow up, Miu Miu?”
Miu Miu immediately hugged the queen coquettishly, “No, I don’t want to grow up. I just want to be mother’s little padded jacket forever.”
The queen sighed lightly, her eyes filled with a hint of pain. She gently patted Miu Miu’s head, “Okay, you go back to your room first. I have something to discuss with your brother.”
Bai Lixin silently swept his gaze between the queen and Miu Miu, and roughly understood what the discussion would be about.
After watching Miu Miu walk away into the distance, the queen turned to Bai Lixin with a sad expression. “Xin, I need you to take Miu Miu and leave this place. You’ll have a hard time ahead of you.”
Bai Lixin: “…”
Did the queen also want him to kill Miu Miu?
Queen: “Let’s talk in the corner. I still have to prepare for the banquet and will be very busy.”
He followed the queen to a deserted corner. The queen’s emerald eyes stared at the green lawn in front of her, and then her eyes flickered complicatedly as she glanced at Bai Lixin, hesitating, “Do you remember who you are?”
Bai Lixin remained silent for two seconds and nodded gently, “Yes, I do.”
The queen’s face brightened, and then she looked at Bai Lixin up and down with suspicion, “Do you really remember?”
Bai Lixin replied, “Yes, I do.”
The queen said, “Then where did we last meet?”
Bai Lixin answered, “In the Mermaid Palace.”
The queen’s tense face relaxed instantly, and she secretly breathed a sigh of relief. “That’s great. It seems that you still remember.”
“I’m not a good person,” said the queen, licking her lips, beginning the slightly absurd and lengthy conversation.
“I know you’ve investigated my family. Although I don’t know why, you seem very curious about the Xihai family.”
“To make you trust me, I’ll tell you something. You might think it’s false, but what I’m saying is true.”
“When I was seventeen, I had a dream. In the dream, I turned into a mermaid when I was eighteen. My stepmother sold me to a high-ranking official, who mistreated me, and I met the prince while I was fleeing.”
“The prince not only didn’t despise me, but also rescued me from the official and brought me back to the palace.”
“At first, I thought I had met a kind prince, but that was the beginning of my despair.”
“The prince was mentally ill and had a twisted and perverse personality. He played with me over and over again, peeling off my scales one by one.”
–“To save the kingdom, you must kill Her Royal Highness the princess.”
Bai Lixin left the palace hall with the Royal Magician’s desperate cry for help still echoing in his mind.
He hadn’t gone far before his path was blocked.
The one blocking him was none other than the king himself, the former Prince Rapunzel— Prince Mia, who was known to possess the seed of evil, as the silver-haired wizard had put it.
The king was alone and he looked at Bai Lixin with a complicated expression for a long time before he finally spoke in a deep voice, “Follow me.”
Bai Lixin followed the king to a study.
All the curtains in the study were tightly closed, and after entering, the king walked straight to the window and beckoned to Bai Lixin, “Come here.”
In the dimly lit environment, the king’s expression was tangled, and his back seemed somewhat sorrowful.
Bai Lixin walked up with a puzzled expression, and as soon as he reached the window, the king opened the curtain and the scenery outside the window came into view.
All around was gray and white; the sky, the land, the forest, the river, beyond the castle, everything was black and white as far as the eye could see.
“Look outside, Prince Xin,” said the king.
“Everything outside the castle has become like this.”
“You are my child, and Princess Miu Miu is also my child. No matter what you do, you are always the treasures in my heart.”
“But I am not just your father; I am also the ruler of this country.”
“Although I don’t want to admit it, everything happening outside is due to Princess Miu Miu.”
Bai Lixin glanced at the king, who had looked like a man in his thirties before but now looked helpless, with wrinkles climbing up his face, turning him into a man in his fifties in an instant.
The king sighed, “The changes are like maggots, and we didn’t even realize when they began.”
“By the time I realized it, the world had become a colorless black and white world.”
“I once saw a prophecy book, which had a passage saying…”
“The witch will devour all the colors in the world, and when the last trace of color disappears, the world will cease to exist.”
“In this world, there is me, your mother, you, and Miu Miu. But not just us, there are many other beings in this world, and they also have their own families.”
“I discovered the truth about Miu Miu being a witch a long time ago. Her emotions can change the weather here, and her anger or happiness can even change the personalities of others.”
“I have seen Miu Miu holding a dying bird in her hand several times, and the next second, the birds would become alive again.”
“I often see Miu Miu changing the status quo with just a word.”
“This power scares me, but I still love her and her mother.”
“We’ve been happy all these years, but our happiness is built on the pain of others.”
“I am her father, but more importantly, I am the king of this country. I must protect not only you, but also my subjects.”
“Son, although it is difficult to make this decision, please kill Princess Miu Miu on the escape route for the sake of this world and my subjects.”
Bai Lixin frowned as he looked at the dejected man in front of him. The man took a deep breath, and his gaze became firm. “I am now making this request as the king of the kingdom.”
“Prince Xin, I command you as the king of Shancheng to kill Princess Miu Miu.”
The king paused for a moment and spoke slowly. “Don’t let her suffer too much. She is my beloved daughter, and I hope she can be happy in her final moments.”
“Also, don’t let the queen know about this. Miu Miu is her favorite, and after you kill her, run away and come back twenty years later when people have gradually forgotten about this incident.”
“Bai Lixin, you are my only son, and I only have you now and in the future. When you come back, I will pass the throne to you. By then, your mother and I will be old, and we will find a beautiful place to retire.”
“When you come back, tell your mother that Miu Miu found love outside. Of course this is a lie to make your mother happy.”
Bai Lixin lowered his head and pondered over the king’s words. He sneered where the king couldn’t see, then raised his head with a sense of helplessness. “Are you sure Miu Miu is a witch? Can such a little girl who grew up as a pampered princess bear the pot for destroying the world?”
The king pursed his lips and was silent for two seconds before speaking slowly, “Whether she is or not, she is a disaster.”
“The burden of saving the world is now in your hands, do you hear me?”
Bai Lixin: “…”
The king casually assigned such a heavy burden with just a few words. Who did he want to crush?
Seeing that Bai Lixin still refused to speak, the king sighed and patted Bai Lixin’s shoulder. “I know you and your sister have a deep bond. Suddenly hearing the truth is hard to accept. Take some time to think about it.”
“Don’t worry. Today is Miu Miu’s sixteenth birthday. I will hold a feast tonight and invite the people and officials to attend.”
“Perhaps observing tonight’s banquet will change your mind.”
“Go back first and don’t tell your mother about our conversation.”
Bai Lixin looked out the window at the black and white scenery outside before turning to leave.
As he walked along the winding corridor, he heard a low whimpering sound coming from the garden.
Bai Lixin followed the sound and saw Princess Miu Miu squatting on the ground, crying. A few maids stood nearby, watching the princess with concern. The yellow warbler still circled around her.
As Bai Lixin approached, the warbler did not run away and just chirped a few times.
When he reached Miu Miu, he saw that she was holding a butterfly covered in mud.
Bai Lixin half-crouched down and asked, “What’s wrong, Miu Miu?”
The girl held the butterfly in her hands and looked up at Bai Lixin with red eyes. “Big brother, the butterfly died.”
“There is life, and there is death,” replied Bai Lixin.
The girl pouted and handed the butterfly to him. “But look, it’s so young, at the prime of its age. It should have been flying among the flowers, looking as beautiful as them and flapping its wings like other butterflies to collect nectar.”
“Why does the world have death?” A tear fell from Miu Miu’s eyes, landing on the butterfly.
The next second, the butterfly’s wings suddenly trembled, and it woke up as if it has been in a deep sleep. It flapped its wings hard and flew into the sky.
The girl’s sad face suddenly turned into a smile, and she happily pulled Bai Lixin’s arm, pointing at the butterfly flying away. “Look, big brother, it’s alive! The butterfly came back to life!”
Bai Lixin looked up at the butterfly flying away. The butterfly hovered above Princess Miu Miu’s head for a while, seeming to thank her, before flapping its wings and flying away into the distance, gradually disappearing from view.
Bai Lixin glanced at the maids standing next to her, who were all standing respectfully, but if you looked closely, you could see the fear and dread hidden behind their respectful demeanor.
Miu Miu happily took Bai Lixin’s arm and said, “Brother, do you remember what day it is today?”
“Of course, today is your sixteenth birthday,” replied Bai Lixin.
Miu Miu’s emerald cat eyes shone brightly in the sunlight as she lowered her head and said happily, “Yeah, after tonight, I’ll be an adult. Let’s hurry up and go. I am becoming an adult today so I have to dress up beautifully.”
Miu Miu quickly passed by the maids, and as she did, her clothes accidentally brushed against one of them, causing the maid’s expression to change suddenly.
Miu Miu ran ahead without waiting for Bai Lixin.
Once the girl disappeared around the corner, Bai Lixin glanced discreetly at the maid who had been touched by Miu Miu. He saw that she was frantically wiping her clothes with a handkerchief, as if trying to remove some dirt.
Sensing Bai Lixin’s gaze, the maid froze instantly, her trembling fingers gripping the handkerchief as she stood there, at a loss.
Bai Lixin walked up to her and looked down at the frightened maids, asking, “Do you all despise Princess Miu Miu?”
The already scared maids turned even paler at the question and immediately knelt down, saying, “No, of course not.”
“Why would we despise Princess Miu Miu?”
Bai Lixin’s gaze fell on the maid who was cleaning her clothes, “Then why are you cleaning yourself?”
The maid lay on the ground, looking helplessly at the maids around her, and then looked up at Bai Lixin who was staring at her intently.
With a white face and shaking shoulders, she gritted her teeth and frowned, “I don’t despise her, I’m just scared of her.”
“She’s too scary. She can do black magic.”
“She knows resurrection magic! Resurrection magic is the scariest black magic in this world. All life is born to die, and resurrection violates the principle of life and comes at a cost.”
“She repeatedly resurrects these small birds and butterflies, and all those costs are transferred to us, to this world!”
“She’s too scary!”
At the mention of “resurrection magic,” the other maids also began to tremble.
Upon seeing these people’s behavior, Bai Lixin also recalled what the silver-haired wizard had said before.
The silver-haired wizard had said that “resurrection” was a forbidden technique and came with a painful price.
In theory, this fairy tale world and the one where the silver-haired wizard was in were not the same, but everyone had a negative attitude towards the word “resurrection.”
It was a prohibited magic.
But he had also read many fairy tales where the main characters are resurrected after death, such as Snow White.
Bai Lixin looked at the maids for a while, then heard Miu Miu’s call, “Brother, come on, what are you waiting for?”
Miu Miu was standing at the end of the hallway, and the kneeling maids were out of sight.
The maids pleaded with Bai Lixin, “Prince Xin, we beg you, please don’t tell Miu Miu about this.”
Bai Lixin: “Are you afraid she’ll know?”
The maids looked at Bai Lixin in horror and embarrassment. “We’re afraid to get struck by dark magic.”
Bai Lixin looked at Miu Miu’s innocent figure in the distance, and then at the maidservants who were well-versed with reality. He sighed softly and said, “I understand. You can get up now and do whatever needs to be done.”
The maidservants were relieved and helped each other up, scattering around the garden to busy themselves.
Bai Lixin came to Miu Miu and before he could say anything, she grabbed his hand and pulled him forward, running ahead.
The girl in the ginger red dress was full of energy as she ran and laughed, seemingly unaware of the suffering in the world and the meaning of fatigue.
Bai Lixin followed closely behind, his gaze fixed on the girl’s figure.
“Why are both of you running?” A gentle yet authoritative female voice rang out. “You’re both adults, yet acting so childish.”
Upon hearing the voice, Miu Miu immediately stopped running and stood still.
The person who stopped them was the queen, Miss Xihai.
The queen’s beautiful eyes scrutinized the two of them. “Miu Miu, you will be an adult after tonight. You must always remember your identity as a noble princess. Your every word and deed must befit your status. Understand?”
“And you, Xin,” she continued, “Miu Miu is still young and ignorant. But what’s your excuse? As her brother, you spoil her too much. Not only did you not stop her from running, you even followed along with her.”
“You two give me no peace of mind.”
Miu Miu smiled sweetly and pulled the queen’s hand with both of hers, pouting. “Mother, please spare us this time. And don’t blame brother. I was the one who pulled him to run with me. Brother did try to stop me.”
The queen looked helpless as she glanced at Miu Miu. “When will you ever grow up, Miu Miu?”
Miu Miu immediately hugged the queen coquettishly, “No, I don’t want to grow up. I just want to be mother’s little padded jacket forever.”
The queen sighed lightly, her eyes filled with a hint of pain. She gently patted Miu Miu’s head, “Okay, you go back to your room first. I have something to discuss with your brother.”
Bai Lixin silently swept his gaze between the queen and Miu Miu, and roughly understood what the discussion would be about.
After watching Miu Miu walk away into the distance, the queen turned to Bai Lixin with a sad expression. “Xin, I need you to take Miu Miu and leave this place. You’ll have a hard time ahead of you.”
Bai Lixin: “…”
Did the queen also want him to kill Miu Miu?
Queen: “Let’s talk in the corner. I still have to prepare for the banquet and will be very busy.”
He followed the queen to a deserted corner. The queen’s emerald eyes stared at the green lawn in front of her, and then her eyes flickered complicatedly as she glanced at Bai Lixin, hesitating, “Do you remember who you are?”
Bai Lixin remained silent for two seconds and nodded gently, “Yes, I do.”
The queen’s face brightened, and then she looked at Bai Lixin up and down with suspicion, “Do you really remember?”
Bai Lixin replied, “Yes, I do.”
The queen said, “Then where did we last meet?”
Bai Lixin answered, “In the Mermaid Palace.”
The queen’s tense face relaxed instantly, and she secretly breathed a sigh of relief. “That’s great. It seems that you still remember.”
“I’m not a good person,” said the queen, licking her lips, beginning the slightly absurd and lengthy conversation.
“I know you’ve investigated my family. Although I don’t know why, you seem very curious about the Xihai family.”
“To make you trust me, I’ll tell you something. You might think it’s false, but what I’m saying is true.”
“When I was seventeen, I had a dream. In the dream, I turned into a mermaid when I was eighteen. My stepmother sold me to a high-ranking official, who mistreated me, and I met the prince while I was fleeing.”
“The prince not only didn’t despise me, but also rescued me from the official and brought me back to the palace.”
“At first, I thought I had met a kind prince, but that was the beginning of my despair.”
“The prince was mentally ill and had a twisted and perverse personality. He played with me over and over again, peeling off my scales one by one.”
