At this moment, the palace was in complete chaos.
The Prince had disappeared!
“The Prince is doomed. What are we going to do?”
“Maybe the King should just have another prince.”
“Prince Celeste could even feel a sword hidden under his mattress—how is he supposed to survive out there?”
“If you can’t feel a sword under a mattress, that would be strange…”
“Enough of that. Let’s all cry together…”
The palace was filled with wailing, everyone’s hearts aching for the poor Prince.
The deep blue sky was studded with countless stars, darting in and out of the clouds. A few stars, exhausted from their wanderings, slipped over the edge of the sky, carving arcs through the air.
The entire forest breathed in a steady rhythm, save for an awkward figure trudging along with difficulty.
Gems on the ground glowed, lighting up the surrounding dead leaves. Every few steps, another gem appeared.
The man picked up the gems one by one. They must have fallen from that dragon. When he saw it fly away, its claws couldn’t hold onto the gems—they dropped one after another as it soared off…
Its self-assessment proved correct—it truly was a greedy dragon, unwilling to spare a second trip to haul its treasure home.
The man soon spotted a cave. That must be the dragon’s lair, for the entrance was rimmed with gems…
Just then, an urgent voice called out.
“Excuse me, are you the Prince? Snow White needs your kiss!”
“I crossed ninety-one mountains to find you…”
The man looked around, bewildered.
“I’m down here! Please, look down!” The dwarf jumped frantically.
“I’ve seen your secret portrait—you’re Prince Celeste, right?”
The man lowered his head and finally spotted the dwarf hopping about on the ground.
The dwarf wore a pointed hat, its tip bobbing with every leap.
The man was silent for a moment, then drew his sword. “I’m the huntsman sent by the Queen.”
Hearing this, the dwarf shrieked and fled.
That vile Queen had even used her disguise magic on someone else!
As soon as the man’s identity was revealed, the other forest creatures quietly shrank back.
Disaster had struck—a huntsman had come to their forest!
Celeste settled down to sleep at the entrance of the cave. He didn’t quite know why he’d ended up at this dragon’s lair.
Truth be told, he had fought many dragons before, but this one gave him a strangely innocent feeling…
Perhaps this place was safer than the open forest.
When dawn broke, Ji Zhaoxi was livid at the sight of the man at her doorstep.
She felt disrespected. Even a vagrant dared to sleep on her front porch—granted, he was a handsome vagrant.
The dragon’s claw jabbed unceremoniously at his wound. In his sleep, Celeste winced from the pain and snapped his eyes open.
Dragon and man stared at each other.
“Get lost!” the dragon barked.
Celeste was quiet for a moment. “Take me back to the palace, and I’ll give you countless gems.”
The forest was too vast; he had completely lost his sense of direction to the palace.
“Why should I believe you? You’re just a vagrant!”
Celeste looked at her calmly. “Then I’m a vagrant with a lot of gems.”
Ji Zhaoxi was instantly convinced.
She felt he made a lot of sense—after all, his clothes were studded with gemstones.
But…
Ji Zhaoxi thought of that hateful woman in the tower and hesitated.
“Miss Dragon, you’re not scared, are you? If you are, I’ll just go to Lorian instead,” Celeste said.
Ji Zhaoxi’s competitive side immediately flared up: “Lorian? I’ll take you there. I’m way better than her.”
Celeste formed a new impression of Ji Zhaoxi—she was a dragon who could be easily provoked.
The dragon, brimming with fighting spirit, carried Celeste toward the palace.
“Mister Tramp, you seriously need to lose some weight. You’re crushing me,” the dragon complained as she flew.
A rare trace of embarrassment flickered in Celeste’s eyes. He had only just realized that this dragon probably hadn’t fought much and wasn’t as large as the others.
He’d actually hesitated before climbing onto her back…
But the moment they reached the sky near the palace, rows upon rows of soldiers were already lined up on the rooftops, bows drawn and arrows aimed at them.
Ji Zhaoxi looked toward the guard captain in the tower. The captain noticed her gaze and crooked a finger at her.
Ji Zhaoxi: …
“Do you know that guard captain? She’s really mean.”
She always shot arrows at her.
Celeste fell silent too. He clearly realized that this dragon couldn’t possibly win against so many trained soldiers.
Before they could react, thousands of arrows rained toward them. The dragon panicked, swerving so hard she nearly threw Celeste off her back.
Soon after, the dragon and the man, covered in dust and shame, crashed into the forest.
“Why do you want to get into the palace?” Ji Zhaoxi said, wiping the dirt off her face.
“Because I’m the Prince.”
Ji Zhaoxi was quiet for a moment. “Then I’m the Princess.”
Celeste ignored her mockery and walked ahead. He was finally close to the palace.
Ji Zhaoxi hid in the bushes, watching the show.
Celeste stopped at the palace gates and calmly faced the soldiers. “Let me in. I’m Celeste.”
Not far away, Ji Zhaoxi let out a snorting laugh.
The soldiers sized up Celeste’s clothes—not a single diamond, a shabby look. How dare he pretend to be their Prince?
Their Prince Celeste was the most formidable presence in the forest kingdom. Even his shoes were studded with diamonds—unlike this man’s shoes, which had two holes.
Though those two holes would be perfect for setting diamonds.
The soldier lifted his chin high and sneered down his nose at him. “You say you’re the Prince?”
Celeste nodded.
The soldier snorted coldly. “Then I’m the Princess.”
Did this guy think being a prince or princess was just a matter of saying so? He should really go find a sea witch to trade for a better brain.
Celeste fell completely silent.
In the end, he followed Ji Zhaoxi back.
“See? You say you’re the Prince, but I think you’re just a liar. How about you become my servant instead? You can tidy up my cave for me,” Ji Zhaoxi said as she walked ahead.
Every dragon had a servant—except her.
“You’ll stay in that little wooden hut over there, and come into my cave when there’s work to do,” she added.
Celeste knew exactly which little wooden hut she was talking about.
A kennel made of red pine planks, very tall, shaped like a small chapel, quite exquisite.
"I heard Lorian's servants live in the castle."
Ji Zhaoxi was furious: "Where do I have a castle for you to live in!"
He didn't even like that nice little wooden house.
Celeste looked at her: "Perhaps I could sleep in a corner of the cave, so when the Dragon Lady commands me, I could promptly go and do it."
Ji Zhaoxi was a stingy boss; she didn't want to give her servant a single inch of land.
But thinking of Lorian, she reluctantly nodded.
