My exclusive card pool

Chapter 283 Arranged Marriages and Bedtime Stories

Wang Xi released the blessing from "Ancient Dragon True Lord".

The golden flames, horns, and dragon wings on his body then dissipated.

"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness Lucy. I'm fine."

He looked at the cute girl in front of him, smiled and shook his head.

"It is Prince Snow White who was tainted by my flames and is seriously injured. He will probably be in a bad mood for a while... I apologize, I couldn't stop myself and accidentally injured His Highness's brother."

"No, it's okay."

Lucy pursed her lips and lowered her head.

“Mr. Kai, you don’t need to apologize to me. Since it was a duel, it was unavoidable... Besides, it was Brother Bai Xue who proposed it, so it’s not your fault.”

She quietly raised her eyes and saw that the young man had returned to his original appearance, with a gentle smile on his face.

Comparing this to the imposing figure that had just made her heart tremble, she couldn't help but feel an indescribable sense of reverence and admiration.

He's so good looking.

Moreover, it's so powerful...

Yet she was so gentle with me.

Mr. Kai is a very suitable husband.

Lucy's beautiful eyes sparkled, lost in thought.

"Your Highness?"

The young man's voice quickly pulled her back from her reverie.

"what……"

Lucy blushed and lowered her head, changing the subject:
"Mr. Kai, do you...do you possess the bloodline of an ancient dragon? Just now, I saw something on you..."

"It's a secret," Wang Xi chuckled. "Prying into things isn't exactly ladylike behavior."

"I'm sorry!" Lucy quickly covered her mouth, her eyes filled with apology. "Mr. Kai, I won't ask anymore."

However, the image of the young man in her mind became even more mysterious.

This aroused Lucy's great curiosity about him.

At this moment, two orbs of light, visible only to Wang Xi, flew from the direction where Prince Snow White had left and pierced straight into his brow.

'A deep purple card and a purple card? The rewards for defeating Snow White are quite generous...'

Wang Xi thought about it and felt it made sense.

Ultimately, Bai Xue is a five-star expert with a gold-framed title, so it would be strange if she didn't drop a deep purple card.

The opponent also suffered from underestimating their strength.

He couldn't unleash his full strength at the beginning and was directly overwhelmed by Wang Xi's powerful attack, who suppressed him from start to finish, resulting in a frustrating defeat.

Seeing that his mental card pool had been filled with two high-quality colored cards, Wang Xi was in a good mood.

The outer perimeter of the courtyard.

Among the spectators, the towering Red Queen Beth, her previous unpleasant expression gone, revealed a hearty smile.

"Gai, well done!"

Her red lips parted slightly as she glanced at her younger sister Melana, who was still somewhat dazed not far away, and she couldn't help but smile.

Humph.

Melanie, oh Melanie.

Your Snow White Prince, the revered First Knight of Barn, is no match for my dear Kai!
Let's see how you fight me now!
Beth was equally delighted.

In contrast to her, Bluebeard Rice and the sea witch Ursula, who stood silently behind her, were horrified, their eyes twitching.

Everything was going according to plan. As expected, Prince Snow White publicly attacked the Wind Giant because of his death and challenged Kai to a duel.

The two men gloated, waiting for the guy to suffer a terrible fate.

The result, however, was quite surprising.

Snow White suffered a crushing defeat!

Kai Farrell has definitely been hiding his true strength!

Bluebeard and the sea witch exchanged a glance, both seeing a look of certainty on each other's faces.

Without prior arrangement, both of them realized that their situation could no longer be described as "difficult".

It's "dangerous"!
Quite dangerous!

Just as the two were getting anxious and racking their brains for a solution.

King George III finally stepped in to smooth things over, breaking the awkward silence with a deep voice:
"Mr. Kai truly lives up to his reputation as the chief archmage under the Red Queen; even Snow White is no match for you..."

He paused, his tone revealing no anger, but rather a hint of admiration.

"That's fine. He's used to having everything go his way. It'll be good for him to suffer a little and learn a lesson."

King George III made no mention of Snow White's departure, as if the fierce duel just moments before was merely a prelude to the banquet.

"Gentlemen," King Barn said, regaining his usual dignified air with a perfectly measured smile. "The court has prepared a modest banquet. Please move to the reception room so that we may discuss important matters concerning the future of the Chessboard Kingdom while enjoying fine wine and food."

He put one hand behind his back and turned to the side, making an elegant, gesturing gesture.

Everyone did as instructed.

Queen Adele walked beside the king with graceful bearing.

Red Queen Beth, beaming with pride, raised her chin as she passed by White Queen Melanie.

Melania still wore that flawless, sweet smile, but the frost in her eyes had deepened.

The banquet hall was brightly lit, with crystal chandeliers reflecting dazzling light. A snow-white linen tablecloth covered the long table, and the silver cutlery gleamed.

At the signal of Queen Adele, the well-trained servants filed in, offering exquisite meals, fine wines, and exotic fruits unique to Wonderland.

The aroma of food and the fragrance of wine instantly filled the air, easing the tense atmosphere in the courtyard.

After everyone was seated and a round of drinks had been served, King George III put down his glass, cleared his throat, and said, "Ahem."

The banquet hall fell silent immediately.

He looked around, his gaze steady: "Gentlemen, in addition to welcoming the Red and White Queens to visit and discuss the grand plan of the Three Alliances, I have another piece of good news to announce."

These words immediately attracted everyone's attention.

King George III continued, "I have sent messengers to the neighboring Kingdom of Atlantis. After negotiations, Atlantis has agreed to a truce and... a marriage alliance."

"Marriage?"

Everyone looked surprised.

King George III nodded slightly: "Indeed. My eldest son from the Kingdom of Barn, Snow White, will marry Princess Pearl, the mermaid princess of the Kingdom of Atlantis."

"what?!"

Prince Anto and Princess Lucy were both surprised. They never expected that their brother, Snow White, would marry the legendary beautiful and mysterious mermaid princess.

Melania frowned slightly.

But soon, she returned to normal, gracefully picked up her wine glass, and took a sip.

He was just filled with resentment.

The intention behind the Barn royal family's move is all too clear!

While the marriage alliance could end the protracted war between the two countries, more importantly, it completely severed the ambiguous and increasingly dangerous relationship between Snow White and her.

Prince Snow White's infatuation with her was no secret both inside and outside the court, and this was precisely the situation that George III, and indeed the entire Barn royal family, least wanted to see.

clap clap clap!
Red Queen Beth was the first to applaud.

"Your Majesty George, this is an absolutely wise decision."

She was all smiles.

“That mermaid princess Pearl, known as the ‘Daughter of the Sea,’ is said to have a voice that can touch the soul and even possess the magical power to purify curses! She is indeed a perfect match for Princess Snow White… I, Beth, on behalf of Poker County, fully support the decision of the Barn Royal Family.”

She made her stance clear, which undoubtedly provided great support to the Barn royal family and also dealt a blow to the White Queen.

Wang Xi, sitting below Beth, felt a sudden sense of relief upon hearing this.

'I see……'

He thought to himself.

This marriage alliance is truly killing three birds with one stone.

Not only can it end the war between the Chessboard Kingdom and the Atlan Kingdom, turning hostility into friendship, but it can also completely remove Prince Snow White from the influence of Queen Melania, thus stabilizing the royal family.

The key is……

The Barn royal family wants to use the song of the mermaid princess Pearl to try to awaken the eldest rose princess Rose, who is sleeping deep in the thorn forest and is afflicted with multiple curses!
If successful, the Barn royal family's power and prestige will reach unprecedented heights, and its dominant position in the Chessboard Kingdom will be unshakeable.

Wang Xi turned his gaze to George III, who sat in the main seat.

Was this plan the work of King Barn?

But when his gaze swept over Adele, the Mirror Queen, who always maintained a dignified smile and gentle, reserved demeanor beside George III, his intuition told him:
This scheme is more likely the work of the seemingly unassuming Queen Mirror.

After hearing Beth's enthusiastic support, King George III smiled with satisfaction and nodded slightly to her: "Thank you, Your Majesty Beth, for your trust and support of the Barn royal family."

Then, he turned his head and raised his voice:
"The new Foreign Minister is here."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Not long after.

A series of steady footsteps came from outside the banquet hall.

A man dressed in court attire, with a lean build and sharp eyes, strode in.

When he appeared in everyone's sight, a look of surprise appeared on Wang Xi's face.

Because the visitor was none other than Gulliver, the private detective from the real-world clockwork kingdom!

Why is he here?

He even transformed himself into the Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Barn?
Gulliver clearly saw Wang Xi as well. His steps faltered almost imperceptibly, and a hint of surprise flashed across his eyes. However, he quickly composed himself and regained the composure befitting a foreign minister.

He nodded to Wang Xi without making a sound, as if to say hello, and then quickly walked to the center of the banquet hall, where he gave a standard courtly bow to the King, Queen Jing, the two queens (Red and White), and the noble guests present.

"Your Majesty, you are looking for me?"

Gulliver's voice was clear and steady.

King George III announced in a loud voice: "Sir Gulliver, I appoint you as Barn's envoy, to depart immediately for a friendly visit to the Kingdom of Atlantis."

“You will bring the royal treasure—the ‘glass dancing shoe’—as a betrothal gift to Princess Pearl.”

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Gulliver immediately bowed in agreement. George III nodded, then looked at the two queens, one red and one white, and said in a deep voice:
"This journey is long and involves diplomatic relations between our two countries, making it of great significance. My royal family in Barn has been busy with many affairs lately and is short of manpower. To ensure everything goes smoothly, I humbly request your assistance in sending capable officers to accompany and protect us. This can also be considered our first cooperation since the formation of our three alliances."

That sounds nice.

In reality, it all comes down to the "sincerity" of both sides.

Beth and Melania naturally understood George III's subtext, and both sisters showed thoughtful expressions.

Soon, the White Queen turned her head and spoke to a maidservant standing in the shadows behind her, dressed in a simple black dress and with a black veil over her face:
"Bra, you will go with Sir Gulliver."

The maid in black veil bowed slightly, remaining silent, like a silent shadow.

Red Queen Beth was not to be outdone: "Ursula, Rice, the two of you will escort Sir Gulliver together and make sure he reaches the Kingdom of Atlantis safely."

The sea witch and Bluebeard, who were named, were initially tense, but then a surge of joy welled up inside them.

Staying away from the capital of Barn is like staying away from that dangerous guy, Gai Farrell.

It's a godsend!

They were struggling to figure out how to get out of this mess, and now this opportunity has come knocking on their door!
The two men immediately stepped forward, bowed, and spoke with a deliberate air of loyalty:

"I will obey His Majesty's will!"

...

...

As night deepened, the Royal Palace of Barn fell silent.

A faint scent of incense permeated the bedroom of Queen Adele, the Mirror Queen.

She had removed the elaborate and gorgeous palace attire and heavy crown she wore during the day, and was now only wearing a magnificent nightgown that shimmered with pearls.

Her soft, golden hair cascaded over her shoulders, making her appear less regal and more languid and mysterious.

pat, pat.

She walked barefoot onto the cool, smooth obsidian floor to the center of the room.

There, a huge floor-length mirror stood silently, inlaid with countless sparkling gems like stars.

This is no ordinary mirror, but a "sacred artifact" that the Mirror Queen has had since birth—the Magic Mirror.

Anto and Lucy inherited her bloodline and each possessed their own "symbiotic artifact".

Adele picked up a silver comb and began to comb her cascading golden hair in front of the magic mirror. Her movements were gentle and slow, as if she were performing some kind of ritual.

She didn't look at her reflection in the mirror, but gazed at the flowing silver surface. Her red lips parted slightly, with a peculiar rhythm, as if reciting an ancient incantation, or chatting with an old friend of many years:

"Magic mirror, magic mirror, tell me..."

Her voice echoed in the quiet room.

"In these turbulent times, in this perilous fairyland... who is the one in the world most likely to save the Kingdom of Barn from its peril?"

The mirror surface rippled violently like water, and the silver light flowed and converged, eventually forming a blurry ball of light in the center of the mirror.

An old, hoarse voice slowly rang out:

"Queen Adele..."

"The threads of fate have already intertwined, and the stars of yesteryear have dimmed..."

"Now, the one with the greatest hope of saving the Kingdom of Barn..."

"It's Kai Farrell."

"?!"

Adele abruptly stopped combing her hair.

She looked up abruptly, staring incredulously at the ball of light in the mirror. Her usually gentle eyes were now filled with shock and bewilderment.

"Gai... Farrell?"

She repeated the name softly, her brows furrowed slightly.

In fact, Adele had asked the Magic Mirror this question many times. Initially, the answer was Rose, the eldest daughter of the former Black Queen.

Later, Rose was cursed and fell into a deep sleep, and the answer became Snow White, the brilliant and infinitely potential prince.

But today, the answer has suddenly become the archmage under the Red Queen, Kai.

"..."

Adele fell into a long period of contemplation.

The Magic Mirror's prophecies have never been wrong, even more accurate than those of the "Insect Sage" in the Dawn Forest.

But this change was too abrupt.

This left Adele unable to understand for a moment.

After a long while, she sighed sadly:

"Young man, what secrets are you still hiding? And is your appearance... good or bad for the Kingdom of Barn?"

...

...

At the invitation of King George III, sisters Beth and Melanie decided to stay at the palace temporarily.

The Red Queen's temporary residence.

Outside the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, the fluorescent plants unique to this wonderland emit a soft glow, casting a hazy and ambiguous light inside.

Beth was in high spirits at the moment.

She changed out of the scarlet dress and wore only a thin, almost transparent burgundy silk nightgown, which outlined her tall and perfectly sculpted figure.

Beth leaned back on the couch, holding a ruby-gold cup filled with wine from the Barn royal collection.

"Jai," she called, her voice languid and hoarse with the effects of alcohol, her gaze fixed intently on Wang Xi, who sat on a chair not far away. "Come here and have a drink with me."

She patted the spot next to her.

Wang Xi got up as instructed and sat down on the soft couch.

Beth handed him the golden cup in her hand, and then picked up another cup for herself.

"You did a really good job today!"

She tilted her head back and gulped down a large mouthful of wine; the spicy liquid flushed her cheeks and made her eyes even brighter.

"Seeing Melanie so devastated by Snow White's defeat at your hands... Haha, I haven't been this happy in a long time!"

She laughed, her delicate body trembling slightly.

The magnificent mountain scenery is faintly visible amidst the red glow and thin mist.

"You not only saved my face, but you also gave that bitch Melana a resounding slap in the face. Kai, thank you..."

She put down her wine glass, leaned forward slightly, and the strong aroma of the wine almost hit Wang Xi's face.

Beth was so tall that even sitting down, she exuded a strong sense of oppression.

Wang Xi kept his eyes down, seemingly lost in thought, and silently drank his wine.

"Hmm?" Beth raised an eyebrow, a hint of displeasure in her voice. "Why aren't you looking at me, my Archmage? Don't you always say I'm beautiful?"

Her smile faded, her voice lowered, carrying a hint of barely perceptible self-mockery: "Ha, that's true. In your heart, you probably also see me as a deformed, ugly monster..."

Wang Xi shook his head: "Your Majesty, I have never thought that way. Every word of praise I have given you comes from the bottom of my heart and is not an exaggeration."

Beth was stunned.

The emotions surging in her eyes were complex and difficult to decipher.

There was surprise, there was scrutiny, and ultimately it transformed into something deeper and more intense.

A few seconds later, she suddenly laughed again.

The smile lost its queenly sharpness and carried a strange tenderness.

"Really?" she repeated softly, her fingers gently tracing Wang Xi's cheek, bringing a subtle teasing sensation. "Then... let's prove it with actions."

Wang Xi was stunned.

He had actually guessed Beth's intention in inviting him for drinks, but he hadn't expected her to be so direct.

Beth licked her dry lips, lowered her head, and leaned closer, saying in a commanding tone, "Take off my crown."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Wang Xi sighed inwardly, then gently raised his hand and removed the heavy ruby ​​crown, placing it on a low table beside him.

However, the moment the crown left her hand, Beth did not straighten up as Wang Xi had expected.

Instead, she lowered her head even further...

Her red hair cascaded down like a waterfall.

"hiss!"

Wang Xi gasped.

Night deepened.

In the Crown Prince's bedroom, soft, magical lamps cast a warm glow. Little Princess Lucy sat beside her brother's bed, gently telling him a bedtime story:

“Long, long ago, at the edge of the dream world stood the majestic ‘Crimson Peak’.”

"It soars into the clouds, surrounded by rosy light. Countless explorers, knights, and even wizards are drawn to its magnificence, eager to conquer the mysteries of its summit. They come with excellent equipment, powerful magic, and even riding dragons to take on the challenge."

Lucy sighed softly, "It's a pity. No matter how powerful they are, they all end up defeated. Red Mountain is like a sleeping giant, its majesty inviolable, inspiring despair."

Anto asked in a low voice, "And then what? Did anyone succeed?"

Lucy smiled: "Later, a hero unlike any other appeared. He seemed insignificant, yet he possessed a fearless heart and unfathomable strength. He did not rely on brute force, but rather on understanding and respect, as if he could feel the ancient heartbeat of the mountains and understand the loneliness beneath their majesty."

"He climbed steadily and firmly, feeling the fiery vitality of the mountain range like lava, and listening to the howling and whispering of the mountain wind."

"The climb was difficult and long. The gale threatened to blow him down, and the mountain trembled as if in resistance. But the brave man did not back down and overcame the obstacles step by step."

"Finally, on a star-studded night, the hero reached the summit. As he stood atop the peak where the sunset glowed and the clouds mingled, the entire mountain range seemed to fall silent."

"The hero felt the pulse of the deepest part of the mountains, a resonance that shook his very soul. It was as if the mountains were opening their arms to him, revealing the secrets hidden deep within—"

"What secret?"

"Anto asked curiously."

Lucy shook her head: "I don't know, it's not in the book."

After the story was told, the palace was quiet.

Anto muttered to himself:
"That hero is truly amazing..."

(End of this chapter)