Chapter 57.1

“This little kitten likes you. Please stand on her side, thank you,” Ji Chacha gently nudged Xin Nuo, “I haven’t offended you, right?”

“Is that so?” Xin Nuo suddenly said, looking down at Ji Chacha with a superior gaze.

Beneath her long eyelashes, there were glimmers of light, enchanting the heart and soul.

“Oh?”

“Huh?”

Other guests looked at Xin Nuo and Ji Chacha with surprise and curiosity, wondering if there was a connection between Xin Nuo-rella and the detective.

“Is it true?”

Ji Chacha stared with wide eyes in confusion.

It wasn’t in her script!

“If the detective chooses me, then we’ll have a story.” Xin Nuo smiled and returned to her seat, humming.

Everyone: “…”

Ji Chacha patted her chest, “You scared me!”

“You all saw it, this princess dares to threaten the detective!” Ji Chacha leaned forward and sat down, stretching her neck to address the others, “Some people have a pretty and innocent little face, but they’ve caused countless harm behind the scenes! A bloodthirsty maniac!”

Xin Nuo played with her fingertips, her nails were transparent with a hint of pale pink. Her other hand supported her chin, smiling. Just like pure white snow about to turn into thick, terrifying blood.

“…”

The guests immediately averted their gazes and shook their heads repeatedly.

“If you like her so much, I’ll give her to you,” the knight said to Xu Heran, “Her name is Ash Xin Nuo, so you can call her Melancholy. The two of you as a duo will be invincible.”

The maid quickly corrected, “Her name is Xin Nuo Ash!”

“Then it’s one Ash Xin Nuo and one Cold Intentions,” the knight sighed deeply, “Anyway, I’m feeling downhearted.”

People chuckled lightly, looking at the pitiful knight, shaking their heads.

“It’s alright, it’s not your turn yet, it’s coming soon, don’t worry.”

Xu Heran bent over and said to the knight, “It’s a good thing that you recognize your place. You’re just a tool, a toy!”

The knight was both angry and fearful, “The fate of this toy is to eventually die!”

“Don’t panic, you haven’t reached that point yet,” Xu Heran quickly reassured.

“Yeah, I’m waiting for your proposal,” Xin Nuo smiled slightly.

“What color teacup do you like? White or red?”

Everyone turned their heads, their expressions saying, “Come on, say it quickly,” as they watched the show.

The lone knight immediately lowered his head, not daring to look at Xin Nuo.

“Please treat me as transparent.”

“Hahaha!”

The atmosphere in the reception room shifted, and Ji Chacha, sitting at the central head table, asked Xu Heran, “Is there more?”

“For now, that’s about it,” Xu Heran replied.

“So, the princess’s murderous intent is just her hatred for the prince’s betrayal?” Ji Chacha asked.

Xu Heran said, “For now, that seems to be the case. However, her intent to kill isn’t strong. According to her, she had a chance to kill the prince before, when she discovered his betrayal. But at that time, she didn’t act. It’s been a year and a half since then, and they’ve only met again recently. She has no reason to kill the prince now.”

Nobleman Mont Li immediately exclaimed, “Why are you making excuses for her?”

“I’m not making excuses for her,” Xu Heran replied, “What I mean is that the current evidence only shows that the princess has intent to kill the prince, but it’s not deep. Unless, during an argument with the prince at night, something happens between them that causes the princess to want to take action against the prince. For example, that gem that the prince has been obsessed with, the one he was willing to invite his ex-wife to the ball for.”

“But I haven’t found evidence in that direction, it’s just speculation.”

“Alright, thank you!”

Everyone applauded, and Xu Heran took her seat.

“The next person I originally wanted to have start is Xin Nuo, but I need to take it slow now, I dare not face her directly,” Ji Chacha joked, “So, let’s please our beautiful noble lady, Mona Lisa Li.”

Amidst the laughter of the crowd, the noble lady gracefully stood up.

“I am the once-wealthy heiress of the former Duke’s mansion in this kingdom. After my father’s death, the Duke’s title should have been passed to my brother Mont Li. However, due to certain reasons, my brother was unable to inherit the title of Duke. As a result, some rifts developed between us and the prince.” Mona Lisa Li spoke elegantly from behind the long table, “So, by attending the Christmas ball tonight, we wanted to meet the prince again and discuss this matter. But please note, compared to me, a noble lady who can’t inherit a peerage, the anger between my brother and the prince is even greater.”

Mont Li nodded, “Yes, after all, you want to become the queen and make the prince my brother-in-law.”

Mona Lisa Li gave him a stern look, “So what I searched was my brother’s room. I hope my own family won’t turn into executioners.”

Xu Heran immediately raised her hand and poked Xin Nuo’s waist.

“Executioner!”

Xin Nuo narrowed her eyes, “Next, I’ll knife you.”

The little cat withdrew her hand petulantly and placed it on the table with a timid demeanor.

“The evidence I found, as for my brother, although he’s usually timid and has a somewhat shy personality, sometimes even more delicate than a noble lady like me…”

“My dear sister, please remember, I am your actual brother!” Mont Li said excitedly, “You shouldn’t be praising your brother this much!”

“Shut up,” Mona Lisa Li scolded him, “When I’m talking, you’re not allowed to interrupt.”

Mont Li covered his mouth.

“Oh, scared of your sister,” Xu Heran teased, holding her chin.

“But!” Mona Lisa Li continued, “My brother, as a nobleman, is still quite qualified. He excels in various aspects, as everyone can see. He also looks good, quite handsome, at least his eyes and nose are in the right place.”

Mont Li: “…”

“Then, I discovered in his room that my supposedly naturally shy and timid brother was actually writing love letters secretly to a young girl behind my back!”

“Hahaha!”

“He’s not writing behind your back, he’s writing in front of you,” Xu Heran picked up a notebook and shook it, “Sister, look, I’m going to write a love letter to a little girl!”

The knight chimed in, “Sister, should I use ‘darling’ or ‘honey’ at the beginning of this love letter?”

Mona Lisa Li raised her hand, “Friends, that’s not the point. The point is the content of this letter!”

“Oh?” Xin Nuo and Ji Chacha both looked up at the same time.

“I found a total of ten letters, dated from March of this year until now, one letter per month. Each letter contains similar words, ‘My precious, you are the most enchanting flower in the Dreamland Kingdom, your beauty surpasses the hundred flowers in the palace garden, your purity outshines the noble princess’.”

Xin Nuo raised an eyebrow.

“I’m willing to marry you, but I’ll have to wait until you come of age. I want you to be my esteemed duchess, but unfortunately, I’m not a duke at the moment. If only I could smoothly ascend to the position of a duke, then I could be even closer to marrying you,” Mona Lisa Li read aloud with a strong voice, “forever cherishing my affection for you, my little kitten.”

Xu Heran widened his eyes, “Why do you humans involve our little kitten when discussing love and affection?”

“You foolish humans, how dare you liken yourselves to little kittens!”

Xu Heran fumed with anger.

“This is a great insult to our feline companions!”

“Slander!”

Mont Li quickly responded, “I’m using it as an analogy. I’m describing my love with the term ‘little kitten,’ which symbolizes its beauty, much like a cat.”

“That’s more like it,” Xu Heran nodded approvingly.

Xin Nuo shook her head in resignation.

Mona Lisa Li reminded them, “Our father was killed in February, and my younger brother started writing letters to a girl in March. Pay attention to the phrase ‘wait until you come of age’ in the letters. I believe everyone knows who it refers to, right?”

All eyes immediately turned to the maid.

The maid blushed and covered her face.

“Oh, come on, stop it.”

“I’m not of age yet! Mom said that minors shouldn’t talk about love with others,” the maid blushed.

“Well, I haven’t seen you engage in romantic affairs with the prince either,” Xin Nuo sneered.

“We had normal conversations,” the maid said, “I’m a literary girl.”

“Your father passed away in February, and in March, you were already exchanging affectionate letters with a young girl?” Ji Songyu asked Mont Li.

Mont Li only smiled and didn’t reply.

Xu Heran asked Yue Ji, “When did you start having romantic interactions with the prince?”

Yue Ji thought for a moment and said, “It was in February. It was still snowing back then, and we met in a pavilion in the royal palace. There was a full moon hanging in the sky, as beautiful as the full moon that appears every month. At that time, I was still a helper in the kitchen.” Yue Ji continued, “But after that night, I became the prince’s personal maid.”

“Oh~” Xu Heran playfully blinked at Xin Nuo, “Romance and affection, huh~”

“On that moonlit night, was the wind on the snow very noisy?”

“You look like you deserve a beating,” Xin Nuo whispered.

“Hehe.”

“Mont Li, do you know that the prince likes to engage in romantic conversations with Yue Ji?”

Mont Li straightened his clothes, “Yue Ji is a free-spirited girl, of course, she can chat and talk with others.”

“Hmm?” Xu Heran felt something was off, and she frowned.

“My dear brother knows,” Mona Lisa Li gave a look of “underestimating you” to Mont Li, “In the letter from December, my brother wrote, ‘Dear Yue Ji, you’re not just Yue Ji, you’re a rose, a rose blooming in my heart. I really wish to possess this rose quickly, but I have to wait another two years. Also, I haven’t acquired the position of a duke yet. Life is unpredictable, how can I make you my esteemed duchess? Perhaps, do you have a solution?'”

“And then there’s a reply from Yue Ji, where she says she’s figured out a way and assures Mont Li not to worry, that she will help Mont Li.”

Xu Heran immediately asked, “What solution?”

“Engage in romantic interactions with the prince?” the butler inquired.

Xin Nuo chuckled lightly, “Whisper pillow talk?”

“But I’m still a minor,” among those present, Yue Ji’s actress, who was the oldest in real age, flashed a mysterious smile at Xin Nuo, “At most, it’s whispering chair talk.”

Ji Songyu said, “The prince can’t just let Mont Li inherit the position of a duke because he enjoys romantic exchanges with a maid, right?”

“Yes,” Mont Li said, “but it’s not without gain or cost. Let’s give it a try.”

“Hmph, look at you, always so obedient, yet quite clever when it matters?” Mona Lisa Li said.

“Clever? He’s manipulating the young girl’s emotions!” Xu Heran accused.

“This isn’t called deception, it’s a beautiful misunderstanding. I put effort into writing her love letters, you know? When she reads those letters, isn’t she happy?” Mont Li said, “It’s a fair trade.”

Everyone pouted and shook their heads.

“Scum!”

“Why doesn’t the prince grant you a title?”

“We don’t know,” Mont Li said, “The prince himself said he hasn’t ascended to the throne yet and doesn’t have the authority to pass on a title to me.”

“Yes, I found the correspondence between Mont Li and the prince, and that’s what it says.”

Ji Songyu sighed, “You have quite a collection of letters in your room, huh? No letters from other girls, I hope?”

Mona Lisa Li said, “Not yet, at least.”

“See, you all see,” Mont Li said to Xu Heran, “I’m a dedicated scum!”

Xu Heran exclaimed, “Help!”

Mona Lisa Li then shared other evidence she had found, some blood-stained evidence with tokens from the prince, leading Mont Li to believe that the prince was responsible for their father’s death. The vendetta against the prince and his refusal to grant him a title were the main motives for the murder.

Mona Lisa Li searched Mont Li’s room, and the next presenter was Mont Li himself. He had searched his sister’s room. Among the evidence he found were proof of his sister’s romantic involvement with the prince. It seemed his sister did indeed have affection for the prince, but due to the prince’s fickleness, she often wrote melancholic sentences lamenting her fate.

In addition, he also found Mona Lisa Li’s envy of Xin Nuo-rella. She believed that Xin Nuo’s present carefree happiness was all due to marrying the prince. The prince was about to ascend to the throne and become the king of the country. If she became the queen, she would be the most esteemed woman in the dreamlike kingdom, superior to all others. Even in case of divorce, she would still receive half of the royal wealth.

“Do you know the prince is a spendthrift?” Xin Nuo asked.

“I only know he’s very generous, spends money like water, and has given many people gold and jewelry,” Mona Lisa Li said, “Actually, money isn’t that important to me because I’m the daughter of a duke. I was already wealthy. I’m not like some Cinderella trying to make money through divorce. What I’m after is the position of a queen, it’s about status!”

“Some Cinderella?” Xin Nuo’s face turned toward Mona Lisa Li, Xu Heran lowered his head, allowing the two of them to exchange a glance.

“What color of teacup do you like?”

Mona Lisa Li: “…”

“Cough, anyway, that’s how it is.”

“Where is she? Look at her while you talk,” the butler across from them pointed at Xin Nuo and said to Mona Lisa Li.

Mona Lisa Li stared at her, “You look at her first!”

On the stage, Mont Li said, “In addition to this evidence, I also found a box hidden under my sister’s bed. I opened the lock with our mother’s birthday and inside was our mother’s diary, detailing everything from their happiness to tragedy. Later, our mother fell ill and passed away in sorrow.”

Xu Heran immediately said, “Everyone’s relationships are tragic, is this the reconciliation episode?”

“Mont Li, do you know about your mother’s resentment towards your father?” Ji Songyu asked.

“He doesn’t know,” Xu Heran said angrily, “If he knew, would he still act like his father and trouble innocent girls?”

Mont Li lowered his head and whispered, “I indeed didn’t know before. My mother left last autumn, and I was sick at that time, recuperating in another city. All I knew was that she had a severe illness and didn’t make it.”

“Mom didn’t want me to tell my brother about this. She resented our father, but she didn’t want her issues with him to affect the relationship between father and son,” Mona Lisa Li said, “Our father was emotionally unreliable, but he treated me and my brother fairly well. The key is, if my brother had fought with our father, provoking him, he might not be able to inherit the title of a duke.”

“Oh my…” Yue Ji sighed, “Poor mom.”

In this failed marriage, the most pitiable one was this woman.

Xu Heran turned to Xin Nuo and said, “Well done.”

“Not to that extent!” Ji Songyu immediately waved her hand, “We shouldn’t use personal means for revenge!”

Mona Lisa Li crossed her arms, “Because of my mom’s consideration, although I really wanted to tell my brother, I ultimately held back. I feel like someone as timid as my brother, even if he knew this, what could he do?”

“But unexpectedly, he still has some tricks up his sleeve,” Mona Lisa Li looked at Mont Li, “You’re not as weak as I imagined.”

“After all, we’re real siblings,” Mont Li smiled.

The butler said, “If by ‘not weak’ you mean calculating with deceit in order to manipulate a girl’s feelings, then he’s not just weak, he’s useless, a coward!”

“Exactly, if he wants the title so badly, he should just storm into the palace, point at the prince’s nose, and tell him, ‘Give me the title today!’ ” Xu Heran shouted loudly, raising his finger and pointing at the person across from him, “If you don’t give me the title, I’ll make sure you don’t ascend the throne!”

The knight immediately raised both hands.

“Then today, what you’re investigating is me!” Mont Li’s voice was incredibly loud, “I dare not, oh no!”

“Hmph!”

“Weak!” everyone exclaimed in unison.

“Coward!” the butler cursed heavily.

Ji Songyu waved her hand, signaling Mont Li to sit down.

“Next up is the butler.”

The infuriated butler stood up, “I searched little Yue Ji’s room.”

“It’s said that a person at forty is like a blooming flower. As everyone can see, our Miss Yue Ji is only sixteen years old, a bud that’s just sprouted and hasn’t yet bloomed,” the butler touched the fake beard stuck to her face.

The real forty-year-old Yue Ji squinted, “I think you’re mocking me.”

“The bud is right here,” Ji Songyu had Xin Nuo lift Xu Heran’s hand.

Xu Heran’s eyes widened, as Xin Nuo held her arm up, a tinge of confusion appeared in her blue-purple eyes. She had just been looking down to read messages. The girl’s ears were pointed like cat ears, her face was fair and translucent, truly a beautiful little pearl.

Yue Ji looked at the stars in Xu Heran’s eyes, holding her face and saying, “You can just imagine me that way.”

She couldn’t help but say, “If I had a baby a few years earlier, a daughter, she would be as big as Heran now.”

“The kids are really growing well now,” she sighed.

Ji Songyu quickly asked, “Sis, how old is your little one?”

A motherly expression burst onto Yue Ji’s face as she gestured with her hands to indicate six.

“Let’s cut off your discussion about kids,” the knight couldn’t help but say, “Yue Ji gets excited every time she talks about kids.”

“Hehehe.”

“Alright, bring it back,” the butler intervened.

“Our little maid, writing letters with noble gentlemen during the day, chatting with the prince at night. At sixteen years old, she’s young, not yet an adult, but emotionally quite knowledgeable. But what do you think, is she really some pure and innocent little girl?” the butler said sternly.

Everyone in their seats immediately looked at the maid.

“Could you also…”

The knight sitting beside her drew his sword, “Speak, how many have you killed?”

“I haven’t!” Yue Ji immediately said, turning her head to look at the butler.

The butler exclaimed loudly, “Yes, that’s right, it’s her!”

“…Tch!”

The butler slapped a photo on the table, laughing, “Just kidding, this young lady’s daily life is very simple: chores, letter-writing, romantic chats. Sometimes she even keeps a diary. Most of the diary entries are about when she can grow up, wanting to go find her dad, maybe get married, but hoping not to marry someone like the prince, he’s so annoying, and I’m so tired. Why does he want to chat with me at night? I want to sleep.”

“So innocent,” the knight sighed.

Xu Heran immediately pointed his finger at Mont Li.

“Scoundrel!”

“Are you looking for your dad?” Mona Lisa Li asked Yue Ji.

Yue Ji nodded.

“When I was little, I lived with my mom. Later, she got married and didn’t want me anymore, so she just left me on the street. I was only three at the time,” Yue Ji said, “I later found out this place is the capital of the Dreamland Kingdom. When I was three years old, I was wandering on the streets, and a palace kitchen maid picked me up. She raised me as her daughter, so I stayed there.”

The butler said, “In the mansions of the nobility, servants aren’t allowed to marry. Their whole lives are devoted to the nobility. Unless a noble shows favor, many people adopt children and raise them as their own.”

Xu Heran frowned, “Why is that?”

“Indeed, this trash kingdom should be ruled by me!” Xu Heran slapped the table and said.

Xin Nuo patted Xu Heran’s head.

Mona Lisa Li continued to ask Yue Ji, “Did you find your dad?”

“Before, I didn’t find him,” Yue Ji said, “Now I have.”

“What time is it now?”

“An hour ago,” Yue Ji said. In this castle, in someone’s room, she suddenly looked at the standing butler.

The butler’s eyes slowly widened. She saw Yue Ji take out a necklace from her collar.

“This is the token of affection my father gave to my mother, only half of it. The other half is with my father. My mother abandoned me at the time. She didn’t want to see anything related to my father again, so she gave me this thing.”

“So…” Xu Heran looked at Yue Ji, then at the butler.

“Dad!”

“Daughter!”

The butler rushed over and hugged Yue Ji.

“Why didn’t you want me!” Yue Ji said with a hint of grievance.

“Because your mom and I were secretly in love! It wasn’t allowed!” The butler angrily slapped the table, “Damn that old society, let it be destroyed, let the cats rule humans!”

Xu Heran’s eyes lit up, raising her hand, “I support!”

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Translator: Glariosa
Editor: Sinensis

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