Chapter 60.1

The guests who hadn’t started gathering evidence yet stood in the corridor dumbfounded. Rose’s hand was still on the doorknob, shocked and turning her head to follow Xu Heran’s figure as she passed.

“… How did you carry her?” everyone asked in shock.

Xu Heran smiled faintly, “Nuo Nuo is quite light.”

It shouldn’t be so easy to carry her like that!

Rose asked quietly after being put down, her expression cold as she adjusted her clothes. “Aren’t you going to resist a little?”

Xin Nuo rolled up her sleeves and smirked.

“Do you all often play this game in your group?” someone asked with a laugh.

Xin Nuo took the hat from Ji Songyu’s hand and placed it on her head. She said coldly, “Let’s not bring up the past.”

Everyone responded, “… Got it!”

So, this is what a girl group is like, quite the experience!

The search for evidence began.

Xin Nuo entered Miss Pearl Dragon’s room, if it could be called that. In this room, there was a raised platform against the wall with a golden chair on it. Green vines hung down from the wall behind the chair. Rose vines covered the entire wall, extending all the way to the floor, and various boxes of all sizes were scattered around.

“Is this your cave?” Xin Nuo asked Xu Heran, who had followed her.

Xu Heran raised her chin and walked to the platform, sitting down on it with her legs crossed. She propped up her chin with her left hand and gestured towards Xin Nuo with her right.

“Welcome to my palace.”

Xin Nuo looked around, left and right. “Where’s the palace? And where’s the hall?”

Silver Dragon squinted her eyes, and her golden pupils shimmered with an irritated light.

“Foolish human, haven’t you come to pledge your loyalty to this dragon yet?” The giant dragon spoke with pride.

“I can help you find your way to the dungeon,” Xin Nuo said with a cheerful smile. She started to rummage through the boxes on the floor, searching for evidence related to Xu Heran.

“Why aren’t you searching for evidence?” Xin Nuo said suspiciously. “Are you the culprit, deliberately diverting attention?”

Dragon sneered, “I’m afraid greedy humans will steal this dragon’s treasures!”

“… What treasures do you even have?” Xin Nuo tossed an empty box towards Xu Heran’s feet. “In stories, dragons like you often get defeated by heroes.”

Xu Heran: “…”

“Hmph!”

She stepped down from the platform in two steps, standing behind Xin Nuo and said menacingly, “This dragon will search you!”

“Please,” Xin Nuo waved her hand, indicating that she should stop bothering her while she searched for evidence.

Dragon reluctantly walked out, pausing at the doorway and looking back.

Xin Nuo raised her eyes, locking gazes with Miss Pearl Dragon’s golden eyes.

Their eyes met briefly.

Xu Heran entered the witch’s potion room.

Xin Nuo’s room was designed like a treehouse, with a large pot bubbling in the center, emitting bubbles. Bookshelves, a bed, and rows of potion racks were arranged along the walls.

“Full of flowers and greens,” Xu Heran muttered, approaching the potion racks.

“Herbal poisons, black rose elixirs… Is there really someone who sleeps next to these poisons?” Xu Heran counted the potions and noticed that two bottles of herbal poison and three bottles of black rose elixir were missing.

She took evidence of this and continued searching the room. This time, Xin Nuo didn’t come to find her.

After about ten minutes, everyone gathered in the living room.

The detective said, “During our initial introductions, we didn’t discuss our timelines. Now, please briefly describe what each of you was doing before 10 AM today.”

The knight spoke, “After solving the mystery of the prince’s death yesterday and locking you, Detective Mona Lisa Li, and your brother Mont Li in the dungeon, I returned to my room and rested. Later, I had a dream where I was a knight in another fantasy castle. The king here is very extravagant, eating six meals a day – breakfast, lunch, dinner, morning tea, afternoon tea, and supper. Morning tea starts at 9 AM, and in the dream, I arrived in the garden where everyone was.”

Next, the butler spoke, “That’s right, my sister and I have been preparing the morning tea for His Highness since after breakfast. We were serving His Highness and esteemed guests in the garden from the start of morning tea at 9 AM.”

Rose nodded.

The detective exclaimed in surprise, “You were all together?”

Everyone nodded except for Xu Heran.

“Waking up from the dream, I remembered it was 9:50 AM. Thinking about our plan to have morning tea together this morning – note that in our dream kingdom with the prince, there’s no morning tea, we’re simply gathering due to last night’s events – we agreed to meet at 10 AM. I saw that I had only ten minutes left, so I hurriedly got up and got ready, then came to the garden,” Ji Songyu said.

Xin Nuo nodded, “My timeline is the same as Miss Rose’s.”

“What about you, brother?” Mona Lisa Li asked Mont Li, “What did you do?”

Mont Li said, “Last night, I was locked in the dungeon, so I went to sleep. Like everyone else, I dreamed of another fantasy castle. That world felt so real, including my memories. I felt like I was a person in that world. After I woke up at 9 AM this morning, I felt quite depressed. I went outside for a walk, looking at the flowers and the grass, commemorating my soon-to-be-lost freedom. After that, I heard your commotion and came over.”

Rose said, “For you all, it might be a dream, but for us, it’s real.”

“Now, the doubt is whether it was a dream,” Xin Nuo said, “After all, we’re sitting here together, and the king is truly dead.”

Everyone began to share evidence.

The knight took the stage, saying, “I searched the butler’s room.”

“As we all know, the butler and the maid are a pair of sisters, both young and beautiful, both twenty years old. But just from their different last names – one is ‘Guan’ and the other is ‘Qiang’ – it’s obvious that they aren’t real sisters!” The knight exclaimed loudly.

The butler rolled her eyes, “My last name is ‘Lu,’ and I’m the female butler.”

“They’re the same,” the knight waved his hand, “These two were adopted as orphans by the previous butler. When they were adopted, the butler didn’t know their true ages. Whoever entered the castle first became the older sister.”

Rose nodded, “Exactly, so she became the older sister, and even the position of the butler was given to the older sister by their father.”

The butler frowned and retorted, “I became the butler because of my strong abilities.”

“I don’t think so,” Rose said coldly.

Everyone could sense the strained relationship between these two sisters.

“These half-sisters were raised together since childhood until this year when the previous butler suddenly passed away due to illness. On his deathbed, he asked sister to take over his position. I found a diary that revealed the older sister’s heartache over their father’s passing and her worries about her own abilities. We saw that she made many mistakes while working as the butler,” the knight continued.

Rose added fuel to the fire, “Did father make you the butler to let you make mistakes?”

“……”

“People aren’t saints, who can be without fault? When father became the butler, did he never make any mistakes?” the butler said to her sister.

Rose sneered, “All excuses!”

The detective interjected, “The younger sister is displeased about not being able to become the butler herself.”

“Besides that, I discovered something important – the older sister’s murderous intent!” the knight said. “In her diary, she wrote, ‘New Year of ’83, His Majesty bestowed a ruby upon father as a reward for his perfect work. Father is truly amazing. I want to be a skilled butler like father and receive the gem bestowed by His Majesty.'”

“’83?” everyone exclaimed.

“Isn’t it 105 now?” Mont Li said.

“We are in ’85,” the butler said. “This diary was written two years ago. At that time, I was an innocent and cute 18-year-old girl.”

Xin Nuo’s gaze couldn’t help but fall on the nearby 16-year-old girl who had a cold expression.

Innocent and cute?

The knight continued, “In ’84, father’s health started deteriorating. How could this happen? My sister and I consulted many doctors, but none could cure him. Oh heavens, if we lose our father, what should I do?”

“In ’85, which is this year, father passed away. I was devastated, but I can’t falter. I must be strong, take over father’s responsibilities, become a daughter who makes father proud, and protect my sister,” the knight looked at Rose, “She truly cares for her younger sister.”

Rose snorted lightly, and the butler turned her head away.

“Then there’s the most recent diary entry. I found a seemingly ancient book in the library. That ruby given by the king, and later taken back by His Majesty after father’s death, carried a curse. My father actually died due to that curse! Whether this is true or not… I must find out!” the knight continued.

“Murderous intent has emerged,” everyone commented.

The butler said, “That’s right, I learned about the curse not long ago. However, the gem was taken back by the king after my father’s death. At the time, I thought my abilities weren’t sufficient, and the king felt I wasn’t worthy of inheriting my father’s ruby, so I didn’t think much of it until now…”

“Are you certain whether this matter is true or false now?” Xin Nuo asked.

The butler remained silent.

After the knight’s turn, the first one to show murderous intent took the stage. She had searched Rose’s room.

“After our father’s death, I took over the butler position. I know my sister has always been displeased with me,” the butler said, “My sister and I have similar abilities, so why was I chosen to take over…”

“Because you are the older sister!” Rose said, visibly irritated.

“Hmph, you dare say that while hiding what you’ve done from us?” the butler slammed several photos onto the table, “You sneak around with that dead man and still want to be a butler!”

“Oh~”

“Oh my goodness!”

Everyone let out surprised but intrigued sounds.

Xu Heran motioned towards one of the photos and glanced at the information on it, raising an eyebrow, “It’s really the dead man?”

Xin Nuo tilted her head and looked at the photo with her, responding, “Yeah, he’s completely dead.”

Rose blushed and covered her face.

“Oh dear, let’s not bring up the past anymore. It’s all in the past, who hasn’t had impulsive moments when they were young?”

“At the beginning of this year, my sister was constantly exchanging glances and flirtatious gestures with the king, even exchanging romantic letters!” the butler said indignantly, “Us servants can’t become queens, so when my father found out about this, he advised Rose. My sister was furious and had a big argument with father.”

“I think the reason my father made me the butler might be because if my sister was still a lowly maid, having a romantic relationship with the king as a maid might attract fewer rumors than if she had a romantic relationship with the king as a butler,” the butler said, “Of course, this is just my speculation.”

Rose shook her head, “Think whatever you want, I’ve already broken up with the king.”

“Hmm?”

“Because he’s going to marry another woman as the queen!” Rose’s angry gaze turned toward Ji Songyu, “A young and beautiful lady, who also happens to have noble status!”

“And when I broke up with him, the king didn’t even bat an eye before agreeing. I knew then that I had been played. He never truly cared about me!” Rose said indignantly, “I hate him!”

“Jealousy breeds hate,” Xu Heran shook her head, “But that doesn’t justify murder.”

The butler nodded, “That’s true. Furthermore, after my sister was abandoned by the king, she quickly moved on to another romantic relationship.”

“It was I who ended things, thank you,” Rose corrected, “Why should the king be allowed to court me while preparing to marry someone else? Can’t I just dump him and find a younger man than him?”

Everyone immediately looked at the man who was younger than the 22-year-old king.

Mont Li smiled gently, “Yes, in another of my memories, I did fall in love with Miss Rose.”

Xu Heran frowned, “You’re not using her as a substitute, are you? Rose looks exactly like Yue Ji.”

“In another world, I’m myself, there’s no rose,” Mont Li said.

Rose shyly cast a flirtatious glance at Mont Li, who responded, causing those around them to grimace.

“Enough!” Mona Lisa Li said, “You’ve been in prison after the investigation. You still have the mood for romance?”

Rose immediately said, “It’s alright, my dear. Even if you’re in prison, I still love you.”

“Then would you be willing to join me in prison?” Mont Li’s voice was gentle.

Rose’s smile became even softer.

“I’d rather not. If you’re the culprit, I’d be the first to turn you in.”

“Hahaha!”

Everyone applauded for their touching love story.

The love story’s leading lady, Rose, took the stage.

“I love my Mont Li very much, that’s why I searched him.”

Xu Heran propped up her chin and said, “Indeed, everyone’s the same.”

Xin Nuo turned around and gave Xu Heran a threatening look.

“My boyfriend is an outstanding nobleman. The reason I investigated him was to see if he was sneaking around with other people behind my back,” Rose said.

Xu Heran nodded, “No sneaking around with others, but there’s a hidden rose in his heart.”

Rose’s gaze shot like an arrow toward Mont Li.

Mont Li replied, “Let’s not bring up the past…”

“Fortunately, he really only has me as his girlfriend,” Rose nodded contentedly.

Xu Heran remarked, “Otherwise, more than one person would have died today, wouldn’t they?”

Rose’s words caught in her throat, and she couldn’t help but laugh.

“That might be true.”

Ji Songyu pointed at Xu Heran and said to Xin Nuo, “You handle her!”

Xin Nuo didn’t speak, instead reaching into her waist pouch and pulling out a vial of potion, placing it on the table. The blue liquid flowed within the crystal bottle, tinting the girl’s fingertips a light blue.

“Please, Longlong, refrain from meddling in human emotions,” Xin Nuo said softly, “I’ve already chosen the color for you.”

Xu Heran quietly lowered her hand.

Rose continued, “My boyfriend spends his days either studying or training, and assisting the king with affairs. He’s a very diligent nobleman. The king appreciates him and wants to bestow a ruby upon him. However, my boyfriend declined, wanting the king to support me and him.”

“Oh~” Everyone’s tone lifted.

Rose smiled playfully, “In your heart, am I more important than a gemstone?”

“Of course, you’re the most radiant rose in my heart,” Mont Li said affectionately.

Xu Heran couldn’t hold back, and she turned her head.

Ji Songyu chimed in for her, “But yesterday, the most radiant one in your heart was still the rose, right?”

Xin Nuo chuckled and nudged the blue potion vial toward Ji Songyu, who immediately covered her mouth.

“But the king rejected my boyfriend and angrily told him that I’m a servant of the castle, forever bound to it. I could never marry Mont Li. He demanded that my boyfriend accept the ruby,” Rose read the letter, “The king was furious and said there’s only one way for Mont Li to marry me: he must die.”

“So he died today,” Xin Nuo raised an eyebrow, “When was the letter written?”

“Three days ago,” Rose said, “The king was going to bestow the ruby upon Mont Li during today’s morning tea time.”

Everyone nodded.

“Do you know the purpose of the ruby?” the detective asked Mont Li.

Mont Li shrugged, “I didn’t know before I fell asleep yesterday.”

Everyone suddenly realized that this world’s Mont Li knew about the curse. After falling asleep, the intent to kill merged with the Mont Li’s 85-year memories.

Self-preservation and guarding love.

Mont Li took the stage naturally.

“I investigated the king’s room and his body,” Mont Li said, “The king’s body didn’t have any obvious wounds. It looked like a knife had been plunged into his chest, but with so many people attending morning tea, how could he have been stabbed to death?” Mont Li asked, “What time did you all leave?”

Ji Songyu said, “Half past nine. I wanted to pour tea for the king, but he suddenly flew into a rage and drove us all away.”

Mont Li said, “Half past nine? Did any of you come back after that?”

The people he looked at shook their heads one after another.

Ji Songyu, sharp-eyed, looked at the calmly composed Xin Nuo, “Did you come back?”

Xin Nuo didn’t speak, just raised an eyebrow and smiled.

“At what time did you come back?” Ji Songyu pressed further, “If you’re not the culprit, you can’t lie.”

“I came back,” Xin Nuo said softly, “After ten-thirty, I saw the king.”

“What time?” the detective immediately asked.

Xin Nuo remained composed, “I saw the king at ten forty.”

“He was already dead.”

Mont Li nodded immediately, “You admit it, that’s good. Because I found a pink potion in the flower bushes where the king died, along with a broken vase.”

“Who else had potions on them?” Mont Li said.

“Why did you come back?” the detective asked.

Xin Nuo shrugged her shoulders, lightly pinched her earlobe, and remained silent.

No one pressed her further, waiting to hear her evidence later.

Mont Li continued, “Among all of us, there’s a princess skilled in making potions. I don’t believe the king was stabbed to death. Later, I discovered that the king’s hands, both the back of his hands, had the black rose pattern, and in his hands, he held two rubies.”

The detective nodded, “Poisoned to death.”

Everyone’s gaze swept over Xin Nuo.

“Later, I came to the king’s room and found that this dreamlike kingdom’s king knew about the curse. Shortly after ascending the throne, the curse was about to descend, and he had to find a way to save himself—”

Mont Li took out the king’s diary, “First, marry, have an heir, ensure the throne continues through him.”

Xu Heran sneered.

“Second, investigate day and night before the neighboring country’s princess went missing, carrying a magic gemstone to resist the curse. He discovered that this princess is Miss Ti, and he must marry her to become queen and obtain the gemstone.”

Xu Heran looked surprised at Ji Songyu, “Are you a princess too?”

Ji Songyu brushed back her long hair, “Is it not allowed?”

“Not allowed!” the butler immediately said.

Mont Li also said, “Who are you that you don’t know in your heart?”

Ji Songyu smiled.

“I was responsible for investigating this matter. I reported to the king. The missing princess had a camellia birthmark on the inside of her arm. Miss Ti only had a magic gemstone but no camellia birthmark. However, the king didn’t care. He immediately ordered me to bring Miss Ti back and marry him.” Mont Li said.

“What!” Rose suddenly exclaimed in surprise, “Camellia birthmark?”

She immediately pulled up her clothes and pointed to the pattern on the inside of her arm, saying, “Is it this? I thought this was a rose pattern!”

The butler exclaimed, “You’re the true princess!”

Xin Nuo propped up her chin, “So, the king started pursuing Rose initially because he thought she was a princess from a neighboring country with a magic gemstone. Later, he found out she didn’t have the gemstone and immediately gave up.”

Xu Heran nodded, “For a king who only wants to survive, who the princess is doesn’t matter; what matters is the gemstone.”

Rose looked at Ji Songyu, “How did my gemstone end up with you?”

“Let me explain that,” Xin Nuo stood up, “I searched Miss Ti’s and Longlong’s rooms.”

“Oh, you searched both of their rooms?” someone asked.

Xin Nuo nodded, glanced at Xu Heran, “For Longlong, nothing valuable to search for in an empty house.”

Longlong crossed her arms, looking proud.

“Let’s talk about Miss Ti first. Despite her current beauty and splendor, in her past, she was an orphan living in the Dreamlike Orphanage,” Xin Nuo said.

Rose and the butler immediately said, “That’s the orphanage we lived in.”

“Yes, the magic gemstone in her possession was actually picked up in the kindergarten. Back then, Ti thought it was just a pretty stone. Later, she was adopted by a childless noble couple and raised into the elegant lady she is today. The fact that she had a beautiful gemstone became known during a certain ball,” Xin Nuo said.

“After a few months, the king’s envoy suddenly arrived. His Majesty the king admired Miss Ti and wanted to marry her as the queen of the country. But Miss Ti had someone she loved, and her adoptive parents loved her dearly. So, she refused the king. The king didn’t persist, but a few days later, Miss Ti’s adoptive parents passed away.”

Xin Nuo placed a photo on the table.

“Oh…”

“It must be the king’s doing!” everyone exclaimed.

Xin Nuo continued, “I didn’t find evidence to prove whether the death of her adoptive parents was related to the king, but I found that the king pressured her to marry him. Miss Ti was in a heavy mood and sought help from her lover.”

“Save me…” Ji Songyu suddenly reached out toward the knight.

“The knight immediately stood up, drew his sword, and said, “Speak, who shall I strike?”

“Wait a moment, so many couples on the field today?” the detective scratched his head, “Were they advising breakups yesterday and now they’re advising marriage?”

After Xin Nuo finished Ji Songyu’s part, she finally moved on to the long-awaited non-human participant.

Miss Dragon sat upright, her expression serious.

“First of all, our Miss Dragon was once very wealthy,” Xin Nuo said, “Her room had many chests containing treasures, but the treasures inside have disappeared.”

“Look at her attire; she’s not lacking money now either,” Rose said with a smile.

Dragon straightened her clothes, looking proud.

“Besides being wealthy, she’s also a dragon with magical abilities!” Xin Nuo said.

Everyone started discussing, “I think being with her here now is her doing from the Dreamlike Castle of ’85!”

“Who else has such great abilities?”

“Right.” Xin Nuo chuckled, “I found some very interesting evidence. Dear Miss Ti, were you locked up by someone yesterday?”

Ji Songyu widened her eyes, “Could it be…”

“I found a piece of parchment in Longlong’s box, and it read, ‘The magic gemstone stores half of the spirit of the Pearl Dragon. Only when the two halves of the soul merge can the Pearl Dragon be liberated. The carrier of the magic gemstone will leave the breath of the dragon, and the mighty dragon will sense you. Be cautious at all times. Signed, the Fairy Godmother.'”

“She used magic to lock you up,” Xin Nuo said.

Xu Heran sneered, “If not for this wretched woman conspiring with humans to set a trap for me, how would the great me have fallen to such a miserable fate!”

Everyone looked at her shimmering and radiant appearance in silence.

Oh, how pitiful…

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Translator: Glariosa
Editor: Sinensis

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