Chapter 456: Don't Get Drunk
"It's not difficult to find out someone's preferences, as long as you're willing to put your mind to it."
Xi opened her palm to Anuo and gave her a piece of candy.
Anno loves sweets. Back on Earth, a single piece of candy could provide a significant amount of energy and sometimes even save his life.
However, candy is not cheap, and she often shares a piece of candy with Anaiya.
Long ago, back in the small base, she ate quite a lot of candy, which was a precious thing. The older brothers and sisters in the small base would always save the candy for her.
Sugar represents fond memories; if a stranger gives her sugar, it will make her feel favorably towards him.
She held the candy, looked up at Xi. It was afternoon, and the sunlight shone on her skin, giving her expression a genuine warmth.
Anuo closed her palms and said deliberately, "I don't like sweets."
Xi smiled and said, "You are not the kind of person who would accept things you don't like. Even if you are in the most difficult environment, facing people and things you don't like, you will never compromise or settle, even if it means fighting until you are battered and bruised."
Anno unwrapped the candy and put it in her mouth, the sweet taste melting in her mouth.
Her gaze shifted to the arena. "You know me well; you've seen so many of my memories."
After hearing her words, Xi smiled and glanced at her, "See, I was right. Even though the young prince doesn't trust this place or me, he still won't beat around the bush with me."
Anno said, "If you want to know some answers, since deception and pretense may not necessarily get you answers, it's better not to pretend, especially when facing someone who already knows you well. No matter how much you pretend, it will seem ridiculous in your eyes."
A hint of admiration flashed in Xi's eyes. "How could I find you laughable? I only find you adorable, Your Highness."
Anno let out a sneer, and subconsciously reached for her waist, a gesture she used to make when touching her knife.
Then she casually put her hands back on her knees.
A hint of doubt flashed in Xi's eyes at her little actions, but it disappeared in an instant.
"Your laughter makes me feel like I might have said something wrong."
Anno turned her head to look at her, "Your words just reminded me of the old days."
"Oh?" Xi became interested. "I would be very happy to hear Your Highness tell me about your past. There must be many touching stories."
Anno said, "No one used to say I was cute; they were all afraid of me."
Xi asked in confusion, "How could that be? Your parents and your friends should all think you are the cutest child."
Anno looked further ahead, a look on her face that was hard to tell whether it was nostalgia or melancholy. "The 'before' I'm talking about is a much earlier time."
She paused for a moment, then raised the corners of her mouth at Xi. Such a beautiful face, once it smiled, would confuse even the gods.
She said, "Do you know what they call me?"
Xi was momentarily stunned, then asked, "What did I call you?"
"Little mad dog."
Xi frowned slightly. "Why do I call you that?"
After saying that, she added, "Your Highness, you can rest assured that I have not seen your memories."
Anuo rested her elbows on the armrest, her hand supporting her chin as she leaned closer to Xi. "Didn't you just say that I never accept things or people I don't like? Back then, there were many things and people I didn't like, so I could only pick up a knife and kill all the people and things I didn't like. As long as they made me unhappy, I wouldn't reason with them, I wouldn't give them a chance, and I would draw my knife and draw blood."
Xi looked at the face so close to her and could feel Anuo's warm breath, carrying her faint, unique pheromone scent.
She was captivating in every way, from her expression to her demeanor.
"Is that so?" Xi's clear purple eyes, like gemstones, shimmered slightly. "You are just as captivating as you are now. No wonder you don't smile much. Your Highness must have suffered a lot in the past."
Xi brushed a strand of hair from Anuo's cheek to one side, her voice gentle and melodious, "Sevier must be heartbroken. It breaks my heart just hearing it."
Anno's gaze lingered on her face for a moment before he sat up straight and returned to his seat, watching the game intently, his smile immediately fading.
She had seen in her mother's memory that the Dark Light Queen had said something to her mother: "Tenderness should not be indulged in, comfort should not be indulged in; one must always experience storms and etch oneself with blades and blood."
Only storms can keep you sober.
The kindness of others may be a dangerous trap that will plunge you into an endless abyss.
Xi knows her too well, yet she doesn't truly understand her.
She was like a powerful superior looking down on those weaker than herself, and no matter what they did, whether they were happy or angry, they were all adorable in her eyes.
Would a person be angry or scared of a kitten? No.
In Anuo Xi's eyes, this is just a little cat.
Since that's the case, she'll play the little kitten for once and see how long she can keep teasing her.
Xi accompanied Anuo to watch the aircraft competition for an afternoon and even took her to visit the repair shop, which was a fully equipped aircraft repair shop with a professional team assigned to her, and someone in charge of every process.
Over the next few days, Xi often came to see Anuo, walking side by side with her in the huge golden palace, chatting about interesting things, and talking about the time she spent with Sevier in the past. Anuo would occasionally talk about her own life as well.
Xi knows that she likes to learn about different civilizations and technologies in the universe, so she will bring her some books about Leica and teach her the Leica language.
She would also handle the affairs of the Heavenly City with Anno, without avoiding her presence.
She appeared gentle and wise in front of Anno, with a calm demeanor that suggested she had seen it all. She handled matters that seemed difficult to outsiders with great ease.
Anno also saw what Ling Jiu had said: the power of the City of Heaven was being dispersed.
Although Xi is the queen, her power is quite limited. High-ranking celestial beings often come and go in her palace where she holds meetings, and major decisions require a vote. She cannot handle everything on her own.
She is more like a power totem that is out in the open.
However, Anuo Kanxi didn't care about these things. Sometimes she would even refuse some tasks and let others handle them.
Anno learned some government affairs from her mother and father. From what she has seen of the government affairs in the City of Heaven these days, she really can't see the future of the City of Heaven.
The City of Heaven is a small puddle that is about to dry up, and all the fish gather in this last little puddle.
This was a huge golden cage that the Lyca people built for themselves, trapping them all inside.
The more opulent and extravagant the city, the more madness permeates it. The Celestials living in the City of Heaven stand in stark contrast to the Lyca people who struggle to survive.
Having spent a considerable amount of time in the City of Heaven, Anno was no longer subject to many restrictions; she could freely explore the city in her flying vehicle at any time.
However, Fei and Lingqi would follow her, and Caius and Fei Jue would often appear in front of her as well.
Before dusk, a maid brought her a beautiful dress and sparkling jewelry.
"This was a gift from Lord Caius, and this set of amethyst jewelry was a gift from Lord Feijue."
The maid presented her with two sets of jewelry, one made of emeralds and the other of amethyst.
She wasn't wearing any.
These gems are not even as good as the Zerg's energy stones. They have no other use besides looking nice, and they're just cumbersome to wear.
Her mother and the others rarely gave her jewelry, and the pieces they prepared were usually quite lightweight.
The superior celestial beings here hold all sorts of banquets every day. Besides drinking and dancing, they chat about trivial topics and endure their scrutinizing gazes. She finds it all tedious and would rather fly around in her flying vehicle.
"She went out?"
At the evening banquet, Caius came to fetch Anno, but was told by a maid that she was not there.
Caius tried to contact Anno, but Anno never answered, so he had to give up.
Anno flew through the city of Sky City in her aircraft, with only Fei following her.
"This is the first time I've ever gone out at night."
Anno switched the aircraft to autopilot mode and turned to look at Fei, "What do you do when you're alone?"
Fei thought for a moment and said, "Sometimes I stand on the edge of the Golden Palace and look down at the city, and sometimes I come down to walk around and sit for a while."
Anno asked, "Isn't there anything you want to do?"
Fei said, "I don't know what I want to do. Sometimes when I look at the bustling Heavenly City, I feel like I'm in a dream, a dream I can never wake up from."
Anno smiled, looking at the dazzling city lights outside, and said, "I also feel that this is like a dream. Perhaps, this is a dream cage woven by Mo."
After saying that, Anuo suddenly went downstairs for a walk. Although she and Xi had been wandering around the city these past few days, they had only gone to specific places, such as the arena, art galleries, and competition venues.
The city here is densely populated, yet also quite spacious.
It's deserted because at night, the city streets and squares are practically empty.
Unlike Anuo's past experiences in Tianyun or Beihe, where neon lights flashed and crowds thronged at night, this place is not bustling with activity.
The lights here are only white and warm yellow, and the streets are somewhat deserted. Only a few celestial beings can be seen heading to a shop or club.
The others are staff who do odd jobs. These staff cannot be considered celestials; they are simply Lyca people with the qualifications to work in the City of Heaven. They wear uniform, simple work clothes and hats, and operate like robots.
Such a large city, yet it is eerily quiet.
Anno and Fei disembarked from the aircraft and walked through the empty streets.
The long street seemed to have no end, like an endless dream.
Anuo thought to himself, no wonder those superior celestial beings have so many strange hobbies. Staying in such an environment for a long time, if they don't do something to stimulate their nerves, they'll go crazy even if they don't.
After walking for a while, Anno sat down on a bench under a street lamp.
She looked up at Fei, who paused for a moment and then sat down as well.
“I don’t like it here,” Anno told him. “It’s stifling here. Although the palace is quiet, the surrounding environment is lively and vibrant. This place is like a stagnant pool.”
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com