Chapter 464: Playing Along
At night, Anno woke up from her deep sleep.
As soon as she moved, Mingxiao, who was lying next to her bed, opened his eyes.
"Your Highness?"
Mingxiao saw Anuo sit up and reached out to help him, but Anuo grabbed his hand and then placed her hand on the back of his head, pulling him towards her.
Mingxiao thought that Anuo wanted him again, just like last time, and couldn't help but feel hopeful.
Soft antennae sprouted from Anuo's forehead, and she gently touched Mingxiao's forehead. "Mingxiao, have a good sleep."
Mingxiao connected directly with Anuo's consciousness, and under Anuo's command, his eyelids began to droop.
Before he could figure out why the young prince had let him fall asleep, he drifted off to sleep, his head lolling to the side as he collapsed onto the bed.
Even when he was asleep, his hand was still tightly holding Anno's hand.
Anno ruffled his fluffy hair, pulled her hand away from his, got off the bed, and walked out of the hall carrying a doll.
"Anunu"
Anno walked barefoot through the Golden Palace. As night fell, the Golden Palace was much less crowded than during the day, making it quiet and spacious.
"Anunu, come to me."
A clear, ethereal voice rang in her ears, and it echoed repeatedly in her mind when she woke up.
In a hazy vision, the magnificent golden palace transformed into the familiar royal palace she knew.
The voices around her also became familiar.
"Your Highness, it's late. Be careful not to catch a cold."
A maidservant followed with a cloak, intending to drape it over her shoulders.
Anno stared intently, and the faces of the maids became blurred, transforming into those in her memory.
During the day, she talked to Xi about her past experiences, which was a way of showing weakness to Xi and voluntarily lowering her psychological defenses.
These days she's been letting Mingxiao run around the Golden Palace, and Mingxiao is now practically treating it like the royal palace.
Every night, Anno would look through his memories. He was so affected by the illusions that when he saw Xi and Caius, the images in his eyes were all of his mother, Sevier, and the others.
So Mingxiao gradually came to regard this place as the royal palace and was no longer as vigilant as before. If he stayed any longer, he might become the next Fei.
Anno would clear his memories every night, and thankfully Feixing was there to do the consciousness clearing for him.
The changes in Mingxiao also confirmed to Anuo that Xi's abilities were indeed very strong. Just like when the Zerg stayed in the palace, other foreign races tried to attack them right under their noses.
Whatever they want to do, it's all crystal clear.
This is Xi's territory. She possesses the power of the entire Heavenly City. Rather than hiding from her, it's better to show her your weakest point.
Only when she falls into the trap will Xi fully expose her ambition.
Now, Xi can use this to access her memories and create any environment she desires.
Xi controls Mo, so creating this illusion is too easy for her.
Since that's the case, she should just cooperate with her.
"Your Highness"
The maids and voices in front of her became blurred, and their faces began to change, transforming into the images she had once feared most deep in her memory.
The nurse, wearing a white coat and a mask, stared at her coldly, the needle in her hand reflecting a sharp light.
Anno looked up and saw a dark, mottled ceiling above him, with a dimly lit chandelier swaying.
She felt as if she had returned to that cramped and stuffy laboratory, where the air was filled with the pungent smell of medicine.
Anno looked panicked and shoved the maid next to him away.
That gentle voice echoed in her mind again, "Anunu, don't be afraid, come to me, I will protect you."
Guided by the voice, she stumbled and staggered to the door of a palace room.
She encountered almost no one along the way.
The door to the room was ajar, and Anno went inside and collapsed onto the floor.
What happened?
A figure quickly arrived in front of Anuo, squatted down in front of her, and reached out to help her up.
Anno grabbed her hand as if it were a lifeline.
"Little princess, why do you look so pale?" Xi looked at Anuo in surprise.
Anuo looked up and saw that Xi's androgynous face momentarily transformed into her mother's face.
She hugged Xi tightly around the waist, her body trembling slightly. "I...I'm scared."
Xi gently patted her back, "Don't be afraid, I'm here."
After holding her for a while, Xi helped her to the bedside and called a maid to bring her a glass of juice.
Anno drank half a glass of sweet juice before her expression softened.
Xi sat down beside her, wrapped her arms around her, and said gently, "Are you feeling better, little princess?"
Anno nodded, looked up at Xi and said, "I'm sorry, Your Majesty, for bothering you so late."
Xi smiled slightly and said, "Since you've come to bother me, then tell me more."
Xi stroked Anuo's soft, long hair and whispered in her ear, "Anunu, I am the person you trust the most now, aren't I?"
Anno's eyes glazed over for a moment, then he nodded.
"Why are you afraid?" Xi asked.
Anno hesitated for a moment before saying, "I saw things from before."
"What is that?"
"I saw the doctor with the syringe, and I saw myself return to that dimly lit laboratory."
Anuo's voice grew softer and softer. Her head drooped, and she gripped the blanket tightly with one hand, the veins on the back of her hand bulging slightly.
Xi gazed at her, her purple eyes flickering slightly. "Have you seen this before?"
Anno said, "I haven't seen them in a long time, and I thought I wouldn't be afraid of those things anymore."
Xi gently lifted Anuo's chin, her gentle eyes now carrying a hint of allure. "If you're scared, why don't you stay by my side?"
Anno stared at her intently for a long while before nodding gently.
"Good girl." Xi helped her lie down and covered her with the blanket. "Get a good night's sleep, you'll feel better tomorrow."
Anuo saw her get up to leave and reached out to grab her clothes. "Where are you going?"
Xi smiled and said, "Don't be afraid, I'm not going anywhere, I'll stay right here by your side."
As she spoke, she picked up a book and sat down on the chair by the bed.
The lights in the hall were dim. Anuo turned his head to look at her. She was wearing a silk nightgown. Her back was not as upright as it was during the day. She looked much more relaxed. Her pure white hair fell to the ground. Her profile was delicate and gentle in the dim light.
Anno noticed that the last time she entered her palace, the light was very bright, but now the lighting was her favorite warm yellow.
Xi quietly turned the pages of her book, the rustling sound of the pages creating a strangely reassuring atmosphere in the empty palace.
Perhaps Anuo had been staring at Xi for too long, because Xi reluctantly got up and sat down next to her. "Can't sleep? I usually see you need to sleep for half a day before you have any energy."
Anuo sat up in bed, and Xi placed a cushion behind her.
"Her Majesty rarely visits my palace, how did she know I would sleep for a long time?"
Xi raised an eyebrow slightly, "If you don't even know this, you'd probably have to kick all the servants in your palace out."
Anno's gaze fell on the book in her hand, and she asked, "What book is this?"
"this?"
Xi showed her the cover, which was written in Lycra script, which Anuo didn't recognize.
Xi told her, "This is a fairy tale by Leica."
Anno asked curiously, "Does Her Majesty the Queen still read fairy tale books?"
Xi smiled and said, "Everyone grows up reading fairy tales, but you insectoids are an exception. You never use any written form to pass on your knowledge."
Anno touched the exquisite design on the cover and asked, "Would Her Majesty the Queen still like it now?"
"Of course I like it. Reality is always terrible, and only fairy tales can offer some comfort."
Xi looked at the fairy tale book in her hand and said, "When I was a child, I always liked to stay by my father's side and listen to him tell me fairy tales. Those were the happiest times of my childhood. As I grew up, my father became busy with government affairs and gradually became indifferent to me, focusing more on my father and brothers."
“I have read these fairy tales many times. Whenever I feel unhappy or lonely, I always take them out to read. It has become a habit. Every time I read them, I gain new insights from these stories that I know by heart.”
Anno said, "I haven't read many fairy tales. I've lived in the most real world since I was a child. I knew from birth that this world is cruel."
Anno lowered her eyelids and spoke softly, “It wasn’t until later, when I returned to a stable and peaceful life, that I realized life could be so wonderful. So I’m afraid to go back to the past, afraid to walk in the cold wind, afraid to go hungry, afraid to lose the people who are important to me.”
Upon hearing this, Xi's eyes revealed a look of tenderness. "No, it won't happen again. You're by my side, and I will protect you well. Before the space gate opens, I will take good care of you in place of your mother."
Anno slightly curled the corners of her lips, but the smile didn't reach her eyes.
She looked at Xi with bright eyes and said, "Your Majesty, could you read these fairy tales to me? I haven't heard many fairy tales, and I don't recognize these Lyca characters."
Xi smiled and said, "Of course."
Xi opened the book and began reading the fairy tales inside to Anuo.
Before she had finished reading a few pages, Anuo fell into a deep sleep.
Xi gently covered her with the blanket, looked at her for a long time, and then sat down on a chair next to her.
Mo's voice echoed in Xi's mind, "You shouldn't have imprisoned her here too; it will ruin her."
Xi smiled, then frowned slightly and sighed, "But what can I do if I like her so much? In all these years, no one has ever made me like her this much."
Mo said coldly, "You only like her core qualities."
Xi opened the fairy tale book in her hand and continued reading. "Are these two things in conflict? She is inseparable from the core. Aren't liking her and liking the core the same thing?"
“Of course it’s different,” Mo retorted. “If she didn’t have a core, would you go to such lengths to create an illusion to drive her to your side? You know in your heart that her core is currently sealed off unless you take it out.”
Xi paused in turning the page: "In that case, don't try to block the tracks of the other two Queen Insects. I'd rather use their cores."
Her voice suddenly turned cold, "Mo, you and I are in the same boat, you must protect my last kingdom."
After a long silence, Mo finally spoke: "I just want to warn you that the most important continuation of the Zerg is now in the City of Heaven, and the Zerg will never let this go. You'd better watch yourself."
Xi Youyou said, "That's perfect. I haven't seen Sevier in a long time and I'm looking forward to seeing her again."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com