The bad value system is measuring values.

Chapter 98 Disguise

The witch Anna visited Qiao Xiao in her bedroom.

Her first words were a expression of her purest concern for Qiao Xiao.

Anna the Witch: "I know it's hard to accept drinking heart's blood, but what if it's the only antidote, my Fali?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Qiao Xiao firmly stated without hesitation, "Then I'd rather die."

This statement is completely sincere, and every word reveals genuine feelings.

The witch Anna looked into her resolute eyes and said, "Without a doubt, you are the one that Spitz loves most."

There was a hint of accusation in her tone, and Qiao Xiao knew exactly what she was going to say, so she preemptively interjected, "Are you questioning whether my feelings for him have changed?"

The witch Anna quickly denied it, explaining, "You are certainly the one who cares about Spitz the most, but lately his condition has been quite abnormal, and any normal person would avoid him. If your feelings for him have changed, that would be perfectly understandable."

Qiao Xiao said slowly, "The truth is, my feelings haven't changed at all, Aunt Anna..."

As she spoke, a deep sense of helplessness appeared in her eyes, as if she were asking for help. The inclination contained in this expression was even stronger than that of Schubert.

Anna looked at Fali with a pained expression and said softly, "He was too demanding of you, Fali."

After saying that, she took out a small, exquisite medicine bottle from her bosom.

The bottle had a strange and deep color throughout, exactly the same color as Schubert's blood.

Qiao Xiao stared at the mysterious medicine bottle with a puzzled look on her face, a hint of unease in her eyes.

She frowned deeply, her voice slightly tense as she questioned, "Does that mean... you're going to force me like he did?"

Anna the Witch gently shook her head, her gaze tender. She slowly uncapped the medicine bottle, and a faint, pleasant fragrance wafted out.

The Witch Anna: "The potion inside will give you two hours to recover your appearance and strength. However, it is poison, and once the effects wear off, you will face an inescapable death."

After hearing Anna the Witch's words, Qiao Xiao made a decision in just a moment.

Without hesitation, she reached out, took the bottle of medicine, and held it tightly in her palm.

She looked up and sincerely thanked Anna: "Thank you, Anna."

For Qiao Xiao, this was undoubtedly the most ideal poison. It not only gave her the chance to regain her beauty, but also became a key tool to extricate her from her current predicament.

Qiao Xiao: "Tomorrow is his coming-of-age ceremony. Given my current physical condition, I don't have much time left to live. Let me use this potion to restore myself to my former self."

She gently shook the bottle in her hand and continued, "In this way, at least I can remain in his heart forever in the most perfect form, becoming an eternal memory."

After she finished speaking, a poignant yet resolute smile appeared on her face, like a flower about to wither, blooming in its final moments.

Anna gazed at her with a sorrowful expression, her voice filled with endless grief and pain, as if every word carried the weight of a thousand pounds: "You're gone, and his heart can't hold anyone else."

A faint, bitter smile appeared on Qiao Xiao's lips, her eyes revealing an unfathomable indifference: "I had already left before, but he still managed to live on strongly, didn't he?"

Her tone was not accusatory at all; she had never felt any affection for Spartz.

Even though Schertz loved her deeply, so what?

Who in this world can pour all their love into another person, more than anything else, including themselves?

Qiao Xiao remained silent, continuing to act out the storyline with a cold and ruthless demeanor.

Schertz celebrated a milestone in his life—his sixteenth birthday.

In the magnificent and imposing palace hall, countless candles flickered gracefully, emitting a faint yet warm light, like twinkling stars adorning this vast and boundless space.

The walls are adorned with exquisite tapestries, and the floor is covered with a soft, colorful carpet, creating the illusion of a vibrant sea of ​​flowers.

The many invited guests, all dressed in magnificent gowns, gathered in small groups, chatting quietly. Each of them had a joyful expression on their face, eagerly anticipating the grand ceremony that was about to take place—the King's coming-of-age ceremony.

The guests chatted excitedly: "Our king is truly brave and fearless! At such a young age, only thirteen, he has already shouldered the heavy responsibility of being the heir."

“Indeed, today’s glory all comes from His Majesty the King!” another person chimed in.

"Oh, Your Majesty, so noble and great, it is a great honor to witness your coming-of-age ceremony! I firmly believe that you will lead us to a more prosperous and flourishing future."

At this moment, these people, who usually maintained a noble and reserved demeanor, seemed to have completely changed. Every word they uttered was full of praise and worship for Schubert, like the most loyal believers.

They knew very well how many hardships and obstacles this King of Sotoa had gone through to ascend the throne; the difficulties he had endured were unimaginable.

Just then, Spartz, dressed in a dazzling and gorgeous gown, gracefully strode into the spacious and bright hall, and standing beside him was Qiao Xiao—the newly crowned queen.

Although the guests had many reservations about the new queen's background, they ultimately accepted her because of their deep respect and love for their king.

An elegant noblewoman stroked the exquisite hand fan in her hand, her eyes occasionally glancing at the person beside her. She whispered to her, "This is the Queen that His Majesty the King has been searching for for three whole years. Their love is truly sincere!"

The noblewoman standing next to her immediately echoed her sentiments.

Qiao Xiao wore a heavy silk veil, which was a request she made specifically.

Suddenly, melodious music began, its tune solemn and inspiring.

Schubert has become the supreme king; he no longer needs to kneel like a prince and perform the rites of a subject.

The king's identity was briefly taken over by a highly respected godfather.

The godfather stood before the sacred white cross, muttering incantations and constantly praying devoutly to the almighty God in his heart.

A moment later, Spitz gently patted Qiao Xiao's hand and walked alone toward the very center of the palace—the area bathed in light.

Upon arrival, Spitz slowly lowered his head, and the godfather beside him sprinkled some holy rain on Spitz.

The Godfather said slowly, "May this holy water eternally cleanse your body and soul, Your Majesty. Whether in the future or the past, you will always be bathed in God's grace and protection..."

He kept muttering to himself, and after finishing the last sentence, he solemnly placed the king's crown on Spartz's head with both hands.

Schertz straightened his posture and delivered a deeply moving speech.

In this speech, he expressed his deep gratitude to his people with heartfelt emotion.

It also elaborated on the significant responsibilities and solemn commitments he bears to the country and its people.

The guests in the audience were deeply moved and applauded enthusiastically.

Then, light and cheerful music began to play, and people danced to the beautiful melodies, celebrating this special and meaningful moment together.

In an instant, the entire palace was enveloped in a joyful, peaceful, and festive atmosphere.

After all the ceremonies were over, Shi Bozi hurried back to Qiao Xiao's side.

His expression was calm and serene. Although he was only an adult, he showed no signs of worry about the future or anticipation for a new life. He was as indifferent as if he had died once.

"There will be a grand fireworks display at midnight tonight," Spitz whispered. "We'll go together to the highest point in the castle to watch it."

Qiao Xiao asked in confusion, "But we can see fireworks from here too, can't we?"

Schertz smiled slightly and replied calmly, "That's true, but it's said that fireworks can deliver good wishes to those closest to them."

Qiao Xiao was full of suspicion: Who said that?

She chose to compromise and replied, "Okay."

Let me accompany you to watch this fireworks display; consider it our final farewell.

Time slipped by unnoticed, and before we knew it, it was 6 PM. Night fell, and the city lights began to twinkle.

Qiao Xiao silently reminded herself, "It's time to take my medicine."

At this moment, Spoelstra sat quietly beside her, never leaving her side for a moment.

Her slightly pale and wrinkled hands were tightly enveloped by a large, strong, and powerful hand.

Qiao Xiao fell into deep thought: What should I do?

She turned her head slightly, her gaze fixed on Spartz, who sat on the throne, chatting and laughing with his ministers, and she longed to break free from his control.

Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned. Despite her best efforts, Spitz's strength was too great, making it impossible for her to break free.

In utter desperation, Qiao Xiao could only reach out and grab his sleeve tightly, conveying her demands to him in a forceful manner.

Spoelstra keenly noticed that the body beside him, which he considered delicate, was trembling slightly, like a frightened fawn, pitiful yet eager to try.

He couldn't help but sigh inwardly, slowly turning to the side, his gaze fixed on that fierce, resentful face.

Spoelstra's eyes were full of tenderness, but her tone was unusually resolute: "You can't go anywhere else, I must protect you."

Qiao Xiao was unmoved. She retorted indignantly, "Don't you know you have no time for me? If that's the case, why insist on keeping me by your side?!"

Upon hearing this, Spitz raised his voice slightly and retorted excitedly, "No, I didn't!"

As soon as he spoke, he realized he had lost his composure and quickly lowered his head to calm himself down.

Immediately afterwards, he sincerely apologized to Qiao Xiao: "I'm sorry, my Queen, Fali, please forgive my negligence in forgetting to care about your feelings. I will immediately abandon my duties and devote myself to taking care of you."

Qiao Xiao frowned and coldly replied, "You don't need to do this. I'm not an unreasonable person. If you really want to take care of my feelings, let me leave. I'm exhausted and can't stay here any longer."

Spoelstra gazed silently at the person before him who tugged at his heartstrings. After understanding her request, he nodded slightly and agreed, "Alright, then you may return to the palace to rest for now."

After saying that, he waved his hand, signaling to the guards, "Escort the Queen back to her palace."

He gently leaned down and tenderly kissed Qiao Xiao's forehead, whispering, "I will definitely come to find you at midnight."

Qiao Xiao nodded slightly to indicate that she understood. Her reply was indifferent, as if she had just given a casual answer.

Only she herself knew how much effort she had put into making that simple word—"Mmm".

Then, Daisy carefully helped Qiao Xiao up and they slowly left.

Watching Qiao Xiao's increasingly heavy and overwhelmed figure, Shi Bozi couldn't help but feel her eyes redden and tears well up in them.

He stared straight at Qiao Xiao's receding figure, his gaze never wavering until she completely disappeared from sight.

Spoelstra clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug into his palms, and he could even feel a slight pain, but he was completely unaware of it, still pressing down hard on the throne beneath him that symbolized power and status.

At this moment, a strong thought kept surging in my mind: I must make Fali drink my heart's blood as soon as possible!

After returning to her palace, Qiao Xiao felt as if she had finally unloaded all her burdens, and her whole body relaxed.

Exhausted, she staggered to the bedside, then collapsed heavily onto it, letting out a long sigh of relief.

Qiao Xiao: "I'm really too tired and need to rest... Daisy, you can leave now."

Daisy stood to the side, gazing quietly at Qiao Xiao's face, which had become unusually pale and bloodless due to overwork, her eyes filled with pity.

She replied, "Yes, Your Majesty. Please take good care of yourself." After saying that, she silently turned and left the palace, gently closing the door behind her.

The moment the door closed, the whole world seemed to fall silent.

Qiao Xiao closed her eyes tightly, but not long after, she clearly caught a sound of footsteps, so light that it was almost imperceptible.

After sensing Qiao Xiao's presence in her palace, using her powerful magical perception, Shi Bozi breathed a sigh of relief.

He slowly approached Qiao Xiao and found her breathing unusually calm.

Spartz: It seems she's asleep.

Qiao Xiao's disguise was so perfect that it was difficult to tell the truth from the falsehood.

Schertz tiptoed to lie down beside Qiao Xiao, gazing at her with tender and doting eyes.

Schuberts felt an urge to reach out and take Qiao Xiao's arm, but reason told him he must not act rashly, for fear of accidentally waking his beloved from her sweet dream.

He could only silently suppress his inner desires and quietly stay by her side.

Just then, Qiao Xiao, who had been keeping her eyes closed, slowly opened them, and her gaze met that of Shi Bozi, who was gazing at her with deep affection.

For a moment, their eyes met, and time seemed to freeze.

Qiao Xiao murmured to herself, somewhat bewildered, "Am I... in my own palace?"

Then, forcing herself to stay awake, she struggled to sit up and gently rubbed her slightly throbbing head. (Of course, all of this was a pretense.)

Seeing this, Spitz quickly got up to help her, his eyes showing concern, and asked with care, "Why don't you rest a little longer?"

Qiao Xiao shook her head slightly, then suddenly stared intently at Shi Boz's eyes, which were as green as jade and shone with a hint of azure light.

She spoke firmly and stiffly: "I want to drink your heart's blood."

Upon hearing this, Sporz was stunned speechless, unable to believe what he had just heard.

He asked incredulously, "What did you just say?"

However, what met his questioning gaze was Qiao Xiao's resolute response: "That's right, just as you've heard, I want to drink your blood."