Chapter 12 — The Crown Prince's Xa Te

He reached out and hugged my fat, clumsy body. His head was buried deep into my scales. Shoulders trembling slightly. Like crying, like laughing. After a long time, he raised his head, his eyes filled with tears, but his smile was bright. "That's good." He spoke hoarsely, like a satisfied child. At this moment, outside the palace, a guard's voice rang out respectfully but could not hide the complexity. "Your Highness... ah, His Royal Highness the former Crown Prince, His Majesty the Dragon King ordered his little Highness back." We were both shocked. He immediately stood up and walked quickly to the door. The ban has been lifted. A guard carefully carried a small golden block in. It's a little golden dragon! It became thinner, its scales became less shiny, its wet amber eyes were full of confusion and self-pity. It saw him first, softly calling out uncertainly: "Father?" Then its eyes glanced past him, looking at me behind. His eyes widened and he froze for a few seconds. It's like memories that were forced to be "corrected" are desperately trying to break open the cocoon and emerge. The small mouth trembled, tears the size of beans fell freely. It suddenly broke away from the guard's hand and staggered towards me. Buried straight into my lap, the little head frantically rubbed against the scales. The cry of extreme self-pity, full of dependence echoed: "Ah Niang... Ah Niang... hu hu hu... I miss... I miss you..." He cried until his heart was broken, as if he wanted to vent all the fears and injustices of the past day. My heart seems to melt. Her cold body was burned by her tears. I carefully hugged it tightly, gently rubbed its little head with my muzzle, quietly comforting it. He stood beside, quietly watching. Watching the little golden dragon rush into my arms without hesitation, watching it cry and call out "Ah Niang". Look at the scene that he paid a huge price in exchange for. On his pale face, a smile appeared that was extremely complicated, but eventually subsided into peace and contentment. In the depths of his golden eyes, the gloom finally disappeared. He walked over, reached out and hugged both me and the little golden dragon. An awkward but warm hug, no longer belonging to the dragon clan prince, but only belonging to the three of us. Outside Luu Ly Palace, clouds roll by. The Heavenly Palace still stands tall, but from now on it no longer has anything to do with us. In the palace, a plump green snake, a silver dragon that had lost its noble position, and a little golden dragon were sobbing, entwined tightly together. Sunlight fell through the glass roof, warm and quiet. The future is probably still long and unclear. But this moment. We need each other. That's enough. … Time in the heavenly palace still flows. We find a quiet valley, rich in spiritual energy, far away from strife. He abandoned the prince's magnificent clothes and only wore simple clothes. Every day, he takes care of the little golden dragon, or looks at me blankly. Those brilliant golden eyes, once cold and majestic, now only have a deep gentleness mixed with a bit of sadness that is hard to name. He treated me extremely well, so well that a rough snake like me was often confused and didn't know what to do. He patiently peeled the tender fruit and fed it to my mouth. He used magic to guide a warm stream to wash away my scales. On a cold night, he hugged me to his chest, using his remaining dragon breath to warm me. The little golden dragon still clung to me and couldn't let go, but he also seemed to vaguely realize that his father treated "A Nuong" differently, often looking at us with wide eyes full of curiosity. Those days were as peaceful as a dream. But in our hearts, insecurity is still entangled. He gave up too much for me. That feeling is so heavy that a humble snake like me can hardly bear it. What do we have that we deserve? Where does that "necessity" come from? Is it just because the little golden dragon is dependent? … Until that day. Late in the afternoon, the little golden dragon slept soundly next to me. He sat next to me, his fingers shining with golden light

pale, meticulously patching up an old scar on my back. The movements are gentle and focused, like treating the most precious thing in life. The space is quiet, only the wind blows through the leaves.