Chapter 8 — The Crown Prince's Xa Te

Why can't we be sad? Even though I knew it was all fake, even though I kept reminding myself, as the days approached, the feeling of being wholeheartedly relied on and trusted was engraved deep into my bones. My silence seems to be the answer. He was also silent. After a while, he stood up and walked in front of me. The moonlight pulled his shadow long, covering me and little Kim Long. He reached out his hand, instead of caressing my scales like usual, he gently placed it on top of my head. An extremely gentle touch. Carrying the weight of comfort. "Don't be afraid," he said, his voice low but steadfast, as if he was swearing a solemn promise, "no matter what happens." "You will always be his wife A." "And me," he paused, his golden eyes glowing in the moonlight, looking straight at me, "I will always be here." My heart skipped a beat. What does this sentence mean? Forever? With what identity? The nanny guarding the little Golden Dragon? Or…? Before I could think clearly, a loud announcement suddenly rang out outside the palace. "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince! His Majesty the Dragon King summons you! Please come to Linh Tieu Bao Palace immediately!" His eyebrows immediately furrowed, a flash of discomfort in his eyes at being disturbed, but he quickly regained his seriousness. He retracted his hand and looked deeply at me and the little golden dragon. "Wait for me to return." Having finished speaking, he turned around and quickly walked out, the hem of his shirt drawing a cold arc in the moonlight. Luu Ly Palace is quiet again. It's just me and the sleeping little golden dragon. I repeated that last sentence and that look over and over again, my heart was in turmoil. Fairy clouds outside the palace drifted lazily, obscuring the moonlight. Virtual darkness descends. An invisible insecurity, like a cold snake, slowly wraps itself around my heart. What is the reason for this urgent summons? Vaguely, I always feel like something is about to happen. The feeling of insecurity grew stronger and stronger. Like an icy tide, little by little it encroaches on my heart. I unconsciously tightened my grip on the little golden dragon. It sleeps soundly in my heart, completely unaware. Luu Ly Palace was terrifyingly quiet. There was only the sound of my heavy breathing, and the soft wheezing of the little golden dragon. Time passes so slowly. Every minute and every second is torture. My whole body's scales stood up, my ears strained to listen to the slightest movement outside the temple. But heard nothing. The soundproofing in the heavenly palace is too good. This dead silence makes people even more scared. Don't know how long I waited. It could be a stick of incense, it could also be an hour. The last electric door quietly opened again. My heart suddenly jumped, then fell hard again. Not him. It was two dragon clan guards wearing black armor and stern faces. Their bodies carried a heavy murderous aura, their eyes as sharp as blades, scanning me and the little golden dragon in my arms. "According to His Majesty the Dragon King's orders," one person spoke in a cold and emotionless voice, "bring His Highness the prince to Linh Tieu Bao Palace." My blood immediately turned cold. Your Majesty the Dragon King? Personally give orders? Why do we have to take the little golden dragon away? And right after His Highness the Crown Prince was summoned? The insecurity turns into real fear, choking my throat. I shook my head frantically, instinctively curling up, hugging the little golden dragon closer. The little golden dragon was awakened by my movements. He opened his eyes dreamily and saw the strange guards. He crawled under my scales in fear. "Grr..." It groaned softly in horror. The other two guards kept their faces unchanged and took a step forward. "Please cooperate, otherwise we will be accused of resisting fate." The other person spoke coldly, his hand already on the hilt of the knife. Defying fate? Resistance to the Dragon King? I know I cannot resist at all. I'm just a snake. Vile, can be strangled to death at any time. I can't protect it. I trembled, little by little I let go of the hug. My heart hurts like it's being torn apart

broken. The little golden dragon seemed to sense my fear and abandonment, screaming loudly in panic, its small claws clinging tightly to my scales. "Ah lady... afraid..." That cry was like a knife stabbing into my heart. A guard showed no signs of respect, reaching out his hand to snatch the little golden dragon away from me. "Be gentle..." I begged hoarsely, tears falling uncontrollably, "please, be gentle... he's afraid of the pain..." The guard's movements paused, looked at me, a faint trace of surprise seemed to flash in his eyes. But the force has indeed softened a bit. He was careful but not allowed to refuse, embracing the crying little golden dragon. The little golden dragon in his heart struggled violently, crying to the point of tearing his guts apart, his amber eyes looking at me in despair. "Ah Niang! Ah Niang!" That cry was like a spear, cutting my flesh one by one. I wanted to rush forward, but was pinned in place by the cold eyes of the remaining guards. I could only watch helplessly as they hugged the crying little golden dragon, turned around and walked out the palace door. "Please take care of it..." I slumped down on the cloud carpet, towards the direction they disappeared, letting out a desperate hiss, "I beg you..." The palace door closed again. The sound of the little golden dragon's cries are gradually fading away. It also separates the last bit of my strength.