Chapter 222: Lexx

"You, Lexx Lyne, will be executed tomorrow for offending the royal family."

The golden-haired princess, lips pressed tight, issued the death sentence, gazing at the man in his cage—she declared his doom, but she had not come merely for that.

The princess knew it was merely a misunderstanding and had come specifically to pardon the protagonist.

Guided by fate, she entrusted him with a difficult task; their cooperation gradually forged a subtle bond—how utterly conventional and romantic, what a load of nonsense!

"The Messoro Seal."

The princess raised her long staff and tapped it against the iron gate; silver-white sealing light spread over the cage.

"I know you're good at lockpicking—try this magical lock!"

The girl grinned, missing one front tooth, thoroughly pleased.

"You're dead. I said so. Guards."

"Watch him closely. Keep him under guard all night. If he escapes, execute him immediately. If he runs, it'll be you who face the executioner!"

The offended lioness laughed happily—she had come specifically to deliver the final blow.

No fairy tale, no romantic past—only the violated dignity of the royal family, the insulted dignity of the monarch, and the furious lioness who had sworn to kill.

Cruel class hierarchy stood between them; before the trampled royal dignity, no one could save the unlucky Lexx, not even dare speak up for him.

"Oh well, looks like I'm really done for." Lexx sighed.

So he cheerfully used his spoon and cup as percussion instruments, throwing an all-night concert for his cellmates, turning "Our Princess Is Missing a Tooth" and "Beware That Petty Lioness, She'll Eat You" into a full series of songs.

Only now, facing death, did Lexx realize he actually had a talent for bards—his little tunes were catchy, rhythmically fresh and irresistibly infectious—soon even the guards were humming them.

If the princess didn't launch a massive cleanup afterward, this song wouldn't just spread—it would carry with it the scandal of her missing tooth.

In fact, the princess's earliest folk nicknames—"The Princess With Windy Speech," "The Princess With False Teeth"—likely originated here.

Afterward, she rarely smiled with her mouth open, partly because of this.

Lexx Kuanghuanleyiye ， Suanshilinzhongdefengkuang. Dantayijiumeisicheng 。

Yinweitadequeshiyigehaoren. Yifangmianshihaoduoqiantarenqingderen ， Zhuanmenguolaiyingjiuta ， Lingwaiyifangmiantachuleshiyigehaokaisuozhe ， Haishiyigehaonitujiang ， Chenzhujianyubeiruqinshidehunluan ， Tazhijiewatalejianlaodeqiangbi 。

Zuizhong ， Jinglileyixiliedeshiqing ， Tataodiaolesilaodejianyu 。

Yuanben ， Tayiweiyaohuangedifangshenzhiguojiafazhanle ， Jieguo.

「 Yongzhezhijianxuandingleta ？! Meiliyou ！ Jiushizhilixingzoudeyexiongdoubitayoulizhi ！」 Nayitiandegongzhu ， Wanquanwufajieshou 。

「 Danshi. Tadequehenyouyongqi ， Feichangyouyongqi ， Tagenbenwusuoweiju 。」

Shitaidefazhanwangwangbujiangdaoli ， Yongzhexuanbayishizhidideyongqizhiren ， Haobuyouyudexuanzelelaikesi 。

Erzhegezhuanzhe ， Yezaijinglileyixilieshijianzhihou ， Zuizhongranglaikesihewangshihejie 。

Danbiezhiwanglaikesihegongzhudianxiahuihejieleshuangfangzhendeshichengdeshangshengsidachoudeguanxi 。

Nageshihoudeyongzhe ， Qishibingbushiduogaodediwei ， Tagengxiangshiyizhonggulaoerqiangdadechuancheng ， Wangguodewangshibaoyouleta ， Yeyidingchengdunenggouzhihuita 。

Yigewendingdanshengdegaoduanzhanli ， Shuibuxihuan. Danyejinjinrucile ， Yigewendingjinbudejinpaidashoueryi 。

Qianjirendeyongzhe ， Dagaiyejiushihuangjiaqishituanfutuanzhangdeshuiping 。

Houlaiyongzhedediweihuiruciteshu ， Shenzhizhenggewangguodoubeichengweiyongzhezhiguo. Shuodaodi ， Haishilaikesiqiang ， Erbushizhegezhiyeqiang 。

Dedaoyongzhezhijianhetouxiandelaikesi ， Shijishanggengjiaxiaozhanghehundan 。

Takaishizhijiebahuajiedexiaofeiguazailewangshiyouqigongzhudianxiadezhangshang ， Shuangfangyijianmianbidingeyanxiangxiang 。

Ruguobuchuyiwaidehua ， Shuangfangdagaijiushilaosibuxiangwanglaidejieguo ， Eryongzhedarenhuoxuhuihuode 「 Lirenzuilanyongzhe 」 Detouxian 。

Danshi ， Zhanzhengbaofale 。

Zhanchangshangdelaikesi ， Hezhanchangxiadelaikesi ， Nashizhenzhengdewanquanliangren 。

Zhanchangshangdetashizhanshenhuashen ， Ruizhichongyingzhulixingzhijue ， Yongyuanchuyujingongzhuangtai ， Yichangyouyicideshenglifengkuangdejileitademingshengherenwang 。

Erzhanchangxiadeta ， Shuoshixianyusuanshitaijuta ， Dabufenshijianzaiyanhuihehuajie ， Biaozhundelanzai 。

Weiyizhidechengdaode ， Dagaijiushitazhujianshengmingqueqidegejihechuangzuoyuwang ， Taiduoyi 「 Gongzhushimeiyademushizi 」 Weizhutidegequbeichuangzaochulai ， Jinyiburangmaliannazhuakuang 。

Liangrendeguanxichixudeehua ， Danshijishanglaikesizhinengzhanyixiebiaomianshangdepianyi ， Bijingzhegeguojiashuodaodihaishitade. Zhishaoweilaishitade 。

Bansuizhunianyuedezengzhang ， Yongzhedeminghaoyuelaiyuexiang ， Buduandeshenglirangqizhujiandaishangle 「 Zuiqiangyongzhe 」 Deguiguan 。

Ergongzhudianxiabiandechengshuwending ， Yijingkaishichashouguoshidetabuzaijizaosuiranheyongzhelaikesiyijiuguanxihencha ， Danzhishaomianzishangguodequ 。

「 Ta ， Youshenmeruodianma ？」 Zaiyouyicijiaofengzhihou ， Laikesiganjuedaomaliannasihuyijinghennanbeijinu ， Yushimomingyoudianbushuang 。

Yushi ， Tazuolecishizuihouhuideyijianshi ， Tagenzonglemalianna ， Bingdasuanlaigeezuoju

「 Yi ？ Tahaihuizhemexiao ？」

Diyici ， Zaiyigehuangjiadesirenhuayuanzhong ， Maliannanahaitongyibandemanzuxiaorong ， Rangtayoudianjingya 。

Gengrangtajingyade ， Shiranggongzhuxiaodezhemetiandeheiyiren 。

Ta. Yinggaishita ， Hunshenbaoguozaiheisedeyoubuzhizhong ， Sihushenhuanzhongbing ， Qishanghaiyouyidaduiluanqibazaodefengyinziyuan ， Lianlianshangdoudaizhuyigezhezhudabufenmianrongdemianju 。

「 Ha ， Chuanshuozhongdegongzhumeimei ？ Juranshizhende ？」

Dangshidelaikesi ， Bingmeiyoubadiergongzhudeyaoyandangzhen ， Tadaoshiyoulegehuaideliunongdehundanzhuyi ， Tajueding

「 Jirannagequeyagongzhuzhemezhongshizijidemeimei ， Woqugouyinleta ， Hehe ， Yinggaihenyouyisiba 。」

Yushi ， Tonghuagushichenglezhen 。

Yongzhezhanduanlejingji ， Bituileshouwei ， Pashanglegaota ， Kandaoletazhongdeqiuniaoaishangleta 。

Shide ， Taaishangleta ， Quebushisuoweiyijianzhongqing 。

「 Xiaoxiaodemeiyan ， Xiaoxiaodeshoujiao ， Chunjiedeheifa ， Wenjingerrouruodegongzhudianxia ， Youzaikanshuleyi ， Beitajiuxiadexiaoniao ， Zhongyufeileqilaima ？」「 Zenmexiyifudouzijilai ， Meiyoushinvma ？」

「 Tahuadehenlanshihezijijiejieyiqideyukuaishijianma ？ Kexile ， Nagemushizixiacijianni ， Kongpazhishaoyigeyuehoule 。」

「 Changgedaoshihenhaotingde 」

Buzhiheshi ， Tazongshiqiaoqiaoqianrulewanggongshenchu ， Bingyunniangzijisuoweidebaofujihua ， Dankanzhukanzhu ， Taquetingxialaile 。

Zhegenvhaihenchunjing ， Henshanliang ， Hentianzhen ， Shenzhihuishadeheniaoershuohua ， Hejingjiliaotian 。

Danshi ， Zhefenchunjing ， Quebuzhiheshikaishi ， Rangxiguanlefenraodeyongzhe ， Manzuyumomokanzhutadeshijian 。

Sihuzaizheyike ， Tazaodongdexin ， Yejinglexialai 。

Wanquanbujiangdaolideaiyi ， Zuizhongzaitaxintouyunniang ， Langzisihushoudaoleaishendezuzhou ， Zhongyukaishihuitou 。

Zhongyu ， Wufarennaideta ， Zhaoshangmenle 。

「 Nage ， Nishishui ？」

「 Wo ？ Woshiyongzhe ， Jiangzhengjiunideyongzhe. Beiqiujindegongzhu ， Nixiangchuqukankanma ？ Qukankanbumanlexianhuadegaoshan ， Kankanchongyingzhuxianweidehaishui ， Quxiuxiuxianhuazhigudehuaxiang 。」

Zheyikedeyongzhe ， Chengweileyirendeyongzhe ， Shenzhizuohaolebeipanwangguodedasuan 。

「 Wo ， Wojujue 。 Wobunenglikai ， Huigeisuoyourentianmafande 。」

Danshiheifadegongzhujujueleta ， Rouruoshuangtongzhongdeyizhihenshijianding 。

Keshi ， Tamianduidekeshilaikesia ， Taconglaibuzhidaoshenmeshituisuo 。

「 Quwanwannijiuzhidaole ！」

Yongzheerhuabushuoguaizoulegongzhu ， Jiuruchengnuoyiban ， Daizhutaqulegaoshan ， Qulehaibian ， Qulepingyuanhuagu 。

Nashiyiduanfengkuangdewanshuashijian ， Zaiwanshuafangmianlaikesijinhushiwudide ， Zaigezaiwudetageilexiaogongzhuquanxindetiyan 。

Tamenyiqimengmianxingxiazhangyi ， Yiqiqizhujulongdoufeng ， Yiqizaihuahaizhongwudao.

Ranhou ， Tanandeshenshidejiangqisonglehuilaizhuyaoshixiaogongzhudejianchi ， Laikesishijishangyijingzuohaoleyiqubuhuidezhunbei 。

「 Xiacibuxingle ， Huigeirentianmafande ！ Nage ， Yongzhegege.

Danzailikaideshihou ， Daizhuzisehuaduofajiadexiaogongzhu ， Zuizhonghaishidizhutou ， Ganxieleyongzhedehaoyi 。

「. Nihaihuilaikanwoma ？ Ouranlaikanwoyixiama ？ Hewoliaoliaowaimiandeshiqing 。」

Xiaogongzhuyaoqiude ， Jinjinzhishizhegeeryi 。

Ranhou ？ Ranhougaifashengdejiuziranfashengle ， Daxiruowangdelaikesizenmehuifangguozhegejihui ， Tabadabufenshijianyongzailehexiaogongzhudesihuishang 。

Danshi ， Tayijiunandeyijiandeshenshi ， Quemomozuohaolelikaiwangguodezhunbei 。

Yourenfaxianma ？ Shijishangshiyoude ， Zhenggewangguoweiyitengxiaogongzhude ， Jiushitadejiejie 。

Tazuixianshituzuzhi ， Quewanquanmeiyouyong ， Tagengpanaodalezhihou ， Diergongzhudexiaoxixielouchuqu 。

Tazuichuqidefafeng ， Dancongmouyiyedejiemeishentanzhihou ， Kanzhuzijimeimeidiyiciluchulefazineixindexiyuehexiaorong ， Tayezhebeizidiyicizuochuletuirang 。

「 Renzha. Duitahaoyidian 。 Ruguowozhidaonigufuta ， Jueduihuishaleni ！」 Huoxu ， Duiyuwunaidedagongzhulaishuo ， Zhiyoushenmedoubupaderenzha ， Caiganjiejinzijibeizuzhouheyaoyanchanraodemeimei 。

Dangshi ， Laikesixichuwangwai ， Diyicimeiyouduimaliannakouchueyan 。

Yiqiesihudouzaihaozhuan ， Langziwendingxialaikaishihuitou ， Diyicirenzhenzuoshiyezhanxianqianlidelaikesi ， Shizaiqiangdeguoyuchedan. Tahenqingyidechengweilegefangchengrendewangguozuiqiangzhe ！

Zhishitazaiwangguanzhixiashouxiandeshihou ， Queshixiangzhuzijiyoumeiyoubawozhanshengsuoyouwangguoqishideweigong 。

Tashizhendezuohaoliaoshiqingbaoluzhihou ， Duzishachuguodezhunbeide 。

Kezhanzheng ， Zaidubaofale 。

Zhunquedeshuo ， Naduanshijianzhanzhengjiumeiyoutingxialaiguo ， Danzheyici ， Jishishilaikesiyemeibawohuilai 。

Tazhishirurichangyibanqujianshuyuzijidegongzhu ， Jiazhuangyiqieshunli 。

Danzheyici ， Kanzhushenshangzaiduduochushangbadeta ， Xiaogongzhuquegeiletayigexiaojingxi 。

「 Laikesigege ， Wodayingni ， Dengnihuilaile ， Womenjiuyiqilikaiba. Xiaogongzhu ， Juranzhudongbiaobailezijiyizhiyayizijideganqing 。

「. Daoyigeshuidouburenshidedifang ， Womenyiqishenghuo 。」

Gaobaidehuayu ， Heifadegongzhuyijiushuobuchukou ， Zuizhong ， Bishangyandetaxianshangletiantiandewen 。

Erdaxiruowangdelaikesicishengweiyiyicibanguixialai ， Dishangleyimeixianhuatengwanbianzhichengdezhihuan 。

「 N ， Wohuilaiwomenjiusiben. Woyeaini ， Wodexiaogongzhu ， Woweilaidexiaoqizi ， Wohuirangnixingfude 。」

Shuozhu ， Tahaijuqilexiaogongzhu ， Zhuanzhuquandexiaoleqilai 。

Zhejiufangruozuitianmeidemeimeng. Zhishimeimengzhengzaizhujianpolie ， Cankudexianshizouxiangzhenshi 。

May you remain forever youthful, like this flower ring; may our love never wither, Rosalind. I love you, I love you so much—I will make you the happiest girl in this world.

Half-asleep, Li En finally escaped the dream, yet the mumbled words from his lips revealed a name he did not know.

Rosalind, my sweet, tiny, lovely one. I love you—I will make you happy, my little princess.

He gradually woke, rubbing his head, slowly recalling the absurd dream.

Yet he did not know that in his room, a shadowy bird had watched him all night, having attempted to strike several times—only vanishing silently after he uttered the name "Rosalind."

Upon his bedsheet lay a withered flower ring, now slowly turning to ash.

(End of Chapter)