Tang Feiliu was also caught in an exceptionally long dream. He envisioned himself as a tiny toddler, scampering about the estate with a joyful laugh, his legs barely touching the ground. In this dream, his father wore a gentle smile, while a slightly older boy in an old-fashioned high-collared morning gown shouted with loud laughter: "Lance! Lance, run faster!"
"Papa! Papa!!" The dream-version of Tang Feiliu cried out in a babyish voice, pretending to run ahead and wait for his son to catch him. The man laughed, but his older brother tripped him up. Finally, little Tang Feiliu caught his father just as he'd hoped, laughing triumphantly. The servants around them all smiled, a scene completely different from the cold and harsh memories Tang Feiliu had of the estate.
Strangely, Tang Feiliu grew up within this dream. When he was a little older, his father took him to a carriage. His brother slipped him a small biscuit, watching him eat with excitement as he exclaimed, "Little Lance, we're going to the Duke's ball!"
"The Duke?" Tang Feiliu blinked in confusion, his eyes darting around as he munched on the sweet butter cookies. Leaning against the carriage window, he gazed out at the sky—a wash of azure blue, utterly cloudless. The carriage wound through forests and mountains, crossed vast grasslands, and journeyed onward, traversing hills and rivers... Finally, it came to a halt outside Black Swan Castle.
True to its name, Black Swan Castle was entirely black. The carriage could see the looming black structure perched on the cliff from several mountains away. It resembled a silent, fierce beast. Tang Feiliu felt a twinge of fear and tried to retreat, but his brother embraced him. Though his brother also looked a little scared, he held Tang Feiliu tightly and said earnestly, "Don't be afraid, Little Lance. I'll protect you."
Tang Feiliu felt reassured in his dream. His father, who had just stepped down, took his hand, and the family cheerfully followed the crowd into the castle.
The butler greeted guests at the entrance. For minor gentry like them, merely attending the banquet was an honor. They dared not linger, exchanging only a few brief words before entering the duke's feast.
This dream was entirely different from the last. His brother held Tang Feiliu's hand tightly the entire time, constantly reminding him, "Don't wander off, little Lance. Stay with your brother."
In this dream, his brother's concern for Lance was genuine. It was clear his brother cherished Lance deeply and cared for him tenderly. Tang Feiliu could also sense Lance's complete trust and dependence on his brother. Their father was gentle and magnanimous. Though their mother had passed away, young Lance clearly received all the love and care his family could offer.
Before Tang Feiliu could ponder why this scene differed so starkly from later memories, he was stunned by the opulence of the banquet before him—truly, the social season in the countryside bore no resemblance to a noble banquet within a real castle. If country social dances carried rustic romance and the fresh innocence of youth, then castle banquets were grand, magnificent, and extravagant to the extreme.
Led by his brother, Tang Feiliu sat among a group of children eating sweets when he saw the brown-haired, freckled boy strutting proudly toward them, surrounded by admirers. Perhaps because Tang Feiliu was eating with such obvious delight, the freckled boy seemed displeased. He snatched the small tray from Tang Feiliu's hands and declared haughtily to the pouting child, "What's so good about this stuff, you country bumpkin?!"
"Prince," a pale, chubby boy nearby immediately fawned, "Shall I have someone throw this bumpkin out?!"
"Why?!" But unexpectedly, the boy called Prince replied, "I just want to tell him that what he's eating isn't tasty at all."
"I think it's delicious," the child in the dream cried, tears streaming down his face. Spoiled and pampered, he had no idea what the title "prince" truly meant. Clutched tightly by his older brother, he sobbed pitifully as his brother spoke in a restrained yet polite tone: "I apologize, Your Highness. This is my younger brother's first time attending the banquet."
The room they were in wasn't actually a banquet hall, but a specially decorated play area for children, filled with toys and abundant food, attended by servants. These troublesome children, though arrogant, were mostly the future elite of the empire. They usually had their own designated areas for activities. A place like where Tang Feiliu and his friends were wouldn't normally be frequented by these noble children. However, this time, the area where the children of the minor gentry were staying happened to be on the way to the garden. Thus, Tang Feiliu, simply because he was enjoying the food so much, ended up getting scolded by the prince.
It was truly a case of trouble falling from the sky. Fortunately, Tang Feiliu cried bitterly. His older brother, being the heir apparent, had been taught the importance of diplomacy from a young age. He politely apologized to the prince. Though still young and clearly struggling to suppress his anger, the prince and his entourage were also children. Hearing the apology, the prince’s attention shifted instantly: "Hmm, why are your eyes green?"
This sudden shift in topic clearly startled Tang Feiliu's brother. The prince continued, "Is that your younger brother you're holding? Why are his eyes blue while yours are green?"
"...He was born that way." Tang Feiliu sensed his brother's tone was utterly bewildered. Yet somehow, this answer struck a funny bone in the prince, who burst into laughter. Instantly filled with admiration, he declared, "Excellent! You may bring your brother to follow behind me and play with us."
...This line of reasoning was even more baffling! Tang Feiliu's brother clearly didn't know how to respond either, but knowing nobles disliked hearing refusals, he shot Tang Feiliu a "bear with it" look. Tang Feiliu obediently nodded and prepared to follow at the rear of the long line of little nobles alongside his brother.
"Come to me." The prince suddenly grabbed Tang Feiliu's brother. The noble children surrounding the prince made way. The prince was clearly a man of highly unconventional thinking. For some reason, he now greatly admired his new playmates, dragging them to the back garden to play in the mud. But it seemed the castle's surroundings were increasingly boring the prince. Just then, the fat man behind him whispered softly, "Your Highness, would you like to see the demon?"
"Oh?" The bored prince perked up in the garden, his eyes brightening as he whispered, "Is it your youngest brother?"
"He's not my brother! Father says he was merely born through Mother's body, but he's actually a demon! We share no blood ties at all!" The chubby boy hurriedly explained, as if terrified of being associated with that demon.
Tang Feiliu now vaguely understood who this child was—likely Edward's eldest brother. Yet his extreme obesity and transition from childhood to adolescence made him bear no resemblance whatsoever to the adult Edward.
In the dream, Tang Feiliu felt as if his consciousness had split into two: himself and the younger version of Lance. This sensation was profoundly strange, akin to knowing he was dreaming yet unable to escape. Yet the immersion felt stronger, more tangible—utterly different from the distant barrier he’d always felt when recalling memories of young Lance.
The mention of demons instantly piqued everyone's interest. Once the prince showed enthusiasm, the group immediately swarmed around him, rushing deeper into the castle.
"Brother... I'm scared..." Tang Feiliu tugged softly at her brother's hem. The castle's depths were chilly and gloomy. The high, narrow windows deep within the tower didn't let in as much light as those in the living quarters, and ventilation was poor. The air carried the musty scent of ancient dust, evoking images of knights battling enemies here years ago, or servants watching for beacon fires... In short, it wasn't a place to please a timid child.
Tang Feiliu's brother clenched his jaw. They had grown up in their country estate, surrounded by large glass windows and pastoral landscapes. Outside Tang Feiliu's bedroom lay vast rose gardens, while the estate itself featured angel statues and hedges formed from dense shrubs. Her father often said that when the morning sun shone, his blue-eyed little treasure opened her eyes, it was as if an angel had awakened from the clouds.
Tang Feiliu's brother lived next door. Raised in such a bright, beautiful environment, it was hard for them to grow fond of this dark, damp place. Yet most nobles owned their own ancient castles, so these aristocratic children seemed remarkably well-adjusted. They climbed the tower in a group, eventually reaching the room at its summit.
The room was locked, a large lock hung on the door. Outside was a small space resembling an entrance hall, originally intended for night watchmen to take turns resting. When the demon was young, the wet nurse and servants assigned to care for him had taken turns sleeping here. Yet now, no one was present. Everything was covered in thick dust, clearly neglected except for the daily delivery of food.
"Do you want to go in and see him?" the chubby boy said mysteriously. "I know where the key hangs."
He spoke like a merchant holding the secret to some rare treasure, his greedy eyes darting about with an air of smug satisfaction. Tang Feiliu felt a twinge of fear toward this boy and instinctively took a step back. Suddenly, Prince Wangzi’s voice echoed from above: "Open it."
The chubby boy hurried to the lamp stand, tiptoed, and fumbled around until he found a bunch of keys. He inserted them and turned the large lock open.
The door creaked with the stiff, rusty sound of long-neglected hinges. A group of young nobles in ornate robes stood at the doorway, gazing into the pitch-black room.
Inside, a musty stench of decay hung heavy. On the bed, a child with unrecognizable features and tangled hair curled into a tight ball, staring at them. No one could make out his expression or face.
"Hey, what are you doing?!" Just then, Tang Feiliu heard his brother shout. Instantly, he felt someone forcefully pry his hands apart. His body was shoved backward, stumbling a few steps before the door slammed shut behind him. Then, Tang Feiliu heard the prince and his entourage burst into loud laughter outside.
"Your Highness, my brother is timid. Please let me take him out..." Tang Feiliu heard his brother plead anxiously. Then came the prince's dismissive reply, spoken with careless indifference: "What's the rush? Let me see if that demon will eat this child."
Terrified, Tang Feiliu clung to the door, not even reaching the height of the doorknob. Overcome with panic, he burst into loud sobs.
"Your Highness, please release my brother... Your Highness!" came his brother's frantic voice from outside. Inside, the young Tang Feiliu, barely a few years old, wailed loudly. Terrified, he glanced behind him. When he saw the dark, looming figure on the bed stir, he pounded on the door, screaming, "Brother! Brother... Waaah..."
The blond-haired, blue-eyed child in the dream was so frightened he nearly hiccupped. Outside the door, his brother, who bore a striking resemblance to Tang Feiliu, had green eyes filled with anxiety. He knew he couldn't confront the prince directly, but hearing his younger brother's heart-wrenching cries, he was still just a child. The next moment, Tang Feiliu heard the prince's startled cry outside the door, followed by someone else shouting, "What are you doing?! You can't treat His Royal Highness like this..."
"What are you doing?! You country bumpkin!" His Royal Highness cried out in shock. Then Tang Feiliu heard loud shouts, followed by children's screams: "Quick, call the servants! This bumpkin pushed the prince down the stairs!"
"Your Highness! Your Highness!" Everyone screamed in unison as chaos erupted outside the door.
Inside the door, Tang Feiliu wailed loudly, completely unaware that the dark figure had approached from behind, reaching out to place a hand on his shoulder.
Tang Feiliu felt a sudden weight on his shoulder. He glanced up to see the hand resting there. The small child, unable to withstand such terror, rolled his eyes back and fainted instantly.
Author's Note:
So many little flies rubbing their hands yesterday, hahaha, too adorable! I couldn't bear to disappoint them, so I'm catching up on the day before yesterday today and will update another chapter tonight.