Faust snapped out of his brief daze and immediately realized what was happening. He held his breath and spoke with utmost caution.
"Who are you...?"
This can't be another hallucination, can it? I’m actually starting to get a little scared.
【Son of Man, please calm the doubts in your heart. I am no hollow phantom, but the fairy with whom you have formed a contract.】
As if to verify its identity, Faust felt the skin where the contract sigil resided grow increasingly hot. A wave of warmth washed over his body, and he gradually regained his composure.
He let out a long sigh. "Excellency... please excuse my unsightly display."
Though he had inherited the sigil from his expensive foster father, Faust hadn't actually held much hope for it. He viewed the mark more as a symbolic token of royal authority than anything else.
After all, the old king had only received a handful of revelations over several decades. That frequency was practically negligible.
Even if he possessed the "talent favored by fairies," Faust still didn't expect much from them deep down. It was better not to rely on abilities one couldn't fully control.
But he hadn't expected to establish contact so quickly. It seemed this "talent" was the real deal.
Regaining his cool, Faust asked about what had just transpired. "What did you mean by 'charm' earlier? Was I hypnotized by her?"
His previous state was clearly abnormal. If the other party had some kind of hypnosis app on hand, everything would make sense.
Well then, someone actually dared to use hypnosis on me!
Anger surged in his heart. While he had no way to deal with it himself, he was now in contact with a fairy. No matter how treacherous the technique, surely a fairy could handle it?
Faust immediately sought assistance.
"Excellency! Please help me. Being targeted by such an evil technique truly leaves me restless!"
However, the fairy's response left Faust stunned.
【Technique? son of man, you should know that it was no technique, but the workings of destiny.】
"Destiny?"
Faust froze. "What do you mean by that?"
He had expected the fairy might not agree to his request so easily, but he didn't expect such a cryptic word.
【In principle, I should not speak of such things to the son of man, but since you have awakened...】
The fairy fell silent for a moment before whispering into Faust's ear:
【Do you believe in destiny?】
Destiny. The word wasn't foreign at all; people tossed it around constantly. To Faust, it was usually just an excuse for complaining or dodging responsibility. But hearing it from a fairy now, he sensed something deeper, and his brow furrowed slightly.
Without waiting for the prince to reply, the fairy continued:
【The wheel of destiny exists. It is the ultimate truth that governs all things, the underlying logic by which the world operates.】
"The wheel of destiny?"
【Using a concept that a son of man can understand, the wheel of destiny is a 'script.' One must experience trials, training, adventures, and twists through it to finally reap the rewards.】
Faust immediately spoke up. "I know about that. In legends, fairies would bestow trials of destiny upon mortals, preparing various challenges and puzzles."
This was common knowledge. The legendary stories created by those who underwent these trials were known as the 【heroic tale】. They were a staple of culture in every kingdom.
Even Faust's expensive foster father, the founding monarch of the Qingxi Kingdom, was the protagonist of a 【heroic tale】.
It was precisely because fairies occupied this role as arbiters of all things that mortals held these ancient beings in such awe and fear.
However, from the fairy's mouth, the situation sounded completely different:
【...Son of Man, your kind always views us fairies as high and mighty beings, believing us to be gods who manipulate destiny. But that is not the case. We are not superior or inferior to you; we simply play different roles on the stage of destiny. Our duty is to provide guidance and blessings to those who walk their path.】
【Whether it be the son of man or us fairies, we are all merely humble servants beneath the surging tides of destiny.】
Faust remained silent, stroking his chin in deep thought. After a moment, realization dawned on him.
"I see. That's why I was attracted to that girl and felt such a frantic sense of love, right?"
【You are quick to accept. Most awakened Sons of Man find it difficult to believe in the wheel of destiny at first; they would rather believe their abnormality was caused by a technique.】
In the past, Faust would have certainly been skeptical, unwilling to accept the nebulous concept of "destiny."
But... hell, even Cinderella had shown up. He didn't have much of a choice but to believe. Fairy tale worlds were far too fatalistic!
The prince must fall in love with Cinderella at first sight. If he didn't, the "story" wouldn't be able to proceed!
Faust took a deep breath. "So, I was chosen by you because I am the protagonist of the upcoming stage of destiny?"
【Protagonist...】
The fairy's tone turned slightly subtle as it replied:
【Regrettably, in the script of destiny currently being performed, the true protagonist is the witch.】
"The witch?"
Faust blinked. His first thought was of a "warlock," but he immediately dismissed it. A concept emphasized by a fairy couldn't be that shallow.
Fortunately, this fairy didn't seem the type to be needlessly cryptic. It sang softly into the prince's ear:
【O one loved by the witch, I speak these words only to you.】
【Witches are destined to obtain happiness. They twist the boundaries between reality and illusion according to their whims to fulfill their burning passions.】
【They do not allow their innocence and fervor to go unrequited, and for that, they will not hesitate to overturn everything.】
【The scripts of destiny also have a hierarchy. Most scripts require the guidance and presiding of us fairies, but only destiny related to a witch is beyond our interference or even our perception. We can only conform and observe.】
【To use the terms of your kind, this type of destiny should be called a 'witches' feast.'】
Faust blinked. "So you chose to form a contract with me..."
【Though you are merely a supporting character on the stage of destiny, I thought that if I stayed by your side, I might see something interesting. That is all.】
The fairy's bluntness made Faust feel deeply wounded. The proud prince was truly unwilling to admit he was only a supporting character, and that the only reason a fairy took notice of him was for the sake of entertainment.
But thinking about it carefully... princes in fairy tales really were the most authentic kind of tools.
They didn't need names or character development. The prince's existence was solely to be the heroine's perfect partner—the final prize awarded to them.
Man, I'm really being looked down upon!
What was even more frustrating was that he couldn't even argue back!
Faust sighed and shook his head repeatedly.
【Why so sorrowful, son of man? To be able to awaken within a witch's destiny is a miracle unprecedented since ancient times. You should be proud.】
Faust gave a bitter smile.
"I just find it troublesome. Suddenly learning these secrets has made achieving my ideal significantly harder."
The fairy asked curiously:
【What is your ideal?】
At the mention of this, the prince replied without a second thought:
"Is there even a need to ask? Naturally, it is to conquer the world and rule over all!"
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