The bright morning light streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting sunlight into the room.
Faust was adjusting his clothes. Reflected in the mirror was a highly charismatic young man.
He had a handsome face that looked as if it had been meticulously carved by the Creator himself. His deep, reddish-brown eyes were captivating, and with his lips slightly pursed, an aura of natural authority radiated from him.
His tall, upright figure, fitted into a neat suit of formal attire, emphasized the lines of his muscles—powerful, yet without appearing overly bulky.
Though it sounded a bit narcissistic, to be honest, Faust felt as if he were a Prince Charming who had stepped right out of a fairy tale.
Oh, wait. I actually am a prince. Never mind, then.
Faust looked away and walked to the window, gazing down at the city below the castle.
From the towering walls and train station in the distance to the exquisite, ornate palaces nearby, and the countless rows of residences, academies, and guilds in between—it was a truly flourishing metropolis.
This was the capital of the Qingxi Kingdom. Once an old and dilapidated city, its appearance had been completely transformed in just ten years under Faust’s diligent management.
Thinking back, he had truly poured a tremendous amount of heart and soul into it. Yet, every time he considered how his every action decided the fate of tens of thousands, he felt a sense of joy from the bottom of his heart, filled with endless motivation.
Even without any cheat-like systems, Faust believed that as a transmigrator, his starting position was more than perfect.
Just as Faust was basking in his sense of accomplishment, the voice of a maid came from behind him:
"Your Highness, it is time."
"Mhm, let's go."
He reluctantly withdrew his gaze and left the bedroom.
The castle corridors were covered in crimson carpets, their soft texture making every step feel like a luxury.
Tap, tap—
Just as he was about to enter the King's chambers, Faust paused at the bottom of the steps.
Standing above the steps was a young woman in a beige trench coat, putting down a suitcase. Although the figure beneath her gauze dress could only be described as scandalous, her cold and aloof temperament more than compensated for it.
Her silver-grey hair was tied back in a sharp ponytail, but even so, the thick locks cascaded down like a waterfall, reaching her waist.
In a voice that was clear and pure, devoid of any impurities, she spoke flatly:
"Faust..."
Not a hint of emotion could be heard in that extremely level voice. The girl stood there quietly and elegantly, looking like a beam of cold moonlight shining into one's heart.
The face beneath her veil possessed a pale beauty. Underneath light-colored eyelashes hid eyes as deep and melancholic as emeralds. The bridge of her nose formed an elegant curve, and her lips were painted an inviting, soft cherry pink.
She looked like the exquisite title page of a fairy tale book, decorated with patterns of wild roses and thorns—a beautiful princess living in seclusion within a castle, making one unable to stop reading into the depths of her mysterious story.
Ah, she really is a princess. Never mind, then.
This young woman, who exuded an air of mystery, was the Princess of the Qingxi Kingdom and Faust’s elder sister—Yusewood.
"Good day, Sister."
Faust placed a hand over his heart and greeted Yusewood.
"Put away that hypocritical smile. If there is no respect in your heart, there is no need to be bound by etiquette."
Yusewood spoke coldly, her gaze sweeping over Faust. Even after being snapped at, Faust maintained his bowing posture. It wasn't until a long moment later that the silver-haired princess looked away.
Sister is as strict as ever...
Faust mused inwardly. However, he was used to his sister's temperament. She just had a bit of a sharp tongue; she wouldn't actually be overly harsh.
"Has Father's condition improved?"
Faust tried to bring up another topic. Yusewood had clearly just come from the King's chambers.
"The same as before... Go in. Father is waiting for you to discuss the matter of the heir."
The silver-haired princess shook her head slightly, then shifted her gaze to the side, as if unwilling to say more.
Sigh, it's no wonder. After all, the two of them were competitors for the throne. The taste of power was so wonderful that no one would give it up easily.
But the struggle for succession had always been this way! Faust would never back down on this point!
Adjusting his mindset, Faust strode into the King's chambers. As soon as he pushed open the door, a wave of heat hit him. Even in the autumn and winter seasons, this level of heating was a bit excessive.
Two rows of bookshelves over three meters tall stood against the walls, filled with a diverse array of titles. The long walnut desk was piled high with official documents.
A small, hand-sized iron pot was being heated over the fireplace. A dark brown medicinal soup bubbled and steamed inside, filling every corner of the room with a faint herbal scent.
In a velvet lounge chair by the fire, an old man with white hair and beard was curled up. A thick blanket covered his legs. Upon hearing footsteps, he put down the documents in his hand and slowly turned his head.
Faust saw a pair of deep-set eye sockets that looked as if they had been chiseled out of flint. His shriveled skin resembled a dry riverbed parched under a scorching sun.
Yet, on such an aged face sat a pair of terrifying red pupils. His gaze, as sharp as a hawk's, looked straight at Faust.
This was the founding monarch of the Qingxi Kingdom, a hero famous for his illustrious military exploits. Even though he was plagued by chronic illness, his aura remained soul-stirring.
The prince took a deep breath and bowed:
"Father."
"Cough, cough... You're here."
The old king coughed twice. His voice was quite low, yet it held a faint, unquestionable majesty.
Seeing this, Faust said with concern:
"You do not look well. Please take care of yourself."
"Don't worry, it's just the same old ailment. Yuse's medicinal soup is very effective; at least it won't get any worse."
The old king waved his hand and then moved to the main point:
"Today is your twentieth birthday. According to the kingdom's tradition, once all heirs have come of age, it is time to designate the crown prince. I called you here specifically to inform you of this."
Here it comes!
The straightforward words made Faust’s spirit surge. He clenched his fists and stared intently at the old king.
The old man placed his arms on his legs and spoke slowly:
"Both you and Yuse are excellent, children I am proud of. Either of you has the caliber to be a ruler, but there is only one throne. I must select the most suitable candidate."
Faust nodded and lowered his head. "I understand. Whatever choice you make, I will accept it gladly."
He had performed desperately well in the past, achieving results that would have made any wise mortal king choose him as the heir without question.
But even with the significant achievements he had made over the years, Faust didn't dare say he was guaranteed the throne.
The reason was simple: Faust was not of true royal blood, but an adopted son taken in by the king.
With such a fatal disadvantage, it was hard for Faust not to worry. After all, anyone would want to pass their throne to their own flesh and blood.
The king watched the prince quietly for a moment, then said:
"No need to be anxious, child. With your intelligence, you should already know. The position of heir to the Qingxi Kingdom can only be yours. There is no other possibility."
The king's flat and steady words set Faust’s mind at ease. Even though he had been mentally prepared, he couldn't help but look delighted. Guessing was one thing; having it confirmed was another.
Until the king personally admitted it, Faust didn't dare to harbor absolute expectations.
The old king stared intently at the prince for a long time before suddenly asking:
"Are you surprised?"
Faust replied, "I wouldn't say surprised, it's just... why would you not consider passing the throne to my sister?"
No matter how one looked at it, passing the throne to a biological daughter was the most human choice. And as far as Faust knew, his father didn't have any leanings toward preferring men over women.
The king gave a cold chuckle. "Heh... Yuse? She doesn't have the temperament to be a king. More importantly, she lacks your talent."
So that was it—merit over bloodline? That was very fair.
Hearing this, Faust quickly lowered his head modestly:
"Not at all. I have only done some trivial work. I am far from as excellent as Sister."
Despite saying that, a visible smirk of pride played on the prince's face.
Introducing advanced technology, reforming the government system, rebuilding foreign trade... while these achievements weren't a world-shaking revolution, they were certainly bold reforms.
You had to realize, he didn't have some cheat that allowed him to manifest industrialization with a snap of his fingers. He had relied solely on his own diligence, erudition, and self-discipline.
How could he not be proud?
He absolutely could! Quite easily!
"Those trifles don't matter; they are entirely insignificant!"
However, the old king shook his head, throwing cold water on the proud prince. He sat up straight and said:
"The reforms you carried out in the kingdom, the construction—none of that is why I chose you... Cough, cough. Faust, do you remember your childhood? The night we first met."
Faust solemnly pressed his hand to his chest and said seriously:
"Of course! If it weren't for your act of mercy, I'm afraid I would have died that night. This debt of gratitude is one I shall never forget!"
After all, anyone would have a vivid memory of discovering they were about to freeze to death in the snow right after transmigration.
Just as Faust thought he was about to die and restart his life, the royal hunting party happened to pass by. He was rescued and adopted by the king, becoming a prince of the Qingxi Kingdom from that moment on.
Thus, Faust genuinely respected and felt grateful toward the old man before him. He wasn't just some cheap foster father; he was a precious benefactor!
However, his ringing words did not lead to a typical father-son bonding moment. The old king rubbed his ring and smiled:
"Mercy... this has nothing to do with mercy."
"Hmm?"
"I did it deliberately, following a revelation. Otherwise, why would I have happened to pass by at that time, and happened to rescue you?"
Faust hummed in confusion. "A revelation?"
The old king nodded and said in a deep voice:
"When I was young, I fought and bled for the independence of the people of Qingxi, thus founding this kingdom. By virtue of such exploits, I once had the honor of receiving a fairy's blessing."
"A fairy's blessing?!"
Faust’s eyes widened, and he spoke with admiration, "...Father, you actually had such a miraculous encounter. As expected of a legendary hero."
It was no wonder the prince was so excited; the weight of the word "fairy" was immense.
They were the oldest and most transcendent existences in this world. Although fairies were not gods, in some respects, they were no different. In fact, in some nations, fairies were indeed worshipped as deities.
In legends and stories, the various encounters and opportunities bestowed upon brave heroes by fairies were always subjects of great fascination.
Faust hadn't expected his father to have a fairy's gift. He had never mentioned it before.
But thinking carefully, it wasn't strange. The old king had once been a renowned warrior who had achieved brilliant results in the war of independence that swept the empire decades ago. It stood to reason that a founder would be blessed by a fairy.
"Heh, that's all in the past."
Reminiscing about the old days, even though he was now tormented by illness and his heroism had faded with age, the old king couldn't help but smile proudly.
Then, he restrained his smile, pulled back his sleeve, and revealed a faint, crimson contract sigil.
"This is the blessing given by the fairy. The owner can use this contract to communicate with the fairy, seek revelations, and learn prophecies."
"!!!"
Faust couldn't help but say, "That's invincible."
For a mortal, simply meeting a fairy was a miracle. To be able to sign a contract with one—what kind of concept was that?
Every nation in the world capable of establishing a stable contract with a fairy to receive protection and blessings was a world-renowned hegemon. To embrace a fairy was to embrace success.
Is this the rise of the Qingxi dynasty? Is anyone else seeing this?
"Heheh, where is the exaggeration?"
The king gently stroked his arm and looked meaningfully at Faust:
"This contract I signed does not specify any rights or duties. Whether one can communicate, or what kind of revelations can be obtained, depends entirely on the fairy's mood. In these decades, the favors I have received can be counted on one hand. It can only be said that the fairy truly does not like me much."
"If it were someone deeply beloved by the fairy, they would likely have more opportunities."
So it's basically just getting a contact method and then desperately trying to get their attention?
Faust immediately calmed down. If that was the case, the contract wasn't that big of a deal. Plenty of people prayed to fairies; a contract without constraints was better than nothing, but that was all.
"But even a mediocre person like me has received a revelation. Using the merits of my past years, I made a request to the fairy."
The old king coughed twice, his hawk-like gaze fixed on Faust:
"Find a child who can be loved by the fairy and let him be my heir. That way, perhaps this contract will have some use."
You can even do that?!
"!!!"
Faust looked at his father in surprise. The latter seemed to hear his inner thoughts and explained:
"That's right. Just as you think, I intend to transfer the contract with the fairy to you right here."
The king signaled Faust to grasp his arm.
Reasonably, at a time like this, Faust should have made a show of declining. But in front of the adoptive father who knew him through and through, acting would be too affected. Moreover... this gift was simply impossible to refuse.
So, he grasped it without hesitation.
And that seal indeed gradually faded from the king's shriveled arm, manifesting instead on Faust.
"Father... you seem to be in a hurry."
While Faust felt the burning sensation of the brand, he met his foster father's eyes. The latter spoke slowly:
"The internal strife of the empire is about to end. They will bring down their wrath and punishment upon the former rebels and traitors. Meanwhile, my former allies are becoming estranged. The Qingxi Kingdom has only been established for a few decades; it is still too weak. How can it survive the future conflicts?"
The old king lowered his eyes and sighed deeply:
"Who the king is does not matter. What matters is that the Qingxi Kingdom must be great. This nation... this kingdom I built with my own hands, must never perish!"
The transfer of the contract was completed at that moment. Faust placed his hand over his heart and bowed, saying:
"That is precisely my ideal."
A glimmer of kindness and affection appeared in the old king's eyes as he smiled:
"I know. I have seen your regard and love for the kingdom with my own eyes."
"According to the laws of the kingdom, I have organized a ball for you to select a consort... I was wrong to arrange the marriage without asking your opinion before. This time, let the ball proceed according to your wishes. That is all. Go do what you must; I need to rest for a while."
As the words fell, the old king slumped back into the sofa, closing his eyes to focus.
Seeing this, Faust stopped disturbing him and took his leave.
Coming out of the king's chambers, Faust let out a long breath. He finally stopped suppressing the smile on his face and laughed happily.
Though the process had been a bit nerve-wracking, his goal had ultimately been achieved. The position of heir, the fairy contract... it could only be said that he had never had such a wonderful start!
Rate on N.U.
