I transformed into a cute girl and lived a carefree life in the apocalypse.

"Looks like it's over."

The EU representative breathed a sigh of relief; he had been feeling tense from the start in that oppressive atmosphere, and Odyssey was much stronger than he had imagined.

"The end? No, it's just the beginning."

"?!"

A light, airy voice drifted over, and he abruptly looked up to see Yan Ziming passing by him. The terrifying aura emanating from Yan Ziming made his soul tremble.

Good heavens?! What is she going to do?!

Just as Yide was about to make a gesture as if he were returning to the palace, he saw the indescribably beautiful Yan Ziming walking slowly towards him, and he immediately stopped and stared at her.

It was vaguely visible that the scenery behind Yan Ziming was distorted under that unseen aura, as if it were a terrible calamity from ancient times, making people tremble.

"Is it finally... coming?" Ide's eyes widened slightly, unable to contain her excitement. Was she going to challenge her?

He was watching, and so were the others. Was China about to launch an attack so soon after Idlib took office?

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Yan Ziming wanted to curse.

Damn it, I'm not like that at all! I was just walking normally, what distorted scenery, what impending disaster, it's all just your brains spouting nonsense!

With those gazes upon him, Yan Ziming felt as if a thousand knives were stabbing him. His movements became more constrained subconsciously. He was clearly not used to these clothes and immediately asked to change back into his old outfit when he got back!

Finally, under everyone's gaze, Yan Ziming got closer and closer to Yide, who trembled slightly with excitement and unease.

Can I beat her? What if I lose? What will happen if I win?

However, Yan Ziming's actions made him get excited for a long time.

She nodded to Ide, then walked around him to Princess Ina, took her slender hand clad in a white silk glove, and said gently yet firmly, "Your Highness, may we step aside and talk?"

"Ah—!!! Sir Knight—!!!"

A bunch of girls in the audience screamed, their eyes sparkling, as if they had discovered some big secret about their idol.

Holy crap, all I did was hold the princess's hand, did you have to make such a fuss?

Yan Ziming was internally devastated.

75. Short Story

Throughout history, regardless of civilization or dynasty, the pairing of knights and princesses has always been a source of romantic legends. In this modern age, where knights and princesses are rarely seen, encountering a knight willing to protect one is every woman's dream.

If this knight has enough charm, even if she's a woman... it can still elicit a huge reaction.

Yan Ziming simply held Ina's hand, and he fulfilled the dream of countless girls, even if the princess wasn't one of them.

"Is it alright, Your Highness?" Yan Ziming asked, forcing herself to remain calm.

All she wanted to do was get Ina away from here as soon as possible; the gazes of those people were making her skin feel tight and incredibly uncomfortable.

"It is my honor that you, Sir Knight, have invited me..."

Ina covered her lips with one hand, as if to hide the upturned corners of her mouth, or as if to show off, or as if to assert her dominance, raising her two clasped hands to shoulder height, a movement that was both elegant and captivating.

This scene evoked envy, jealousy, and resentment in many women.

If only I were the one being led by the knight!

But then Ina looked troubled and said, "However... Ina has other things to do right now..."

Yan Ziming's eyes flashed slightly. Before she could finish speaking, he kissed Ina's hand lightly and then led her away with a half-forceful gesture.

"Then please come in, Your Highness."

"......"

Ina did not push her luck. Although Yan Ziming was known as the Knight of Thunder and Rain, she was not a true knight after all. The hand-kissing gesture she had just received was already her biggest concession.

Yan Ziming no longer cared about the situation at the venue. Let Murong Haiyi do whatever he wanted; she didn't care whether he killed Yide or was killed by Yide. The important thing was her side.

She forcefully led Ina to a back garden by the sea, shaking off all the guards who followed, and with a sudden pull, gently threw her onto the lawn.

This place is quiet and deserted, far from the hustle and bustle, making it an ideal place to do certain things. Yan Ziming had already chosen this place long ago.

"Sir Knight, did you bring me here because you have something important to discuss?"

Ina didn't mind Yan Ziming's behavior; on the contrary, she seemed to enjoy it, gently covering her mouth and smiling.

For some reason, the sea breeze managed to bypass the protective shield and blow over, carrying a faint fishy smell, lifting the girl's clothes, and bringing a touch of coolness.

"Oh? Isn't it Her Highness the Princess who needs to see me?"

Yan Ziming laughed and retorted, chuckling softly as he crammed in. The moonlight magnified her shadow several times over, making it seem as if he wanted to devour Ina.

Ina became even more excited.

???

All I want to ask is, are you coming with me or not?

Upon hearing this, Ina straightened her posture and said very formally, "I'm very sorry, Sir Knight, I really want to grant your request, but... as a princess of a nation, I truly have no choice..."

"Oh? A princess of a nation has been able to infiltrate my side for so long; such a high degree of freedom is probably unparalleled, isn't it?"

Yan Ziming took a step closer, his shadow completely enveloping Ina.

"Looks like the knight is going to tell me a story," Ina chuckled.

Ina refused to admit it, and Yan Ziming had no way to persuade her, so he could only appeal to her emotions and reason with her.

Yan Ziming smiled coolly and sat down next to Ina, saying, "Is that so? Then I'll tell you the story."

"A very, very long time ago, there was a princess of a country. To steal intelligence from the enemy, she disguised herself as a harmless, somewhat clumsy girl. At first, she succeeded, infiltrating the service of a knight in that country. Days passed, and slowly, the princess fell in love with the knight, showering him with affection. Then one day! The knight disappeared for several years. When she returned, the princess had vanished. Several months later, she suddenly reappeared before the knight, her longing for him unbearable. But... the knight cruelly rejected her love. Finally, heartbroken, the princess left and returned to her homeland..."

Whether this short story will resonate with audiences depends on Ina's reaction.

After Yan Ziming finished speaking, Ina looked thoughtful and corrected a few minor mistakes with reason and evidence.

There's a mistake here.

"Oh? What's wrong?"

Yan Ziming turned his head and caught her gaze. Ina went up to her without flinching, "Princess, you didn't go there to extract intelligence from the enemy country."

"Are you saying that this princess was only after that knight from the beginning?"

"Correct."

"..."

After a brief moment of thought, Yan Ziming launched an attack: "So here's the question: how do you know this detail that even I don't know?"

Ina intertwined her fingers and said with a look of reminiscence, "Because it's exactly the same story I heard when I was a child."

"But this story is my original work."

"Perhaps we have a lot in common? It seems we're really destined to meet. Why don't we share some details from our stories that we don't know about?"

Yan Zimo remained silent.

The other party is refusing to admit it even if it means death.

Ina also made it clear that asking about anything outside the story is against the rules of the game.

Then we can only ask about the parts of this story that Yan Zimo didn't know yet.

Similarly, Ina would also ask Yan Ziming questions.

Perhaps, by analyzing this story, both sides can find their true feelings for each other.

Ina raised her index finger and asked, "Do you know why the princess is leaving the knight?"

"Because the knight rejected her affections?" Yan Zimo took it for granted.

"No, even if the knight rejects her, the princess will still love him deeply, but the princess sees no hope for this relationship."

"The knight already had someone he loved and was going to marry, so the princess's hopes were completely dashed, and she had no chance to intervene at all... All she could see was the scene of watching the man she loved be with someone else. So, the princess chose to avoid him and returned to her hometown."

"..."

At first glance, one cannot discern the meaning of the painting; upon closer inspection, one becomes a person within the painting.

Yan Ziming didn't realize that there was such an interpretation involved; she had underestimated this seemingly short story.

Seeing her reaction, Ina smiled and continued the story: "But one day, the knight accidentally came to the princess's country and met her. When they met again, they were like strangers... Ina couldn't remember the rest of the story."

"In your original story, Sir Knight, will the princess have a chance to return to him? Will she have a happy ending?"

Ina suddenly sat up straight and stared intently at Yan Ziming.

Yan Ziming felt a chill run down his spine under her gaze. If he didn't answer well, there was no point in continuing the story; the ending would be straight to the end.

She thought for a long time, and Ina stared at her for a long time as time ticked by.

After some time, Yan Ziming slowly opened his mouth: "The knight, she..."

boom!

A deafening roar came from afar, the bright moon turned into a blood moon, and two extremely powerful auras erupted, like a heaven-splitting sword, disrupting the universe.

Upon seeing this, Yan Ziming covered his forehead.

In the end, they still ended up fighting.