The Other Side of the Mask

\tI hear a familiar voice, "Stop this at once!"

I wanted to scream at them to leave me in peace. I have nothing left. I have no reason to live after this crime.

\tI see a mask and pieces of papers skidding in front of me. I realize that the letters were the ones that Mayor Chun sent me. It's too late for that. My mind hazes as I stare at the items, unblinking. Then, I realized that the mask was XiaoLong's.

\tI probably shouldn't have lifted my head, but I did. It was definitely XiaoLong's outfit. His hairstyle was the same. I stared at his face and realized. XiaoLong was Prince Fu. I quiver in shock.

The Queen talks with worry, "Son, you should be in bed!"

\tI look at him in disbelief. The knight kicks my head down.

"How dare you look at the Prince!"

\t"Stop. The evidence of what she did is in that letter."

I don't need your help. It's easier to die… was what I wanted to say, but no sound came out.

\t"Go back to bed. You need the antidote. In the meantime, we need you to try to stay in good condition."

"Mother, I'm healed."

What?! What's he talking about? People said that they couldn't get the antidote, so how's he healed?

\t"What are you talking about?"

"Apparently, I have immunity to the poison."

"What?!"

\t"I'll explain later. Anyways, first have her freed. She's not the mastermind."

He has a servant pick up the letters and hands it to his parents.

"Have Mayor Chun arrested and executed," the King demands.

"What?! I'm innocent!" he insists as he is brought to his knees in front of the Royal family,

\tThe King continues, "You believe that we wouldn't recognize your handwriting or hidden meaning?"

\t"I have brought the bottle," a servant says, with the big bottle of poison.

"Have him drink it," the King states sternly, "He should have a taste of his own poison."

"W-wait wait wait!" Mayor Chun screams as the poison is brought to his mouth and flows down his throat.

\tHe coughs up blood just like Prince Fu, and I stare with no emotion at all. After about ten minute of coughing blood, he started throwing up and literally emptying his body of all intestines and organs. The noblewomen all turn away in disgust and the noblemen stare with sweat dripping down their faces. Even the knights around him back away

\tAfter another ten minutes, he falls into the pool of disgusting stuff. I stare, unfazed by anything, after all, I don't have a purpose in life anymore, and I'm on my deathbed.

\tA few moments later, a healer steps up and checks the pulse.

"He's dead."

Prince Fu orders the guards and servants, "Clean up this mess and bring QiLing into the palace."

I am escorted into the palace by knights. I enter a grand bedroom and am seated on the comfy couch. A bunch of maids rush in and undress me. Usually I would be horrified by anyone seeing my naked body, but I'm spiritually dead, I don't care about anything anymore. Even XiaoLong lied to me. Him of all people. I thought he was different… In the end he was just using him to his own amusement.