Chapter 41: Setting Forty-One

Setting Forty-One: Fairy Tale (Part 9)

Shan Ziwei swallowed, then resolutely pushed open the door.

Before him were scattered noble ladies and gentlewomen, all dressed in their finest ceremonial gowns. A few noticed his emergence, but merely glanced at him before losing interest.

His heart was racing so fast he might have a heart attack. Yes, the first person who saw him was female—so Bluebeard’s key’s necrophilia flag wasn’t triggered—but dammit, this was the ladies’ restroom!

After hastily leaving Donkeyskin, he’d found a door and used Bluebeard’s key to head to Snow White’s wedding. He couldn’t just appear openly at the ceremony—and certainly not directly before Snow White, given their now-mutual hostility. Fortunately, Princess Rose’s birthday banquet had given him a great idea: what large banquet hall didn’t have a restroom? And what restroom didn’t have a ladies’ room, a haven for women and a no-man’s-land?

In the urgency of his plummeting Club SP, he’d set his destination to “the ladies’ restroom at Snow White’s wedding” without a second thought. The moment he arrived, his Club SP crisis was resolved—but his sense of shame returned with a vengeance.

The determination he’d felt when making the decision was directly proportional to the embarrassment he felt now. This particular sufferer couldn’t even lift his head, practically scurrying out of the restroom.

“Ah!”

He slammed on the brakes and swerved, barely avoiding a collision with someone at the door. Still shaken, he looked up—and saw the other person looking back at him with equal surprise.

He was a very handsome young man, with sapphire-blue eyes and wavy blond hair tied back with a red ribbon, dressed in matching red-and-white formal wear—every inch a nobleman.

Shan Ziwei couldn’t help glancing at the restroom sign. Unless he was mistaken, this handsome gentleman had been about to enter… the ladies’ room?

Good-looking, but unfortunately a pervert.

Following Shan Ziwei’s gaze to the sign, the young man blinked, then flushed with embarrassment as realization dawned.

“Ah—my deepest apologies, fair lady.” He placed one hand behind his back and the other over his chest, bowing slightly. “I was lost in thought and didn’t notice where I was going. I nearly made a grave mistake—thank you for stopping me.”

Shan Ziwei shuddered—not just at the words “fair lady,” but at the man’s overly theatrical tone. His voice was exaggerated—the kind you’d hear on a stage—so unnatural it made you uneasy. Yet his striking looks somehow made it fit, as if he were a leading man under the spotlight, meant to speak exactly that way.

“Your Highness—”

A distant call made both of them freeze. Shan Ziwei was surprised to realize this handsome young man was the fairy-tale prince. He certainly looked the part—classic blond hair, blue eyes, impeccable attire and bearing—straight out of a textbook as the ideal Prince Charming.

The prince gave him an apologetic smile, then turned to the breathless guard who’d come running. Still in that theatrical voice, he said: “What is it~ my captain of the guard?”

The captain seemed accustomed to the prince’s theatrics. He gave a hasty bow: “Your Highness, the princess is looking for you—she wishes to speak with you. Also, the dwarfs are arguing over the rings, and they request your presence.”

The princess… Snow White?

The prince’s expression tensed for a moment, a flicker of nervousness showing. The captain’s few words hinted at a busy schedule ahead; the handsome young man didn’t even have time to bid Shan Ziwei farewell before hurrying off.

Shan Ziwei watched the prince follow the captain, then silently trailed after him.

Though he’d essentially fulfilled Setting 4—”attending Snow White’s wedding”—that wasn’t his only system setting. Setting 2 was about to activate.

[Setting 2: Your makeup skills were taught to you by the legendary thief. To honor your mentor, you have decided to steal the princess’s wedding ring. (00:28:58)]

A wedding was incomplete without rings. The captain’s words had also revealed relevant information: the rings were currently with the seven dwarfs? And the prince was on his way to deal with the ring matter.

So this particular sufferer began covertly tailing the prince, going invisible whenever guards were posted. Though he nearly lost them a few times, the prince’s theatrical voice was like a beacon in the night, guiding the wayward Shan Ziwei.

“What does my fair princess wish to see me about~?”

“Your Highness, I do not know.”

“And~ what about our dear dwarf friends—why do they quarrel over the rings?”

“Your Highness, the dwarfs believe the current diamond is unworthy of Her Highness Snow White. They insist on replacing it with gems they’ve mined themselves, and are now arguing over which gem to use. To protect the rings from being damaged, I have had them moved to the adjacent storage room, to be secured alongside the crystal coffin.”

“Ah~” The prince sighed. “My captain, you are always so dependable.”

“Your Highness flatters me.”

By this time, they’d reached their destination. The captain respectfully opened the door across from them: “Her Highness Snow White awaits you within.”

Shan Ziwei, hiding around a distant corner, had been about to leave when he heard the specific news about the rings—but he stopped at the mention of the princess.

He was a little curious to see Snow White now. This might be his last chance—once he stole the ring, he’d have no further reason or need to remain in the Snow White story. He couldn’t help feeling a pang of emotion, thinking of the little girl he’d bullied, now on the verge of marriage—and all of it his doing. As a proper villain, he’d abused a child, enslaved a princess, hired a hitman, and dealt drugs—every princess and prince’s happy ending had an anonymous, earnest “magician” working behind the scenes.

Whether referring to his role or the internet slang that meant “eternal virgin,” his summary hit home. In the past as in the present, he seemed destined to watch others find their happiness.

—”Princesses” always ended up with “princes,” while he was the “evil” magician.

He pulled himself together—and noticed the silence ahead was oddly suspicious. Peeking out cautiously, he looked toward the prince.

The captain had bowed and stepped aside after opening the door. The prince stood frozen at the threshold, as if stunned. His back blocked the entrance, so no matter how Shan Ziwei craned his neck, he couldn’t see inside.

The prince stood there for a long time before finding his voice.

“My princess—you are absolutely breathtaking!”

The handsome young man spread his arms and swept passionately into the room, his voice even more exaggerated, now a full aria—overly fervent and dramatic. As he entered, the captain followed respectfully and closed the door. Shan Ziwei caught only a glimpse of white veil before the door shut.

Alright—he gave up. Time for the real mission.

So he turned and headed upstairs. All along the way, he’d heard the dwarfs’ muffled arguing from above—but he’d underestimated their volume. It wasn’t until he climbed two more floors that he reached the source of the noise.

“No, no, no! It should be rubies! Rubies are the symbol of love and passion! With rubies, the princess will have eternal love!”

“Pah! It’s my black pearl that suits her best! Look—it matches her eyes perfectly!”

…

He calmly ignored the raucous room. According to the captain, the ring storage room was right next door. He didn’t need to guess—the guards at the entrance made it obvious. Slipping into the room across from the storage room, he frowned at the two fully armed guards inside and out.

If there were no guards inside, he could just use Bluebeard’s key to warp in and take the ring. A frontal assault was out of the question—he had no attack skills or equipment. And Setting 2 clearly said “steal,” not “seize.”

He idly scanned his surroundings for anything useful. His gaze landed on a portrait on the wall—and a light bulb went off in his head.

The prince in the portrait was exceptionally handsome. After admiring it for a moment, he explored the room more thoroughly. The luxurious furniture and royal-only artifacts confirmed it was the prince’s room. He stood before the wardrobe—its open doors like a lover’s embrace, displaying a collection of fine men’s attire.

The key lies with the one who locked the door.

The setting stemmed from his disguise skill—so the solution should also come from disguise.

Fifteen minutes later, the guard at the storage room entrance heard footsteps. Peering through his helmet’s slit, he recognized the approaching figure and straightened to attention, about to salute.

“Yo—”

The blond, blue-eyed young man waved dramatically and gestured toward the dwarfs’ still-arguing room, signaling for silence. The guard’s greeting died in his throat. Seeing “the prince” gesture at the storage room, he quickly stepped aside and silently watched “His Highness” enter.

The guard inside was similarly silenced by “the prince,” who lowered his voice and said: “I need a moment in here. You—step out and close the door.”

He paused, then added a little stiffly: “Thank you~ my faithful guards.”

The guard saluted solemnly and silently carried out the order.

Alone in the empty room, “the prince”—Shan Ziwei—let out a quiet breath. He’d gained new respect for the prince’s naturally fluent theatrics—he could mimic the voice, but the mannerisms were beyond him. Fortunately, no one had noticed anything amiss. Everything had gone suspiciously smoothly.

He stretched, relishing the comfort of male attire—those flimsy skirts always made him feel exposed and vulnerable. He reluctantly patted his trousers, then pushed aside all distractions to survey the storage room. To better protect valuables, it was a windowless, enclosed space, lit by tier upon tier of candles. There was plenty here, but the most prominent item was the crystal coffin at the center—translucent and glistening in the candlelight.

He couldn’t resist reaching out to touch it—it was cool to the touch. Though the coffin evoked death, it was so beautiful it seemed almost magical. He found himself drawn to it, staring into its empty interior, imagining Snow White lying there…

He shuddered. A beautiful princess sleeping in a beautiful crystal coffin—that was a forbidden masterpiece.

He stepped back from that dangerous thought and circled the room. Soon he spotted the pair of rings on a red velvet cushion.

Their silver-white bands were set with brilliant diamonds, every curve perfectly refined. He handled them with extra care, gazing at wedding rings he’d likely never wear. Legend said wedding rings evolved from the shackles of bride-capture—men in ancient times would shackle captured women. Over time, the shackles became wedding rings; the man put a ring on a woman to claim her as his own.

Who would ever put a ring on his finger…

“What are you doing?”

He spun around, his heart skipping a beat.

The storage room door stood wide open. The guards were gone. Only Snow White stood there.