Transmigrated As A Beautiful Cannon Fodder Omega To Marry An Evil God Alpha In Place of Another - Chapter 5

Ten days ago. The second day after transmigrating. The Continent of the Wind Plains, Human Territory.

A massive sun hung in the sky, scorching the earth.

The European style castle was constructed of towering stone, reaching heights that required one to look up. As one tilted their head back, the peaks of the towering turrets could be seen splitting the sunlight, blurring into a halo of radiance.

The sweltering weather made one’s head spin. The European noble style clothing was stiff and made of thick fabric, making it exceptionally hot. Bai Rui’s fair little face was flushed from the heat, and thin beads of sweat had already appeared at his temples.

He walked slowly along the pebble path of the castle. The surrounding soldiers, clad in silver armor, stood straight and looked ahead, not shifting their gaze toward him even by an inch. The giant sun tormented everyone’s resolve.

Finally, Bai Rui arrived at the entrance of a courtyard. His fair face, originally expressionless, was deliberately graced with a smile at the door.

“Hello, I’m looking for the court painter. My turquoise pigment has run out, and I wanted to ask if there was any…”

A very thin man at the door turned around. Bai Rui froze. “Chamberlain, why are you here?”

The elegantly dressed Chamberlain glanced sideways at Bai Rui. His gaze moved from Bai Rui’s exquisite, pale face, moistened by a thin layer of sweat, down to his toes.

He let out a cynical, cold laugh and spoke in a pretentious tone: “Honorable First Prince, I have finally found you. As the Queen’s personal Chamberlain, I am here to convey Her Majesty’s decree.”

Bai Rui watched him quietly. The Chamberlain cleared his throat and raised his nostrils arrogantly.

“The Queen says that since the Wicked God, the Witch Emperor, heartlessly brought down natural disasters, the Great Drought has given His Majesty the King a great headache. The Queen is benevolent and loves her Lord, she cannot bear to see the King worried, nor the commoners’ corpses exposed for hundreds of miles. Royal expenses must be frugal to aid the refugees. Where would the money come from for such expensive minerals for you to play around with?”

Bai Rui continued to smile. “That’s true.”

“It’s good that you know.” The dead fish eyed Chamberlain’s eyes rolled toward the sky. “Alright, how can I waste your precious time, First Prince? The Second Prince has returned. His Majesty and the Queen invite you for a talk.”

“He’s back?” Bai Rui was genuinely surprised. “Didn’t he just set out on the expedition?”

“Don’t you know?” A small servant standing behind the Chamberlain covered his mouth in surprise. “The Second Prince’s surprise squad returned yesterday. The Second Prince was also seriously injured. Did no one tell you?”

The Chamberlain glared at the servant and then looked back at Bai Rui. “The Second Prince petitioned for the country and has worked hard. He protects us. It was only because the Witch Emperor, Qi Li, is insidious and cunning that the Second Prince was injured. This is an honorable wound.”

Bai Rui unhurriedly looked up at the huge, scorching sun in the sky, shading his eyes with his hand to look into the distance. “The main army is still at the front lines and hasn’t returned, but the Second Prince ran back ‘honorably’ first?”

The Chamberlain was stifled, huffing as he quickly stepped forward. “Enough, this official doesn’t understand those things. First Prince, please follow me. Don’t keep the King and Queen waiting.”

With that, several soldiers in silver armor and helmets, holding long spears, surrounded him, boxing Bai Rui into the center.

Bai Rui glanced at the surrounding soldiers. “Is this an arrest?”

The Chamberlain smiled and dismissed the soldiers. “How can you be so rude to the First Prince? Move aside quickly.”

Then, bowing once more to Bai Rui, he made a gesture of invitation with a fake, pretentious humility. “Of course not. It’s just that the Queen ordered that your safety is very important, so the guards are extra attentive.”

Before transmigrating, Bai Rui knew that this First Prince was not well liked by the royal family because he was born to the former Queen. The current Queen was the Second Prince’s biological mother.

As someone with Eastern features, he felt like an outsider in this royal family. The royalty placed great importance on bloodlines, and the First Prince’s biological mother was an ordinary woman from the East. During her pregnancy, she discovered with shock and anger that a noblewoman was also pregnant with the King’s child. In a Western court, such things were common, especially since that noblewoman was the King’s first love.

The ordinary Eastern woman had no power or background and no experience in palace intrigue. During her labor, she was told the noblewoman had also given birth that day. There was almost no one to care for her during delivery. After giving birth to a “defective” Omega, she passed away, and the Queen’s throne was naturally handed over to the other woman.

The First Prince had never had clan protection. Although he carried royal blood, his life was difficult. Even a year after reaching adulthood, there was no news of his fiefdom.

Bai Rui’s fair cheeks were somewhat pale. He lowered his eyes and let out a nearly imperceptible sigh. “Lead the way.”

He was brought before a grand palace. Tall Roman columns supported the dome, and the royal coat of arms hung from the eaves. The silver armored soldiers stood straight along both sides of the red carpet.

The sun outside seemed even hotter than before. It was like a giant heating plate turned to “roast” mode. Vegetation withered, and the ground was scalding. A sentry soldier suddenly collapsed right in front of Bai Rui, sweat pouring from the edges of his silver armor.

Bai Rui instinctively swallowed hard.

“Prince, this way…” The Chamberlain also seemed to find it extremely hot, wiping his sweat. “It seems even hotter than yesterday…”

Natural disasters brought by the Witch Emperor were parching the land. Rivers were drying up, and plants were dying on a large scale. Humans could barely hold on, but in just half a day, the temperature had spiked to unbearable levels. It seemed this started right around the time the Second Prince fled back in defeat.

Inside the hall, ice was used for cooling. Stepping inside, the Chamberlain took a deep breath, looking relieved to finally breathe.

Bai Rui stepped forward and bowed to the middle-aged man and woman sitting at the top. “Father, Queen.”

On the high golden throne sat two people. The middle-aged man, looking weary, raised a hand and pinched the bridge of his nose. He was in casual wear, too hot to care about decorum, with his collar buttons undone. The Queen, in a red royal hoop skirt, raised her chin sharply upon seeing Bai Rui.

“Bai Rui,” the King said, looking older than he had a few days ago. “Your brother went to assassinate the Witch Emperor last night and was seriously injured.”

Bai Rui looked up, his innocent, round eyes clear and harmless as he looked at the Emperor. “I didn’t know. Is the Second Prince… seriously injured?”

The Chamberlain behind the Queen looked over in disbelief. Didn’t I just tell you? How can you still ‘not know’?

Bai Rui’s face didn’t change. He remained calm, his brow slightly furrowed, his eyes shimmering with a faint watery light, pure and innocent.

The Queen seemed unable to suppress her anger, but she held her tongue because the King was present. The King patted the Queen’s hand. “Bai Rui, your brother sacrificed himself for this country. Although the assassination failed, such heroism is worth learning from.”

“Indeed,” Bai Rui nodded sincerely. “That’s why I went to the art academy to get some mineral pigments, to paint a portrait of my brother to praise his heroism.”

“Cough, cough!” The King cleared his throat. “It wasn’t entirely useless.”

The Queen couldn’t help but sneer. “Your brother was fighting bravely at the front lines while you hide in the palace painting. You certainly know how to find leisure for yourself.”

Bai Rui looked at the proud Queen in red and suddenly smiled. “The army is still at the front, yet my brother fled back to the palace overnight without a single soldier, leaving them to fight. I wonder if they will think my brother is the one finding leisure if they find out.”

“You!” The Queen stood up abruptly, pointing a trembling finger at Bai Rui. “You just said you didn’t know, yet you seem to know quite a lot!”

Bai Rui looked innocent. “I… guessed. Please don’t be angry with me. I wasn’t disciplined or loved growing up, so I don’t know how to speak properly.”

The Queen was visibly fuming. She was pulled back down by the King, her chest heaving. “He… how outrageous! How has he become so sharp-tongued after a few days?”

The previous Bai Rui was easy to manipulate. Why did it feel like he was a different person now?

The King tapped his golden cane. “Let’s not talk about the past. The Witch Emperor has brought disaster, and your brother is recovering. What do you think we should do? The Holy Light Empire is at a point of life and death…”

Bai Rui sighed. “Yes, what should be done?”

The King was choked for a moment, then clutched his heart in mock grief. “Every member of the royal family must stand up. If I were as young as you, I would surely lead the troops myself…”

Bai Rui also showed a sad expression, clutching his heart as if about to cry. “Father is so noble. I will go and paint a mural for the royal chapel immediately to pray for your blessings.”

King: “???” Who is this? Where is the simple minded Bai Rui?

“Report, Your Majesty.”

A sharp voice pierced the silence. A silver-armored soldier stumbled in. “Our envoy for peace talks sent word. The Witch Emperor said he can withdraw the army, but… but…”

The soldier saw the room full of people and swallowed his words.

“But what?” the King urged.

The soldier knelt, trembling. “The Witch Emperor said he is very angry about the assassination attempt… because the Second Prince was reckless and stupid, so he increased the intensity of the disasters. If we want him to show mercy, the Second Prince, the Alpha who dared to assassinate him, must be sent for a political marriage. Only then can we negotiate.”

“What?!” The Queen wailed. “For God’s sake! My son is an honorable Alpha! How can he be sent to marry another Alpha?” She fainted and was caught by the attendants.

The King’s beard shook with rage. “Is there no other way? Like gold or treasures?”

Silence filled the room. Clearly, the Witch Emperor didn’t care for gold.

The soldier whispered, “The Witch Emperor said… an Alpha prince must be sent, or there is no deal.”

The King’s gaze scanned the room and finally landed on Bai Rui. A sharp light flashed in his eyes. “Bai Rui, your brother failed. We hope you can take on the burden of the state. It is a matter of emergency… you will go and marry the Witch Emperor.”

Bai Rui couldn’t believe his ears. “What?”

The King cleared his throat. “The Witch Emperor wants the Second Prince… but this can be solved. You and your brother were born at nearly the same time. Officially, there is no distinction. From now on, you are the ‘Second Prince,’ and you will go for the marriage.”

Bai Rui’s face turned deathly pale. He clenched his teeth. “He is injured, not dead.”

The King’s face was cold, devoid of guilt. “Bai Rui, where is your royal upbringing?”

This man, his father, was talking to him about “upbringing” while pushing him to be a scapegoat for the favored son.

“What a damn ‘upbringing,'” Bai Rui finally cursed. “I’m not even…”

The King stared into his eyes. “You are an Alpha. You always have been. Even if you aren’t, the Empire has some medicine to make you appear like an Alpha temporarily.”

Such medicine usually had side effects and was extremely painful to use. Naturally, they didn’t care.

Bai Rui clenched his fists. “You want me to be a body double… do you think the Witch Emperor is a fool? Aren’t you afraid of the consequences when he finds out he’s been played?”

He felt stung by the gazes in the hall, but no one spoke up for him. No one cared if he would die the moment the Witch Emperor found out.

“It doesn’t matter,” the King said heartlessly. “Your brother didn’t reach the inner palace during the assassination.”

Since the Witch Emperor hadn’t seen the Second Prince’s face clearly, the plan could work.

Bai Rui stood straight, his face pale as paper. “Or I could personally tell the Witch Emperor about this trick…”

The King shook his head. “Choose whether you want to arrive at the Dark Moon Lands with your tongue intact or be unable to talk forever. Also, the church art school you privately funded yesterday… there are many children there. You wouldn’t want them to…”

“Enough. Stop talking.” Bai Rui raised his hand. The submissiveness in his eyes was gone, replaced by a cold numbness. “I’ll go. But I have requirements.”

“Name them,” the King said.

“Since you say I am the Second Prince, let’s do the act properly. Give me the Second Prince’s fiefdom, and let the taxes and treasury be audited independently.”

The ministers below whispered in shock. How ruthless.

Bai Rui ignored them. “To show the strength of the Holy Light Empire, my dowry must be ten million in gold and jewels. Convert it to cash first and deposit it into my private vault.”

The King waved his hand, silencing the murmurs. “Granted. I will also bestow upon you a Goat-Head Short Sword. May your marriage journey be a ‘victorious’ one.”

Leaving the cool hall, the scorching air wrapped around him again. Bai Rui felt dizzy and swayed. No one helped him. He felt an overwhelming urge to vomit.

“Prince, are you alright?” A weak voice sounded, and Bai Rui’s arm was supported.

It was the small servant who had been with the Chamberlain. He quickly let go, looking around to make sure no one saw him. “Prince, you look really unwell.”

Bai Rui leaned against a pillar and vomited.

The servant stomped his foot. “Prince, why don’t you run? I’ll help you. You are so kind, giving money to the children at the school… they are treating you too poorly…”

Even a servant couldn’t stand it, but in that magnificent, cold hall, not one person had spoken for him.

After vomiting, Bai Rui felt a bit better. He managed a weak smile. “It’s okay. I can’t run.”

If he was a “cannon fodder” destined to die, he couldn’t escape the plot, but as for what happens after he “marries over”… Bai Rui decided that he would be the one in control of that.

“Thank you for your kindness. It lets me know there is still some goodness in this world.” Bai Rui patted the boy’s shoulder and walked away unsteadily.

The servant watched his back for a long time. When no one was around, he transformed into a wisp of purple mist and vanished into the shadows.

Inside the Ice Badger Castle.

The purple mist emerged from the darkness and circled a crystal ball. A long, slender hand brushed over the ball. A silver-haired man leaned his head on his hand.

“How tragic. It almost makes me feel soft-hearted,” a black cat said, adjusting a purple silk cloth over the crystal ball. The image of the person inside faded.

“Having lived so long, it’s rare to see such an interesting person and situation.”

Slender fingers tapped the purple silk.

“He’s smarter than I thought. I’m starting to want to meet him.”