Chapter 158 The True and False Princess

Chapter 158: The True and False Princess

Hua Diao gazed at the dark, strawberry-shaped fruit on the table, her heart pounding. "Ah, so this is the Succubus's Wisdom Fruit! And it truly came without any effort!"

Unfortunately, there was only one.

She quickly thanked Lin Dabao and messaged Xie Tingsheng, informing him she had a Wisdom Fruit. Originally, she'd planned to give it to Xie Tingsheng first. Lin Dabao had warned that captured individuals would face rigorous interrogation, making their situation perilous. In contrast, her own position seemed far more secure.

Though she didn't know why the female succubus treated her so well, she believed she wouldn't be in immediate danger. Even if exposed, there might be a chance for a turnaround. At worst, she could awaken her merfolk talent and "reveal her true form" on the spot.

While merfolk and mermaids differed slightly, the distinction was minor. In this fantastical continent, merfolk were considered a rare, ancestral variant of mermaids and still belonged to the mermaid race. With proper handling, she could avoid exposure entirely.

Compared to Xie Tingsheng's rare Five-Clawed Golden Dragon talent—whose status on this continent was uncertain—the mermaid race enjoyed an excellent reputation. They harbored no significant grudges with other races, and due to their beauty, they were particularly favored by succubi, even listed as a warmly welcomed race.

Now that she thought about it, could her favorable treatment be due to this very talent? Had that female succubus recognized her as a merfolk?

However, Xie Tingsheng, the doting husband, wouldn't agree. He refused to let Hua Diao face even the slightest risk. So, despite Hua Diao listing several compelling reasons, he flatly rejected eating the Wisdom Fruit.

Ultimately, Hua Diao had no choice but to consume the fruit herself.

After eating the fruit, she stored the other nine unknown fruits in her spatial inventory, along with the unfinished delicious roasted leg. As for the other items in the room, she dared not touch them. They weren't hers, and meddling might increase the succubus's dislike, making it a net loss. If she were to take anything, it would have to wait until she left the instance.

With a reluctant glance at the jeweled bed, Hua Diao resolutely turned and headed for the door.

Now that she had eaten the fruit, she needed to act quickly. She had to secure another Wisdom Fruit and fabricate identities for them before Xie Tingsheng was interrogated.

Outside, no one stood guard, not even a shadow. Hua Diao felt a wave of relief, then lifted her feet and walked out, her head swiveling, curiously observing her surroundings.

The entire place was built in an opulent European palace style, with walls, floors, and railings inlaid with precious gems and jade, glittering dazzlingly under the sunlight. Even the plainest white corridors were draped with red mermaid silk, the sheer fabric flowing, exuding extravagance and luxury. Hua Diao's heart thumped wildly—she wanted everything she saw!

"Stop right there—"

A shrill, imperious voice came from behind. A succubus with purple eyes—though her appearance was entirely different from the previous female succubus—strode towards her. Dressed in lavish attire with exquisite makeup, she carried herself with a haughty, arrogant demeanor, trailed by several young succubi who appeared to be maids.

"Me?" Hua Diao pointed at herself, puzzled.

"Hmph, who else would I be calling? Where did you come from, you backwater succubus? How dare you be so rude—not even bowing when you see this Royal Princess! Do you believe I won't have you thrown into the dungeons?"

Hua Diao hadn't expected this haughty succubus to be royalty. Did that mean she was standing in the Succubus Imperial Palace?

*Hiss*—she had infiltrated the succubus stronghold right from the start!

What incredible luck.

Hua Diao offered an awkward yet polite smile, her mind racing to figure out how to avoid being thrown into prison by this tyrannical princess. Then, her good luck intervened again. Two succubus maids flew over, shouting urgently, "Stop! Princess Debra, this is an honored guest invited by *our* Princess. You have no right to discipline her! Furthermore, our Princess has made it clear that her palace does not welcome you."

The haughty Princess Debra's face flushed crimson with rage, but before she could erupt, the maids preempted her. "Our Princess also said that if you wish to maintain your innocent facade in front of the Princes, you'd best behave and not provoke her. Otherwise, she won't hesitate to expose your true nature—and you'll likely be expelled from the palace."

Hua Diao watched with relish, wishing they'd share more gossip. Princes and princesses? Sounds like intriguing court drama! Perhaps one of them was even her potential mission target.

Unfortunately, the domineering Princess couldn't withstand two rounds of verbal sparring and retreated in a huff with her maids, leaving only the two stern-faced succubus attendants and Hua Diao behind.

Nervously, Hua Diao forced an ingratiating smile, trying to explain that she hadn't meant to wander—she just needed some fresh air because the room was too stuffy.

However, the scolding she feared never came. The two succubus maids, who had been so fierce just moments ago, now treated her with remarkable warmth. Not only did they not reprimand her for stepping out, but they enthusiastically invited her to tour the palace and the grand garden ahead.

Hua Diao gladly accepted their invitation, subtly steering the conversation with a gossipy tone, asking who that princess was and who *their* princess was.

"Ah, since our Princess found you outside the capital, it's normal you wouldn't know. Let me tell you, our Princess Anfoya is the true noble-blooded princess, nothing like that impostor earlier..."

The two maids seemed to have no sense of reverence, treating her like an insider as they eagerly dished out palace gossip.

It turned out to be a tale of a true and false princess. At birth, two little succubi had been accidentally switched. The false princess grew up in luxury within the palace, while the true princess suffered hardships in the countryside. Only upon reaching adulthood—due to their differing appearances—was the mistake discovered. The true princess was brought back, while the false one was stripped of her royal candidacy. However, her tears and coquettishness swayed the princes who had grown up with her, allowing her to remain in the palace.

*Hiss*, how dramatic!

Hua Diao's heart skipped a beat when they saw through her disguise as not being a succubus, but seeing no malice, she immediately relaxed and pricked up her ears for more gossip.

Who knew the Succubus Race had their own version of a switched-at-birth story? Fascinating—do tell more!

The situation unfolded like a classic true-and-fake-heiress novel. The two princesses despised each other. The false princess, leveraging her childhood bonds, continued monopolizing the affection meant for the true princess—parents, brothers, all adored her, leaving the true princess feeling like an outsider.

As for the true princess? One day, she had an epiphany. Instead of competing for familial love, she focused on self-improvement, building her own power and influence. Now, through sheer capability, she had proven herself as a top contender for the throne—becoming the princes' most formidable rival.