Kidnapping the Imperial Princess

Walking along the muddy path in the countryside, Luo Wei gazed at the surroundings, some familiar, some unfamiliar.

The beautiful rural scenery remained the same, but in the details, there were many differences from what Ophelia had replicated.

This place was much dirtier, and he almost stepped in a pile of cow dung. Ophelia, who loved cleanliness, certainly wouldn't have recreated that.

Looking around, there were also many farmers working in the fields. In contrast, this place was filled with a simple, down-to-earth atmosphere of life.

This was enough to prove that this was the remote village where the two had first met, not the southern outskirts of Saint Callen.

He had returned to the past.

Returned to the past in a dream.

As Luo Wei walked, he arrived outside the manor that stood out from the rural surroundings.

When he saw the white-haired little girl peeking down curiously from the windowsill, he confirmed his guess.

That was young Ophelia.

Luo Wei looked at the pitiful little girl and couldn't help but smile.

Back then, Ophelia, though not very talkative, was much cuter than she would be later.

The grown-up Ophelia was deep, cold, and exuded an aura of someone unapproachable, a superior.

Her expressionless face always made people feel like they owed her money...

Luo Wei thought silently in his heart—

Lolis are the best...

Looking at her again, Luo Wei smiled and knocked on the metal fence outside the manor.

Ophelia's gaze shifted to him.

Her round eyes were filled with curiosity.

Luo Wei carefully observed the surroundings, making sure no one was paying attention.

Then he waved at her.

"Little girl, want to come out and play?"

His tone was full of temptation.

The little girl immediately pushed open the window, and the wind blew her hair all over the place.

She blinked her eyes curiously, looking at the strange yet unfamiliar big brother downstairs.

"You..."

"Are you talking to me?"

Luo Wei shrugged. "Of course, who else would it be?"

Ophelia's mouth slightly opened, forming a cute "O" shape, as if she hadn't expected anyone to talk to her.

The long, dull palace life, along with those repulsed and fearful gazes, always made Ophelia feel like she was a "jinx," an unloved child.

So...

Even though the big brother downstairs, whom she had never seen before, was quite suspicious, she still thought carefully.

She quickly glanced back.

Then, turning her head again, she narrowed her eyes slightly.

"Why do you want to take me out? What's your purpose?"

Luo Wei showed a disappointed expression helplessly, "Alas... to be unappreciative of good intentions..."

"I just saw you standing by the windowsill all day, feeling lonely by yourself, so I wanted to take you out to play."

Ophelia hesitated for a moment, her tiny fists clenched, as if struggling with a tremendous psychological battle.

Seeing this, Luo Wei immediately gave her a perfectly gentle smile.

"Really not coming out?"

"Brother will take you to see something great soon! If you miss it, you won't get another chance~"

Although the smile is sincere, the tone of the words suggests the demeanor of someone trying to abduct an underage girl.

How come Luo Wei always feels like a human trafficker...

Was this tone of voice also used when I first met her?

It seems to be about the same...

In short, one was willing to strike, and the other was willing to endure. At that time, Ophelia was probably truly driven to the brink by being confined, to the extent that she was easily coaxed out by herself...

This deception lasts a lifetime...

Ophelia asked again cautiously:

"How come I haven't seen you before?"

"Who are you? Did you trick me into going out to play? Are you a bad person?"

Luo Wei helplessly pursed his lips, never expecting that Ophelia was already so difficult to deceive even as a child.

After hearing this, he turned around directly.

"Forget it, forget it. I thought you had quite a bit of courage..."

"Since you dare not come out, I'm leaving!"

Just at the moment when he turned and left.

A panicked voice suddenly came from upstairs.

"Don't leave!"

"Hmph! Who said I daren't come out!"

Luo Wei's face revealed an expression of a successful plot.

Turning around again, he skillfully vaulted over the fence and arrived directly below her window.

Ophelia is very brave, almost without hesitation, she leaps from a great height.

Luo Wei caught her in an instant. Ophelia's body was very light; even after jumping from such a great height, it felt as though she had no weight at all.

The young girl finally let out a frightened gasp.

She tightly wrapped her arms around Luo Wei's neck, and only after confirming that she had safely landed did she finally relax.

In her round, glistening eyes, filled with anticipation and longing, she gazed at Luo Wei's face, which was just inches away. With a serious expression, she said,

"A suspicious and unfriendly older boy."

"You must keep your word!"

Luo Wei raised a brilliant smile.

"Of course."

...

After successfully "escaping" with Ophelia.

Luo Wei secretly brought her to a farmhouse, found a straw rain cape, and dressed Ophelia neatly.

Because she was too short, the edge of the cloak dragged on the ground, making her look like a moving umbrella, which directly made Luo Wei laugh.

"How does it smell so bad..." Ophelia sniffed with some disdain.

"At this point, why are you still worrying about these things?" Luo Wei helped her put on the hat and then earnestly explained, "This way, you won't be recognized."

Ophelia let out an "oh" and nodded.

Luo Wei crouched down, looking her in the eye.

"Are you hungry? How about I take you to eat something delicious?"

Those round eyes lit up in an instant.

"Alright, alright!" She grabbed Luo Wei's arm, "What are we going to eat?"

Luo Wei took her small hand and said with a smile, "Eat whatever you want, I'll teach you how to shop for free."

"Zero Yuan purchase?" She blinked, "What is that?"

Luo Wei said to her mysteriously, "Come with me and you'll find out!"

With that, he led the exuberant Ophelia down the bustling and noisy rural path.

She should be experiencing her first real outing, full of curiosity about everything around her. She looks around in all directions, finding everything she sees to be incredibly novel.

She would stare at windmills, canals, mills, and even the cows in the barn for a long time, and then she would go up and touch them.

Of course, Luo Wei let her run around freely.

However, his gaze remained fixed on her face the entire time, as Luo Wei attentively observed her subtle expressions throughout the journey.

Happy, joyful, very fitting for a little girl of this age, this cannot be faked.

For the Ophelia in front of him, at first he was a bit puzzled, thinking that she was putting on an act and playing some kind of role-playing game with him.

It was only at this moment that he finally confirmed in his heart that this Ophelia was indeed her from her childhood.

Instead of Ophelia from the future, who is full of cunning schemes and drags him into the Dreamlands.

Or it could be said that the one in front of her is not entirely herself, but only a part of her subconscious.

As for the reason, he also has some guesses, which should be about right.

Ophelia recreates the scene from back then, of course not for the sake of reminiscing about the good old days or anything like that.

She is reshaping her memory.

He should have done the same thing last time, but back then he had no self-awareness and was completely unaware that the story in his dream was gradually deviating and evolving in the direction she wanted...

She would subtly and imperceptibly adjust the dream, repeating it tenfold or even a hundredfold, ultimately completing the brainwashing and overwriting it to become her own "real" memory.

But this time is different, Luo Wei has returned with memories.

Looking at the innocent and carefree little girl running around, the hidden plan in Luo Wei's heart resurfaced once again.

Although her will permeates the entire Dreamlands.

But it doesn't stop him from slightly and subtly meddling in Ophelia's dreamscape.

He wanted to add a bit of his own "personal touch."