Seven years later

The Norman Duchy, now after the Duke declared war on those in the forest, Prince Edward came out of his room and saw that the sky and the earth were white, the castle was white, and everything was hidden in pure white, even the war, the smoke, the blood and the crime.

"It's white, it's so clean!"

The fourteen-year-old boy watched the falling snowflakes fall to the ground, decorating the earth with white, and couldn't help but sigh and said, it has been seven years since Prince William was born, and it is also seven years after His Royal Highness the Duke declared war.

The former Norman Duke was so majestic and powerful in the eyes of Prince Edward, like a titan giant, he was powerful, wise and majestic, even in France, he had greater power than the French king, and he did not fall behind in the face of the emperor, even Cnut the Great of the Nordic Empire also maintained respect for him, but the current duke's power has not disappeared, and his appearance has not changed much from before, but his tall body is inevitably a little rickety, and his hair has already had a little silver thread.

"Yes, it's so clean, I don't know if there will be children who will be frozen this winter."

Prince Edward heard the sigh behind him, his body struck a thrill, turned to look at the man behind him, and hurriedly bowed and saluted, "Dear Dr. Andersen, hello! ”

"Hello, Your Royal Highness the Prince!"

Dr. Andersen nodded to Prince Edward, and the two looked at the snow outside, a gust of wind blew, bringing a little chill, thinking of what they had just said, both of them couldn't help but feel a little heavy.

Dr. Andersen was Prince Edward's governess, a university scholar specially hired by the Norman Duke from his home in Denmark, and His Royal Highness did not dare to relax the education of Prince Edward, whether it was a governess, a servant or a knight, he had carefully selected talents to serve.

It's just that when Prince William was born, the retainers who were originally sent by the Duke to serve Prince Edward had a perfunctory attitude towards Prince Edward at this time, and he was already used to it, and even thought that Dr. Anderson was also such a chameleon-like character, but what was surprising was that Dr. Anderson was so likable.

He is burly but not excessive, ugly in appearance, but witty and humorous in conversation, able to tell many allusions at will, sympathetic, he is not smiling, but his kind eyes are full of wisdom, and sometimes he jumps out of cold humor.

"Does His Royal Highness the Duke know about this?" Prince Edward cautiously asked, in any case, as the supreme ruler of the country, the Duke is the most powerful man, he has the power and the ability to do anything, it only depends on whether he wants to, and does it.

"His Royal Highness the Duke is busy with his war now, and even if he knows, he may not care, on the contrary, you might as well go to Prince William, in this country, if the Duke is God, then he is Jesus."

Dr. Andersen half-jokingly said that at this time he was both Prince Edward's teacher and Prince William's tutor, which was enough to show that His Royal Highness the Duke trusted him.

"It's a pity, William doesn't know anything, he just lives in the Sanssouci Palace built for him by his uncle, and sadness can never be transmitted into the palace, this is the blessing of magic for him, he is always happy, so the people in the castle say that he is the happy prince, he is as pure and kind as an angel, but all the people in this country are not as happy as him. The peasants suffered from the war, having to bear additional war taxes, as well as cold and famine. He has a kind heart, he can't see anyone suffering, as long as he hears this, he can't help but shed tears, but such news will make him unhappy, so the magic in Sanssouci Palace will make him unable to hear this news. ”

Prince Edward sadly said that only a small number of people knew about Prince William's curse, and no one would know that Prince William had been blessed (cursed) by the fairies, that he would die young, and that he would suffer the destruction of his country and family while growing up.

His Royal Highness the Duke, out of love for his son, just wants his son William to be happy before disaster strikes under his protection.

Birth, old age, sickness and death are the inevitable fate of human beings, so there are no old people in the Sanssouci Palace, no sick, so no one will get sick, no one will die, and no one will be unlucky, the maid in the castle told the prince about the suffering in their village, and the prince heard it and wept for it, and wanted to use the power of the state to help them, and the ministers after receiving the prince's order, what they did was to move all the poor villages near the castle by force, and in the process of migration, the villagers lost their lives because of hunger and cold. It has caused no small tragedy.

Since His Royal Highness Prince William is a benevolent monarch who does not see his people suffering, it would be good to drive his suffering people away and to other places, other countries.

The maid who asked the prince for help was punished by the duke and kicked out of Sanssouci Palace, in order to avoid the prince's tears, since then, Sanssouci Palace has been magical, and all the unfortunate news, so that the prince is unhappy news can not come out in Sanssouci Palace, the prince can't hear the suffering outside, and will only think that Sanssouci Palace is always happy inside and outside.

Prince William is the heir of the Norman Duke, and in order to proclaim William's status, every decree issued to the duchy from the Duke's castle, personnel appointments and dismissals, rewards and punishments, and even foreign credentials, under the Duke's payment, will have Prince William's signature.

"The prince in Sanssouci Palace is always happy and carefree, but this is only limited to Sanssouci Palace, but if the prince leaves Sanssouci Palace, then he is no longer a happy prince, this is the weakness of that magic."

Dr. Andersen said slowly, looking at Prince Edward on the side, and said, "If you take Prince William out of Sanssouci Palace and see the outside world, then Prince Yiding will understand what he should do at this time, even if it is to plead with the Duke, he can make this country better, at least let the people of this country survive this long and difficult winter." ”

"No, William is an uncle's taboo, it's a capital offense, Mr. Hans Christian Andersen." Prince Edward's face was a little pale, and when he heard his teacher say such things, he was a little afraid, and the Duke's thunderous anger had been experienced the last time the maid pleaded with Prince William, and the prince cried.

Although the Duke is his uncle, his status as a nephew cannot be compared with his cousin William, and he will be severely punished, as for Dr. Andersen, trying to take the Duke's heart, Prince William, out of Sanssouci Palace, this is simply a capital offense.

"The true happiness of a monarch is that he should regard the happiness of his people as his own happiness, this is the real happiness, and what kind of happiness and worry-free is it to live in a small palace and not see the vast world. The bonfire and the sun can also bring light and warmth to people, and the fire formed by the flame provides warmth and food, but this favor is limited to one family, and the sun rises in the sky, shines on all things, gives warmth and light to the world, and everything in the world depends on him, and it is the whole universe that is blessed. ”

Dr. Andersen took out a box of matches from his pocket, swiped a match on the matchbox, and slowly lit it, and a beautiful young girl walked out in the firelight.

"What is this?" Prince Edward's eyes widened as he looked at the beautiful girl, who looked to be about his age and was smiling at him, and the girl saluted Hans Christian Andersen slightly and walked over slowly.

"When the match is lit, what the heart expects will appear, of course this can be controlled, with this, Prince William can be tricked out, this is a magical treasure that can satisfy all his curiosity." Dr. Andersen said, seeing the confusion in Prince Edward's eyes, and then said, "You are the mother of His Royal Highness, go ahead, bring your son back." ”

The girl nodded, and then disappeared in the firelight, and Dr. Andersen shoved the matchbox into Prince Edward's hand and reminded, "Remember, when a match burns, the things formed also disappear, so if you want to see the person or thing you dream of, you can only keep drawing your matches, which is the bait." ”

There is not a single child who does not want to see his mother.