Crossing the stars, I live-streamed my cultivation in kindergarten

Chapter 244 Azure Blue Mermaid = Princess Xixi?
Natalia was stumped by Hilcher's unconventional question.

Damn it, what's that lackey's name again? All these years she's been calling her "Sister Female Official, Sister Female Official," who even remembers her real name?
Over the years, her personal female official has done many things for her that she couldn't do in public.

It is precisely because of this very useful "knife" and the contrast with the shrewish and vicious female officials around her that now, when anyone in the interstellar world mentions the sea princess, they can't help but praise her as "gentle, kind, and with an excellent temper."
“From the first time we met, I could feel that the lady-in-waiting was loyal to you. But I always heard you call her ‘Lady-in-waiting’ instead of her name. Is her name not nice to hear?” Hilcher’s voice sounded puzzled.

Natalia remained silent, and her sobs ceased.

Who still remembers the name of that lowly mermaid? She, a princess of the sea tribe, is she supposed to remember the name of a female official? Calling her a female official is an understatement; she's more like a maid from the old days!
Hilcher gave a cold, standard smile. "Princess Natalia must not know, right?"

Natalia's sobs began again softly.

Seeing him like this, Perez understood everything. The tenderness that had just risen in his heart dissipated. "Natalia, she has been taking care of your food and daily life since you were born. For the past hundred years, she has not cared for her own family, her beast husband, or her fish babies for you. You really don't remember her name, do you?"

Faced with Hilcher's questioning, Natalia lowered her head guiltily.

“I remember. Her name is… Anne.” She racked her brains, trying to recall what she had heard, and finally remembered vaguely hearing someone call the lady-in-waiting “Anne” a few days ago.

She knew she had made a mistake as soon as she finished speaking.

Because the merman king in front of him turned completely cold.

"Natalia, the lady-in-waiting who has been with you for decades is named Anning!" His tone was not only icy cold, but also filled with utter disappointment in her.

Hilcher showed no emotion on his face.

However, he sneered inwardly.

As expected. He had met Princess Natalia of the sea tribe a few times before, and since then he had vaguely sensed her intention to use his personal maid.

However, what he did not expect was that this sea princess had no feelings whatsoever for the female official who had taken care of her for decades.

It is important to know that in a large family, those who have been by your side since childhood, such as your study companions and guards, are the most loyal, and sometimes even closer and more trusted than your blood brothers and sisters.

Natalia quickly corrected herself, "Father, I was just too heartbroken, so I misspoke. It was Sister Anning, of course I know her name. I just can't accept that she's left me." No matter what, she couldn't lose the Mermaid King's trust and love!

“The pronunciations of Anning and Annie are indeed very similar, so it’s no wonder Princess Natalia would get it wrong.” Hilcher’s words seemed to be making excuses for her, but in reality, they were subtly reminding the Mermaid King of the “unintentional” nature of this sea princess.

As expected, Perez's gaze turned cold again.

He watched coldly as Natalia became increasingly outrageous over the years, constantly stirring up trouble for Anning and making a scene on her behalf in order to get everything she wanted.

He once thought that Natalia, as the little princess of the sea tribe and his only sister, was entitled to be spoiled.

However, despite their arrogance, they must not forget their roots.

“Natalia, since you call Anning ‘sister,’ you should act like a younger sister. From today onwards, you are confined to your palace for a month and are not allowed to go anywhere. Consider this a prayer for the deceased Anning,” Perez said coldly.

What Natalia feared most was the Mermaid King's cold gaze.

Occasionally, when he looked at her like that, she would feel guilty and wonder if the Mermaid King already knew her true identity.

Otherwise, why would he look at her like that?

It's like looking at a complete stranger, devoid of any emotion.

At times like these, she would doubt whether the rumors were true. From the moment she stepped out of the house—or rather, from the moment she was "born"—every sea creature she had met had told her how much the Mermaid King loved her and how much he had done for her. But to her, it was all an exaggeration.

If the Mermaid King Perez truly loved his only sister, why would he restrict her in every way, forbidding her from punishing those gossipy sea creatures, forbidding her from beating or scolding those lowly people, and forbidding her from doing so...

You can't do this, you can't do that.

She was forced to wear a mask of "gentleness and understanding" for decades!

She realized that this "affection" was largely unfounded.

Furthermore, if she truly loved him, why is she still a princess of the sea tribe, instead of a queen?

The position of king of the sea creatures and mermaid king was inherited by Perez from the mermaid princess's father.

If Perez truly cared, why didn't he abdicate the throne to her sooner?!

The so-called "affection" is nothing more than a way to shut up those in the know.

To convince the princes and elders of the sea tribe that he, Perez, was so devoted and loving towards his cousin, the only offspring of the previous sea tribe king and mermaid king, that it was all just a facade!
It's ridiculous that those stupid, pig-like sea princes and elders actually believed it!
She didn't know whether to praise Perez's superb acting skills and good performance, or to scold those sea monsters for being empty-headed!

“Go back to your quarters. The new lady-in-waiting will be reporting to you shortly.” Perez’s tone left no room for argument.

Natalia gave a gentle smile, her eyes and nose slightly red, and a tear still clinging to her chin. "Yes, I will return to my palace to pray for Sister Anning. It is what I should do."

With that, he bowed and left the study.

"I'm sorry, you must have found this amusing." Perez said apologetically, but his expression didn't reflect that.

He was somewhat annoyed by Hilcher's rudeness.

Natalia was the eldest princess of his sea tribe and his only sister, Perez. Hilcher's blatant provocation and accusations made him very dissatisfied.

Hilcher didn't care about his opinion.

His mind was now solely focused on the princess named Xixi. "Perez, the mermaid I'm looking for is named Xixi." He didn't believe it was a coincidence.

“XiXi?” Perez frowned. “Chief Hilcher! My little Princess XiXi is still a chubby little fish!”

Hilcher found the idea utterly absurd—that the little chubby fish could be the adult female mermaid?
To be honest, when Hilcher brought up this incident, he even had the thought that Hilcher had been struck by lightning and gone mad, or was hallucinating or mentally deranged.

“I have a video of Lady Xixi on my terminal.” Hilcher had no choice but to open the terminal.

Perez gave him a look as if he were a pervert.

“It’s surveillance video from the clan’s territory!” Hilcher explained in a deep voice.

Perez chuckled coldly, about to say something, but upon seeing the video on the terminal, he exclaimed in shock, "Little fatty?!"

The little guy in the video with long, slightly curly, azure blue hair, eyes, and a fish tail is clearly the chubby little cub that went missing a few days ago!

But the little chubby cub's eyes were clearly black and its tail was a very light gold, making it look like it was malnourished!