"I don't know, I thought I was going to be stabbed to death, I was so scared!"
Those guards, disbelieving, approached the group again with their swords. Just as before, before they got close, they encountered an invisible barrier, and could not advance an inch further.
The little dwarves were stunned for a moment, then became arrogant, remembering their sister's instruction not to move.
"Wow, is our sister an incredible witch?"
"Definitely! Sister set up a protective shield for us before she left, she must be a powerful witch!"
"Haha, come at us. You ugly, malicious knights!"
"I, Lao Liu, am not afraid of you! My sister will kill you later!"
"Yes, Prince Snow White is protected by my sister, you are all dead!"
Aono stared blankly at the scene, convinced that Qiao Ci was a witch.
Seeing this, the knights scrambled away.
Witches were still a taboo subject in this era, possessing powers beyond ordinary people.
No wonder that little frog dwarf was so brave, it was due to witchcraft. They had to quickly inform the Grand Guard Ivanka.
The knights fled, but were dumbfounded as soon as they stepped outside.
The ground was covered with the corpses of knights, and Grand Guard Ivanka was nowhere to be seen.
Qiao Ci, having just finished off the last standing knight, turned her face towards the group emerging from the house.
The knights, seeing this, were terrified, but still maintained their final knightly dignity.
"You are a witch! You used unnatural power, and you killed so many people, you will suffer retribution."
Qiao Ci slowly walked towards them. "Is that so?"
With swift strokes of her blade, the guards fell one after another.
Entering the house, the six little dwarves were still holding onto Aono's clothes, preventing him from acting impulsively. What if he became a burden to his sister after going out?
Seeing Qiao Ci enter, the six little dwarves cheered, no longer restraining Aono. They rushed to Qiao Ci's side, asking if she was injured and if she was a witch.
Aono looked at Qiao Ci, stained with blood, and felt a pang in his heart.
Seeing Aono staring fixedly at her, Qiao Ci reassured him, "I'm not injured."
Aono's expression was unreadable. He slightly extended a hand as if to embrace Qiao Ci, but stopped himself.
The six little dwarves frowned at the densely packed corpses outside.
How long would it take to dig so many graves?
So, they gathered them together and performed a mass cremation.
With everything handled, the group, carrying their prepared luggage, set off towards Prince Snow White's kingdom.
Along the way, Aono was targeted several more times, but each assassination attempt was resolved by the incredibly brave Qiao Ci.
Upon reaching the gates of the Kingdom of Oslann, Aono felt as if he had returned from another world.
The gatekeepers were noble youths who supported Prince Snow White. They welcomed the Prince and respectfully escorted him to the royal palace.
The wicked queen, having received the news, was so enraged that she knocked her favorite magic mirror to the ground!
Ivanka, who had managed to survive, dared not speak. He had ordered five hundred knights to hold back the terrifying little dwarves, and had fled back himself. The Queen was already displeased with him.
Hearing that Prince Snow White had returned, accompanied by seven little dwarves, he knew his chances were gone.
The power of a witch was too terrifying, and it had to be countered with the power of another witch.
As the Queen was at a loss and resigned to her fate, he quietly retreated, intending to flee under the cover of night. However, he was discovered by the Queen. She immediately ordered his execution!
How dare he betray her, let him die!
Prince Snow White convened the noble ministers and revealed the Queen's persecution and all her wicked deeds to the public, causing serious discontent and condemnation from both the ministers and the commoners.
The Queen was dragged from her opulent palace by soldiers and, under the watchful eyes of the crowd, was burned to death.
Prince Snow White successfully ascended to the throne, becoming the sole king of the country.
The happiest of all were the little dwarves.
At the congratulatory banquet, after eating and drinking their fill, they all looked at Aono, hoping he would keep his promise and introduce them to handsome noble gentlemen for their sister.
"Your Majesty the King, now that you have become the great and wise ruler of the Kingdom of Oslann, we hope you will fulfill your promise to us and help us find handsome gentlemen for my sister."
"Yes, my sister is of age and it's time for her to get married."
"Heh heh, I see there are a few good ones in this palace. Your Majesty, you can start looking for my sister now."
Aono, who was basking in the adulation of everyone, faltered slightly.
He subconsciously looked at Qiao Ci. Qiao Ci smiled at him, seemingly as expectant as her brothers for him to introduce handsome gentlemen for her.
His throat felt dry, and he felt a reluctance for her to marry another gentleman. He didn't know why he felt this way.
However, the mere thought of her being by another man's side filled him with a surge of violent emotion.
Still, he was a man of his word. His eyes scanned the handsome men in the hall, but he remained silent, his gaze dark and unfathomable.
The noblemen in the palace with even a hint of good looks craned their necks towards the one who appeared more feminine among the seven little dwarves.
They had heard that this one had bravely escorted Prince Snow White back.
She had big, bulging eyes, a nose with only two holes, and a mouth almost identical to a frog's lips.
Upon seeing her, the gentlemen clutched their collars tightly.
They had no desire to marry this ugly frog maiden; they preferred beautiful and charming noble ladies.
Thus, those gentlemen who received a second glance from the new king became anxious. Before the king could even speak, they all began to clamor,
"My dear King, although I know this little dwarf maiden braved all odds to bring you back and bravely exposed the Queen's wicked deeds, I am truly sorry as I already have a fiancée."
"And me, Your Majesty, I am still young and not yet thinking of finding a partner, so you don't need to look for me."
"The little dwarf maiden is quite good, but I already have someone in mind. Your Majesty can introduce other excellent gentlemen to her, I will not participate."
...
Prince Aono's heart was in turmoil. Hearing them shun Qiao Ci so readily ignited a surge of anger within him!!
Qiao Ci was such a good girl, who allowed them to be so dismissive of her.
Thinking that Qiao Ci might be hurt and self-conscious, Aono instinctively looked at her.
The six little dwarf brothers, unable to misunderstand their meaning of disliking their sister, were furious.
"What do you mean? Do you dislike my sister?"
"My sister is obedient, cute, and capable. If you don't like her, you can remain silent, but why say it to embarrass my sister."
"My sister is a powerful witch, be careful, she might turn you all into toads!"
"This is infuriating. Are these so-called gentlemen? They have no respect for ladies. Sister, let's go, we won't stand for this."
"Yes, let's go. Brothers will find someone better for you! We don't care for these noble gentlemen!"
Those who had spoken and those who had not watched the seven little dwarves with amusement. Who would a normal man marry a frog lady?