The first time he was addressed as "Prince" was back when I was just starting my freshman year of high school. It was during a reading comprehension exercise where a classmate dubbed him as the "Prince." It was mainly due to the exaggerated performance of another classmate who played the role of the minister. When the minister died, his dramatic "Prince, we must save... this kingdom, Prince..." left a lasting impression on everyone.
After that, I started getting called "Prince," but mostly in a teasing manner, as a way to make fun of me. I'm not sure if it was because my reputation in the class was gradually improving or for some other reason. They actually started addressing me as "Prince" with a certain level of respect.
Perhaps all of the above reasons played a part, but after some investigation, I discovered that the main reason was probably because my name, "Dawn," sounded too plain. But I wasn't discouraged by it. If anyone deserved criticism, it should have been my mom, who gave me such a mundane name.
But the title truly gained traction across the entire school during that evening's gala performance...
I couldn't dedicate too much time to rehearsals, so I turned down the invitation to play the prince. When the news spread, the classmate who was both the tour guide and the playwright looked as if she had given up on life, muttering something like, "If even the Prince won't act, what's the point of writing the script?" In the end, I had to compromise and take on a minor role with just a few lines, which somewhat boosted the morale of the playwright.
Merak also declined the invitation to play Sleeping Beauty.
I declined the role for one reason only: I didn't have much time. I needed to focus on my studies, not for the college entrance exams, but for the Azure Comets competition in my senior year. I had been putting in efforts beyond imagination since I was young.
The class spent two months rehearsing tirelessly. The director had pulled many strings to bring the school's classical orchestra for accompaniment. It wasn't easy.
During this period, something interesting happened. The lead actors of the play were twin brothers. First, the elder brother inexplicably invited me to lunch during his break. Halfway through, he suddenly asked about my relationship with Merak. I told him there was nothing between us, and he happily paid the bill, then thanked me and bounced away.
Later, the younger brother also found me and invited me to lunch, asking the same question halfway through. He too happily paid the bill and then bounced away.
Merak and I have known each other since kindergarten; we're also neighbors.
About a month later, the twin brothers coincidentally invited Merak to the rooftop to confess their feelings. Naturally, Merak firmly rejected them, but the brothers mistakenly thought the rejection was due to each other's interference. So, their pursuit of Merak continued until now.
Finally, it was the Monsoon Gala. The auditorium was packed, a true grand occasion. The first time I saw Merak was in the dressing room.
I've known about Merak's beauty since childhood. Her natural beauty, her purity, especially when she's asleep, are particularly captivating. Dressed in a white cotton half-sleeved shirt and a lotus-colored long skirt, I couldn't help but think of Cao Zijian's "Ode to the Goddess Luo," "Graceful as startled swans, elegant as wandering dragons. Floating like clouds veiling the moon, drifting like snow in the wind."
I have to admit, I was a bit smitten.
"The director instructed us to keep the Princess's makeup a secret, Prince. You must leave as well," a classmate signaled for me to leave.
"Dawn, what are you doing here?"
It was Merak, the only person in the class who called me by my real name.
"Weren't you not going to participate?"
"The original actress who was supposed to play the Princess broke her leg. She begged me to fill in and even gave me borrowing privileges at the library."
"I remember the original actress was..."
At that moment, the director wheeled in.
"That's right, Prince. It happened suddenly, and I had no choice. Thankfully, the Princess mostly just needs to sleep, and then she can hold hands with her Prince."
"Wait, I still have to kiss her?"
"Don't worry, it's just a slight bow, pretending to kiss her. Otherwise, she might wake up at any time."
"Alright." Merak finished her makeup and lay down on the movable crystal bed.
"Prince, it's time for you to leave. With such a divine Princess to end our play, it's bound to be a great success."
"Director, do you know who else will be playing the Princess tonight?"
"Just the four of us."
As I thought about tonight's lead actors, I had a bad feeling about it.