That day, the fox had a wreath of wild ginger flowers around her neck. While taking a walk in the countryside, the flowers swayed in the wind, their fragrance attracting the passing Little Prince. The moment their eyes met, the fox knew she had fallen in love with him. \ The Little Prince wanted the fox's fur to make a fur coat. \ So, the fox followed the Little Prince back to the palace. \ The palace in July was exceptionally hot; there was no need for any fur coat, and the Little Prince gradually became indifferent to the fox who had come with him. \ Summer passed into winter, and the fox's long fur grew even more beautiful. From a distance, it looked like a flame burning brightly. \ The winter night was cold as water. The Little Prince had not yet had the chance to make a fur coat and fell ill, running a high fever for three days and nights. \ The king and queen stayed by his bedside, the royal physicians and maids tended to him devotedly, and the entire kingdom was anxious. \ Late at night, the king and queen returned to their chamber, the exhausted maid dozing off, while the Little Prince shivered continuously on the bed. Even with thick satin blankets covering him, he was still cold. \ The fox stood up, gently walked to the Little Prince's side, carefully draped her fiery red long tail over him, and repeatedly licked his fevered forehead with her tongue. \ In a half-dream, the Little Prince felt his cold body being gently wrapped by a ball of fire, slowly melting away. In a daze, he seemed to see a young maiden in a crimson gown standing by the bed. Her cool fingers carried the fragrance of the ginger flowers as she gently stroked his burning forehead. \ The floral scent wafted into the Little Prince's heart with the night breeze. \ Night after night, the fragrance, the vivid red, the gentle stroking, left the Little Prince utterly enchanted. \ Seven days later, the Little Prince recovered from his severe illness, and the entire kingdom rejoiced. \ The Little Prince smelled the fragrance coming from the fox and saw the wreath around her neck. Excited, he asked, “Where, where can I find these flowers?” \ The fox shook her head. She had long forgotten; it felt innate, as if she and the wreath were already one. \ The Little Prince's expression darkened. He stood up and left in disappointment. \ One day, it was not until the sun set that the fox ran back. Though covered in dust and wind, her face could not hide her excitement: “Your Highness, please follow me.”Large clusters of ginger flowers swayed in the wind, and from afar, the Little Prince could smell this haunting fragrance. With a spurt of his whip, he arrived in front of the sea of flowers. Jumping off his horse, he excitedly said to the fox, “Thank you.” His voice even trembled slightly.
Although they had endured countless hardships, seeing the Little Prince so happy made the fox equally joyful. It turned out that suffering could also be a kind of happiness.
Almost every day, the Little Prince came to this sea of flowers, and the fox quietly followed him. One day, finally, a young lady passed through the sea of flowers and came before the prince.
The young lady's jade-like cheeks were flushed, her eyes filled with intoxication. The refined and extraordinarily handsome young man on the white horse before her immediately captured her heart.
“Today, why aren't you wearing your fiery red robe? Thank you for healing me; I have always remembered the fragrance of the ginger flowers between your fingers, and your beautiful face, those lake-like eyes, and your golden curls... Thank heaven that I finally found you.” The Little Prince was ecstatic.
The future crown prince was about to hold his wedding, and the palace was filled with songs of joy and laughter, brimming with happiness.
The fox was brought to the palace front to officially meet the future princess.
“What beautiful long fur!” the future princess exclaimed in surprise.
The Little Prince saw everything with his eyes and knew what he had to do.
The fiery red color, like burning flames, didn't it symbolize their passionate love? He decided to make the fur coat he had once intended for himself for his little princess; it would be his wedding gift to her.
“Your Highness, without my fur, I will die!” The fox swallowed her tears in her heart. It turned out that love and cruelty can appear in a person simultaneously.
The Little Prince sighed; he was not cold-blooded, but for the one he loved... Besides, raising cows was for drinking milk, raising chickens was for eating eggs, and raising the fox was for that fur coat.
Thinking of the fox about to lose her life, the Little Prince also felt some sympathy: “I have never answered your questions before. Today, I allow you to ask me one question, and I will definitely answer it.”
The butcher's knife was raised in the air, ready to fall at any moment.
The fox closed her eyes and sadly asked, “Tell me, how can I stop loving you?”
