Inside the study.
Frossi sat at her own desk, reviewing the documents in her hands.
Most of the documents concerned the gains brought by the treaty signed between the Violet Empire and the Blood Clan.
As well as the future development of the Blood Clan.
But at this moment, Frossi had no mind to continue reviewing these documents. She silently gazed at Liya, who was kneeling before her, and suddenly felt a headache coming on.
Liya had just confessed everything—her recent conversations with Aiwei and the ways she had helped Aiwei—to Frossi, and was now bowing her head, waiting for Frossi’s judgment.
“Liya, how long have you been with me?” Frossi put down her pen, not questioning her, but instead asked Liya.
“It’s been fifty-seven years, three months, and twenty-one days.” Liya answered without the slightest hesitation.
Frossi didn’t continue looking at Liya, but turned her gaze to the door of the study.
This was inside the Blood Clan’s ancient castle. Although there were windows, outside the windows was a corridor, so it was impossible to see the scenery outside.
Although the Blood Clan of Frossi’s generation no longer feared sunlight, Frossi still preferred to stay in shaded places.
But at this moment, she suddenly wanted to see the view outside. Only in this way could she slightly ease her weary mind and body.
“It’s really been so many years…” Frossi murmured, her face showing emotions she had never revealed before.
There seemed to be helplessness, and also a bit of confusion.
So many years had passed, and Liya had always stayed by Frossi’s side. From the very beginning, she had never truly regarded Frossi as a superior.
Although it was on a whim that Frossi had picked up Liya back then, she had watched Liya grow from a little girl into a graceful young lady, slowly maturing and becoming steady.
In the end, becoming Blood Clan—Frossi had long since regarded Liya as a friend. Although she had never said it outright, she had hinted, time and again, that Liya did not need to observe formalities in front of her.
But Liya simply wouldn’t listen.
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that Liya was the person closest to Frossi. Yet now, the person closest to her had confessed in person.
She had interacted with Frossi’s blood slave, and without receiving any orders, had shown excessive care for her.
She had even informed the blood slave in advance of Frossi’s mood that day, so that the blood slave could think of ways to cope with her.
This was, without a doubt, an act of betrayal.
Frossi looked at Liya, who kept her head down and remained silent, for a long time.
A faint blood mist spread around Frossi, but she quickly drew it back in.
Frossi sighed.
After all, Liya had accompanied her for so long. If she truly had to deal with Liya herself, she found herself unable to bear it.
And if Liya were gone, Frossi would feel uncomfortable as well.
But if she didn’t punish her, that wouldn’t do either.
If it happened once, there would be a second and third time.
This was what gave Frossi a headache—she couldn’t treat Liya the same way she treated Aiwei.
How to achieve the effect of punishment without losing Liya was a very difficult decision.
As Frossi thought this, suddenly, an idea flashed through her mind. She narrowed her eyes slightly, looked at Liya, and suddenly had a plan.
She had been thinking about how to find a reason to punish Aiwei’s betrayal without letting her know about the wager.
Now, Liya’s confession was just the right excuse, fitting perfectly with her intentions.
“This mistake will be punished by you losing one life. After you resurrect, you can still stay by my side.” Frossi spoke calmly.
“During your resurrection period, you may also stay by my side, but from now on, you must never appear before Aiwei with this face again.”
Frossi thought for a moment, then added.
Liya did not resist after hearing this. She seemed to have expected this outcome, and was even a little surprised at how light Frossi’s punishment was.
For the Blood Clan, they were essentially immortal. The only difference was how long it took to resurrect. This was why changing the Speaker could be as simple as killing the Speaker as a condition.
Because after they died, their souls did not vanish—only their bodies perished. Lower-ranked Blood Clan would turn into a Blood Crow after death, while a Prince could even resurrect unconditionally up to three times within a year.
As for blood servants like Liya, whose strength was weak, they needed a month as a buffer. During that time, they could only transform into a Blood Crow, with little ability to protect themselves.
If killed again during that period, it would take even longer to resurrect.
And as for how to kill a Blood Clan, so far, there was no way—just that if they were killed too many times in a short period, their resurrection time would multiply.
So this punishment was really trivial, even very light. Most Blood Clan who committed mistakes would be directly sealed.
Or have their Blood Clan blood essence stripped away, turning them back into ordinary humans.
And in that way, a Blood Clan could truly be killed.
However, only Blood Clan themselves could strip away blood essence. This was also an important reason why, despite being hunted so many times, the Blood Clan could still stand tall in this world.
At least, she hadn’t been expelled by the Prince. And the Prince had said that even during her resurrection period, she could still stay by Frossi’s side.
This was already the best possible outcome, so Liya thought.
She then spoke to Frossi: “Yes, Your Highness. I’ll go to the Punishment Hall now…”
Frossi interrupted Liya, saying, “No need. When I need it, you can lose this life.”
Although Liya didn’t understand what Frossi intended, she didn’t ask. She didn’t need to know.
Frossi waved her hand, indicating that Liya could leave if there was nothing else.
Liya bowed again, then left the study and closed the door behind her.
After Liya left, Frossi continued to review the documents in her hands, but her thoughts were in turmoil.
Since Aiwei wanted to win over those around me, why not just play along and let her think she’s succeeded?
Let Aiwei trust Liya. If Aiwei doesn’t betray me, then she’ll just be more familiar with those around me in advance.
But if Aiwei does betray me, then as for Liya’s life…
Frossi thought about it. She had originally intended to kill Liya in front of Aiwei. After all, aside from the Blood Clan themselves, almost no outsiders knew the secret that Blood Clan could resurrect.
In Aiwei’s eyes, Liya would be truly dead. That way, Aiwei might completely break down.
But Frossi thought again and considered another possibility—what if Aiwei continued to endure, waiting for the day she could turn the tables on her?
This little one was rebellious to the core: one moment pledging loyalty to her, the next promising Emilia to reveal her weakness.
Trying to play both sides—how clever she thought she was.
For a little one so rebellious, the only way was to shatter her spirit in one blow and rid her of that rebelliousness.
Rather than doing it herself, it would be even more crushing to have Aiwei personally kill someone who was good to her.