“Master?”
Noticing Yalbera’s unusual behavior, Bai called out in confusion, thinking that perhaps she, as a gift, was too redundant and meaningless.
She wanted to take it back quickly, but unexpectedly, Yalbera snatched it away.
She looked at the flower crown, a faint, almost imperceptible trace of affection and sadness flashing in her eyes, but it was quickly replaced by her proud nature.
She spoke, her voice cold as she evaluated.
“Clumsy weaving, rough and ugly, even using some flowers that are about to wither.”
The merciless words made Bai shrink her neck, feeling wronged.
“It’s ugly, just say it’s ugly. No need to be so harsh. Bai spent a long time making it.”
Besides, this white flower crown was the most carefully and meticulously woven among the four crowns.
She sometimes wished to earn her Master’s approval.
Feeling down, she didn’t expect Yalbera to suddenly show a slight smile.
That smile lacked the usual condescending and arrogant tone; instead, it seemed genuinely joyful.
She continued.
“But… as the first gift from my blood servant, it’s not bad. I’ll accept it.”
Bai was stunned for a moment, as if she couldn’t believe her ears.
Is Master praising her?
She actually praised Bai!
Joy welled up inside her. Does this mean she got to feed on blood today?
Does that mean Bai escaped disaster?
It seems Bai’s flower crown wasn’t made in vain!
However, before she could rejoice for long, Yalbera seemed to guess what Bai was thinking.
The smile on her face was replaced once again by a playful arrogance.
She lifted a petal of the crown with her finger and said.
“But I don’t really like this color. Compared to white, I still prefer red.”
“Re-Red…”
Bai’s smile stiffened, and she recalled unpleasant memories.
“Then Bai will weave one in the color Master likes.”
She said, turning to run, but unexpectedly, her feet felt empty again, and her whole body floated up once more.
“Oh my, in such a hurry to leave? I haven’t let you go yet.”
Yalbera’s voice came through, teasing.
No doubt about it, she wanted to torment Bai again!
Bai felt uneasy but couldn’t escape.
She spun in the air half a turn and only stopped when her eyes met Yalbera’s face again.
“This is the little one’s first gift made with so much effort. How could I let her make another? I have a good idea.”
She said this as she leaned close to Bai’s ear and slowly whispered the phrase Bai least wanted to hear.
“How about we play a game? You dye it red, just like last time.”
“No, no, Bai isn’t tired. Bai can weave as many flower crowns as she wants! If Master wants red flowers, the courtyard must…”
Bai hurriedly said, but Yalbera cut her off with a simple statement.
“I want this one.”
Before Bai could finish speaking, the words got stuck.
It seemed the blood had to be spilled today.
“Bai, understood.”
She replied softly, suddenly dropping to the ground.
Yalbera smiled and, seemingly out of nowhere, handed her a silver dagger.
Bai picked up the dagger, took the flower crown, bit her lip, and closed her eyes, suddenly feeling reluctant to act.
When she had served Yarabella-sama before, preparing the blood meal, she wouldn’t even blink.
Now she couldn’t bring herself to stab.
But if she didn’t strike now, the next thing to be pierced might be her teeth!
Bai took a deep breath, steeling herself, and stabbed…
However, the imagined pain didn’t come. Instead, it felt limp?
Limp?!
Bai opened her eyes and saw that the sharp silver blade, upon touching her skin, had softened like jelly.
“Huh?”
Bai blinked in confusion and, unwilling to believe it, tried stabbing a few more times.
Yet no blood appeared, nor much pain.
“Why won’t it go in?” she said anxiously, looking up to ask Yalbera, only to meet a mocking and mischievous gaze.
She slowly began counting down.
“Five… four…”
“Wicked woman!!! It must be that she gave Bai this limp dagger just to see her at a loss.”
A villain!
She never intended for Bai to do it herself.
From the start, she just wanted an excuse to punish her!
Bai stabbed harder, but strangely, although the bright dagger felt as hard as ordinary metal to the touch, it softened like freshly made tofu whenever it met her skin!
Suddenly realizing something, she glanced around and noticed hanging on the wall beside the metallic copper lamp was a dagger-like sharp copper spike.
That spike gleamed coldly, terrifyingly so, as if a light scratch could easily cut skin.
Bai steeled herself and suddenly stabbed her arm forward, seeing the copper spike tearing into her flesh, leaving a deep wound.
Yalbera furrowed her brows.
With a thought, Bai’s body suddenly froze, her arm stopped just a fraction away from the copper spike.
“Time’s up, little one.”
She said, standing and walking toward Bai.
“What time’s up? There are still a few seconds left! Why stop Bai? This isn’t fair!”
Bai shouted in despair inside.
She watched helplessly as Yalbera came closer, picked up the strange silver dagger, and said, “I’ve already given you a chance, Bai, but you didn’t seize it.”
“No, it’s not fair! This dagger is limp; it can’t even pierce the skin!”
Bai grumbled boldly, frustrated.
Yalbera didn’t answer but gently touched the tip. In the next moment, the sharp blade pierced the skin, and a drop of crimson blood slid down the cold-glowing silver metal.
“Isn’t this pretty sharp?” she said with a smile.
Bai’s eyes widened, dazed.
Why can she do it but Bai can’t?
“You’re curious, aren’t you? Heh heh heh. This is a Silver Holy Metal Dagger made by the Human Church, specially designed to fight the Blood Clan. It’s ineffective against humans, though.”
This is bullying! Is this how she plays?
“Master is bullying! How can Bai complete her task like this? This isn’t fair!”
Bai complained, but Yalbera’s smile only grew more charming, her red eyes full of mocking delight. She said,
“I intended for you to succeed from the beginning. I just wanted to see you struggle helplessly and look so embarrassed because that’s absolutely amusing, heh heh heh.”
She reached out and gently stroked Bai’s cheek, then slowly lifted Bai’s ash-gray hair to expose her slender neck.
That devilish smile sent chills through Bai’s entire body.
“Now, it’s punishment time, little one.”