Just as their lips were about to brush against each other, Xunian headbutted the Duke’s Daughter, simultaneously stepping on her pristine, delicate shoe.
“Eek—”
The Duke’s Daughter feigned pain, letting out a shriek.
The sweet-faced girl in front of her shook off her hand the moment she hesitated and slipped around the corner in a flash.
The hem of her skirt disappeared beyond the corner, and beneath the Duke’s Daughter’s long, thick lashes, a smile curled.
She lowered her gaze, savoring the image of Xunian’s flushed, beautiful face, shy and rosy—a look that made one want to bite her.
After all, she had finally found her; how could she let her go so easily?
A sickly possessiveness flickered in her eyes, but then she sensed something, instantly regaining her composure.
Her expression turned icy, and a chilling coldness filled the surrounding air.
“Anything to report?”
A handsome man stood not far off, his face fixed in a constant smile, though no one knew how long he had been there.
The Butler bowed slightly and replied, “I have followed your orders and killed all my Pets.”
He maintained his smile without a hint of complaint.
The cold voice commanded, “Dispose of them all.”
“Yes, sir.”
……
Among the swaying fiery red flowers, the girl who had escaped from the Duke’s Daughter hid, panting lightly.
The flush on her cheeks had yet to fade as she leaned against the wall to rest.
She could only imagine how miserable the Duke’s Daughter must look right now, and the thought made the corners of her lips twitch upwards in delight.
This Duke’s Daughter seemed strangely familiar, like a vine clinging to her—no matter how much she tried, she couldn’t shake her off.
Indeed, the other’s presence gave her a strong sense of déjà vu.
Her words, as if the Duke’s Daughter loved and yet could not have her, implied that Xunian had somehow wronged her before.
Could it be that she had unknowingly left some emotional debt outside?
A flicker of panic flashed in Xunian’s eyes as she tried to recall her past, but no reason came to mind.
Realizing what she was thinking almost made Xunian laugh—she hadn’t even been abroad, so how could she have met this foreign, blonde Duke’s Daughter in such a distant and unfamiliar place?
After hiding for some time and seeing no pursuers, she stood, dusted off the dirt, and looked up—only to meet a pair of terrified eyes.
“Ahhhh! A ghost!”
The man without hands stared at the girl in front of him, eyes wide with horror, pupils dilated. His arm clutched a watering can, trembling uncontrollably as water spilled from it.
Xunian stared at him, puzzled.
Shouldn’t she be the one scared?
The pale, gaunt man’s eyes bulged almost unnaturally. Thin to the point of emaciation, he stared fixedly at Xunian; his arms were like wooden sticks with just a bit of flesh wrapped around them.
Xunian guessed, “You’re the Gardener?”
The Gardener nodded cautiously. His sunken eyes flickered. “You are…”
“Guess what I am.”
The girl tilted her head slightly, half her face shadowed, looking at him with a sweet smile. In the silent garden, it was eerie and frightening.
“Clang.”
The Gardener’s hand shook, dropping the watering can, which rang crisply on the ground.
“I don’t know…”
He backed away cautiously, then turned and ran.
Xunian resumed her expressionless demeanor, watching him retreat into the distance.
Everyone else in the Castle wasn’t afraid of her—only this Gardener feared her, completely different from the rest.
What made him so different?
Without the will to keep hiding, Xunian followed her original path and returned to the Castle.
She lightly stepped over the stairs and collided with Fu Ruxue, whose face was pale.
“Xunian!”
Fu Ruxue’s eyes welled up with tears as she tried to grab her hand, but Xunian subtly dodged.
“What’s wrong?”
Fu Ruxue looked uneasy and lowered her voice. “Look at the door to my room…”
Following Fu Ruxue’s gaze, Xunian saw a massive “死” (Death) character carved deeply into the door, the scar standing out starkly under the dim light.
“When did this appear?” Xunian asked as they walked inside.
“Not sure. It was there when I came out.”
Fu Ruxue pressed close to Xunian, nervously twisting the edge of her clothes, seeking comfort.
Xunian hadn’t seen it when she left, meaning the Death Mark appeared sometime in the short span between Xunian’s departure and Fu Ruxue’s exit from her room.
In the Trial World, such supernatural phenomena weren’t unusual, but why would the Duke’s room bear a Death Mark?
Xunian glanced at Fu Ruxue and invited, “If you’re scared, you can sleep in my room.”
Besides protecting Fu Ruxue from Judgment, Xunian also needed her to verify some matters.
“Okay.”
Fu Ruxue agreed instantly.
Her quick consent made Xunian frown—perhaps Fu Ruxue wasn’t really that afraid.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” Xunian chose not to expose her and allowed her to proceed with her own plan.
Tonight, she would find out whether she was special to the Duke’s Daughter.
She had given the Duke’s Daughter two Options.
So, what will you choose, Duke’s Daughter?
The clock ticked on—second by second.
After several rotations, with a “click,” mealtime arrived.
Five sat upright at the Dining Table, dazed and dizzy, many having missed several meals already. They were starting to go numb.
The “Lunch” on the table was raw meat mixed with blood. Their hungry stomachs churned as most entertained the thought:
Just one bite can’t hurt, right?
The Strong Man finally lost control. He forked a piece of the blood-soaked meat on his plate and, suppressing nausea, tore into it.
Everyone else had no intention of eating but couldn’t help swallowing their saliva, eyes fixed on the meat before them.
Xunian, however, was unfazed—her work always made her forget to eat, and she was long used to hunger.
Fu Ruxue asked the others, “Have you found anything in your rooms?”
Xunian recalled something and placed a forgotten item from her pocket onto the table.
A small bottle of Medicine was set there, drawing several pairs of eyes.
“What’s this?”
“Medicine.”
No one knew what it was. The label had been completely torn off—no words left.
As she reached to take it back, a slender hand pressed down on the bottle first.
Golden hair with a glossy sheen, loose waves falling over her shoulders—the first thing everyone noticed was her high nose bridge and long, thick lashes. The exquisitely beautiful woman drew all attention.
One arm cradled a half-torn Teddy Bear. The toy’s limbs were broken, crudely sewn together with rough stitches; one eye dangled loosely in midair.