Chapter 16: [World 1] Castle Stories 16 : Escape

The top of the head was sliced into uneven pits, the corpse’s skin tone distinctly different from a normal corpse—bluish-purple, glaringly conspicuous.

The manner of death was clearly different from the timid girl before.

Full of loopholes; it was obvious someone was trying to imitate the modus operandi.

Xunian turned her body, passing by Fu Ruxue’s side, intending to check the situation more closely but accidentally lost her footing and bumped into Fu Ruxue.

“Sorry.”

Fu Ruxue staggered slightly, and a piece of paper slipped into her palm.

It wasn’t an accident.

Fu Ruxue’s body stiffened for a moment before she steadied herself and smoothed her hair. “Be careful.”

Not far away, a pair of eyes followed Xunian’s every move without ever averting their gaze.

Fu Ruxue caught a glimpse of those fiercely watchful, deep red eyes out of the corner of her eye.

Feeling guilty, her hands clenched unconsciously, sweat breaking out on her palm.

“He didn’t die because he broke the Rules.”

Xunian’s voice drew everyone’s attention to her.

“But he died the same way as the last person, right?” Cheng Li couldn’t help but ask.

Xunian already knew who the killer was, but she hesitated and circled around the topic.

“Not the same. The last person’s body wasn’t prepared with a plate by the Butler after death, but Zhang Zhuanghao’s was. Obviously, Zhang Zhuanghao didn’t violate the Rules. The Butler didn’t even know he was dead, so he prepared the plate for him.”

She left it at that.

Xunian didn’t intend to expose anyone, nor mislead others, so she only pointed out that Zhang Zhuanghao was not killed by the Rules.

“Anyway, the person is dead. No one can stop us from looking for clues now.”

Li Hua stepped over the head on the floor and strode inside.

Xunian followed.

Fu Ruxue and Cheng Li remained at the door, glaring at each other, neither willing to back down.

Cheng Li pursed his lips. “Why don’t you go in then?”

Fu Ruxue casually put her hands in her pockets and rolled her eyes at him. “Why don’t you go?”

“I’m scared, can’t help it.”

“Me too, scared as hell.”

The two of them faced off at the doorway, sparks almost crackling in the air.

“Found it.”

Li Hua held a sheet of paper—an announcement, it seemed.

Scanning the entire page, he concluded, “It says here that an eight-year-old girl named Vera went missing. Whoever finds her or provides clues can get a hefty reward.”

The Butler probably saw the large reward and intended to find the girl, which was why he left this announcement in the room.

Fu Ruxue sighed softly. “Feels like a useless lead.”

Besides revealing that the Butler wanted money, there was no useful information.

Where were they supposed to find an eight-year-old named Vera?

The few of them sank into silence, exchanging glances but no words.

“Let’s go.”

The blonde woman appeared out of nowhere, standing just a few steps away, looking at Xunian.

In her eyes reflected Xunian’s slender figure, as if her world contained only her.

Xunian seemed to glance unconcernedly at Fu Ruxue, then turned and reached out her hand to the Duke’s Daughter.

“Help me up.”

She wouldn’t miss any chance to command the Duke’s Daughter—after all, the girl had been so unbearable last night.

Two pale hands intertwined as Xunian was helped toward the direction of the Basement.

The two figures, walking close side by side, gradually grew distant.

Li Hua watched their backs thoughtfully. “What’s their relationship?”

“…Don’t know.”

Fu Ruxue didn’t dare say, though she kind of knew.

“Looks like there’s nothing else here. Let’s leave.”

Cheng Li impatiently urged at the door.

“What’s the rush? If you want to leave, go ahead.”

Li Hua kept searching; he didn’t believe that the room Zhang Zhuanghao fiercely prevented them from seeing held only this little clue.

Cheng Li hesitated at the door, reluctant to leave.

“I’m leaving first.”

Fu Ruxue greeted them briefly and hurried away, still clutching the note in her pocket.

She found a quiet corner and glanced at the note:

“Don’t forget Rule Three. Come save me at night, Code Knock Three Times.”

Rule Three?

Fu Ruxue tore the paper into pieces after reading it, feeling a headache coming on.

She couldn’t even remember Rule Three. Summoning her courage, she recalled—it was the one about the Duchess.

But she hadn’t seen the Duchess since coming here. The only connection to the Duchess was the Duchess’s Room where Xunian lived.

Was Xunian asking her to go to the Duchess’s Room?

Suddenly, a pale, lifeless hand appeared on her shoulder. Fu Ruxue’s pupils constricted.

She clenched the paper fragments tightly, holding her breath, afraid to move.

“I’ve been looking for you for a long time.”

Her heart pounded so hard she almost forgot to breathe. That voice sounded oddly familiar.

“It’s me.”

The Headless Maid patted her, signaling it was herself.

The Headless Maid?!

Fu Ruxue finally snapped out of it, recalling their promise from last night, and turned around.

The Maid’s Head was roughly sewn back on, the stitching coarse and still bleeding slightly, but at least it no longer fell off at every movement.

One had to admit, the Maid’s blood was incredibly thick. It had been bleeding for four days and still hadn’t stopped.

She had been sprayed all over the day before, so Fu Ruxue had no choice but to wear the Duke’s Clothes this morning.

Dressed in noble attire, the gold metal pendant at the collar gleamed brilliantly, with a red gem inset that added a touch of elegance to her delicate face.

The black, regal coat lent a few strands of handsomeness.

The Headless Maid took one look at her outfit and stepped back, her face full of terror, her twin braids swaying with her movements. “You, you, you…”

“What’s wrong? What do you want from me?”

Fu Ruxue saw how scared she was and tried to help her up, but was dodged.

The Maid avoided her hands and lowered her head, twisting her fingers nervously. “I didn’t finish telling you what I wanted to say yesterday.”

“Say it.”

“I was killed by the Duke.”

Fu Ruxue nodded repeatedly. “I know.”

“You knew already?”

“I guessed.”

This was the Duke’s home. A person died silently; either the Duke knew or he was the killer.

“That day, I was delivering bread to the Miss. She was always told not to eat dinner at night. I wanted to give her bread…”

The Maid’s nose tingled with sadness.

“But the Duke found out, then… then I was beheaded. The Miss is so miserable. She didn’t even get to have a proper eighteenth birthday.”

Fu Ruxue opened her mouth, wanting to comfort but not knowing how, so she simply gave her a hug.

The Maid’s body was icy cold, without the warmth of the living.

Yet at this moment, Fu Ruxue didn’t feel frightened, only thinking that maybe the Maid had been a warm girl in life, like a little sun who would light up others.

She deserved a beautiful life, not this cold and dark eternal imprisonment in this Castle.

Damn the Duke.

“Thank you,” the Maid said, then suddenly became tense, nervously grabbing her. “Hide me! The Duke is nearby!”

Fu Ruxue was stunned. “The Duke is back?”

“Quick! Or I’ll be beheaded again!” The Maid’s voice trembled with urgency and terror.

“Okay, follow me.”

Fu Ruxue hurriedly took the Maid’s hand and headed toward the Duchess’s Room—just where she was going anyway.

They ran all the way to the door.

Just as Fu Ruxue was about to open it, the Maid tugged at her, holding her just-reattached head.

“This is the Duchess’s Room. I can’t go in…”

“Who cares! Do you want to hide or not?”

Fu Ruxue forcefully pulled her inside and locked the door.

“If you enter the Duchess’s Room, the Miss will be upset.”

Fu Ruxue said helplessly, “At a time like this…”

“Knock knock knock.”

Fu Ruxue frowned tightly. The door had just been shut, so who could be knocking?

The door had no peephole, so she had to open it to see.

“Don’t open!”

The Maid frantically grabbed her hand, looking terrified.

“How about this—you hide in the closet first.”

The Maid pointed at herself, then the closet.

Me?

Fu Ruxue nodded.

The Maid looked reluctant but slowly stepped into the closet.

Fu Ruxue finally opened the door.

A handsome man stood there, flashing a perfect smile. “Have you seen the Maid?”

“…No.”

Fu Ruxue didn’t think the Butler was a good man either. The words about the Maid in the diary were vicious.

She just brushed him off and closed the door.

The Butler stuck his foot in the doorframe, preventing her from closing it.

Fu Ruxue’s expression darkened, her murky eyes looking at him sharply. “May I ask what you want?”

“Nothing much. May I come in? The room hasn’t been cleaned for a long time.”

“No.”

“Why not? Miss Fu, I don’t think this is your room.”

“It’s my friend’s room. Can’t I stay here?”

“…Fine.”

“Can I leave now?”

The Butler said nothing, only glanced quietly behind Fu Ruxue—empty.

Fu Ruxue stood in front of him, blocking his view. “What are you looking at?”

His gaze slowly shifted to the closet. Fu Ruxue’s heart tightened.

Soon his gaze shifted away, the smile fading from his lips. “If you’re lying to me, I won’t hesitate to make you pay.”

“…Okay, okay.”

Cold sweat broke out on Fu Ruxue’s body. She quickly agreed and shut the door tight, locking the Butler out.

The Butler’s fierce expression was no bluff; he seemed serious about following through.

Fu Ruxue nervously locked the door and secretly longed for the brave Xunian at that moment.

……

Xunian watched as the Duke’s Daughter picked up the handcuffs on the torture board and compared them with her own hands.

Good, just right.

“You’re not going to leave, are you?”

The Duke’s Daughter toyed with the silver glinting object, lazily shifting her gaze to Xunian’s face.

If she left while the Duke’s Daughter wasn’t looking, then she’d have no choice but to lock Xunian up.

“Why don’t you give me some clues, so I won’t have to come looking for you?” Xunian said frankly.

“Sure,” the Duke’s Daughter smiled weakly, lips curling reluctantly. “But I’m afraid you won’t like what you hear.”

Xunian’s eyes lit up. “How do you know I won’t like it if you haven’t said it yet? Come on, spill it.”

“Then promise me you really won’t leave.”

“Okay, I won’t leave.”

Xunian agreed wholeheartedly, like a reckless woman with no sense of responsibility.