Chapter 17: [World 1] Castle Stories 17 : The Past

“When I was little, my mother passed away, and then I punished the one who killed her.”

Saying this, the Duke’s Daughter’s eyes held a sadness even she hadn’t noticed herself, mixed with a trace of pain.

A hand gently rested on her soft golden hair, ruffling it slightly until it was a bit messy.

“Well done.”

The long-lost gesture made her nose sting.

She opened her mouth, almost about to call out the name reserved between them, but an invisible force stopped her, turning her words into silence.

“What did you say?”

Xunian tilted her head slightly, her eyes showing some confusion.

“Nothing.”

The Duke’s Daughter concealed her emotions, moving closer to gently wrap around Xunian, resting her chin on her shoulder, soaking in the warmth she had yearned for through endless years.

Xunian felt conflicted. She had intended to use the Duke’s Daughter from the start, but seeing how much the latter depended on her stirred a fleeting sense of guilt inside.

That guilt flashed and then vanished.

How could she stay in this world for someone she had only known for a few days?

Although she had little attachment left in the Real World, still…

Xunian’s fingers slid through the golden strands, smoothing the Duke’s Daughter’s fragile hair again and again, forcing a crooked smile onto her face.

In the mirror before her, Xunian stood alone, her raised hand repeatedly tracing arcs in the air.

……

The Braided Girl curled up in the corner of the cabinet, covering her ears, trembling all over.

Fu Ruxue opened the cabinet door and saw this scene.

“What’s wrong?”

“Don’t kill me, don’t kill me…”

The Housekeeper muttered repeatedly, lost in her own world, ignoring Fu Ruxue.

“What’s going on? If you don’t mind, you can tell me…”

Still no response. The tiny Housekeeper kept shaking her head, mumbling,

“Don’t kill me…”

Should she let her stay in the cabinet a while longer?

Fu Ruxue closed the door, puzzled, and began searching for clues.

What did the rules say again?

【Rule Three】: The Duchess likes to play chess; you may play with her if she wishes.

Chess?

She looked around but found nothing related to chess.

The room still echoed with the Housekeeper’s voice, “Don’t kill me, don’t kill me…” accompanied by lingering sobs that haunted the ears.

Listening to that, Fu Ruxue grew increasingly impatient. She turned over every place Xunian had looked through but found no chess pieces.

Not just anything related to chess, even items connected to the Duchess were scarce.

Fu Ruxue felt a headache coming on and stood up, leaning on the edge of the bed.

Nothing was under the bed.

Suddenly, she met two chilling gazes.

Could it be…

……

The Duke’s Daughter clung to Xunian all morning until she was finally pushed away by a punch.

Xunian retracted her fist, feeling a wave of relief.

This person really took advantage of her.

The Duke’s Daughter, tears brimming, clung on again like a ghost wrapping around her arm, her icy skin pressed close.

“It’s time to eat.”

Xunian mercilessly shook her off and walked toward the basement exit.

The Duke’s Daughter followed her to the surface, bumping into Fu Ruxue passing by.

“Ha ha,” Fu Ruxue forced a laugh twice, “What a coincidence.”

“Hello.”

The frail Duke’s Daughter leaned weakly on Xunian, greeting Fu Ruxue and quietly asserting her claim.

Xunian had had enough and gave her a playful head bump.

The Duke’s Daughter covered her forehead in grievance, standing up straight, looking at her with wide eyes.

Xunian shot her a scolding glare.

Fu Ruxue beside them smiled awkwardly, barely holding back tears.

Those two really were a sweet pair, gazing at each other like lovers, their eyes practically melting.

Fu Ruxue’s resentment grew heavy.

She was nearly numb from searching for clues alone while Xunian was off dating.

Approaching the dining table, both Xunian and Fu Ruxue braced themselves to see something disgusting, but were stunned by the sight of golden bread on their plates.

Each plate held a tempting, golden loaf, the air faintly scented with wheat.

Their frustration vanished instantly. Fu Ruxue sat down and ate heartily, savoring the fragrant wheat aroma between her lips, nearly moved to tears.

Better to be poisoned than starve.

Li Hua and Cheng Li were equally stunned when they arrived, unable to believe their eyes.

They all sat down and began eating.

Only the sound of chewing remained at the table.

Only after everyone finished eating did Li Hua pick up his bread and start eating.

Zhang Zhuanghao suffered too—after days of disgusting food, now that he was dead, the food was actually normal.

After finishing the bread, Cheng Li licked his lips, still unsatisfied.

“Why such normal food today? Could this be a trap?”

“I saw the Housekeeper busy in the kitchen; maybe she made it,” Fu Ruxue replied with rare patience.

After finishing the meal, the Duke’s Daughter immediately came to Xunian’s side, not giving her a chance to talk to anyone else, and swept her into a princess carry, leaving.

Xunian hugged her neck, despairing, and blinked at Fu Ruxue before being carried away.

“Do you think,” Cheng Li said, stroking his chin and guessing, “Xunian might have been taken hostage?”

Li Hua nodded in agreement.

Their guess was quite accurate.

But Fu Ruxue, who knew more, shook her head.

She didn’t think Xunian was being threatened. With her courage, nothing could really intimidate her.

She was more inclined to believe Xunian was willingly ‘hostaged’, probably with her own plans.

“Any clues?” Fu Ruxue asked.

“No.”

Both answered in unison.

Was it true or just pretending?

Fu Ruxue—this was already the fifth day. There was no way they hadn’t found any clue.

Li Hua countered, “Do you have any?”

“No.”

The three all kept their cards close, each with a hundred tricks up their sleeves; together, they might give anyone with trypophobia a meltdown.

“Well, let’s head back to our rooms then.”

……

“I have something to do.”

The Duke’s Daughter hurried out, not forgetting to lock the basement door securely.

Using half the ladder as leverage, Xunian pushed hard against the door plank but it didn’t budge.

Damn it.

Night fell.

The Blood Moon bathed everything in a scorching red glow, deeper and more intense than usual, casting an eerie crimson tint on all food beneath the moonlight.

The Duke’s Daughter didn’t return.

Xunian sat restlessly, alone and tormented in the clue-less room.

If the Duke’s Daughter returned early, she probably wouldn’t be able to escape.

Clearing the stage to clear the level would become more difficult; for now, her only hope was Fu Ruxue.

Knock knock knock.

Three knocks on the wooden door.

“Xunian?”

“I’m here.”

Xunian quickly climbed the ladder and pressed herself against the plank, responding.

Fu Ruxue first knocked all around, then tried prying the door with an iron rod, but the wooden plank wouldn’t open.

“Can’t open it. You really made me wait. After you got locked in the basement last time, I went looking for the Housekeeper and then…”

Fu Ruxue muttered while leaning against the plank, telling Xunian everything that happened while she was away.

“In short, that’s it… I found a chessboard behind that painting.”

“Got it.

Looks like we’ll soon have a pleasant game with the Duchess.

Only the remaining ten chess pieces are still missing. So far, there’s been no sign of their whereabouts.”