“Your Highness, I’m coming in.”
Just as always during the late-night change of clothes, Su Ling quietly stood by the desk, and Sista silently helped her undo the laces of her robe.
Neither of them said a word; time seemed to flow gently.
The obvious sense of distance still lingered between them. Su Ling caught a glimpse out of the corner of her eye and noticed that Sista was standing farther away than usual.
Of course, if she gave a direct order, Sista would obediently follow her wishes and come closer, but Su Ling didn’t want to see that reserved and passive expression. That look was the same as when they first entered the castle.
What Su Ling truly cared about was the Su Ling who took the initiative to find her in the Garden, the Su Ling who kissed her in the Study while wearing a white dress.
Ever since that first night together, the delicate connection between them seemed to have quietly cracked.
Sista had become reserved and even spoke much less. Su Ling didn’t understand why that night had affected their relationship so much.
Humans are creatures ruled by emotions, but if that’s the case, should she use her ability to control emotions to change Su Ling?
The moment this thought surfaced, she forcibly pushed it down.
No, what she wanted was Su Ling’s true heart, not a Su Ling “under my control.”
A fire quietly burned in her chest. Su Ling suddenly reached out and gently took Sista’s hand.
“That’s enough.”
“…Alright.”
Sista was already used to the Blood Princess’s unpredictable moods. She stopped what she was doing. Her soft, dark hair slipped through Su Ling’s fingertips, brushing against Su Ling’s smooth, bare back.
“I’d like to rest tonight. Go to the Study and bring me the Poetry Collection with the branches and leaves hanging from it,” Su Ling said.
Sista couldn’t help but feel a hint of curiosity. On a night like this, why did the Princess suddenly want to listen to poetry?
But she didn’t ask much. She simply replied and left the room. Not long after, Su Ling returned with the requested book—the one with the Red Cover—and set it down in front of the Blood Princess.
“Your Highness, I’ve arranged your books as requested. Is there anything else you need?” she asked politely.
Su Ling maintained her gaze out the window, as if lost in the sparse starlight outside. After a moment, she slowly turned around, her eyes cold as they swept over Sista.
“Can you read poetry aloud?”
Sista was briefly taken aback, then nodded. “A little, Your Highness.”
“Good. Read this Poetry Collection to me. The night is just right for reciting poetry.”
Sista was somewhat surprised, but as a Maid, she could not go against her mistress’s wishes. So, she stepped forward lightly, carefully holding the Poetry Collection, and turned to the first page.
“Your Highness, I’ll begin now.” Sista’s voice was gentle as she softly read the first line of the poem: “In the shade of the gourd vines, I walk the path in search of you…”
Su Ling’s gaze softened as she listened. She quietly reached out and gestured for Sista to come closer. “Come and read beside me, so I can hear you better.”
Sista was startled, but quickly steadied herself. She moved carefully and sat down beside Su Ling, their bodies almost touching.
The distance between them closed until they could feel each other’s breath.
After everything that had happened before, Su Ling found it hard to control her nervousness; her palms grew cold with sweat. But she still tried to keep calm and focused on reading the poem.
“Beneath this deep and silent night, I hold my longing for you…” Sista’s voice was soft, like a whisper carried by the night breeze, making Su Ling close her eyes.
As the poem continued, Sista gradually realized something was off.
“You, my dearest love, my one and only companion…”
The thick book she held in her hands was a collection by a famous poet of the Kingdom of Ansels, and every page was filled with Love Poems.
Although the imagery and writing were beautiful and ornate, reading them aloud felt a bit empty.
Between verses, Sista couldn’t help but sneak a glance at Su Ling, worried that she would dislike such uninspired poetry.
But Su Ling simply listened quietly, her gaze focused, her attention entirely on Sista’s voice.
Sista let out a quiet sigh.
“On a night when the stars shine bright, I finally met you, as if it were fate’s arrangement.
Your eyes sparkle like the stars, igniting the Heartfire in my soul.”
Finally, she finished reading one of the poems.
Just as she paused to catch her breath, the Blood Princess suddenly reached out. The Poetry Collection was snatched from Sista’s hands, and with a “snap,” the Red Cover hit the floor, pages scattering.
Su Ling bent down to pick up the book and was about to continue reading, but when she looked up, she saw—
Sista’s expression had become cold and distant.
“Your Highness… shall I continue reading?”
“Forget it. Don’t. It’s truly boring.”
Su Ling took the book from Sista’s hands, her movements somewhat forceful as she slammed it heavily onto the desk. Sista froze, not knowing what to do, and could only stare blankly at her.
Despite the poetry’s passion, when Sista read it, it somehow sounded dull, like a pile of tired clichés—utterly lifeless, with none of the stirring emotion from before.
Sure enough, Sista’s attitude toward her had changed.
Realizing this, Su Ling only felt her irritation grow heavier. She couldn’t sit still, so she paced about the room.
It was obviously Sista who had made a mistake first, so she had taken the initiative to “teach” her a lesson. But why had things turned out this way?
Was Sista secretly resenting her—for that reckless person under the moonlight?
Just how close were those two?
A wave of jealousy surged in Su Ling’s heart. She couldn’t help but want to drag that deceitful hunter out, torment her until she cried, so that wretched girl would know pain.
But… that wouldn’t solve anything. No matter how she punished her, it wouldn’t bring back what they had. If that was the case, even keeping Sista’s body close became meaningless.
The Blood Princess cleared her throat, trying to calm herself.
Just then, Sista’s stomach suddenly let out a quiet growl.
“S-sorry!” She hurriedly tried to explain. “Your Highness, that was—um, I didn’t mean to…”
“You’re hungry?”
“It’s just that I was busy with work and didn’t have time for dinner…”
“No wonder. If you don’t eat properly, how are you supposed to serve me well?”
Su Ling seemed to be scolding her, but her thoughts drifted back to that day in the Dining Room, to the fleeting time they had spent together, and that piece of chocolate that melted sweetly on her tongue.
The lingering taste still remained, intertwined with the girl’s scent—hard to forget.
She wanted to relive that memory once more.
So, Su Ling’s gaze fell on Sista. She elegantly raised her finger and finally pointed toward the door.
“There are some night snacks in the kitchen—bring them here. And fetch some red wine from the Wine Vessel as well.”
A night snack? The Blood Princess rarely ate after dark.
“Hurry.” Seeing Sista still in a daze, Su Ling urged her.
“I—I’ll go right away!”
What is with this woman tonight?
Sista mumbled to herself as she hurriedly pushed open the door and left.
Premium Chapter
Login to buy access to this Chapter.