Several hours ago.
At the entrance of the grand hall, Sulga stood silently.
She performed her duty as the so-called “doorkeeper” as always.
After an unknown amount of time had passed, she raised her head.
Her eyes, dull and lifeless like congealed blood, gazed up at the pitch-black sky.
“That child still hasn’t returned…”
It was already deep into the night.
According to the rules the Queen had set for her, Sylvie was not allowed to linger outside at this hour.
She was required to return for her routine nightly service.
Even though the Queen was away, as her exclusive blood servant, Sylvie should not have left her post.
This violated the rules.
It violated order.
Sylvie’s existence had been assigned a specific purpose from the moment the Queen selected her — to serve and to adorn.
There was also a certain value for observation and collection that Sulga could not fully understand but which the Queen clearly enjoyed.
Her range of activities, her schedule, and even her condition were all supposed to remain under the Queen’s strict control.
She should know how to please the Queen.
She should know how to serve her with complete devotion.
She should play the role of an obedient “pet” perfectly.
Failing to return at night, especially while the Queen was away and she should have been even more cautious, was serious dereliction of duty… and a provocation.
After the Queen left the grand hall, she should have obediently and humbly knelt beneath the throne, waiting for her return.
That was the proper mindset for the Vampire Queen’s exclusive blood servant.
Sulga did not care about Sylvie’s feelings or reasons.
Blood livestock needed no reasons.
They only needed to obey.
Obedience brought order.
Order maintained stability.
And stability was the foundation of Eternal Night City.
How improper.
A cold thought rose in her mind.
Just as she closed her eyes, intending to wait quietly for the arrival of the next day—
Tap… tap… tap…
The crisp sound of heels on the stairs rang out.
Sulga opened her eyes.
Her brows furrowed tightly as deep displeasure stirred in the depths of her gaze.
Had Sylvie returned?
She would definitely need to “correct” her behavior and teach this slave what she should and should not do.
She turned toward the stairs and waited quietly for the sound to approach.
But when that figure entered her field of vision, Sulga suddenly froze.
She quickly lowered her head and spoke respectfully.
“Welcome back… Your Majesty the Queen.”
Klal did not even glance at her.
She merely gave a faint “Mm.”
The latter did not dare ask any pointless question such as “Weren’t you supposed to be away for several days? Why have you returned so soon?”
She was not as foolish as Sylvie.
Sulga simply stepped aside to make way and opened the heavy door for the Queen.
Klal walked in gracefully.
Behind her, another familiar figure followed.
Only after the Queen had fully entered the grand hall did Sulga raise her lowered head and look at that vampire woman.
“Tiana… If there was a change in the Queen’s itinerary, you should have informed us in advance so we could prepare for Her Majesty’s return.”
Tiana also appeared exhausted.
She sighed helplessly.
“Can you stop standing here like a block of ice all the time? Can you show a little life beyond being a doorkeeper? Her Majesty suddenly changed her plans midway… It’s your responsibility, you know.”
Conversation with her was impossible.
Tiana seemed to remember something.
She took out an item tightly wrapped in white cloth from behind and handed it over.
Sulga frowned slightly.
After unwrapping it, she found a metal syringe.
Her blood-red eyes stared at the strangely shaped metal device in her hand.
It felt ice-cold, with intricate yet unfamiliar craftsmanship.
Broken indicator lights lined the side… This was clearly not a vampire creation, nor any common instrument found in Eternal Night City.
“A human device?”
“We recovered it from those sneaking rats. They said it was an instrument for searching for something.”
“Should I take it to the blood science division for repairs?” she asked emotionlessly.
“Of course not. This is a task the Queen assigned to me. You have other matters to attend to.”
Tiana explained the Queen’s plan to her, then waved her hand and urged.
“That’s all. Hurry and go. Don’t keep the Queen waiting.”
Having said that, she had no desire to chat further with this boring individual.
She walked straight into the grand hall and closed the door, leaving Sulga standing alone outside.
…
Inside the grand hall, Tiana hurried a few steps to the Queen’s side and spoke respectfully.
“Your Majesty, the message has been delivered to Sulga. It shouldn’t take long before those hidden humans make their appearance.”
“Mm.”
Klal replied casually.
She then walked with elegant, unhurried steps toward the other side of the throne.
The direction that led to the courtyard.
Tiana followed carefully behind the Queen.
Klal moved at a leisurely pace through the side corridor.
A pleasant glint shone in her crimson eyes as she spoke, as if sharing something interesting.
“You know, Tiana, this place called Eternal Night City is dull and uninteresting. Sitting on that cold, hard throne all the time is nothing short of torture.”
“So—”
The corners of her mouth curved into a smile.
Her tone playful, as though showing off a precious collectible, she continued.
“Finding a qualified ‘toy’ to relieve the boredom of the throne is an important matter.”
“A ‘toy’…?” Tiana responded with her head lowered, looking confused.
“Yes, a toy… Hehehe.”
Klal chuckled lightly.
The laugh was cold yet pleasing to the ear.
“I have one that can somewhat please and satisfy me. She’s barely qualified as a ‘toy’. On her… there is a very interesting kind of resilience.”
“Like the thinnest silver thread. It looks as if it would break with one pull, yet it always bounces back subtly right when you think it is about to snap. And that little light in her eyes… sometimes it dims as if about to go out, and other times it sparks with tiny, improper… embers.”
She paused, as if savoring the taste.
“Watching her slowly wear down under this eternal boredom and oppression, yet using that pathetic resilience to maintain some kind of shape, is quite an entertaining way to pass the time.”
“‘Toy’… She is a rather unique collectible that I polished with my own hands.”
As they spoke, they arrived at the door leading to the courtyard.
Klal pushed the door open herself.
The night wind rushed in, carrying the cold fragrance from the garden.
Her gaze went straight to the corner of the courtyard, to the small black stone house that belonged to Sylvie.
“Perfect. It is now time for her service. As her respected master, personally visiting her filthy dwelling, she should feel extremely honored.”
“After all, I am such a good master. Hehehe.”
A slight shock ran through Tiana’s heart.
This was the first time she had heard the arrogant Queen evaluate someone this way.
The pleased smile on her face made it obvious that she was very satisfied with this so-called “toy.”
She couldn’t help feeling curious about what kind of person this “toy” was — the one that made the Queen head straight here without pause the moment she returned to Eternal Night City.
Klal walked up to the small house door without stopping and pushed it open directly.
Creak—
The door opened.
Inside was complete darkness and deathly silence.
Moonlight and the courtyard’s faint blue light slanted in, illuminating the empty narrow space.
The quilt on the narrow bed was neatly arranged.
The small table was empty.
The entire room was clean and cold.
The only thing missing was the pale, frail figure that should have been there.
Klal stood at the doorway.
The trace of playfulness and ease on her face froze in an instant.
The wind in the courtyard seemed to stop at that moment too.
Several seconds of deathly silence passed.
Tiana stood to the side, barely daring to breathe.
Then, Klal slowly turned around to face Tiana.
The calmness on her face was ice-cold enough to suffocate anyone.
“Bring Sulga here.”
She ordered in a cold voice.