Sylvie’s steps paused for a brief moment.
Her emerald eyes fixed intently on the object at Tiana’s waist. It was half-covered by fabric, revealing only a glimpse of cold metal.
The needle tube instrument… No mistake about it.
But hadn’t Utia taken it? How could it be in the hands of this vampire she had never seen before? Had Utia given it to her?
Sylvie did not know. But one thing she was absolutely certain of—this was the exact item she was looking for.
Just as countless thoughts surged through her mind, Tiana ahead suddenly stopped and turned to look at her.
She spoke with a tone of mild curiosity, almost as if making casual conversation.
“You’re called… Sylvie, right?”
Sylvie snapped back to her senses. She quickly lowered her gaze, her expression returning to its previous flat, emotionless state.
“Yes, Lady Tiana.”
“The Queen seems quite interested in you.” Tiana turned around and continued leading the way. Her voice was soft, as though she were merely mentioning it in passing. “This is the first time I’ve seen Her Majesty show such special attention to anyone.”
Her tone revealed neither envy nor sympathy—perhaps it was simply a statement.
Sylvie followed behind, her brows furrowing slightly. Still, she replied calmly.
“Sylvie is merely fortunate to have a few traits that happen to appeal to Her Majesty. Or perhaps it’s just that my blood tastes a little better. Nothing more.”
“Ah~ Is that so?” Tiana continued speaking casually as she walked ahead.
“Admittedly, although Her Majesty returned early this time and seems to be in a rather foul mood, your approach was quite unique. It might have worked out in your favor anyway. At least, seeing your loyal and devoted appearance—even if she knows it’s fake…”
She paused, as if realizing she had said too much, but quickly continued as if nothing had happened.
“Ahem, I mean, at least you’ve handled the surface formalities well.”
Sylvie did not respond. Her frown grew tighter.
From the start, she had sensed something… odd about this unfamiliar noble.
She hadn’t been sure at first, but now she understood why.
This vampire… is different.
She lacked Sulga’s cold, mechanical detachment. She did not have Utia’s aggressive, playful edge. Nor did she carry the usual arrogance and contempt vampire nobles held toward blood livestock, viewing them as nothing more than ants.
To Sylvie, this was impossible—absurd, even.
Her tone was natural, carrying a hint of curious chatter. It felt to Sylvie as if the person walking ahead was simply a gentle, kind older sister, slightly older than herself. Not a proud, arrogant vampire noble down to her very bones.
She was missing that inherent haughtiness vampires possessed.
Even so, Sylvie could not let down her guard or drop her mask because of this strange sense of intimacy and harmony. She merely lowered her head slightly and continued in a calm voice.
“Sylvie is Her Majesty’s slave, and Her Majesty is Sylvie’s master. Everything about Sylvie must obey the master’s will. Pleasing and satisfying the master is my ultimate goal. This is Sylvie’s mission.”
This time, Tiana was the one left speechless.
A single string of words had killed the conversation dead.
She tilted her head slightly and glanced back at the petite girl following closely behind her.
Cold as ice, just like that guy Sulga… What a strange little thing.
Tiana turned her head forward somewhat helplessly. The spark of interest in chatting faded away.
Before long, they had passed through several corridors and stopped in front of a door carved with intricate, exquisite patterns.
Pushing the door open, a wave of humid, warm air rich with floral fragrance washed over them.
Beyond the door lay an extremely spacious bathroom. The floor and walls were constructed from smooth black stone slabs. White steam filled the air, and vibrant red flower petals floated on the water’s surface. In the center was a massive bathing pool, its waters billowing with white mist.
Sylvie felt a flicker of surprise in her heart.
Such extravagant luxury, Your Majesty.
“This is the place.” Tiana stopped and pointed toward the bathing pool.
“Take off those dirty clothes first. I’ll go change as well. Don’t enter the pool yet—we need to rinse the mud off your body.”
She gave the instructions and then headed toward the changing room on one side of the bathroom.
Sylvie’s gaze followed her, but her eyes stayed locked on the syringe at Tiana’s waist.
Then… something unexpected happened.
Clatter…
Just as Tiana’s figure disappeared behind the curtain of the changing room, the syringe at her waist fell to the ground. It rolled with a clatter straight to Sylvie’s feet.
Tiana seemed completely unaware. The shadow behind the curtain began removing her outer clothes, humming an unfamiliar little tune, looking ready to enjoy herself thoroughly.
Only Sylvie remained in the bathroom, surrounded by rising steam and the faint sound of flowing water.
Is she serious?
What a careless noble…
Sylvie slowly lowered her head and looked at the syringe by her feet. Then she glanced up at the cheerful figure behind the curtain.
For a brief moment, Sylvie almost suspected this was a trap. But there was no time to hesitate or analyze. The opportunity was right before her eyes. Trap or not, she had to seize it.
At worst, she would just get a beating from the Queen.
Sylvie crouched down immediately. Her movements were quick yet light as she swiftly picked up the cold metal syringe.
It felt heavy in her hand, smooth and icy cold throughout, as if it contained some kind of liquid inside. She gripped it tightly in her palm.
But where could she hide it? She was almost completely naked, covered only in mud. Tiana could emerge from the changing room at any second. The bathroom was wide open with almost nowhere to conceal anything.
Just…
Several minutes later, Tiana emerged from behind the curtain.
She had already removed her heavy white enforcer uniform. Now she was wrapped only in a bath towel. Her damp silver hair hung loosely over her shoulders, water droplets still falling from the tips. She had clearly taken a quick rinse in the changing area’s simple stall.
The towel outlined her tall, curvaceous figure. Beneath it, a pair of straight, slender legs extended, their skin pale to the point of looking almost sickly.
So big…
But still a bit less developed than that woman Utia. Sylvie compared silently in her mind.
As soon as Tiana walked out, she looked around the bathroom with a puzzled expression, as if searching for something.
She looked everywhere but could not find the petite figure. Just as she began to think the little one might have run off while she was gone—
“Lady Tiana… Sylvie is here.”
Tiana looked toward the voice. In a shallower corner near the edge of the pool, Sylvie was standing on her tiptoes, barely keeping her shoulders above the water. She held up only one slender arm. Her body was almost entirely submerged. Steam blurred her figure as the water rippled around her.
“I thought you had run away! So you’re just too short and nearly got submerged!”
Tiana nearly burst out laughing. Her earlier confusion and suspicions vanished in an instant. The scene struck her as both funny and rather pitiful.
“Why did you go over there? Is the water too deep?”
As she spoke, she took long strides, wading through the water toward Sylvie.
Sylvie maintained her flat expression. Or rather, the high water level meant only her calm yet slightly helpless emerald eyes were visible above the surface.
Bubbles rose from underwater. Her voice came out muffled from below.
“The water… is deeper than I expected.”
At that moment, at the very bottom of the pool beneath Sylvie’s feet, the metal syringe lay firmly stepped on.