After spending some time in the castle with Tii, Su Ling gradually began to grow accustomed to her new body.
Though she had once been male, Su Ling wasn’t especially resistant to becoming a girl.
Memories of her past life as a boy still remained in her mind, but her body and soul had already begun to change in subtle ways.
Her emotions had grown richer, her courage had become a bit smaller, and she could slowly understand the way girls thought.
Even so, there were still some things that she couldn’t do as naturally as the other girls.
For example, bathing.
“Oh right, I’m going to the bathhouse in a bit. Do you want to come with me?”
That afternoon, after finishing up the last bit of cleaning, Tii ran up to Su Ling enthusiastically.
Su Ling felt her heart tighten and quickly waved her hands.
“N-No, it’s fine. I’ll just wait until everyone else is done.”
Tii tilted her head in confusion.
“Why? Is something bothering you?”
Su Ling stammered, “It’s nothing. I’m just used to bathing alone.”
Tii studied Su Ling’s flustered expression. Even though she was puzzled, she didn’t press further.
Smiling lightly, she replied, “Alright then. Take care of yourself.”
Su Ling let out a breath of relief, though an inexplicable feeling surged inside her.
She knew she couldn’t go to the bathhouse—it was a gathering place for all the girls.
Even though her appearance was that of a girl now, she hadn’t completely given up the part of herself that had once been male.
A sense of morality kept her from being too casual around them.
That was why she’d always waited until everyone had left before sneaking into the bathhouse.
“Although I’m fine looking at my own body now,” she thought, “if I have to look at other girls’ bodies… that’s impossible!”
Night fell like ink across the sky. Su Ling stood at the door to the bathhouse, heart filled with unease.
Her silvery hair shimmered faintly under the moonlight, and those rose-hued eyes glowed especially bright in the dark.
She knew she couldn’t linger too long, but the grime and fatigue from the day left her no choice but to enter this sanctuary meant for girls.
The bathhouse was dim and warm, filled with the faint scent of soap and mist.
Su Ling moved carefully, afraid of disturbing the quiet.
She glanced around and saw that the bathhouse was empty. Her nerves eased slightly.
Maybe everyone had bathed earlier tonight than usual? That thought gave her some peace.
She slipped off her maid uniform, revealing her smooth, porcelain-like skin.
The girl’s body was delicate and flawless, as perfect as the finest porcelain.
Once she had washed up, Su Ling walked to the edge of the bath.
She gently tested the water with one leg.
The warm currents wrapped around her skin, bringing an indescribable comfort.
Closing her eyes, she let herself savor this brief moment of ease.
Then, lifting one foot, she eased into the warm water.
The temperature was just right. Su Ling’s eyelashes fluttered as the water swirled between her toes, melting away the day’s exhaustion.
“Ahhh… I’m really worn out today…”
Her toes were round and shapely, like tiny pearls, and the softness of her soles felt pleasant under her hands as she rubbed them.
Moving with gentle care, she then lifted one foot out of the water, droplets rolling down her toes and splashing on the tiles with a crisp sound.
In the light, her feet looked especially white and clean, and a quiet sense of satisfaction welled up in her heart.
“A bath feels so wonderful~”
The water rippled softly as the warm currents caressed her body like countless hands.
Before long, steam filled the bathhouse, blurring her vision.
It was as though she had drifted into a hazy dream—a dream of vampires, castles, and maids… as if everything was just an illusion.
She closed her eyes, listening to the faint sound of water lapping at the sides of the pool, her heart perfectly at peace.
But that peace didn’t last long.
Suddenly, the sound of laughter outside broke the silence. Su Ling frowned slightly, a knot of worry tightening in her chest.
Someone’s coming!
“Hey, did you hear? The new maid, Lady Su Ling, was picked from among the blood slaves.”
“I know, but she’s always by herself,” another voice chimed in.
Karsanna’s voice rang out first, teasing as always.
Su Ling recognized her as the head maid—a fiery blonde who was quick to speak her mind.
“Yeah, I noticed too. She’s a bit on guard around us,” agreed Duli, a close friend of Karsanna, sounding slightly dismissive.
“Maybe she’s just shy,” added Pom, the gentlest of the maids.
Su Ling had heard that Pom and Tii had been close before Su Ling came to the castle.
“I heard she doesn’t like bathing with us,” said Phil, her voice curious. Phil was special among them, with short brown hair and twitching cat ears—a beastkin, like many of the other servants in the vampire castle.
Su Ling’s heart leapt into her throat at their words. She was trapped, nowhere to hide.
“Let’s not talk about her anymore. It’s boring,” Karsanna said, stepping up to the bath. Droplets glistened on her skin as she undid her towel, revealing a pink lace undergarment in her hands.
“Ahh, I just bought this. Look at the lace, isn’t it gorgeous?”
“You’re always showing off,” Duli replied with a laugh, wringing out her wet hair and wiping her underarms with a towel.
“But I have to admit, it’s really cute. Next time we go out, I might get one too!”
“Shhh. Maids aren’t allowed to wear flashy clothes,” Pom murmured nervously.
“Pfft, like I care,” Phil added with a wink, shrugging off her towel to reveal long, graceful legs.
“Nobody can see under our uniforms anyway!”
Giggling and chatting, the girls approached the bath.
Su Ling held her breath, sinking lower into the water so only her eyes showed.
Suddenly, Karsanna paused.
“Hey, someone’s here,” she said, eyes locking onto Su Ling’s shoulder.
“Is it Su Ling?” Duli exclaimed in surprise.
“I think it’s her,” Pom murmured, stepping closer to check.
“Why’s she hiding?” Phil asked, ears twitching.
Panic filled Su Ling’s chest. She realized she couldn’t hide forever.
With a deep breath, she slowly emerged from the water, face bright red.
“You guys… Why are you here?” she asked, voice trembling as she tried not to look at their bodies—more out of fear that they’d see her blushing than anything else.