Su Ling’s heart was full of unease—she knew she had overheard something she never should have.
Just as she was about to turn and quietly leave, the sound of footsteps approached.
Her heart jolted in panic, and before she could hide, the door slowly opened.
A figure in an elegant gown stepped out—her black hair cascading like silk.
Su Ling’s heart leapt to her throat.
She scrambled to explain, voice trembling:
“P-Princess… Your Highness…”
But Sista’s gaze was as sharp as a blade.
She clearly didn’t believe Su Ling’s excuse.
She lifted her chin slightly, her tone carrying unquestionable authority:
“What are you doing here?”
“I… I was just planning to clean the room,” Su Ling stammered, cold sweat running down her back.
Sista didn’t respond.
She narrowed her eyes, watching Su Ling closely, making it hard to read her thoughts.
The pressure was suffocating.
After a moment’s hesitation, Su Ling mustered her courage and said:
“Forgive me, Your Highness. I accidentally overheard your conversation with the count.”
She bit her lip.
“I didn’t mean to listen in… I did hear a bit, but not everything…”
A flicker of surprise passed through Sista’s eyes, but it quickly faded into calm.
She glanced back—the count was still inside.
Then she spoke coolly:
“Come with me.”
Su Ling’s heart pounded.
She had no idea what fate awaited her, but she also knew she had no way out.
All she could do was follow Sista’s lead, carefully entering the princess’s chambers.
The room was elegantly furnished, solemn and refined, filled with a faint, pleasant fragrance.
Sista sat gracefully in a finely crafted chair, her piercing eyes fixed on Su Ling.
She studied the girl in silence.
Coincidence? Or was she deliberately eavesdropping?
Could this maid be a spy sent by the human faction?
No, unlikely.
Sista shook her head slightly.
Su Ling had no background—just a blood slave from a distant province, still young.
She didn’t seem like someone capable of espionage.
Perhaps she really had just stumbled across the conversation.
“Speak. What exactly did you hear?” Her voice was calm, cold.
Su Ling took a deep breath and recounted what she had overheard, word for word.
She tried to keep her voice steady, but her tension only grew stronger.
Sista was silent for a long moment after hearing her.
Though her face showed no expression, Su Ling could feel the weight of her presence like a heavy fog pressing down.
“Do you realize what this means?” Sista suddenly asked.
Su Ling shook her head, bewildered.
Sista gave a cold chuckle:
“The count is short-tempered and impulsive. If he knew you saw him lose control, he wouldn’t let you off easily.
And I, as a princess of the realm, cannot allow anyone to eavesdrop on royal matters.”
Su Ling’s face went pale—she knew she was in serious danger.
Her voice trembled:
“Th-then… what should I do?”
Sista sighed lightly.
“You really are simple, being so honest about what you heard.”
She raised an eyebrow.
“Aren’t you worried your honesty might get you killed?”
“Because…” Su Ling swallowed, “I know there’s no point lying to you.”
She understood very well—Hisseta was naturally suspicious.
Any lie, no matter how well-crafted, would be seen through by those crimson eyes.
Sista seemed surprised by that answer.
She examined Su Ling closely.
“You seem to understand me well?”
Su Ling froze and quickly shook her head.
“N-no, I wouldn’t dare…”
“Then why say something like that?”
“I just…”
Her mind raced, “I just feel that as a maid, I shouldn’t lie to you, Your Highness…”
“…I see.”
The black-haired girl gave a faint nod and turned away.
After a pause, she said, “If you’d lied earlier, you might already be dead. But since you chose to be honest, I’ll spare you.”
“What you heard—what can and cannot be said—you understand that, right? What happened today… never happened. Do you understand?”
A ripple of fear passed through Su Ling’s heart.
She had no choice but to nod.
Her voice shook:
“Yes… I understand.”
“And tonight—come serve in my chambers.”
“Eh…?”
Su Ling thought she might have imagined it, but she could’ve sworn she saw Sista smile at her.
Nightfall.
As Su Ling pushed open the heavy doors, a chill greeted her.
Her eyes were drawn to the bed at the center of the room.
Sitting there was a girl of cold, stunning beauty—Sista.
Her skin was pale as porcelain, and her deep crimson eyes glowed like a moonless night, as if they could swallow all light.
Su Ling’s heart pounded wildly.
She summoned her courage, stepped forward, and bowed deeply.
Her voice trembled with a mix of reverence and fear:
“Your Highness… I’m here.”
Tonight she wore a soft blue dress Tii had picked out, its hem adorned with pearl-trimmed ruffles—
Sista always seemed to enjoy dressing her up like a doll before “enjoying” her.
Sista slowly turned to face her, her gaze sweeping across Su Ling’s figure.
A cold shiver ran down Su Ling’s spine.
“So you finally came.”
Sista’s voice was flat, almost emotionless.
Su Ling peeked up at her eyes—blood-red and penetrating.
Terror gripped her.
She knew she couldn’t back out now.
“Your Highness, I… I’m here to serve you.”
A strange smile curled at the corners of Sista’s mouth.
She stood and walked slowly toward Su Ling.
Su Ling’s body trembled uncontrollably.
The weight of Sista’s presence made it hard to breathe.
“Are you afraid of me?”
Sista whispered near her ear, laced with teasing amusement.
Su Ling stammered,
“Of… of course I am. But… but I don’t have any other choice…”
Sista chuckled softly.
Her fingers traced gently along Su Ling’s cheek, as if caressing fine porcelain.
Su Ling shivered, feeling a strange mix of numbness and fear.
Suddenly, Sista leaned down and began to untie the ribbon at Su Ling’s neck.
Su Ling’s eyes widened in alarm.
Her voice was lost, her body frozen in place.
She couldn’t move.
She couldn’t even scream.