The night of the Moonlight Sonata had grown deep, the Castle veiled beneath a faint, silvery gauze of moonlight, as if it slumbered within the darkness. Within the corridor, the dim glow stretched Su Ling’s shadow long, weaving it together with the carpet.
*Her thoughts still circled in the air, matters of the Blood Clan, worries about the future, all things concerning Sista, surging like the tide, leaving her unable to find peace.*
She gently stroked the cold stone wall, trying to find a hint of comfort in its chill, but the turmoil within her heart refused to settle. Just then, a breeze slipped quietly through the cracks in the corridor, carrying the coolness of the night, softly brushing against Su Ling’s face and tossing her waterfall-like silver hair. She instinctively brushed her cheek with her fingertips.
Suddenly, an **unharmonious sound** shattered the silence. It seemed to come from far away, yet also close at hand.
Su Ling stopped in spite of herself, tilting her ear to listen, trying to pinpoint the source of the sound. She looked up toward the window, and saw the moonlight pouring like water into the Court Garden below, a shadow flickered there amidst the silver.
“That is…” Without a moment’s hesitation, Su Ling turned and ran toward the small door of the Castle. Her footsteps echoed through the empty corridor. Pushing through the heavy wooden door, she dashed into the garden.
The air was laced with the scent of flowers and the fragrance of earth, which soothed her mood a little. Su Ling caught her breath, her gaze locked on the moonlit patch of roses ahead. Amidst the dark green shrubbery, a young girl with black hair cascading to her waist and downcast eyes knelt quietly.
She wore a soft black nightgown, her hair swaying gently in the night breeze. Her pale skin, illuminated by the moonlight, looked even more translucent, almost blending into the darkness, or perhaps becoming the gentlest illusion beneath the moon.
Before the girl lay a Little Gray Dog, whom she stroked softly, her eyes gentle. Su Ling recognized this Little Gray Dog; it was the very same one she had once seen by chance in the Castle’s garden.
Swish—
Su Ling stepped forward tentatively, accidentally brushing against the shade of a nearby tree. Almost the instant the sound rang out, the girl turned her head sharply, a flash of alertness and vigilance flickering in her red eyes.
“Si… Sista, Your Highness…” Su Ling stammered, lowering her gaze to Sista. Bathed in moonlight, Sista’s figure appeared exceptionally solitary. The Little Gray Dog also noticed Su Ling, wagging its tail happily and rubbing against her leg.
“It’s you? Why have you come here?” Sista’s voice was low and hoarse as she slowly stood, her gaze meeting Su Ling’s.
“I…” Su Ling hesitated, as if something difficult to say was stuck in her throat, “I’m sorry, Your Highness. I know a maid shouldn’t wander the Castle at will. I just wanted to clear my mind.”
Sista said nothing, only stared at Su Ling for a moment before sighing helplessly. “Really, always causing me trouble,” she turned away, looking as if she was about to leave, “I should never have chosen you as my personal maid.”
“Your Highness…”
For some reason, hearing those words made Su Ling’s heart tighten, a wave of sadness washing over her.
“I know I’ve caused you a lot of trouble, Your Highness, but please, don’t send me away. Let me remain as your personal maid!”
These words were spoken for the sake of keeping her livelihood, and Su Ling knew it well.
But was there not, perhaps, some other feeling mixed in? When it came to Sista… did she still feel the same dislike as when they first met? Whenever she faced these questions, she found it hard to discern her true thoughts.
“Hmph, it’s just talk,” Sista sneered coldly, looking down at Su Ling from above, “Loyalty, wanting to stay by my side, you’re only doing this for your own benefit. I know that much.”
Su Ling didn’t know how to respond. In the quiet of the night, she could only hear her own faint breathing, and the soft rustle of leaves.
“As a member of the Royal Family, I should have chosen a personal maid who truly fears and respects the Blood Clan, not someone like you,” her voice was utterly devoid of emotion, “That day… perhaps it was I who made the mistake…”
“Your Highness!” Su Ling finally couldn’t hold back, “I…!” She gazed at Sista’s profile, and after a moment, softened her voice before continuing.
“Your Highness, you’re right. The main reason I stayed was for myself. But… I still wish you’d let me remain.”
The other was a lofty Blood Clan Princess, while she herself was just a maid at the mercy of others—a person with no rights at all.
She should be cautious in all things, speak with tact and humility. These were things she should always remember. Yet, at this moment, Su Ling could no longer care about such things; a nameless emotion rose within her, making her blurt out her thoughts without restraint.
“If you truly wish to serve the Blood Clan, the one you should curry favor with is Moria, not me,” the moonlight was blocked by drifting clouds, and Sista’s figure was swallowed by shadow, her expression hard to see, “She is not only the Heir to the Throne, destined to be above all in the future, but also a model for the Blood Clan Royal Family. Moria treats nobles with grace and servants with kindness. You should, like all the other humans in this Castle, see her as the one worthy of your loyalty.”
“Perhaps… Your Highness is right,” Su Ling finally spoke after a moment’s thought, “I don’t know Princess Moria well, but when I first came to this Castle, the first person I met was you.”
“Princess Moria is kind to her servants, and Your Highness is not a cold person, either. I know some of the servants here have prejudices against you, but I think that’s only because they don’t understand you.”
“So you think you understand me? How laughably arrogant.” Sista spoke with a mocking tone, but there was a hint of wavering in her eyes.
“I wouldn’t dare think so,” Su Ling lowered her head, staring at her own toes, “but there’s something I’ve always wanted to thank you for.”
Suddenly, the soft sighing of the night wind arose, the blooming roses swaying gently, adorning the girl’s long skirt. Su Ling took a small step forward, drawing closer to Sista.
“That day… you picked up the Little Bunny I’d sewn from the trash bin. I truly… thank you for that.”
“Su Ling…” Sista turned in surprise, clearly not expecting Su Ling to say such a thing. She stared blankly at Su Ling, lips slightly parted, gazing intently at her face. Yet, that look of surprise vanished in a fleeting moment. After only a few seconds, she reverted to her usual indifferent expression, gently biting her lip.
Premium Chapter
Login to buy access to this Chapter.