Human? As a Sacrificial Offering?
She recalled the previous banquet, the crystal-clear wine glasses slowly swirling with the red blood inside, and an inexplicable unease suddenly creeping quietly up her spine.
Su Ling instinctively resisted that feeling. She didn’t want to learn any more details, so she didn’t push the topic further.
“Eh, but these are matters for the Blood Clan elders to worry about. We just need to do our jobs well.”
Tii also seemed unwilling to continue the conversation. She neatly arranged the dough buns filled with the cooking ingredients on the copper tray, several rows perfectly aligned, then clapped her hands with satisfaction.
“This amount should be enough. Later, we’ll hand them over to Seban, and then we can go deliver the meals.”
“That Tii… do you really not need me to help?” Su Ling felt a bit guilty on the side.
“Don’t worry, I’ve got it covered,” Tii rubbed her head, “the sacrificial food has to be prepared continuously for a week. Being Sista’s personal maid is already tough enough.”
“Thank you…”
In the end, Su Ling was still taken care of by Tii all along.
When the sun reached the center of the sky, Seban finally arrived. His eyes were sharp like an eagle’s, and his face was stern as he strode in slowly. The servants respectfully stood aside, clearing a path for him.
Clack, stomp, rumble.
The rhythmic sound of footsteps made everyone’s hearts tighten.
“Lord Seban, please take a look. These can be eaten after baking,” Tii respectfully presented the copper tray when Seban arrived before her and Su Ling, “we completed these together.”
“Hmph, not bad…” Seban began, then suddenly noticed Su Ling bowing her head nearby. His expression instantly darkened.
The resentment he had harbored since the banquet—when Su Ling had uncovered the conspiracy—rushed up in his chest.
“You made this? Hmph, you think you can just fool me with this rubbish? Nonsense!”
Seban glared coldly at Su Ling and strode forward, swinging his hand forcefully, overturning the tray of prepared pastries onto the floor. The copper basin rang sharply as the small dough buns rolled everywhere.
The servants were too frightened to speak. Su Ling instinctively took a step back, biting her lip.
“A complete pile of trash! All of this should be thrown into the Abandoned Grounds!” Seban pointed at Su Ling with all five fingers, a haughty look on his face.
As expected, Seban held a grudge against her. Now that Sista was not around, he wouldn’t be so easily restrained.
“Wait, those weren’t made by Su Ling, they were made by me!” Tii anxiously tried to explain but Su Ling gently pushed her back, signaling her not to speak.
“What? Still want to make excuses?” Seban’s expression shifted from resentment to the smugness of having the upper hand, a sly smile tugging at his lips.
Su Ling barely audibly sighed.
That old man—although scheming—was way too reckless. Whether last time or now, he only acted on emotion, framing others. She felt a bit speechless.
“Lord Seban, the work mistake is my fault. I have no intention of making excuses,” she rolled up her skirt and crouched down, picking up the copper basin, then walked over to Seban and deeply bowed, “I sincerely apologize.”
“Good that you know.”
“But…” Su Ling lifted her head, interrupting Seban’s words, “are you sure you want to throw all these pastries into the Abandoned Grounds?”
“Of course.” Seban raised an eyebrow.
“I don’t mean to offend you. You are the palace’s most experienced Butler, and your decisions have always been wise,” Su Ling looked straight ahead, her tone calm.
“The Blood Moon Festival is an important ritual for the Blood Clan. Traditionally, to ensure the perfection of the Sacrificial Offering, the Royal Family spares no expense in hiring skilled pastry chefs to prepare the food. This year, you proposed that inexperienced maids replace them to save palace expenses—an arduous plan.”
“But, the pastries are needed today. There’s no time to redo them. If any mistake occurs during the ritual because of the pastries, even if I willingly accept the punishment, you would inevitably receive blame from the elders.”
“After all, this was your suggestion.”
At these words, Seban’s face flushed red with anger. He almost lost control but was left speechless.
Every word Su Ling said was true. If something really went wrong, the first to be blamed would be the person who proposed the idea—himself.
“I… I say all this because I’m thinking of you,” Su Ling held a dough bun in her hand and patted the dust off it, “I know you always demand strict standards. These pastries might not be perfect, but they’re not that bad either.”
No sooner had she spoken than loud, resonant bell chimes sounded outside the window, echoing throughout the kitchen—the time to serve the Royal Family’s lunch was near.
“Once again, my apologies, Lord Seban,” Su Ling stepped forward and raised both hands, offering him the copper basin.
“I’m going to attend to Her Highness Sista’s lunch now. Whether to discard these pastries is your decision.”
With that, Su Ling turned around, lifted her long skirt, and hurried toward the dining hall, leaving only a string of footsteps fading around the staircase corner.
The kitchen staff began to bustle once again. After all, according to palace rules, serving the Royal Family was a priority.
They no longer stood where they had been, putting aside the unfinished products and returning to their posts amid the bustling.
Seban stayed behind, veins bulging on his forehead, gripping the copper basin as if he might crush it.
“Hey, hurry up! Someone help me pick up these pastries!”
He shouted several times but only received polite refusals from the servants.
“Lord Seban, the meal time is almost here. We really can’t spare the time.”
“Please wait a moment; I’ll be right there after I finish the salad.”
At this moment, if anyone delayed the Royal Family’s meal, it would be a real disaster. No one was willing to take the risk.
“A bunch of useless fools!”
With no choice, Seban reluctantly bent down and started picking up the pastries one by one.
Afternoon.
“Sista Su Ling, always so brave…”
Having finally delivered the baked pastries and almost finished her work, Tii quietly slipped out of the kitchen, sitting on the steps outside the door, a small smile playing on her lips.
Thinking back to Su Ling’s composure earlier, Tii’s heart began to beat a little faster.
Small Su Ling, so cute in appearance and figure, usually blushing from being teased, but when facing Seban, she had remained so calm.
“Ah, it’s a pity she’s been busy serving Sista lately. The chances for the two of us to work together have become fewer…”
Tii murmured to herself, absentmindedly picking up an oak twig and drawing circles on the step in front of her, looking a bit downcast.
“I really want to stick close to Su Ling all the time…”
Autumn had arrived. The weather today was slightly warm, and a gentle breeze blew in the afternoon, stirring a few stray strands of hair around Tii’s ears.
A faint fragrance drifted on the air, carried by the wind and entering her nose.
Tii looked up and saw a rose-red Lolita Dress fluttering on a clothesline not far away. The hem was trimmed with white ruffles, and when it moved, it resembled scattered flower petals.
Such a cute dress, Tii thought to herself.
The fabric was soft, dyed exquisitely, and around the waistline embroidered with delicate, intricate floral patterns in colorful threads. It was clearly no ordinary servant’s clothing in the castle.
She had heard before from Princess Moria that this was a piece casually sewn by Princess Sista out of personal interest.
She hadn’t expected that the Princess who never even touched a needle could produce such fine handiwork.
Tii stood and walked over to the dress.
Judging by the size, it didn’t look like it was made for herself. Maybe it was intended as a gift for some Blood Clan young lady?
She carefully examined the dress, saw no one around, and quietly stretched out her fingers to compare.
“Crying… at this length, it should fit little Su Ling pretty well.”
Tii propped her chin on her hand and pondered.