Song Ban’s brows were furrowed, and he clapped his hands, forcing himself to look calm as he surveyed the surroundings. After a moment, he shook his head helplessly, his voice carrying a hint of heaviness.
“Your Highness, we couldn’t find her…”
Upon hearing this, Sista’s emotions suddenly collapsed. She almost frantically grabbed Seban’s collar, her voice trembling with rage: “What are you doing! Not all the people in the Castle have been evacuated yet—why did you just run off on your own?”
Song Ban’s expression turned awkward, but he didn’t refute her. Yet, the hand behind his back quietly clenched into a fist, suppressing the emotions surging within him.
He had long been dissatisfied with Sista’s haughty ways, but was powerless to resist, so he could only bear it in silence.
Sista turned around sharply, her gaze icy as she swept over the surrounding attendants, her voice harsh: “Has anyone among you seen Su Ling?”
Feeling the oppressive aura from the Princess, the servants were all trembling with fear, not daring to utter a word or show the slightest bit of neglect, only able to stand rigidly at attention.
“Miss Su… she just said she wasn’t feeling well and went back to her room to rest. We haven’t seen her since,” the Short-Haired Girl, usually reserved, stood out from the crowd and replied earnestly.
“That’s right, after the ritual, she went back to her room. Another maid echoed, looking worried. “Maybe she’s not feeling well.”
“You only care about your own safety—didn’t any of you go call for her?” Sista questioned sternly.
“It’s not like that! Your Highness, we thought…we thought she had already left with the others…” A maid hurried forward to explain.
Sista no longer wanted to entangle herself with these people. She turned away, facing the burning Castle, her long hair fluttering in the air.
“I’m going to find her.”
Her voice was completely unwavering, and the firelight illuminated her face. Just as she was about to stride toward the Castle, suddenly, an irresistible force grabbed her from behind and held her tightly in place.
“Sista, how long are you going to be this willful?”
That voice was low and stern—it was King Steyat, her father, and the supreme ruler of this kingdom.
“I have to go back! My Personal Mai is still inside the Castle!”
“A mere maid—just get another one.”
King Steyat sighed, his tone filled with disappointment.
“I’ve heard from Seban that you’ve always been unusually attached to that human girl. But you must understand, as the Blood Clan Princess, you cannot throw away the dignity of our Royal Family for the sake of a human.”
“Let go!” Sista gritted her teeth, still struggling to pry his hand off. “Don’t hold me back!”
“Sista!” Steyat’s voice grew louder, his tone unyielding. “Listen to me! You are not just yourself—you are also the Princess of Anderson. Every action you take represents the honor of the Royal Family.”
“Those clansmen are all watching you—how can you be worthy of your status as Princess if you disregard your identity like this?”
Sista stopped, standing frozen in place.
King Steyat’s last words landed on her heart like a heavy hammer, bringing her an unprecedented sense of suffocation.
“Su Ling…” she murmured, her voice faint and weak.
She couldn’t shake off the shackles that had bound her heart for so long, yet at the thought that Su Ling might still be trapped in the Fire Sea, Sista’s heart ached unbearably.
That maid who had accompanied her day and night had long become an inseparable part of her life.
Not long ago, they had kissed in the Castle’s dressing room. The feeling of breath against breath, the play of light and shadow, and the unspoken emotions all still lingered in Sista’s memory, as vivid as if it had happened only moments ago.
Can she really just sit here and ignore it?
No matter what, she couldn’t bring herself to make that choice.
“Sista!”
A voice called out to her. Sista looked up to see a red-haired girl pushing her way through the crowd, stumbling as she hurried toward her.
The night wind lifted the girl’s hair—a color as fiery as the flames.
It was the one who had once been her Personal Mai, Tii.
“Your Highness, let me go,” Tii met Sista’s gaze calmly. “I’ll go and rescue Su Ling.”
“Tii…”
Sista never imagined Tii would appear at such a critical moment. She couldn’t help but look her up and down with doubt.
“Please rest assured,” Tii saw Sista’s suspicion and stepped forward, continuing, “I swear to you, I will bring her out.”
Sista fell silent.
Tii was serious—her emerald eyes held no trace of hesitation or doubt. Even after escaping death, she was willing to brave the Fire Sea again.
Though Tii’s words offered some comfort, her reckless determination to risk her life for Su Ling left Sista’s heart aching with an unnameable sorrow.
“I understand. Go,” Sista said, keeping her emotions in check. “I’ll send some Guards with you.”
So, under the blood-red night sky, that girl, like a red butterfly, dashed straight for the Castle ablaze against the sky.
Sista watched her fade into the night until she disappeared from view.
Running in the opposite direction from the crowd, Tii had only one thought in her heart—to save Su Ling.
The fire raged ever stronger. Most of the people inside the Castle had already escaped; those left were probably few and far between.
Sista had sent five or six Guards to follow her, but those Guards, more eager to preserve their lives, soon melted into the fleeing crowd and vanished without a trace.
Tii let out a cold laugh, unconcerned. She’d never expected those lackeys, loyal to the Blood Clan, to be of any help.
But just now, the Blood Princess’s reaction had left Tii somewhat bewildered.
Why would Sista care so much about Su Ling?
Very soon, the Castle’s grand gates appeared before her.
Sparks filled the air, mingling with the burnt scent of wood, fabric, and all manner of things from inside the Castle. The acrid smoke of Jiaoshi drifted everywhere, making it hard to breathe.
Without hesitation, she charged into the Fire Sea. The heat scorched Tii’s skin, but it was as if an invisible force protected her—she felt no pain, only pressing forward.
All around her was a sea of red—the Fire Sea raged, pillars collapsed, and burned, shattered furniture littered her path.
“I’m sorry, Su Ling, I’m so sorry…”
She hated herself for her earlier carelessness, for not having checked Su Ling’s room during the chaos, putting her friend in danger.
Tii rushed toward the underground—the situation here was even more perilous. The collapsed debris formed massive obstacles, blocking her way.
She cleared away the obstacles one by one, passing through storerooms, halls, and the corridors she once walked together with Su Ling. Now, these places were unrecognizable, consumed by darkness and ruin.
At the end of the corridor, Su Ling’s door had already been warped and blackened by the flames, leaving only a charred frame. Tii gritted her teeth and rushed over.
“Su Ling! Su Ling! Are you in there?” she called out loudly, hoping for any kind of response.
At last, the door frame finally fell, dropping from the wall behind Tii and nearly crushing her foot. In that split second, Tii suddenly froze.
She had found her.
The silver-haired girl was lying on the ground, her arms crossed over her chest, blood staining her forehead. She was pinned by collapsed wooden beams and unable to move.
“Su Ling…” Tii’s eyes shimmered with tears. She quickly moved forward, trying to lift the debris from Su Ling’s body.
“Tii…”
“It’s me. I’m here to get you out. Hold on a little longer!” Her voice was hoarse.
“This place…it’s too dangerous,” Su Ling’s voice was faint and weak, “Don’t come near me, just go…”
“How could I leave you behind!”
Tii choked with sobs, tears and sweat mixing on her face and dripping to the ground.
Smoke stung her eyes until they burned.
“I told you I would stay by your side…so, so you have to come out with me!” Tii said as she redoubled her efforts to clear away the rubble.
Finally, a corner of the wardrobe was lifted, and Tii breathed a long sigh of relief. She gingerly cradled Su Ling in her arms, fearing she might hurt the girl even a little.
Holding Su Ling tightly, she felt that faint breathing and the scorched warmth of her body, and her restless heart gradually began to calm.