“I’m exhausted…”
Sista had sent Phil away early and returned to her luxurious room.
Honestly, if it weren’t for the royal protocol requiring her to have a personal attendant, she would have much preferred to be alone..
The bronze mirror reflected her delicate features.
She picked up a comb and gracefully ran it through her smooth hair. Her movements were elegant and composed, but her thoughts had drifted far away, a trace of worry glinting in her eyes.
Staring into the mirror, a heavy feeling welled up inside her.
Tensions with the enemy nation were escalating. The shadow of war already loomed over the land, yet her father, lost in pleasures, and her stepmother—the queen—who encouraged his indulgence, showed no concern at all.
Was she truly capable of managing such an important burden?
“Tomorrow I have to sign two tax law documents… and Count Landon has requested a private meeting…”
Just as fatigue began to set in, the image of a silver-haired girl appeared in her mind. That girl—elegant and otherworldly—had eyes that sparkled with purity.
Sista’s heart stirred.
Time passed quickly. Tomorrow would be the day Su Ling was scheduled to serve her.
A strange anticipation arose within her. She remembered the last time she had tasted Su Ling’s blood—the sweetness of it still lingered on her tongue.
Unconsciously, a faint smile tugged at her lips, her eyes glowing with something indescribable.
That night, Su Ling had a dream.
She lay in bed, eyes shut, yet she could clearly feel herself running—fleeing.
In the dream, cloaked in darkness and dressed in stealthy black, she slipped out of the castle. Every step she took was cautious, afraid of waking the sleeping guards. Her heart brimmed with the joy of escape, as if she could already see the dawn of freedom.
But fate was not on her side. Just as she crossed a dense forest, the sound of hurried footsteps shattered the still night. She turned to see several guards bearing torches, chasing after her.
“Catch her! Don’t let her escape!” they shouted, voices ringing through the night sky.
Her heart sank. She knew there was nowhere left to run.
She fled as fast as she could, but the guards were gaining ground. Her heart pounded like thunder in her chest, fear coiling around it like a cold serpent.
“Ah—!”
She awoke with a cry, sitting up in bed, drenched in cold sweat, heart still racing as if she hadn’t yet escaped the nightmare.
“Is it… morning already?”
Right. Today was the day she had agreed to go to Sista’s room… to “serve” her.
Just thinking about the dream made Su Ling tremble.
Though Tii had reassured her that the princess wouldn’t kill a servant just to drink their blood, she couldn’t stop the fear that gripped her.
Morning sunlight filtered through the castle windows, casting broken patterns on the hallway floor.
Su Ling picked up her broom and rag—it was her turn to clean the corridor today.
She carefully wiped the candle stand on the round table, trying to move it aside for a proper sweep.
But just then, a nearby vase slipped and shattered on the hard stone floor with a sharp crack.
“Su Ling! What are you doing?” came the voice of Head Maid Karsanna from the end of the corridor. She marched over, frowning at the broken vase.
Su Ling panicked. She knew she was in trouble and quickly stood up, bowing her head. “I’m sorry, Miss Karsanna. I didn’t mean to… it was an accident.”
She had been so preoccupied with thoughts of Sista that she hadn’t been paying attention.
Karsanna studied her, noticing how pale and dazed she looked. Her frown deepened. “What’s wrong with you? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
Su Ling hesitated for a moment but only shook her head.
“It’s nothing.”
“Hey! Karsanna! What are you doing?! Hurry up!”
A shout came from the kitchen—it was the cook calling for Karsanna to help with breakfast.
“Tch, that old woman’s always yelling…” Karsanna muttered.
She gave Su Ling a tired glance and handed her the bucket of cleaning tools.
“Su Ling, go clean the upper lounge for me. I’ve got to head to the kitchen.”
As the head maid, Karsanna’s orders weren’t to be disobeyed.
Su Ling nodded and climbed the stairs toward the lounge. But just before she reached the door, she heard voices—arguing.
She froze.
A man and a woman stood facing each other.
The man was tall and broad-shouldered, with a rugged face and a thunderous scowl. His voice boomed like a storm.
“Your Highness, Lady Moria is still out on the battlefield. How can you say such a thing? Withdraw from the north? That’s cowardice!”
Miss Sista remained calm. Dressed in an elegant gown with a gem-studded crown, she radiated noble authority.
She met Shenuel’s fury without flinching and replied coldly, “Shenuel, calm down! I’m not running away—I’m thinking of the empire’s survival. The war with Valivadan isn’t over, and provoking the orc tribes now is far too risky. We can’t let a moment’s recklessness endanger the whole kingdom.”
Su Ling gasped.
That name—how could she forget it?
Count Shenuel Mongo of Landon—the very one who, in the original story, had murdered Su Ling out of gluttony.
Count Mongo was the lord of the land north of the Holy White River, all the way to the border. His grandfather, General Blue Mongola, had earned the title during the great war between humans and vampires a century ago, claiming vast northern lands for his family.
Now, Shenuel’s face was flushed with rage. He raised his fist and roared,
“Survival? All you care about is survival! You don’t give a damn about the kingdom’s honor or the lives of its soldiers! I swear, if anything happens—I’ll lead my army into battle myself, even if it costs me my life!”
Sista sneered coldly, her eyes flashing with disdain.
“Shenuel, who do you think you are? You don’t decide the kingdom’s future on your own. I am the princess of this nation. I have a duty to protect my people. I won’t let your recklessness bring ruin upon us all!”
Their argument grew more intense, echoing through the vast halls of the castle.
Su Ling held her breath, careful not to make a sound. Shock gripped her—she hadn’t expected to overhear such a fierce confrontation, much less discover that Princess Sista and the nobles were so divided.