Chapter 16: Yalbera’s Frustrating Day

In the dim room, Yalbera rose from bed, her golden curls cascading freely over her shoulders.

Still groggy, she glanced out the window and realized it was nearly noon.

Why hadn’t Bai woken her?

Oh, right.

She belonged to that woman now.

“Tch…”

Annoyed for no reason from the moment she woke.

Ever since returning from Yare’s domain yesterday, an overwhelming exhaustion had settled over her.

She had collapsed onto the bed and slept until now.

She hadn’t felt tired in thousands of years.

“She’s just a blood slave. If I wanted, I could easily find someone better than Bai…” she muttered under her breath.

She got dressed, her loose hair unkempt, and sat quietly before her vanity mirror, waiting.

She paused.

“Tch.”

That irritation crept up again…

***

Elsewhere in the castle, Aiersha stood in front of Bai’s bedroom door, saying nothing.

She seemed to brace herself mentally, then knocked with exaggerated gentleness and called out in a sweet voice, “It’s morning, Xiao Bai. Time to wake up. If you stay lazy any longer… big sister’s going to play a trick on you~”

No response from inside.

Or rather, there was no one to respond anymore.

Aiersha opened the door and stepped in.

Inside, the bedding was messily piled atop the mattress.

The white sheets were stained with small spots of dried water and blood.

The rumpled linens faintly outlined the shape of a petite girl’s body.

On the nearby table sat a withered white Twilight Rose, along with the silver utensils once used to prepare blood meals.

Aiersha stood there silently for a long time.

Then she moved to the bed and methodically folded the bedding.

After finishing, she buried her face into the sheets, taking in the lingering scent of flowers.

Every morning, Bai would get up early, wash up in a rush, and go straight to Yalbera’s chamber door, just to be the first person her master saw upon waking.

That’s why her room always ended up in chaos.

Aiersha found it funny.

Bai could keep the entire castle and garden immaculate, yet never had time to tidy her own room, just so Yalbera might glance her way.

Every time Bai hurried off, she never noticed the figure silently watching her from the hallway.

Then quietly entering the room behind her, folding her blankets.

And soaking in the warmth she left behind.

Aiersha didn’t understand, why?

Why did Bai love Yalbera so much?

Why did she crave her attention so desperately?

Was it really just because the proud Yalbera happened to save her five years ago?

Aiersha was jealous.

And envious.

Envious that Yalbera could be loved so deeply by her precious Xiao Bai.

That she could be served so faithfully by the one Aiersha loved most.

Even at the cost of Bai’s own body being broken and trampled, just to make Yalbera smile.

She was angry, furious that Yalbera didn’t care.

Didn’t care about Xiao Bai’s affection.

Didn’t care about the sacrifices Bai made in her service.

And the ending… Aiersha had long foreseen it. She just didn’t expect it to come so soon.

How she wished, how she desperately wished that it had been her who saved Xiao Bai all those years ago.

Then she could have shamelessly claimed her, her body, her blood, her love, everything.

She could have indulged in Bai’s devoted service, and in return, poured out her own mad love without restraint.

But now, that arrogant fool Yalbera had pushed Bai away.

And worse, an unexpected variable had entered.

One that shattered the fragile bond between them and stole Bai away without hesitation.

Yare.

That damnable bitch who dared to take Xiao Bai from her.

She would never allow that to happen.

“Xiao Bai… since that Yalbera doesn’t know how to treasure you, then let big sister take her place, okay? You said it, remember? You wanted love and attention. So no matter what big sister does… you’ll forgive me, right? My most beloved Xiao Bai… hehehe…”

A low voice spread across the room, followed by a thick, twisted laugh.

Aiersha hugged the blankets tighter, greedily inhaling the last remnants of Bai’s scent.

Just then, a buzzing sound rang in her ear, interrupting her movements.

Yalbera was summoning her.

Annoyance stirred in her chest.

You’re the reason Bai left.

And now you want to interrupt the last bit of warmth she left behind?

But now wasn’t the time to turn hostile.

Not yet, not before Bai was hers.

Suppressing her irritation, Aiersha arrived at Yalbera’s bedchamber, only to find her seated in clear displeasure.

Her golden twin-tails were slightly messy, and her clothing disheveled.

It was obvious, this True Ancestor was in a terrible mood this morning.

Serves you right.

“What are your orders, Lady Yalbera?”

Aiersha asked flatly.

“Go prepare my blood meal. Now.”

“…Yes.”

About ten minutes later, Aiersha returned carrying a tray of elegant teacups, each filled with blood of different colors.

One was deep violet, with a faint purple shimmer floating at the surface.

Another was golden, releasing a strange, fruity aroma.

She served the violet one first, but Yalbera barely took a sip before spitting it out in disgust.

Her expression twisted in fury.

“What the hell is this? Tastes like garbage! Did you seriously bring me pig’s blood?!”

“Ancient dragon blood from the Northern Wastes. Pure-blood Blackflame Dragon,” Aiersha replied emotionlessly.

“Get it out of my sight! Don’t ever bring this again! Northern dragon or not, this stuff tastes worse than human blood!”

Aiersha said nothing, calmly removing the cup and offering the next one.

Yalbera took the next cup, noting the smooth surface of the blood with no impurities.

She swirled it slightly, and a rich fruity aroma rose to her nose.

Surely this one wouldn’t taste bad.

She took a large gulp.

“Pfft! Cough, cough, cough, cough!”

Aiersha, seemingly anticipating her reaction, had already stepped aside, just in time to avoid being sprayed by the blood.

Before Yalbera could yell, Aiersha calmly said, “That was high-elven essence blood. Only one drop is produced each year. It’s considered one of the rarest blood types.”

“You’re telling me this chicken-blood-tasting garbage is elven blood?”

Yalbera looked utterly incredulous.

She clearly remembered, before Bai ever came into her life, this had been her favorite.

Yet now, it tasted absolutely foul?

Aiersha sighed and pulled out another cup from behind her, this one filled with murky, cloudy blood.

She handed it over.

Yalbera took it with a frown, her eyes narrowing at the floating particulates within.

Her voice sharp, she asked, “What is this?”

“Blood,” Aiersha replied curtly.

“…”

Yalbera hesitated, then took a cautious sip.

Her eyes widened.

She downed the rest in a single motion.

“From now on, only use this kind. Throw the rest of that trash out.”

“There’s no more. That was the only cup.”

Yalbera’s brow furrowed again, her tone haughty.

“Only one? Don’t tell me there’s blood in this world I can’t have. Tell me, whose blood is that? I’ll go get it myself.”

“Xiao Bai’s.”

“……”

“That was the cup she brought you a few mornings ago, the one you didn’t drink. I preserved it with magic,” Aiersha added.

Though originally… I planned to drink it myself.