“Little Frosy, it looks like you’re about to lose.”
Amelia spoke with a beaming smile.
Frosy’s gaze was icy, the murderous aura around her almost becoming tangible.
Ivy had betrayed her.
Frosy’s eyes narrowed. Her favorite pet wanted to join forces with someone else to kill her.
She had originally just wanted to turn Ivy into a toy, but now she’d changed her mind.
Now, she wanted to kill Ivy directly.
As this thought crossed her mind, a mist of blood began to swirl around Frosy, and a blood-red longsword slowly formed in her hand.
Just as the sword in Frosy’s hand was about to take shape, a blood arrow pierced through her blood mist, scattering the longsword that was nearly complete.
“Don’t be in such a rush.”
“Our wager isn’t over yet, is it?” Amelia dispersed the blood arrow that was about to stab into the ground and looked at Frosy.
Amelia gazed at Frosy. “Killing her off so quickly would be too boring. It’s been a long time since I’ve met such an interesting little one.”
“Besides, this little one hasn’t completely betrayed you, has she? Maybe she’s just trying to deceive me.” Amelia tucked her purple hair behind her ear as she spoke to Frosy.
Frosy looked at Ivy, the blood mist around her slowly dissipating. She let out a heavy breath and spoke to Amelia:
“The pill you gave her—what does it do?”
Amelia raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised by Frosy’s question. “Didn’t you just want to kill the little one a moment ago?”
“And now you’re worried about what the pill does?”
“Cut the nonsense. Only I get to kill my own pet.” Frosy replied coldly.
“It’s just a calming pill, really. After all, if the little one doesn’t fall asleep, how are we supposed to talk?”
“Keeping her in the dark, watching her run around and fight for her freedom—”
“And then crushing her hope with our own hands, isn’t that much more entertaining?”
“If she just died like this, our lives would go back to being dull again.”
Amelia spoke unhurriedly.
Frosy frowned, but after a moment’s thought,
It did seem like Amelia’s way would be more interesting.
She rarely agreed with Amelia, but when it came to dealing with Ivy, she found herself, for once, in rare agreement.
“Fine, I’ll spare her life for now.”
“But I won’t forgive her for betraying me.”
Frosy said.
Amelia waved her hand. “That has nothing to do with me. After all, this little one is yours. However you want to deal with her is none of my concern.”
“I just don’t want our wager to end so hastily with this little one’s death. I still want to hear you call me ‘big sister’ with your own mouth.”
“In any case, just don’t play her to death.” Amelia glanced at Frosy, who looked ready to hack her apart again, and decided to swallow the rest of her teasing words.
“Alright, alright, I’m leaving now.” Amelia waved her hand, preparing to go. But just as she reached the door, she seemed to remember something. She turned back to Frosy and said:
“Oh, right. You probably saw it just now—I loosened some of the shackles on her. This little one’s body is pretty tough now.”
“As long as you don’t go all out trying to kill her, there shouldn’t be any problem.”
“But, don’t let it slip that you’re punishing her because of the wager. If that clever little one figures it out, it won’t be any fun.”
Frosy nodded to show she understood.
Then, without hesitation, she gave Amelia a swift kick, sending her flying out the door in a graceful arc.
Bang——
The door slammed shut. Amelia nonchalantly dusted off her clothes and caught sight of Lia, who was standing by the door as a guard—her face full of shock.
“Hey, Lia, you’ve really grown up.”
Amelia spoke with a familiar air.
At Amelia’s words, Lia finally realized how rude she’d been to stare at her actions for so long. She quickly lowered her head and saluted Amelia.
“S-sorry, Your Highness.”
“Just pretend you didn’t see anything tonight, and don’t tell anyone.”
“Especially not that little one.”
“Even though you’ve been by Frosy’s side for many years now, and I’ve known you for many years as well,”
“But betraying Frosy is still something you shouldn’t do. Otherwise…”
Amelia stopped halfway, turned, and walked toward the Castle’s exit.
Lia kept her head lowered, her breathing already in disarray.
So, the matter of her secretly communicating with Ivy… had been discovered?
Lia’s hands and feet went cold. She had been a bloodkin for a long time, and it had been ages since she felt such bone-chilling fear.
The last time… when was it?
Lia couldn’t quite remember. Maybe it was back during the famine, when her parents traded her away to be someone else’s food.
It was then that Frosy picked her up—or rather, bought her.
Lia twisted her fingers together. Maybe Her Highness had known all along…
Her feelings for Frosy were strange—not the kind of affection the outside world imagined, but more like family.
Frosy had given her life, and given her a new beginning. From that moment on, she could never leave Frosy.
If she had to choose between death and being abandoned by Frosy, Lia would choose death without hesitation. After all, she’d long since forgotten the reason for living.
Her life existed only for Frosy.
Lia collected her thoughts, remembering the pitiable Ivy—the little girl who always made her softhearted.
But now Lia understood: maybe it was her own pity that led to all of this.
These little actions of hers lately… she should confess them to Her Highness.
Thinking this, Lia hesitantly glanced at the door.
*****
Outside the Castle, Amelia walked along the road back to the Castle. Although it was midsummer, it was nighttime, and the Castle’s unique chill made the surroundings especially comfortable—a refreshing coolness.
Amelia thought about what she’d just said to Lia. She really hadn’t paid much attention to this little girl for a long time, and hadn’t expected her to become bloodkin.
Amelia pinched her chin, pondering for a while, replaying Lia’s reaction in her mind.
Could she really have guessed it?
Amelia thought about the blood servant whose name was so similar to hers, recalling that fleeting panic and helplessness.
She probably did guess it. Who would’ve thought even Lia was bewitched by that little one.
That Ivy really was something—to be able to sway a blood servant who’d been by Frosy’s side for so long.
Things were getting more and more interesting.
With that thought, Amelia stopped her leisurely stroll, and turned into a swirl of blood mist, heading toward her own Castle.