A dream.
A desolate land littered with corpses stretched out as far as the eye could see, and the thick stench of death permeated the air. Beneath the setting sun, a red-haired girl walked alone, treading through pools of blood.
Tii’s dress was already stained with gore. Clutching the broken half of a sword, she limped forward. Her emerald-green eyes were like deep, frigid ponds, staring toward an unknown horizon.
‘What has she been through? Why has she become like this?’
“Tii!”
A sharp pang of pain pierced Su Ling’s heart. Having finally reestablished contact after so long, she couldn’t help but run after Tii, panting heavily.
“Tii, wait! Why are you in a place like this? Where are you going? I’m so worried about you…”
Su Ling shouted as she ran, but she gradually found herself unable to keep up.
Just as the figure was about to vanish, Tii suddenly stopped and slowly turned around. She didn’t speak; she simply gazed at Su Ling. Her eyes seemed to hold a thousand words, yet she was unable to utter a single one.
—
Many days passed, and in the blink of an eye, it was already early autumn.
Ever since that bloody dream, Su Ling had been unable to contact Tii through the Communication Bracelet. Her dreams had become fragmented, leaving behind only scattered visions. From these pieces, she caught a faint sense that something terrible had happened to Tii, and her heart grew increasingly heavy with worry.
‘What exactly happened to Tii?’
However, she was imprisoned within the Summer Palace Castle and had no other way to obtain news of Tii. She could only fret in silence, utterly helpless.
The first ray of morning sunlight filtered through the gaps in the curtains, bringing a touch of warmth and life to the ancient castle. The air was filled with a faint woody scent — the aroma of old oak furniture mingled with the freshness of the morning, creating a sense of tranquility.
Sista held the leash attached to the collar, pulling Su Ling toward the dining table.
The two sat facing each other. The air felt frozen, yet it held a subtle sense of balance.
Since Su Ling’s “counter-push” last time, the relationship between them had undergone a shift.
Although Sista remained cold and arrogant, she no longer tormented Su Ling as capriciously as before. It seemed that being overpowered that one time had given her a strange sense of satisfaction, and the frequency of her outbursts had decreased significantly.
Su Ling also gradually discovered that as long as she didn’t show any intention of leaving, Sista would “care” for her in an awkward, twisted way.
Even though this relationship was somewhat pathological, through the daily ambiguity and intimate contact, Su Ling had unknowingly grown accustomed to Sista’s presence.
After all, ever since she lost contact with Tii, she had hardly interacted with a second person in the castle besides Sista. Gradually, Sista had become her entire world.
In the castle’s Dining Hall, a long table had been meticulously set for breakfast. It was covered with a snow-white tablecloth edged with delicate lace.
Freshly baked bread sat in porcelain plates, its golden crust releasing an inviting aroma. Beside it were small dishes of butter, jam, and cheese, giving off a light, milky scent.
Sista released the leash and signaled for Su Ling to sit.
Su Ling hesitated for a moment but complied, sitting in the chair with her hands placed neatly on her knees. She kept her head slightly bowed in a humble posture.
Eating breakfast together had become a fixed daily routine.
Sista sat opposite Su Ling and picked up her knife and fork to eat elegantly. She didn’t speak, only gesturing with her eyes for Su Ling to begin.
Su Ling carefully picked up her utensils, cut a small piece of bread, and placed it in her mouth. She didn’t look up, chewing silently, appearing obedient and quiet. The silver-haired girl’s eyelashes fluttered slightly, and a trace of melancholy lingered in her eyes, as if she had something on her mind that she couldn’t bring herself to say.
Sista cleared her throat, attempting to mask her concern with a cold tone. “What is wrong with you?”
Su Ling startled slightly and looked up, answering softly, “Your Highness… I’m just a little tired.”
“Lying to me again. You don’t look like this when you’re tired; don’t think I can’t tell.”
Sista’s gaze lingered on her for a moment before she let out a cold snort.
“I happen to have some time right now. If something is bothering you, I suppose I can listen.”
“It isn’t anything worth your time, Your Highness…”
Before she could finish, Sista interrupted her impatiently.
“Whether it is worth it is for me to decide. What right does a fool like you have to make decisions for me?”
It seemed she had no choice but to speak.
However, the thought that her worries were related to Tii made Su Ling hesitate. She knew very well that Sista and Tii did not get along; in fact, they were on opposing sides.
…Forget it.
It would be better to ask directly about the state of the war in Ansels. Tii’s mission was to go to the front lines and assassinate an officer of Ansels.
As long as she could learn about the outcome of the war from Sista, she could more or less infer Tii’s current situation.
After a moment of hesitation, Su Ling finally spoke. “Your Highness, I wanted to ask… is Ansels still at war with other countries?”
Sista paused. “You’re worried about that?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“You don’t need to worry about such things. No matter what happens, as long as you are by my side, you are safe.”
Sista sighed softly.
The Blood Princess seemed to be comforting her, which touched Su Ling’s heart slightly, but she pressed on. “Still, I would like to know.”
Sista frowned slightly, then relaxed. She picked up a cup of hot milk tea, took a small sip, and set the porcelain cup back down.
“Fine. Since you care so much, I will tell you.”
She then began to recount the contents of the most recent meeting of the Council of Royal Authority that she had heard from King Steyat.
As she narrated, the meeting seemed to play out before Su Ling’s eyes.
The outcome of the war was simple — Ansels had achieved a crushing victory, and Valivadan’s forces were in total disarray. Due to the severe weather and flooding, they had even abandoned a vast amount of weapons and equipment, all of which had been seized by Ansels.
In the Conference Hall after the battle, King Steyat sat on his high throne, his gaze sweeping over every Minister present as he waited for their opinions.
Moria was the first to speak. “Everyone, this victory has granted us a strategic advantage. I believe we should follow up on this success and take Sea Cliff City, which lies nearby.”
“That city holds a vital geographic position. Once it falls into our hands, it will provide a solid base for further expansion.”
Thomas, the Military Minister, nodded in agreement. “Her Highness is absolutely right. Sea Cliff City is not only an important port but also a key passage into the heart of the enemy’s territory. Occupying this city will greatly enhance our military superiority.”
However, the Financial Minister, Clara Pamir, was not as optimistic. Furrowing her brows, she said, “The victory is certainly worth celebrating, but the prolonged war has already strained the national treasury. Continuing the offensive will require massive financial support… We cannot ignore the nation’s foundation for the sake of a momentary victory.”
“Clara, I understand your concerns,” Moria replied with a composed smile. “But remember, victory in war brings more resources and land. Once the port of Sea Cliff City is in our hands, it will significantly boost trade and increase fiscal revenue. In the long run, this is a beneficial investment.”
“Your Highness’s point is indeed valid… but the current financial pressure is real. We need time to recover.”
The two sides argued back and forth without reaching a conclusion. In the end, the meeting had to be adjourned.
“In short, it was another meeting that wasted everyone’s time,” Sista said, waving her hand dismissively after finishing the story. “They win one small victory and suddenly think they’re some invincible general. Moria is still her usual self.”
Su Ling chewed her bread silently, looking like a little hamster.
Although there was no specific news regarding Tii, her internal unease had been confirmed — Valivadan had been defeated, and Tii’s assassination mission had likely met with disaster.
In fact, when Tii had accepted that mission, Su Ling had vaguely sensed that her teacher’s expression was somewhat strange. But Tii had trusted that person implicitly and accepted without hesitation.
‘If only I could have persuaded her then…’
‘I wonder how Tii is doing now…’