Early morning.
Bright sunlight streamed through the Palace Chambers’ window, spilling onto the bed draped in sheer fabric and scattering across the creases of the woolen sheets.
On the bed, long, curled eyelashes fluttered.
A silver-haired Blood Clan girl slowly awakened.
Three thousand strands of silver hair lay slightly messy.
Slender, snow-white arms supported her body, and the loose, thin nightgown slipped from her collar, revealing smooth, snow-white shoulders as delicate as the finest jade.
A faint blush bloomed naturally on her shoulder, and the fine white down on her skin shimmered under the light, almost invisible, like a pink peach freshly plucked from a fruit branch, looking incredibly tempting.
Is it morning already?
With this thought rising in her mind, Sidella brushed aside the sheer bed curtain and got out of bed.
Barefoot, her toes like little round grapes, each one pressed into the floor, turning round tips into ovals.
She slowly closed her eyes, arms outstretched, awaiting the service to come.
Squeak—
Squeak squeak—
Tiny, scattered sounds echoed by her ear.
The wardrobe door in the corner of the Palace Chambers burst open from within.
The dark, silent space inside looked as if it led somewhere unknown.
The next moment, amid chittering and the flapping of bat wings, a group of bats—each no bigger than a girl’s fist—flew out from the wardrobe’s black depths.
Each had a task.
Some flew with little shoes, others carried dresses and undergarments hooked by their claws…
They fluttered their bat wings, landing near the silver-haired girl.
Squeak—
Squeak squeak—
Feeling the bat crawl onto her shoulder, its claw hooking the fabric of her nightgown, flapping its wings, it gradually lifted the nightgown from her body.
When the hem grazed her shoulder, the loose nightgown was finally pulled off, released from the claw, and fell to the ground, defeated by gravity.
All that remained was the last layer of delicate fabric wrapping her body.
First came a crisp ‘click’, followed by the soft sound of intimate clothing rubbing against skin, and finally the thud of fabric hitting the floor.
Even the final inch of cloth was stripped away.
The instant the warmed clothing touched the cold floor, heat and chill collided, leaving a thin white mist behind.
A chorus of discontented bat squeaks sounded in her ears once more.
Sidella’s brows relaxed slightly, her voice soft as a cloud:
“All right, all right. Once that small fry Hualí becomes official, you won’t have to bother with dressing me every day~”
As if reversing the whole process, Sidella lifted her foot, letting a small piece of fabric pass over her ankle, and the bat group dressed her anew.
When they finished, the bats flew back into the wardrobe, the door shutting behind them and vanishing without a trace.
Dressed in her new gown, Sidella sat at the Dressing Table.
Her delicate, makeup-free face was sweet and cute—breathtakingly beautiful.
The natural pink on her cheeks alone could outshine any cosmetic.
But a single high-standing silver ahoge broke the overall harmony, a little too conspicuous.
“It grew back again? The flaw of Vampire Genes.”
The silver-haired girl frowned adorably, reaching up to the stubborn strand atop her head.
With a ‘gulp’ sound, she gripped the ahoge firmly.
With a tug!
When she opened her palm, the once-proud ahoge lay lifeless and quiet in her hand.
Sidella nodded in satisfaction.
Now, she was once again the dignified Blood Clan Demon Queen.
She opened the Dressing Table drawer.
Inside, it was stuffed with silver ahoge.
She added today’s catch to the collection.
At that moment, a timely knock sounded outside the Palace Chambers.
Nicole stood at the door, pushing a meal cart.
“Your Majesty, are you awake? It’s time for breakfast.”
“Mm.”
Sidella replied flatly.
“Come in.”
The Palace Chambers’ door creaked open.
Nicole pushed the meal cart inside, stopping before Sidella.
“Your Majesty, I’ll clean you first.”
Sidella nodded slightly, closing her eyes and opening her mouth.
She had to admit Nicole was truly talented in service, completely different from the half-baked Hualí.
In just one night, she had mastered all the serving skills taught by Jeilinfa.
The toothpaste-laden toothbrush gently cleaned Sidella’s mouth, especially her sharp Blood Clan fangs, with a touch worthy of professional care.
After brushing both rows of neat teeth, Nicole lifted a glass cup to Sidella’s lips.
“Your Majesty, please rinse.”
Gurgle~~
Nicole swiftly brought a copper basin to catch the foamy water Sidella spat out.
“Your Majesty, I’ll wash your face.”
She soaked a towel in warm water, gently wiping Sidella’s cheeks and washing away all the night’s fatigue.
The cleaning finished, the toothbrush and cup were returned to the bottom of the cart.
Next came breakfast.
“Your Majesty, I’ll fasten your napkin.”
The triangular napkin was secured at her neck and draped over her chest, and Nicole handed her a silver knife and fork.
If nothing else, Sidella was truly a little hungry and began to look forward to breakfast.
Before that, Nicole even lit an appetite-enhancing incense.
But the scent of the incense…
Mugwort?
Sidella frowned slightly in displeasure, but perhaps due to the small amount, it didn’t affect her, so she made no reaction.
Until Nicole, brimming with confidence, lifted the food’s warming cover.
A wave of pungent odor assaulted Sidella’s nose—Devil Pepper Omelette, boiled Broccoli, Garlic Juice…
Sidella struggled mightily to suppress the urge to gag.
“How is it, Your Majesty? I heard these are all your favorites!”
Nicole’s eyes sparkled with excitement, as if desperate for Sidella’s praise.
Though she didn’t understand why a Blood Clan Demon Queen would have such heavy tastes, Nicole had followed Hualí’s advice as a senior and prepared a hearty breakfast.
Is this a provocation?
A blatant provocation!
Sidella’s face darkened to the extreme.
“You serve this for breakfast? Are you looking to lose your head?”
Eh?
Nicole felt Sidella’s words sounded oddly familiar, as if she’d heard something similar recently.
“Guards! Lock her in the Little Black Room! Feed her the smelliest Fish Can! Don’t let her out until she finishes it!”
Eh?!!
Even as she was dragged away by guards outside the door, Nicole remained dazed.
Only when she was thrown into the dark, damp Little Black Room and a stinky Fish Can was shoved in front of her did she realize she’d been set up by that rotten Hualí.
“Hualí! I’ll curse you!”
***
Meanwhile, in the Teaching and Training Room.
“Ah-choo—!”
Hualí sneezed at the worst possible time.
The juice cup balanced on her head wobbled dangerously.
She steadied herself just in time, avoiding a messy spill.
She giggled twice.
At least she’d made progress~
Smack—!
A Bamboo Ruler lightly struck her upturned bottom, and Hualí let out a small yelp.
“Focus. Don’t get distracted.”
The Maid Chief, Jeilinfa’s, voice rang out beside her.
“At this rate, how do you expect to compete with Nicole?”
Hualí puffed her cheeks in protest.
“I’ll win for sure! That’s where you’re ignorant. Rather than improving yourself, it’s better to sabotage others~”