Chapter 1: Castle Stories 1

It was night, and outside the ancient castle, all was silent.
A blood-red moon hung high, casting an eerie glow.

The castle.
The underground chamber.
A dimly lit room.

A fair-skinned girl was bound to the bed.
Her soft, ink-black hair spilled over her shoulders.
Her disheveled bangs couldn’t hide her sweet face.

Her cheeks were flushed, her glistening eyes dazed.
Her delicate brows were tightly furrowed.
Her eyes burned with anger as she bit her lip, glaring at the woman who had tied her to the bed.
She thought her glare was fierce, unaware that her flushed, shy face looked utterly enticing.

Beside the bed stood a woman with cascading golden hair like a waterfall, tumbling to her waist.
Her blood-red eyes shimmered with delight.
A captivating smile played on her deep, sculpted features.

She slowly leaned down.
Her exquisite, alluring face loomed larger in the girl’s view.
She lifted the girl’s chin and let out a soft, clear chuckle, like the sound of a flowing spring.
“How should I punish you, hmm?”

“Let me go!”

Xu Nian struggled in the woman’s grasp.
Her clothes slipped from her movements, revealing her snowy skin.
The red marks on her collarbone and shoulders were clearly visible—traces left by the golden-haired woman before her.

Her movements were restricted, unable to evade the woman’s hands.
She could only let those hands brush over her moist lips, carrying an ambiguous intent.

The golden-haired woman seemed to hear something amusing.
Her smile grew even more delighted.
“Let you go?”

Her cool fingers trailed down to Xu Nian’s collarbone, sliding slowly.
They glided over Xu Nian’s delicate skin.

The girl’s body trembled lightly at her touch.
Her breathing quickened, her body growing warmer.
“Mmm…”

Her sensitive skin brushed, Xu Nian couldn’t help but let out a soft gasp.

“Your body isn’t telling me that.”

“What nonsense are you—mmph…”

Before Xu Nian could finish her retort, the woman pinched her chin.
One hand cradled the back of her neck, and she kissed her fiercely, almost obsessively, plundering every breath from her body.
“Mmm… ngh…”

Their breaths intertwined.
In the dim room, the air grew thick with an intimate ambiance.

Her breath stolen, the girl’s eyes lost their spark.
Her jade-like feet curled, toes clenching.
Her weakened hands pushed feebly at the woman atop her, only to fall limp, letting the other have her way.

After the kiss, Xu Nian was dizzy, her eyes misty with unshed tears.
She collapsed, exhausted, into the golden-haired woman’s arms, her gaze unfocused.

The woman’s deep, desire-laden red eyes suddenly turned cold.
Possessiveness burned in her stare.
“Will you run again?”

Xu Nian stubbornly turned her head away, refusing to look at her.
Her chained hands clenched into fists.

The golden-haired woman forcibly turned her head back, making her meet her gaze.
“Hmph.”

Xu Nian turned away again, a soft scoff escaping her nose, signaling her disdain.

Seeing her silence, the woman leaned down and kissed her again.
Their soft lips met once more.

The room was so quiet that only the rustle of fabric and the sound of entwined breaths could be heard.
The two were entangled, close enough to hear each other’s racing heartbeats.

…

“What are you doing?!”

“Mmm~”

…

“Will you run again?”

“…Mmph!”

…

“Wuwuwu, I can’t take it anymore, I can’t… mmph…”

…

“Wuwuwu…”

In the end, only the girl’s clear sobs echoed in the room.

In a haze, Xu Nian heard the woman’s impossibly gentle voice whisper in her ear:
“Never leave me, alright…”

“Caw—caw—caw—”

Crows circled overhead.
Deep in the forest, an eerie, desolate castle stood alone, hidden among the trees.
Its windows faintly glowed with dim yellow light, a lone spark in the thick darkness of the night.

The air twisted, and suddenly, several figures appeared out of nowhere inside the castle, clashing with its atmosphere.
Three women, three men—a total of six.

The bewildered group surveyed their surroundings and each other.
Confusion mirrored in their eyes.

The space was poorly lit.
Under the faint glow, a long medieval dining table stood beside them.
White candles on the table flickered weakly.
Cold-toned paintings hung on the dark gray walls, adding a chill to the atmosphere.

At a glance, it was clear this was a castle decorated in a classical medieval style.

Someone asked, “What is this place?”

Another answered uncertainly, “A castle, maybe?”

Once the question broke the silence, the group began to murmur among themselves.

“Where are you from?”

“I’m from A City. I was in the bathroom at work, and then I ended up here.”

“You?”

“I was sleeping at home. I woke up, got out of bed, and here I am.”

“Why’s my phone got no signal?”

…

As the crowd grew lively, the eerie, ominous atmosphere felt less oppressive.

Among them, only one person remained silent.
Her smooth black hair fell over her shoulders, accentuating her sweet features.
Her delicate bangs framed her beautiful profile as she tilted her head, quietly studying a portrait on the wall.

The figure in the painting had no eyes.
The empty sockets were chillingly hollow.
As she looked, dark red, viscous blood slowly seeped from those cavities.
The expressionless figure in the painting seemed to smile upon closer inspection.
Two trails of blood dripped down the canvas, splashing vivid bloodstains on the floor.
The figure’s smile grew increasingly grotesque.

The girl showed no reaction, her face expressionless as she continued to observe the painting.

“Aaahhh!”

A girl in the group screamed in terror, her trembling lips pointing at the painting before Xu Nian.
“What’s wrong?”

The others turned at her scream but saw nothing unusual.
Just an ordinary oil painting of a man’s bust, eyeless.

The girl’s voice quivered with fear.
“That… that painting was bleeding just now, and… it was smiling!”

“Bleeding? Hah,” a burly man with bulging muscles scoffed.
“It’s just a painting. You’re too timid.”

He sneered at the girl dismissively, but then noticed the others staring at him in horror.
He touched his face suspiciously.
“What? Something on my face?”

A light tap landed on his shoulder.
Irritated, he turned.
“What—”

His face turned ashen.
Before him stood a headless figure, its blood-soaked hand reaching toward him.
The severed neck, a gruesome mess of flesh, oozed blood, staining the maid’s uniform it wore.

The burly man’s eyes widened in terror.
He didn’t dare breathe.
His legs trembled as if filled with lead, unable to move.

The headless figure spoke in an ethereal, eerie voice, high-pitched and girlish.
“Excuse me, have you seen my head?”

He didn’t answer.
Her pale hand gripped his shoulder, and she asked again, “Have you seen my head?”

Her blood-stained hand left marks on his pristine white clothes.
The thick stench of blood hit him as she leaned closer, her headless neck twisting unnaturally.

The man gasped, his stomach churning, his face pale as death.
He didn’t dare move, turning to the others behind him, silently mouthing:
Save me.

But humans are selfish creatures.
These people had only just met—no one would help him.

The headless maid’s grip tightened, her sharp nails digging into his shoulder.
Her voice grew shriller, almost piercing.
“Have you—seen—my head?!”

“I… I don’t know…”
The man tried to struggle, but her strength was unnaturally immense, pinning him in place.

“Hello.”
A calm voice interrupted the maid’s shrieks.

The screaming stopped abruptly.
The bleeding neck twisted toward the voice.

There stood Xu Nian, the sweet-faced girl.
Her white floral dress was pristine, her soft black hair swaying gently in the breeze.
Her clear, innocent eyes seemed out of place in this terrifying, eerie world.

“May I ask, what is this place?”
She voiced her curiosity.

The others were stunned by her reckless boldness, choosing silence.
In their hearts, they pitied the young girl.
So young… what a shame.

The burly man felt the grip on his shoulder loosen.
He broke free and retreated into the crowd, clutching his chest and panting, still shaken.

“This is Duke Caesar’s residence.”
The headless maid turned to Xu Nian, answering.
Her bloodied hands hung by her skirt, blood dripping onto the floor.

“You…”
Xu Nian frowned and offered a handkerchief.
“Maybe clean up a bit? The floor’s getting dirty.”

The headless maid froze, standing motionless.
The blood from her neck seemed to stop flowing.

As everyone braced for the girl’s doom, the maid took the handkerchief.
In a faint, almost shy voice, she said, “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”
Xu Nian replied politely.

As her words fell, a breeze lifted her hair across her cheek.
A woman’s enchanting chuckle sounded in her ear.
Xu Nian turned, sensing something, but saw no one.

The maid didn’t use the handkerchief, folding it neatly and tucking it into her pocket.
She grabbed a mop, cleaning the blood she’d dripped on the floor, leaving a red streak.
Under everyone’s gaze, she headed toward the stairs.

Before reaching the staircase, she bumped into a tall figure.
A handsome man in a butler’s uniform steadied her, saying courteously, “Careful.”

“S-Sorry,” the maid stammered, bowing in a fluster.
Under the man’s gaze, she stumbled away, leaving her mop behind.

The handsome man smiled as he watched her go, then turned to the group.
With an elegant bow, he said, “Greetings, welcome to Duke Caesar’s residence. I am the butler here.”

Behind him, blood-red words appeared on the wall by the dining table:

Castle Rules.