Chapter 3: Castle Memories 3: First Kiss

At the door.

Knock, knock, knock

Fu Ruxue stood in front of Xu Nian’s door, hesitating before knocking.

No response.

Asleep so early?

A flicker of doubt crossed her eyes. She didn’t disturb further and returned to her room.

Clear eyes clouded with a misty sheen, lips still damp from the kiss, pink and moist.

Xu Nian suppressed the strange flutter in her heart, squinting to make out the woman’s face, but her vision remained hazy.

“Long time no see.”

The blonde woman chuckled softly, her voice carrying a familiar lilt.

Xu Nian instantly recalled the faint laugh she heard when handing a handkerchief to the headless maid.

“You?”

The woman’s pleasant voice held a trace of joy. “Finally remembered me?”

Xu Nian, wary of her movements, tensed and asked, “Who are you, exactly?”

A slender hand twirled a strand of her hair. The blonde woman didn’t answer, sitting on the bed, playing with Xu Nian’s hair.

“Blonde hair, in this room—you’re the Duchess?”

Xu Nian spoke to distract her, while her hand reached behind for the knife hidden under the pillow.

But the woman seemed angered by her words, her voice turning cold. “So, you still haven’t remembered me.”

Xu Nian’s hand froze under the pillow.

No knife?

She was sure she’d hidden it there.

Distracted, her limbs were suddenly pinned by the woman, who pulled her close, making Xu Nian gasp, “What are you doing?!”

The woman’s warmth and softness pressed through their clothes, her face inches away, hot breath grazing Xu Nian’s skin.

Even without clear vision, Xu Nian could make out the woman’s striking features and the obsessive glint in her blood-red eyes.

“Forgot me? No matter. I’ll make you remember me forever.”

“I don’t even know you—mmph…”

The woman gently cradled Xu Nian’s neck, kissing her fiercely. The searing breath made her dizzy, her body melting like water, sinking into a warm ocean, struggling yet succumbing to the domineering kiss.

Inexperienced, Xu Nian didn’t know how to breathe, nearly suffocating.

When released, she gasped like a drowning person saved, eyes unfocused, leaning against the headboard, panting heavily.

The woman, satisfied, touched Xu Nian’s slightly chapped lips, her gaze tender yet shadowed.

She wanted to carve her mark on Xu Nian, ensuring she’d never forget her, belonging only to her.

“No…”

“Stop…”

Xu Nian, regaining some strength, struggled.

In her struggle, her leg brushed something soft and furry, causing the woman to pause.

A sudden pull followed, and everything—the scene, the woman—faded until darkness enveloped her.

Xu Nian’s eyes snapped open, greeted by the ornate chandelier on the ceiling.

She reached under the pillow. The knife was still there.

So, it was a dream?

Her hand touched her soft lips, the sensation of the kiss lingering vividly.

She exhaled deeply.

Sitting up, she felt her clothes damp with sweat, sticky and uncomfortable. Xu Nian glanced down, motionless for a long while.

After some time, the heat in her face subsided.

How could she have such a ridiculous dream in a place like this?

Knocked out by the strange fragrance upon entering, Xu Nian finally had time to search for the “key” to clear the scenario.

She searched thoroughly, finding the room long uninhabited, covered in thick dust.

The furnishings were minimal: a bed, a wooden desk, and a wardrobe.

Deep in the desk drawer was a bottle of liquid, its label torn off—wine or medicine, she couldn’t tell.

Creak—

She opened the dusty wardrobe, revealing neatly hung, ornate medieval noblewomen’s dresses.

This was undoubtedly the Duchess’s room.

Though dust coated much of the room, the clothes were pristine, faintly smelling of sunlight, like freshly laundered garments.

Behind her, the painting of the blonde woman and the child in her arms still gazed at her.

Borrowing one should be fine, right?

Xu Nian picked a dress to her taste, holding it up to the blonde woman in the painting. “Mind if I borrow this?”

She turned to the bathroom, missing the blonde woman in the painting nodding.

The bedroom had a bathroom with a steaming bucket of water, inexplicably still hot when it should’ve cooled.

Shedding her clothes, Xu Nian stepped into the bucket, warm water enveloping her, relaxing her tense muscles.

She stirred the water, and suddenly, her reflection rippled, smiling back with an eerie curve to its lips.

The reflection’s mouth split wider, opening into a gaping maw as if to bite.

Startled, Xu Nian hurled the soap at the water, her long legs splashing an arc as she leapt out, stepping onto the floor.

Her foot slipped on the tiles, and she grabbed the bucket to steady herself, her heel slamming painfully against the bathroom door.

Xu Nian hissed.

The bucket tipped, water gushing into the drain with a loud rush.

Feeling the dull pain in her heel, Xu Nian cursed her carelessness.

“Tch.”

She couldn’t let her guard down.

After recovering, she stood, supporting herself on the floor, and turned on the faucet to rinse off.

Pale red blood flowed out.

Looking up, she saw her reflection in the mirror smiling, blood streaming from its seven orifices.

Expressionless, Xu Nian slapped the mirror. “What are you looking at?”

The mirror’s “Xu Nian” looked stunned, eyes widening, still bleeding.

It opened its gaping maw again, cracking into a new, eerie smile.

Slap.

Another smack.

Xu Nian didn’t give it a chance to retaliate, swiftly turning away. The grotesque “Xu Nian” vanished with a resentful glare.

The blood-red moon cast pure white light. Dressed in noble attire, the girl stood elegantly, her demeanor aloof, her face pale and translucent in the moonlight.

Her gaze fell on the garden below, a sea of red spider lilies symbolizing death and rebirth, glowing vibrantly under fireflies, eerie yet beautiful.

Through the window, Xu Nian saw the flower sea, her lips curving slightly, her calm eyes devoid of emotion.

Spider lilies, symbols of death. Interesting.

“Ahh!”

A piercing scream shattered the night’s silence.

It came from downstairs.

Xu Nian frowned slightly, striding to the door, hand on the handle, but she didn’t open it.

Her gaze fixed on the metal handle, her thick lashes trembling.

The hair she’d placed in the door seam was gone.

Not in the seam, not on the floor—strange.

The dream’s memory resurfaced, vivid and real, feeling less like a dream and more like a crafted illusion.

Was it a dream, or…?

She changed her mind.

Going out now wasn’t wise. The scream likely came from a player, and outside could be dangerous.

The missing hair meant someone had entered while she slept, yet she was unharmed. The room was likely safe, and the intruder meant no harm.

But she didn’t want another dream like that.

The thought annoyed her. In the dream, her body was beyond her control, manipulated by another—a terrible feeling.

Her ears flushed, anger surging in her eyes.

She tucked the knife from under the pillow into her clothes for safety and leaned against the door, making do for the night.

Sleepless.

The next day.

7:40 AM.

Estimating the time, Xu Nian decided to head downstairs.

[Rule Five]: Meals must be eaten on time every day.

She’d asked the butler: breakfast at 8:00 AM. To be safe, she’d go early.

Opening the door, she met Fu Ruxue stepping out simultaneously.

Fu Ruxue closed her door, smiling lightly. “Morning.”

Xu Nian nodded. “Morning.”

They descended together. Fu Ruxue struck up a conversation. “Did you hear the scream last night?”

“What scream?”

Xu Nian’s confusion seemed genuine, and Fu Ruxue believed her.

“Around midnight, there was a sudden scream, probably from the first floor.” Fu Ruxue suggested, “How about we check the first floor after breakfast?”

“Sure.” Xu Nian already planned to investigate and agreed, glancing at her.

She noted Fu Ruxue’s mention of “after breakfast,” finding it amusing.

Eat that food? Maggots had six times the protein of beef, huh?

Quite the protein-packed meal.

“By the way, what’s your name?” Fu Ruxue asked casually.

“Xu Nian.”

“Xu Nian,” she repeated softly. “Nice name.”

“I’m Fu Ruxue. If you don’t want to stay next to the Young Lady’s room,” she said, tucking her hair back, “you can find me. I’d be happy to swap rooms.”

“No need. I’m fine where I am.”

Xu Nian declined without hesitation.

This Fu Ruxue gave off a vibe of deliberate friendliness, clearly approaching with a purpose.

Xu Nian had no interest in bonding. She just wanted to find the “key” Fu Ruxue mentioned and clear the scenario.

Suddenly, a soft laugh echoed in her ear, overlapping with the blonde woman’s voice from her dream.

Damn it.

Again.

Xu Nian frowned.

“What’s wrong?”