Chapter 21:Castle Past 21 Room

Xu Nian was lifted in her sleep, dressed gently.

Murmuring unconsciously, she nestled in a warm embrace.

“It’s 8:00 already,” a devilish voice whispered.

Xu Nian jolted awake, leaning into the warmth, glaring at the clock.

7:40…

She shot the Young Lady a furious look.

The Young Lady pinched her soft cheek, her stunning face beaming with indulgence. “Good girl, time to eat.”

Xu Nian grimaced, pushing her hand away. “Get lost.”

She closed her eyes, feigning death in her arms.

“No getting up? Want a morning kiss?”

Xu Nian’s eyes snapped open.

“I don’t…” want.

The perfect face loomed closer, a soft kiss landing on her lips, carrying a faint fragrance.

The Young Lady, goal achieved, smirked. “What were you saying?”

Xu Nian’s anger flared, rolling her eyes.

Forget it. Ignore her.

She didn’t notice how easily the Young Lady unraveled her usual calm.

Unaware of it herself.

The Young Lady carried Xu Nian to the dining table, setting her on her lap.

Fu Ruxue, arriving late, jaw-dropped, nearly toppling her chair with too much force.

So blatant now?

Xu Nian, mildly embarrassed but composed, sipped her coffee.

Being carried daily was routine—sitting on the Young Lady’s lap was nothing.

The maid had prepared coffee and bread for everyone.

The normal, lavish breakfast felt suspicious.

A trap?

Fu Ruxue ate warily, swallowing tears with her bread.

“Why aren’t you eating?”

The Young Lady, ever-watchful, fretted over Xu Nian like she’d starve.

7:58.

The door burst open, drawing all eyes.

Li Hua, sweating, collapsed into a chair, gasping.

Thirsty, he chugged the coffee, choking. “Cough, cough—”

Coffee splashed as he trembled.

Fu Ruxue swallowed a bite. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, I…”

Xu Nian’s gaze shifted to him, but a hand turned her chin, forcing her to face only the Young Lady.

Seeing her own reflection in Xu Nian’s eyes, the Young Lady nodded, red eyes twinkling. “Look only at me.”

Xu Nian’s face fell, colder than ever.

The Young Lady’s blood-red eyes wavered, hiding disappointment.

So unwilling to look at her?

Her possessiveness surged, lips curling coldly. “Need me to feed you?”

Before Xu Nian could reply, the Young Lady kissed her, coffee’s bitterness mingling with sweetness, intoxicating.

Deepening the kiss, Xu Nian gasped, face and ears red, pushing weakly at her shoulders.

Her heartbeat thundered.

The Young Lady was insane!

Two others were watching!

Fu Ruxue and Li Hua, catching the overlapping figures, bowed their heads, eating in awkward silence.

Unable to push her off, Xu Nian bit down hard.

The Young Lady flinched, giving Xu Nian a chance to pull away.

Li Hua’s mind reeled, less composed than Fu Ruxue.

Feeding? How did it turn into kissing?

He hadn’t realized Xu Nian and the Young Lady were that close…

Xu Nian was terrifying, even ensnaring the mysterious Young Lady.

Starving for it.

Only three of the original six remained. Li Hua glanced around. “Where’s Cheng Li?”

Fu Ruxue paused mid-sip, answering after a gulp, “Dead.”

Li Hua wasn’t shocked, just briefly stunned.

Suddenly, a cry for help echoed from the garden.

“Help! Help! Miss, save me…”

The gardener.

The Young Lady released Xu Nian, adjusting her collar, eyes soft. “Wait for me.”

Her gaze darkened, heading toward the sound.

Xu Nian tossed her utensils, facing Fu Ruxue. Their eyes met, sparkling with shared joy.

Plan to distract the Young Lady: success.

—Flashback—

Last night, garden.

Eerie red light cloaked everything.

Xu Nian and Fu Ruxue searched for the corpse.

After tying up the writhing gardener, Xu Nian schemed.

While gloved hands sifted through spider lilies, she chatted with Fu Ruxue. “I think the Young Lady’s the final boss. The gate’s tied to her.”

Fu Ruxue paused, surprised. “Why?”

“Intuition?”

“Intuition? I don’t buy it. Spill.”

Xu Nian glanced at her, laying it out. “She’s freer and stronger here. The butler and maid have fixed roles—maid seeks her head, butler guides us. They have tasks. She doesn’t.”

Xu Nian’s rapid explanation overwhelmed Fu Ruxue, who groaned, “I don’t get it…”

“Then forget it. Point is, I need to stay close to her. If we need to talk, you distract her by…”

Fu Ruxue’s eyes lit up, considering, then nodded. “Okay.”

—Flashback End—

Now.

Xu Nian tapped the table, catching Fu Ruxue’s attention. “No time. How’s the clue hunt?”

“I found five chess pieces.” Fu Ruxue showed a towel-wrapped bundle of fleshy “pieces.”

Xu Nian understood instantly. “The other five are probably the Duke’s. You’ll need to cut off his hand.”

Fu Ruxue laughed awkwardly, like it was a joke. “You’re kidding.”

“Nope.” Xu Nian was blunt.

“…”

Fu Ruxue fell silent, suspecting Xu Nian wanted her dead but lacking proof.

“I’ve got a lead on the exit,” Xu Nian said.

Fu Ruxue froze; Li Hua’s gaze snapped over.

Li Hua, eavesdropping, turned fully.

Xu Nian smirked.

Perfect reaction.

“Few of us left. Sharing clues gets us out faster. Thoughts?”

Li Hua nodded first. “Fine.”

“Me too,” Fu Ruxue echoed.

“Share your clues.”

Fu Ruxue touched her pocket, glancing at Xu Nian, who nodded. Reluctantly, she showed the pieces. “These. Per the rules, find all pieces, play chess with the Duchess. Might help.”

Li Hua inhaled deeply, face grave. “Yesterday, I—”

“Quite lively.”

A displeased voice cut in.

The Young Lady leaned at the door, lips smiling, red eyes fixed on Xu Nian, exuding pressure.

Interrupted at a critical moment.

Xu Nian had questions for the others, but asking now, with the Young Lady here, was suicide.

Time for a new approach.

She hadn’t explored one place.

Dragging her chain, she approached the Young Lady, taking her hand. “Let’s go to your room.”

A simple touch flushed the Young Lady’s face. She let Xu Nian lead, smiling sweetly. “Okay…”

Xu Nian, oblivious to the oddity, had the Young Lady wrapped around her finger.

Passing Fu Ruxue, the Young Lady’s gaze lingered on the chessboard.

Fu Ruxue clutched it tighter, wary.

The Young Lady said nothing, looking away calmly.

Her focus was on Xu Nian’s warm hand, lost in the sensation.

As the two left, Fu Ruxue and Li Hua felt the air lighten.

“You trust Xu Nian that much? Whatever she says, you follow?” Li Hua asked.

Fu Ruxue snapped back, “Should I trust you instead?”

“…Xu Nian’s not simple. Be careful,” Li Hua warned.

“So what?”

Fu Ruxue knew Xu Nian’s uncanny calm and sharp insight made her seem almost inhuman.

But Xu Nian never abandoned her, saving her despite her own danger.

If they escaped, Fu Ruxue wanted her as a friend forged in life and death.

Li Hua? Why trust someone she barely spoke to?