Chapter 17:Castle Past 17 The Past

“When I was young, my mother died, and I punished the one who killed her.”

The Young Lady’s eyes held a sadness she didn’t notice, laced with pain.

Xu Nian’s hand rested on her soft golden hair, ruffling it gently, mussing it up. “Well done.”

The familiar gesture made her nose sting. She opened her mouth, nearly calling out their private nickname, but an invisible force silenced her.

“What did you say?” Xu Nian tilted her head, puzzled.

“Nothing.”

The Young Lady hid her emotions, leaning in to wrap her arms around Xu Nian, chin resting on her shoulder, soaking in the warmth she’d craved for ages.

Xu Nian’s feelings were complex. She’d planned to use her, but seeing the Young Lady’s dependence stirred a flicker of guilt.

It passed quickly.

How could she give up returning to reality for someone she’d known mere days?

Even if that world held little for her anymore…

Xu Nian’s hand slid through the golden hair, stroking gently, her smile hollow.

In the mirror, Xu Nian stood alone, her hand tracing arcs through empty air.

The braided maid huddled in the closet’s corner, hands over ears, trembling.

Fu Ruxue opened the door to this sight.

“What’s wrong?”

“Don’t kill me, don’t kill me…” the maid muttered, lost in her own world.

“Tell me what’s going on, if you don’t mind…”

No response. The maid, curled tight, kept shaking her head, chanting, “Don’t kill me…”

Let her stay in there to calm down?

Puzzled, Fu Ruxue closed the door and searched for clues.

What was the rule?

Rule Three: The Duchess loves chess. You can play with her if she’s willing.

Chess?

She looked around—no chess-related items.

The maid’s “Don’t kill me…” echoed with a mournful wail, lingering like a ghost.

The sound grated on Fu Ruxue, making her search frantic. She checked everywhere Xu Nian had, finding no chess pieces.

Not even anything tied to the Duchess.

Head aching, Fu Ruxue stood, leaning on the bed.

Nothing under it.

Suddenly, she met two eerie gazes.

Could it be…

The Young Lady clung to Xu Nian all morning until a punch pushed her away.

Xu Nian retracted her fist, feeling satisfied.

So clingy.

The Young Lady, teary-eyed, latched onto her arm like a ghost, cool skin pressing close.

“Time to eat.”

Xu Nian shook her off, heading for the basement exit.

The Young Lady carried her to the surface, meeting Fu Ruxue again.

“Haha,” Fu Ruxue laughed awkwardly. “What a coincidence.”

“Hello.”

The Young Lady leaned bonelessly on Xu Nian, greeting Fu Ruxue while subtly claiming her.

Xu Nian flicked her forehead.

The Young Lady, clutching her head, stood straight, looking pitiful.

Xu Nian glared at her.

Fu Ruxue’s smile was worse than a grimace. They were so lovey-dovey, staring into each other’s eyes, practically gooey.

She felt resentful.

She’d been hunting clues alone while Xu Nian romanced.

At the dining table, both braced for disgusting food but froze at the sight of golden bread, its wheaty aroma wafting.

Fu Ruxue’s gloom lifted. She sat, devouring the bread, nearly tearing up at its flavor.

Better poisoned than starved.

Li Hua and Cheng Li, arriving, were stunned but sat to eat.

Only chewing filled the table.

Li Hua waited until others ate before starting.

Poor Zhang Zhuanghao, eating vile things for days, only for food to normalize after his death.

After eating, the Young Lady swooped in, scooping Xu Nian up, leaving no chance for talk.

Xu Nian, clinging to her neck, gave Fu Ruxue a resigned wink as she was carried off.

Cheng Li rubbed his chin, speculating, “Is Xu Nian being held hostage?”

Li Hua nodded.

Good guess.

But Fu Ruxue, knowing better, shook her head.

Xu Nian wasn’t threatened—nothing seemed to scare her. Fu Ruxue believed Xu Nian was willingly “captive,” likely with a plan.

“Got any clues?” she asked.

“Nope,” both men said in unison.

Really? Day five, and no clues?

Li Hua countered, “You?”

“None.”

All three were hiding something, each scheming enough to overwhelm.

“Let’s split,” Cheng Li said.

“I’ve got something to do.”

The Young Lady rushed out, locking the trapdoor.

Xu Nian pushed against it with the broken ladder—immovable.

Damn.

Night fell.

The blood moon cast a deeper red glow, tinging everything eerie.

The Young Lady didn’t return.

Xu Nian, restless, waited alone in the clueless room.

If the Young Lady returned early, escape would be impossible, complicating her mission. She pinned her hopes on Fu Ruxue.

Knock, knock, knock.

Three knocks on the trapdoor.

“Xu Nian?”

“I’m here.”

Xu Nian scrambled up the ladder, reaching for the door.

Fu Ruxue knocked and pried with an iron bar, but it wouldn’t budge.

“It won’t open. You made me wait—after you got trapped, I went to the maid…” Fu Ruxue rambled, recounting everything.

“In short… I found a chessboard behind a painting.”

“Good. I get it.”

Soon, they’d play chess with the Duchess.

But the missing ten pawns remained unfound.