At this moment, she forgot fear, forgot fleeing, forgot Hilvia, and even forgot who she was—leaving only the most primal, satisfied ecstasy!
Trash.
“Mm… delicious… so delicious…”
She mumbled indistinctly, completely immersed in the pleasure of indulgence.
Having never tasted anything this good before, Sairi was moved to tears by this meal.
She devoured the crispy, fragrant egg tarts in one bite, silently lamenting the hard life she’d endured before.
But Sairi’s gluttonous nature remained intact—she ate cleanly. If it was bread, she’d finish it then shake the crumbs off the plate.
If it was cake, she’d even use her fingers to smear and lick the plate clean.
The dessert plates ended up spotless, as if freshly washed.
Sairi was greedily stuffing two egg tarts into her mouth when suddenly she sensed something was wrong.
Someone was coming toward the kitchen!
Elegant high heels clicked crisply on the floor, the sound sharp and piercing in the dim, silent Blood Clan corridors.
Sairi also felt a cold chill approaching, a sign that the visitor’s identity was not simple.
In a panic, Sairi used her small frame to her advantage and immediately hid in a storage cabinet, like a frightened little rabbit.
Inside the cabinet, she trembled, uncertain if she would be discovered.
The interior was pitch black, with only a tiny slit allowing a glimpse outside.
Footsteps drew closer. Sairi held her breath, pressing her eyes to the slit to watch everything happening in the kitchen.
“Squeak—”
The kitchen door opened. The heels clicked loudly right by Sairi’s ear.
It was Vera!
Isn’t she Liliath’s personal Court Maid? Why was she in the kitchen instead of by Liliath’s side?
No matter how surprised she was, Sairi couldn’t make a sound now. If she was found out, it would be over.
Vera moved lightly and stopped in front of the large table, standing still for a few seconds as if pondering something.
Damn, she almost forgot she was stealing food. Vera must have noticed someone sneaking into the kitchen.
Now Sairi regretted not holding her tongue earlier—she could have waited until Vera left to continue stealing bites.
Yet Vera showed no strong reaction; she just sighed softly and muttered something Sairi couldn’t catch.
But the next second made Sairi break out in cold sweat—Vera suddenly turned and approached the storage cabinet, which scared Sairi stiff.
Sairi covered her mouth tightly, wide-eyed, staring at Vera outside.
For a moment, their eyes met! Sairi was terrified Vera would suddenly grab her out and harshly punish her for sneaking food.
As if on cue, Vera reached out, grasped the cabinet’s handle, and twisted it.
Sairi had already prepared to summon her Rainbow Sword to fight.
But the imagined scene never happened.
While twisting the handle, Vera muttered to herself, “Not here.”
Click.
Then Vera smoothly turned and walked toward another counter.
Through the small gap, Sairi saw Vera neatly take out a tray of freshly baked cake, quickly decorating it with cream, sugar flowers, and fruit.
Her speed showed she often did this.
Relieved that Vera hadn’t discovered her, Sairi exhaled deeply.
Sairi stayed hidden a while longer until Vera finished and carried the cake away.
As Vera left, she glanced toward the cabinet where Sairi hid, seeming to ponder something.
But Sairi didn’t notice; she just hoped Vera would leave quickly.
Once Vera was gone, Sairi was overjoyed—now she could continue stuffing herself silly (Hey! You forgot Hilvia!)
***
This time Sairi was smart. The desserts weren’t filling enough; to get real energy, she needed to eat the main dishes!
Abandoning all semblance of ladylike behavior, Sairi climbed onto the table, grabbed various roasted beast meats with her bare hands, and shoved them into her mouth.
These hearty dishes really hit the spot!
She kept eating wildly, unaware that dusk was falling outside. After all, Sairi had only woken that afternoon, and the Blood Clan palace was dim by nature.
“Heh.”
A faint, lazy laugh, like ice beads dropping on a jade plate, suddenly sounded behind Sairi without warning!
Sairi froze mid-motion, trembling as she turned her head slowly.
Liliath!
She silently appeared at the kitchen door, with Vera standing in the shadows behind her.
Liliath had changed into a more casual dark red velvet nightdress, the hem just reaching her knees, revealing slender, fair calves and bare feet as flawless as fine porcelain.
Her signature moonlight silver hair was loosely draped, shimmering coldly in the dim blue wall lamps.
Her pigeon-blood red eyes fixed unblinkingly on Sairi, filled with the gleeful light of a predator who had caught prey trying to escape.
A sinuous, innocent-yet-evil curve lifted the corners of Liliath’s mouth.
“Little snack, staying up so late instead of resting in bed—where are you ‘taking a stroll’ off to?”
Liliath’s voice was soft and light but felt like poisoned needles piercing Sairi’s ears.
Sairi felt struck by lightning—her mind went blank, overwhelmed by endless terror.
She instinctively wanted to step back, but her legs felt like lead.
Damn, she’d been so caught up in sneaking food in the kitchen that she hadn’t noticed Liliath and Vera approaching, eating for so long undetected.
Liliath moved without taking a step—her petite figure seemed to teleport silently right in front of Sairi.
So close that Sairi could clearly smell the cold orchid scent emanating from her, and see her long, curled white lashes.
“Seems this princess has been too merciful to you.”
Liliath’s icy fingers gently brushed Sairi’s suddenly pale cheek.
“Letting you get the… wrong idea that you could escape?”
Sairi, terrified, tried to brush her hand away, but Liliath’s other cold hand easily grabbed her wrist! The strength was astonishing!
Now Sairi was even more shocked—her proud physical strength was being suppressed by this Blood Rose.
“No… let me go!”
Sairi struggled, voice trembling with tears.
“Punishment time.”
Liliath’s smile deepened, a twisted gleam of excitement flashing in her eyes.
Ignoring Sairi’s struggles, she easily lifted her up, turning to drag her back toward that lavish room Sairi had fled from.
“Let me go! You monster! Damn vampire, let me go!”
Sairi kicked and fought in vain; terror and despair robbed her of reason.
Liliath seemed thoroughly provoked by the word “monster.”
A flicker of hostility flashed through her red eyes as she abruptly stopped.
Before Sairi’s horrified eyes, Liliath raised her arm and casually flicked it!
“Ah!”
An overwhelming force hit Sairi, spinning her head around. The next second, she was pressed face-down on a cold, elaborately carved Obsidian Teatable nearby. The hard, icy surface hurt her face.
This Blood Rose’s strength was truly formidable, overpowering Sairi and pinning her down immobile.
“Looks like you need a proper ‘education’ to teach you the reverence owed to your mistress.”
Liliath’s voice turned cold, commanding without room for denial.
“W-what are you going to do?!”
Sairi panicked, trying to struggle, but found herself held down by an invisible force, unable to move.
Her black silk nightdress was disheveled from her struggling.
Slap—
A crisp, loud smack suddenly echoed through the vast, silent room!
Sairi’s body froze instantly! A surge of indescribable pain mixed with coldness and intense humiliation swept through her like electricity.
Her buttocks burned sharply—clear proof of what had just happened!
Humiliated tears welled up instantly. Sairi bit her lip hard to keep from screaming.
It hurt! So much! This Blood Rose had just spanked her, and with such force it felt like her skin was about to split open…
Slap! Slap! Slap!
Liliath continued striking, her nimble hands unrelenting.
The strength was just right—enough to cause sharp pain and fierce shame without real harm.
After all, given Sairi’s constitution, a few slaps from a Blood Rose were nothing.
Each slap rang out crisply, piercing the silence of the room.
“Monster? Hmm?”
Liliath repeated the insult coldly, clearly still angry with Sairi.
This couldn’t continue—seeing herself humiliated like this, Sairi felt ashamed and knew she had to do something.
“Let me go! If you dare, let’s have a one-on-one Duel—see who wins and who flees in disgrace!”
She gritted her teeth and shouted, challenging Liliath to a Duel.
“A Duel? Little one, are you sure?”
“What? You don’t dare?”
“I never said that. You’re the first to be so insolent with me—I admire your courage. But if you lose, you’ll face an even harsher punishment~”
Liliath leaned close, whispering provocatively in Sairi’s ear.
Sairi knew she definitely couldn’t beat Liliath now, but she’d nearly healed from her injuries.
She knew Liliath had gone easy on her in the woods, never directly harming her, just wearing her down with invisible force.
Back then she was weak, but now, fed and rested, maybe—just maybe—if she transformed and summoned her Rainbow Sword for the Duel, there might be a chance.
Of course, this was just Sairi’s ultimate fantasy.
“Take her to the hall, and Vera, help her fix her clothes. She looks a complete mess right now.”
Liliath said, releasing Sairi and turning to leave.
“Yes, ma’am.”
Sairi nervously got up from the Obsidian Teatable and tidied her clothes, though she didn’t particularly like the outfit.
“Do you need me to fix your hair and makeup?”
Vera raised a wooden comb, moving toward Sairi’s hair.
But Sairi waved it away.
“No need for your kindness! I can manage myself. Just take me to the Duel location.”
Sairi didn’t like this Court Maid. She suspected Vera had already discovered her sneaking in the kitchen and reported her to Liliath.
Of course, it was her fault for losing all reason while stealing food.
“Ah—”
Sairi used the wooden comb Vera handed her to brush her hair, but compared to Hilvia’s skillful touch, hers was crude.
No finesse—just brute force pulling through knots, often snagging and refusing to move.
“Let me help you, Miss Sairi. You’re damaging your hair like that.”
Sairi glanced at Vera, who remained composed, but this time her eyes held a bit more… concern?
Well, as Liliath’s personal Court Maid, Vera was skilled and efficient.
It wasn’t like Sairi spent ages struggling and hurting herself!
Sairi handed the comb over, and Vera quickly and effortlessly tidied her hair without a single snag.
“All done. Now, take me to the Duel place.”
“Right away. Please follow me closely.”
Deep within the Blood Spirit Empire palace, in a vast hall, Liliath waited on a raised platform for Sairi’s arrival.
The hall was spacious, with floors of mirror-smooth black marble.
Twisted, entwined black metal thorns rose around the edges, dotted with gigantic Blood Roses emitting an eerie sweet fragrance.
This was less a courtyard and more Liliath’s personal Gothic-style arena.
But why was the Duel in an indoor hall? Shouldn’t it be in a grand colosseum like in ancient Rome?
Sairi wondered as she entered—but then it became clear.
The palace’s Court Maids and Butlers were all gathered here, watching.
Because the hall was so large, Liliath had even arranged a Feast around the edges, letting these “guests” enjoy food while watching the fight.
“Hey! You perverted Blood Rose, why set the Duel in a place like this? Aren’t you afraid I’ll accidentally hurt them?”
Sairi teased Liliath with a provocative tone, trying to rile her up.
Liliath was unfazed, speaking calmly.
“This place has plenty of talented individuals—you can’t harm them. Besides, do you really want to make me angry, little one?”
Sairi hadn’t expected Liliath to see through her intent so easily.
She’d hoped to make Liliath mad and cause chaos with the Duel, but now it seemed that plan was dead.
“Enough nonsense. Hurry up! You perverted Blood Rose!”
“Oh? So confident. We’ll see if you’re still calling me that while kneeling on the ground later.”
“Come on! I’m not afraid of you!”