Xueli opened her eyes.
The room was very dark. The “membrane” she had set up herself was still there, like a transparent shell, separating her from the outside world.
But light could still seep in, though the light of the vampire territory was that eternal, purplish twilight, faint and cold.
That light seeped in through a gap in the curtains. She stared at that thread of light for a long time. Then, she slowly turned her head to look at the clock.
‘She had slept… thirteen hours?’
‘I haven’t slept this long in a long time. Hmm… it seems I’ve never slept this long before.’
Xueli felt her body heavy, as if her bones were filled with lead, and even the movement of turning her neck became sluggish.
She looked down at her chest. That gray bat plush was still there, seeming to have been hugged against her chest all night.
Her fingers were already stiff and numb. When she loosened her grip, her joints made a faint clicking sound. She placed the plush by her pillow, sat there, and did not move.
There was noise outside the door. It was footsteps, back and forth, approaching from a distance, then moving away, then approaching again, and it sounded like more than one person.
Besides the footsteps, there were also low voices, muffled, the content unclear, but one could sense a cautious, probing tone.
Xueli listened, just listened, and did nothing because she knew they were waiting for her. She pulled her legs up, hugged her knees, rested her chin on them, and continued listening.
***
The footsteps stopped outside the door again. Closer than before. Then, a soft knock sounded, very light, but the speed seemed a bit hurried, carrying tension.
Xueli did not answer. She just stared blankly at the wall ahead.
“Your Highness?”
It was a maid’s voice, immature and very young.
“Your Highness, are you awake?”
Still silence. Xueli did not move. From outside came faint sounds, as if another person had whispered something, inaudible. Then an even longer silence.
Then, the footsteps retreated a few steps and stopped. Xueli knew they hadn’t left, just backed away, staying far from the door, waiting in the corridor. She closed her eyes, then opened them.
The twilight outside the window hadn’t changed. Maybe a few seconds, maybe a few minutes, she couldn’t tell. The footsteps approached again.
“Your Highness.”
It was still that maid, her voice even softer, carrying obvious unease.
“Your Highness, are you alright? Lunch is ready. Should we bring it in? Also… there are nine urgent documents today that need your review. Lady Weila asked…”
Xueli still did not answer.
The words outside fell silent. In that quiet air, there was something tense, like a string slowly being pulled taut.
Xueli could imagine their expressions—exchanging glances, panic in their eyes, not knowing whether to ask again or to leave.
Footsteps retreated. The low conversations grew even softer.
“…still like this up to now…”
“Should we go report…”
Then more distant footsteps. Someone left, probably to report. The ones who stayed were still outside the door, not daring to leave, not daring to knock again.
She didn’t want to move, didn’t want to speak, didn’t want to deal with those “would you like,” “is it okay,” “what do you think.”
‘Hungry? Not really. Thirsty? A little.’
But the thought of “stand up and get some water” had barely surfaced when it was crushed by a heavier weight.
‘Let them wait.’
Xueli leaned against the headboard, listening to those tiny sounds, her face expressionless. She turned her head and glanced at the plush by the pillow. Gray fur, red eyes, a curved mouth, forever smiling.
The plush did not answer. Of course it wouldn’t.
“…You’re easier to deal with.” She said softly.
After a long time, footsteps sounded again. This time, more numerous and more chaotic. Someone stopped outside the door and exchanged a few words in low voices.
Then, the knock came again, a little heavier than before.
“Your Highness.”
It was another voice, calmer, probably an older lady-in-waiting.
“Your Highness, if you do not respond, we will have no choice but to report to Her Majesty the Queen. At least… let us know that you are alright?”
Xueli listened but did not move.
‘Let them report. What good would telling Mother do? What can Mother do? Ha…’
But in the end, she spoke.
“Leave it by the door.”
Her voice was very soft, hoarse, as if she hadn’t spoken in a long time. But loud enough to be heard.
***
The outside instantly fell silent. In that silence, there was a sense of relief. At least, there was a response.
“Y-yes!” The maid’s voice carried obvious surprise.
“Then we’ll leave lunch by your door. And those documents…”
“Take them away.”
The voice was cold and quick, leaving no room for argument.
Outside, there was another moment of silence.
“Then… should we prepare the evening banquet in advance…”
No answer.
“…Yes.”
The older lady-in-waiting’s voice was cautious. Silence. A very long silence.
“Your Highness?”
Still no answer.
Xueli leaned against the headboard, her gaze fixed on the ceiling. She had said what needed to be said. For the rest, she didn’t want to say another word.
Those outside seemed to finally understand. Footsteps sounded, the sound of something being set down, then footsteps receding. This time, they walked very slowly, as if carrying unease and hesitation.
Xueli listened as the sounds gradually faded away, then lowered her head to look at her fingers. Speaking just now seemed to have drained a lot of energy.
Her throat was still dry. The feeling of thirst became clear.
She slowly stood up, walked to the door, opened it, and crouched down. The tray was on the floor outside. The food was exquisite, and next to it was a glass of water.
She brought the tray in, walked back to the bed, and sat down. She took a sip of water. It was cold, as if it had been sitting for a while.
From this, it seemed they had waited outside for a long time before she said “leave it by the door.”
She looked at the glass of water and suddenly felt like laughing. Another sip.
She picked up a piece of meat, chewed for a long time, and swallowed. The movement of eating was stiff, like a machine following its own program.
As she ate, her gaze fell on the plush. It sat quietly by the pillow, its red eyes glowing faintly, as if looking at her, or looking at nothing. The plush did not answer.
“…I’m leaving.” She said softly.
She put down her fork, finished the glass of water, then placed the tray back by the door. She walked back to the bed, curled up again, hugging her knees.
There were footsteps outside the door again. She didn’t know if it was the same people or others, standing nearby and whispering.
“…She really responded?”
“Yes, Her Highness said leave it by the door, nothing else.”
“What about the documents?”
“Told us to take them away, didn’t even look at a single word.”
“What are we going to do…”
Xueli closed her eyes.
‘What to do? I don’t know. But I don’t want to deal with it right now. Let them panic. Ha.’