Flora was numb.
The entire set of “princess etiquette” she had maintained due to excessive nervousness was finally starting to crumble; her back was sore, and her legs were stiff. Her hands were already trembling slightly.
Just when she thought she could finally be liberated, Ilya spoke up as if in passing, “Xueli is new here. Why don’t you show her around the castle?”
Flora almost turned to stone on the spot.
“…Me?”
Ilya nodded very gently, her tone carrying a naturalness that brooked no refusal. “Yes, you.”
“Yes, Mother,” Flora sighed softly.
Xueli’s expression remained normal as she gave a slight nod. “I shall trouble Your Highness to look after me, then.”
At that moment, the only thought that surfaced in Flora’s mind was: ‘I’m doomed.’
The door to the drawing room closed gently behind them.
The corridor was so quiet that only echoes remained. The candlelight on the walls cast a soft yellow glow on the two princesses.
The two figures—one silver-white and one light purple—looked quite matching… if one could ignore the suffocating atmosphere between them.
Flora tried her best to maintain a “smiling but not stiff” expression, but the result was likely closer to hovering on the edge of facial paralysis. She had to say something. Otherwise, it would be too awkward.
“Um… Excuse me, was your journey smooth?”
Xueli turned to look at her. Now, that gaze didn’t seem like disdain but rather pure observation.
“Yes, it was quite smooth.”
Having said that, she pursed her lips and didn’t continue the conversation.
The air dropped back to freezing point.
‘I’m done for. Does she think I’m incredibly boring? Did I just ask a super stupid question?’
She took a deep breath and forced herself to continue. “Uh… Compared to the Vampire territory, is the environment of the demon realm too dry?”
“A little.”
Flora: “…”
Xueli clearly wasn’t trying to kill the conversation on purpose; she just… really only gave short answers. But for Flora, this was more torturous than being ignored.
She panicked completely. She began to frantically search her mind for ways to keep the atmosphere from being so cold: common topics, emotional resonance, moderate progression, and not asking closed-ended questions…
But her brain was like mush now; she couldn’t remember a thing.
She could only squeeze out a sentence. “I… Today is the first time I’ve met you.”
After saying it, she felt like a fool. ‘What kind of words are those? What kind of topic is that?’
Xueli stopped slightly and looked at her. Flora wished she could stuff herself into a crack in the wall.
But Xueli didn’t show any disgust, only saying faintly, “Me too. You’re a bit different from what I imagined.”
Flora blinked. “…Different how?”
Xueli looked at her and thought about it seriously. “Two days ago, when I heard I was going to meet the ‘demon princess,’ I thought you would be the arrogant type with a strong aura.”
Flora: “???”
Xueli continued, “But you seem rather… soft.”
Flora almost tripped. ‘Arrogant? Others actually guessed I’d be like that? But “soft” does seem to fit a bit.’
“I-I was never that kind of person!”
Xueli nodded gently. “I know that now.”
Her tone was calm, but for some reason, it made Flora feel a very slight, tiny sense of relief.
The corridor light was soft. As the two walked by, the maids would bow quietly.
Flora worked hard to maintain the movements taught in her etiquette classes: steady steps, straight back, relaxed shoulders, and a natural expression.
But she was still nervous. So tense that her fingers were almost stiff. Xueli took a glance without changing her expression.
“You’re nervous.”
Flora almost jumped. “I am not!”
“From just now, your left hand has been pulling at your hem,” Xueli said.
Flora looked down. Indeed, it was so. She quickly let go, but it only made her look more flustered.
“That’s… that’s because the clothes… are too long!”
Xueli gave a soft “Mm” as if she wasn’t exposing her. This made Flora’s face turn even redder.
Natural light began to appear at the end of the corridor; the entrance to the garden was just ahead. The flowers of the demon realm were completely different from those in the Vampire territory.
The colors of the blood clan’s plants weren’t vivid, possessing a strange beauty; some flowers changed shape with the light. The flowers in the demon realm were somewhat sharp, and their colors were more vivid.
Of course, there were also some soft-looking flowers in the demon realm.
As soon as Xueli entered the garden, her gaze was clearly drawn. She leaned down and looked at a blue-purple feathery petal. “What is this?”
Flora blurted out, “Youya bluebell.”
Xueli looked up at her. “You know it?”
“Ahem… A little.”
Flora tried her best not to appear too conspicuous.
But in the next second, she still couldn’t help but add, “This flower is completely harmless during the day, but at night, the center closes up. It doesn’t like strong moonlight, so they don’t have them in the Vampire territory.”
Xueli looked at her for three seconds, as if re-evaluating her. “So you’re also very knowledgeable about plants.”
Flora smiled bitterly in her heart. She didn’t want to say that because she had been scratched by vines while trying to run away, she had pored over books explaining the characteristics of all the plants here until the pages were worn out. Naturally, she knew.
But she stubbornly said, “I’ve just… read a little.”
Xueli nodded and looked at another flower. The petals were a dazzling gold, shaped like a swirling flame. “What about this one?”
Flora immediately grew tense. “Don’t touch it!”
Xueli stopped in confusion. “?”
“That’s night goldshade… the pollen irritates the skin of the blood clan.” Flora moved closer to her and pulled her back a bit. “You can’t get too close.”
Xueli looked down at Flora’s hand gripping her wrist. Realizing this, Flora snapped her hand back. “I-I didn’t mean it that way! It’s just, you know…”
“Thank you,” Xueli said softly.
Flora was stunned. It was her first time hearing Xueli say thank you.
Xueli circled the garden a few more times, asking about the names and habits of some plants. Flora explained them one by one.
Finally, Xueli looked at her and said, “Your etiquette… indeed still needs practice.”
Flora: “…”
“But your observation of the environment is very detailed.” Xueli raised her eyes. “Better than I imagined.”
Flora felt a “click” as her whole body froze. ‘Is this… a compliment? Or is she looking down on me? Or is she both complimenting me and looking down on me?’
She stubbornly said, “I’ve never been… bad at it.”
Xueli didn’t argue, only giving a slight smile. That smile was light, but it didn’t seem like a polite one. It was more like… she truly found Flora quite interesting.
***
After leaving the garden, the two headed toward the guest palace on the north side of the castle.
On the way, the maids stepped aside to bow. But unlike before, a look of surprise and slight admiration appeared in their eyes.
“Her Highness is actually taking the vampire princess for a walk…?”
“They’re getting along… surprisingly well?”
“Her Highness doesn’t look as nervous today.”
Hearing this, Flora unexpectedly relaxed a bit.
Xueli’s room was in the north wing, decorated elegantly and quietly. At the door, the two stopped.
Xueli looked at her. “You worked hard today.”
The tips of Flora’s ears turned red. “I-I only did what I should have.”
“Mm.” Xueli gazed at her for a moment. “A little better than I first imagined.”
Flora: “…What on earth did you imagine at first glance?!”
Xueli didn’t answer, only nodding to her. “See you tomorrow.”
The door closed gently.
Flora stood in place for three seconds before reacting. Xueli was complimenting her. Complimenting her in the most conservative and stingy way typical of blood clan nobles.
She couldn’t help but touch her face, her heart beating a little fast.
“…At least… it wasn’t that bad,” she muttered softly, as if comforting herself or truly feeling a sense of relief.