Marble floors gleamed like white jade; golden pillars rose tall.

The faint scent of ancient dark wood filled the air. Crystal wall lamps cast a soft, warm glow.

Silk curtains swayed gently in the breeze—dreamy, misty, unreal.

Tranquility reigned. Even the pale blue wind bells by the door chimed softly without breaking the calm.

This place had always been silent. No one dared disturb it. For the noble one here, it was the gravest taboo.

But today was different. A figure hurried into view.

A woman with waist-length black hair. Not breathtakingly beautiful, yet undeniably lovely.

Her figure was unreal—beyond human imagination.

Slender waist, narrow hips. Her black gauze dress strained tight, hinting at what lay beneath.

She didn’t enter the hall. Instead, she knelt on one knee outside the door.

The natural allure in her eyes vanished instantly. Only pure reverence remained.

"Your Majesty, urgent news to report."

Silence followed. No reply came from within.

Still, her face showed no impatience. Perhaps she was long used to this.

A long pause…

"What is it?" A languid female voice drifted from behind the curtains. "Kaliya, you know the price for waking me."

Kaliya’s forehead broke out in cold sweat. She knew that price all too well.

"Reporting, Your Majesty. ‘They’ have moved. We’re preparing, but some matters require your hand."

She chose her words carefully, voice trembling slightly.

"...That’s all?"

The lazy tone stayed the same, yet danger seeped through.

Kaliya stiffened. She swallowed hard. "Th-there’s more. They sent word… they saw Her Highness. Uh—?!"

Whoosh!

Before she finished, the curtains surged upward like a storm had hit them.

The wind bells chimed in a frantic, rain-like patter.

Kaliya was yanked up by the neck before she could react!

"What did you just… say?" A woman with pure white hair leaned close, pale lips whispering near Kaliya’s ear.

The amethyst necklace at her chest glowed with a dim, eerie purple light—as if sensing her mood.

Pain and suffocation flooded Kaliya’s mind. She didn’t dare struggle.

Her captor realized she couldn’t speak and finally released her.

"Cough! Cough…"

Kaliya hit the ground, gasping for air. Her face slowly regained color.

She stole a fearful glance at the figure before her. That grip had been merciless.

One more ounce of force, and her neck would have snapped.

"Hmph." The white-haired woman flicked her black-and-red phoenix gown. "Repeat it."

"Yes, Your Majesty. They reported sighting Her Highness."

"And?" The woman raised an eyebrow.

"N-nothing else. That’s all they shared."

Crack!

The floor beneath the white-haired woman spiderwebbed with cracks.

"That’s all? Heh… Using this as leverage? Pathetic. Utterly foolish."

Her voice turned icy. Kaliya bowed her head low, knowing those fools had angered her.

"Go. Summon Lingmeng to me now. One minute’s delay, and she knows the consequences."

The woman turned sharply.

The curtains parted, then swallowed her whole.

Kaliya took a deep breath, rose quickly, and retreated without delay.

Soon after, another figure arrived—clothes rumpled, hair messy. A small hickey marked her neck.

"Your Majesty, what urgent matter calls me here?"

The girl checked the time and sighed softly.

She felt puzzled. Such a rushed summons was unprecedented.

"Hmm? Where’s your man?" The voice from the curtains turned cold.

Lingmeng’s lips twitched. She hurriedly smoothed her clothes.

"Ah… my apologies!"

"Hmph. You and him—behave. Next time, the Forbidden Tower awaits your punishment."

At "Forbidden Tower," Lingmeng’s legs trembled. Tears nearly spilled.

"I swear it won’t happen again! But… why summon me so urgently?"

The voice paused slightly. "Someone… saw her."

"Her?" Lingmeng froze. Then her eyes widened in shock. "The Grand Duke?"

She shook her head before an answer came.

"Impossible! Her soul crystal shattered. She can’t be—uh?"

"Remember? Is she… really that easy to kill?"

Behind the curtains, the white-haired woman leaned against the bed, expression unreadable.

Lingmeng’s face twisted with complex emotions.

Finally, she sighed. "But Your Majesty… even if she lives, what then?"

Silence. No reply this time.

"Have you forgotten? The true reason for our defeat years ago."

"Enough! I know better than you. I know what to do." Her voice trembled faintly.

No one understood it more deeply. That was why she couldn’t accept it.

"...I understand." Lingmeng closed her eyes briefly. When they opened, all emotion was gone. "I’ll handle it. Await my success."

She bowed deeply and left without another word. Nothing more needed asking.

Silence returned to the space.

But this quiet held something else.

Behind the curtains, the white-haired girl’s downcast eyes flickered with unreadable light.

A long while…

"Who are you truly? My dearest friend… or my enemy?"

Her voice wasn’t soft. Yet in the empty hall, no answer came.

Only the wind bells chimed softly, their sound lingering on and on…