Jiang Jiu woke as dawn began to bleed into the sky.
The bar remained dark, lit only by the soft glow of an aromatherapy candle. She forced her bleary eyes open and peered out the window—the distant horizon shimmered with pearly light, its texture faintly frosted at first glance.
A dull ache pulsed deep in her mind, the lingering aftermath of spirit drained too fast.
She exhaled slowly, pushed herself up with joints stiff as rust, and looked toward the bar. Lady Witch still stood there.
And Lady Witch looked back.
“The prince is dead too,” Jiang Jiu murmured. “He died with the dragon.”
Unsurprised, Lady Witch glanced at the dream projection hovering above the bar, turned, filled a glass with water, dropped in an ice cube, and slid it to her.
“Mm. I saw.”
“So this fairy tale… is doomed to tragedy?” Jiang Jiu sighed wearily.
First time: she was the princess kidnapped by the dragon—and the dragon fell. Second time: she appeared beside the prince—and he perished alongside the beast. As if some unseen will warned her: *Do not alter their fates.*
But why?
Could the reason behind it… be something warm?
She sipped the icy water, rested her arms on the cool marble bar, and laid her head down. The chill seeped into her skin, soothing her overheated mind.
Then she reached across the bar and gently poked Lady Witch’s arm.
“Lilith?”
“Hmm?”
“Can you mix me another [Dream]?”
“…No.”
“Why not?”
“One more sip and your brain’ll explode like a watermelon smashed by a baseball bat—*pop*.”
“Will I die?”
“Yes.”
“…”
Jiang Jiu fell silent, then laughed softly like someone tipsy, tugging lightly at Lady Witch’s skirt.
“But you won’t let me die, Master,” she whispered.
Lady Witch finally snapped. She spun around, brandished her Enchanted Wand like a ruler, and rapped Jiang Jiu’s head twice—firmly.
“Is your brain broken?” she demanded. “It was just a dream. No one dies. The dragon and prince will wake up safe. So why obsess over saving storybook characters?”
She paused, then added with a faint smirk:
“Oh right—one of them isn’t even human.”
Jiang Jiu shook her head. Still poking Lady Witch’s arm, she said:
“Probably… because I hate owing anyone anything. Even in dreams.”
Lady Witch’s composure shattered. She jerked her hand back, voice icy:
“What about *me*? You rush to repay dream-dragons and princes—but me, your ex? Haven’t I been good to you, Jiang Jiu? Why is it so easy for you to owe *me*?”
Jiang Jiu blinked, genuinely puzzled.
“You? You want to know why I can calmly owe you?”
“Yes.”
“Alright. I’ll tell you.”
Jiang Jiu stood abruptly.
Lady Witch flinched backward—but Jiang Jiu seized her wrist, guiding her hand to her own neck.
Her fingers met leather.
A tight collar circled the maid’s throat, leaving a faint mark on delicate skin.
“Because of this,” Jiang Jiu said softly.
“I’m your maid. Your pet. Your toy… Call me what you will. I don’t care.”
“What matters is I’m here with you, Lilith. And do you truly think you could keep me here against my will?”
Lilith fell silent.
In her eyes, the maid had transformed once more into that shameless, wicked woman.
Head tilted, smile lazy and careless, Jiang Jiu hooked Lilith’s fingers around the collar.
“I won’t owe the dragon or prince anything—I’ll change their fates.”
“I won’t owe *you* anything either. So no matter how you see me, I choose to stay. To accompany you. To make it up to you.”
“Does that answer your question?”
“My dearest Master?”
“…”
Lilith snatched her hand back as if burned.
*Thump-thump-thump.*
Her heartbeat raced.
Yet she kept her face serene, shaking her head with practiced grace.
“That reason… still doesn’t earn you another drink.”
The wicked woman’s eyes flickered to Lilith’s lips—then away, a sly smile hiding in the corner of her mouth.
“The real reason? One of them—dragon or prince—is Pandora.”
She shook her head.
*Truth is, the reason doesn’t matter.*
*Just an excuse. A step for you to justify helping me… Because you’re still that gullible, soft-hearted fool who never knew how to say no to me, Lilith.*
Jiang Jiu’s lips curved faintly.
Lady Witch, face stern, gave a slow nod.
“…A reasonable reason. Fine. No choice then.”
She turned, raised her Enchanted Wand, and summoned the sprites.
They fluttered, weaving base spirits into the fourth cocktail—but their wings glowed faintly, nearly extinguished. A fifth [Dream] was impossible.
Lady Witch’s expression turned grave.
“This is your last chance. Bring Pandora back. As for the dragon and prince… remember, Jiang Jiu: Witch’s Night isn’t *your* dream. It *is* Witch’s Night. You’re only a guest. You cannot change the story.”
“The dragon dies. The prince dies. You’re playing the little princess—not *being* her.”
Jiang Jiu was silent a moment. Smart enough to be called “wicked,” she understood the warning.
Still, she shook her head.
“I want to try.”
“I’ve always been selfish, Lilith. I hold grudges… but I remember kindness too. Yes, I’m just playing a role. But that doesn’t matter.”
“I want to save them because it *annoys* me.”
“I hate predetermined tragedy. I hate stories that end in sorrow.”
“I may fail. But if I have strength left… why not protect something beautiful?”
“…”
Lady Witch said nothing more.
She placed the [Dream] before Jiang Jiu.
“Good luck.”
“Mm. I will.”
Jiang Jiu sat, took the glass, closed her eyes, and drank it all.
Familiar exhaustion surged like a tide, pulling her under. She surrendered to the dream’s gravity—and slipped into the fairy-tale world.
The maid slumped onto the bar, asleep.
Silence returned to the bar.
Lilith dismissed the sprites, poured herself whiskey, and settled onto a stool outside the bar.
Autumn rains had chilled the air deep. Even sealed tight, drafts slipped through cracks, brushing cold against skin. Both girls were delicate—especially the sleeping maid, frail enough that carving ice once nearly gave her fever.
Lilith tapped the table with her Enchanted Wand.
A coat floated from the rack, settled over Jiang Jiu, its belt fastening snugly around her.
*Should keep her from catching cold.*
*…Though maybe she deserves a little suffering.*
Lilith shot her a glance, snorted, and turned back to her drink.
*What a liar.* Sip.
*So shameless.* Sip.
*Treating me like a fool… Between people who care, debts shouldn’t be counted. Especially not “repaying everything.”*
*That’s what strangers do. People planning to run.*
*So… are you running, Jiang Jiu?*
Lilith narrowed her eyes, pinched Jiang Jiu’s cheek with a smile.
*You owe me so much… What could possibly repay it?*
*Oh.*
*One thing.*
*Your life.*
Lilith smiled.
[To Be Continued]
