Chapter Forty: Return to the Ancient Castle

When I opened my eyes again, the scene before me was achingly familiar: the dim glow of candlelight, a dark golden coffin inlaid with silver patterns, a lavish crystal chandelier suspended from the ceiling, finely carved murals on the surrounding walls, and, at the front of the room, a fireplace blazing with flames.

“You’re awake, my lady,” Ang’s gentle greeting sounded at my side.

“Ang, is this the ancient vampire castle?” I asked him.

“Yes, my lady, this is your room,” Ang replied respectfully.

“I see. In the end, I’ve returned after all.” I sighed softly. The image of Xingyu’s merciless sword cutting toward me flashed through my mind, a sharp pain seizing my heart. I bit my lip hard, clenching my fists to keep myself from weeping again.

“Lilith!” A cheerful voice rang out from outside the door, and Liliel appeared before me, smiling. “Lilith, you’ve finally come back. That human disappointed you in the end, didn’t he?” Liliel looked at me, grinning mischievously.

“Princess Liliel!” Ang interrupted her sharply.

At the mention of Xingyu, my expression froze instantly. The ache and despair surged up within me once more.

“What’s wrong?” Liliel noticed the change in my face and asked anxiously.

I forced a faint smile for her. “I’m fine.”

“Ang, what happened?” Liliel demanded, turning to Ang.

“Liliel, please don’t ask. I really am all right,” I pleaded with her, my voice heavy with sorrow.

“Lilith,” Liliel said to me, displeased. “It was that human, wasn’t it? He hurt you, didn’t he? Why do you still defend him?”

“Liliel, Xingyu did nothing wrong. It’s my fault—I shouldn’t have appeared in his life. If not for me, Xiaoyou wouldn’t have died.” At last, I could no longer hold back my tears.

“Le Xiaoyou is dead? That little human girl is dead?” Liliel’s astonishment was clear as her voice rose involuntarily. Clearly, despite all her protestations of dislike, she actually cared about Xiaoyou.

“Yes, she was killed by a vampire while trying to save that boy,” Ang answered Liliel’s question and then continued, “My lady did nothing wrong. The one at fault is that damned human. Miss Xiaoyou died to save him, and yet he blames my lady. He deserves nothing less than death, and even that would not suffice to atone for his crime. He even dared to raise his sword against my lady! Even the most severe punishment would not be enough.” Ang, unable to let go of Xingyu’s attack on me, roared with fury.

“What? He actually dared to harm Lilith! Why? She has done so much for him, even formed the blood pact, sharing her very life with him—what right does he have to resent her? How dare he hurt Lilith!” Liliel, hearing Ang’s words, was utterly enraged. She had always harbored a deep hostility toward Xingyu, and upon learning that he tried to hurt me, her anger could no longer be contained.

After venting her fury, Liliel turned on her heel and left my room in a rage.

“Liliel, where are you going?” I called after her, watching her leave with anger still burning in her eyes.

“I’m going to kill him!” Liliel’s furious voice echoed through the entire vampire castle. “He dared to hurt my sister, dared to make her suffer so—I'll never forgive him, never let him go!”

“Liliel, come back!” I cried out in alarm, rushing after her. But just as I reached the doorway, a blood-red magic circle appeared before me, and I was thrown back.

“My lady.” Ang caught me as I was knocked back. “You are under confinement, my lady. You cannot leave your room. The Vampire Council has sentenced you to ten years of seclusion,” Ang told me.

“How could this be?” I shouted anxiously. “No, I must leave, I have to stop Liliel!” I rushed toward the door again, only to be repelled once more, as expected.

“My lady, it’s useless. This is a barrier set by the three Grand Dukes themselves. In your current condition, you cannot break through. You’ve suffered from sunlight, and you’ve gone too long without fresh blood. Your body is still too weak,” Ang explained gently, catching me once again.

“No, I must stop Liliel.” I broke free from Ang’s arms, summoning my weapon—a giant black scythe. “Scythe of the Night—Dreaming Mandragora!” I whispered, swinging the massive blade at the door. Shadows upon shadows slashed out, but the moment they touched the door, they vanished, leaving the barrier unscathed. The backlash left my face pale and I dropped to my knees, gasping for air.

“My lady.” Ang hurried to help me up. “Please, you mustn’t push yourself. I will go and stop Princess Liliel. Please rest for now; I promise I’ll bring her back.” With that, he gently placed me in the dark golden coffin. “Rest well, my lady. I’ll bring her back.” Bowing respectfully, Ang turned and left the room.

“Ang, thank you. I’m counting on you,” I whispered silently in my heart.

As Ang left to venture to the human realm and stop Liliel, he discovered that she had not yet departed. Instead, she stood before the grand gates of the vampire castle, as if waiting for something.

“Princess Liliel, please return. This is the Lady’s wish,” Ang implored her with respect.

“Ang, why are you stopping me? You must hate him too, that despicable human who hurt Lilith.” Liliel looked at Ang.

“Yes, I wish I could tear him limb from limb. But that would only make my lady suffer more, and heap more guilt upon her. The best thing now is to wait and let time heal all wounds. The blood pact between my lady and that human boy is broken; she has regained her immortality. In a hundred years, when that boy dies of old age, my lady will gradually forget this pain. That is the best way. Please, Princess Liliel, come back with me,” Ang pleaded.

“I know. Maybe that would cause Lilith even more pain, but after the pain, she’ll forget him all the sooner. Even if she comes to hate me, I will kill him. I can’t bear to see her suffer like this any longer. Ang, I’ve already sent Ashus. You may be stronger than me, but I can still keep you busy; you won’t be able to stop Ashus now. All we can do is wait here for the outcome. The anger and resentment that Lilith feels—let me bear it for her,” Liliel said resolutely.

“Princess Liliel.” Ang gazed at her steadfast expression and sighed. “Let’s hope that human boy’s fate is strong enough to survive, otherwise… my lady, alas…”

With those words, Ang fell silent, watching Liliel. The two of them waited quietly for Ashus’s return.