O God, you will surely slay the wicked. Therefore, you who love blood, depart from me.
For they speak evil against you. Your enemies also falsely claim your name.
O Lord, do I not hate those who hate you? Do I not loathe those who attack you?
I hate them intensely; they are my enemies.
O God, examine me and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts.
See if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
She was blindfolded, jolted about, and then roughly pushed off the vehicle.
"Where am I?" She was surrounded by darkness, her hands tightly bound behind her back.
"Enjoy a few days of peace! Perhaps in a few days, it will be the day of your execution!"
"What...?" Ivina struggled frantically against the restraints.
"Having angered Duke Dandel, our king, do you think you have any chance of survival?" "Unfortunately, your pretty face…" Looking at Ivina, dressed in a maid's uniform, the two henchmen laughed lewdly. Their rough hands occasionally stroked her face.
"Take your filthy hands off me! Take them off! You wicked people! God will punish you!" Ivina's eyes were wet with tears, feeling the immense humiliation she was enduring.
The henchmen exchanged glances, then burst into a狂妄大笑.
"God?! Stupid woman! You can talk about that when you're in heaven."
The rope on her hands was loosened, but before Ivina could remove the blindfold, the sound of horse hooves grew faint and distant, and the carriage vanished without a trace.
Looking back, this was the very place she had desperately fled from. Now she was back here again, in this damp, gloomy cave.
Ivina forced a wry smile and walked toward the door with resignation.
As she pushed open the heavy door, before she could react, her slender arm was grabbed by a withered hand.
"Who was the carriage that brought you back just now?" Niditara's eyes widened, her pupils nearly popping out of excitement.
Ivina felt dazed.
"Tell me quickly! Gra! Speak!" Niditara shook her violently, making the weakened girl struggle to breathe.
"I... I don't know..."
"Then where did you come back from? Who did you encounter?"
"I really don't know!" Niditera's excited mood frightened her. "I only heard the vampire call him Dan… Del, yes, Dandel."
Niditera's tightly clenched hands relaxed, and her hunched body erupted into a fit of maniacal laughter.
"Ivina, you did it. He won't forget you. He'll never forget you!"
Ivina couldn't understand the meaning behind the laughter. She furrowed her brows tightly, feeling both fear and disgust toward the strange old woman before her.
"Xia Sang, help the young lady back to her bedroom." A petite figure darted into Ivina's vision from the corner of the wall.
Along the way, she kept her head down, daring not to look at Xia Sang once. Recalling how she had harmed the innocent Xia Sang in order to escape this place, Ivina felt deeply guilty. In her simplicity, she believed she deserved to be torn to pieces.
Holding onto Xia Sang, who was walking ahead, Ivina struggled to speak.
"I'm sorry, please forgive me, Xia Sang. Forgive my mistake, for my selfish desires..."
Stopping in her tracks, Xia Sang was surprised to see Ivina's humble attitude. She had thought she was just a spoiled foreigner. Besides, masters executing servants was a common occurrence, and there was no need for an apology.
"No, no, your words embarrass me. As a maid, my duty is to serve my master with all my heart. Even if it means sacrificing my life, it is only right."
Xia Sang hurriedly knelt down, speaking each word sincerely.
"Get up, get up quickly." Ivina hurriedly pulled Xia Sang to her feet. Not only did Xia Sang appear to be around the same age as her, but Ivina was also unaccustomed to someone kneeling before her.
Upon entering her bedroom, Ivina dismissed Xia Sang.
Lying on the bed, her mind in disarray, she wanted to be alone.
"Are you a foreigner?"
"I ask you, which clan are you from? This is the third time—it's the limit."
"Woman, do you have an objection to my kiss?"
She buried her head in the pillow, trying to ignore the words of the stranger. Closing her eyes tightly, she forced herself to sleep.
One sheep, two sheep, three…
"In the realm of vampires, a woman's highest aspiration is to be favored by a man of higher status. To bear children for a man is her mission."
His deep, dark gray eyes were etched into her thoughts. Her mind was filled with the face of this stranger, and she couldn't sleep.
Desperately opening her eyes, his breath was as close as an inch away.
Ivina, what has happened to you? You must eventually leave this place; how can you harbor any lingering attachment to the people here?
She did not know how long she had been here. Would her mother worry about her? Perhaps not; her mother's eyes were fixed only on her younger sister, Leia… That was right; no matter where she was, the only person who loved her was her father.
A pang of sadness washed over her as she curled up her slender body, taking up only a corner of the large bed before falling into a deep sleep.
A man dressed in odd attire, his heartbroken gaze exposed in the darkness, stirred her heart… Such a familiar figure.
"Who are you?!" Ivina screamed, jumping up from the bed, startling Xia Sang, who was cleaning the room nearby.
"I'm sorry, Miss Gra, my clumsiness has disturbed you."
Ivina was drenched in cold sweat, staring blankly ahead without responding.
"Miss Gra…" Xia Sang approached with concern, gently wiping the sweat from Ivina's forehead with a white cloth.
"I've seen him… I've seen him." She shouted hoarsely, the despair from her dream still lingering in her heart, causing her to shed tears uncontrollably. Turning to look at Xia Sang, who stood beside her in confusion, she seemed unable to escape the dream, her expression sorrowful.
"Please wait, I'll bring you a bowl of strong tea."
"No, it's okay." Ivina's thoughts suddenly snapped out of the dream, and she realized she was sitting on the bed, looking disheveled.
"What time is it?"
"Huh?" Xia Sang looked at her in confusion.
She had forgotten that this was not human society; here, there was no concept of time, no seasons, and no sun. Realizing her slip of the tongue, she quickly changed the subject.
"I'm still unfamiliar with this place, so I'd like to explore a bit." Ivina reached for the tattered maid's uniform beside her pillow without hesitation, but before she could, Xia Sang had already respectfully presented her with a clean dress, gesturing for Ivina to put it on.
"Yes, mistress. Everything will be ready once you've finished dressing."
Looking at herself in disheveled attire, Ivina forced a shy smile.
In fact, she wasn't interested in the decorations of the entire palace. She was just wandering around to pass the time.
"This is the side hall. Please come in."
Xia Sang hurriedly led her into this cold and remote side hall, then suddenly stopped. She turned around, bowed respectfully, but the coldness in her tone startled Ivina.
"Master, have you noticed," she raised her head slightly to look at Ivina, "that this palace has indeed improved significantly since Niditla regained her title. However, the extent of its splendor does not match her important status within the vampire family—the brick walls are still somewhat dilapidated, and filthy gutters can still be seen everywhere. The so-called 'major renovation' was merely superficial." It seems that the elderly Niditara, though high in rank, holds little power and is not held in high esteem by the ruler..." Shasanton paused, observing Ivina's reaction.
"Shasanton, I don't understand what you're saying." Ivina wasn't lying; she was genuinely confused.
"There's no need to hide your grand plans here. For your loyal servant before you, you can entrust your plans to me. This lowly servant will swear to follow you to the death and fulfill your wishes."
Ivina was completely lost. The expression on Xiasang's face was serious, with no trace of jest. "My... my wishes?"
Yes, she wanted to leave here, immediately! Right now! But that likely didn't align with Xiasang's mention of "grand ambitions."
Seeing her hesitate, Xiasang stepped closer. "Master, allow me to speak frankly… To replace Niditera's position, you must have gone to great lengths. Why not…" Xiasang's expression darkened and twisted, "Why not let me help you eliminate that old woman, so you can smoothly take her place?"
"Shut up! What are you saying? Shut up!" Even though Niditera had used her, threatened her, and forced her, she had never considered harming her, let alone coveting her position. What she wanted was freedom! It was the guidance to heaven. Staying here as a witch was the greatest irony for a Christian!
"Master, I'm only doing this to express my loyalty!"
"But your cruel words just now are truly disappointing." Ivina suddenly felt that the young woman before her was terrifying.
"This lowly servant merely dares to hope to always be by your side."
"Why me? Here, my status is also lowly. You would be better off defecting to a righteous master..." Ivina spoke softly, her heart yearning to return home, unwilling to linger a moment longer in this sinful realm.
"No, your divination skills are sufficient for you to replace Niditara and become the youngest witch leader."
"What are you talking about?"
Ivina was about to interrupt when an old voice came from behind her.