A blood-soaked head

Qiao Wei ran desperately toward the palace gates, her tears streaming uncontrollably down her face. Only when she reached a secluded corner, hidden from prying eyes, did she finally let out a choked sob, all the courage she had shown in mocking Luo Chen utterly gone.

A man with black hair approached her, his eyes unsettlingly mismatched in color. There was a sly glint in his gaze, yet he spoke with the utmost gentlemanly courtesy: “Miss Qiao, do you remember me?”

Qiao Wei wiped away her tears, scrutinizing the man seriously. After a long moment, she shook her head slightly. “I’m sorry, I don’t know you. How do you know me?”

The man smiled, swiftly understanding her confusion. He spoke again, “Miss Qiao, I suppose you truly don’t recognize me. My name is Corneille. I am… a friend of Rhine’s. She mentioned you’re greatly troubled by your transformation into a vampire, so she secretly asked me to help find a way for you to become human again. I’ve made some progress on that matter. I have a box here—would you kindly deliver it to Prince Luo Xuan for me? And please pass him a message: Corneille wishes to meet him to retrieve something. Could you do that?”

Qiao Wei pondered briefly, then took the box Corneille handed her and nodded. Seeing her accept the box, Corneille smiled with relief. “I’ll be going now,” he said, then vanished before her eyes.

Moments after Corneille’s departure, Luo Xuan suddenly appeared before Qiao Wei. He saw her standing there unharmed, his gaze fastened on the box. Staring intently at it, he asked, “Has someone been here?”

“A man named Corneille asked me to give this to you. He also said he wants to see you to take something from you.” After handing Luo Xuan the box, Qiao Wei also gave him the broken arrow in her other hand. “I don’t want your pity. From now on, keep out of my affairs. His life is repaid for mine—I don’t want it.”

Luo Xuan took the broken arrow and opened the box, revealing a freshly severed, bloody head inside. Qiao Wei clutched her chest and staggered back, refusing to look at the grisly sight.

Luo Xuan gently took Qiao Wei’s hand to comfort her, a flash of crimson light crossing his eyes. Instantly, the head turned to ashes. His expression grew grave. “The elder has been killed by Corneille. It seems he’s here for blood.”

Qiao Wei hadn’t yet grasped Luo Xuan’s meaning when he suddenly stroked her hair, speaking with earnest tenderness: “Don’t be afraid, Qiao Qiao. I won’t let anything happen to you again.”

She did not pull away from him, allowing him to lead her back toward the palace, a vague unease stirring in her heart.

Upon returning, Qiao Wei saw Su Mo and Luo Chen sitting quietly together on the sofa, whispering. A faint displeasure rose within her. Something occurred to her, and she feigned nonchalance as she asked Luo Xuan, “Why haven’t we moved out yet? Didn’t the wizard say…”

“The wizard is dead. Secretly killed by a very powerful vampire. Apparently, he was drained dry!” Su Mo suddenly looked at Qiao Wei with a cheerful smile, her amber eyes free of any hostility.

“I only learned about it yesterday. I’ve been so busy with your affairs, I nearly forgot to mention it.” Luo Xuan took over, his tone considerate. “Tomorrow, let’s return to the Rose Fields, shall we?”

“Alright. By the way, where’s Rhine?” Qiao Wei asked lightly, noticing Rhine’s absence.

“I sent her to investigate something. She’ll return in a while.” Luo Chen, who hadn’t spoken until then, looked up at Qiao Wei, his eyes swirling with emotions she could not decipher.

Qiao Wei asked no further questions, but returned alone to her room, quietly lying on her bed and pondering over Corneille. Hearing Luo Xuan’s words, she felt as if something momentous was about to happen.

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