As the music ended, Yin was called away by several dukes and viscounts to discuss official matters. Mu Qingyun turned her head toward Su Qiluo, only to see that he too was surrounded by others, seemingly deep in a serious conversation.
Bored, she lowered her head and stared at the table. Though the blood in front of her stirred some inexplicable urges, she managed to suppress them.
She needed to find time to ask Su Qiluo for another vial of Qingsu—and to drink it in his presence. If she did that, he would definitely protect her.
Her mind wandered as she sat there, deep in thought.
Suddenly, a shadow loomed over her.
She looked up and saw Prince Broull standing in front of her.
He was staring at her silently, swirling a glass of crimson liquid in his hand before placing it gently on the table in front of her.
"Human," Broull said arrogantly, raising his chin and looking down on her with a cold gaze. "This is red wine I've granted you. Toast with me."
That condescending attitude—she knew it all too well.
Glancing down at the glass on the table, she didn't reach for it. "Sorry, I belong to Prince Anxiaster. Without his permission, I cannot toast with you."
Using Anxiaster to suppress him? Very bold. This woman clearly didn't know her place.
Broull let out a cold snort. He grabbed the wine glass and forced it up toward her face. "I told you to drink. Are you refusing me?"
Mu Qingyun's gaze turned icy. She didn't reply. Instead, her right hand quietly moved beneath the table, a faint red light glowing in her palm.
"Drink!"
He pressed the glass to her lips. Just then, a small flame shot from her fingertip.
At the same time, a loud rumble of thunder echoed across the sky. A bolt of lightning briefly lit up the room through a partially opened window.
Startled by the lightning—Broull's one true fear—he jolted.
What he didn't realize was that the hem of his cloak had caught fire. As soon as the flames touched the fabric, they spread rapidly.
"Prince Broull!"
One of his attendants acted quickly, dragging over a bucket of water and dumping it on him. As the water doused the flames, Mu Qingyun subtly tapped her fingers, making the fire vanish.
Though the fire was "put out," Broull was now completely soaked, his clothes clinging awkwardly to his body.
Tch, she thought, for a guy so petty, he's got a surprisingly decent figure.
Mu Qingyun didn't bother hiding her gaze. Smiling faintly, she said, "Prince Broull, you should probably go change."
"You—!" Naturally, Broull noticed her mocking tone. Rage surged in his chest, and he clenched his fists, throwing a punch toward her face.
Smack.
Before Mu Qingyun even moved, Su Qiluo had stepped in front of her, catching Broull's punch mid-air.
"Your Highness, she merely refused your generous offer. No need to be so petty," Su Qiluo said calmly, squeezing Broull's hand slightly before pushing it aside.
"Xino, are you challenging me?" Broull narrowed his eyes, glaring at the masked Su Qiluo.
"That's not my intention, but you can take it that way if you like." Xino's lips curled into a lazy smile. "A noble prince bullying a lowly blood slave—doesn't sound very dignified, does it?"
Yin had now returned from across the room. He shot a cold glance at Broull but didn't speak.
Lester observed from a distance, watching with interest. He made no move to intervene. If he stepped in, Lester would likely jump in too. Better to let Su Qiluo and Broull clash—it'd leave Broull stewing in his own frustration.
"Damn it!" Broull snarled and turned to punch the subordinate who had thrown the water on him.
The blow landed with a sickening thud, sending the man flying before he could react.
He couldn't touch Xino. Not only was Xino a duke and Lester's subordinate, but rumor had it that his skills had recently improved drastically.
It would be humiliating if he lost to someone ranked below him.
Lester watched Broull's pained expression and couldn't help but smirk.
There's a saying, he mused, watching someone else lose money is even more satisfying than earning it yourself.
"Oh come on, don't take it so personally," Lester finally stood and walked over. "Xino, that's no way to speak to Prince Broull. Let's not make a habit of it."
Though the words were meant to scold, he said them with a big grin, clearly enjoying the scene.
"Hmph." Broull let out a furious snort and stormed off.
"Hey, where are you going?" Lester called after him.
"What else? I'm going to change!"
"Ha, hilarious," Lester chuckled under his breath and sauntered back toward the dance floor.
Once Broull left, Su Qiluo turned back to Mu Qingyun. "Don't worry. From now on, I'll have Yi Beixuan protect you."
"That won't be necessary," she shook her head. "Do you have any more Qingsu?"
She needed to rid herself of Yin's control as soon as possible.
"No, didn't I already give it to you?" Su Qiluo raised an eyebrow in confusion, showing no emotion beyond mild puzzlement.
His face was hidden behind the mask, so the flat tone in his voice made it sound like he was blaming her.
"Yin knocked it over," she replied honestly.
Su Qiluo frowned slightly. "I'll have the academy send another one. Yi Beixuan will bring it to you tomorrow night."
"Alright. Thank you." She lowered her gaze and didn't speak again.
While she chatted with Su Qiluo, in a nearby corner of the banquet hall, Yin tilted his head slightly, overhearing their conversation. A faint, unreadable smile tugged at his lips.
Tomorrow night, huh?
Fine. He had taken note.
"Prince Anxiaster, are you even listening?" one of the viscounts beside him frowned. He'd already repeated himself three times, yet Yin hadn't responded once.
"I heard you. It's all nonsense, nothing worth responding to," Yin replied lazily, his gaze shifting to Lester, who was now dancing gleefully in the center of the hall. His eyes darkened, lost in thought.
The next morning, as the first rays of sunlight touched the earth, the banquet finally drew to a close.
Mu Qingyun glanced at the sky outside and made up her mind. She stood up and went to find Yin.
"What is it, my blood slave? Looking for me?" Yin turned his head toward her, his tone casual.
"I want to go out today," she looked him in the eye. "You took me away so suddenly—I haven't explained anything to Grandpa yet."
Grandpa?
"That old man?" Yin frowned. "You've only known him a few days. What is there to explain?"