While she slept, the Crimson Powder Bride felt herself growing colder and colder.
Gradually, she began to feel as if something were wrapped around her neck, making it harder and harder to breathe.
Her long black hair flowed like streams of ink, spreading and rising little by little until it soon filled the entire boudoir.
The fine, resilient strands moved as deftly as snakes, slipping into the bed curtains and winding around the Crimson Powder Bride's neck again and again. Then they tightened...
The Crimson Powder Bride kept her eyes shut. Her rosy complexion slowly turned a livid blue, and her peaceful expression twisted with struggle.
She desperately wanted to wake up, but her eyelids felt as heavy as a thousand-pound weight. No matter what she did, she couldn't open her eyes.
Soon, her breath began to weaken.
All at once, a streak of blood appeared between the Crimson Powder Bride's brows. Then a blood-red eye, brimming with hatred, coldness, and fury, snapped open!
At the same moment, every strand of hair wrapped around the Crimson Powder Bride's neck snapped.
Her slender, supple body abruptly sat upright. The Crimson Powder Bride opened her eyes, fully awake—but at that same instant, the blood-red pupil between her brows was forcibly erased by some unseen power.
The Crimson Powder Bride's expression changed dramatically. Without a moment's hesitation, she threw off the covers and climbed out of bed. But before her feet could touch the floor, a maid leaned into view beside her. The girl looked familiar, wore her hair in twin buns, and had a smooth, mirror-like mask over her face.
The Crimson Powder Bride was startled. This was the maid who served her—but hadn't she already killed her?
Before she could think it through, the maid raised her sleeves and reached out