The next morning.
Birds chirped in the trees as the sun peeked over the horizon, casting warm rays of sunlight.
Dressrosa Royal Palace, Scarlett's bedroom.
Knock, knock, knock!
A knock sounded at the door, followed by Violet's voice from outside.
"Big Sister, are you in there...?"
The pink-haired girl struggled to open her bleary eyes and replied in a hoarse voice:
"I'm here... The door should be unlocked... Come in!"
Violet gently pushed open the door and slipped into the bedroom.
She glanced toward the bed and found her sister still lying there, hugging a pink pillow with her eyes shut, fast asleep.
The pink bedsheet had slipped from Violet's snow-white shoulder, revealing a red mark. Curious, Violet stepped closer.
To her surprise, she found two red marks on her sister's neck as well!
"Big Sister... Why do you have red patches on you? Are you sick?"
"Uh!?... No... It's nothing! I just got scraped a little..."
"Huh!?... Big Sister, your voice is so hoarse! Is your throat uncomfortable?"
"Mm!... No, I just didn't sleep well last night... I'm overheated... That's all!"
A blush spread across Violet's cheeks. She reached out and tugged the blanket up to cover her neck before instructing her younger sister:
"Little Sister, there's a bat on the table in the room. Go put it in an iron cage...
"Mm!... And while you're at it, feed it some fresh cow's blood or sheep's blood."
"Okay!"
Violet nodded. Without asking further questions, she turned and walked to the table in front of the long sofa. Reaching out with her right hand, she grabbed the unusually docile Black Bat lying on the table.
"Huh!? Big Sister, why is your nightgown here... And why does it have bloodstains on it?"
The black-haired girl casually swept her gaze over the