Chapter 12 Who’s Organizing the Wardrobe
Chapter 12: Who’s Organizing the Wardrobe?
After Treize left contentedly, Bai Li finally had a chance to be alone with Vivian. There were certain things he needed to clarify.
“What’s your intention in sending Treize to me? Are you deliberately trying to make things difficult? I killed Prince Elinor, so this puts me in an awkward position.”
Vivian shrugged, answering nonchalantly.
“Let me ask you, has our Rose Hall ever initiated an attack against anyone?”
Bai Li considered and realized it was true. In fact, his Frost Moon Knights had conquered half of Rose Hall.
Now it was Bai Li’s turn to feel uneasy. The villain in this story was actually himself.
“If you put it that way, I’ve killed many vampires from Rose Hall. Don’t you hate me for that?”
Bai Li immediately sensed a wave of killing intent flicker, and Vivian’s eyes seemed to flash, but she quickly reverted to her usual cuteness.
“Yes, I once hated you, but after you came to Fort Liège, and based on my observations all along, you’re just a pawn like the rest of us.”
Vivian continued, “I was originally worried about how to eliminate you. You had your fortress cannons right at my castle gates. But then the Empire sent me a secret letter…”
“What did the letter say?”
“It contained the fortress’s defense plans, personnel arrangements, structural blueprints, and guard rotation schedules.”
Bai Li never imagined he’d been stabbed in the back by his own people. He had wholeheartedly fought for the Empire, only to be a disposable chess piece.
“Indeed, so what’s the point of hating you? Strayless Claud is the mastermind.” Vivian fiddled with the quill on the table. “As I said before, if I hadn’t saved you, you would have been burned to death by that Seraph’s holy fire.”
“Do you think I should be grateful to you for that?”
Vivian turned her back, gazing at the azure sky.
“By the way, can you help me with something?”
“Tell me. If it’s within my abilities, I’ll try. From what you’ve said, it seems vampires aren’t so bad after all.”
Vivian smiled silently and left the room.
Bai Li looked at himself in the mirror. He did look a bit disheveled, and his shirt was dirty again.
“It would be embarrassing to go out like this. That person would be too smug. I should tidy myself up first.”
He turned and opened the wardrobe, finding that someone had already organized his clothes. There were mostly white shirts he liked to wear and a few formal suit jackets.
The vampire-style formal attire wasn’t as unattractive as he’d thought. The pure black suit paired with a white shirt did look dignified.
After putting on the clothes and changing his pants, he stared at the tie on the table, deep in thought.
“How do I put this on?” This became a challenge.
Holding the soft tie in his hands, Bai Li had no idea how to proceed. Wasn’t it just a long piece of fabric with a clasp?
…
After some attempts, he managed to knot the tie around his neck, looking like a hanged man.
“This doesn’t seem right?” He tried to undo it, but the knot he’d tied was so abstract that he couldn’t untie it.
“Really…”
Just then, a small head peeked from behind the door. Bai Li turned alertly, seeing only a tuft of white cowlick swaying outside.
“Who’s there?” He looked over while covering the tie knot with his hand. “Don’t tell me it’s you, you peeping tom?”
“I’m sorry, it’s all Treize’s fault for startling Big Brother Prince.” Treize timidly emerged from behind the door. Her dress was slightly dirty, suggesting she had been watching for quite some time.
“Ahem, it’s fine, Treize. I spoke too harshly just now. Please wait outside for a moment.”
“Eh, Big Brother Prince, why are you covering your chest with your hand? Are you feeling unwell?” Treize moved closer, her small face pressing against Bai Li’s chest. He couldn’t free a hand to push her away.
“Really, I’m fine, Treize. Be good and step outside for a moment…” Bai Li retreated, but accidentally missed his footing and nearly fell.
Fortunately, he quickly steadied himself against the wall, avoiding hitting his head. But Treize caught sight of the massive knot in his tie.
“Strange, why is your tie tied like that? Let me show you.” Treize pressed against Bai Li’s body, her delicate little hands tugging at the tie’s knot.
Feeling this little cream puff about his height, her gentle hands worked carefully, afraid of hurting him. Bai Li could even feel Treize’s breath, tinged with nervousness.
“You’re so hopeless.” Bai Li blushed, awkwardly fidgeting with his fingers. Being seen by Treize in this state was truly embarrassing; he wanted to find a hole to crawl into. He stood rigidly, unsure whether to move or not, and Treize kept pressing closer.
Soon, Treize untied the massive knotted tie. She spread it out on the table and began teaching Bai Li how to tie it himself.
“Big Brother Prince, you tie a tie like this: wrap the wide end around the narrow end once, pass it through the back, pull it out, pass it through the collar, tighten and adjust, and you’re done.” Bai Li watched as she held up the neatly tied tie, feeling quite useless that he couldn’t even handle a piece of cloth.
“…What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?” Treize blinked, looking puzzled at the motionless Bai Li. She innocently thought she might have upset him again.
“It’s nothing, nothing, Treize. Thank you for your help.”
Hearing this, Treize regained her smile. She stood on tiptoe, trying to put the tie around Bai Li’s neck. Seeing her like this, Bai Li hastily lowered his head, allowing her to place the tie around his neck.
“To adjust the tightness, just pull the narrow inner part.” Treize smiled. “Big Brother Prince looks very handsome today too.”
Bai Li scratched his head and grinned foolishly, not knowing how to respond to Treize. Such innocent children were rare.
“By the way, Treize, did you organize the clothes in the wardrobe?”
“Yes, but Her Majesty found those clothes for you.”
Bai Li’s lips twitched. He was surprised that Vivian had found clothes that fit him well and looked good.
Now his reflection in the mirror had a gentlemanly air. Bai Li straightened his collar, adjusted his tie to ensure he hadn’t fastened any buttons incorrectly, and after triple-checking, prepared to go out.
But as soon as he left the castle, the hot sunlight hit Bai Li’s skin with a “sizzling” sound, as if being burned. In pain, he immediately retreated into the shadows. Beside him, Treize stood in the sunlight, seemingly unaffected.
Treize skipped ahead, then turned to see Bai Li hadn’t followed.
“Didn’t you bring your sunlight bracelet? The sun is out today.” She raised her left hand, showing the crystalline bracelet that gleamed with light.
Bai Li rubbed his burned hand, finally realizing why Vivian had given him that item. After all, being half-vampire now, fearing sunlight made sense.
Actually, even when he was at the Temple Knights Order, he didn’t much like sunbathing, always preferring to stay in the shadows.
He returned to the bedroom and found the bracelet, putting it on his wrist. Apart from its sun-protection function, it also made a decent ornament.
“This will have to do.”
Shortly after, Bai Li walked out of the castle. The sunlight fell on him, feeling warm—a long-lost sensation.
Treize extended her small hand, firmly grasped Bai Li’s, and without warning, pulled him forward at a run.
“Hey, hey, Treize, what are you doing?”
“Hurry up! Her Majesty is already getting impatient.”
“Wait, slow down…”