“Baiya Ifiel Krolom, I am Ryumiou Amidarl, the Third Prince of Amidarl. Congratulations on surviving against all odds. You’ve shown me an unbelievable miracle.”
With the back of his hand resting against his temple, head tilted to one side, Ryumiou sat atop a wooden chair with red leather cushions, gazing down at the white-haired girl before him.
At this moment, Baiya had already opened her crimson right eye, her chest rising and falling steadily. Compared to her previous near-death state—no different from a corpse—she now seemed full of vitality.
“I must admit again, your resurrection is nothing short of a miracle.” Ryumiou chuckled lightly.
The racial talent of Samsara Amaterasu, “Law of Life and Death”—the ability 『Scales of Burial and Revival』—had a seventy-five percent death rate, and a twenty-five percent revival rate. The dying Baiya Ifiel Krolom was struck by this ability, her life hanging by a thread of luck. In the end, she seized that slim chance of revival—a result that had to be called miraculous.
And with her being the first person ever revived by the 『Scales of Burial and Revival』, before this, Samsara Amaterasu’s ability could ignore the revival aspect and be regarded solely as a death god’s scythe, a certain-death verdict. Yet Baiya shattered this ‘common sense,’ escaping death with the “Law of Life and Death.” Calling this event a miracle was no exaggeration.
“……”
Blinking her right eye twice, Baiya struggled to her feet from the floor, shambling toward the relaxed Ryumiou like a living corpse. As the distance between them shortened, and it was his turn to straighten his head and slightly lift his chin to take in Baiya’s entire appearance, Ryumiou put away his smile and spoke calmly:
“What do you intend to do, Baiya Ifiel Krolom?”
“Hm.”
The next second, Baiya lunged at Ryumiou’s shoulder like a beast and bit down hard.
Flesh compressed and twisted by blood-red fangs, a look of pain flashed across Ryumiou’s face. Still, he grit his teeth and suppressed the urge to scream.
Baiya seemed to be growing more enthusiastic, biting even more viciously. Ryumiou persisted in silence, pain-brimmed tears already glimmering at the corners of his eyes.
“Your Highness Ryumiou!”
Samsara Amaterasu’s startled cry rang out at that moment. Entering the room holding a set of clothes, she saw Ryumiou being attacked by Baiya and her killing intent instantly skyrocketed. A massive demonic arm manifested on her shoulder, its five fingers clenching into a fist as it swung toward Baiya with a sound that tore through the air. If this blow landed, Baiya’s already battered body would be smashed to pieces.
“Stop! Samsara Amaterasu!” The moment Ryumiou sensed her presence, he knew things had gone awry. Though he was eager for Baiya to release her bite, he didn’t want her to die for it!
He’d been interested in Baiya ever since her escape. After her resurrection, his curiosity had multiplied tenfold. He wanted to understand what kind of person Baiya truly was, what could have driven her to the desperate act of prison escape—a path surely worse than death—and why the will of the underworld specter clan, who hated the living, would grant her revival. What secrets did she hide? Ryumiou wanted to devour them all.
Of the three Princes of Amidarl, Caesar Amidarl possessed a gift for cultivation, Arthur Amidarl wielded overwhelming execution, and he prided himself on his ability to read the hearts of others. Given time, he believed he could see through Baiya completely!
“Yes, Your Highness Ryumiou.”
The demon hand halted instantly, dissipating into the air. At Ryumiou’s command, Samsara Amaterasu withdrew her killing intent, strode forward with resounding steps, gripped Baiya by the neck with one hand, lifted her up, and casually tossed her aside. Baiya tumbled across the floor with a few rolls before stopping.
“Your Highness Ryumiou, any who offend a member of the royal family should be executed.” Without sparing Baiya a glance, Samsara Amaterasu placed the clothes over a nearby chair, stepped up to Ryumiou, and smoothed out the wrinkles on his shoulder, offering her own suggestion.
“Baiya Ifiel Krolom’s life and death are for me to decide. As long as I don’t intend to kill her, you cannot overstep, Samsara Amaterasu.” Ryumiou massaged his temple with a troubled look.
“Yes, Your Highness Ryumiou. I will obey your orders.” Samsara Amaterasu stood by expressionless, like a doll.
When the pain in his shoulder eased to a tolerable level, Ryumiou turned to look at Baiya, who had struggled up from the floor and was staring right back at him. Their eyes met instantly.
“Baiya Ifiel Krolom, you—”
“Doesn’t it hurt?”
Just as Ryumiou was about to question Baiya for her offense, her sudden inquiry interrupted him. He was momentarily unsure whether to continue his unfinished words or answer her question first.
After a brief internal struggle, Ryumiou decided to respond. He’d use her question as a starting point to learn what kind of person Baiya Ifiel Krolom was.
“Are you asking whether the injury you inflicted caused me pain? I’m not sure what knowing the answer means to you, but your teeth are quite sharp!”
“So, did it hurt?”
“It hurt.”
“Then why didn’t you scream?”
“Crying out from pain isn’t the dignified bearing a noble should have. I am of royal blood—how could I lose my composure and shriek over a little pain?”
“I see, I see. So you just held it in. I thought it hadn’t worked. That means I’m really alive, not dreaming, huh.”
“!”
During the conversation just now, Ryumiou found himself unable to analyze Baiya’s mental state—something unprecedented. From her crimson eye, he couldn’t discern any emotion. Perhaps Baiya was simply inscrutable, but his pride would never let him admit that!
Yet, Ryumiou couldn’t help but want to ask Baiya something. This was his defeat—damn it, he truly couldn’t guess the real reason Baiya bit him!
“So you attacked me—the prince!—like a rabid dog and bit my shoulder just to check if you were dreaming?”
“Yes.”
“Why would you do that!”
Baiya’s right eye turned aside, and Ryumiou’s agitated face slipped from her sight. After a moment of silence, she replied earnestly.
“Well, isn’t there that saying? If you want to see if you’re dreaming, just pinch yourself and it’s settled. I was just imitating that—there’s nothing wrong with it, right?” Having finished, her right eye flickered back, sneaking a glance at Ryumiou’s reaction.
The Third Prince’s face reddened rapidly with anger! As expected, her actions were indeed out of line.
Unable to hold back any longer, Ryumiou threw aside all royal dignity and pointed at Baiya, shouting, “Why didn’t you pinch yourself!”
“I don’t have any fingers, damn it!” Baiya’s reply rose several notches to match Ryumiou’s shouting, unwilling to be outdone!
Ryumiou’s attention snapped to Baiya’s shoulders. She was missing her entire left arm and her right hand was only a palm—no fingers. What she said was true. But the moment he looked back at her righteously indignant face, his anger surged again. He had to make her see reason! Baiya Ifiel Krolom had better recognize her mistake!
“You could have bashed your head instead! Smash it against the floor until you’re bleeding, you idiot! All you need is pain—why fuss over the method!” Ryumiou practically roared, pointing out Baiya’s lack of flexible thinking.
He stared at Baiya’s face, refusing to miss even the tiniest change in expression. His breathing grew ragged, chest heaving—this was the aftermath of excitement.
He waited for Baiya’s answer. He wanted to know what else she had to say!
“But it hurts…” Baiya’s gaze drifted, but in the end, she faced Ryumiou’s murderous glare head-on, tilting her head and offering an apologetic, helpless smile. “You look so mad. I admit I went too far. I didn’t really want to bite you that hard, you know. I just needed a reaction. When you kept silent, I thought maybe I was being too gentle, so I bit a little harder. That’s understandable, right?”
“Don’t get carried away! At the end of the day, you just don’t take me seriously! You dared to lay hands on me! You dared offend a Prince of Amidarl! Do you realize the monstrous, unforgivable crime you’ve committed, Baiya Ifiel Krolom!”
Ryumiou was finally truly enraged. Samsara Amaterasu instantly dashed forward, reaching to seize the unresisting Baiya.
‘Your Highness Ryumiou, how should Baiya Ifiel Krolom be dealt with?’ Samsara Amaterasu had already envisioned herself apprehending Baiya and seeking instructions from Ryumiou.
Yet just as her fingers were about to close around that slender, easily-crushed neck, in the next instant she grabbed only air—Baiya dodged her hand at the very last moment.
Until that instant, Samsara Amaterasu had never imagined she could miss.
“Sorry, but I could have dodged your attack from the start. Not sure why, but that’s how it is. You only succeeded the first time, which gave you the illusion you’d catch me again. Sorry about that.” With a gradually broadening smile full of excitement and wild delight, Baiya looked every bit the victor, exuding smugness.
Ryumiou saw this scene clearly. He ordered Samsara Amaterasu, who had paused after missing, to stand down. He wasn’t angry enough to want Baiya dead.
If anything, his interest in Baiya only grew. She’d been a slave aboard the transport ship—before that, just an imperial princess—yet she dared offend him, a prince of Amidarl, and even seemed intent on besting Samsara Amaterasu. Wasn’t she far too fearless? Wouldn’t someone who’d just escaped death be more cautious? It was hard to believe such a person existed.
As his anger gradually faded, Ryumiou fixed his gaze on Baiya’s face. After only a few seconds, he raised one hand to cover his face, tilted his head back, and let out a helpless sigh.
I can’t see through her! This white-haired girl called Baiya Ifiel Krolom completely nullifies my talent for reading people’s hearts!