The Fallen's Guide - chapter 29

Before Tang Nian exited the mini-game, a small speech bubble appeared beside the Pixel Character.

It seemed to have said something.

“Hope we can meet again.”

Tang Nian’s finger paused.

Hmm.

Kind of cute.

“Congratulations, Player, you have received the blessing of the Light Elf.”

“The blessing of the Light Elf possesses the power to purify darkness and can also heal all species derived from the Tree of Life.”

“Note: Humans are not a race directly born from the Tree of Life!”

Prompt boxes popped up one after another on the screen, with the last one even including a more human-like tone.

Light Elf?

Tang Nian wondered in confusion-was that Pixel Character the Light Elf?

Is the pixel quality just too poor? She really couldn’t tell.

The freezing time had ended, and the Thorn Castle icon was accessible again.

A sudden sense of weightlessness came over her, and a rich scent of roses filled her nose.

When she opened her eyes, the scene before her had changed dramatically.

Elegant music flowed like water; above her, the crystal chandelier glittered brilliantly, the tall ceiling was covered in golden Sculptures, and the seat beneath her was warm to the touch. On closer inspection, it was actually made from several enormous pieces of intricately carved ivory fitted together.

What a dreamlike, extravagant setting.

Tang Nian looked around and found herself in an unfamiliar room, with a maid bent over, applying makeup for her.

“Madam, you’d better close your eyes, or the powder will get into them.”

She was momentarily stunned.

She was sure she had clicked on the Thorn Castle map, but after just two or three days offline, the plot felt completely unfamiliar.

The maid finished her makeup, smiled gently, dressed her in an elaborate gown, and pulled the corset tight, cinching her waist into the slender shape favored by the Nobles.

Tang Nian felt her breathing restricted.

“You look beautiful. Now you can go to the ball.”

“The ball?”

The maid seemed to have no intention of explaining. Her face still wore a mask-like smile as she left the room.

Tang Nian stood up to follow her, but as soon as she lifted her foot, the skirt tripped her.

Looking down, she couldn’t help but be stunned.

Luxurious diamonds, vibrant jewels, and all sorts of pearls and gold-inlaid objects were scattered all over the floor, as if she had stumbled into a vast treasure trove buried by a lost civilization.

Tang Nian was dazzled by the golden spectacle. In a daze, as if bewitched, she reached out involuntarily, wanting to touch the gold and jewels on the ground.

A strange greed and desire sprouted in her heart, like a quietly kindling flame.

She wanted to take the biggest, brightest gem.

But just before her fingers touched it, she suddenly snapped back to reality.

This was a game; treasures in the game couldn’t be taken away.

Tang Nian came to her senses. The skirt tripped her again, so she simply raised her hands and tore open the suffocating corset, forcefully pulling off the gown.

She finally breathed a sigh of relief.

It was so tight-the maid had cinched her waist a whole size smaller.

It felt as if her internal organs were being squeezed out of place.

“You’re about to be late for the ball.”

The maid returned, as if she hadn’t noticed Tang Nian removing her dress, her gentle voice muffled as though through a veil. “Please hurry and follow me. The master does not wish anyone to be late.”

Master?

Who was that?

The corridor was deep and long, classical ornate candelabras on both sides lit with faint candlelight, illuminating a series of enormous portraits.

Tang Nian looked up and saw that none of the portraits had faces.
The maid ahead walked quickly, muttering something indistinct. By the time Tang Nian looked back from the painting, her figure had already disappeared around the pitch-black corner.

Was she really in such a hurry?

Tang Nian frowned and followed. Along the way, she saw a well-dressed noble hitching up his robe, using the hem as a pocket and stuffing handfuls of gold and ivory into his clothes from the floor.

How improper.

Tang Nian thought that she herself had nearly been dazzled by all that wealth. In retrospect, it felt strange. She knew it was a game-how could she possibly feel greed for the gold in it?

Just then, as she passed by a certain room, her attention was drawn away by an intoxicating aroma.

It was a delicious scent.

Her throat reacted instinctively to the pervasive sweetness in the air, and her empty stomach let out a faint rumble.

Tang Nian subconsciously felt that there was a sweetness in that scent, something she intensely longed to taste again.

As if she had eaten it before.

“Please enjoy to your heart’s content. It’s sweet.”

Inside the room, a young woman in a maid’s uniform stood with her back to Tang Nian, holding out a spoon to a man seated at the long table.

At the sound of her gentle, coaxing voice, the man opened his mouth dazedly and took the spoon into his mouth.

His throat moved as he swallowed, apparently amazed by the taste. He pushed the maid aside, greedily grabbed the dish from the table, and began gulping it down in large mouthfuls.

Tang Nian frowned and forced herself to look away.

The man’s face was very familiar-she had seen him at the banquet Rose hosted the first time she entered the game, a noble who had even tried to chat with her.

So, is this another noble banquet hosted by Rose?

“What are you doing here?”

A gentle voice suddenly sounded by her ear, sending a chill down Tang Nian’s spine.

The maid who had left earlier had somehow returned to her side, her footsteps silent, and was smiling at her softly.

“You’ll be late for the ball. You’d better keep close to me and not wander off.”

Tang Nian paused, feeling vaguely uncomfortable at the commanding tone in the maid’s words. At the same time, her instincts told her that something wasn’t right. The maid turned and continued ahead. Not far away, dazzling lights revealed the ornate decorations of the ballroom.

But just as she was about to step out of the corridor, she suddenly caught, hidden in the music, an extremely faint cry: “Help!”

Someone was calling for help.

Tang Nian stopped in her tracks.

The maid ahead turned back, looking puzzled. “What’s wrong?”

“Didn’t you hear it? Someone is calling for help.”

“You must have misheard.”

The faint cry for help continued, still so clear.

But the maid only smiled and said softly, “The ball is about to begin.”

A strange feeling pressed in on Tang Nian’s heart.

Tang Nian said, “I forgot something.”

“Then I’ll go with you,” the maid said, walking gracefully toward her.

“No.” Tang Nian shook her head. Seeing the maid’s puzzled expression, she ordered, “You, go fetch it for me.”

The other was a maid, and Tang Nian was a guest here. Although she wasn’t used to giving orders to servants, in this world, it was normal for nobles to command maids.

The maid seemed momentarily bewildered by her sudden order, but quickly resumed her gentle, obedient manner and replied respectfully, “Then please go ahead to the ball, I’ll fetch it for you.”

“Please remember, the master does not like anyone to be late.”