Bella had requested the servants to bring her a different dress because the white dress she was wearing was too thin. When the servants brought her another dress, Bella sighed long again.
It was a thin red dress with a deep V neck design.
Why the hell are all the dresses here like this??
She grunted after changing into the red dress. The dress exposed most of her chest and the blood red color made her fair skin looked more radiant. She used her fingers to comb her long silky black hair. There was a small polished metal mirror on the dressing table but there wasn't any comb in the room.
Bella walked out of her chamber, she glanced around the corridor. No guards. She then stepped out and met with the servants who were carrying trays.
"Lady Bella, meals will be served soon." One of them said.
"Okay. I'd like to wander around first, if that's alright."
The servants bowed their heads as they walked away with the trays in their hands.
The castle was enormous. It smelled unpleasant though, like an old dirty building, there was an unpleasant smell like dried dog piss on the walls. As Bella was walking through the corridor, she heard female voices chatting,
"Sister Rana, do you think that female Lord Tayen brought back would be his new favorite?"
"I do not think so, sister Toya. That female does not seem mature enough like us. What does she know about serving and satisfying a male like our Lord?"
"Yes, and I also heard from the soldiers that she was from the Ra tribe. Lord Tayen must be crazy for bringing such a female back here."
"Lower your voice, sister Fikila. You would not want the lord to hear you saying things like that, now would you?"
"I apologize, sister Rana. But seeing that female today just made my blood boil! She is ugly, I do not understand what Lord Tayen sees in her!"
The three females stopped chatting when they realized Bella's presence. Bella ignored them and walked past them. But one of them cried,
"Stop right there!"
Bella froze in her step and turned around. The three pale skinned females approached her with envy written on their faces as they observed Bella from head to toe.
"Where do you think you are going? That is the lord's resting chamber, no one is allowed to go in there without his permission." The one named Fikila spoke, pointing at the direction Bella was heading.
"He gave me his permission to go see him whenever I want to. I don't need any of you telling me where I can and can't go." Bella said casually and turned around to leave. So I'm guessing they're Tayen's wives? Geez!

The three females gasped loudly. As if Bella talking back to them was a huge shock to them.
"You brazen wench! Do you know who I am?" The one name Rana stepped forward. She was the only one that had pale pink hair, it made her skin appear even paler. She looked like the oldest in those three and was wearing the most dangling accessories on her neck, ears, and hair. Every time she moved her hands, her bangles rattled.
"I don't and don't see the need for that." Bella didn't want to stay a little longer. She had seen such a scene in dramas where some ugly bitches would bully a newcomer. She didn't want to end up in a pointless catfight.
One of the females chased after Bella and pulled her dress. The thin fabric was torn, exposing one side of her shoulder and chest.
"What the fuck?!" Bella yelled. The three females surrounded her with their tall figures and evil smirks on their faces.
They may be a lot taller than her, but she was never afraid of such a threat.
"Did you think you can seduce our lord with that fat chest of yours? Those bulges looked like they are going to explode soon! What an ugly sight!" The one called Toya snickered. She seemed proud of herself after successfully tore Bella's dress.
Bella was about to step forward to defend herself when a long blade flashed before her eyes. Mihaje appeared between them, thrusting his sword into the wall. His back was facing her and his tall figure cast a shadow on her.
"General Mihaje..." The three females stammered.
"She is Lord Tayen's honorable guest. What do you think will happen to your heads if Lord Tayen knows what you three did to her?"
"Hmph!"
The females grunted before leaving the corridor hurriedly. Mihaje hissed long as he turned towards Bella. His lips curved into a smirk underneath his mask when he gazed down at her angry face. He noticed her cheeks would puff up when she got angry. Her fair skin was translucent and he could almost see the veins underneath it. He tried not to stare down at her bare shoulder, he didn't want to admit it but she was indeed too beautiful to not look at.
"You could kill a soldier using only a small dagger, yet you let yourself be treated like this by other females?" Mihaje pulled back his sword and sheathed it back on his back. His sharp eyes were cold and intimidating.
"I don't need your protection." Bella snarled, her hands covering her bare chest area. Her eyes were avoiding his. She couldn't stare back at him. His gaze was so sharp she knew she was no match for him. It felt as if his sharp eyes could tear her clothes off just by a glare.
Mihaje leaned close to her, pressing his palms against the wall, trapping her in between.
"Are you not a fearless one...?" He bent slightly so that he could get closer to her face. Bella's nose caught a smell of musky, earthy aroma coming from him.
"Aren't you being too close?!" Bella scolded. She turned her face to the side. She could feel his snake gaze never left her face. What is his problem??
"... You never told me your name." He said again.
"Your brother had announced my name in front of everyone, did you forget?"
"I want to hear it from you."
Bella scoffed loudly. She regained the courage to stare back at him in the eyes and replied annoyingly,
"Don't you think you're being weird? Just a while ago you threatened to kill me!"
Mihaje frowned. True, he did. And what was he trying to do now? Chat with her? Ask her her name??
"I... I apologize for my misbehaving. I was venting my anger on you." He mumbled.
Why am I admitting fault? Do I not want her to hate me...?

Bella could hear him quite clearly even though his voice was muffled.
"Do you think I would let you point your dagger at me if I had really wanted you dead?" He said again with his eyes narrowed over to the side.
Bella let out a short sigh. She believed his words. Mihaje really did go easy on her back then.
"Bella. Isabella Montgomery. I'm not a beast, but a human from a different world."
When she looked up closely, she realized Mihaje's eyes were quite beautiful. Although he had single eyelids, his eyes were quite wide, and the edges of his eyes were sharp. His snake irises were mesmerizingly mysterious, filled with untold stories waiting to be discovered.
Mihaje puzzled for a second. He gazed down at her with eyes filled with confusion. He wasn't sure whether he was confused by her sudden change of attitude, or at his own.
"Mihaje, from the snake clan. General of the Moro tribe."
*****
Bella had changed into another dress again right before mealtime. The dining hall was spacious, with a huge long table and several wooden chairs, but there were only the two of them sitting there. Tayen was seated in the middle and Bella sat facing him. Bella wondered why Tayen's wives didn't join them for mealtime, yet she didn't ask.
"Did you enjoy your meal, Bella?" Tayen asked. He always had that polite smile on his pale but handsome face. Now that his face was no longer covered in dirt, Bella could see his face clearly. Although half of his face was still shedding skin, he was undeniably handsome, probably the most handsome she had seen in her life. His well defined facial features was beyond perfect. He had an angelic kind face, yet at the same time exuding a cold aura. If he was in her world, he would be worshipped by women of all ages. He would be a damn famous celebrity. His eyes were very much identical to Mihaje's. He seemed like the mysterious type, and pretty much unpredictable.
"Yes, thank you." Bella answered before gulping down the beverage.
Wait, is this wine?
The beverage tasted quite similar to the one she had drank before in the Tiger Palace. But this one was a lot sweeter.
Bella coughed. She had chugged a few big gulps of the wine before realizing what it was. Tayen let out a small chuckle as he observed Bella. Whenever he smiles or laughs, she noticed his long snake fangs. Bella thought of how Tayen looked like a handsome vampire from the movies she used to watch. She also noticed his black forked tongue. It was quite like a normal human tongue, but pointy and the tip was split in half. When he licked his fingers after he was done eating, she noticed how unnaturally long his tongue was.
"Would you like to come to my resting chamber?"
What?!
"It is not what you think. I just wanted to know more about where you come from. Apparently, I am still shedding and recovering, so I hope we can talk in my chamber. I assure you, I have no ill intention." Tayen explained when he saw the awkward look in Bella's face.
"Shouldn't you be concerned about how your wives would think if they see me entering your chamber with you?"
Tayen chuckled when Bella mentioned about his 'wives'.
"They are not my wives but mere concubines. They have no say in anything." Tayen replied nonchalantly.
"I really didn't expect you to be such a womanizer." Bella mumbled as she walked side by side with Tayen to his chamber, escorted by several guards. She was starting to feel a little tipsy from the wine she had just drank.
"Womanizer...?" Tayen raised an eyebrow upon hearing a word he had never heard before, "May I know what that means?"
"It means a male who likes many females."
Tayen chuckled again, shaking his head. When they had reached his chamber, Bella watched as Tayen crawled onto his bed. The guards stood outside the entrance of his chamber. She glanced around the room. Torches were lit in all corners so the room was pretty bright. Bella then sat on the bedside.
"I think you have misunderstood me, Bella. They are here simply for reproducing, not because I am fond of them. You see, my kind is going through extinction."
"My brother and I are the only Blood Snakes left. If you notice, there are no other red snakes in the Moro tribe."
"I thought all snakes are the same breed?"
Apparently, there were two types of snakes, one that can spit venom from their fangs, and one can't. According to Tayen, all the other snakes in Moro tribe were not venomous.
"Enough about snakes. Why don't you tell me about yourself, Bella? What kind of world are you from, and how did you end up with the Ra tribe?"
"Well..."
Bella started explaining about how she unknowingly showed up in the middle of the battle between the Zov and Ra, and how Gaharu had taken her back to the palace after that.
"I can't say I am his female, although that's what he keeps saying." Bella said when asked about his relationship with Gaharu, "Gaharu and I are just like you and me. Nothing more than that."
"You seem comfortable telling me everything. Are you not afraid I might deceive you and use you for my own advantage?"
Bella frowned when Tayen suddenly said that.
"I have nothing for you to use me as. I'm just a lost human that resided in the Ra tribe for a short while, I hold no power on anything nor anyone. Either killing me or letting me live actually makes no difference."
Tayen was quiet for a while after hearing Bella's statement. She was smiling yet her tone of voice was stern. She was indirectly suggesting that he should not use her to plot against Gaharu.
"I must say, Bella, you are quite interesting," Tayen said, chucking softly.
I see now why Gaharu took a liking on you. You are not simple at all.

"I should head back to my own room now. You should rest."
Tayen nodded and watched as Bella left his chamber. He had a lot going through his mind right now.
If it wasn't for her, he would have died in the snake hole without anyone knowing. In other word, he owed her his life.
Tayen pursed his lips tight. Perhaps now was not the time to think about revenge. For now, he should only focus on recovering and shedding.
*****
Bella threw herself on the bed.
"Ouch..." She groaned softly. She forgot that the mattress was only a thin futon. She rubbed the back of her waist before she stretched her muscles.
"What did you and Lord Tayen talk about?" A raspy cold voice sounded from one corner of the room.
Bella yelped when she realized Mihaje was in her room, standing in one corner with his arms crossed.
"What the hell?"
Mihaje walked towards her bed nonchalantly before sitting down on the bed beside her.
"What were you doing in his chamber?" He asked again.
"Nothing that concerns you," Bella grunted, "Now, get out. I want to sleep."
"..."
Bella rolled her eyes when she noticed Mihaje had no intention to leave.
"Mihaje," she called him, "Why do you wear a mask?"
"Like you said, because I am ugly."
Bella rolled her eyes again.
"Seriously, why? I thought we're friends now. Didn't we start over and reintroduced ourselves to each other?"
Mihaje kept silence. His eyes were gazing blankly at the torch burning in one corner.
"Can I touch your hair?" Bella suddenly asked again.
"What for?"
"Just come here." She beckoned him to sit closer. When he did, Bella tore a piece of her gown and went behind him.
"What are you doing?" He asked nervously when he felt her warm fingers touching the back of his head. Her small slender fingers raked through his long red hair.
"Wait..."
Tayen and Mihaje have the same straight hair, but Tayen's hair was a lot longer. His hair reached down his waist while Mihaje's hair was over his shoulders.
Bella smiled after braided Mihaje's hair and tied it with the piece of fabric from her dress. She let two strands of his front hair hung loosely over the sides of his forehead. He looked like a cosplay hottie with his hair braided like that. Looking extremely cool with his black leather armor and his black leather mask.
"You look so much better like this." She giggled.
Mihaje scoffed. He didn't say anything, he only shook his head slightly.
"Can you take me out for a morning walk tomorrow? I'd like to look around. Is there a place like a garden or a river nearby?"
"There is a lake."
"Deal, then. I'll see you tomorrow. Now, get out. I need my sleep. It's been days that I haven't slept on a decent bed." Bella rushed him out, "Good night, Mihaje."
Mihaje turned around before leaving the room. The look in his eyes was much gentler than before.
"Sleep well, Bella."
*****