Survival Guide After Accidentally Kissing a Demon - Chapter 121

Chapter 121

The Royal Library?

That was also a good idea.

“Wrong guess.”

Beili shook her head.

In the absence of clues, the Royal Library did indeed house some history books of Sainthos that she could browse through. Perhaps she could find some records related to the Swan Family.

…

“If Miss Bartholomew doesn’t want to read…”

As if possessing the infinite patience one might have for a child, Doctor Cassius’s eyes softened as he took another guess. “Would you like to go to the bustling Central Plaza to feed the pigeons? Or perhaps the Magic Commercial Street?”

Beili didn’t intend to keep him in suspense any longer. She blinked her red eyes and said directly, “I want to go to the Flea Nest in the capital.”

Rather than leafing through the trivial information left behind after the Royal Family had carefully edited and redacted the records, Beili wanted to know the things that had been hidden.

Besides, there was almost no information on the Swan Family.

From Lady Constance, the information she had gathered was this:

The Swan Family was a mysterious one.

The members of this family lived almost entirely within the palace and were very close to the Royal Family-and only the Royal Family.

They never participated in parties or activities hosted by other Nobles.

They did not interact with anyone outside the Royal Family.

Therefore, when this family vanished, they did so silently.

No one could say for certain exactly when or why they disappeared.

At the same time, a flicker of surprise flashed deep within those emerald pupils.

…The Flea Nest?

Cassius frowned slightly, though he quickly smoothed his expression and asked gently, “Does Miss Bartholomew know what kind of place the Flea Nest is?”

“Of course.”

Beili nodded confidently.

The map she had brought from the Constance Family house had the Flea Nest marked in detail-it was a gathering place for traffickers and a hub for information trading.

“Miss Bartholomew, the Flea Nest is not a place for sightseeing.”

Cassius’s brow furrowed again, his tone uncertain as he said, “The Flea Nest is noisy, dangerous, and…”

He paused for a moment before uttering a single word: “…chaotic.”

“I know.”

Beili nodded again.

In her imagination, the Flea Nest in the capital should be somewhat similar to the flea markets of her original world.

The Flea Nest of the capital was likely a gathering place for people of low status, selling old things to make a living.

However, those stalls were most likely a facade.

More than half the people there were information brokers.

“Miss Bartholomew…”

Lifting his green eyes slightly, Cassius looked at her, hesitating to speak.

The young girl was dressed today in a puff-sleeved dress of black paired with grey gossamer.

Her long, wavy silver-grey hair, smooth as satin, was styled into intricate braids. She wore a black bonnet with neatly pleated edges, secured by black lace tied in a bow under her chin.

Between the slightly upturned brim and the top of her head, several blooming Black Roses were pinned, interspersed with butterfly ornaments carved from black diamonds.

She looked magnificent and exquisite, cold and noble.

In short, she was exactly the kind of person who would never appear in the Flea Nest.

A clear light reflected off his monocle as he said diplomatically, “Your age… No, regardless of how old Miss Bartholomew is, that is not a place you should go.”
…

The young girl blinked her red eyes with a calm expression.

“Doctor Cassius, I’m afraid I must go. And it’s not just one Flea Nest; I’m going to three Flea Nests.”

The grey-haired, red-eyed girl spoke as she held up three fingers in a gesture.

“Besides, you said so yourself on the way here-I am free to travel as I please, and I can treat you as if you don’t exist.”

As if finding her own logic sound, she nodded and added, “So, starting now, Doctor Cassius, I will act as if you aren’t here.”

Her tone left no room for negotiation. After speaking, she gave the man a faint smile.

Then, she tilted her chin up.

She turned around, her layered skirts swirling in a swift, sharp arc.

Stepping in her polished, spotless black leather shoes, she walked straight toward the door with a rhythmic tap, tap, tap.

“…”

Watching that elegant black silhouette walk away, Cassius let out a soft sigh, a hint of helplessness flickering across his face.

He had no choice but to follow her.

The two of them boarded the carriage.

After traveling some distance in the direction indicated by Miss Bartholomew, the carriage came to a halt by the main road.

Because the Flea Nest she wanted to visit was at the end of a dark alley, the path was so narrow that the carriage couldn’t possibly enter.

Thus, after alighting from the vehicle, they continued on foot.

Beili walked in front, with Doctor Cassius following behind her.

It wasn’t long after they turned from the main road into the dark alley that the surroundings rapidly devolved into a narrow, filthy mess.

Commoners dressed in coarse linen clothes and some strange-looking Half-beasts were arguing loudly, creating a boisterous din.

The air was thick with a heavy, foul stench of fermenting and spoiled food.

The girl couldn’t help but hold her breath.

However, the entire dark alley was filled with the unpleasant odor, and it only grew more pungent. She couldn’t very well suffocate herself, so she could only press her lips together and keep her breathing as shallow as possible.

Behind her, Doctor Cassius gave a soft cough.

Beili understood his silent hint-if she had changed her mind, they could leave right now.

She ignored it and kept walking deeper into the alley.

The commoners and Half-beasts in the alley stopped their bickering, eyeing them with curiosity.

Well… to be precise, they were eyeing her.

Their gazes held surprise, wariness, and certain other emotions that made her feel quite unpleasant.

Suddenly.

The sound of footsteps and a sharp intake of breath came from ahead.

Beili looked up at the sound and saw a Half-beast staggering toward her.

This Half-beast still retained most of his rat-like features.

He had a long, pointed face and mouth covered in grey fur. His eyes were as tiny as soybeans, his whiskers twitched, and his front teeth were long enough to protrude past his chin. A thick tail dangled from his loose trousers.

“Ooh… what a… hic… beautiful lady! What’s someone like you doing here?”

“Hic! Are you lost?”

He reeked of foul alcohol.

“Don’t be afraid, I’ll help you find your way-”

As he spoke between hiccups, he reached out excitedly, grasping at the air. His grime-covered nails were long and sharp. It looked as though he would touch the girl’s shoulder in the very next second.