Survival Guide After Accidentally Kissing a Demon - Chapter 199

Chapter 199

Susanna hesitated for a moment, then gave a soft nod.

Her dress was already ruined and her hair had been undone; she had long since lost the mood to dance.

She was even thinking that as soon as she handed the gift to Prince Cyril, she would immediately head back to the carriage and wait there until it was time to return to Butterfly Valley.

As for dancing with the Second Prince-

Susanna still felt a wave of nerves whenever she thought of him.

The idea of dancing with the Second Prince filled her with even more dread.

Forget it, she could overcome this for the sake of Sister Bartholomew, Susanna thought silently.

…

By the time Beili and Susanna returned to the Banquet Hall, the atmosphere inside was already bustling.

Cyril was seated high on his throne, with a silver-haired youth dressed in black on one side, and His Majesty the King seated in the center.

Under the focus of every gaze, the King of Sainthos gave a customary speech praising Prince Cyril.

This was followed by the long-awaited dining and dancing segments.

The first dance was a social mixer where no one had a fixed partner.

The men stood in one circle and the women in another; when the two circles intersected, brief partnerships would form.

At specific times and unique musical rhythms during the piece, they would separate from their current partners and form new ones with others.

Of course, those who danced in such a manner were usually only the young men and women.

…

“You two must eat something before you dance if you don’t want to faint.”

Madame Constance took a moment to come over and give them a concerned reminder.

Only then did Beili realize that she had seemingly only eaten a few mouthfuls of milk oatmeal for breakfast today.

She nodded and walked toward the nearest dining table.

To make room for a spacious dance floor, the long dining tables, originally covered in red silk cloth, had been moved against the walls.

Beili took a plate and had just placed a piece of tender seared beef onto it when a black figure walked up behind her.

“I f-feel that you… you are angry.”

The youth’s voice spoke weakly.

Beili’s hand paused for a second before she continued picking up food, replying, “Perhaps I am a little angry.”

“Angry… about what?”

The youth asked in a muffled voice from behind her, his tone carrying obvious confusion and a sense of being wronged.

“You said it wasn’t… wasn’t because of the cl-clothes.”

“It has nothing to do with the clothes,” Beili repeated.

“I don’t know either.”

She couldn’t reveal the true reason, so she could only brush it off with feigned nonchalance. “Some moods just come out of nowhere. Just assume I’m in a bad mood because I’m hungry.”

The youth behind her was silent for two seconds, perhaps sensing her emotions.

Then, she felt a cold hand gently wrap around her waist. The youth leaned in close from behind, resting his equally cold chin lightly against the skin of her right shoulder.

“Don’t be an-angry with me… if I… did something wrong… for-forgive me…”

His voice was raspy with a hint of tears as he stuttered.

Beili blinked her red eyes but didn’t move.

She set the plate on the table, picked up a fork, and began to eat just like that.

The youth didn’t say anything more; he simply held her, leaning against her body dejectedly.
Behind the two of them, the sounds of nobles walking to and fro and chatting drifted through the air.

Unbeknownst to them, countless gazes were silently falling upon them.

…

The tender fried beef was chewed and swallowed.

A moment passed.

Only then did the young girl speak.

“From now until the end of the ball, if you don’t come looking for me, I won’t be angry with you.”

She spoke softly.

The boy was slightly taken aback, his mouth opening in confusion, but the girl added:

“Tonight, you can dance with whoever you want.”

His thin, cold lips closed again.

His lowered golden eyes paused, then lifted with a hollow look.

“Okay… I’ll… I’ll do as you say,”

the boy said.

…

The nobles in the ballroom had already formed two circles, separated by gender.

The gentlemen were in the outer ring, while the ladies were in the inner ring.

Prince Cyril, dressed in a blue and white suit, stepped down from his high seat and found a random spot to join the line of men.

The music for the dance gradually began to play.

The inner and outer rings rotated once in the forward direction, then twice in the opposite direction, before everyone took the hand of the person beside them.

As soon as Beili looked up, she saw a pair of deep blue eyes beneath short, tawny curls.

In just a second, those eyes shifted away.

“Good evening, Mr. Clarence. You look exceptionally handsome tonight.”

“Good evening… Miss Bartholomew… You look unusually beautiful tonight…”

Clarence spoke while staring at the floor.

More than being afraid of making eye contact with Bartholomew, he was afraid of missing a step in his panic and stepping on her shoes-that would give him nightmares for a week.

However, he was very tall.

When he looked down, he could see the girl’s lips, as vibrant as rose petals, and the beautiful skin of her neck.

He saw her lips part slightly as if she wanted to say something to him, but then they closed again.

Beili had originally intended to invite Clarence for a dance later.

But seeing how quickly the boy’s face flushed-from his cheeks to his ears, and then down to his neck-she decided not to include this pure-hearted little wolf in her plans after all.

“Brother Lance-”

A girl’s confused and nervous voice suddenly drifted from two spots away.

“Why hasn’t the Second Prince of Sainthos come down from his seat to dance with everyone?”

Perhaps because she was used to speaking loudly, even her whispers were quite audible.

Beili turned her gaze and saw that Renee’s partner happened to be her brother, Lance, who was currently gesturing for her to lower her voice.

Beili couldn’t hear the rest of their conversation.

The melody changed.

Beili and Clarence released each other’s hands.

The inner and outer rings rotated gently.

As the music continued, Beili exchanged several more partners.

As she danced, she happened to look up by chance.

She unexpectedly met a pair of gentle, emerald-green eyes as tranquil as a lake.

“What are you doing here?”

Beili’s movements faltered for half a beat. Startled, she quickly lowered her voice and said, “You know they’re looking for you.”

While the most dangerous place was often the safest, he couldn’t just flaunt himself right under their noses, could he?

“Don’t worry, I’m fine.”

Doctor Cassius gave a gentle smile and replied softly, “I’ve already seen His Majesty.”