Survival Guide After Accidentally Kissing a Demon - Chapter 240

Chapter 240

Beili assumed Lady Constance was simply exhausted.

Although the woman was feigning high spirits, dragging her to Moon Bay to see the sky lanterns, her body was likely half-asleep.

“You can go home and rest now.”

As she spoke, Beili pulled some gold coins from her Spatial Bracelet and bought all the lanterns from the little girl’s basket.

…

Moon Bay was also located within a desert.

It was a crescent-shaped spring nestled beneath the sand dunes.

The area around Moon Bay was already crowded, so she and Lady Constance walked up a dune together, finding a less crowded spot to sit side-by-side.

Beili took a paper lantern from the basket and lit it. After waiting for the flame to heat the air inside, the sky lantern tugged free from her hands and drifted into the night sky.

Following a sharp whistle, golden and red fireworks burst forth, decorating the sky lanterns that flowed like a river of stars.

Her deep red eyes flickered softly as she watched in silence.

“My dear.”

Halfway through the fireworks display, Lady Constance, who had been gazing at the night sky, suddenly turned to look at her. With a smile on her lips, she asked, “Seeing such a beautiful sight, does anyone come to mind?”

Anyone.

Beili snapped out of her daze and saw the woman’s smiling eyes.

She felt a momentary sense of displacement.

Her gaze swept over the couples huddled together in the desert before returning to the sky lanterns drifting slowly away against the ink-black backdrop.

She didn’t know why.

She realized the outlines of those lanterns had become blurred.

Whether they were close by or drifting far away.

Everything looked as if a wet brush had been drawn evenly across a painting, causing all the lantern light to bleed and spread.

Thinking of someone…

“No, I didn’t think of anyone.”

The girl answered, her voice unexpectedly calm yet carrying a faint tremor.

The woman beside her seemed to notice something and couldn’t help but let out a low chuckle.

“Didn’t you say you weren’t thinking of anyone?”

Beili felt a slightly warm hand gently brush across her cheek.

“Then why are you crying?” Lady Constance asked softly.

“The wind is strong in the desert at night. Sand got in my eyes.”

The corners of her tightly pressed lips trembled slightly.

She lowered her red eyes, hiding the emotions within beneath her lashes.

Seeing her like this, Lady Constance sighed.

She reached out, putting an arm around Beili’s shoulders and drawing her into an embrace.

Beili had originally intended to just hold back her tears, but they fell continuously onto the woman’s shawl, quickly staining a large patch dark.

“It…”

She didn’t want to show such vulnerability at a time like this.

The more beautiful the sky lanterns and fireworks were, the lonelier she felt.

“It won’t stop…”

Like a rising night tide, it surged over her chest, filled her nose, and submerged her entirely.

“Mother… the tears won’t stop…”

Even with Lady Constance by her side, the feeling wouldn’t subside.

Lady Constance patted her back pityingly, coaxing her with gentle words until her fluctuating emotions finally settled. Only then did she speak slowly.

“My dear, you just miss him.”

The girl in her arms kept her red eyes downcast and said nothing.

Lady Constance pondered for a moment before asking softly, “Do you want to go see him?”

The moment the words left her mouth, the girl’s body stiffened. She immediately broke free from the embrace and stood up abruptly.

Without even wiping away the tear tracks at the corners of her eyes, Beili said coldly and sternly, “No.”

“My dear.”

Lady Constance tilted her head back, a curl to her lips as she asked, “Then how long do you plan on hiding?”

This question left Beili in silence.
Madam Constance would eventually realize that she was hiding from something.

But how long could she keep running?

If she were alone, she could hide at the ends of the earth for a lifetime.

But now, there was Madam Constance.

She couldn’t exactly drag her along to spend the rest of her life as a wanderer.

This Noble woman, accustomed to a life of luxury, clearly belonged in a manicured, meticulously decorated garden, surrounded by other noble ladies, enjoying afternoon tea without a care in the world.

“One year.”

Beili sat back down beside the woman, holding her slightly feverish hand. Her deep red eyes gazed at her without blinking.

“Mother, travel with me for one year. We’ll go back after that, alright?”

Beili softened her voice, making her request in a gentle, pleading tone.

During this year, she would focus on gathering Mana as quickly as possible while honing her Dream Domain abilities.

She would trap the Demon in her dreams.

Would that… actually work?

The smile in Madam Constance’s eyes deepened. After wiping away the tear stains from the corners of Beili’s eyes, she nodded.

“Alright.”

***

The fireworks ended, and the paper lanterns in the basket had all been released.

The two walked back arm-in-arm.

Upon returning to the Inn, Madam Constance did not return to her own room. Instead, she followed the young girl into hers.

“Mother… you’re sleeping with me tonight?”

Beili was somewhat surprised when the woman naturally suggested they share a bed.

In truth, they usually slept separately because Madam Constance was a light sleeper, easily startled awake by the slightest movement.

Beili knew she tended to toss and turn in her sleep, and if she had a nightmare, she might even talk in her sleep.

To ensure Madam Constance got a good night’s rest, Beili always took the initiative to book two rooms so they could sleep apart.

Madam Constance had always agreed to this arrangement.

“Of course we can sleep together.”

Despite her surprise, Beili wasn’t about to refuse.

During the latter half of the night, she had no more nightmares.

***

The next day.

Madam Constance rose early once again.

Beili was still asleep when the woman left a kiss on her forehead and departed the room, perhaps to have breakfast.

Beili had always struggled with getting up in the morning.

This was especially true given that she had spent the entire previous day in a carriage and stayed up late at Moon Bay to watch the lanterns.

She found it even harder to get out of bed this morning.

She slept until noon. Madam Constance had already finished her lunch by the time Beili finally sat up sluggishly.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, she rubbed her bleary red eyes.

She glanced at the tray containing camel milk, butter cookies, rice pudding, and honey-glazed bread, then looked over at the person sitting by the window reading a book.

“Oh, right-”

Remembering something, Beili looked at Madam Constance and asked, “Mother, do you remember us going to Moon Bay to see the lanterns last night?”

“Of course I remember. The scenery was exquisite.”

Hearing her answer with such natural composure, Beili finally felt at ease.

She threw off the covers, got out of bed, washed up, and began to eat.

After finishing her combined breakfast and lunch, Beili took Madam Constance out to the Town’s marketplace, where they found a new guide who seemed likable.

Led by the guide, the two began their day’s itinerary.

In the days that followed, almost every day was like this.

During the day, they traveled to various places, taking in the unique sights.

At night, after bidding her goodnight, the woman would always come to her room in the dead of night to hold her as they slept.