Survival Guide After Accidentally Kissing a Demon - chapter 29

“Madeline-!”

The moment the Magic Screen lit up and a figure appeared, an impatient, anxious, and high-pitched woman’s voice shattered the quiet of the office.

The voice sounded somewhat familiar. Beili’s shoulders stiffened slightly as she looked up to examine it carefully.

On the Magic Screen, the figures of two people gradually became clear, the background a spacious and luxurious study-it was the Duke and Duchess Constance.

The person who had just spoken so sharply was Madam Constance.

Though her tone sounded forceful, her face was haggard, her eyes full of fatigue she could not conceal.

Beili spoke in surprise, “Father, Mother…”

On the screen, the Duke and Duchess Constance both showed expressions of astonishment.

“It’s Bartholomew…”

Madam Constance said urgently, “Madeline, let me see my daughter!”

Madeline, the headmistress, smiled and reached out to turn the floating Red Orb in the air.

When Madam Constance saw the young woman on the other side of the Magic Screen, her anxious face paused for a moment, and a flash of amazement appeared in her eyes.

“Oh… Bartholomew, your throat has healed, and… and you’ve become even more charming. As expected of my daughter.”

Madam Constance praised her generously, her tone tinged with disbelief.

Relieved, her tense shoulders relaxed as she continued:

“Dearest, it’s been more than a month since I received a letter from you. Every time I asked Headmistress Madeline, she always gave vague answers. I kept having a bad feeling… I could only pray in the chapel every day.”

“Mother, I just went sightseeing around the area,” Beili replied calmly.

“Bartholomew!”

On the other side, Duke Constance’s expression darkened.

His tone was dissatisfied, his voice cold and stern as he reproached, “I think you’ve forgotten why you’re at Holy Island Academy. After your treatment, you should have returned to Sainthos. How could you just wander around…”

“Heavens-don’t speak to her like that!”

Madam Constance interrupted, even unceremoniously pushing the Duke.

When she looked again at the young woman on the Magic Screen, her voice returned to gentleness and affection.

“I just missed you so much, my dear Bartholomew. It’s no exaggeration to say that seeing you safe and sound tonight means I can finally sleep peacefully.”

Looking at the now haggard couple on the screen, Beili took a quiet breath, suppressing the emotions stirred within her.

This feeling of being cared for by family was very unfamiliar.

She pressed her lips together, her voice as calm as ever, “Everything is fine now. You don’t need to worry about me.”

Madam Constance gazed at her with pity, then suddenly said, “Darling, Mother has prepared a gift for you!”

A gift?

Beili was slightly taken aback.

“…What kind of gift?” she asked.

“A gift means it’s a secret until you open it. If I tell you in advance, there’s no surprise! Anyway, you’ll like it.”

Madam Constance’s lips curled into a smile.

Beside her, the Duke’s expression grew grave.

His eyes were complicated, as if he wanted to speak but hesitated.

Beili noticed the Duke’s unusual demeanor and asked, “Father, what’s wrong?”

The Duke hesitated for a moment, but in the end only shook his head.

…

Constance Castle.

“Winnie.”

After the call ended, the Duke called out to his wife, who was about to leave the study, his face heavy.

“About that spot, we haven’t made a final decision yet. Giving it to Bartholomew as a gift-isn’t that too hasty?” he said.

Madam Constance stopped and turned to look at her husband.

“Osborne, I think we made ourselves clear last time.”

“What about the other child?” The Duke walked to his wife’s side, lowering his voice. “Can you bear to see Susanna hurt?”

When the Duchess heard that name, her expression cooled, obvious displeasure flashing in her eyes.

“Since you bring this up again, let me make my view clear once more-Susanna shouldn’t compete with Bartholomew. If she feels grateful to the Constance Family, she should go to Madeline’s office and voluntarily give up the Academy spot.”

Looking at Madam Constance’s indifferent gaze, the Duke felt a mix of emotions in his heart.
During this period, this topic had always been a point of contention between the Duke and his wife.

Although Susanna was obedient and sensible, never causing trouble, and had conducted herself with perfect grace and courtesy at countless banquets, flawlessly displaying the demeanor of the Constance Family,

he knew that, in his wife’s heart, Susanna could never compare to the pure-blooded Bartholomew, whom she thought of day and night and wished to hold close to her heart.

“I just think… we shouldn’t show such obvious favoritism toward one child.”

Seeing the red veins in his wife Winnie’s tired eyes, the Duke let out a long sigh and raised his hand to rest it on her shoulder.

“Ever since Bartholomew returned home, even the servants of the Constance Family have noticed how you neglect Susanna. Have you ever considered how Susanna feels…”

“You must be joking. If I don’t favor my own child, who else will? As for Susanna…”

Madam Constance let out a cold laugh, enunciating each word: “Osborne, the Constance Family’s spot at Holy Island Academy rightfully belongs to Bartholomew. There is no dispute about this.”

The hand on her shoulder was pushed away.

With obvious displeasure, Madam Constance left the room without looking back, leaving only the heavy ‘thud, thud’ of her heels striking the wooden floor.

…

In the study of Constance Castle, the atmosphere was so heavy it seemed to solidify the air.

The Duke returned to his desk in silence, his brows tightly furrowed.

His gaze fell on the Red Orb on the desk.

The Communication Magic Ball was flickering softly, light gathering on its surface, gradually revealing the word “Susanna.”

The Duke stared at the orb for a while, then finally sighed, reaching out to gently press his hand on it.

The Communication Magic Ball was quickly activated.

Immediately, the figure of a pink-haired Young Woman appeared on the Magic Screen.

“Good afternoon, Father.”

The Young Woman’s voice was soft and gentle as it came through the screen.

“Good afternoon, Susanna.”

The Duke’s expression softened, and he asked her kindly, “Have you had lunch yet?”

“I have.”

After the polite greeting, the pink-haired Young Woman couldn’t wait to say, “Father, I saw Miss Bartholomew at Holy Island today! She seemed perfectly fine, even better than when she first arrived!”

“But I didn’t go over to speak with her… because… because she seemed so cold.”

On the Magic Screen, the Young Woman’s tone weakened, and a complex emotion appeared on her face.

“You know, Father, I think… I still need some time to adjust to this sudden change…” she said.

“Of course, Susanna.” The Duke smiled dotingly and comforted her, “You can take your time with this. No one will blame you for it.”

“As for your sister’s situation, we’ve already learned about it.”

The Duke’s gentle smile faded, and his brows furrowed again. “Your sister still has many rules and etiquette to learn.”

“Since my sister is safe and sound…” Susanna paused slightly, her tone tinged with nervousness and anticipation, “then Mother… should be less angry now, right?”

“Your mother is being rather stubborn at the moment…”

The Duke sighed, a hint of helplessness in his voice. “Susanna, you know how sensitive she is about your sister.”

As if she understood the Duke’s tactful words, Susanna’s eyes instantly reddened.

Tears welled up in Susanna’s eyes, and when she spoke again, her voice was choked with sobs as she asked in confusion, “Father, do you think… Mother has never loved me?”

Seeing Susanna like this, the Duke felt a tightness in his chest. He comforted her, explaining, “Susanna, it’s not that she doesn’t love you. She just can’t forget what happened to your sister in the past. That was her nightmare… She does love you, but that shadow has clouded her heart.”

“But what about me? Father, I don’t want to leave Holy Island Academy!”

Tears streamed down Susanna’s face as she questioned, her emotions slightly out of control, “Father, are you just like Mother? In your heart, who is more important, me or my sister?”

“It’s you, Susanna.”

The Duke’s tone was firm. “Susanna, trust your father. Your place at Holy Island Academy will not change! We will find the best solution.”

The Duke’s words soothed the unease and doubt in her heart, and Susanna’s tears finally stopped.

“Alright, Father…” She wiped her tears and smiled. “I believe you.”