Survival Guide After Accidentally Kissing a Demon - chapter 38

Valniesnow Town was bustling at noon. All along the streets and alleys, lively vendors had set up stalls to welcome the students of Holy Island Academy. The air was filled with the aroma of baked bread and hot cheese.

The three of them had barely walked a few steps when a familiar voice called out from behind:

“Susanna-! Wait…”

Lance’s obsidian eyes lit up the moment he heard that voice.

“Looks like Miss Bartholomew can’t bear to part with me,” he murmured with a low chuckle.

Cyril rolled his eyes at the person beside him, then also stopped in his tracks.

Hearing Miss Bartholomew’s call, Susanna paused for a moment, then hugged the wooden box and Black Lamb in her arms even tighter, suddenly quickening her pace-almost breaking into a run.

But Susanna hadn’t gone far before the three behind her caught up.

Someone grabbed her arm firmly, spinning her back around, a strong scent of roses wafting over.

“Why are you running?”

Miss Bartholomew stared at her with wide, deep red eyes, looking utterly baffled.

The dazzling red dress and exquisite makeup gave Miss Bartholomew an unconsciously imposing and forceful presence.

“I… I…” Susanna’s voice choked.

Seeing the tears streaming down her face, the confusion on Bartholomew’s face only deepened.

“Why are you crying?” she asked again.

“I… I’m not… not crying…”

Susanna lowered her head, her gentle voice trembling as she tried to hold back the tears welling up in her eyes, choking out a soft denial.

“That’s enough, Bartholomew.”

Cyril spoke coldly from the side, frowning. “Stop asking pointless questions. If you have something to say, just say it.”

“Maybe Miss Bartholomew wants to join us?”

Lance placed a hand on Cyril’s shoulder, clicking his tongue and shaking his head in disapproval. “Speaking to a beautiful lady like that is hardly gentlemanly, my dear friend. No wonder Miss Bartholomew wants to break off the engagement with you.”

Cyril’s face darkened instantly.

“I disagree. Two extra people are already troublesome enough for me, and now another one… If that’s the case, I’ll go alone. You all can take your time.”

With a cold tone, Cyril shrugged his shoulder, about to turn and leave the next second.

“No, I’m not planning to go with you,” Beili hurriedly explained.

Then, under everyone’s questioning gaze, she raised her hand and pointed at what Susanna was holding.

“I want to borrow this.”

Everyone’s eyes followed her finger.

Susanna’s heart tightened. Instinctively, she moved the wooden box her father had given her behind her back, only to realize that Bartholomew was actually pointing at the Black Lamb in her arms.

At that moment, the Black Lamb suddenly let out a “baa-“, its voice soft and milky.

Then it opened its mouth, as if trying to bite Bartholomew’s finger with its not-yet-grown teeth.

Susanna was startled by the lamb’s impulsive move.

Just as she was about to step back with the lamb, a pair of slender hands in black velvet gloves beat her to it, gently taking the Black Lamb from her embrace.

Susanna’s hand, which had instinctively reached out, paused in midair, then timidly withdrew. She explained, “Sister… this lamb is still injured and hasn’t fully recovered… It needs Healing Magic every day.”

“I’ll just borrow it for a few days. I’ll return it to you soon.”

Holding down the restless, constantly bleating Black Lamb in her arms, Beili tried her best to put on a calm, friendly smile.

She assured Susanna, “Don’t worry, I won’t let it die.”

Unnoticed, Susanna’s tears had stopped. She hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
“Alright…”

…

When Beili returned to the restaurant, contentedly holding the Black Lamb, Madam Constance was visibly taken aback.

“Oh! I thought… Darling, there’s nothing novel about a Black Lamb. You really didn’t need to snatch it from Susanna.”

As Beili approached with the Black Lamb in her arms, Madam Constance quickly picked up her feather fan, opening it to cover her mouth and nose, her eyebrows nearly knitted together.

“What is that unpleasant smell? Did it relieve itself on your clothes?”

“Heavens, that’s dreadful… Luoluo, give the lamb back to Susanna. Mother will buy you a pink lamb later, one washed with flower petals,” she said.

“Give the Pink Lamb to Susanna, Mother.”

Beili draped her cloak over her shoulders, glanced back, and smiled at Madam Constance.

“I only want this black one.”

…

The two of them and the Black Lamb left the restaurant, then strolled leisurely around the market.

With Madam Constance accompanying her, Beili carefully selected some practical items to buy.

Unknowingly, the sky gradually darkened.

Although Holy Island Academy had given its students a holiday, they were not permitted to stay out overnight.

No matter what happened outside, before the curfew bell sounded, all students had to return to Holy Island without exception.

As if to bid farewell to the departing students of Holy Island Academy, fireworks began to light up the streets of Valniesnow Town.

The dark blue sky flickered, bursting with fireworks of various colors and shapes.

Seeing more and more young faces heading toward the Teleportation Array, Beili knew it was time to say goodbye to Madam Constance.

Madam Constance fanned her reddened eyes quickly, her smile faded.

“Luoluo, I really hate to see you go. If only this term would end sooner,” Madam Constance said.

“If Mother takes back the gift, I’ll return to Sainthos very soon,” Beili said tactfully.

Although the story’s direction was now completely different from the original book, she still felt a faint unease in her heart.

Overall, Susanna was straying further and further down the path of the pitiful little white rabbit.

And Bartholomew…

Though it wasn’t Beili’s intention, removing the heroine from the enrollment list was clearly the act of a villainous supporting character…

“Oh, no, darling!”

Madam Constance snapped her feather fan shut, grabbed Beili’s arm, and looked at her seriously.

“You carry the purest blood of the Constance Family. The Constance Family has always been Butterflies for generations. How could you, out of pity, so easily let the Swan become the heir? I will never allow such a thing to happen!”

Her grip on Beili’s arm was especially strong; if not for the cloak between them, her nails would surely have dug into Beili’s skin.

Beili frowned slightly.

Seeing Beili’s pained expression, Madam Constance gasped and quickly let go, pulling her into a gentle embrace.

“I’m sorry, Luoluo. Mother was wrong. I shouldn’t have been so harsh with you.”

Her palm patted Beili’s back with infinite tenderness. Madam Constance changed her tone, now pleading, “But you mustn’t say such things again, nor even think of handing over what belongs to you. Do you understand, Luoluo?”

Hearing Madam Constance say this, Beili could only nod along, “I understand, Mother.”

After bidding farewell to Madam Constance and watching her board the carriage, Beili finally turned and stepped into the Teleportation Array.

After a wave of dizziness, she returned to Holy Island Academy with the Black Lamb.

…

At night, the sea breeze blowing across Holy Island carried a trace of chill, but compared to Valniesnow Town, the temperature was much higher.