Chapter 243:

74. Could It Be Later?

It turned out that it wasn’t only Xiarette and the others who only knew half the story—Sheffy was the same.

Sheffy Harl truly hadn’t known that for vampires, piercing the skin with sharp fangs to suck blood was equivalent to a marriage proposal. Only after learning this did she finally let out a long sigh of relief.

“Phew… so that’s how it was. Looks like my knowledge is still lacking. Good thing I ran fast back then, otherwise wouldn’t I have been forced into something?!”

“Please stop talking, Royal Sister. Hearing this now still gives me chills. Why didn’t I grow up sooner? If I had been more vigilant, I wouldn’t have given certain people the chance to take advantage of me when I was little.”

“Grow up sooner so you could lock me up earlier, is that it? Then I suggest you stay innocent forever.”

Look at how relaxed they suddenly became after learning the full story—was that really necessary?

Back then, Flo Yarl chased after her trying to bite and suck her blood simply because of a vampire’s instinctive urge to feed, not because she was actually proposing. Wronging such a pure and innocent good child was unacceptable.

Speaking of which… Sheffy Harl also didn’t understand why Flo Yarl, who clearly had “anorexia,” was so fixated on her blood.

Driven by this curiosity, Sheffy even raised her arm and sniffed herself. Aside from a faint, childish milky scent, there was nothing particularly special.

All that could be said was that vampires had truly strange tastes.

At this point, Sheffy no longer wanted to talk about Flo Yarl. After all, they hadn’t spent much time together, so there wasn’t much to say. Moreover, if the topic continued, under the pressure from Xiarette and Belith, Sheffy felt that her physical and mental well-being tonight might not be guaranteed.

So, Sheffy simply lay down on the grass, gazing up at the sky. Tilting her head toward Timani, she confirmed again:

“So we’ll rest in the Demon Domain for a few days, then set off to investigate the Fire Dragon Clan’s territory?”

“G-Go… go where?”

“To your hometown. Didn’t we already talk about this? We’ll see if we can gather some information about Lady Aimeris from the Fire Dragon Clan. We can’t always stay in the light while she lurks in the shadows. And we’ll also help vent some anger for your parents. What, you forgot already?”

“How could I forget! I just mean… maybe… maybe we wait a couple more days? Look, you just suppressed the internal unrest, everyone’s tired. If we wait a bit longer, maybe…”

“Uh, didn’t I just say we’d rest for two days? Sounds like you’re in a hurry. How about we leave tonight instead!”

“No! Two days! You said it yourself—rest for two days!”

Timani hurriedly waved her hands, rejecting the suggestion of leaving immediately. From her perspective, Sheffy, lying flat on the ground with her chest completely flat, tilting her head back with a mischievous grin, looked as if her scheme had succeeded—like she was fishing for Timani’s response.

This girl… no chest, but plenty of scheming.

“No objections? Then it’s decided~”

Sheffy swung her small arms forward to gain momentum, flipping herself up into a sitting position, and settled the itinerary in just a few words.

Anyone could tell that when it came to going to the Fire Dragon Clan’s territory, Timani was still hesitant and wavering.

Even after witnessing just the tip of the iceberg of Sheffy Harl’s true strength, it was still difficult to fill the deep rifts within the Fire Dragon Clan’s heart.

But that was fine—and perfectly normal.

Because in Sheffy’s eyes, this hesitation wasn’t indecisiveness—it was tremendous progress.

After all, in the past, Timani didn’t even know why she insisted on returning to a family that didn’t welcome her, struggling desperately to force her way back home. Even knowing it was a dead end, she still didn’t want to become a wandering, purposeless soul drifting through the world.

But now—

She actually began to consider her friends, to cherish the good life she already had, and even possessed the resolve to let go of past grudges for the sake of the future—this made Sheffy Harl quite gratified.

It meant she had truly figured things out.

However, only by understanding what hadn’t been understood in the past could one truly step forward into the future. That, too, was necessary.

Belith could see the gentleness of her Royal Sister. With a healing smile on her face, she broke apart a donut and fed it into Sheffy’s small mouth. This kind of feeding moment brought Belith great satisfaction.

But her Royal Sister always liked leaning against that blonde dumpling’s chest, and that was infuriating!

“Mmm~ Xiarette, you know, even though in your Sheya state you used a visual trick to hide your greatness, it’s actually still there. You can’t see it, but when you lean back, it’s still just as soft!”

“D-Don’t say it so directly! It’s embarrassing…”

“I mean when you lean back, empty your mind, and eat donuts, it’s still that soft. What’s there to be embarrassed about?”

“Wha…! Sheffy, you did that on purpose, didn’t you…!”

“Hehe, of course not~ It’s rare to relax like this, just a little joke.”

Although Xiarette was complaining about Sheffy’s words, the way her hands moved—pulling this disobedient little pervert more firmly into her chest as punishment—was another matter entirely.

Within this harmonious atmosphere—

A weak, humble voice suddenly sounded from nearby.

“Um… everyone, may I ask for something?”

It was Livra Aurus.

Sheffy bit into her donut and shut her incessantly chattering mouth, which counted as giving Livra a response.

This was exactly why those raised with royal education had such refinement—just look at Livra, even speaking required asking for permission first.

Despite having received the same royal education, Sheffy Harl—who was usually sharp-tongued—gave such praise.

Livra slowly raised her left hand, smiling bitterly as she made a request that hardly counted as one.

“Teacher Shaya said everyone would rest for the next two days, so… could I take this time to return to the Royal Capital of the Kingdom of Aurus? Ah… of course! I’ll go back quietly and return before everyone sets off! I promise!”

“Missing home?”

“Mhm… I want to go back and see Father King and Mother. Father King hasn’t been in good health. I think… since it’s my first time being away from home for so long, they must miss me too.”

“Why even ask about something like that.”

Sheffy Harl didn’t even bother turning her head, but she did put down the donut in her hand.

There was a subtle shift in her tone.

“If you miss home, then go back and take a look. That’s only natural. If there are people at home waiting for you, that’s a good thing. Not responding to that… is just wasting your life.”

“Miss Shaya…”

The night market was noisy.

Yet here, it was quiet.

The way Xiarette stroked Sheffy’s forehead became much gentler—extremely tender.

In her previous life, there had been a time when Xiarette went to call Sheffy over for a meal at her house. Because she had a key to Sheffy’s home, she didn’t knock, and accidentally walked in on a scene that left her heart aching for a long time.

A child left behind had cooked porridge by himself.

He served a bowl for each of his parents, who never came home, placing them on the empty dining table.

Talking to himself, tears falling.

When his parents did come home, they always felt they had nothing to say. The resentment from long absences made them think the child harbored hatred, and so they remained silent. Thus, there was no communication between them—returning in a hurry, leaving in a hurry, year after year.

But in truth, everything that needed to be said had already been spoken—when they weren’t there to hear it—into that steaming, plain porridge.

Until the porridge had completely cooled, Xiarette couldn’t bear to break that silence.

In the end, she cooked a separate dinner in Sheffy’s kitchen. She didn’t let those bowls of porridge go to waste, nor did she have the heart to let them cool into a warmth that could never reach anyone’s heart.

Timani remained silent.

When she choked up slightly and tilted her head back to swallow the bitterness, perhaps she recalled that fleeting childhood—fragile as reflections in water.

Cooking smoke before meals, washing clothes by the stream, gentle laughter and soft words.

The memory of her parents’ smiling faces, once so familiar, had already blurred. But whether the weeds before that small house had overgrown enough to cover the dried-up well at the entrance—she still wanted to go back and see it again.

Sheffy Harl shook her head vigorously, sat up straight, and patted her cheeks, as if to drive those unnecessary emotions out of her mind.

Tilting her head, she smiled brightly and made a small joke toward Livra.

“If you’re going back, then go—but don’t badmouth me to your Father King, alright? I promised him I’d take good care of you. Even if I didn’t exactly do that much… I didn’t treat you badly, right!”

“Of course! Miss Shaya is my mentor, a great teacher and a good friend! I wouldn’t even have enough time to praise you—how could I possibly say anything bad!”

“Hehe, at least my efforts weren’t wasted. Oh right.”

“Hm?”

“Actually, even if you don’t hurry back, it’s fine, you know? We could just go without you. Not bringing you along… seems doable too?”

“Ugh…! Miss Shaya, that’s so mean! I’m going to tell Father King you isolated your friend!”

“Hey, I was joking! And after all those nice words earlier, you really were planning to complain, weren’t you?!”

“Not at all! Miss Shaya is my moonlight—how could anyone say anything bad about the moon!”

“M-Moonlight? Uh… is that a compliment or an insult? It should be praise…? Anyway, thanks?”

“You’re welcome!”

Alright then.

Just as they finished talking about this—

A lively commotion drifted over from not far away.

“Ah…! Hurry and grab a good spot! I just heard some insider news—the fireworks festival will definitely start within ten minutes! Don’t believe me? Didn’t you see even His Majesty the Demon King has arrived at the venue?! Tch… I’m not making this up! Even if I wasn’t lucky enough to see His Majesty myself, I can still hear the news, right? Even the First Legion’s Royal Guard has arrived!”

Hm?

Was it about to start?

Whether intentional or not—

Sheffy Harl glanced at the manifested Holy Sword at Xiarette’s waist.

“That pervert is still not awake, huh.”

“Seems so.” Xiarette lightly tapped the hilt with her finger, then closed her eyes to sense the flow of magic. “Little Sister Sylatrella’s magic fluctuations are still very stable. She’s still in a dormant state. At this rate… she’ll probably only wake up tomorrow morning.”

Sheffy tilted her head back and looked at the sky.

Dark—for now. But soon, it would be painted with brilliant flames.

If, at the very moment when splendor was about to bloom, someone remained under this lively sky yet never opened their eyes to see it—what would they feel tomorrow morning, hearing everyone reminisce about it?

After a moment of thought—

Sheffy chose to stand up.

Some feelings were simply inexplicable, even to herself.

She extended both hands forward, making a lifting gesture.

“Xiarette, lend me Sylatrella for a bit.”

“Hm…? Alright, Sheffy, what are you—”

“She can’t miss everything, can she? This only happens once a year. If she doesn’t see it this year, I don’t know if I’ll still be in the mood to bring her next year.”

“Pfft… Sheffy, that’s so like you.”

“Indeed, Royal Sister is Royal Sister. Hehe… that was very cool!” Belith also let out a soft laugh.

“I didn’t say anything extra! I just think it’s a pity not being able to see it! I…! Ugh, forget it, I’m not talking to you all anymore!”

Amid the girls’ indulgent and meaningful smiles, Sheffy carried a hint of tsundere pride as she turned around, hugging the Holy Sword. Cradled in her petite arms, the sword somehow appeared even more imposing.

The moment Sheffy Harl turned back—

was also the instant telepathic voice activated in her mind.

【Father King, when will this fireworks festival start?】

【Hahahaha! Can’t wait anymore, can you! I knew you were impatient. Don’t worry, it was supposed to take another ten minutes to prepare, but your Father King will move it up to five minutes! I’ll have them speed things up!】

【Don’t! If you do that, I’ll move half a lake’s worth of fish into your palace hall!】

【You little brat! I’m speeding things up so you can watch the fireworks sooner, and you’re still not happy about it?!】

【I just have a bit of a sudden situation! So… could it be delayed a little? About… twenty minutes later?】

【Delay it by twenty minutes… it’s not impossible. The fireworks festival of the Demon Clan starts whenever we say it does! That said… making all the guests wait another ten minutes isn’t exactly ideal. Sheffy Harl, what exactly are you up to?】

【Please don’t ask. I can only say… I have half a lake’s worth of fish.】

【I’ll give you twenty-five minutes. Make it quick.】

【Thank you, Father King~】

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep