The Demon Princess Was Defeated and Captured? Sorry, That’s the Role I’m Playing Chapter 243

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 sa.

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 sothing?!”

“Please stop talking, Royal Sister. Hearing this now still gives 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 when I was little.”

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

Look at how relaxed they suddenly beca 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 ti 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 ntal 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 confird 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 hotown. Didn’t we already talk about this? We’ll see if we can gather so information about Lady Airis 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 so anger for your parents. What, you forgot already?”

“How could I forget! I just an… 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 imdiately. 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 sche 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 montum, flipping herself up into a sitting position, and settled the itinerary in just a few words.

Anyone could tell that when it ca 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 trendous progress.

After all, in the past, Timani didn’t even know why she insisted on returning to a family that didn’t welco her, struggling desperately to force her way back ho. Even knowing it was a dead end, she still didn’t want to beco 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 ant 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 mont 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 an 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 punishnt—was another matter entirely.

Within this harmonious atmosphere—

A weak, humble voice suddenly sounded from nearby.

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

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 refinent—just look at Livra, even speaking required asking for permission first.

Despite having received the sa 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 ti 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 ho?”

“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 ti being away from ho for so long, they must miss too.”

“Why even ask about sothing 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 ho, then go back and take a look. That’s only natural. If there are people at ho 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 beca much gentler—extrely tender.

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

A child left behind had cooked porridge by himself.

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

Talking to himself, tears falling.

When his parents did co ho, they always felt they had nothing to say. The resentnt 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 als, washing clothes by the stream, gentle laughter and soft words.

The mory 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 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 ntor, a great teacher and a good friend! I wouldn’t even have enough ti 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 an! 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 complint or an insult? It should be praise…? Anyway, thanks?”

“You’re welco!”

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 so insider news—the fireworks festival will definitely start within ten minutes! Don’t believe ? 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 flas.

If, at the very mont when splendor was about to bloom, soone 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 mont of thought—

Sheffy chose to stand up.

So feelings were simply inexplicable, even to herself.

She extended both hands forward, making a lifting gesture.

“Xiarette, lend 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 aningful smiles, Sheffy carried a hint of tsundere pride as she turned around, hugging the Holy Sword. Cradled in her petite arms, the sword sohow appeared even more imposing.

The mont 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~】