Chapter 429: Substitute Bride of the Demon King (33)
In his memory, the happiest time he spent in normal human society, away from magicians, was during the days when he and Ellie eliminated the wild monsters at the foot of the mountain. Thus, this Lantern Parade greatly surprised him.
Night descended. The moon hung low in the sky, casting a soft, silvery glow over the capital’s streets, which were alive with color and light. Elaborate lanterns of every shape and size illuminated the paths—some crafted to resemble mythical creatures, while others showcased intricate patterns that danced in the night breeze. The scent of sweet treats wafted through the air, mingling with the sounds of cheerful laughter and the faint melodies of musicians filling the atmosphere with a celebratory spirit.
Countless young men and women strolled side by side, some paused to admire the lantern displays, while others engaged in lively conversations. In the distance, groups of revelers released bright flying lanterns into the air, each one becoming a tiny beacon of hope and joy that drifted slowly upward, weaving through the starry night.
"Look, Your Majesty, the lanterns over there are so beautiful," Yue Ran said, pointing excitedly to a lantern store.
"There are too many people; do not run around randomly..." Silas frowned, and it was clear that he was very disgusted with the crowded streets. He glanced at where Yue Ran was pointing and said, "Those are just ordinary lanterns; what is there to see?"
Yue Ran turned around and noticed that the Demon King was tense, and he exuded an aura of "do not mess with me." She could not help but burst out laughing, and that smile was so bright that Silas was a little distracted for a brief moment.
"If that is the case, then you should stay where you are, Your Majesty," Yue Ran said. "I will go and see it myself."
She playfully blinked with her back to the man. This time, she had no intention of obeying him.
The young woman turned around and squeezed into a spot with more pedestrians. However, this trip did not go well; someone accidentally stepped on her, making her body unstable. It was Silas who quickly pulled her up, preventing her from being pushed down and tread on by the moving crowd.
"I have been tolerating you for a long time." Silas grabbed Yue Ran fiercely, his heartbeat accelerating instantly. No one knew how nervous he was when he saw her being pushed by some stranger. "I told you that there are too many people here; if you are really trampled to death, I will not save you."
Silas was probably the type of person who was super stubborn and would typically be reluctant to admit his true feelings. Yue Ran saw the man’s nervous expression at that moment, which likely indicated he was moved by her, unbeknownst to himself.
Yue Ran smiled silently at the man, extended a hand, tilted her head, and said with a gentle smile, "Then can Your Majesty hold me? In this way, I will not get lost."
This made Silas react; he realized he was still holding her other wrist and quickly let go of her.
"Do not push your luck," he replied.
Don’t think he did not know what schemes she is up to!
Yue Ran was not at all ruffled by his heated temper. She simply looked at him quietly, as if she had anticipated this outcome, so there was no change in her expression.
Silas grew annoyed by being looked at and turned around in irritation.
Seeing more and more people around, Silas could only reluctantly raise his hand, indicating for Yue Ran to hold onto the end of his sleeve, saying, "Hold on tightly; if you lose me, I will have to expend energy to look for you."
This was to avoid more trouble, so Yue Ran was asked to hold onto his sleeve.
Yue Ran’s mouth curled up, and a satisfied smile finally appeared on her face. With careful precision, she extended her slender fingers, gently grasping the piece of clothing that had been offered to her, her touch almost reverent as she looked at Silas.
On the other hand, Silas’s lips pressed in a thin line, an unmistakable scowl etched on his handsome face, clearly conveying his discomfort. The expression spoke volumes: "stay away from me." He did not realize that when he turned around, his long black hair swayed to reveal his ears, which had unexpectedly flushed a deep shade of red, betraying his hidden emotions.
Internally, he grappled with feelings of disdain toward Leila’s actions, convinced that accompanying a woman to the bustling night market was far beneath the lofty status he held as a powerful and feared Demon King. Yet, as he glanced back at Yue Ran—a vision of youthful innocence blushing adorably as she clutched the end of his sleeve—he found that this peculiar predicament was not so hard to accept.
In his heart, there was a kind of sweetness that he had never felt before.
In that fleeting moment, Silas thought of Ellie again.
When he was with Ellie, he would always obey her unconditionally. He did not have to worry about her running around in the crowd because he had a deep confidence in her abilities and knew that she held her own in any circumstance. He never had to fret about her navigating through the bustling crowd, knowing she possessed the skills and instincts needed to keep herself safe.
However, he was not so relaxed with this young woman. He always felt that Yue Ran would, in one way or another, find herself in danger, as if a fragile thread connected her to an ever-present threat. If he did not keep a close eye on her, she would have countless accidents that he would not dare to imagine.
In an attempt to rationalize this unsettling feeling, Silas attributed it to Yue Ran being too weak. It was because this young woman had zero talent in magic.
