Under Aphrodite’s half-persuasion and half-coercion, along with a barrage of seemingly reasonable arguments like “it’s dangerous outside,” “it’s safe here,” and “I can help you,” Leah finally accepted the arrangement to stay here for the time being after calmly weighing her own condition and the risks outside.
After resolving Leah’s issue, Aphrodite lay on the bed for a while longer until her strength returned. She didn’t linger any further, gave a few simple reminders, and left the room.
It was already late at night. The sky outside the window was like a deep blue velvet, a bright full moon hanging high above. Its cold silver glow streamed silently through the enormous glass windows, filling more than half the room.
No lights were lit in the bedroom, so the moonlight became the only source of illumination, tracing the outlines of the elegant furniture in the room and casting long, tranquil shadows across the floor.
The air was filled with the faint scent of Lavender, carefully selected by Bella to aid sleep, along with a gentle wooden aroma—a result of Bella’s attentive care.
Aphrodite lay on her back on the gigantic Four-poster Bed, which was so soft it seemed it could wrap a person up completely. She was still wearing that plush sleepwear with the furry cat-eared hood and tail.
The soft fabric clung to her skin, and the two triangular cat ears on the hood drooped softly beside her pillow due to her lying position, while the long tail-like decoration hung at her side.
Since that one time, this piece of clothing had become her only designated sleepwear.
It wasn’t that she had any particular fondness for this outfit or the “cat ears.”
The real reason was painfully simple.
Every time she opened the wardrobe that took up an entire wall—meticulously organized by Bella—and faced the dazzling array of tightly packed sleepwear inside, she would always fall into a dilemma of not knowing where to start.
Most of those were all kinds of nightgowns: the silky smoothness of real silk, the airy lightness of chiffon, the delicate lace, or cute designs covered with bows and ruffles.
She had rummaged through that vast Sleepwear Sea more than once, her fingertips brushing over those feather-light fabrics.
In the end, she had to admit that the one-piece sleepwear with its touch of cartoonish charm was actually the most “normal” and comforting option among them all.
At the very least, it was fully covering, with sleeves and pant legs, so she wouldn’t feel awkwardly exposed if she turned over at night.
Between two evils, she chose the lesser. And so, it became her only choice for bedtime each night.
“Sigh…” A long sigh echoed especially clearly in the quiet room.
Aphrodite lifted her somewhat weary arm and idly fiddled with the furry ears on her hood, feeling the soft touch under her fingers.
“Bella, that girl… Why did she only prepare this kind of clothing for me?”
“Next time I go out, no matter what, I have to buy a few normal ones.”
After lying there for a while, Aphrodite felt her spirits improve a bit, but her throat was a little dry.
She propped herself up and sat, the cat-eared hood sliding down her back with her movement, the tail behind her dropping naturally as well.
She got off the bed and walked over to the small round table by the wall, picked up the kettle on it, and poured herself a glass of water.
The cool water slid down her throat, bringing a moment of clarity.
Holding her cup, Aphrodite didn’t immediately return to bed, but instead paced to the window.
The night breeze slipped in through the half-open window, ruffling the loose golden strands at her forehead and stirring the plush fur on her cat-eared sleepwear, bringing a hint of chill.
She leaned against the window frame, gazing at the tranquil Courtyard outside and the hazy outline of the distant Town.
“Candidate Saintess…” Aphrodite unconsciously tapped the cold glass window with her fingertip, making a faint “tap tap” sound, softly repeating the title now bestowed upon her.
“Come to think of it, even though I’ve been living here for some time, there are still so many things I don’t understand.”
For example, where did this “Candidate Saintess” identity come from? And that so-called “your own plan” that Bella always mentions—what is that supposed to be?
In fact, Aphrodite had wanted to ask Bella about these things several times.
But whenever the words reached her lips, she always swallowed them back.
The reason was simple: the moment she brought up anything involving the “Past” or the “plan,” the matter of her “Amnesia” would inevitably be raised by Bella again.
Given Bella’s personality, she would never let it go until she got to the bottom of it.
And Aphrodite… was not ready to tell Bella about her own “self-destruction.”
Even though she knew she couldn’t hide it forever, that Bella would learn the truth one day.
But for now, it was still too soon.
The night air was growing colder, carrying faint insect chirps from afar. Aphrodite’s thoughts drifted off to even more distant places.
“The demons’ side… is way too quiet, isn’t it?” She frowned slightly. “‘Bahros’ was at least a big shot, and now he’s just… gone, but there’s not even a stir from the demons’ side.”
“Heh, it seems I wasn’t that important to the higher-ups over there after all…”
A wave of loss and disappointment surged up, like a pebble thrown into a lake, sending tiny ripples across her heart.
But soon, the feeling was replaced by a light laugh.
“Heh… well, that’s fine. Saves me the trouble.”
“Come to think of it… choosing to ‘come over’ might have actually been the best arrangement, a twist of fate.” Aphrodite even felt a touch of absurd relief.
“If only I could have come earlier… maybe my original body…” Her fingers unconsciously curled, gliding over the cold glass, and the rest of the words faded at her lips.
“Really, why am I even thinking about this?” Aphrodite shook her head, as if to throw off all those useless sentiments and memories. The tail of her sleepwear swayed gently with her motion.
Aphrodite understood that wallowing in the Past was useless; what mattered was planning for the future.
Since she had decided to settle here for the long term, she couldn’t go on relying on Bella for everything, drifting around like an outsider.
If so, she would be a truly unqualified “foster parent.”
“First of all.” Aphrodite turned around, leaning back against the window frame, extending her right index finger as if ticking off urgent matters in the air.
“That so-called ‘plan’ Bella keeps mentioning—whatever it is—must be stopped!”
Whatever that plan was, since it had been set up by her former “self” during her time with the demons, even a toe could guess it was for the demons’ benefit or revival.
But now, she had left the demons behind and chosen a new life, so there was no need to continue with that plan.
Letting it continue would not only be pointless, but could also become a potential, ever-present source of trouble and danger.
“Next…” Aphrodite put her finger down, stroking her chin thoughtfully, brows furrowing slightly.
“Actually becoming this so-called Saintess? Absolutely impossible. For a former demon general to become a Saintess—isn’t that a joke?”
Aphrodite shook her head hard in her mind—even if she starved to death, died outside, or jumped down from here, she would never become a Saintess!
Besides, even though Aphrodite had already left the demons, she couldn’t bring herself to turn her weapons against her former kin.
“But…” Her gaze gradually calmed from the waves of emotion.
“This ‘Candidate Saintess’ status and title actually make a great cover—I can use it.”
Aphrodite knew well that for long-term survival here, having a decent and somewhat influential identity would make things much easier.
Though it would come with some restrictions, she would also reap many benefits in return.
That noble who had offended her some days ago was the perfect example.
If she hadn’t had this identity, the only way out of that situation might have been to use force—and the consequences would have been more than Aphrodite could bear at present.
Thinking of all these tangled matters, a powerful drowsiness surged up like a tide.
She couldn’t help but let out a big yawn, her eyes brimming with involuntary tears. “Ah… forget it, I’ll think about it all tomorrow…”
Aphrodite rubbed her dry eyes, her voice thick with sleepiness.
She wobbled away from the window and back to that enormously tempting bed, the cat-eared hood bouncing with every step.
Almost by instinct, she climbed onto the bed, pulled the soft quilt over herself, and bundled up tightly.
The hood slipped down again, its furry edge brushing against her cheek and bringing a faint tickle.
Adjusting to a comfortable position, she buried half her face in a pillow smelling of sunshine, mumbling vaguely as if talking in her sleep.
“Cake… so tasty.”