[Bonus chapter] TO THE HOTSPRING

On their way to City D where the nearest hot spring could be found, Belle was silent the whole time. She didn't have anything to talk about with Eli and he seemed like he didn't want to talk to her either. His attention was on the road and the little kid sitting at the back.

"Neon, I placed some fruits and sandwiches inside your lunchbox since it will take us a little longer to get there. You can eat some if you feel hungry. We'll buy some takeouts on our way there."

"Thank you, Eli. I'll keep that in mind. I am not hungry at the moment," Neon responded before shifting his gaze to his sister. "What about you, Belle? You didn't join us for breakfast earlier. Are you hungry? I can give you some."

Belle finally showed a change in expression as she turned to look at her brother and smiled faintly at him. "Thanks for asking, buddy. I'm quite full right now."

"Eli made tuna sandwiches for you, though. You like them, right?"

[You are so boring!] Ceres exclaimed deep inside Belle's mind and took over Belle's body. She immediately smiled and stretched out her hands to the little guy sitting behind her. "I'll that offer. I'm hungry after hearing about tuna sandwiches."

"I knew it!" Neon cheerfully said in retort while taking out the sandwiches from his bag. "I told Eli that you like it and he made a lot for you."

Ceres turned the man beside her and raised the sandwich as if she was making a toast. "Thanks, Eli. Tuna sandwiches are my happy pill. Of course, that is apart from my little brother."

Eli just smiled without saying anything. It felt like he was suddenly talking to someone else. The gloomy Belle was gone and was replaced with this cheerful woman who loves to talk about other things.

"Oh! Look at that! There's a temple on the way to City D. Shall we visit that place on our way home?" This question wasn't only meant for Eli and Neon but for Belle as well who wanted to talk to a monk because of their current situation. "It would be great if we could pray for my recovery. I need to pray for more money so I can save, too. It's not always good to be a freeloader."

Eli's expression changed but it was so subtle that Ceres didn't notice. "Let's visit that place if we have more time on our way home."

"Really?! Thanks, Eli. You really don't go back on your words."

Eli kept himself silent all the way until they reached City D. Ceres didn't bother him to talk and just chatted with Neon. As soon as they reached the place, she observed the surroundings and took note of the places where she could hide once she goes off at night. After all, her priority was to find her godmother and deal with her.

"Good afternoon," Ceres greeted when she saw the staff walking to them.

"Good afternoon, ma'am. Do you have reservations?"

"Yes, we do." It was Eli who answered the question and showed the electronic booking confirmation to the staff. The woman guided them inside the inn and brought them to the reception area. Eli signed some papers there for liability coverage just in case they damage some things or whatnot. "There should be two rooms."

"Yes, sir." The woman handed out two card keys and Eli gave the other one to Belle.

"Eli, how much is the night here? I don't - "

"You don't have to pay me. Take this as my treat. Stop thinking about repaying me."

Belle scratched the side of her face as she nodded her head but deep inside her mind, she was already noting this event down as something she needed to repay in the future. She might not be able to pay him in cash but she can also bring him on another trip that he could enjoy.

"Let's get inside our room. We can take a rest first before taking a dip in the hot spring."

Surprisingly, Belle took her body back and held her brother's hand as she asked, "Neon, do you want to bathe together? It's been a while since we last bathed together. I saw a sign of a mixed bath. We can go there."

"Really?! Yay! I can bath with Belle again."

"No, can't do!" Eli exclaimed before he could process her thoughts and stop his mouth from yelling. Both Neon and Belle looked at him in surprise. It was the first time that he yelled at both of them. Well, she was used to him yelling at her but she never saw him yell at Neon before.

"What's wrong with you? It's a normal thing between me and Neon. I have bathed with him for several years already."

Eli blushed and he was lost for words. He felt his throat has gone dry just thinking about Belle getting naked with another man even if that man was considered a little kid at this moment. His heart couldn't allow such a thing to happen and he didn't know why.

"Neon is growing. Soon he will reach puberty stage. As a woman, you should know how crucial that stage is for kids. Don't just spoil him because he is your brother."

"Ooohhh," Belle just nodded her head in agreement before shifting her gaze to Neon. "I get it. Then, shall we bath together?"

As if Eli's body was doused in fire, his temperature increased and he felt like he was burning. His face was so hot to his touch and his heart was beating like a drum. He was even worried that she would hear it. [This damn woman! It's no joking matter! How could she ask me that question?!]

While pondering over this matter, Belle already left with Neon to find their room on the third floor of the inn.

[hahahahahaha. Where did you learn that?] Ceres asked while laughing so hard at the back of Belle's mind. [I can't believe you would pull that teasing stunt with Eli. His face was indescribable.]

(I learned it from a certain someone whose shamelessness knows no bound.)

[You mean me?]

(Who else then?)

[Well, I am very proud of it. Oh, Eli. I want to tease him again. Hey, let me borrow your body for a while."

(No.)

[Just a little while. I will just prank him. Just this once.]

(You're crazy.) Belle retorted but still allowed Ceres to use her body anyway. She knows what the woman was up to and she could only wait and see how things would turn. At least, she was getting back at him for the thing he did in the past.

[This isn't counted as revenge, right?]

(Teasing is not a form of revenge.)

[And what if he falls for you because we keep on teasing him?]

(That's not gonna happen. I know how much he loves Jillyanna Madrigal. There's no way he would fall for someone else. Can you stop daydreaming?)

Dejectedly, Ceres pressed her card key on the door lock and went inside. She can't believe that Eli would fall in love with a beast in sheep's clothing.

(Jillyanna is a good woman. Stop judging her.)

[I know a beast when I see one. Don't belittle my sense of danger.]

(Yeah?)

Ceres just pouted before jumping onto the bed and staring at the ceiling. [Let's think of a plan before teasing Eli. Our purpose for coming over isn't to enjoy the hot spring but to seek revenge for your brother.]

(I know.) Belle said but a few seconds later, she wanted to whack Ceres on the head. They just talked about their plan for revenge but Ceres was thinking of what she should wear to tease Eli tonight. This foreign soul was driving her mad! (Don't you dare wear something like that!) She yelled mentally when she caught sight of Ceres' ideas. She wanted to wear a yukata with nothing underneath. (That's - oh my god! I just want to die.)