Joey was talking to himself, and Vivian didn't disturb him.
"Will you come back to the hotel with me?"
Joey suddenly got up, hoisted the still unconscious Catherine onto his shoulder, and asked Vivian.
"May I?"
Vivian felt uneasy. When the curse was truly lifted, she could no longer use the fact that there was a monster inside her to hide her cowardice.
"Why not? You're from this village!"
Joey gently bounced Catherine on his shoulder, adjusting her to a more comfortable position.
"But the men of the village..."
Vivian had her concerns; during the time she was possessed by the monster, she did indeed do many things that hurt others.
"The men in the village were killed by a monster, and you were kidnapped by it. Only today was this monster slain by me, a wise and brave traveler, and you were rescued as well!"
Joey looked smug; he believed he was second to none when it came to lying.
Vivian hesitated for a moment, but then she saw the sleeping baby beside her and a smile slowly crept onto her lips.
"Okay, I'll go back to the hotel with you!"
Vivian put on the clothes Joey had given her. Because Joey was much taller, the clothes covered Vivian's knees completely.
She got out of bed, took her child in her arms, and followed Joey out of the home where she had lived for twenty years.
The moonlight remained as radiant as ever, illuminating the path for the four people below.
...
"Knock knock knock—"
Joey knocked on the hotel door.
Candlelight immediately shone through the window, and hurried footsteps came from inside. It seemed that this old Mary Sue woman hadn't slept well tonight either.
"Squeak—"
The door was opened.
Joey carried Catherine and led the way into the hotel.
When Granny Mary Sue saw that Joey had come in, she was about to close the door when she was surprised to find a figure standing in the doorway in the dim candlelight.
"Vivian?"
Grandma Mary Sue was both surprised and delighted, and hurriedly went to greet her.
"Mary Sue's mother-in-law!"
Vivian called out softly, and tears streamed down her face again.
"Thank God, you're really alive!"
Grandma Mary Sue had already seen the baby in Vivian's arms. She looked at Vivian with relief, her eyes filled with heartache.
"Come in quickly!"
Grandma Mary Sue took off her coat and draped it over Vivian, urging her to hurry inside.
Vivian carried her child into the hotel.
The hotel's furnishings remain unchanged from a year ago, just as they were when Goodman stayed there, except that the hotel's owner is now all alone.
"Is your wife alright?"
When Granny Mary returned to the house, she saw the unconscious Catherine lying flat on a bench by Joey, and asked him a question with some concern.
"It's nothing, I was just scared by that monster!"
Anyway, Catherine is asleep now, so it's all up to Joey's mood.
"That……"
When Granny Mary Sue saw Joey bring up the monster, she hesitated, as if she wanted to say something but couldn't.
"I've already killed the monster!"
"But I'm sorry, I only managed to rescue Vivian and her child. Your husband and the others are all gone!"
Although Joey didn't want to extinguish other people's hopes, Vivian had already returned. To avoid making it difficult to cover up this well-intentioned lie later, he could only tell the Mary Sue old woman in front of him this way, thus putting an end to the matter.
"Oh, so he really isn't here? I was hoping for something, but I was prepared for this outcome!"
"Killing that monster is the best news, and you even rescued Vivian. Thank you so much, dear traveler!"
Although Granny Mary Sue said that, she couldn't help but feel sad on her face.
She retreated to the kitchen and then brought out some food and placed it in front of the group.
Joey was indeed hungry; he had used up a lot of energy tonight and needed to eat something.
He grabbed a piece of bread and stuffed it into his mouth, swallowing it whole before he could even chew it properly.
Vivian didn't move, but sat quietly, gently patting the back of the child in her arms.
"Have something to eat!"
The old woman, Mary Sue, handed an apple to Vivian.
Vivian wanted to refuse, but the old woman's hand was still outstretched and she had no intention of taking it back, so she could only smile and accept the apple.
Grandma Mary Sue skillfully took the baby from Vivian's arms and held it in her own. The sleeping baby seemed to sense that the person holding it was not its mother and slightly opened its eyes.
Grandma Mary Sue immediately patted her back gently, her body swaying slightly as she hummed an incomprehensible lullaby.
The still sleepy baby quickly closed his eyes again and drifted off to sleep peacefully.
"Get a good rest tonight, and I'll let everyone in the village know about this tomorrow!"
Grandma Mary Sue's voice wasn't loud; she was a little worried that she might wake the baby in her arms.
"Yes, right, right, remember to settle the payment tomorrow!"
Joey's mouth was stuffed full, making his speech somewhat slurred, but no one laughed at him at this moment. The only person who would tease him in this situation was still asleep and probably wouldn't wake up for a while.
Grandma Mary Sue understood what he meant, her face showed gratitude, she nodded to him, and then said nothing more.
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