The big, grim-looking man looked so pitiful, it was almost hard not to feel sorry for him.
Sigh…
Flora had a feeling there was probably some kind of story behind it, but she acted like she knew nothing and simply hugged him back, just like Atanas had done for her.
Though her short arms couldn’t fully wrap around his thick waist, thankfully, a few pats with her tiny hands on his side seemed to ease his trembling.
“Mm, I twust you, Dada.” (Mm, I trust you, Dada.)
Her short answer worked wonders.
Atanas, who had looked on the verge of tears moments ago, now broke into a bright smile.
Just as Flora was about to ask him another question in the warm and tender atmosphere, someone interrupted them.
Knock knock knock.
A strong knock sounded, and as soon as Atanas gave permission, the double doors opened wide and a man stepped inside.
“Your Grace, you must return to your pending work. Just how long do you intend to keep enjoying this break?”
Atanas flinched at the blunt remark, which came without even a greeting.
The man had deep chestnut hair, light brown eyes, and a monocle perched on his right eye—clearly trying to give off that “duke’s aide” air. Flora immediately recognized him as the man she’d seen from a distance when she first arrived.
Isaac, right.
He had looked busy even then, so this probably wasn’t just an excuse.
Still, Flora had only been here a day, and there were many things she wanted to ask Atanas.
I’m still a little kid who needs his Daddy, so being a little clingy is fine, she thought, locking her hands around Atanas’s sleeve and refusing to let go.
“Isaac, Flora only just woke up.”
Atanas tried, with uncharacteristic firmness, to push back but it was no use.
“It’s been over a month since Your Grace last handled official matters. Reconnecting with the young lady can come after you’ve caught up.”
His words were cold, despite his gentle appearance.
Daddy’s bigger and scarier-looking, but he still can’t win, huh.
Seeing how casually the two conversed, they seemed to be close. Since he was the duke’s aide, Flora figured she’d be seeing him a lot anyway—no need to make an enemy.
She slowly loosened her grip on Atanas’s sleeve and let go.
“Daddy, you can go now.” (Daddy, you can go now.)
“Huh? Flora?”
Atanas looked completely thrown off, a mix of confusion and disappointment on his face.
“Do you not want Daddy to be with you?”
“I do.”
“Then why…”
“But Daddy’s gotta do his job.”
Flora spoke firmly in response to his flustered voice.
“Miss Fini said—no putting off today’s woek! If you do, you turn into a siwwy swug!” (Miss Fini said—no putting off today’s work! If you do, you turn into a silly slug!)
Fini’s words of wisdom—once directed at Flora when she wouldn’t clean up her toys—had come back to haunt her.
“I don’ wike siwwy swug Daddy.” (I don’t like silly slug Daddy.)
“O-oh…”
“Buh I dooo wike hardworking Daddy!” (But I do like hardworking Daddy!)
Grinning wide, Flora clung to his arm, squishing her chubby cheek against it.
“So go work, then pway wif me after, ‘kay?” (So go work, then play with me after, okay?)
Atanas nodded firmly.
“Good grief… A four-year-old young lady is making a better case than Your Grace. You should be ashamed,” Isaac muttered, stepping forward.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lady Flora. I’m Isaac Visera, second son of Baron Visera and aide to the Duke. Please feel free to call me Isaac.”
“Hewwo, Isaac!” (Hello, Isaac!)
Flora spread her hand and gave him a big wave. Isaac responded with a small, polite bow and a warm smile.
“I regret to say this, but we are currently quite short-staffed at the manor. We plan to officially hire a dedicated maid for you soon. In the meantime, I’d like to assign a temporary one. Will that be alright?”
“A maid?”
“Yes. Someone to help you with everything. If you like her, you’re free to keep her on permanently.”
“‘Kay!” (Okay!)
Her cheerful answer made Isaac nod repeatedly.
“I’ll inform Madam Jamilla right away. Though… we really should find someone to fill the vacant head maid position.”
Isaac muttered under his breath while rubbing his temples.
So Jamilla’s doing the head maid’s job too?
Even after just one day, Flora was starting to get a feel for how things worked here.
Well, if they’re hiring, I guess they’re not super broke…?
The trauma of yesterday had been so overwhelming, even a tiny glimmer of hope felt enormous now.
“Well then, let’s head to the office, Your Grace!”
Atanas looked down at Flora with lingering regret, but she let go of him without hesitation.
“Flora… I’ll finish quickly and come right back.”
“‘Kay. Daddy, fightin’!” (Okay. Daddy, fighting!)
Flora raised both fists in the air and cheered him on.
With a heavy heart and slow steps, Atanas left the room with Isaac.
After some time passed, a knock came at the door.
“Young Lady, it’s Jamilla. May I come in?”
“Yup!”
At her bright response, the door opened and in came Jamilla with a young girl beside her.
“You heard from Sir Isaac, right? This will be your temporary maid.”
“It’s an honor to meet you, Young Lady. My name is Dafina. I’ll be serving you starting today!”
The girl had twin braids of rich auburn hair and bowed her head politely.
“I’m really happy to be assigned to you!”
When Dafina lifted her head, her warm brown eyes sparkled sweetly.
Hmm, she’s young.
“She just turned fourteen. If you need anything, just ask her. She’s still young, but she’s a quick learner and very sweet.”
“Okay. But Jamilla, you not stay wif me?” (Okay. But Jamilla, you’re not staying with me?)
Flora drooped her shoulders sadly, and Jamilla quickly shook her head.
“Of course I am! It’s just, the manor is in such disarray right now, there’s too much for me to handle. Once we appoint a head maid, I’ll be by your side again. Just wait a little longer.”
With gentle words, Jamilla wrapped Flora in a warm hug.
“My precious Young Lady, I adore you so very much. It may be late, but I’m truly happy you’ve returned to House Lucifer. Let’s make many happy memories together.”
Even her nanny was saying the kind of things her father hadn’t.
Would it have been different if I had a mom…?
They were sweet words, but oddly enough, they didn’t make her feel good.
“Mm, ‘kay.” (Mm, okay.)
Flora nodded a few times and let Jamilla go.
“Bye-bye, Jamilla.”
Waving her hand as if to say you can go now, Jamilla gave a courteous bow and exited the room.
Now it was just Flora and Dafina.
“Dafina?”
“Yes, Young Lady!”
Full of energy, Dafina’s eyes shone with excitement. Her expression mirrored the girls back at the orphanage.
Not good. Not good.
Flora could tell that this girl would follow her everywhere.
“Young Lady, let’s get you washed up and changed. The chef prepared a warm cream soup just for you!”
And just like that, her prediction proved right.
Well… maybe I’ll keep her around while I’m settling in.
Flora gave a small nod and opened her arms.
Dafina, surprisingly quick on the uptake for her age, immediately picked her up—and Flora didn’t mind it too much.
***
After leaving the room, Flora—still small for her age—soon squirmed out of Dafina’s not-so-roomy arms and took her hand instead as they began a slow tour of the manor.
It was massive.
Worse, it was clearly not well-maintained. Even after wandering for half the day, there seemed to be no end to it.
“It’s too big.”
Due to the snow, they couldn’t even step foot into the garden. That tour of the manor alone hadn’t ended yet… was genuinely shocking.
Is this what being a noble is like…?
It irritated her. The castle Morus had built in her past life wasn’t even this big. She didn’t like that one bit.
“It’s toooo wide. An’ I’m tiwed.” (It’s too wide. And I’m tired.)
Ugh. Fine. Guess I’ll let her carry me again.
Grumbling under her breath, Flora lifted her arms again. Dafina chuckled softly and scooped her up without a word.
