Why did her bad mood begin to lift just from that?
With a smile on her lips, Flora let out a soft giggle as she followed him.
“It’s true. You don’t believe me?”
“And if I don’t?”
“Then I’ll make you believe it. Just wait. I’ll show you how amazing your little sister really is.”
Despite her bold words, there was no mockery or ridicule in his expression.
Even though it could’ve been dismissed as childish boasting—or even arrogance—he smiled with eyes full of trust.
“I’ll be looking forward to it.”
Like father, like son.
Benio really was the spitting image of Atanas.
So there’s another naive bear in this family.
And this one was a mini bear, too.
Seeing how happy he looked just from someone taking his side, Flora thought maybe he was still just a big kid after all.
…Ugh, I got carried away again.
She had to remember that the Lucifers were her enemies.
Yet when Atanas and Benio kept showing her these unexpectedly soft sides, her young body couldn’t help but be swept up in emotion.
I need to calm down.
Breathing heavily, Flora tried to steady her overly excited emotions.
“We’ll take a quick look around the town and then head back to the castle. If there’s anything you want, just say so and I’ll buy it for you.”
It seemed he wanted to show off a bit as an older brother, but Flora, having seen and heard all about the state of the territory over the past week, had no such intention.
‘Honestly, it feels more like I should be the one earning money for them.’
Just as she was hiding her pity and replying that she would, a deep tremor rumbled from beyond the castle walls.
What’s that?
As she turned her head toward the strangely familiar but unsettling aura, she saw people screaming and fleeing in panic.
“Aaah! Monsters are coming!”
“Run!”
“Call the knights!”
“My lord! Where is the lord?!”
It was a scene she’d never witnessed in Hermarnus, and she stared in shock with her mouth open. Benio also moved quickly.
For a moment, she thought he was running away. But he wasn’t.
He set Flora down in the carriage and then shut the door.
“Oppa?”
Flora called out to him through the window, staring at the closed door, but Benio didn’t open it.
“I’ll be right back, Flora. Head home for now.”
Let’s go out another time.
Without looking back, Benio ran toward the castle wall, and the carriage began to move.
“Oppa? Oppa!”
Left alone, Flora suddenly recalled what she had missed in their earlier conversation.
“He said he came back from mercenary work.”
Mercenaries were those who often fought monsters in place of the Holy Knights.
Some took the job out of a sense of duty to protect humanity, while others risked their lives for high pay. Either way, it was a dangerous and often looked-down-upon profession.
And yet, this boy—only fourteen years old, who should be rebelling against school or playing with friends under adult protection—had returned from such bloody work?
It felt wrong.
Was this really something expected of someone just because they were a Lucifer?
Hmm… Hmmm.
She crossed her arms and gave it serious thought, but no easy answer came to her.
Wait, why am I even worrying about a Lucifer?
Sure, he was still young but he was still a Lucifer.
No. Etar Lucifer was strong, so of course his descendants would be strong too. That’s probably why Benio’s been fighting monsters like a mercenary from such a young age. I’m sure he’ll return safely without a scratch, so I don’t need to worry needlessly.
Reassured by the idea that he’d be fine on his own, the turmoil in her heart slowly settled.
Even if I ran into a monster right now, there’s nothing I could do, so I should just go back quietly.
Unlike the leisurely pace when they came down, the carriage now raced at full speed.
Because she had gone out with Benio, she hadn’t been assigned a separate escort, so Flora had to hold tightly onto the seat to keep from being thrown around inside the rattling carriage.
The roads seemed poorly maintained. Every time they hit a rock, her backside ached from the jolts.
She had never ridden in such an uncomfortable carriage in her life.
Rosaria’s carriage wasn’t like this at all!
Grumbling as she longed for a soft, luxurious carriage, Flora pouted and mumbled to herself.
Though… it’s a bit disappointing. I kind of wanted to see what kind of monster it was.
If Benio hadn’t scooped her up and stuffed her into the carriage, she might’ve gotten at least a glimpse of the monster trying to climb the wall.
That regret lingered a little.
Wait, is that really a bad thing? What if the monsters recognized me and welcomed me or something? That would’ve been terrible.
Flora’s magic was small but pure.
The demons and monsters that walked this land were born with an instinctive awareness of the power that created them. Thus, they revered, obeyed, and followed their creator—Morus.
Even though her power was weak, if Flora had used it in front of monsters, they might’ve recognized the purity of her magic and instinctively tried to follow her. That alone could’ve added fuel to the bad reputation of House Lucifer.
Of course, not all monsters are like that. Some attack mindlessly, too.
There were cases like that among the monsters she’d seen in Hermarnus.
She’d ended up simply guessing that maybe monsters had evolved over eons since the fall of the Archdemon.
Still, how dare they fail to recognize their creator? Insolent little things.
Irritated, she slammed her small hand on the seat and at that moment, the carriage jolted violently.
What? I didn’t sense any monster energy?
As she wondered what was going on, something large and black appeared outside the window.
“Flora!”
It wasn’t a monster, as expected.
The moment she recognized the voice, the window flew open.
“Are you all right, Flora?”
“Daddy?”
“I’m so glad you’re safe. You must’ve been terrified.”
As if something like that could scare her.
When Flora firmly shook her head, Atanas misread it as her trying to act brave and gave her a bittersweet smile.
Normally, in a situation like this, a parent would cradle and protect their child but Atanas was the lord of this frozen northern land.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t be there with you. I’ll be back soon, so stay with Jamila in the meantime.”
I could throw a fit and demand to stay with him, but…
Looking out at Atanas, Flora couldn’t bring herself to do it.
Seated atop a massive black steed, his figure exuded the overwhelming presence of someone who truly ruled over this harsh land.
“Oppa went out alone. You have to bring him back with you, okay?”
“Yes, I’ll make sure we return together.”
Seeing her ask so firmly and not fearfully, Atanas smiled in relief.
Then he turned and shouted.
“Paur, head to the duke’s castle at full speed!”
“Yes, my lord!”
Atanas’s order had barely left his mouth when the coachman cracked the reins, and the carriage began moving even faster.
Atanas, galloping beside the carriage, turned his horse and sped back toward the street where Flora had been.
Moments later, the ground rumbled again, and dozens of knights thundered past the carriage.
They made so much noise, how did I not notice them coming?
After confirming that Atanas and the knights had disappeared completely, Flora grinned.
Wait a second. If Dad’s gone now… doesn’t that mean there’s no Lucifer left in the castle?
The moment she reached that thought, she snapped her fingers lightly.
Immediately, dark energy rose softly from her toes, holding her unsteady body firmly in place.
I was trying not to use magic just in case someone noticed…
Flora sighed in relief and finally leaned back in the carriage comfortably.
She’d wanted to use her magic to ease the discomfort earlier but hadn’t, fearing Atanas or Benio might sense it and with both of them gone, there was no one else who might notice.
With that peaceful thought, Flora leaned against the wall of the carriage.
Absolute stillness—comfort with no more rattling.
What the carriage couldn’t do, her magic could.
Pleased with her cleverness, Flora smiled proudly.
As the carriage entered the castle, the drawbridge lifted and the gates closed behind it.
“Young miss!”
In the distance, Jamila came running frantically.
Should I act scared now?
Flora dispelled her magic and stepped down from the carriage, her face pale as if she might faint any moment.
“Of all days, something like this had to happen on your very first outing…”
With a sorrowful voice, Jamila wrapped Flora warmly in her arms.
“Mhm, it’s okay. I’m fine.”
