Chapter 22
‘Why is she angry?’
The warmth of concern in Elena’s eyes had completely vanished.
She was staring at Flora with eyes that had sunk cold, as though she hated her.
And when their gazes finally met, Elena quickly averted her eyes.
“I apologize, my lady.”
She bowed her head right away and offered an apology, but there was no sincerity in it.
‘Hmm. So she doesn’t like me? No, maybe she just doesn’t like Lucifer?’
On the surface, nothing seemed wrong. But in those blue eyes was clearly a cruel hostility.
It wasn’t hard to tell that Elena disliked Flora—or, more precisely, the daughter of Lucifer.
But who was Flora?
Now she might be the cute, lovable girl adored by everyone around her, but once, she had been the Great Demon, hated and resented by all of humankind.
‘Well, there’s no need to win over someone who hates me just because of my identity. As long as she doesn’t cause me trouble, I’ll just leave her alone.’
“’Kay, itsh fine.”
“Then, I’ll be going now.”
“Bye-bye.”
Flora, with kindness in her heart, let Elena go.
And so the only one left was the other new maid, the one who had first greeted her.
Since Daphina was nowhere to be seen, there was no other choice.
Thinking so, Flora toddled up to the maid she’d bumped into by chance.
“Daphina, you shee?”
“Daphina? No, I haven’t seen her, my lady.”
“Ohh, I shee.”
Weird. Daphina isn’t the type to just disappear without saying anything.
Where in the world did she go?
Flora sighed inwardly, though outwardly she asked brightly,
“I wanna read book. Where do I go?”
“Oh, are you bored? Then shall I fetch some fairy tales to your room? I can even read them aloud for you!”
“Nooo, dun want. I wanna pick it myself. I read.”
As Flora shook her head firmly, her pink hair swayed gently side to side.
“Honestly, you’re like the one flower this castle doesn’t have, like radiant spring itself, like… like a cuteness begging to be nibbled on…!”
Murmuring to herself, thinking Flora wouldn’t understand, the maid hesitantly reached out her hand.
“There is a library in the castle, but it’s a little far. If you don’t mind, I could carry you there?”
Flora looked up at her with her big round eyes.
Beneath calm greenish hair, in her deep emerald eyes, shone expectation—and the quivering corners of her mouth made an all-too-familiar expression.
‘So she thinks I’m cute.’
It was the same look the volunteers at the orphanage wore whenever they couldn’t resist Flora’s cuteness.
‘Yeah, the maid from earlier really was strange. How could anyone who doesn’t even know me dislike me when I’m this adorable?’
Her confidence bordered on arrogance, but Flora wasn’t ashamed of it—because she was right.
“Whatsh your name?”
“Gasp—m-my name? I’m Mona!”
“Kay, Mona. Hug me.”
Without hesitation, Flora snuggled into her arms.
As Mona carried her down the hall, Flora noticed something odd: in just a few days, it seemed a number of new servants had been hired. For there were many unfamiliar staff members moving about in groups, unlike before when the halls had been mostly empty.
“So, so jealous…”
“I wanna hold her too…”
“Just once, I wish she’d look my way.”
“If only she’d wave her tiny little hand at me…”
The servants whispered with excitement, but Flora, feigning indifference, turned her head away primly.
‘You didn’t show up when I needed you. So today, you get no attention.’
It was a cold judgment—one only she knew of.
“My lady, this is the castle’s library!”
With Mona’s excited voice, a new space unfolded—unlike the castle’s bleak atmosphere, the library was a well-kept, splendid place.
The warm-toned wooden shelves were polished clean without a splinter in sight, and the long rugs laid over the floors gave the space a soft, cozy feel.
‘Ooh, the smell of wood.’
The comforting scent of books made Flora smile, the unpleasant feelings from earlier forgotten.
“Ahh, too cute.”
Watching Mona clutch her chest dramatically, Flora asked softly,
“Nobody here?”
“That’s right. There’s no librarian. With the castle’s shortage of staff… ehem… well, they’re on a long vacation.”
She forced a bright smile, but Flora wasn’t so easily deceived.
‘Of course. They’re letting their guard down because I look like a child.’
By now Flora was used to catching glimpses of the castle’s strained finances. She almost felt sorry for them.
As Mona turned her head, Flora narrowed her eyes briefly, but the moment their gazes met again, she beamed brightly.
“So, you don’t need to worry about making a bit of noise here.”
“Mm, then now we shay bye-bye.”
She had gotten enough help.
All that remained was to shoo her away.
“Eh?”
Behind Mona, Flora almost imagined lightning striking.
Flora kicked her little legs, signaling to be put down.
“B-but won’t you need help? It’s too dangerous to leave you alone in such a big place!”
“No, I wan’ be alone.”
“It’s too dangerous, absolutely not!”
“I’m not gonna do dangerous. Only reading book.”
“Still no!”
Mona was just as stubborn as Flora. Pouting, Flora stamped her foot again until she was set down.
The moment her feet touched the ground, she bolted forward.
“You’ll trip!” Mona cried—
—and as if on cue, Flora’s feet tangled and she pitched forward.
“My heart, oh dear.”
Mona instantly caught her by the waist and lifted her back up.
“See? Dangerous!”
“I only ran away ’cuz you won’t leave! I need time alone too!”
Mona blinked rapidly, wondering if she’d misheard.
But Flora’s stern expression didn’t fade.
“At my room, Daphina comes, Daddy comes—never alone. But here, I’m alone! Book is excuse! Don’t you get it yet?”
Flora unleashed her final weapon: a child’s stubborn tantrum.
And it worked perfectly.
“Ah… I-I see. Then I should respect your wishes…”
After a quick glance around, Mona grabbed a few books.
“Here are fairy tales. If you want more, look at the lower shelves—they’re easier to reach.”
Then she winked, as if to say, We’ll pretend you’re supervised together.
“Don’t run around. Walk slowly. I’ll be right outside the door, so if you need me, just call ‘Mona!’ nice and loud.”
Flora blinked her big eyes, tilted her head, and softly called,
“Mona?”
“C-cute…!”
Mona clutched her chest again, forcing herself to keep a dignified smile despite her trembling lips.
“Mona good.”
But her composure didn’t last long.
Flora’s innocent smile broke through her defenses—Mona cupped her cheeks and squealed silently in delight.
“Then… I’ll really say bye now.”
Flora waved her little hand, urging her out, wanting as much alone time as possible.
Mona, eyes brimming with reluctance, slowly backed out of the room.
“If you need help, please, please call for me!”
Right until she stepped out, Mona didn’t abandon her duty.
‘Or maybe she’s already fallen for my cuteness.’
Even as the door closed, her lingering gaze wouldn’t leave. Flora sighed.
‘Humans are always weak to children.’
It was true long ago, and it was still true now.
Her bright, childlike gaze faded, replaced with cold determination as she turned her back on the door.
‘Alright, time to gather some information.’
If only she still had her underlings—it would have been so much easier.
She recalled the Great Demon’s castle, and the loyal demons who had always stood by her side.
Born from Mors’ hand, they served her, their creator, as their lord.
Their loyalty was absolute.
Born from Mors’ magic, they shared her will, despising humans, not individuals so much as extensions of herself.
But that changed when the hero Lucifer came to the castle.
Seeing Mors, who had grown curious about humans through Lucifer, some demons began to act differently: some kidnapped humans in his stead, others learned cooking to serve her food, others built a library filled with human books, and some even sought out scenic places where she could experience the four seasons.
‘Hmm. So they weren’t my clones, but guardians after all.’
