Chapter 28
“…I’ve only heard of it.”
Both Hermanus’s support and the Shalia seed connection with the merchants had all started with Flora, and the wealth they now had was the result of her luck.
“I’ll make our territory rich too. So Appa, just wait a little longer.”
“Flora…”
No matter how wistful a big, burly man tried to look, it just didn’t suit him.
“So smile now!”
Flora pointed at Athanas as she shouted, and once she saw him erase his teary face, she nodded in satisfaction.
“Alright then, busy Flora will be going now.”
Before the two could stop her, Flora scurried out of the office.
Only confusion remained inside the office after she left.
“Puhahaha. My lady must really care about Your Excellency. She stepped in like that because she saw you upset.”
Isaac burst out the laughter he’d been holding back, while Athanas sighed and rubbed his forehead.
“Honestly, why did you have to say something so pointless?”
“Isn’t it fascinating? It’s rare enough for a four-year-old to be able to read, but to actually understand what’s written, too.”
“The teachers at the orphanage always said Flora was clever and precocious.”
As Athanas praised her, his expression softened.
The face that was always hardened and grim had loosened gently for the first time in almost four years.
“Seems to me the young lady resembles Lady Nersha a lot. Intelligent, wise, and certainly no ordinary person.”
“You’re right. It’s truly fortunate she didn’t take after me. Is this what people call a prodigy?”
“Enough of the doting, please.”
“She really does take after Nersha. Marquis Isoln used to say Nersha was incredibly smart as a child too.”
Athanas recalled someone dear, then swallowed down the grief rising within him.
“If Flora’s going so far as to say such things, it must mean our estate is lacking a great deal.”
“Now that’s an understatement…”
Isaac muttered, grumbling that there wasn’t another grand duke’s household this frugal—no, this poor.
“My efforts only go so far. If the existing businesses collapse, the territory’s operating funds will be cut in half. We’re truly on the verge of bankruptcy.”
“Then we’ll just have to work harder.”
Looking weary, Athanas opened the top drawer of his desk.
“…Isn’t that a request from the Stoa territory? You said you would be staying here for a while to focus on estate matters and stay close to the young lady.”
“My daughter is making an effort. How can I just sit idly by?”
“…Will you be alright?”
“I have to be.”
He scribbled a short line beneath the letter of request, accepting their terms, and handed it over to Isaac.
“I’ll set out in four days. Make the preparations. Benio will be coming along.”
“He still hasn’t fully recovered from his injuries.”
“I’ve seen him training in the practice yard at dawn, saying he hates to grow stiff.”
“Crazy Lucipher.”
Isaac muttered in admiration at Lucipher’s recovery rate, then respectfully accepted the letter.
“A mid-tier monster subjugation request. Counting travel time, it won’t even take a week.”
“For a four-year-old, a week is long. Please spend enough time with the young lady before you leave.”
With those final words, Isaac concealed his regret and exited the room, resuming the cold demeanor of a proper aide.
Athanas lifted the thin board at the bottom of his top drawer.
Inside lay a small picture frame. With sorrowful eyes, he stroked the portrait within.
A woman with the same pink bobbed hair as Flora smiled sweetly, her violet eyes gently curved.
The old portrait was his most precious treasure.
“I’m doing the right thing, aren’t I, Nersha?”
His lips, shaping the name of his long-lost love, trembled faintly.
“I’ll work even harder, so no one can ever say she grew up lacking without a mother.”
At some point the sun had set, and the window beyond had dimmed into twilight.
Staring at the star-strewn sky, he kissed the portrait lightly, hoping his wish would reach Nersha.
“Please, watch over us from above so that our family can be happy.”
He prayed the small hope would ride the wind and reach his beloved.
‘This is bad.’
Back in her room, Flora smacked her fists against the pillow.
‘Why did I have to butt in?’
It was all Isaac’s fault.
When he had teased, “Scared?” Flora, too stubborn to back down, had automatically blurted, “Okay, let’s do this!”
‘I never planned on getting this involved.’
Frustrated, she ruffled her hair and screamed inwardly.
‘I must’ve lost my mind. Luck? Really? The fact I even thought something that absurd, even for a moment—what an idiot!’
Who in their right mind would let a four-year-old child plan and meddle in business affairs?
Her intention was only to drop a few hints about profitable ventures.
At this rate, she would look ridiculously suspicious!
‘They wouldn’t actually think I’m some kind of spy, right? I mean, who would bother planting a spy in a disgraced ducal house like this? But what if they still found me suspicious, just in case… No, surely not?’
‘Do they know why I even came to Lucipher? I came here to conquer the world—and to destroy it, too!’
But she had no desire to be falsely accused of being a spy.
‘It’s not like I’ve actually done anything!’
Yes, since she hadn’t taken action yet, there was no reason to back down now.
Isaac’s suspicion only ignited her resolve further.
“Alright then, I’ll prove how capable I am, and make them fall hopelessly in love with my charm.”
‘But wait—shouldn’t I be happy if Lucipher falls? After all, they’re the descendants of my greatest enemy. No, no… not yet. I’m a Lucipher too now. At least in this generation, they mustn’t fall.’
If they were to perish, it should be by her own hand.
She steadied her restless heart, insisting it wasn’t for Lucipher’s sake but for the sake of preserving her own identity.
“Alright, first let’s take a look at this diary.”
Flora opened the diary of Ether she had proudly snatched from Athanas the other day.
‘Honestly, I wanted to read it right away that night… but this little body has so little stamina.’
She had practically been living in Benio’s room for the past few days. By the time night came, she would forget all about the diary and fall asleep instantly.
‘No matter how I think about it, I don’t remember ever receiving such a letter.’
Which could only mean—though impossible—that this diary might be a letter Ether left her after Morce’s death.
With determination, Flora turned to the first page.
To Morce
Her hands trembled as she moved to turn to the next page.
Knock, knock.
“Haa…”
The sudden knock shattered her focus.
She quickly shoved the diary under her bed and only then called out.
“Who is it?”
“It’s me, my lady.”
Dafina peeked her head through the crack of the door, smiling softly.
“Fresh milk was delivered today. I thought you’d like some before bed.”
“Gasp, with honey too?”
“Of course! As if I wouldn’t know your tastes, my lady.”
“And how could you just leave without a word! What else are you learning? Ugh, it’s cold! Hurry inside and tell me all about it!”
Dafina beamed at her lady’s warmth and stepped inside.
And with the sweet, warm milk and a welcome companion, Ether’s diary was once again forgotten.
“Flora…”
“Stop sulking, Flora. There’s nothing we can do about this.”
But Flora ignored both Athanas’s worried tone and Benio’s attempt to reason with her.
“You’re going out without me.”
“It’s not an outing, it’s a monster subjugation.”
‘That’s the same thing!’
Flora scoffed at Benio’s correction, turning her head away.
Athanas and Benio were suddenly leaving on a monster subjugation expedition.
To another territory—a count’s lands, at that!
‘Oh, the dignity of a ducal house… what am I going to do.’
And to make matters worse, they were leaving today!
No wonder breakfast had felt odd, with them insisting they eat together.
Apparently, that was their way of breaking the news.
Hearing on the very day that her family would be gone for so long threw her into a state of shock and unease.
‘Now it really feels like this is because of what I said a few days ago.’
Had the words she’d blurted—about their poverty, goaded out of her by Isaac—struck Athanas so deeply?
“It was a prearranged promise. I just forgot to tell you until now because of how busy things have been. It’s not dangerous at all.”
Lies.
Distrust filled Flora’s expression, but Benio nodded, adding explanation.
“Stoa territory is just a little to the southwest—not far at all. It’s only mid-tier monsters, so we’ll be back in less than a week.”
They seemed convinced Flora opposed the trip because she was remembering Benio’s previous injury.
‘Well, yes, that does worry me a little…’
Flora almost sighed in exasperation, but swallowed it back when she caught Benio’s gaze.
‘Ugh, I can’t even sigh freely under these eyes.’
