But it felt like a waste to let go of a man who looked so troubled over not being able to buy her something more.
“I’ww eat it if you buy it next time~” (I’ll eat it if you buy it next time.)
Casually suggesting a future meeting, Flora’s words made the man freeze on the spot.
“Hmm? Don’t tell me you were twyin’ to settle it wif just one ice cweam ‘cause I hewped you~?” (…trying to settle it with just one ice cream cause I helped you?)
At her mix of playfulness and teasing, the man straightened his shoulders and shook his head quickly.
“I’ll buy you orange juice next time.”
“Yay! I’m excited!”
Flora grinned a hollow smile and resumed enthusiastically devouring her ice cream.
The man sat quietly, waiting for her to finish.
Flora glanced at him from the side while eating, thoroughly observing him.
Short, silvery hair that sparkled like snowflakes. Pale skin that didn’t match his build. Sharp golden left eye glinting beneath a stern brow and cold gaze. And then…
That eyepatch really makes him look dangerous.
Most people wouldn’t be able to handle the sheer pressure of his presence and would simply avoid him.
But Flora was different.
He seems like a really good person.
With the soul of the Archdemon, Flora had the rare ability to sense divine and demonic energy, letting her easily grasp a person’s nature.
Up close, his divine energy is overwhelming.
His massive frame was packed to the brim with sacred power.
It’s not easy to carry that much. Maybe he really was blessed by a god.
From his modest clothing, he probably was a holy knight.
So he’s not a noble after all. Holy knights probably don’t have much money, so I guess generous little me will let it go this time.
Temples and holy knights had always been symbols of austerity.
Raised in luxury at the orphanage, Flora mercifully decided not to drain the man’s thin wallet.
“Mistew, what’s yoah name?” (Mister, what’s your name?)
The question came out of nowhere, and the man, who had been speaking fine until now, clamped his mouth shut.
Seeing his hesitation, Flora raised an eyebrow slightly.
Wait. Is he the kind of person who isn’t supposed to reveal his name?
Maybe he was on some secret mission.
But there haven’t been any monster attacks lately. The village was enjoying a peaceful stretch.
And if there had been, House Hermannus would’ve already sent out the Inquisitors.
The Inquisitor Corps, separate from the temple, was established after the Archdemon’s fall to eliminate remaining demons and monsters from the continent.
No way… an Inquisitor? Doesn’t feel like it. He’s definitely a holy knight.
As Flora started frowning slightly with suspicion, the man finally opened his mouth.
“They call me Atanas.”
No last name? Then he really is a holy knight!
Most Inquisitors came from noble families. A man without a surname like this had to be common-born.
But… that name sounds kinda familiar.
She closed her eyes to think, but no specific memory came to mind.
Probably just my imagination.
With her misunderstanding cleared, Flora smiled brightly.
“Ooooh! Your name matches you weawwy nicewy, Mistew!” (Your name matches you really nicely, Mister!)
“That’s the first time anyone’s said that. Thank you.”
Atanas looked aside, clearly a little flustered.
Flora giggled softly at his innocent response and asked again,
“Mistew, you don’t seem fwom awound here~ awe you a twavewer?” (Mister, you don’t seem from around here~ are you a traveler?)
“Well… maybe I’m being punished. But yes, I suppose I’m a traveler. Actually—”
He’s acting weird again.
Atanas looked like he was about to explain further, but then shook his head.
“What am I doing, talking like this in front of a child… You remind me of someone named Nersha. I just feel strangely at ease.”
“Nersha? Who’s dat?” (Who’s that)
At that question, a sorrowful expression passed over the man’s face.
His lips moved silently before he simply lowered his head and fell quiet.
If you’re not gonna say it, then don’t bring it up.
He says she puts him at ease, then goes all quiet again. What a boring guy.
With a little grunt, Flora hopped down from the fountain and dusted off her skirt.
The sun was already setting. It was time to head back to the orphanage.
If she stayed out too long, she wouldn’t just lose snack privileges, she might get grounded too.
“I gotta go home now~”
“The sun’s already setting. It’s dangerous. I’ll walk you back.”
“The diwectow said not to twust stwangers.” (The director said not to trust strangers.)
Caught off guard by her response, Atanas froze mid-gesture, his hand hanging in the air.
“But it might be dangerous to go alone… Would it be alright if I saw you home anyway?”
With a determined look, Atanas respectfully held out his hand.
It was large, rough, and full of old scars. It was a battle-worn hands.
Staring at them for a moment, Flora chuckled and grabbed his hand.
“Where do you live?”
“Ovew there, on that big hill!” (Over there…)
“There’s a building surrounded by a protective barrier… is that the one?”
As expected of a holy knight!
He could even sense the magical shield cast around the orphanage, which had cost a fortune from the temple to set up.
Flora nodded excitedly, thinking Atanas might be even more important than she’d guessed.
I knew it. My luck really is amazing.
She planned to build strong ties with the temple now and use them later.
In a great mood, Flora introduced herself without being asked.
“Mistew! My name’s Fwowa!” (Mister! My name’s Flora!)
She spoke in a naturally sweet tone, ready to build a strong bond.
“I’m fouw yeaws owd, and I wuv vaniwwa ice cweam!” (I’m four years old and I love vanilla ice cream!)
“I see.”
Atanas responded with a gentle voice that didn’t suit his intimidating appearance.
Holy knights really are kindhearted, huh.
Even to a child’s nonsense, he nodded and listened attentively.
Encouraged, Flora continued.
“I wive at da owp’phanage on top of da hiww! Nex’ time you get owenj juice, you come dere, ‘kay?” (I live at the orphanage on top of the hill! Next time you get orange juice, you come the, okay?)
In the name of the Archdemon, if she could turn back time, she’d never have told Atanas any of that.
But the foolish Flora of that moment had no way of knowing.
That this simple introduction was the beginning of misfortune that would shake her life.
“…You live at the orphanage?”
Atanas’s gaze dropped and focused on Flora’s clothes.
For someone from an orphanage, her outfit was far too luxurious.
But our orphanage is special.
Flora smiled proudly, seeing the doubt in his eyes.
“Yup. I wive with the director, Miss Fini, and Miss Lian, and big sisters and big brothers. And just a while ago, baby Sherry joined our famiwy too!” (…live… family.)
She had been so happy to no longer be the youngest when Sherry arrived.
Though truthfully, the people at the orphanage hovered around her even more, worried she might feel left out.
As she recalled those annoyingly warm days, she chuckled.
They weren’t so bad, looking back.
But Atanas didn’t respond.
His expression had turned serious, emanating a subtle intensity, as if warning her not to approach him carelessly.
What’s with him all of a sudden?
Just for a moment, the atmosphere shifted until Atanas began asking questions one after another.
“Flora. Would it be alright if I asked when you started living at the orphanage?”
Flora, being polite, answered each question sincerely.
“Since I was born?”
“Do you remember when you first arrived there?”
“Umm… it was a snowy midwintah~” (It was a snowy midwinter~)
“Was your name given by the caretakers?”
“Nope! Dey said my name was onwy wwit down on a sheet of papew~” (They said my name was only written down on a sheet of paper~)
“And the orphanage is called Fini Orphanage?”
“Gasp! Yeah!! How’d you know that?!”
At this point, Atanas was starting to seem suspicious again.
Is he one of those weirdos who wants to sneak into the orphanage?
The orphanage was protected by a magical barrier to keep outsiders out.
She’d been willing to trust him because he sensed it right away—but now he was acting strange.
Can I really let him in?
Was he just another one of the many people with their eyes on the orphanage?
Flora’s gaze sharpened with suspicion.
But contrary to her fears, Atanas stopped right at the orphanage gate.
