Chapter 34
Just to be sure, Benio lifted the tent flap at the barracks entrance and stepped outside.
Since he couldn’t leave the children alone, he didn’t go far—just stood in front of the barracks to gauge the situation.
As always, Flora couldn’t hold back her curiosity and trotted after him, poking her head just barely outside the tent.
“The monster is fleeing to the right! If we circle around just a little, it will reach the village—everyone, pick up the pace and cut it off!”
“Yes, sir!”
At Athanas’s command, the knights and mercenaries answered in unison with vigor.
It seemed the count’s house had hired quite a few mercenaries, for among the knights were people in all sorts of mercenary uniforms. And yet, rather than fighting or clashing, they mixed well with the knights. Seeing that, Flora was convinced—this was definitely a rare sight.
“Everyone’s listening to Appa real good.”
“You’ve already seen it yourself—Duke Lucifer doesn’t have a bad reputation among mercenaries,” Basilian said, poking his head just above hers from behind.
“Mercenaries are treated like dirt wherever they go.”
“But why?”
“As you can see, the Duke treats mercenaries without prejudice, embracing them equally. Because he does, the knights also don’t look down on them and try to treat them fairly.”
Even to Flora’s inexperienced eyes, Athanas and his knights were working with the mercenaries smoothly, without friction.
“That’s why mercenaries try to join expeditions with the Lucifer Knights whenever they can. Most of them are wanderers, and since they mainly hunt monsters, they’re seen as doing lowly work. But this—being treated like real people—is the one sweet moment they get. Imagine how much it must mean.”
Basilian’s eyes, as he said this, carried a hint of bitterness.
“But if there’re no mercenaries, that’s big trouble, isn’t it?”
“Exactly. The whole Empire would be thrown into chaos. The demons are still alive, monsters keep spilling out of the Demon Forest, and the damage is severe. Without mercenaries to step up, the losses would be immense. Even the Inquisitors and Holy Knights have their limits.”
It was a surprisingly detailed and thoughtful assessment.
‘Smart kid, for his age.’
While Flora was admiring his firm words, an idea suddenly flashed across her mind.
“Do mercenary uncles not have owners? Then how do they work?”
“Usually, they live as wanderers, picking up jobs as they go. Or, if they’re in a mercenary band, the captain takes responsibility and hustles around to find work.”
“Then if someone managed them, mercenaries would be comfy, right?”
At Flora’s words, Basilian gave her a curious look, then slowly nodded.
“I suppose so.”
And the nobles hiring them would also prefer it—dealing with a manager instead of mercenaries they disliked would be far easier.
“Hmmm, I see.”
Flora gazed at Athanas’s retreating back with sparkling curiosity.
“You just couldn’t resist, could you?”
Turning back after surveying the situation, Benio spotted the two children poking their heads out of the tent, and rubbed his forehead.
“Still, we didn’t leave the barracks!”
Her shameless little voice was impossible to hate, and he couldn’t help but chuckle.
The Lucifer Knights returned after four days, having finished their subjugation.
“Young Lady!”
As soon as Flora came back to the ducal manor, she was greeted by household staff with tear-streaked faces.
“Really! If His Grace hadn’t found you, something terrible might have happened!”
With tears brimming in her eyes, Jamila scolded, and Flora bowed her head apologetically.
“Uh-huh, I won’t hide in places like that again.”
“You’re promising me. Understand?”
Hooking her little finger around Jamila’s, Flora glanced at the gathered servants.
Her personal maid, Elena, stood off to the side, looking dejected and spiritless.
She kept her gaze lowered to the floor, not daring to come closer.
‘She must’ve been scolded because of me.’
Flora realized her antics had probably caused Elena to get in trouble, despite having done nothing wrong. A faint sense of guilt pricked at her.
‘If only she looked indignant and ready to lecture me, that would be easier.’
It was true Elena had made a mistake in losing sight of her young mistress, but who would have guessed Flora would sneak out and hide in a supply wagon?
Sigh. Guess I’ll have to be a good master and take care of her.
“Elena!”
Flora called brightly, and Elena startled, quickly raising her head.
Her complexion looked worse than usual, perhaps from the dark circles shadowing her eyes.
Maybe she hadn’t been able to sleep, worrying she’d be dismissed from this job—after all, she’d already lost her family and just barely found employment.
Flora’s small guilt grew a little heavier.
‘I’d better not pull something like this again.’
Even back at the orphanage, she hadn’t enjoyed seeing her guardians turn pale with fear or sigh with relief—it never felt pleasant.
Clambering down from Jamila’s arms, Flora ran straight toward Elena.
“Sorry. I hid too well, you couldn’t find me.”
She wrapped her arms around Elena’s legs and smiled, as if urging her to ease her expression.
“Next time, I’ll be the seeker, okay?”
Elena froze, and then, unexpectedly, tears welled in her eyes.
“You… you’re mad?”
Startled, Flora didn’t know what to do, but Elena shook her head, wiping her tears with her sleeve.
“No, Young Lady. Not mad at all.”
She gently spread her arms. Flora caught the hint and leaned into her embrace, and Elena clutched her tightly.
“But let’s not play hide-and-seek for a while, alright?”
“Okay, I promise.”
Flora resolved to treat Elena especially kindly from now on, hugging her back.
Afterward, Flora embraced each of her maids in turn—tears and all—and then immediately set off to find Isaac.
Athanas was busy reorganizing the knights and encouraging them, while his steward Isaac had left his office to accommodate the visiting mercenary bands.
Jamila told her where Isaac was, and without a glance back, Flora dashed off, with Elena hurrying after her.
“Young Lady, please don’t run, you’ll hurt yourself.”
But Flora’s sprint didn’t stop.
Luckily, Isaac was still where he was supposed to be, and she found him quickly.
He seemed flustered by the sudden arrival of two mercenary groups, watching their assigned lodgings with a complex expression.
“Isaac!”
“Young Lady?”
His deep thoughts scattered the instant his gaze landed on her.
And Flora promptly leapt into his arms.
Startled, he barely managed to catch her.
“You really are brimming with mischief, Young Lady.”
At his words, Flora blinked, then tilted her head with a mischievous smile.
“You don’t like it?”
“Of course not. It’s delightful—it’s a kind of lively energy you don’t see in Lucifer.”
He smiled kindly, and Flora beamed back at him.
“Isaac, I brought something.”
“What might that be? The mercenary guests who saved you?”
“Close enough!”
After the successful subjugation, Flora had asked Athanas for one thing: to invite the mercenaries who had saved and protected her to the ducal estate.
Athanas readily agreed, saying it was only proper to show gratitude to one’s benefactors.
But for Isaac and the household staff, the sudden wave of unexpected guests was a shock.
“I came up with a way to make us rich.”
“Oh…?”
Isaac’s tired face instantly brightened, his eyes sparkling.
“Then shall we go inside and talk it over? It’s cold out here.”
“Okay!”
Though she’d gotten used to it, the northern wind was still harsh.
Nodding, Flora was just about to head inside with him when a figure emerged from the guest annex—someone she recognized.
“Basil!”
Startled by the sudden call, Basilian turned—and when he saw it was Flora, he ran toward her.
“What on earth were you thinking, inviting mercenaries here?”
Even if House Lucifer was scorned by society, it wasn’t a house to be treated so casually—not even by a mercenary errand boy.
Isaac’s eyes cooled, but he couldn’t bear to spoil the cheerful mood between the young lady and her companion.
Noticing his look, Flora only smiled and replied cheerfully to Basil’s blunt words.
“I may be rude, but Basil, you’re even worse. There’s an adult here and you didn’t even greet him.”
“……”
Chastened, Basil grumbled but still gave Isaac and Elena a small bow.
Seeing Isaac’s eyes soften slightly, Flora grinned and pointed her thumb toward the ducal estate.
“If you want to know, follow me.”
Her words had such confidence that Basil hesitated… but in the end, curiosity got the better of him, and he trailed after them.
“Here, eat this too.”
Flora popped another cookie into Basilian’s mouth, determined to fill his belly.
“Aren’t you eating?”
“I’m full.”
Though uneasy, Basilian still accepted the snacks Flora handed him.
‘He probably doesn’t get to eat treats like this often, being a mercenary errand boy.’
A mix of pity and affection made Flora share her precious snacks with him.
‘Lucifer may not be rich, but it’s still better than being a mercenary’s gofer.’
Though she felt a little guilty for keeping Isaac waiting, Flora decided feeding Basilian came first before getting to the main topic.
