Chapter 78
In order to deceive Marquis Sload, Count Vitora needed a temporary place to hide.
Fortunately, they were in the forest, and with Janet’s help, they could make their way to the Ice Castle in the Demon Forest without being seen by anyone.
“This place is…”
“This is where the Count will stay for a while. You’ll have to wait here quietly until I call someone else.”
Count Vitora nodded at Flora’s words but couldn’t help but gape in awe at the wondrous and beautiful sight of the Ice Castle before him.
“How is it possible to build and maintain a castle out of ice like this? The forest isn’t even that cold—it’s amazing.”
It seemed he was more impressed by its uniqueness than its beauty.
“You’ll be staying here until the competition. Understand?”
“Yes, of course. Naturally. I’ll wait quietly here until you call. Would it be alright if I studied how the Ice Castle is maintained?”
Are all alchemists like this?
Flora looked at the Count with slightly tired eyes, but thinking of his efforts, she nodded in approval.
“This Ice Castle used to be where the northern demons lived. I guess it’s maintained with magic, but if you want to study it, go ahead.”
“Eh?”
Despite her kindness in explaining, the admiration in his eyes quickly faded, replaced by fear.
Demons are demons, after all.
Just witnessing the fear they could instill in him was proof enough.
‘Well, he’s not a knight, so it’s understandable.’
Janet, perched obediently on Flora’s shoulder, puffed up proudly.
Flora gently tapped the sparrow’s head in a familiar gesture and pointed toward the Ice Castle.
“Now that it’s my castle, don’t be scared. Go inside.”
“Eh? M-me? By myself?”
“Since you snuck out without me knowing, you have to go in alone.”
“C-can’t someone go with me?”
“Adults need to act like adults.”
Count Vitora whined in fear at her cold rebuke. A grown adult acting like that was just pitiful.
Flora extended her index finger and pointed at the Ice Castle.
“Go.”
“But—!”
“There’s a Sharoa tree in the basement. If it’s for research purposes, you can examine it as much as you want.”
“Ah! You should’ve told me that first! Then I’ll wait there quietly while rewriting the research report and business plan!”
Was the alchemist strange, or was Flora’s chosen talent just unusual?
Flora watched Count Vitora hurriedly run into the Ice Castle with wide, astonished eyes and shook her head.
“Let’s go for now.”
Since the moment the Lucipher knights appeared, the monsters had fled back into the deep mountains, so Athanas would surely return soon.
‘He’ll definitely check on my room.’
Whenever the monsters appeared, he always made sure Flora was safe before going to sleep. This time would be no different.
While she could deceive Elena, she couldn’t fool Athanas or Benio—they had the sacred power of Lucipher, after all.
Flora mounted Janet, who had returned to her hawk form, and called out.
“Alright, let’s go!”
The first deviation had ended successfully.
Having avoided everyone’s eyes, Flora carefully arrived at her room window and perched on the frame to look inside.
Fortunately, Elena was dozing off.
‘As expected, luck is on my side.’
Flora, praising herself, gave Janet her next order.
“Janet, from now on, follow Marquis Sload secretly. If you find any suspicious letters or documents being exchanged, get them by any means. Understood?”
“Yes, leave it to me. I will find the evidence.”
Janet was incredibly efficient—one explanation, and she understood everything.
Flora lightly kissed the top of Janet’s head and sent her off for the mission.
She carefully opened the window and crept toward the bed, making sure not to wake the still-sleeping Elena.
As she approached, the rabbit doll that had been in Flora’s form returned to its original shape.
Flora entered the bed quietly, and the soft sound stirred Elena awake, who shook and blinked in surprise.
“Miss?”
“Mm, Elenaaa.”
Feigning just waking up, Flora spoke in a sleepy voice, and Elena smiled softly, reaching out her hand.
“Awake already? Did you need to go to the bathroom, or did you have a bad dream?”
Naturally, Elena picked her up, and as she opened her half-closed eyes wide in shock, she carefully placed her on the bed.
“My goodness, why is your body so cold?”
“Mm?”
That was because she had been outside just moments ago and hurried inside.
With Elena so sensitive to the slightest sound, there had been no time to warm up.
Flora pretended not to notice, wide-eyed, tilting her head.
“Monna, Elena warm.”
“My goodness. I need to stoke the fireplace right away.”
Elena hugged Flora tightly to warm her up, then covered her with the blanket up to her chin. She was about to ask Daphina, who was waiting outside, to bring some firewood.
A knock on the door interrupted her.
“Flora, may I come in?”
Though it was sleeping time and she could have come in freely, the polite request reached her ears.
Flora promptly replied.
“Mm!”
The door opened immediately, and instead of the expected Athanas, Benio strode into the room.
Flora leaped up, rushing to the door with joy.
As she spread her arms, Benio naturally lifted her into a hug.
“You’re not asleep yet?”
“I just woke up. I guess I woke up expecting you.”
Her bright smile spread to Benio, who patted her head and glanced at Elena for confirmation.
Elena nodded, and he finally believed it. It annoyed her slightly that he needed confirmation, but she let it slide, considering past incidents.
“Did you come to see Flora?”
Flora asked innocently, and Benio feigned indifference.
“I just came to check if she was sleeping well.”
But he quickly corrected himself.
“No, I came to see her. And also to check if she was sleeping well.”
“Why? Did something happen outside?”
“Nothing in particular. Everything’s the same as always. I came to see her. Don’t you trust me?”
Worried that Flora might be concerned, Benio did not mention the monsters.
Now that he was naturally joking with her, he seemed quite like a teenager, which made her secretly proud.
“At first, you said no.”
“I came because I missed you. To see if my beloved little sister is having sweet dreams.”
With his kind voice, he lightly kissed her forehead.
Flora giggled at the affectionate peck.
“It’s late. Are you still not asleep?”
Amid the warm sibling atmosphere, another familiar voice came from beyond the door.
As Flora expected, it was Athanas.
“Appa!”
Reaching out to him, she saw another familiar figure behind him.
“Isaac!”
Flora moved her arms to embrace Isaac.
Athanas froze mid-movement, but Isaac, ever the bold aide, didn’t mind and picked her up.
“Did our young lady miss me?”
Flora nodded eagerly.
‘Good. I was planning to look for them anyway.’
She hugged Isaac and whispered softly in his ear.
“I sent the Count to the Ice Castle.”
“……Eh?”
“Leave the details to the Count, okay?”
Isaac immediately understood who she meant and nodded.
“What were you two talking about?”
Athanas’ slightly hurt voice reached her ears. With the main point already conveyed to Isaac, Flora reached out to Athanas without hesitation.
‘Ah, but I’m so sleepy. Being in a child’s body is really a problem.’
Her eyelids grew heavy.
Though Athanas’ face looked stern, a gentle smile soon appeared, tinged with a hint of hurt.
He didn’t hesitate to pick her up and lightly kissed her forehead.
It was meant to be a goodnight kiss.
“…Wait. Why is your forehead so hot?”
Sensing something was wrong, he urgently placed his hand on her forehead.
“Her forehead feels like fire…”
Unfortunately, he never got to finish his sentence.
‘This cursed, fragile body…’
Flora’s consciousness cut off completely.
The cold wind outside had been stronger than expected.
