The Baby Villain Dreams of Conquering the World

Chapter 115

Episode 115

'She'll probably nod with a smile.'

Since he was granting her wish, perhaps their relationship would grow a bit closer.

'She's pretty, so she'd look even cuter if she smiled.'

Thinking she might give him a bright smile, Walter's anticipation soared.

But the reply that came back was a completely unexpected, cold rejection.

"No."

"Alright… Huh? What did you say? No?"

Walter, who had assumed she would naturally nod, was startled by the unexpected refusal and opened his eyes wide.

"Why, why?"

"I wasn't even invited, why would I go there? And I definitely don't want to go as your partner."

"......"

The clear and firm refusal that followed left a scratch on Walter's heart.

Having lived his whole life revered as a precious Young Lord, he swore he had never met a child who pushed him away and rejected him so thoroughly.

In such a case, most ordinary children would be disappointed and stomp off, but Walter was different.

'It just makes me more determined.'

He wanted to see this person, who was pushing him away so much, desperately want him and wish to be with him.

Contrary to his innocent appearance, his inner self was unchildlike. He grinned and made another offer.

"It seems you'll be here longer than expected. Won't you get bored?"

"Huh? Why?"

"The meetings keep getting extended, so no one knows when they'll end. If you just stay quietly in the castle, you'll get bored."

"Even so, I have to wait. How could I leave my Oppa here alone? My Oppa gets lonely without me; it won't do."

Her heart was steadfast, showing how much she adored her brother.

"Don't be like that, let's go together. If you go, you can eat lots of delicious things and make good friends too. Let's go have fun together and come back."

"Why are you like this when I said no?"

Her indifferent voice showed she had zero interest in Walter or the tea party.

'Was she not really that eager to go? Or is my attitude wrong?'

Walter thought for a moment, then erased his earlier confident demeanor and spoke in a sulky voice.

"...Actually, I don't want to go alone."

And the effect was tremendous.

"What, you don't have anyone to go with?"

A look of pity immediately came her way.

He suddenly felt like he had become a friendless person, but seeing the positive reaction, he didn't miss the opportunity and deliberately drooped his eyebrows, making a pitiful expression.

"Mm-hmm. Actually, I don't have many friends either."

"...Ah, you're not good at making friends. So that's why you were waiting for me to come find you?"

"That's right."

Of course, until yesterday, he had no interest in Flora whatsoever and had come to meet her on the orders of his father, Duke Bellasia, to assess her condition, but he hid that fact and nodded.

"Actually, because of my family background, people around me find me burdensome, so I don't have any close friends. And since it's Young Lady Hermannus's invitation, I can't not go either..."

"Hmm..."

At the pitiful story that followed, Flora's eyes showed visible contemplation.

It was possible because it was an excellent performance for someone who had never experienced any lack or discrimination as a child of the Bellasia Ducal House.

'Despite her prickly attitude, she's quite kind. I like her even more.'

She seemed more fun to get along with than the calm, boring Young Lady Hermannus or the hot-tempered, often violent Deshimo Young Lord.

Hiding the pleasure he felt at this unexpected side of her, he was about to make one last attempt at persuasion.

"Flora, where are y..."

A boy appeared, striding through the garden.

"Basil!"

And at his appearance, a bright smile instantly bloomed on Flora's face.

Her clear cheeks flushed a soft pink, and her eyes, which had held annoyance, were now full of vitality.

Her lips, pressed into a line before, now formed a rounded curve, expressing intense delight.

'What? So she can smile like this?'

The smile he had wanted to see just moments ago was now easily created simply by this boy's appearance.

'Just who is this "Basi"?'

Hiding his displeased expression, Walter turned around with a slight smile on his lips.

A boy stood there, dressed in neat but not expensive-looking clothes, awkwardly avoiding eye contact.

'He's not a noble.'

His face looked familiar, making Walter wonder if he knew him, but judging by his attire and his slightly slouched, uncomfortable posture, that didn't seem to be the case.

"Who is this?"

"...Ah."

As if he hadn't expected there to be company, Basilian couldn't hide his flustered expression.

Seeing him stand there awkwardly, unable to say anything, Flora sprang up from her seat and went over to Basilian.

"Basil, this is my friend. A very precious friend."

The emphasis on 'precious' made the statement even more grating.

'His face is somewhat decent, so I guess he wants to mingle with nobles. Flora probably doesn't know better, since she hasn't been a noble for long.'

If that was the case, he was willing to enlighten her as a future friend.

"I see. I know the faces of the nobles around here, but I didn't recognize him since it's my first time seeing him. You must be from a northern territory, right?"

"Well, yeah."

Instead of the still-frozen Basilian, Flora nodded vigorously.

Since he lived in the North like her, Basilian was indeed from the North.

"And the name Basil is new to me too. If it's alright, may I ask which family's child you are?"

"Why? Is that important?"

"It is important. A Young Lord and a Young Lady are having a conversation, and you just barged in. And you haven't even apologized?"

Seeing his obvious attempt to intimidate with status, Flora looked at Walter with disgust.

"I know this is rude to say but... I think I understand why you don't have any friends."

And she immediately criticized his wrong behavior with a sharp remark.

"...What?"

Flora's eyes had sharpened as if asking when she had ever been smiling.

'You were just smiling a moment ago, why?'

Seeing his unapologetic, confident face, Flora shook her head firmly.

"I clearly said he's my precious friend, and you think it's right to immediately show an attitude that looks down on him because of his status?"

"I'm fine with it."

As Flora bristled, Basilian, hoping to prevent the situation from escalating, urgently grabbed her arm to stop her.

But this alone couldn't stop Flora.

"No, I'm not fine with it. Just because you're a Young Lord? Why are you looking down on my friend?"

After the subjugation incident ended ambiguously, Basilian, who had also been on the altar with the other children, was classified as a victim.

Originally, as someone from a mercenary background, he had no right to stay at Duke Bellasia's castle, but considering he was a young victim, he was allowed to stay here.

The opinion that he was Flora's friend was also relayed, leading to quick permission.

How dare he treat Basilian, whom she cherished enough to keep by her side by any means, like that?

"No wonder the kids around you find your status burdensome. It's natural if you try to wield the authority that comes with it, isn't it?"

"No, I..."

As the situation flowed in the exact opposite direction of what he wanted, Walter hurriedly got up to grab Flora.

"Ugh, I should just leave right now. Let's go, Basil!"

Ignoring Walter, Flora tightly grabbed Basilian's hand and hurried out of the garden.

Of course, Walter tried to follow.

"Just try following me! I won't even acknowledge you next time!"

He yielded to the fierce threat.

Watching the two figures leave the garden, Walter was seized by an inexplicable sense of déjà vu.

'But no matter how much I think about it, that boy looks familiar.'

He was sure he'd seen him somewhere but couldn't remember. What was certain was that the place he'd seen Basilian wasn't just a street or a place for volunteer work, but inside a large building.

'I remember the general feeling, but I don't know who he is.'

It was on the tip of his tongue, which only made it more frustrating.

'What foods are good for improving memory?'

He was lost in thought when…

"His nickname is Basil... Is he an abandoned child?"

The maid clearing the teacups muttered softly, and her words reached his ears.

'An abandoned child... Basilian?'

Remembering the Crown Prince's name, the puzzle pieces finally clicked into place, and a scene from his memory flashed through his mind.

Unlike his healthy appearance now, a small, scrawny physique, sunken cheeks, and hollow eyes.

Trembling, afraid of attracting people's attention, yet his eyes fixed on the food, as if he was still hungry.

Although the past and present images were completely different, his facial features were exactly the same.

'Now that I think about it, Father mentioned the Crown Prince had gone missing.'

The more he thought about it, the more the pieces fit.

'I heard there was an uproar because he took the Holy Sword with him... Hmm, now that I think about it, the new prince was born not long ago. They're putting effort into the search because they want to give the Holy Sword to the prince... I wonder if he really has it?'

If it were the current Duke Bellasia, he would have secretly taken Basilian away the moment he recognized him.

But Walter, still young, needed to consider his own future.

'There's no guarantee the prince will become Emperor. Would it be okay to reveal that boy is the Crown Prince at this point?'

It was a natural dilemma, born from his desire to put someone more useful to him on the throne.

'Hmm, what to do?'