The Baby Villain Dreams of Conquering the World

Chapter 116

Episode 116

'Why does he look like that?'

On the way back to her room, holding Basilian's hand tightly.

For some reason, the expression on his face as he followed behind didn't look good.

'It's like he's angry about something. No, is he sulking?'

Lately, Basilian's mood had been fluctuating between highs and lows.

He would be happy to have found another demonic power user, but then feel disappointed in his own weakness for being easily knocked out by the demon and blame himself for failing to protect Flora.

Seeing that he couldn't fully rejoice about being able to stay at Duke Bellasia's castle with Flora, also as a victim, made her feel a bit sorry for him.

'Should I comfort him again, tell him it's not his fault?'

She thought she had comforted him enough when he first woke up, but it seemed it wasn't enough to soothe his wounded heart.

'Right, is my annoyance more important? I'm more concerned about Basil being hurt and depressed.'

Just as Flora was carefully choosing her words to offer a new consolation…

"...When did you get close to that guy earlier?"

Basilian, who had been silently following, suddenly spoke.

"Huh?"

"The one with green hair. He was pestering you to go somewhere with him."

"...Ah, the tea party?"

"Yeah, that. He asked you to go as his partner, right?"

As Flora stopped walking ahead, Basilian also stopped.

When Flora turned to look at him, Basilian immediately averted his eyes, looking quite embarrassed.

She ended up letting out a small laugh.

'What, was he jealous? And here I was worried.'

It seemed Basilian's mental state was more stable than she thought, and she had worried too much.

Instead of teasing him, Flora shook his held hand, drawing his gaze back to her.

"It's not like that."

"Really? You were about to go with him."

'Well, I was a little tempted...'

She did want to see how Rosaria was doing, and he said he had no friends, which made him seem pitiful, so she thought going with him once wouldn't be a big deal.

But only for a very brief moment.

"I wasn't going to go. He seemed to have a bad personality."

Walter's acting skills, making him look sulky and lonely, were excellent, but perhaps because he was still a child, it felt somewhat clumsy.

'He saw my hesitation and got all confident. I could read it in his eyes.'

It was so frustrating how quickly his attitude changed the moment he saw her hesitate and show a weak side.

"You saw how he looked down on you even after I introduced you as my precious friend, right?"

'No wonder he's the son of that sly Duke Bellasia.'

Flora snorted and continued.

"Seems like blood will tell."

Realizing her words were a simultaneous jab at both Duke Bellasia and the Young Lord, Basilian let out a small laugh.

Seeing him finally smile, Flora pulled up the corners of her mouth refreshingly.

"So, Sir Basil, the embodiment of jealousy. What brings you to see me today?"

"Who's the embodiment of jealousy..."

"Tsk tsk, it's no use trying to deceive me."

At her playful words, Basilian shook his head vigorously.

Seeing Flora looking happy, he didn't feel like stopping her and got straight to the point as she suggested.

"Do I need a reason? I just came to see you because I missed you. You always go for a walk around this time. Even though you said you'd be with me every day."

"...I did say that."

When Basilian first woke up here and was shocked, trying to run out of the castle immediately, she had stopped him, saying why leave when you can stay with me.

But she couldn't just do nothing and let the current situation pass, so she had secretly ordered Janet and Pascal to keep an eye on the nobles and needed time to receive their reports, which was why she had added the bothersome walk time to her schedule.

'He didn't even show he was sulking when I refused to go with him, but I guess he was upset.'

"And then you go and make a new friend too."

"He's not a friend."

"That's how it looked."

It felt unfair to be accused like that when it wasn't true.

"And the child of a ducal house at that. You said you hated the Imperial family, other ducal houses... Have you changed your mind?"

At his cautious question, Flora was outraged, asking what nonsense he was talking about.

"No! I still hate them, hate them so much!"

"...Yeah, it looks that way."

Unaware that the faint smile that had been on Basilian's face had faded, Flora began to bristle.

"I mean it! My feelings haven't changed from the start. And they won't change in the future either!"

Thinking he didn't believe her, she spoke with undiminished fervor. Basilian pouted and replied.

"You never know."

"What are you talking about? There's no 'you never know' in my dictionary!"

At her firm attitude, his mouth twitched.

'What if the subject was me?'

The question he wanted to ask rose to the tip of his tongue.

But seeing Flora's face, usually full of laughter, now completely contorted in anger, he could only swallow it back, as always.

"...I just wish I could stay with you forever."

He suppressed what he wanted to say and phrased it as indirectly as possible, but this was his true feeling.

"Why are you stating the obvious?"

Seeing Basilian look dejected, Flora moved right next to him and linked her arm with his.

"We've shared secrets and made promises, haven't we? You're not thinking of breaking your promise so soon, are you?"

"Of course not."

Taking his immediate denial as a given, Flora smiled again.

"So, did you really come just because you missed me?"

"That's part of it, but there's another reason too."

"What else?"

"I think a guest came to see the Young Duke Lucifer."

"A guest?"

What kind of guest would come while they were staying at Duke Bellasia's castle?

Seeing Flora tilt her head with a puzzled look, Basilian seemed to think for a moment, then honestly told her everything he knew.

"It looked like they brought an invitation. I think they were a vassal of Marquis Eisollen?"

"Marquis Eisollen?"

Hearing a name for the first time, Flora's head tilted the other way.

"Does he live around here?"

"Huh?"

"No, wait, don't tell me. I think I might remember."

If it's a Marquis, he must be a high-ranking noble, and she had studied noble families, so she should be able to remember if she thought about it.

"...I remember! Marquis Eisollen!"

Closing her eyes and racking her memory, Flora recalled a name that had briefly passed by during a lesson.

"The Imperial Capital is in the center of the continent, and the Bellasia Duchy where we are is located in the west. His family is in the center, a neutral family that doesn't take sides with the Imperial family or any nobles!"

"...You're smart. Do you remember anything else?"

"Hmm."

Flora thought back to when she had studied.

She vaguely remembered the teacher looking nervous, perhaps excited about teaching information about high-ranking nobles.

She had waited quietly, thinking he might explain more, but the class time was almost up, so they ended the lesson that day without going into further detail.

"Nope, nothing else."

It wasn't a nearby territory, nor was it a family on their side, so she had just remembered the 'neutral' part and moved on.

"Is there something I should remember? Any special details?"

"...Hmm."

Seeing him lost in thought, it seemed Basilian didn't have anything specific in mind either. While he was pondering whether it was okay to share what he knew, Flora asked a new question.

"But why is Marquis Eisollen inviting my Oppa?"

"Well, wouldn't your brother know the reason?"

"I guess so. Is my Oppa in his room now?"

"Yeah, it seems the invitation asked him to come immediately, so he's debating whether to go or not..."

"Gasp! The Marquis asked him to come immediately? Then can we finally leave this castle?"

Flora's eyes sparkled. Seeing her so lively, as if ready to cause a scene, Basilian urgently denied it.

"No, I said your brother is still thinking about it."

"Why is he thinking? Doesn't he want to get out of this stifling place as soon as possible?"

But having heard of a way to leave the castle, Flora was unstoppable.

Saying she couldn't understand even if it was her own brother, she immediately started running.

"Your brother must have his reasons! No matter how much you dislike this place, you should at least talk it over first..."

At his ensuing nagging, Flora let go of his arm and ran off alone.

"There's no time for talking! I want to go home quickly!"

"You're the one who came out on your own, and now you say that?"

"Ahh, I can't hear you!"

Startled, Basilian immediately chased after her, and as Basil caught up closely, Flora increased her speed.

"Let's at least walk slowly and think about it!"

"I said there's no time! My kind-hearted dad is waiting for me at home, his neck stretched out long!"

Regardless of the surrounding gazes, Flora ran vigorously even after entering the castle, and finally, Benio's door came into view.

Basilian, having sped up to catch her, grabbed Flora's shoulder just as she flung the door open.

"Oppa, let's accept that invitation right now! Let's get out of this place right away!"

She shouted it out before anyone could even stop her.