The Baby Villain Dreams of Conquering the World

Chapter 129

Episode 129

"No, that's true, but..."

Under Basilian's gaze that seemed to ask what the problem was, Flora couldn't bring herself to say she had been here before.

Seeing the curiosity in his eyes made it even harder.

"We should head back soon, so let's just take a quick look and come out."

While she was hesitating about what to do, Basilian grabbed the doorknob, and she hastily placed her hand over his.

Feeling his puzzled gaze, she could no longer hold back.

"...Actually, I know what's inside."

"You know? How?"

"I went in yesterday while looking for you, but there wasn't anything particularly interesting inside. So I think it's better if we just go."

She was being so obviously evasive that even the most oblivious person would notice. Basilian realized she didn't want to go inside.

"Alright."

"Is it really okay?"

"I only suggested it because I thought you might be curious. I'm not particularly interested myself."

He pretended not to care at all, smiled, and suggested they head back.

He had been briefly curious, but what did it matter what was inside?

'Just being together is enough.'

This brief, peaceful time was precious to Basilian.

Seeing Flora's visible relief made him wonder what could be inside, but he didn't want to force it. This time together, created with reluctant lies, was something he wanted to fill with only happy memories before leaving.

"Shall we head back before it gets any later?"

When Basilian spoke, Flora shook her head, overwhelmed by a surge of reluctance.

"I just ran out recklessly this time, so I might not be able to come next time. It might be harder to slip away..."

She was about to say she wanted to stay longer, but Flora soon let out a sigh.

"But since you shouldn't be discovered, it's right to go back now."

Now that she knew where he was staying, she could sneak over at night. Swallowing her regret, she smiled brightly.

Just as she was about to reluctantly suggest they leave...

"I'm quite sure I told the Lucifers not to set foot in this place."

A familiar old man's voice came from behind them. Startled by his silent appearance, Basilian quickly moved to shield Flora.

"Did you take my warning lightly?"

At the angry voice, Flora's shoulders stiffened rigidly.

As she cautiously turned her head, she saw the Grand Marquis Eisollen, whom she had met last night, glaring at them with fierce eyes.

Being subjected to such a resentful stare made Flora feel unfairly wronged.

'I didn't even go in, and I haven't done anything wrong, so why am I being scolded like this?'

She pushed Basilian, who was shielding her, behind her and stood before the Grand Marquis.

"I didn't go inside."

"Don't you dare even come clo..."

Moreover, she didn't appreciate being treated this way by someone who was practically a stranger.

"I didn't even plan to; I just took a wrong turn and ended up here. I was about to leave right away!"

Above all, wasn't she the one who had been abandoned?

She wasn't the one who abandoned someone; she was the one who was abandoned.

In this situation, the one who should be angry was Flora, who was caught up in the adults' circumstances without knowing anything.

Unlike the previous night when she had fled silently, Flora now spoke her mind clearly and firmly, which seemed to fluster the Grand Marquis slightly.

'Right, what have I done wrong?'

Flora lifted her head proudly and looked the Grand Marquis straight in the eye.

"So, would you please step aside? I need to return to my room now!"

"Ha?"

Whether the Grand Marquis looked flabbergasted or not, Flora snorted with an imposing air.

"Who taught you to speak to your elders with such disrespect? Did your parents teach you that? What's the use of asking? It must be your father. A Lucifer, after all."

At the overt sarcasm, Flora laughed scornfully, as if she had expected this.

"My father was too busy to have time to teach me, and my mother isn't here. Unfortunately, I learned from another guardian."

Flora deliberately gave a twisted answer.

"My principle is to treat people who don't properly respect me in the same way."

"Hah, you are utterly hopeless. Who is it, this teacher of yours! I must personally set them straight!"

The gazes of the Grand Marquis Eisollen and Flora clashed.

As sharp glances were exchanged and the atmosphere grew tense enough for a quarrel to break out at any moment, Basilian grabbed her shoulder.

"Flora."

"I may have answered rudely, but I didn't lie."

After saying this one thing for the worried Basilian, Flora answered the Grand Marquis again.

"Teacher Lian from the orphanage I lived in as a child taught me. She generously provided me with proper education so that I, a child abandoned by my parents, wouldn't become twisted."

In truth, Lian had been fond of Flora but wanted her to grow up correctly.

So, no matter how much others indulged Flora, or how much she herself wanted to coddle her at times, Lian was merciless in scolding her when necessary.

Thanks to that, Flora's personality didn't become a complete mess, and she was able to grow up at least a little less selfish.

"...Abandoned by whom?"

'What? Why is he pretending not to know?'

Seeing the Grand Marquis's utterly shocked expression made Flora exasperated. She almost regretted confronting him so stubbornly.

"My mother left me in front of an orphanage. Where else would I have grown up?"

At her reproachful tone, asking why he was stating the obvious, the Grand Marquis suddenly fell silent.

His face was still deeply furrowed, but he seemed lost in thought.

"But why have you been so angry with me since yesterday? Grandfather, do you even know me?"

Irritated that she was the only one getting upset, Flora made a risky move.

"...You, don't tell me you don't know who I am?"

And the Grand Marquis Eisollen bit back immediately.

"I don't know. We haven't even introduced ourselves to each other, so how would I know?"

Basilian, realizing this was Flora being willful, tried to stop her before things escalated further.

"Let's go, Flora."

Since she didn't want to deal with him anymore anyway, she nodded without hesitation.

Having been offended enough, Flora left without even a goodbye.

"You, you don't know me?"

No, she tried to leave.

The flustered voice of the Grand Marquis stopped her in her tracks.

"Grandfather, are you here?"

A familiar voice was added from behind him.

The voice, filled with tension, and its owner, were none other than Benio.

'No, why did he have to show up now!'

She knew Benio wasn't at fault, but Flora didn't want to be in the same space as her brother right now.

Especially not with the unwelcome presence known as her grandfather.

"What a relief. I was worried we might have missed each other."

Benio, who had arrived late, couldn't hide his surprise upon seeing the Grand Marquis Eisollen, Flora, and Basilian all together in one place.

"Flora? Why are you here... Basilian, you, you too?"

As he looked around, unable to grasp the situation, the Grand Marquis clicked his tongue.

"Flora, this is your first time meeting him. This is the Grand Marquis Eisollen. Our maternal grandfather."

At those words, the Grand Marquis Eisollen lifted his chin defiantly.

Catching the nuance that she should bow politely immediately, Flora replied with a nonchalant face.

"Oppa, what are you talking about? I've never had a grandfather like this."

At that, not only the Grand Marquis Eisollen and Benio, but even Basilian looked at her in shock.

But Flora did not retract her words. Instead, she responded brazenly.

"Dad told me not to talk to strangers. I'm a good girl who listens well, so I'm going to leave now."

"What? Flora, what kind of..."

Spouting this nonsensical sophistry, Flora tightly grasped Basilian's hand and left the spot.

She felt Benio's bewildered gaze on the back of her head, but she never once looked back as she walked away.

"I'm sorry, Grandfather. The truth is, Flora..."

Benio tried to explain that Flora had only just learned about her maternal family here, but the Grand Marquis, who had been ignoring Benio until now, spoke to him.

"That little one has quite a temper."

"Flora is a good child."

Even though the first response his grandfather had ever given him was about his sister, Benio didn't get upset but immediately corrected his statement.

Even under the Grand Marquis Eisollen's sharp gaze, Benio asserted his opinion as if he had never been nervous.

"If you treated Flora the way you treated me, she would have noticed you dislike her and simply acted accordingly."

"......"

"She just doesn't try to show affection to someone who dislikes her. That's not wrong behavior, is it?"

"Even if that someone is your grandfather?"

"It might have been different if he had been a kind grandfather."

At the pointed remark, the Grand Marquis let out a hollow laugh.

The large child who had been fidgeting and watching his cues in front of him now looked, for the first time, like someone's older brother.

He pondered for a moment, then muttered quietly.

"Let's have a meal together. It's been a long time. It seems we have much to discuss."