The Baby Villain Dreams of Conquering the World

Chapter 136

Episode 136

Since the Grand Marquis has also regained his senses, he won't be trying to oust Athanas. On the contrary, this creates an opportunity for him to meet and apologize to Athanas, who has been far away, so he's surely secretly pleased.

'Why did it take me so long to think of this!'

So delighted by this excellent idea, Flora slapped her knee and grinned.

'Then I should write a letter first. I wonder if I can make it arrive as early as possible.'

She was just about to ask for some stationery to be prepared.

"Flora, are you in there?"

Hearing Benio's voice from outside the door, Flora stopped what she was about to do and ran dododo toward the door.

'I should ask brother if he has any ideas!'

The kind-hearted Benio, probably worried that Grandfather might get his feelings hurt, might have had similar thoughts but couldn't bring himself to voice them.

If she demanded it confidently, he would surely nod shyly and agree with her idea.

Flora, looking utterly excited, stopped the maids who were approaching the door and flung it open herself.

"O......"

She was about to greet Benio happily but found herself cutting her own words short without realizing why.

Standing before the door was the very man who had been plaguing her with worries just moments before.

Even after a long time apart, his large frame and imposing stature remained the same. The single visible eye was slightly bloodshot, as if he was tired, but a bright smile, one that seemed to defy any fatigue, was spread across his face.

"Fa…… I mean, Dad?"

Stunned by the appearance of the giant man blocking the doorway like a great mountain, Flora was left speechless.

From behind Athanas, Benio peeked his head out and grinned, pointing at their father who had appeared like a gift. Judging by his mischievous smile, it seemed this had been secretly planned in advance.

"Uh, uhh?"

Perhaps her wide, startled eyes were cute, as both Athanas and Benio let out soft laughs. Only then did she snap out of it, opening her mouth into a bright smile.

"Dad!"

Overjoyed and not knowing what to do, Flora instinctively spread her arms and rushed toward Athanas.

As she jumped up from her spot, Athanas, as if he had anticipated this, immediately stretched out his arms and scooped her up.

"Flora. Have you been well and healthy? Are you hurt anywhere?"

"Yes, yes!"

Flora nodded her head vigorously with an excited face. The smile wouldn't leave her lips upon reuniting with someone she was happy to see.

Hearing Flora's spontaneous, gleeful laughter, the smile on Athanas's face deepened even more.

"It seems you've been happily staying here, thankfully."

"Yes, Grandfather and my uncle were so good to me! Not just them, but all the castle staff were very attentive, so I was comfortable! Right, brother?"

"Yes, that's right."

At Benio's reply from behind Athanas, Flora giggled and laughed again.

With her utterly elated voice, gentle smiles also bloomed on the faces of the staff listening nearby.

"The meals were delicious, all the snacks were delightful, and going for walks was fun too. I was just about to write a letter to you, Dad, but seeing you appear like this, it feels like you read my mind. As expected, our Dad is the best!"

The way she stretched out her limbs while being held, rejoicing, was unmistakably the image of a child who was excited beyond measure.

In the midst of this pleasant reunion scene, Athanas suggested they talk inside the room first and came in.

It was understandable that he left the maids in the hallway, but why he left even Benio out in the corridor was puzzling. Just as she was about to ask, Athanas sat Flora down on the sofa.

He then sat right beside her and spoke a single sentence in a low voice.

"Flora, I know you're happy to see me after so long, but isn't there something you should say first?"

"......"

His voice was affectionate, but the eyes looking at Flora were calmly subdued.

Sensing something was wrong from his unusual gaze, Flora's shoulders stiffened rigidly.

"This isn't the first time you've slipped out of the castle on your own, is it? When you were four, it happened because you mistakenly hid in a carriage during hide-and-seek, but this time, it looks to anyone like you planned it and left the castle."

'……That's right. I just left a letter behind and slipped out.'

In her overwhelming joy, she had completely forgotten about the incident from long ago. Faced with her own misdeed, Flora felt like squeezing her eyes shut.

"Of course, you left a letter, but that letter was utterly insufficient to reassure anyone about sending you off to a dangerous place. I was very worried."

But she couldn't do that.

"The Demon Forest is a rough and dangerous place. I worried if you were sleeping alright, if you were eating properly, if you got hurt anywhere, if perhaps someone was harassing you for being a young Lucifer......"

His voice continued calmly, but the sincerity contained within it showed just how much mental anguish he had suffered, making it all the worse.

"I was so terribly worried about you."

"Dad......"

Overwhelmed by guilt, Flora called out to Athanas, but his words weren't finished.

"I wondered if perhaps the Lucifer name was burdening you, a child, to the point where you felt you had to mind society's gaze, and if that's why you made this decision in secret. I even blamed myself."

"That's not it! I just......"

Flora couldn't bring herself to continue.

It was true that she had been angry at the attitude directed toward the Lucifers and wanted to flatten the noses of those who looked down on them, but ultimately, the fact was she had secretly left the castle for the selfish reason of wanting to meet a demon.

"Of course, I haven't been entirely blameless toward you either. It's no different from having deceived you by deliberately avoiding mention of Nersha and the Eisollen Marquisate."

"......"

"But I swear on everything I have, I intended to tell you once you had grown a little more, reached an age where you could accept and understand your mother's existence."

"......"

"After all, there are no eternal secrets in this world."

Listening to his self-deprecating voice, Flora tightened her grip on her hands, which were resting on her knees.

Was it because she carried the biggest secret of all, one she couldn't tell anyone?

It felt as if a heavy stone had settled on her chest, and she suddenly felt stifled.

"Even though I ended up getting caught before I could tell you, leaving me with no face to show you. You were very upset, weren't you?"

"……A little."

What good would lying do in a situation like this? Flora honestly confessed the emotions she had felt.

"I didn't even know who my mother was, I'd never seen her, so it felt strange because everyone missed her. I felt like I was the only one left out, so I acted petty."

She thought this matter was over, but hearing the apology made the sorrow well up inside her again.

'I'm not really a little child, and I'm old enough to know better. The title 'Great Demon' is truly shameful.'

As Flora poured everything out, Athanas nodded.

"Yes, of course. I'm sorry, Flora."

Strangely enough, Athanas looked lonely as he said that.

His eyes, filled with melancholy as if missing someone, prompted Flora to turn her body, lean her knees slightly on the sofa, and hug Athanas around the neck.

"It's okay. I'm not angry at all. And I was wrong too. So next time......"

She knew she shouldn't carelessly use the word 'never,' but in this situation, it was the only thing that could reassure Athanas.

"Something like this will never happen again. I'm sorry."

"Yes, thank you for telling me."

Finally hearing Flora's remorse, Athanas hugged her back.

The large hand patting her back felt uncharacteristically weak for Athanas.

"Why do you still look so glum, our Flora? Dad isn't angry anymore. Dad is just happy that you returned safely, happy that we could meet again like this. But you mustn't make us worry like this from now on. Understood?"

"Yes, yes. I definitely will!"

It seemed Flora had been lacking energy too.

Snapping to her senses at Athanas's words, Flora nodded her head up and down vigorously.

Seeing her intense determination, Athanas gave a small smile.

Looking at her with an utterly adoring gaze, he stroked Flora's cheek and then gently kissed her forehead.

"But Dad, when did you get here?"

"I arrived around dawn today. After speaking with Grand Marquis Eisollen, I came straight to see you."

"With Grandfather? Was it awkward?"

As if her words had hit the mark, Athanas laughed somewhat unnaturally.

"I can't say it wasn't...... But he invited me first and even formally apologized."

Surprised by this unexpected news, Flora's eyes widened. Then, showing her teeth, she laughed happily, pleased that it had gone well.

"Seeing our family get along harmoniously would surely make Mom happy. Right?"

"Yes, Nersha would definitely be pleased."

With no remaining issues between them, Flora laughed brightly, and Athanas changed the subject with a rather cheerful voice.

"More than that, being here really feels like seeing Nersha's childhood self."