The Baby Villain Dreams of Conquering the World

Chapter 137

Episode 137

"Mom?"

"Yes, this was Nersha's room. I haven't been here many times, but even after so much time has passed, this place remains exactly the same."

A longing for someone settled over his face, which had seemed a little excited. Seeing the affection welling up in his eyes, Flora was about to tactfully close her mouth, but then a good idea came to her, and she spoke with sparkling eyes.

"But Dad, I don't even know what Mom looked like."

"……I suppose that's true."

Having been left at the orphanage right after birth and never shown any interest even after returning to her family's embrace, it was inevitable.

Though it was the truth, Athanas's shoulders seemed to slump as if his heart had soured. Before he could, Flora shouted out boldly.

"So, let's go see a portrait of Mom when she was young! Let's call Grandfather, my uncle, and brother too!"

"I'm not sure if that would be alright."

True to being the original bear-like oaf, even after receiving an apology, he was incredibly timid.

"What could possibly be wrong with it? We're going to see Mom. If Grandfather objects, I'll get angry for you!"

Athanas was taken aback by Flora's assertive attitude but soon sank deep into thought.

She waited quietly without disturbing his serious contemplation, and soon he nodded, saying, "Alright then."

'It's not like looking at a portrait of his wife is a difficult task.'

His grave reply made Flora feel sorry for him, but she smiled, hoping things would become a little easier for him from now on.

After that, things progressed quickly.

They relayed the plan to Benio outside the door, and soon the message reached the Grand Marquis and the Marquis.

A message came from the Marquis that he was too busy to join, and the Grand Marquis appeared, grumbling that he was busy too.

Nersha's portrait was kept in the room where the family's portraits were displayed, and under the Grand Marquis's lead, the four of them soon arrived at the exhibition hall.

"Ahem, ahem. This is where the members of the Eisollen Marquisate are gathered."

Indeed, inside the large room they entered, portraits were lined up as if showing a noble lineage.

"Starting from the first Marquis, it continues all the way to the present. Anyone born into the Marquisate has their portrait kept here."

The Grand Marquis, still awkward about facing Athanas properly, couldn't even meet his gaze directly.

"If you keep going......"

It was Flora's first time seeing a place like this, so she couldn't keep her head still.

Being held in Athanas's arms and looking around, they soon reached the end row of portraits.

Right in front of where the Grand Marquis stopped stood a family portrait that seemed to have been painted when he was young.

A young Grand Marquis and a graceful woman who appeared to be the Grand Marquess were seated in the center, with a youthful-faced Grand Marquis and a girl with a somewhat familiar appearance standing on either side.

'……So this is my mom.'

From her bright hair color and eye shape to her starry, sparkling eyes, and even the lovely aura she exuded, she was the spitting image of Flora.

Lowering her gaze, she saw portraits of the Marquis and Nersha from their childhood as well.

The little girl, who was practically Flora's carbon copy except for her eye color, smiled brightly, looking almost like a doll.

'Anyone can see I'm my mother's daughter.'

She had felt a bit sorry that people saw her and thought of Nersha, but seeing this, it would be strange not to recognize the resemblance.

'It's a little embarrassing for some reason.'

For some reason, she felt awkward with everyone staring intently at the portrait, so she pretended to be distracted. In the midst of it, she heard Athanas quietly marveling, "She was pretty even as a child." He felt a little unfamiliar to her.

Feeling embarrassed, she turned her head aimlessly and saw Benio standing on the other side, unable to take his eyes off the portrait as if he might fall into it.

Athanas, Benio, and the Grand Marquis all had their gazes fixed on the portrait.

'……It would be weird not to look at this point.'

She was the one who had suggested coming to see it in the first place, but it was still too awkward.

Flora stole glances at Nersha's portrait while nervously checking the mood.

'Pretty and lovely.'

If her mother had been by her side, she wouldn't have felt this sense of unfamiliarity.

When everyone was lost in longing, she wouldn't have wondered about 'what ifs.'

'It's a little bittersweet.'

She thought she had enough family love, but it seems the more affection and love you receive, the greedier you become.

'But I won't hate you.'

It felt strange to say the words she hadn't been able to properly say even in front of the tombstone now in front of the portrait, but voicing the words buried deep in her heart made her feel quite a bit better.

"Now, instead of the portrait, let's go see the place where my real mom is."

At Flora's words, Athanas looked at the Grand Marquis with a questioning glance. Perhaps feeling embarrassed and sorry under the yearning gaze, the Grand Marquis cleared his throat again with a cough and nodded.

"I'll lead the way."

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · · · · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

They arrived at the place where Nersha rested. Athanas looked at the tombstone without a word.

As if he couldn't easily form any words, his lips moved slightly, then he clenched them tightly.

It was visible that his shoulders were trembling faintly, as if he was holding back surging emotions.

"Dad, Brother and I have already greeted Mom a lot, so why don't the two of you talk alone for a while?"

Looking at poor Athanas's retreating back, Flora firmly grabbed the Grand Marquis with one hand and Benio's hand with the other.

They seemed to have picked up on Flora's consideration and easily followed her lead out of the place.

Just before the door closed, a sniffing sound was heard, but it disappeared as soon as the door shut.

An awkward silence and atmosphere hovered between the three of them. They couldn't even begin to guess the nature of the profound emotion Athanas held, but they at least didn't want to disturb him.

And perhaps they, too, had not yet properly shaken off their own sorrow and longing.

"I need to be with Basil for a bit."

Perhaps they needed some time alone, just like Flora did now.

"This time, you're really just going to see Basil, right? Shall I take you?"

At Benio's question, Flora grinned mischievously, pulling up the corner of her mouth.

"This time, I really won't sneak off somewhere else; I'll just go see Basil. Brother, you can come pick me up later with Dad."

As if to say that was sufficient, she proudly shrugged her shoulders and put her hands on her hips. Benio shook his head with a look that said he couldn't stop her.

"And I'm a child who needs some alone time too!"

She didn't want to say such a thing with her own mouth, but she had no choice to create some personal time.

Flora declared proudly and then ran wadada in the direction of the villa where Basil was staying.

There was nothing in the garden that could threaten Flora anyway, and she had visited the place where Basil stayed so often that she could probably get there with her eyes closed.

Pushing vigorously through the garden, her steps gradually slowed and then stopped completely as the destination villa came into view.

She glanced around briefly, and once she got the 'all clear' signal from the two demons who had been following her, she subtly wrapped her body in demonic energy. Then, just like she had done once in the Lucifer library, she floated her body up, buoyantly.

Flying like that, she safely landed on a thick branch of the large tree in front of the villa.

'Right, I needed some alone time too.'

Time spent with Dad, Brother, and Grandfather was good, but watching their heavy emotions was painful.

'Now that Dad is here, will we be able to see the will soon?'

Seeing that the Grand Marquis had invited Athanas, it was clear he intended to reveal Nersha's will in front of everyone.

She now understood that Nersha was a good person, but her heart raced at the thought that she might finally get information about why Nersha had abandoned her at the orphanage and who exactly had told her the contents of the oracle.

'But did that oracle come down knowing my true identity?'

She felt frustrated, unable to be sure if it referred to the calamity, Mors, or signified a new being that would lead this world to ruin.

"Ugh."

She sighed, thinking it seemed she was born with a complicated fate, both in the past and now, when she sensed a presence below the tree.

"Please, I'm begging you, can you not climb trees? It keeps bringing back bad memories."

How did he know she had come to the villa? How could he appear so quickly when she had only just gotten a little time to herself?

'Perhaps I'm not meant to be alone; maybe I just need someone to stick by my side steadfastly when I am.'

Not someone like the Grand Marquis or Benio, who would send her away if she wished, but someone who wouldn't leave her side no matter what she did.

Yes, someone exactly like Basilian.

"Hng."

Feeling inexplicably sorry for herself, she made a sulky sound. Basilian blinked rapidly, looking surprised, and clung to the tree.

"Wait, I'll come up."

He was grumbling about bad memories, but here he was, immediately trying to climb up to be beside her. Wasn't that touching too?

'I don't want to part.'

Thinking that, Flora lightly waved her hand.

Basilian, who was climbing the tree, floated up buoyantly and soon landed carefully beside Flora.

The moment Basilian sat down next to her, Flora promptly pulled him into a hug.