The Baby Villain Dreams of Conquering the World

Chapter 14

Episode 14

"The winters in the North are incomparably colder than other territories. Once you catch a cold here, it can last a long time. You can always tour the castle another time, so don't be too disappointed."

"Okay."

It was a shame, but if she put it that way, there was nothing to be done.

Maybe it was because Zamira reminded her of Mrs. Finny.

Flora acted like a very obedient child.

A short while later, Zamira left the room to get the milk, and watching her retreating back, Flora realized another fact.

'There must not be a maid to send for the milk!'

As expected, something's off about this territory.

'What if they're even poorer than I thought?'

As memories of her early childhood at the orphanage, which she thought she'd forgotten, resurfaced, she shivered with goosebumps.

She never wanted to experience those days again.

Absolutely not!

Flora hid her body under the covers and squeezed her eyes shut.

She should drink the warm milk and then ask about the castle's situation.

That's what she thought, but unfortunately, Flora's wish did not come true.

The over-week-long carriage journey, the sudden change in environment, the homesickness in an unfamiliar place, and the shock of unexpected poverty.

All of it combined to create immense fatigue.

It took only a moment for Flora's young body to succumb and fall into a deep sleep.

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"Mmm."

Flora rubbed her sleepy eyes and opened them.

"Yaaawn."

She opened her mouth wide for a big yawn and looked around, but the room seemed dingy and dark.

'Where is this... Ah, right, I came to the Lucifer Duchy.'

It seemed Zamira had kept her promise, as a fairly warm air circulated in the room.

"When did I fall asleep?"

Flora covered her mouth and let out another 'hoo-ahm' yawn, then looked out the window and gave a hollow laugh.

"Did I sleep until night?"

This is why a child's body is so tiresome.

"Sigh. When will I grow up?"

She was thinking of going right back to sleep.

Maybe because she had just woken up, she might have fallen asleep again if she lay down right away.

Just as she was about to lie down with that thought.

Something else came to mind along with Zamira.

"My milk!"

There was no warm milk with sweet honey in it in the room.

It seemed she had brought it, but upon finding Flora asleep, she must have taken it back.

Once the thought occurred, the sleepiness that had been slowly creeping up on her vanished completely.

If she couldn't drink that warm milk, she would surely be too upset to sleep.

But it felt awkward to call for Zamira at this hour.

'Probably not there, right?'

Flora got out of bed and peeked out the door.

As expected, there wasn't even a maid, let alone a guard knight.

Only a blackened, chilly corridor greeted her.

'Rosaria said a knight stands guard outside her door every day.'

It's a bit sad, even though they're both nobles.

Flora closed the door letting in the cold air, returned to the room, put on her cloak, and draped the blanket over it.

Under the circumstances, she decided to go to the kitchen herself, drink some warm milk, and come back.

But Flora had overlooked something.

This place was not the orphanage; it was enormous, and the corridors were dark, with not even common candles or lights lit.

What good was it to shine her lantern diligently down the corridor?

She got lost in the vast castle in an instant.

'I'm doomed.'

A rough wind rattled the windows, and the only light in the dark corridor was the lantern Flora carried.

"Why, why is there no one here?" she thought, swallowing a sob internally the moment she thought that.

Thud, thud.

"Ah!"

The sound of footsteps reached her.

I really am a lucky child.

Whenever I'm in a tight spot, exactly what I need always appears.

She had grumbled about her luck when Athanas appeared, but she had long forgotten that remark.

'Good. I'll ask them to take me to the kitchen.'

It might be our first meeting, but they're probably of lower status than the Duke, so it should be fine.

With that careless thought, she raised her head as the footsteps grew closer.

It seemed they were coming towards her, probably seeing her light.

But the closer the footsteps got, the more curious she became.

'Why isn't that person carrying anything?'

Is it possible to walk down such a dark corridor without any light at all?

At that moment, unable to withstand the rough wind, a window burst open, letting a rush of cold air inside.

"Kyah!"

The candle inside the lantern Flora was carrying went out instantly.

In the eerie atmosphere, the footsteps reached right in front of her.

'Ah, I can't see.'

Flora squinted her eyes to see the other person, but it was too dark.

All she could tell was that the person was larger than her.

"Ah, hello. I am..."

Thinking she should state her identity first, Flora opened her mouth, but she felt a prickling sensation.

Just then, moonlight filtered through the gaps in the clouds, and Flora saw it.

Vivid silver hair. Beneath it, coldly shining amethyst eyes filled with killing intent.

A boy, drenched in blood from head to toe, was pointing a sword at Flora's neck.

"......"

Flora fainted on the spot.

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Dazzling sunlight and the chirping of birds announcing the morning.

She wondered if birds could even be around in this cold weather, but that wasn't important right now.

'The title of Great Demon is wasted on me.'

Flora opened her eyes in bed and clutched her head as a wave of self-reproach washed over her.

'Me, who should fear nothing, what has become of me?'

Ever since reincarnating as Flora, it seemed she had truly become a child, as her mental fortitude was incredibly weak.

'Fainting. Me, fainting.'

The Great Demon who had lived through all sorts of cruel and gruesome sights, the title of the world's top villain, felt like it was fading far away, it must just be her imagination.

"Are you awake?"

"......!"

The voice was close.

Flora whipped her head around and saw Athanas with a tired face, as if he had been keeping watch by her side all night.

"Goo-good morning."

"Yes, good morning."

Athanas gave a faint, weak smile and carefully placed his hand on Flora's forehead.

"You had a slight fever, but it seems to have subsided now."

"I rea-lly had a fever?"

Her voice was still stuffy, which added to the worry on Athanas's face.

She thought Zamira was just saying things, but it was true.

'Then was I seeing things yesterday because of the fever?'

As Flora reached to touch her neck, Athanas caught her hand.

"Don't touch it. It might get worse."

Her neck felt stuffy, and sure enough, it was wrapped in a bandage.

It meant last night wasn't a dream.

"Do you remember the face of the person you met last night?"

Could he have been an intruder after all?

Flora nodded her head vigorously.

"Yep, I remember! He had silver hair a bit longer than yours, Dad, amethyst-colored eyes, and was more than two heads taller than me! He looked like a teenager, maybe mid-teens, and was totally expressionless like an ice prince! He was an intruder, right?"

Indeed, a ducal house.

It seemed enemies had sent an assassin, perhaps hearing the Duke had found his daughter.

"Ahem, ahem. He wasn't an intruder."

"Then a knight?"