The Baby Villain Dreams of Conquering the World

Chapter 140

Episode 140

"What are you thinking about?"

Basilian, who had been lost in recollection for a moment, snapped out of his thoughts at the sound of Flora calling him.

"No, it's nothing."

"What? How boring. So, no answer then?"

Afraid that if he answered wrong, she might not show her face until right before they parted, Basilian quickly opened his mouth.

"It's just so obvious, it's almost ridiculous."

He deliberately made an incredulous face, as if he'd heard something absurd.

"How could I ever forget you?"

No sooner had the words ended than the corners of Basilian's mouth curved into a grin.

The cool breeze blowing made the leaves surrounding them rustle with a refreshing sound, much like his smile.

He carefully took Flora's hand, smaller than his own, and gently pressed his lips to the back of her hand.

"I swear on the name of Chief God Beshart. Even if everyone else in the world forgets you, I will absolutely never forget you."

The scene was like a page from a fairy tale with a handsome knight, and Flora felt a strange flutter in her chest.

'……I think I won't be able to forget you either.'

Perhaps it wouldn't be the moments they had spent together, but this very moment that would remain particularly vivid in her memory.

Her eyes stung, and she felt as if tears might spring forth at any moment.

Suppressing the urge to cry, Flora instead expressed her emotions with a wide smile, the corners of her eyes crinkling.

"I won't forget you either! I promised, so if you forget, I won't let it slide!"

Her beautiful smile, like a flower blooming with moisture, was Basilian's favorite sight.

Even the way she declared it so confidently was so quintessentially Flora that Basilian finally burst into laughter, completely captivated by her charm.

The fact that he had deceived her about his identity and the anxiety about his own incomplete situation were swept clean away.

How could anyone possibly reject this affection when she looked at him with such a straightforward gaze?

Flora was like a goddess of luck to Basilian. A being who gave him the courage and strength to feel he could somehow succeed even at the impossible.

'I will definitely come back to see you. I will reclaim my place confidently and beg for your forgiveness.'

So, hoping she would wait for him, maintaining this feeling until then, Basilian reaffirmed his firm resolution in his heart.

It was their last private time together, two days before their parting.

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Since they had planned to have dinner together with the family, unfortunately, as the sun began to set, she had to part with Basilian.

Held in the arms of Benio, who had come to pick her up, Flora waved her hand vigorously toward Basilian, who was seeing her off, said her goodbyes, and parted ways.

And when they returned to the dining room…

"Keep pressing firmly, don't lift your face."

"Yes."

She was met with the sight of the Grand Marquis, sitting beside Athanas, who had buried his face in a white towel, striking the same pose.

"Don't press too hard. If you feel the ice might melt, let me know."

"Yes, I will. Isn't it too cold for you?"

"This is nothing. I'm quite sturdy for my age."

They seemed so focused they didn't even hear the door open.

The atmosphere was such that one couldn't possibly disturb them.

At first, it looked like the adults were acting strangely, but it also seemed like the two had become very close and were playing a prank.

Faced with this utterly bizarre situation, Flora couldn't contain her curiosity and asked.

"……What are you two doing?"

Hearing Flora's voice, the two men, who had buried their faces in the towels, abruptly lifted their heads.

Only upon seeing their faces, which had turned so quickly you could almost hear the wind, did she understand their little game of hiding.

'Wow, their eyes are so puffy.'

Her gaze first went to Athanas's face.

The area around his single visible eye was completely reddened, looking so sore it seemed it would hurt at the slightest touch, and he looked haggard, as if he had lost weight in just half a day.

'Even in this state, he didn't take off his eyepatch.'

The Grand Marquis, standing awkwardly beside him, was the same.

His sunken cheeks, as if the flesh had melted away, and his utterly parched eye areas still held a faint reddish tinge.

Anyone could see they had been crying just moments before; it seemed they were trying to reduce the puffiness around their eyes.

Their pitiful state made her wish she had pretended not to notice; she felt a tinge of regret.

It seemed they had been trying to reduce the eye swelling before the children arrived.

"Are you two alright?"

Benio, who seemed not to have expected this sight, asked with a thoroughly flustered expression. In response, Flora, still in his arms, whispered in his ear.

"Brother, you're supposed to pretend you don't notice things like this!"

The only problem was that she had spoken a bit too loudly?

At Flora's words, the two adults smiled awkwardly.

"Ahem, ahem, you're back early. Did you have a good talk with Basil?"

"Yes, we always get along well."

As if wanting to change the subject, Athanas started speaking cheerfully, and Flora readily took the bait.

"Right, it's a meal we're all having together; we shouldn't be late."

The Grand Marquis strode over and patted Flora's head, saying she did well. Then, hesitating for a moment, he raised his arm high and also patted the head of his grandson, whose head was larger than his own.

"Benio, you worked hard bringing your sister."

At the brief praise, Benio blinked, his eyes wide with surprise. He looked like a bear plushie from somewhere, making Flora giggle softly, and Benio laughed out loud along with her.

"Everyone's already gathered, I see. What conversation are you having that makes it look so harmonious? I'm getting jealous."

In the warm, cheerful atmosphere, the Marquis opened the door and made a late entrance.

"Shouldn't we ignore the one who arrived last?"

"Your words of medicine are indeed the best in the empire, Father. At times like this, I miss my wife and son, who are traveling to the Imperial Capital, so much that tears blur my vision."

"You certainly have a long-winded way of telling me not to pick on you."

Watching the Grand Marquis and the Marquis lightly banter back and forth, Athanas finally couldn't hold back and burst out laughing.

The warm, cheerful atmosphere that began like that filled the long dinner hour.

Everyone set aside their sorrow for Nersha, who had passed away, for a while and enjoyed this moment, this time for each other.

Finally, when the meal ended and even the dessert brought out to finish was all gone, the laughter gradually died down, and a quietness began to hover among them.

No one said it first, but they had all realized what the approaching time was for.

As if vowing not to betray this expectation, the Grand Marquis pulled something out from his breast pocket.

The pale pink envelope that appeared with a rustling sound looked old, but it showed no creases or tears, appearing to have been kept cleanly. From how cherished it was, Flora could once again confirm how much the Grand Marquis had loved Nersha.

The Grand Marquis stood up from his seat, holding up the envelope, and spoke.

"This is the will Nersha left for the Lucifers. Until now, I held onto it with a resentful heart and did not hand it over."

The Grand Marquis then handed the envelope directly to Athanas, who was sitting beside him.

"I'm sorry it's so late."

"Not at all. Thank you for keeping it safe."

"Good. Open it later, slowly."

Athanas accepted the envelope, hesitated for a moment, fiddling needlessly with the edge, then carefully opened it.

"He told you to open it after you return."

The Grand Marquis tried to stop him in surprise, but Athanas, taking out the letter, said,

"Still, wouldn't it be better to convey Nersha's final wishes to everyone? The children are waiting too."

Athanas's gaze fell upon Benio and Flora.

Benio spoke with a slightly uneasy face.

"I don't mind, as long as Flora is okay with it."

Worried that the will might contain unfavorable content about Flora, such as the oracle related to the calamity, Benio wanted Flora not to hear the will's contents.

But Flora rejected Benio's attempt to persuade her.

She needed to hear it all the more to understand the oracle and determine the future direction for the Lucifers.

'It concerns my own safety as well.'

It wasn't that she didn't trust the two Lucifers, but one should always look after one's own well-being.

Leaving the still anxious Benio behind, Flora nodded calmly with a faint smile.

With the children's permission, the single sheet of stationery inside the envelope, which had been trapped inside for a long time, finally faced the air of the world.

Athanas, holding the letter in his hand, couldn't even bring himself to look at it, steadied his breath, and slowly exhaled.

"It might not suit me, but I will convey her final words on Nersha's behalf."

Then, clearing his throat, he slowly parted his lips.

"To my beloved husband, Athanas. First of all, I'm sorry for delivering a letter like this."

Right from the start, at Nersha's apology, Athanas's voice abruptly stopped.