The Baby Villain Dreams of Conquering the World

Chapter 143

Episode 143

Basilian smiled faintly with an embarrassed face. His shy appearance had a charm that inexplicably stirred one's heart.

Flora, without erasing her smile, twisted half of her hair up and secured it with the pin. Then, she turned her body slightly to show her hair and asked,

"How is it? Does it suit me?"

The youthful rosy blush on her white cheeks, her vibrant pink hair, and the pin covered in flowers befitting her name shone even brighter, reflecting the sunlight.

The way it harmonized, as if they were one, was so beautiful it seemed like the flower clusters engraved on the pin were floating in a fantasy.

With flushed cheeks, Basilian answered dazedly, like someone enchanted.

"Yes, it suits you so well."

"Really?"

Even her gleeful, chiming laughter was utterly adorable.

Basilian found himself muttering softly without realizing it.

"What am I to do, you're so beautiful like this."

At his words, Benio, who was behind them, impulsively spoke up.

"You don't think it's just the two of you here, do you……?"

At the shocked tone, Flora, who had only just noticed Basilian's reaction, had to suppress the laughter that was about to burst forth.

A quick glance at Basilian showed his eyes looked somewhat dazed, as if entranced by something.

Seeing him look so completely smitten with Flora strangely filled a corner of her chest with satisfaction.

"I'll give you an even better present next time we meet."

Basilian, having belatedly come to his senses, awkwardly averted his eyes and added.

Finding him cute, Flora shook her head, grabbed his hand, and pulled him toward her.

"Thank you, Basil. I'm so happy."

Then, she gave his forehead a light peck that made a chook sound.

"I'll treasure it."

At the impulsive surprise kiss, Basil's body stiffened like stone.

Flora grinned mischievously, her small canine teeth showing, and, unable to resist her teasing heart, kissed him once more.

"Uh, uh, uh."

Watching Basilian make strange, flustered sounds, Flora hugged him tightly.

"Don't you dare forget me. Let's definitely meet again later."

Athanas, who had been watching the situation with a subtle, hard-to-read expression, finally couldn't take it anymore. He strode over, grabbed Flora's arm, and lifted her into his arms.

"Let's really go now."

"Ah! I haven't finished saying goodbye yet!"

Flora, suspended in the air, flailed her limbs, but Athanas stubbornly refused to put her down and seated her inside the carriage.

"Flora, if you grow up any more, Father might shed tears."

Benio, who had been watching with a smile, followed Flora and boarded the carriage. Then, Athanas didn't hesitate to close the carriage door.

"You're harsher on the child than I expected."

Though he said this, the Grand Marquis, whose face was as serious as Athanas's, shot Basilian a somewhat disapproving look.

Suddenly put in a position where he had to be mindful, Basilian's mind was in utter chaos from the earlier kisses.

"We're still saying goodbye!"

As soon as the restraint was lifted, Flora flung the carriage window open and shouted.

"Our granddaughter has such overflowing energy, it's good to see."

But upon confirming it was the Grand Marquis standing near the window, her vigor gradually diminished.

"Anyone would think he's your boyfriend."

"He is my male friend, though?"

"……No matter how fast kids are these days, isn't this too early? This old man is against it. His name aside, his fate isn't exactly fortunate either, so don't keep him too close."

The Grand Marquis admonished her in a voice low enough only for Flora to hear. But Flora didn't back down.

"Grandfather, you're saying such strange things."

"Hey now, you should listen when an adult speaks."

Faced with his serious reaction, Flora, who had considered continuing the joke, sighed inwardly, 'Ugh.'

'I can't even joke around.'

His stern face suggested that teasing him further probably wasn't a good idea.

"I just called my male friend a 'male friend,' what's the problem?"

At Flora's follow-up words, the Grand Marquis made a defeated face, laughed, and said,

"Fine, I can't stop you."

"Basil is a friend who will never leave my side, and a candidate for my subordinate!"

"……Subordinate candidate?"

He couldn't help but ask, flustered by her ensuing words.

'She's talking about making the Crown Prince her subordinate?'

"This is a secret from Basil."

Putting her index finger to her lips, her expression looked quite serious.

"……Well, uh, I'll support you."

In the end, to not crush his granddaughter's childish heart and dreams, he had no choice but to offer his support.

'Well, it's not like she declared it to his face, so it's not treason.'

It probably wasn't a serious statement anyway. The Grand Marquis let it slide without making an issue and bid his farewell.

"Flora, don't forget this old man when you go, and write me letters."

"Take care on your journey."

After the Grand Marquis, the Marquis also said his goodbyes. Athanas finished giving orders to the coachman and the following knights, then approached the window.

He kissed Flora on the cheek and gently stroked Benio's head.

"Then, see you at home."

"Yes, please come back safely."

"Bye, Dad."

Following Benio, Flora also waved both hands vigorously as if she had never been annoyed, saying goodbye.

The carriage soon began to move, and her pet birds also settled into seats beside her.

Now, if they returned quietly, the peaceful daily life of the North would resume.

'……Well, I guess I have to do it one more time then.'

The rebellious spirit of wanting to do exactly what she was told not to do welled up, and Flora sprang up in the departing carriage and hung onto the window.

"Basil, don't forget me! See you next time! Thank you!"

Basilian, who had been watching the carriage with a sad face, snapped out of his daze at the sight of the pink hair popping out again and shouted back with all his might, mimicking her.

"Yes, I'll absolutely never forget!"

"Promise!"

Though their hands couldn't reach, the two both stuck out their pinky fingers and shook them in unison.

The new encounter, filled with lingering regret, came to an end, and now it was time to return home.

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

News of the reconciliation between the Lucifer Ducal House and the Eisollen Marquisate spread through social circles.

From the expansion of business ventures to the relocation of the deceased Duchess's grave, everyone was unable to hide their surprise.

"The Lucifers are definitely changing, aren't they?"

"I'm curious to see how this will play out."

"Even so, they're still the Lucifers."

There were still those who spoke of the Lucifers with their usual dissatisfaction.

"But look at the good results, from conquering the Demon Forest to the mercenary business and the Lur Bracelet business?"

Those who read the changing tides began to watch the Lucifers closely, even while scoffing at the naysayers.

And the other three ducal houses were no exception.

They tried to use their power to somehow restrain the Lucifers, but then a major upheaval arrived at the Imperial Palace.

The missing Crown Prince had returned.

Moreover, he wasn't alone. He appeared accompanied by the Grand Marquis Eisollen, who had risen to the position of Finance Minister during the previous emperor's reign, shocking everyone.

Before the astonished Emperor and Empress, Basilian confidently used the Holy Sword.

Being chosen by the Holy Sword meant being recognized by the gods.

Confirming that he had undeniably become the perfect Crown Prince, the Empress, unable to contain her anger, collapsed. The Emperor, his face deathly pale, hastily left his seat with her.

Basilian, who had proudly returned to his position as Crown Prince, no longer tolerated being treated disdainfully. Thanks to the Eisollen Marquisate's clear political stance, he was able to gradually increase his allies one by one.

Having fully mastered the Holy Sword that had tormented him and expanding his influence, Basilian became an unavoidable thorn in the side of those at the center of power.

He had even gained perfect control over his Madness, eliminating any pretext to drive him out.

"My parents never seem to get tired of it."

Basilian sighed as he cut down an assassin who had secretly infiltrated his room.

Unbeknownst to him, seven years had passed since his return to the Imperial Palace.

The more he solidified his position within the palace, the more anxious the Emperor and Empress became. Perhaps having resolved to kill the Crown Prince, even if it meant defying the gods' will, assassins began to appear one day.

"Get rid of these guys."

Basilian pointed at the assassins, whom he was utterly sick of by now, and the knights waiting outside carried out the corpses on his command.

Surveying his bedroom, now reeking of blood, he finally let out a sigh laden with annoyance.

"Ah, I'm tired."

The forces opposing him were countless, and dealing with them was burdensome, but Basilian could still endure.

"I miss Flora."

If he continued to gradually secure his position, the future where they promised to reunite would come, so he was just waiting for that day.

"Flora is fourteen this year."

Soon the year would change, and when she turned fifteen, she would have no choice but to come to the Imperial Capital.

She would have to visit the Temple for her debutante ball.

'This time, I must uncover the truth.'

The Lucifers' prestige was different from before, and while it was still dangerous, he too had established his own faction within the Imperial family.

Confident that he could now prevent Flora from being placed in danger, he was determined to reveal the secret he had kept and beg for forgiveness for his deception.

"By the way, she dislikes the Temple; I hope she'll be alright."

Of course, this also depended on Flora willingly coming to the Imperial Capital.