The Baby Villain Dreams of Conquering the World

Chapter 147

Episode 147

"Honestly, the Duke and the Young Master are being too much. They know what day it is, and they're this late."

"Don't be like that. The territory is far away, so it can't be helped."

Unbeknownst to them, the day of the Temple's verification ceremony had dawned, but contrary to the scheduled plan, Athanas and Benio had not yet arrived in the Imperial Capital.

In the end, Flora had no choice but to set off for the Temple alone. Perhaps feeling sorry for her, Daphne voiced her frustration.

"Even so. Look at all the people gathered there. All the families are out supporting the children participating in the verification ceremony."

Indeed, near the newly arrived Temple, it was bustling with people, just as Daphne said.

The ceremony's procedure was simpler than expected but took about a day.

They entered the Temple early in the morning, spent the whole day in prayer, and then conducted the actual verification ceremony the following morning.

On the day the verification ceremony took place, access for the general public was restricted, so as seen now, most families cheered for their children in front of the Temple.

But unlike them, Flora had to enter alone, which seemed pitiable.

"Dad is a Duke. He's a busy man; I have to understand."

It was a bit disappointing, but she wasn't upset over something like this. Again, Flora wasn't a child; she had the mature mental age to fully understand an adult's circumstances.

"Young Lady, your pouty expression hasn't faded."

"......"

"You can be honest with me...... Being so kind-hearted……"

"Ahem, ahem, ahem!"

As her pitying gaze intensified, Flora awkwardly cleared her throat and changed the subject.

"Anyway, we've arrived, so let's get out!"

As she made to leap out of the carriage immediately, Daphne hastily grabbed hold of Flora.

"Young Lady, please, an escort! Get out with an escort!"

"Oopsie daisy."

"Unlike at the mansion, the Temple has many watching eyes. It's full of people who look down on the Lucifers, so you promised the Head Maid you'd be extra careful with your actions, remember?"

Mentioning the promise she'd even pinky-sworn with Elena made Flora behave. Daphne breathed a sigh of relief, and soon the carriage door opened.

As she stepped out, escorted by the knight, she could see those waiting for her.

"Greetings, Lady Lucifer. The Temple sincerely welcomes your visit. I am Aiden, a priest who will assist you during your stay."

A young priest, likely in his late teens or early twenties at best, greeted her with a very tense face.

"Nice to meet you, Priest."

Flora smiled and greeted him while lightly scanning her surroundings.

The place where she had disembarked was the carriage stop assigned by the Temple, so there were many other nobles nearby. Unlike Aiden, most were priests dressed in rather splendid robes.

Seeing that they weren't alone but had multiple priests welcoming the nobles, Flora had to suppress a bitter laugh.

'How childish.'

No matter how much they are the 'Hero of Disgrace' or a house with various bad rumors, the Lucifers are a Ducal House, aren't they?

To show such blatant discrimination with the assigned priest was absurd.

"Um, th-that… I must ask for your understanding that entry into the Temple is prohibited except for those participating in the verification ceremony."

She obviously knew Daphne and the escort knight couldn't enter, but Aiden's attitude was extremely cautious.

'He's so nervous. He must be a new priest, just by looking at him.'

His expression clearly showed he was at a loss for what to do after finishing his prepared speech and receiving no response. His stiff shoulders and face looked incredibly rigid.

Seeing Flora scan her surroundings with a dissatisfied expression, he even sent a pleading look to the other priests, looking somewhat pitiful.

'Does he think I'd get angry over something this childish?'

She expected the Lucifers wouldn't be treated well. Of course, knowing and experiencing are different, and it was unpleasant, but Flora wasn't the type to take out her anger on an innocent person over something like this.

But it seemed she was the only one who thought that way.

Daphne and the escort knight's expressions had hardened fiercely upon confirming the different treatment compared to the other noble children.

'Uncontrollable.'

Seeing they were about to say something any moment, Flora quickly grabbed Daphne's hand.

"I guess I won't see you until the ceremony is over. I'll finish it well and come out, so you have to come pick me up on time tomorrow. Understood?"

"……Young Lady."

Her face looked like she had a lot to say, and tears welled up instantly. The escort knight seemed equally upset and helpless, his rigid face showing no sign of softening.

"Give my regards to Dad and Brother too. Tell them I'm really looking forward to it, and that we absolutely have to go on a dessert tour after the verification ceremony is over."

Flora deliberately laughed playfully to dispel their worries.

Then, before the two could say anything, she walked right up to Aiden.

"I look forward to your guidance, Priest."

Instead of getting angry, she just smiled brightly and greeted him. No matter how displeasing the situation, there was no need to make unnecessary enemies.

"Ah… Yes, the pleasure is mine!"

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The children undergoing the verification ceremony had to spend a day at the Temple, using only what the Temple provided.

The stark white priest robes that showed dirt immediately, the tasteless meals that were bland to the point of tasting like the raw ingredients, and the tedious prayer times.

Having to follow the Temple's uncomfortable curriculum, the children's dissatisfaction was considerable.

"What are these clothes? The quality is poor, and they're not even pretty."

"Having to wear the same clothes as commoners and eat the same food… I wish this stupid event would end soon."

The children gathered in small groups were mainly from noble families who had socialized since childhood, having gathered right after changing clothes.

"They won't even let servants in, and they give us so few priests. They don't even listen to orders, it's ridiculous."

"The rooms are small too, aren't they? It's suffocating."

The commoner children were gathered together in a large prayer hall, but the noble children were given small private rooms.

However, even the specially provided treatment was insufficient to satisfy them, so the children's irritation didn't easily subside.

"What's all this noise?"

The lively atmosphere died down instantly at someone's irritable voice.

"Who's being uncouth and causing a ruckus in the holy Temple?"

The one who appeared with a thoroughly grim expression was Yuria Desimo and his gang.

As he stood at the center and scanned the surroundings with sharp eyes, it became so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Yuria looked about to smile satisfactorily.

"Well, from where I'm standing, it seems like you're the noisiest one."

A voice tinged with mockery came from behind him.

"Ah, tsk. Saw an unlucky face first thing in the morning."

Recognizing the voice immediately, Yuria cursed under his breath and turned around.

In contrast to him, a boy with a kind-looking, gentle face was entering the prayer hall.

"See, you're the only one talking now."

His gentle voice matched his green hair, a color symbolizing the Bellasia Ducal House, so the children in the prayer hall immediately realized who he was.

"Hey, Walter. I told you not to act familiar outside because it's annoying."

"You think I wanted to? It must have been incredibly noisy. And did you forget I'm a year older than you?"

While a sharp war of nerves ensued between them, neither avoiding the other's gaze, someone lightly brushed past between the two.

As everyone's gaze, including the two, turned toward her, the girl who had been walking forward stopped.

"Did you have something to say?"

Their incredulous faces were reflected in her black eyes, filled with annoyance.

The fact that she remained unfazed by the princes' war of nerves was only possible because she, too, was a ducal house scion.

"Long time no see, Rosaria."

"Why don't you ever greet anyone properly?"

In response to Walter and Yuria's gestures of recognition, she calmly swept back her descended purple hair and gave a slight nod.

"That's what you call a greeting?"

Yuria sneered, but Rosaria's expression didn't change. She seemed to let it go in one ear and out the other, and even the ill-tempered him accepted it as just her way.

Seeing the three gathered, the other children began to whisper.

"Wait, but haven't those three been over fourteen for a while now?"

"That's right. Prince Bellasia and Princess Hermannus are seventeen, Prince Desimo is sixteen."

"So why are they participating in the verification ceremony? Didn't they do it last time?"

At someone's innocent question, the person next to them shook their head vigorously.

"Hey, haven't you heard the news? It's because the Lucifer Princess is coming this time."

"No, what does that have to do with anything?"

The boy sighed at his clueless friend and was about to continue explaining.

"No, you!"

If Yuria hadn't suddenly shouted, pointing toward the door.