The Baby Villain Dreams of Conquering the World

Chapter 15

Episode 15

"Not a knight either."

"A servant?"

"That's even less likely."

This isn't a time for riddles.

As Flora frowned, Athanas cleared his throat again, seemingly troubled.

"Try to recall his face carefully. Doesn't he remind you of anyone?"

"Remind me...?"

At his words, Flora's gaze shifted to Athanas's hair.

Come to think of it, the hair color is too similar?

She then looked down.

The amethyst necklace, said to be her mother's heirloom, was beautifully displayed below her neck.

It was the exact same color as the boy's eyes from last night.

"Don't tell me?"

"Ahem, ahem. It's late, but let me introduce you. That was Benio Lucifer, your older brother."

As Athanas finished speaking, the door opened and a boy entered.

With a larger physique and a stony expression than she had seen in the faint moonlight, Flora was left speechless.

'He looks just like Dad.'

It was her second encounter with another bear-like figure.

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Flora hid behind Athanas's back and glared at Benio.

'That bear-like guy dared to wound my delicate neck?'

She wanted to fly into a rage immediately, but Flora had only been at the ducal castle for a day.

Her situation was different from Benio, who had grown up in the ducal castle since birth.

'It's unfair. I was the one abandoned, so why do I have to tread carefully?'

Normally, it's the side that lost the family member who should be cautious, right?

Looking at Benio, who was staring down at her with cold eyes, Flora remained on guard like a cat with its fur standing on end.

"Ahem, ahem."

As the two just glared at each other without speaking, Athanas, looking flustered, covered his mouth with his fist and cleared his throat several times.

"Benio, I explained last night as well. This is Flora. Your one and only younger sister."

As if wanting to salvage the atmosphere somehow, Athanas, who didn't seem good at mediation, stepped forward and spoke.

"She's only been here a day, so you must take good care of her. She's still young and doesn't know this place well, so you shouldn't just point a sword at her like yesterday."

"However, that child was wandering around with a lantern past midnight. I did nothing wrong."

But Athanas's efforts were in vain as Benio's cold reply made the atmosphere tense again.

"Well, that's true, but..."

At Athanas's response, Flora felt as shocked as if she'd been hit on the head.

'What is he saying?'

His son pointed a sword at his daughter, and he's talking about midnight and lanterns? Is that important?

With a face full of grievance, Flora grabbed hold of Athanas's collar.

Then, pointing to the bandage tightly wrapped around her neck, she made a tearful expression.

'My precious neck was injured, and you're not just going to let it slide, are you? This is clearly domestic violence.'

Athanas let out a pained groan, then held Flora's shoulders and spoke with a firm expression.

"Flora, in our castle, we don't turn on lights in the corridors after midnight. Absolutely not until dawn breaks."

At his serious tone, Flora swallowed hard.

'It's not for some tear-jerking reason like poverty, is it?'

Flora asked with a tense face.

"...Why?"

"Because demons that devour souls might come."

As Athanas hesitated, unable to speak for a while, Benio, who had been standing quietly behind him, provided the answer.

"De-demons?"

"Yes, demons."

"Why would demons come?"

As the topic of demons came up, Flora's eyes sparkled.

She listened carefully, wondering if there was a story she didn't know, but...

"The demons are always waiting for a chance to test the Lucifers again."

The answer that came out was less interesting than she'd hoped.

'Test? What test?'

As Flora's face showed disappointment, the corners of Benio's eyes twitched.

'Ah, he looks displeased.'

She didn't particularly like Benio, but it was Flora's fault for openly showing she found it boring in front of the person explaining.

As she tried to cover her awkwardness with a smile, Benio coldly averted his gaze.

"I'm busy, so you should hear the details from Father. Then, Father, I shall take my leave."

"Alright, take it easy and don't overexert yourself."

Benio gave a short nod and left the room.

Without giving Flora a single glance.

Staring blankly at the door that closed with a bang, Flora felt as if lightning had struck her.

'This kind of disregard is the first in my four years of life.'

Flora had a cute, adorable, and lovely appearance that deserved all the love she received, making her confidence perfectly natural.

Everyone was so smitten with her that they'd overlook small mistakes if she just smiled!

'Th-this kind of insult is a first!'

The world is wide, so there could be people who aren't interested in her.

But it shouldn't be Lucifer.

'Just you wait.'

Flora vowed to somehow make Benio fall head over heels for her cuteness and lovableness.

"Benio explained it with difficulty, didn't he? It means demons could grab Flora and take her to the Demon Forest, so you mustn't turn on lights."

Oh? That doesn't sound bad?

Flora perked up her ears and shifted her gaze from the door to Athanas.

"'Heirs who bear the name of Lucifer, never show light divorced from nature after midnight and before the break of dawn. Only then might you remain safe from the demons' grasp. Only thus can you continue your line.'"

At the speech that sounded like it came from classical literature, Flora blinked.

"That is the last testament left to our family by the first Duke Lucifer before he passed."

Athanas, seeing Flora's adorably wide eyes, couldn't hold back a smile.

"It was when lanterns were first invented, so he referred to them as 'light divorced from nature.' Because of the testament that says carrying a lantern will get you taken by demons, the people of the ducal castle don't carry lanterns around at night. No, they don't move at all during the hours when demons are active."

"Rea-lly?"

"There is a precedent passed down that the second daughter of the 3rd Duke Lucifer was found dead after going missing while carrying a lantern at midnight. They say she looked like a mummy, as if her soul had been sucked out. Oops, what am I saying in front of you?"

As Athanas hurriedly closed his mouth, Flora tactfully widened her eyes and blinked.

"I don't under-stand. A dead body? Miss-ing?"

"No, it's nothing. It's unnecessary talk, so forget it."

Seeing her 'I know nothing' expression, Athanas sighed as if relieved.

It seemed rumors had naturally arisen because Lucifer Castle was located near the Demon Forest.

Maintaining her position as an innocent little kid, Flora asked another question.

Tutors would never teach this kind of thing.

"Do demons only move at night?"

"The demons of the North are like that. I don't know about demons in other regions."

"Then what if I get dragged to the Demon Forest even without a lantern? I don't even know where the Demon Forest is."

Flora trembled as if scared and bowed her head.

Even saying this, Athanas wouldn't tell Flora in detail what the Demon Forest was like.

'But this is just laying the groundwork.'

If she acts terrified of the Demon Forest now, then later overcomes that fear and shows passionate interest, saying 'I want to know about the forest, let me study it!'...

Athanas was the type of person who would be impressed by his child's growth and try to share all his knowledge.

And this plan was only possible in a situation where he didn't get angry at her current questions.

'Even if he just laughs it off for now, saying "That's impossible in your situation," that's enough.'

If he tells her not to be interested in the Demon Forest, like the tutors would, this plan goes down the drain.

'But still, as a child of the ducal house, he probably won't tell me not to be interested.'

Flora waited with a small hope, but no answer came from him even after a long while.

Finding it strange, she looked up and faced Athanas.

'Wh-what is it?'

Flora found herself flustered without knowing why.

Because Athanas was making a very sad face, looking as if he might cry at any moment.

He looked so full of sorrow that it felt like she shouldn't press for an answer, no matter how curious she was.

Flora was bewildered.

'Is this question really that saddening?'

In this incomprehensible situation, Athanas suddenly pulled Flora into a tight hug.

"That won't happen. I'll make absolutely sure you never fall into the demons' hands."

"......"

"And even if you were taken, this father would somehow rescue you. So don't be afraid."

Despite his firm words, Athanas's body was trembling uncontrollably.