novelraw Chapter 30
Chapter 30
Episode 30
"Alright. I'll think about it."
"Pardon?"
"I said I'll find a way to make lots of money for our Dad."
She had been wondering how to present any money-making methods she found anyway, so this was perfect.
Now that they've had this conversation, no matter what she says from now on, they won't just dismiss it as childish talk.
'Mm-hmm, I really am lucky.'
It seemed this wasn't the answer he expected, as confusion flickered in Isaac's eyes.
How dare he try to use this Great Demon to awaken Duke Lucifer? She needed to teach him a lesson to clear this grievance.
"Just trust me. I made our orphanage rich too."
"...I had heard something about that."
Both the Hermannus sponsorship and the connection with the merchant guild through the Shalias seeds started from Flora; it was wealth created by her luck.
"I'll make our territory rich too. So Dad, just wait a little."
"Flora..."
A large man making a wistful expression just doesn't suit him.
"So smile now!"
Flora pointed at Athanas and shouted. Seeing him wipe the sad look from his face, she nodded.
"Then Flora, who will be busy from now on, is leaving."
Before the two could stop her, Flora quickly slipped out of the office.
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Inside the office, only chaos remained after her departure.
"Pfft, hahaha. It seems the Young Lady likes Your Grace very much. To step forward like that upon seeing your distress."
Isaac burst into the laughter he had been holding back, and Athanas sighed, pressing his forehead.
"Indeed, why did you have to say such unnecessary things?"
"Isn't it fascinating? It's rare enough for a mere four-year-old to read letters, but to understand the content written in them..."
"The teachers at the orphanage also said Flora was capable and smart."
Athanas's face softened as he praised Flora.
It was the first time in nearly four years that his always stern face had softened like this.
"It seems the Young Lady takes a lot after Lady Nersha. Intelligent, wise, and extraordinary."
"You're right. It's a real blessing she doesn't take after me. Is a child like that called a prodigy?"
"Let's stop with the self-deprecating talk."
"Doesn't she resemble Nersha perfectly? The Marquis Aisolrn also said Nersha was very intelligent as a child."
Athanas seemed to recall someone dear, then swallowed his sorrow.
"It seems our castle must be quite lacking for Flora to say that."
"Stating the obvious..."
Isaac grumbled that there probably wasn't another grand ducal estate this frugal, bordering on poor.
"Even my efforts have limits. If the existing businesses collapse, the territory's operating expenses will be halved. We're truly on the verge of bankruptcy."
"We must try harder."
With a tired face, Athanas opened the first drawer.
"...Isn't that the request from the Stoa territory? You said you would stay by the Young Lady's side for a while and focus on the main estate's duties."
"If my daughter is trying hard, I can't just stand by idly, can I?"
"...Are you sure you'll be alright?"
"I have to be."
Athanas wrote a short note accepting the request, disguised as a letter, beneath it and handed it to Isaac.
"We'll depart in four days, please make preparations. Benio will come too."
"But he hasn't fully recovered from his injuries yet."
"I saw him training in the training grounds at dawn, saying he hates his body getting stiff."
"Mad Lucifers."
Marveling at the Lucifer recovery rate, Isaac respectfully accepted the letter.
"It's a mid-level monster subjugation request. Including travel time, it shouldn't take even a week to complete."
"A week is a long time for a four-year-old. Please spend sufficient time with the Young Lady before you leave."
With that final remark, Isaac hid his pitying heart, returned to his role as the cold aide, and left the room.
Athanas lifted the thin plank placed at the bottom of the office's first drawer.
Inside was a small frame. With sad eyes, he brushed his fingers over the portrait within it.
A woman with the same pink bob cut as Flora smiled beautifully, her purple eyes curved.
This old portrait was his treasured possession.
"Am I doing the right thing, Nersha?"
His lips, forming the name of the beloved one who would never return, trembled.
"I'll try even harder so she doesn't grow up motherless and hear that she's lacking."
Unbeknownst to him, the sun had set, dyeing the world outside the window dark.
Looking at the clear sky filled with stars, he lightly kissed the portrait, hoping his wish would reach Nersha.
"Please cheer for our family's happiness from heaven."
Hoping his small wish would be carried by the wind to his beloved.
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'I'm in trouble.'
Having returned to her room alone, Flora pointlessly punched her pillow.
'Why did I step forward?'
It was all Isaac's fault.
When Isaac provocatively asked, 'Scared?', Flora, who hates to lose, automatically responded with 'Okay, let's go!'.
'I never intended to get this involved.'
Frustrated, Flora tugged at her hair and screamed internally.
'I must have been crazy. What? Lucky? I was a fool to even momentarily think such nonsense!'
Who in their right mind would let a four-year-old plan and get involved in business in the first place?
She had only intended to find potentially profitable businesses and subtly drop hints.
This way, she'd look incredibly suspicious!
'They won't seriously suspect me of something absurd, will they? Who would even send a spy to such an unprestigious ducal house anyway? But still, if they think some unknown enemy might consider me suspicious... Surely not?'
'What was my purpose in coming all the way to the Lucifers? I planned to succeed in world conquest and destruction from here!'
She didn't want to be unfairly accused of being a spy either.
'If I had actually done something, maybe!'
Right, she hasn't done anything yet, so she can't back down now.
Isaac's suspicion only fueled Flora's determination further.
"Fine, I'll use this chance to show my competence and make them fall head over heels for my charm."
'But shouldn't I be happy if the Lucifers fall? They are the descendants of my nemesis. No, no. I'm also a Lucifer by blood now. At the very least, this generation must not fall.'
If they are to fall, it must be by her hand.
She steadied her turbulent heart, telling herself this was all to maintain her current status, not for the Lucifers' well-being.
"Then, shall I read this diary first?"
Flora opened Etar's diary, which she had boldly taken in front of Athanas the other day.
'Actually, I planned to read it as soon as I got back to my room that day... But a child's body is just too weak.'
Having practically resided in Benio's room for the past few days, she often forgot she even had the diary by nightfall and fell asleep immediately.
'No matter how much I think about it, I have no memory of receiving such a letter.'
That didn't make sense, but this diary might be a letter Etar left for Mors after her death.
Steeling her resolve, Flora opened the diary.
To Mors…
Just as she was about to turn the page with a trembling hand after seeing the written name…
Knock knock.
"Sigh."
The sudden knock shattered her concentration completely.
Only after hiding the diary under her bed did Flora call out for the guest to enter.
"Who is it?"
"Young Lady, it's me."
Daphne peeked her head through the door crack and gave a small smile.
"Some fresh milk came in today, and I thought you might like some before you sleep, so I brought it."
"Gasp, did you put honey in it too?"
"Of course! As if I wouldn't know the Young Lady's preference."
"More importantly, where do you get off leaving without a word? What other duties did you learn? Ugh, it's cold! Come in quickly and tell me what you learned!"
Brightly smiling at the kind Young Lady's demeanor, Daphne stepped inside.
And so, with a welcome person and warm, sweet milk, Etar's diary was once again forgotten.
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"Flora..."
"Stop making that face, Flora. It can't be helped."
Flora lightly ignored the voices of the anxious Athanas and the persuading Benio.
"Going out without me."
"It's not 'going out,' it's a monster subjugation."
'It's the same thing!'
At Benio's correction, Flora snorted "Hmph!" and turned her head away.
Athanas and Benio were leaving on a sudden monster subjugation journey.