novelraw Chapter 43
Chapter 43
Episode 43
Anyway, it wasn't bad news, and above all, since they were crediting her, there was no need to deny it.
Flora forgot about the broccoli for a moment and beamed with a triumphant smile, and everyone seemed infected by her smile, wearing happy expressions.
"I'm so glad things resolved more smoothly than expected. Now, with good news, has your appetite returned a bit?"
But at the following words, Flora's smile froze.
Huh, wait a minute. This isn't right?
Before Flora could even get up from her seat, Athanas approached her.
"Now that the matter you were worried about is resolved, you have nothing to worry about. So let's eat comfortably."
He said this while stroking Flora's head.
In the warm atmosphere, Flora looked down at her bowl with trembling eyes.
The green broccoli was beckoning her to eat it.
Seeing the expectant gazes, it was obvious that if she said she was done eating now, everyone would find it very strange.
Flora picked up her spoon with a trembling hand and scooped up some cream soup with the smallest possible piece of broccoli.
Under everyone's bright, attentive gazes, Flora had to finish the soup portion assigned to her.
She would not let the Imperial Family, who sent the approval permit at such a time, get away with this.
Flora, trembling with anger, was caught.
She saw Elena, who had sneakily given her a thumbs-up when no one was looking.
She would not let Elena get away either, who knew she hated broccoli but didn't help and just watched.
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"Young Lady! I'm so happy you're not being picky and eating everything so well!"
After the meal ended, Elena followed Flora, who had rushed out of the dining room as if escaping.
"Hmph, I'm not talking to Elena."
Still upset about the broccoli incident, Flora grumbled without looking back.
"Really?"
"Yep, really. Why would I lie?"
Her brisk, angry steps began to slow down.
Seeing Flora unconsciously slow her pace to match Elena's, Elena couldn't help but suppress a laugh.
She absolutely must not laugh. If she laughed here, the adorable Young Lady would truly get sulky.
'She's cute.'
Shaking her head sharply at the unconsciously arising thought, Elena spoke.
"But aren't you happy about the news you wanted?"
"Why ask! Of course I'm happy!"
"Then it would have been nice to stay with the Duke a little longer."
Flora had left the dining room without looking back, despite Athanas's regretful calls.
At Elena's question, sounding puzzled about that, Flora clicked her tongue inwardly.
'Wait, does she realize I'm five years old?'
No matter how mature she acts, Flora is still just a five-year-old kid.
She can voice ideas as they come, but everything related afterward would obviously be serious talk about money, money, and more money.
So if she got further involved in the actual business planning starting now, Flora would definitely become a strange child.
'I need to step in appropriately.'
Since she had stepped in this much, the bear-like Lucifers should handle the rest themselves.
"I have to tell Basi the news too!"
"Ah, that boy."
"Yep! Basi will be happy for me like it's his own news!"
Since Basi had agreed, saying the Mercenary Guild business could be more profitable than expected, she had to tell him.
'More importantly, how much money will it make?'
It's just the beginning stage with the permit granted, so it's still a long way from conclusions, but at least a step has been taken.
'Come on in, money, money, money.'
Humming to herself, Flora moved her steps, thinking that if money came in, she would enjoy a lavish life spent freely with abundant money, not this frugal life.
The place she arrived at was the training grounds where the Lucifer knights stayed.
Among the knights training hard, a small boy was visible.
"Basi!"
Overjoyed, Flora waved her hand energetically and ran out.
"Young Lady, it's dangerous to run like that!"
At the shrill voice that shouldn't be heard in the training grounds, Basilian, who was wiping his sweat, turned his head that way.
The girl who had bloomed a flower in Basilian's heart was running towards him, her flowing pink hair fluttering.
"If you run like that, it's danger…!"
Just like the maid frantically chasing after her, Basilian raised his voice but then saw her trip and lurch forward. Horrified, he ran over.
"Whoa, fast."
Having barely caught Flora, Basilian felt his heart drop to the floor and then surge back up, letting out a sigh of relief.
"That was dangerous!"
"Hehe, Basi caught me, so it's okay, right? I trusted Basi!"
As Flora buried her face in Basilian's chest and grinned, his cheeks soon turned red.
"You talk well."
"Looks like you've been working hard. Sweat beads everywhere."
At her words pointing to the sweat beads on Basilian's forehead, he became flustered.
"I was just running around the training grounds. I'm sweaty, so I probably smell, so step back a bit."
As he tried to gently push her away, she deliberately put strength into her body.
"I'll wipe it for you!"
"What?"
Before Basilian could say anything, Flora took her handkerchief from her pocket and started dabbing his forehead.
It was a rough touch, not careful at all, but Basilian, unable to shake off her hand like before, just froze, stammering.
"All done!"
"Uh, thanks."
"I would've been sad if you didn't say that!"
Imitating the words Basilian had said when they reunited, he blinked and then chuckled as if he'd never been flustered.
"How long are you training today?"
Flora had heard that as a reward for Basilian saving her in the Demon Forest, Athanas had arranged for him to receive knight training.
Of course, before starting formal training, building stamina was important, Athanas said. Watching Basilian train hard by running around the training grounds every day, Flora thought:
'He's so admirable.'
His attempt to survive on his own at such a young age was both pitiable and heartwarming.
'Right, you have to protect your own body.'
Impressed by his admirable effort, Flora decided not to disturb him and just cheer him on.
So during the day when he trained, she sat quietly and waited for it to end.
"I just finished."
At the welcome words, Flora smiled brightly, just like when she first arrived.
"Then come play with me now!"
"Okay, let's go for a walk."
"Aww, it's always a walk."
Basilian politely bowed his head to the training knights and left the training grounds.
Flora linked arms with Basilian and then turned to wave at the knights who had fixed their gazes on her.
"Everyone, do your best! Hello!"
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To supplement Flora's lack of exercise, Athanas had asked Basilian to take her for walks during their time together.
〈Couldn't you take her for walks yourself? No matter how busy you are, you should have time for a walk.〉
As Basilian said, Athanas also wanted to take Flora for walks himself instead of Basilian.
〈But whenever I see Flora, my heart softens.〉
Basilian, who hadn't understood that well at first, understood his meaning after just one walk.
"It's tiring."
Moving her heavy feet slowly, her pace was so slow it wouldn't be strange if a turtle asked to be friends.
Clicking his tongue inwardly at Flora's slow pace, Basilian thought.
Seeing her like that, Athanas would be at a loss and end up carrying Flora, which would defeat the purpose of the walk.
"Let's rest for a bit."
At Basilian's words, Flora's face lit up. Since she was still linked arm-in-arm with him and couldn't escape the boring walk.
"Okay, break time!"
With a voice full of energy as if she'd never been tired, Elena, who was following behind, spread a mat under a suitably large tree.
Basilian led Flora to sit on the mat, and Elena took out fruit juice and simple snacks from the basket she had brought.
"Today it's blueberry tart."
"Berries are sour."
"I made it sweet, so it should suit your taste. You might spill if you eat it plain, so I'll cut it for you."
When she put a piece of tart, cut to a bite-size, into Flora's mouth, Flora's eyes widened.
"It's delicious!"
"Right? I tried making it myself."
"Elena, you're such a good cook!"
"Shall I make something like this for you next time too?"
"Yep, yep!"