The Baby Villain Dreams of Conquering the World

Chapter 49

Episode 49

The small drawing placed next to the frame Lisa had given her.

〈This is a present for Elena.〉

The face that had handed it over, cheeks smeared with paint, claiming it was her portrait; the flawless, clear smile; the kind heart that wished for her happiness.

All of it kept shaking her resolve.

Knowing the warmth contained within it, Elena could not let this lovely Young Lady die.

Even if it meant her own death.

Elena smiled2, a smile that didn't suit the situation, and spoke.

"Even if you threaten me like that, you won't be able to lay a finger on a single hair of the Young Lady."

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

After parting from Elena, Flora dropped her clueless expression.

'Is she really planning to harm me?'

She emerged from the bushes after confirming Elena was gone, but nothing happened.

"What in the world is going on?"

Flora grumbled and kicked the ground for no reason.

With unsteady steps, she looked around vaguely, but the woman who had said she would only count to 100 was nowhere to be seen.

"This is no fun."

Just then, a rustling sound came from behind.

Since she hadn't sensed any presence, Flora shuddered and turned around.

She checked her surroundings carefully with a tense face, but fortunately, no one was there.

Soon, the source of the sound appeared.

Meow.

Flora's ears perked up at the cat's cry.

'Where is it?'

Meow.

Hearing the sound from above, she looked up and saw the gray cat from earlier sitting high up in a tree.

"Oh, it's you? I thought an assassin or something had come."

Meow, meow-meow.

"Why are you up there?"

Meow-meow-meow.

"Even if you say that, I can't understand you."

Meeoow.

At the weak cry, Flora's eyes widened as if she had figured something out.

"Ah, you're too high up and can't get down!"

Meow!

At the cheerful cry, as if confirming the answer, Flora grinned.

'Shall I use a bit of strength for the first time in a while?'

It was perfect timing, as the two Lucifers were away, so she didn't need to worry about being noticed.

Flora drew up the demonic power within her body and concentrated it in her toes.

Then, just like that time in the library, her body began to float up into the sky.

"Alright, made it."

As she settled onto the thick tree branch where the cat was sitting, Flora smiled with a proud face.

Meow.

"Let's go down together now."

At Flora's words, the cat approached, swishing its tail, and soon settled itself on her lap.

The cat was cute, but like this, she couldn't move.

"Then we can't go down."

Meeow.

"Even if you want to rest, no."

Meow-meow.

"No, and you have to be quiet. I'm playing hide and seek."

Immediately, the cat closed its mouth.

"Oh, good kitty, good kitty."

Praising it and stroking its head, Flora was suddenly overwhelmed by a sense of futility about why she was doing this, and a deep sigh escaped her.

'Forget Elena and all that. I just want to go back to my room. I'm tired.'

She didn't know what Elena was thinking, but if she harbored ill intentions, she couldn't just sit back and let her have her way.

'But I'd grown a little fond of her.'

The frequency of the resentful glances she sometimes saw had also decreased, so she thought Elena had fully opened her heart to her, but it seemed that wasn't the case after all.

'It might hurt my pride a little.'

Flora chuckled wryly but didn't stop stroking the cat's head.

'It feels surprisingly nice. Soft and warm.'

Meow?

"No, no. Stay still. Just stay like this."

She wanted to just go back to her room, but a bit of stubbornness arose.

'Whatever she's thinking, I'll play along.'

If Elena was betraying her and trying to harm her, she just wouldn't forgive her. If there was another intention, she'd satisfy her curiosity.

"Let's stay together a little longer."

Meow.

With a small cry, the cat leaned its head against Flora's hand.

She was laughing at its cute behavior when a voice started to be heard from afar.

"Peek-a-boo! Peek-a-boo!"

'Hm? That voice is......'

Flora craned her neck toward the sound and saw Basilian, not far away, running around frantically, sweating.

"Flora, peek-a-boo!"

He had reached the base of Flora's tree without her realizing and was stomping his feet, continuously shouting the phrase he had promised with Elena.

Flora had considered pretending not to know, but seeing his desperate state, she decided to show some kindness.

"Basi, what are you doing?"

"You, you! Why are you up there!"

Basilian, who had instantly located the source of Flora's voice, looked up. The moment he saw her sitting high in the tree, he was aghast.

"I'm playing hide and seek with Elena. Basi, are you already done with training? You said you'd be late."

"I finished as fast as I could! Ah, this is no time for that……!"

Basilian looked around, clicked his tongue at finding nothing, and immediately grabbed the tree trunk, starting to climb up slowly.

"What are you doing?"

"I don't know how you got up there alone, but you need to come down!"

"How?"

"How are you supposed to get down by yourself!"

If Basilian hadn't come, she would have gotten down quite easily and skillfully.

But since Basilian had appeared, she couldn't use her demonic power to descend.

Flora frowned deeply, looking troubled.

"……Jump?"

"You won't come to your senses until your bones go snap!"

At the absurd suggestion, Basilian flared up angrily.

"Hng."

"What do you mean, 'hng'! I'm going to tell the Duke all about this later!"

At that, Flora shot up from her spot with a look of disbelief.

"That's mean!"

"Don't stand up! It's dangerous!"

Basilian mustered all his strength and climbed up the tree.

He then hastily pulled the precarious-looking Flora into his embrace, leaned his back against the tree trunk, sat down, and let out a sigh.

"My heart is going to give out because of you one of these days."

Flora pouted in dissatisfaction, but since she was facing away in his embrace, Basilian couldn't see her expression.

"So how did you get up here?"

"I climbed up well."

"Why did you climb up?"

"Kitty."

When Flora pointed to the cat in her arms, Basilian's gaze followed.

The gray cat they had seen during their walk the other day was quietly nestled in Flora's embrace.

"Didn't you say this one was shy?"

"Not at all, it's cute."

Forgetting her earlier annoyance, Flora smiled brightly and stroked the cat.

"Soft and cozy, warm, fluffy, squishy."

"……Is it that cute?"

"Yep."

Despite the incessant petting and stroking, the cat quietly accepted Flora's hands.

Watching quietly, Basilian, entranced by the sight, cautiously brought his hand closer.