The Baby Villain Dreams of Conquering the World

Chapter 64

Episode 64

When they knocked on the door, a voice they hadn't heard in a while flowed from inside the room.

"Who is it?"

In just a few days, Elena's voice had lost its energy.

'Well, she was badly injured.'

Remembering how her surroundings had been filled with blood to the point where one could say it was a miracle she wasn't dead made her mood gloomy again.

It seemed she could only feel at ease by seeing Elena's face right away, so Flora immediately revealed her identity.

"It's me, Elena!"

A gasp was heard. Simultaneously, a clattering sound followed by the heavy thud of someone falling from the bed was heard.

"Oppa!"

At Flora's demand to open the door immediately, Benio flung the door open and entered.

Sure enough, Elena seemed to have fallen while trying to get up from the bed, crouched awkwardly with her palms pressed against the floor.

"Young Lady!"

The tears welling up in Elena's eyes showed just how much she welcomed Flora's return.

Seeing Elena sniffling with a sorrowful expression made Flora's nose sting as well.

"Elena!"

Flora stretched both hands toward the empty space as if she would go to Elena right that instant.

It was such a fierce movement that she would have fallen forward if a startled Benio hadn't held her body tightly.

"Flora! That's dangerous."

Benio scolded her with uncharacteristic severity, but after seeing the faces of Flora and Elena, he couldn't continue his reprimand.

"I'm, I'm so glad you're safe. Truly, it's such a relief."

The tears that had been brimming in Elena's eyes dripped down to the floor without resistance.

Her face, filled with deep regret, was completely contorted.

'Actually, these two shouldn't meet.'

Before departing for the Ice Castle, Athanas had received a report of what Elena had done to Flora and immediately had her imprisoned.

Although she had tried to evacuate Flora to a safe place at the critical moment, she was someone who had entered the ducal mansion with malicious intent.

It was only natural to throw her in prison and interrogate her immediately, but because she had been severely injured while protecting Flora, she was confined to her private quarters instead of a prison cell.

It was also a place she would never have come to if Flora hadn't begged to personally confirm Elena's safety.

"Oppa, put me down. Hurry, hurry."

But the most Benio could permit was up to the doorway.

Even if she had a change of heart at the last moment, Elena was someone who had posed a threat to Flora.

Therefore, it was necessary to completely prevent any situation where the two could meet closely.

Elena, who had been sobbing, only belatedly made eye contact with Benio, who was holding Flora.

Only then, realizing her own position, did she hurriedly wipe her eyes with her sleeve.

"Elena, are you okay? You look like you're in a lot of pain."

At the kind consolation, Elena barely suppressed the sob that threatened to burst forth.

'No wonder the castle seemed noisy today.'

Confined to her quarters with only the visiting doctor treating her and the maids bringing meals, she had no way to obtain information.

If Flora hadn't remembered and come to visit like this, Elena would have only learned much later that Flora had returned safely.

'Thank goodness. Truly, thank goodness.'

Elena sighed deeply in relief and composed herself so her voice wouldn't tremble.

"I'm truly glad you're safe."

At the voice colder than usual, Flora's eyes widened. She quickly sensed that the atmosphere was strange.

"As you know, I am a criminal who brought impudent outsiders into this castle. I am grateful for your concern for someone like me, but this is no place for someone of your noble status."

It was a roundabout way of speaking, but it was an order to leave.

"It was an honor to serve you, Young Lady. Please grow up healthy and strong."

Unable to bring herself to meet Flora's eyes, Elena turned her head away and delivered her final farewell.

That was the problem. Because she wasn't making eye contact and was just reciting a prepared speech, she didn't see Flora pouting her lips forward with a dissatisfied expression.

"Why are you talking like we'll never see each other again?"

"Because we won't see each other from now on. I am a criminal and must receive due punishment."

"Says who!"

"...I am indeed a criminal."

Elena let her small shoulders slump and continued.

"After my family was killed by monsters, I went mad. And I hated the lord who protected everyone, not knowing my place. Even though I knew it wasn't the ducal house's fault, I wished for the lord to feel the same pain as I did."

As if making a final confession before death, Elena clearly confessed her crimes in a small but distinct voice.

"So I tried to harm you, Young Lady. I didn't have the courage to kill you myself, so I couldn't refuse the help offered from outside. I... I abandoned my human will in my grief. I don't deserve... I don't deserve to be by your side."

Whereas before she would make eye contact and whisper in a kind tone, now she seemed like a person so broken she could do nothing.

But Flora had no intention of just watching that sight quietly.

"Do you think I wouldn't know if you hated me?"

"...!"

As if she hadn't expected such words, Elena jerked her head up.

"I know everything too! That you didn't really like me! But I kept you by my side because I liked you!"

"...Yo-Young Lady."

"And you tried to save me, didn't you? You told me to hide while playing hide and seek! You got hurt trying to save me!"

Even as she spoke, Flora couldn't hold back the rising emotion and bit her lip hard.

The image of Elena clinging tenaciously to the damned enemy and pleading was vividly etched in her mind.

Elena had never given up, even in the face of death.

Her heart, which had initially wished for Flora's death, had ultimately changed to wish for Flora's survival.

Flora knew better than anyone that her desire to protect her had been sincere.

"They say everyone makes mistakes! It's okay to make mistakes! If you did something wrong, you just apologize!"

"Sniff, sob. I don't deserve that. I hurt you, Young Lady. All of this is my fault...!"

At the cry filled with regret, Flora closed her mouth, which had been offering comfort. She felt so frustrated she thought she might go crazy. So she finally couldn't hold back and blurted out what she most wanted to say at that moment.

"Elena, you like me now, don't you!"

At the shout loud enough to break her voice, large tears welled up again in Elena's eyes.

"I'll forgive your mistakes! So if you like me, stay by my side! I'll allow it!"

Her shoulders trembled slightly.

Along with the large teardrops falling plop, plop, came the sound of her stifling her sobs, gulp, gulp.

"I'm, I'm sorry, Young Lady. Sniff, sob. I was so foolish. I don't know how I could have had such, such thoughts while having such a lovely Young Lady by my side. I'm truly sorry."

The sight of her beating her chest, wailing, and endlessly apologizing looked truly pitiful.

"Oppa..."

Flora, who had been assessing the situation and hadn't pressed further, threw a pleading look at Benio again.

"I won't be in danger, so can't you put me down? I really want to hug Elena tightly."

Instead of answering, Benio, still holding Flora, approached Elena and knelt down, placing Flora in front of the crying woman.

'Goodness, look at her face. How much has she been crying?'

Elena's face, streaked with tears and snot, was even more of a mess up close.

'What can I do? Rather than seeing her punished as a criminal, it's better to have her living by my side.'

Flora carefully placed her small hand on top of Elena's head.

Finally, she could make eye contact with her.

Seeing Elena staring blankly at her with heavily bloodshot eyes, Flora burst out laughing.

"I absolve you of your sins."

A monotonous action, language unbecoming of her age.

Although it was a simple situation, Elena felt as if she had been reborn into the world.

'Ah, how can you be so affectionate and kind?'

She generously overlooked the mistakes of her subordinate and even advised her not to make such a mistake again.

The Young Lady, as young as Elena's own daughter, had gifted her a new life.

'It's like a light pulling me out of hell.'

Perhaps this is what heaven is like, so beautiful and brilliant that I thought I could never dare set foot in it.

"Here, hug me!"

Flora spread her short, plump arms wide.

Without a moment's hesitation, Elena hugged Flora tightly.

It felt like she was embracing a ball of light shining brighter than anyone.

No, it was more accurate to say that the ball of light had flown to her and embraced her itself.

"...I don't dislike you anymore, Young Lady."

So, in her joy, she unknowingly blurted out a desperate excuse that didn't suit the situation.

In response, Flora burst into a playful laugh as if to say, why are you stating the obvious?

"Ung! I know that too!"

Since Elena's physical condition was still not good, the tearful reunion had to end shortly.

Leaving her room with half regret and half relief, Flora thought of the next person.

"Oppa, Basi!"

"Alright, alright. I was going to go there even if you didn't say anything."

As Flora urged him the moment they left the room, he laughed and nodded.

Just in case, they stopped by the castle's infirmary first, but Basilian was nowhere to be seen.

Thinking they shouldn't miss him again, Flora arrived at his door with an excited face, looking forward to meeting Basilian.

But this time, too, there was no response from inside the room.

Finally, unable to wait any longer, Flora escaped Benio's embrace, landed on the ground, and began knocking wildly on the door.

"Basi, Basi! I'm here!"