The Baby Villain Dreams of Conquering the World

Chapter 71

Episode 71

'Mountain after mountain.'

Whether he knew Flora was thinking this or not, Athanas greeted them with a happy expression.

"I had some business earlier, so I couldn't welcome you personally. Please don't feel too disappointed."

"It's our fault for visiting so suddenly. We should have contacted you earlier and come to pay our respects, but we're only sorry for being so late."

The one speaking affably was, of course, Marquis Strode, the oldest and most influential among them.

'White goatee... So that guy is the highest-ranking one, I see.'

She had recognized him since he yelled at her earlier, he seemed quite authoritative.

Flora pretended to be frightened and clung tightly to Athanas's chest.

Understanding perfectly that she meant not to let her go, he didn't put her down, and the vassals' attention turned to the child.

"So this is truly the Young Lady."

"We hadn't heard the news that you had found her, so we were so surprised. That you've finally found her, we sincerely congratulate you."

"Indeed... Now that I see her, she's the spitting image of the Duchess."

"We were so shocked when we saw her earlier that we couldn't even greet her properly. It's a relief you've returned safely to the ducal castle."

At the flattery that only came out in front of Athanas, Flora buried her face in his chest to hide it.

"Flora?"

Perhaps surprised that the always confident and lively child was suddenly being shy, Athanas called her name.

"Uung, earlier everyone wasn't this kind. They got angry at me?"

A small bomb was dropped in the cheerful atmosphere.

"What do you mean, Flora?"

"The guests came, and I was sitting in the office to welcome them instead of Dad, but everyone got angry."

Only then did Athanas's face harden as he realized she wasn't being shy but was scared of them.

His already fierce-looking appearance combined with his disappeared smile caused the temperature in the dining hall to drop instantly.

"Ahahaha, earlier we were all so flustered we didn't have the presence of mind to welcome you properly. Since we hadn't heard anything about the Young Lady, you see. It seems the Young Lady felt very disappointed."

Marquis Strode, who had been so boldly angry and demanding earlier, stepped forward.

It seemed he wanted to defuse the situation, but the sulking, no, angry Flora had no intention of letting it go.

She was full of intentions to thoroughly crush their spirit so they couldn't act recklessly, so it was only natural.

"Ung, all the people in our castle like me, but these ajeossis don't like me, so I thought it was strange. Do they all like shiny things more?"

"Shiny things?"

"Dad's office is shiny and pretty, right? Since it became pretty, they kept looking only at that and the papers on the desk."

The confident, self-assured words seemed childlike and lively, but the faces of those who understood the following words stiffened.

Not only did they barge into the family head's office without permission, but it was no different from saying they rummaged through it recklessly.

Around the time cold sweat was about to break out as they wondered if this small child had been quietly monitoring them on purpose, Flora smiled brightly and said.

"Isn't it strange? I'm prettier, so why are they paying attention to other things?"

"Ahaha, actually, we couldn't take our eyes off the Young Lady, but we didn't show it because we were afraid of scaring her."

When someone answered wittily with a laughing voice, the atmosphere finally lightened a little.

"That's right. Our faces are quite intimidating, you see."

"But the scariest one is our Dad's face."

"F-Flora?"

At Flora's words, Athanas's pupils shook.

He knew his expression was quite strong, but just knowing it and hearing it directly from his daughter delivered a shock on a completely different level.

"Anyway, Flora is an unwelcome presence."

When she muttered with moistened eyes as if about to shed tears any moment, the arm holding the child tightened.

"That can't be. Flora, how much, how much you are a precious existence to us."

"I'm a precious existence to Dad, but not to the vassal ajeossis."

At the sullen voice, the surroundings fell silent.

She could feel people quietly gauging the situation.

Those with any sense would have noticed that the Lucifers cherished Flora greatly and wouldn't take the child's remarks lightly.

"If I'm precious, if you're happy to meet me... then you should apologize for getting angry at me and bring gifts."

Flora quietly delivered a heavy blow.

"Hing, and they didn't even bring gifts to meet Dad after so long."

She kept emphasizing to Athanas that they had no manners as vassals, no sense, and that their attitude was rotten from the start.

Anyway, she felt bad because she could subtly sense from their actions how these money-grubbing fools viewed the Lucifers.

'Should I stop here for now?'

Judging by Athanas and Benio's unyielding expressions, it seemed they wouldn't take it lightly or just let it slide even if the conversation flow changed.

'At least they'll harbor some caution, I hope.'

Please, please don't just let it go easily, Flora hoped as she returned to the appearance of an innocent, naive child who knew nothing.

"Dad, I'm hungry."

"...Alright, let's all sit first."

As if those words were a signal, everyone took their assigned seats. Fortunately, the atmosphere wasn't too bad after that.

Starting with inquiries about whether everyone had been well, the adults' proper conversation continued.

Flora diligently ate the meal placed before her, discreetly got rid of the broccoli while avoiding her family's eyes, and simultaneously picked up on the conversation flowing across the table.

"We heard you subjugated the Northern demon this time. It's a relief you returned safely without injury."

"With the Northern monsters, we thought business progress would be difficult this year too, but thanks to the family head, the territory's people can live peacefully through the seasons following winter."

The conversations filled with praise were full of pleasant words for anyone to hear.

"How about using this opportunity to shed the malicious image surrounding the North and start anew?"

"The Temple and the Executor Bureau won't be able to ignore our North anymore!"

"That's right. Since you've even subjugated the demon, it's an opportunity to develop the North's new resources and spread your influence more widely!"

As slightly more serious conversations began, Athanas quietly drank only the water in his glass and listened carefully to their talk.

Encouraged by his attentive attitude, the excited vassals worked hard to persuade him, opening their mouths enthusiastically.

"We heard the civil engineering and copper vein operations are resuming. How about expanding the scope of activity and increasing production with this opportunity? Our house has many excellent civil engineers!"

"We heard you discovered gold and magic stone mines this time. How about expanding business through new items in this area?"

"That's right. Our house also has a trusted merchant group if you're considering it, we could arrange for good people to proceed!"

They were enthusiastically blowing their own trumpets, beating drums and gongs among themselves, without even thinking about who would give them anything.

Flora chewed carrot pieces while listening to their arguments and glanced at Athanas.

His very serious expression made her afraid he might actually give them minor business rights.

"It's true that Lucifer is somewhat short on manpower."

'...I thought he might give them something, but he's not really going to, is he? What about them makes him trust them enough to give them anything!'

Flora looked at Athanas with the urge to spit out the juice she was drinking.

But he was seriously lost in thought.

When she sharply turned her head to look at Isaac, she could see his pupils shaking.

He clearly looked afraid that Athanas might make a decision right then.

'Escape first! We absolutely cannot let him make a decision here!'

If manpower is lacking, they could use the vassals.

But that should only be done under the precondition that they are trustworthy entities, and no matter how short-handed they are, shouldn't those who intend to swindle them be kept out!

It was just as Flora was about to get up from her seat.

The young man with navy blue hair sitting at the very end cautiously opened his mouth.

"While other businesses are important too, I found the operation of the Mercenary Guild to be quite impressive. Although mercenaries aren't treated well in our society, aren't they absolutely necessary for us?"

At his words, the table fell silent as if water had been poured over it. The silence was so extreme it made one wonder if this was right.

"As expected, taking after your father, Count Vittora also seems very interested in progressive businesses. The previous Count, perhaps because he was young, always turned his eyes to new ventures too."

At the comment that it was a good attempt even if there were no results, laughter finally burst out around them.

Flora clenched her small fist and trembled with rage.

'Are they making fun of my business idea right now?'

They are people who don't know that the mercenary business started from Flora's words.

But who cares?

Anyway, it was clear they were mocking the business Flora created, and although she didn't show it, she was already anxious about when it would turn a profit, and this was like pouring oil on fire.

'I've memorized all of you who laughed. Know that you won't get even a single drop of broth.'

Even if they didn't know the idea originated from Flora, the mercenary business was also an operation conducted under Athanas's command.

But they completely ignored the ducal house's business because it wasn't profitable, which was also a great fault.

'Calm down. I'm too excited right now.'

Anyway, humans only move for profit.

While she wanted to drive out the swindlers, if that wasn't possible, it was right to only keep around vassals who could be reasonably considered and used.

'Like that awake person over there, for example.'

Flora's gaze turned toward the dejected Count Vittora.

She felt relieved to have found at least one usable person.

'Then shall I try some tricks now?'

"Dad, Flora is sleepy."

Flora raised her hand brightly, drawing everyone's attention to her.

"Right, it has gotten late."

A faint smile appeared on the lips of Athanas, who had been seriously lost in thought.

With a face full of affection for anyone to see, the vassals gauged the situation and chimed in.

"We were so focused on conversation we didn't realize it had gotten this late."

"Have sweet dreams, Young Lady."

"If you have scary dreams, come running anytime. I'll chase them all away for you."

Though it's their future that will be chased away, Flora just smiled.

"It seems the conversation will be long, so Benio, please take her to her room."