novelraw Chapter 90
Chapter 90
Episode 90
"Oppa, I'll always support you. You know that, right?"
"Of course. I know that well."
She spoke maturely, but moisture was gathering in Flora's eyes.
Not wanting to show Benio her tearful state, she abruptly turned her head and made an excuse that was obvious to anyone.
"I forgot I have homework! I gave you the handkerchief, so I'm going in first!"
Until the sight of Flora running off swiftly disappeared, Benio stared at that spot without blinking once.
Only after he saw her enter the castle and vanish from sight did he finally turn his head.
Atanas, who had arrived at some point, looked at his admirable son and spoke with a smile.
"Go and return safely."
"Yes, I will. Please take good care of Flora while I'm gone."
"Of course. Don't worry."
At the satisfactory answer, Benio finally blinked and nodded.
Soon after, Benio mounted his horse, and the carriages carrying the knights accompanying him and the supplies needed for the subjugation set off.
The castle, which had been chaotic with a week of subjugation preparations, fell silent in an instant.
Of course, it soon became even noisier once they noticed Flora's absence.
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While receiving the judgment letter initially made her very angry, for Flora, this was also nothing short of an opportunity.
'As expected, I'm lucky.'
Just when she was thinking she wanted to go to another Demon Forest, she got the chance to go to the Western Demon Forest, a place she'd never been to before!
She was angry at first, but thinking she could use this too, Flora's mind immediately spun in a mischievous direction, creating an excellent act.
She deliberately acted mature, played the part of the little sister holding back tears for all to see, and even made a handkerchief wishing for his safe return, so no one would suspect that Flora would disappear again.
'Although Elena's gaze was a bit piercing.'
So this time too, she transformed the rabbit doll to look like her, then managed to sneak out of the castle by riding on Janet's back, who had transformed into a hawk, barely avoiding detection.
'But this time I left a note, so everyone will just be moderately surprised.'
They'll probably think Benio will take good care of her somehow. So it seemed just right to reunite around the time the subjugation ended and return together.
Of course, this would make the next runaway, no, trip, difficult, but the Flora of that time would handle it.
Leaning against Janet's soft wings, Flora let out a big yawn.
She had stayed up all night for this plan, so it was time for a rest.
'Janet will hide our presence with demonic power, so we won't be caught.'
Using this much demonic power posed a low risk of being detected by Benio, and since she planned to secretly hide in the very last carriage just in case, it should be fine to sleep a little.
Thinking such peaceful thoughts even while running away, Flora fell fast asleep.
Fortunately, as Flora predicted, this time she wasn't discovered sneaking out during the journey.
Flora quickly got off when the carriage stopped and successfully climbed a nearby tree to hide.
Looking around after passing where the Lucifer tents were set up, it was indeed on a different level from the previous Lucifer subjugation.
With Executor Bureau people, nobles, and knights all tangled up, the place was swarming with people, and the preparations were lavish.
'The mercenaries and Lucifer look shabby in comparison.'
She thought they had packed quite thoroughly, but realizing that no matter how well they prepared, they would only look like nouveaux riche trying to emulate the honor-holding wealthy in the others' eyes, irritation washed over her.
'Ugh, these insufferable people.'
Amidst it all, she didn't like that the flat, good-quality land was taken by the nobles, while Lucifer and the mercenaries were assigned to the uncomfortable spots.
'They think only they are precious.'
Humans are all the same anyway, but they don't know their place and think they're so great.
While watching the gathered crowd, Flora clicked her tongue in rising irritation. Then, lightly infusing her feet with demonic power, she hid among the dense trees.
She planned to check the situation appropriately and then sneak into the Demon Forest to absorb demonic power to her heart's content.
Moving between trees with Janet's help to conceal her presence, Flora spotted some familiar people.
'Oh, it's the Red Serpent Mercenary Band.'
The grateful first guild members who joined the guild Lucifer created, and the mercenaries who had taken quite good care of Flora when she was lost in the Demon Forest, were gathered in one spot, talking.
'Basil was right.'
The mercenary band he was with had come here for a mission, and perhaps due to an inner sense of familiarity, her mouth started itching to greet them.
'I must resist.'
If she gets caught here, Benio will give her a solid scolding.
She couldn't show him losing face in front of so many people.
'It's not too late to get scolded back at the ducal castle at least!'
Just as she thought that and was about to turn away.
"What are you doing here?"
"Eek, yelp!"
At the chilly voice coming from behind, Flora was so startled she let out a scream without thinking.
Clutching her pounding heart, she slowly turned around, and a chest bearing a Mercenary Guild identification tag came into view.
Slowly raising her gaze, a familiar face appeared in Flora's golden eyes.
Black hair that slightly covered his neck, as if grown out on purpose, contrasted with his still pale, pretty face.
A boy with sharp eyes that gave a rather keen impression, but with warm green eyes revealed because of it, was looking down at her with a tilted head and a crooked expression.
It was Basilian, who had grown leaps and bounds from the image in her memory.
"You, why are you so tall?"
"I told you in the letters I grew a lot."
"But you're too tall! How tall are you!"
"Don't know. Last month I was about 155cm."
Tall!
Flora recalled the last time she measured her height before coming here.
'I think it was about 120cm.'
Of course, Elena said she was taller than average girls her age and not to worry, but the news that Basilian, only four years older, was over 30cm taller was quite a shock.
"That's unbelievable."
"Isn't you being here more unbelievable?"
Sadly, Flora's shock couldn't last long.
Because Basilian had started pointing things out quite sharply.
"I heard only the Young Duke came from Lucifer. Is your being here something agreed upon with your brother?"
Realizing her plan was on the verge of shattering, Flora's eyes widened for a different reason.
Flora urgently grabbed the hem of Basilian's clothes, smiling with softly curved eyes.
"Hehe, long time no see. Right? I missed you so much, Basil. Didn't you miss me?"
She had tied her hair in twin tails today for comfort, which would only add to her cuteness.
Basilian saw Flora as a cute little sister, so he would inevitably succumb to her fresh charm.
But that wasn't the case.
"……I won't let it slide no matter how prettily you smile. I'm going to tell."
At Basilian's cold answer, Flora's eyes twitched violently, but they say even if a tiger drags you away, as long as you keep your wits, you'll survive.
She had noticed Basilian's shoulder twitch slightly for a split second, despite his firm words.
Thinking it wasn't completely ineffective, confidence welled up in Flora's heart.
"I've grown a lot, right? My pronunciation is better now."
"You're right. It feels like just yesterday you were talking with a lisp."
"You grew so much too, Basil, I was really surprised."
"Don't try to change the subject. I asked why you're here."
Damn, she deliberately smiled sweetly and spoke softly, but it didn't seem very effective.
'How can I get out of this so well that it becomes a legend?'
He used to give in easily before, but now that his head had grown, he didn't seem like he'd let it go.
"You won't tell me your story either, so why should I tell you mine?"
At her grumbling words, Basilian answered without hesitation.
"One person dropped out suddenly, so I'm participating as a reserve mercenary. Unlike someone, I have the guild's legal permission."
"I came out legally too."
"Don't avoid my eyes and talk. Is that true?"
"Well, of course?"
"Nope."
It was quite a good performance, but Basilian, having watched Flora's lovable and vexing sides, instantly recognized it as a lie.
Flora inwardly cursed and clicked her tongue.
'Is there really no way? Am I going to be dragged back like this?!'
But contrary to Flora's thoughts, Basilian was struggling to maintain his expressionless face.
'She's gotten prettier.'
He already thought she was cute and pretty, but he didn't know she'd grow up to be even more lovely than when she was little.
And seeing her greet him with a beautiful smile after so long made his heart in his left chest pound noisily and tumultuously.
'Damn, can she hear it?'
Not wanting to show his flustered state, he deliberately acted even colder, causing Flora to pout noticeably and slump her shoulders.
'Don't make that face! You look like a rabbit, it makes me want to indulge you more!'
On top of that, her hair was a lovely pink that suited her appearance, making it hard to look away.
He tried his hardest to keep his expression neutral, but he couldn't hide the color of his ears.
Flora, who had been deliberately acting pitiful, noticed Basilian's reddening ears and covered her mouth with a sly grin.
'That's more like it. Basilian will always be Basil, even when he's grown up.'
Flora made a quite effective gloomy face, then smoothly spread her arms.
"Aren't you going to hug me after such a long time?"
"……!"