Episode 146
"……What did you say?"
No sooner had Flora finished speaking than the boy's expression contorted into sothing even stranger and more nacing than before.
It was clear to anyone he wasn't asking because he misheard. Knowing this well, Flora deliberately repeated herself.
"I said my mood is ruined because of your selfish attitude, worrying about your own well-being first instead of even asking if I was okay after we bumped into each other."
The even more detailed explanation than before made the boy look utterly exasperated as he swept his bangs back.
"Hey, do you know who I......"
Before the boy could even finish, Flora shook her head with a sigh.
"Ugh, whatever. I, being pretty and kind, should just endure it. I can just buy another ice cream. Oh, you said your clothes got dirty, right? Here, I'll give you the cleaning fee."
"Do you think I'm doing this for money……?"
Flora didn't wait for the boy to finish his sentence.
Defiantly, she took the bag Daphne was holding, pulled out a pouch containing about a handful of gold coins, and thrust it toward the boy.
"Here, take it."
"Who do you think you're treating like an underling……?"
Finally unable to hold back, the boy, overco with anger, tried to raise his voice.
"Take it even if you don't need the cleaning fee. Don't use this as an excuse to follow around later."
"Who would follow you……?"
Seeing he had no intention of accepting it, Flora didn't hesitate and grabbed his hand.
He seed startled by the unexpected situation, montarily stiffening in panic, but Flora paid no mind and placed the money pouch on his palm.
The mont she confird he had reflexively grabbed it, she let go. The boy made an 'oops' face.
But as soon as her goal was achieved, Flora imdiately released the boy's hand.
"Honestly. Being too pretty is such a hassle."
"Wha, what……?"
The boy seed so agitated he couldn't speak, his lips twitching.
As his face gradually reddened and Flora turned away without a second thought, the boy's companions, who had been standing around, checked the mood and made way.
"Let's go, Daphne."
"Yes, Young Lady."
Daphne, who had been silently following along with the escort knight, asked in a small voice,
"But even if it's for cleaning, didn't you give a bit too much?"
She seed very worried it might be wasteful.
'It's certainly not a small sum, so she'd be concerned.'
It was enough money not just to clean the clothes but to buy several new outfits. It must be hard to understand giving it to that arrogant brat.
Flora nodded with an understanding expression.
"That's right. It is a lot. But it's better to just give money and end it than to get tangled up in botherso situations later."
"Why? Aren't they just soone you'll see today and that's it?"
"He reminds of soone unlucky."
"Pardon? What does that……"
"Just because."
Though Daphne still looked uncomprehending, seeing that Flora didn't seem inclined to continue the conversation, she tactfully closed her mouth.
'Daphne has a point too.'
In a normal situation, with the escort knight present, she would have made him properly apologize, or rather, she would have thoroughly… no, she would have continued the conversation with him.
So why didn't she?
Just as she told Daphne, it was because he resembled soone so unlucky she didn't even want to look at him.
'Guess blood really does tell.'
The bright blond hair, vividly shining red eyes, and the rather fiercely sharp, upturned eyes made his impression seem even more ill-tempered.
His overall sharp features bore a strong resemblance to the appearance of one of the heroes who killed her in her past life.
'He's definitely from the Desimo Ducal House.'
She had heard there was a child around Flora's age in the Desimo Ducal House, so it was probably him.
'And judging by his not-bad Divine Power, it's certain.'
That level of Divine Power isn't common among ordinary people, and ordinary priests wouldn't wear such expensive clothes.
Expensive, noble-looking clothes and high Divine Power? Plus an appearance that's the spitting image of a hero?
'Anyone can see he's the damn son of the Desimo Duke. Anyway, the unlucky part never changes!'
Rembering how the Desimos imdiately started causing trouble and interfering the mont the Lucifers began their rcenary business made her grind her teeth naturally.
If the developnt of the Lur Bracelet had been even slightly delayed, Count Xenophia Vittora, now her loyal subordinate, would have been found as a cold corpse without a doubt.
'If that Desimo brat had demanded an apology right away, would I have given it? He would have surely flaunted his family na to look down on , and if he found out I was a Lucifer, he would have bragged about having no money or mocked .'
Whether it was true or not, he would have found so way to belittle her. That's just how his disposition seed.
'I don't want to get entangled with him in a different way than with the Bellasia Ducal House kid.'
If that one seed cunning and ill-tempered, this one was closer to seeming downright nasty.
'Anyway, these ducal house kids and their personalities…'
Flora clicked her tongue inwardly.
At least Rosaria was sowhat mild-mannered, but that seven-year-old was already an old soul.
In conclusion, she couldn't help but reach the judgnt that there were no kids with normal personalities in the ducal houses.
'In comparison, the Lucifers are different. Look at my brother. He's on a completely different level from those good-for-nothings.'
He's kind, affectionate, diligent in everything, never blas others, and doesn't spare any effort.
With a reliable stature that seems unbeatable by anyone, combined with the beautiful looks inherited from Athanas and Nersha, it's no wonder he shines especially brightly compared to other heirs.
'Anyway. He looked pretty pissed off thinking he was ignored, right?'
Giving money to that bastard was a waste, but seeing his face so angry he couldn't even speak was worth the price.
'And if I et him again, I can use this to tease him.'
I swear on my na, if I stay in the Imperial Capital, we will definitely et again.
'Just try acting familiar. I won't let it slide.'
She thought it might be a bit harsh for a child, but he was the heir of that wicked, vile family that not only interfered with business but even trespassed into others' territories and released assassins, and on top of that, had a rotten personality.
Having confird that, she couldn't just let it be.
'Still, he's a child, so if he doesn't pick a fight next ti, I should let it slide once. If he ignores and pretends not to know, it's more convenient for anyway.'
"Young Lady, if you're not feeling well, shall we head back now?"
She had been quiet, lost in thought, and it seed to have worried them.
When Flora turned her head with a puzzled expression, Daphne and the escort knight were standing by with worried faces.
"No! I can't waste this precious ti!"
Flora deliberately put on a spirited voice and pointed to another dessert shop across the street.
"Let's go check that place out. I want to see if there's anything to eat with Dad and brother when they co."
Just because the start is bad doesn't an the end has to be bad too.
Flora spent a pleasant ti in the Imperial Capital, smiling brightly.
And unlike her, there was a boy who couldn't contain his rising anger.
"Argh!"
When Flora disappeared without a backward glance, as if he wasn't even worth dealing with, the boy, who had been frozen in exasperation, finally snapped back to reality.
Finally unable to contain himself, the boy shouted in anger, and one of the group asked,
"Are you okay, Yuria?"
"'Am I okay?' How could I be okay?"
The boy, Yuria, with his face flushed bright red, threw the money pouch in his hand to the ground.
The tightly tied string of the pouch ca loose, and its contents spilled out with a clatter.
Seeing it was truly full of gold coins made his face contort even more pitifully.
"Who does she think she is, treating like a beggar!"
Having been thoroughly ignored and even treated like so weirdo hitting on a girl, it was understandable for soone as proud as him to be angry.
After fuming for a while, Yuria finally cald down a bit and asked his group,
"Hey, you guys! Do you know who that girl was?"
He seed ready to storm into Flora's house right then if he knew her identity, but unfortunately, none of them knew who she was.
"No, if you don't know, how would we?"
"Right. It was the first ti seeing that face."
"Honestly, it'd be hard to forget a face that pretty."
At the words accompanied by head shakes, Yuria lost his temper again.
"Pretty? What's so pretty about her? Do you guys think that face is pretty?"
At that, the boys in the group fell silent and exchanged glances.
Objectively speaking, Flora was pretty.
A promising appearance, a confident personality, and an indescribable charm overflowing from head to toe that naturally drew people's eyes.
But no one dared to state the obvious in front of the clearly enraged Yuria Desimo.
"Now that I think about it, maybe not."
At soone's words, Yuria sneered with a condescending expression, as if to say 'see?'
"Anyway, find out which family she's from. I'll make sure she pays dearly for daring to ignore ."
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