Episode 31
To another territory, and a Count's house at that!
'Ah, what about the Ducal House's prestige?'
And they're leaving today, no less!
No wonder it felt strange when they suddenly woke up to have breakfast together.
It seems they intended to tell abruptly.
Hearing on the very day that her family was leaving for a distant subjugation mission was so disconcerting and left Flora's heart in turmoil.
'This is exactly why it seems like it's really because of what I said three days ago.'
She wondered if her exclamation about being poor, spurred on by Isaac without her realizing it, had struck a nerve with Athanas.
"It was a prearranged promise, but things have been so hectic I'm only telling you now. It's absolutely not a dangerous matter."
Lies.
Seeing the distrust plain on Flora's face, Benio nodded and added an explanation.
"The Stoa Territory is located a bit to the west from here, so it's not far. We're just subjugating interdiate-level monsters, so it won't even take a week to return."
The two seed to think Flora was opposing the journey because she rembered when Benio got hurt.
'Of course, that's a little concerning too...'
Flora was about to sigh, 'Ugh,' but swallowed it back under Benio's gaze.
'I can't even sigh freely because I have to be mindful of their reactions.'
"You could have told earlier."
When Flora spoke with a sullen face, the two exchanged glances.
Athanas was caught in a dilemma.
'Should I leave Benio behind after all?'
It hadn't even been a month since Flora ca to the territory; if the whole family was away, his young daughter might tremble with anxiety.
'But the success reward for this subjugation is quite high. If we go this once, it seems we could stay only in the territory until next spring.'
Since Lucifer blood commanded a high price, it was more efficient for Benio to go along too.
Benio, knowing this, had agreed to go without complaint.
'Is it okay to leave her behind...?'
But facing Flora now, even Benio's resolve began to waver.
"Okay."
In the end, before the two could even step in, Flora gave up first.
While relieved by Flora's surrender, the two also felt a bit disappointed inside. After the al, they tried to hug and console her, but...
"I don't wanna. I don't wanna be hugged either."
Flora left the dining room after delivering this shocking statent to the father and son. Elena, who followed imdiately after, picked Flora up in her arms when the girl, having walked for a while, grew tired.
"The two masters will be departing on a journey soon. Is it alright to part like this? You should at least see them off."
"I don't do see-off things."
"They will be very hurt."
"Ah, I don't wanna, I said I don't know!"
Flora shook her head vigorously. Her face was thoroughly sulky.
"Don't be too upset. The masters told you only on the day because they were worried about you, Young Lady."
"Hmph."
It was a suprely sulky reaction, but just as Elena said, it wasn't that she couldn't understand the father and son's feelings.
In fact, having stord out of the dining room without looking back, her sulky feelings had diminished sowhat.
However, if asked why she was still sulking...
'If they're going to the Demon Forest anyway, how nice would it be if they took along too.'
It was because she felt twisted inside, thinking they were going to a fun place without her.
Of course, to others, the Demon Forest was a dangerous place, but to Flora, it was no different from a fun picnic spot.
'Of course, I don't want to et the demons in this form... But I still hate being left out!'
But the two were absolutely not the kind of people to take a young child like Flora to the Demon Forest.
'I'm jealous, so jealous.'
She grew thoroughly pouty, feeling like she would go crazy with envy for the two who could go to the Demon Forest whenever they wished.
"Even if the two masters leave, others will take good care of you, Young Lady. I'm here too, aren't I?"
Elena smiled faintly and gently smoothed Flora's disheveled hair.
It wasn't a cautious, affectionate touch, but at least she didn't show the sa disgusted reaction as before.
'Did her heart soften a bit from our last conversation?'
Or perhaps she had switched her stance to maintain professionalism, even if her heart hadn't softened.
"We can play tag and hide-and-seek. I'll read you fairy tales and teach you Northern nursery songs too."
Elena's eyes were filled with anticipation as she said this.
In truth, Elena's heart was pounding with excitent.
'The ti when those two are away is my chance.'
Flora was not yet officially introduced to the vassals as the Young Lady of the house.
'They said there are no subjugation plans for a while after this one.'
There would be no better ti to kidnap her than now, when so few people knew about Flora.
While conceiving a grand plan, Elena whispered sweetly to Flora.
But then, Flora suddenly seed to realize sothing, made a blank expression, and then started giggling.
"Hey, Elena."
"Yes, Young Lady."
"I wanna play hide-and-seek right now."
"Right now? Are you really not going to see the two masters off?"
"Yep. Since they knew and didn't tell on purpose, those two have to be hooooned."
Flora clenched her small fist and lightly pressed it against her own forehead, mimicking a light thump.
"So, no goodbyes. Tell them what I said later, Elena."
"...Yes, understood."
Elena was taken aback for a mont, but then nodded, thinking this was also a good developnt.
'May you experience how painful it is for a child to leave your side without even a final goodbye.'
Erasing the mory of the day of the catastrophe she experienced from her mind, Elena smiled faintly.
"Okay, Elena, you're 'it' first. I'll hide first, so you have to find well, okay?"
"Yes, then I'll count to 100 right here and then co find you."
"Okay!"
Flora got down from Elena's arms and started running down the corridor in the direction she was going to go.
Elena leaned against the wall, covered her eyes, and started counting the seconds, but she lifted her head even before reaching 100.
"It's probably best to find her as late as possible."
Since she had a little ti now, this was also an opportunity.
Elena moved to write a letter to the suspicious stranger who had sent her here.
And she would co to regret this decision for a long, long ti afterward.
· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · · · · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·
The sound of a rough carriage and people murmuring could be heard.
Benio, leading the way on horseback, let out an uncharacteristic sigh.
"Benio."
Even with Athanas's call, which carried a warning to focus since he was riding a horse, Benio couldn't easily concentrate.
It was only natural, as he had left without even saying goodbye to Flora, who was thoroughly sulking before their subjugation journey began.
"Flora seems really angry. She didn't even say goodbye..."
At the sound of his son's despondent voice, the veins on Athanas's hand, holding the reins, bulged with the force he applied.
"Flora must be acting that way because she's worried about us."
"It seems we are the ones filled with worry."
"...That's right. I am very worried, not being able to see her face before leaving."
Athanas let out a sigh, just as Benio had done.
After running out of the dining room, Flora started playing hide-and-seek with the maid and wouldn't co out no matter how much they called.
Having already passed the departure ti because they were having breakfast with Flora, the two could delay no longer.
〈It seems the Young Lady is still in a sulk. She must be hiding and asleep sowhere. I will find her and console her well, so please don't worry too much and have a safe trip.〉
On the words of Zamira and Elena, Flora's personal maid, the two had no choice but to embark on their journey, unable to fully erase their worried hearts.
"She is still at an age where it's difficult to understand the family's circumstances. So, this reaction is natural."
"She didn't grow up outside, did she? I think it's fine if she learns the weight of the na Lucifer a little later."
"Let's just return safely and unhard. If we do, perhaps we can receive a proper send-off next ti we go on a subjugation."
"Yes, I will try my best."
Right now, as the father and son made new resolutions, Flora was fast asleep.
However, unlike what Elena had said, her napping spot was not the ducal residence.
At the very back of the short procession, in the farthest corner of the food supply wagon.
Flora, her whole body wrapped in a cloak, was sleeping there, using the cloth covering the dried food as a blanket, holding her breath.
Having hastily left to play hide-and-seek, she had used her demonic power, sothing she hadn't done in a long ti to evade people's eyes and sneak into the supply wagon at the very end of the procession.
No one had anticipated a child hiding in a supply wagon, so no one noticed.
"Pheeew."
The sound of her breathing in her deep sleep was masked by the noise of the rough carriage movent, allowing Flora to safely pass through the city gates and enter the vicinity of the Demon Forest along with the group.
"Ah, a group of rcenaries is visible ahead!"
What woke the soundly sleeping Flora was soone's loud shout.
"Ughh."
Flora's eyes snapped open, and she looked around, realizing she hadn't been discovered yet, and giggled drowsily.
"Let repeat! There are two rcenary bands together ahead. His Grace the Duke has ordered us to set up camp near the rcenary bands as previously planned and wait!"
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