Episode 63
Flora, who was returning to them, smiled brightly at Benio's words.
Naturally, Athanas bent his knee, and Flora spread her arms wide and was embraced by him.
"There's a flower stuck in your hair."
"Will Flora remove it for ?"
"It looks good on you, though."
Though regretful, Flora brushed the petal off Athanas's head.
"Oppa too!"
Then she reached toward Benio and removed the flower stuck to his cheek as well.
The knights watching the peaceful scene of the three family mbers finally realized that warm peace had truly returned to the North.
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"Th-this... is all really ours? The Lucifer Territory's? Really, truly?"
The owner of the trembling voice was none other than Isaac, who had rushed to the Ice Castle.
Before they knew it, a full day had passed and the moon had risen again.
Isaac, who had arrived at the Ice Castle with the knights, was unable to contain his excitent the mont he saw the scene unfolding underground.
Athanas tried to calm him down, but it wasn't easy to subdue soone who had gone mad from the overwhelming sight.
The hero who rescued the princess from the villain received a trendous treasure as a reward. The hero, having obtained a treasure enough to live on for a lifeti, returned to his hotown and lived happily ever after.
"Really, truly amazing! With this much, we can easily launch new businesses!"
The illusion of gold coins floating all around him probably wasn't just a mistake.
As Isaac got excited, the others gathered here finally seed to grasp the value of this Ice Castle, and cheers of astonishnt erupted from their mouths.
'This is it.'
Those who had directly encountered the perfect fairy tale ending couldn't easily quell their excitent.
Flora watched the knights exploring the Ice Castle with flushed faces and smiled proudly.
Although they had faced so hardships, they had defeated the enemy without mishap and safely obtained their reward.
Today was the day they drew a new line for the developnt of the Lucifer household in the warped history.
'Even if the business fails, with this much money, the Imperial Family and the other ducal houses won't be able to treat us lightly.'
Flora's gaze turned to Isaac, who was hopping up and down with joy, not knowing what to do, and to Athanas, who was trying to calm him down.
'And they won't have to do rcenary work just to earn money.'
A pleased smile naturally ford on her face from the swelling sense of accomplishnt.
Flora shrugged her shoulders and imprinted her achievent once again upon everyone.
"I'm the one who told you about all this."
"That's right, it's all thanks to Flora."
This ti, it was his turn, and Benio, who had taken Flora from Athanas, looked down at his sister in his arms and smiled sweetly.
'He's smiling quite well now.'
When she first saw him, he was so blunt, but Benio had changed a lot too.
"Let's go back now. The adults should handle the cleanup."
He was right.
It was getting cold, and she missed Basilian and Elena, who were back at the castle.
But there was sothing she absolutely had to say before leaving. And since Isaac, who absolutely needed to hear this, was right here, now was the perfect ti.
"You know what, Oppa."
"Hmm?"
"I read in a book that Shalias fruit is super, super expensive."
"Ah, that's right. I heard there's a saying it brings luck. I think I also heard it helps with wounds inflicted by monsters..."
"That's not all!"
Flora deliberately raised her voice to draw everyone's attention, then covered her mouth with an "oops" expression.
"It's a secret, but I'll only tell Oppa."
Then she whispered into Benio's ear. Or, to be precise, she pretended to speak softly but spoke loudly enough for everyone around to hear.
"They say monsters are afraid of Shalias fruit! If you carry the fruit, they say all the monsters get scared and run away!"
"...Really?"
"Ung! So Oppa, you must always carry Shalias fruit with you. Okay?"
Benio answered while trying hard to avoid the exceptionally shiny eyes of Isaac, visible over Flora's shoulder.
"I-I will."
"Dad needs it too. And our knights! Everyone needs it. Oppa has to take good care of them. Because they all saved . Okay?"
At Flora's aningful words, the knights around them placed their hands over their hearts and looked at the two siblings with moved expressions.
Even though she felt their proud gazes, Flora pretended not to know and grinned.
"Alright, I will."
Benio also stroked her head, praising her. But the most important highlight remained.
This ti, Flora whispered very softly, just loud enough for Athanas, Isaac, and Benio nearby to hear.
"Ah! And if we give so to the rcenary ajeossis working with us, they won't get hurt and will be safe. Right?"
"...Huh?"
This part seed unexpected, as he showed a slightly flustered reaction.
Certainly, giving such an expensive and precious item to rcenaries for free was no different from foolish talk.
But to pursue the practical value rather than the market price of the item, that level of investnt had to be made boldly. That was the mindset of a businessperson.
"Other people will be jealous, right? Hehe. Everyone will want to work with us. If we say we won't give it to everyone, only to the people who co quickly, then many will co, right?"
Flora laughed like a naive five-year-old who knew nothing.
She could see a look of realization on Benio's face, but he soon pretended not to know and said he wanted to go ho now, burying his face in Benio's embrace.
"...Alright, let's leave the rest to the adults and go back now."
Thanks to Benio adjusting his hold, Flora could clearly see it.
Isaac's face, with gold coins floating in his pupils.
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It seed she had poured too much energy into acting.
"Uung."
Flora rubbed her eyes, yawned widely, and looked around.
'Looks like I dozed off.'
Blinking her heavy eyes to clear her vision, she saw the familiar interior of the castle.
As sleep slowly began to leave her, she felt her body swaying at a steady pace.
"Are you awake?"
"Uung."
She buried her face in his chest, acting spoiled.
"Don't rub your eyes. Are you still very sleepy? Even if you're sleepy, hold on a little longer. We need to have a proper al when we get there... I should ask Zamira to have a al brought to your room."
Pity once again clouded Benio's eyes.
It was a natural reaction, thinking she had probably only eaten the military rations the knights brought or dried jerky, since the demon of the Ice Castle wouldn't have bothered feeding her.
"I'm awake..."
Sleepiness washed over her again at his affectionate voice.
The mont she jerked her head up to wake herself, she t Benio's sharp jawline.
'I almost hit it.'
Resembling Athanas, even though he wasn't yet an adult, Benio's facial features were distinctly assertive. Even the jawline that seed to veil his eyes, nose, and mouth.
'It seems even bigger after not seeing him for a few days.'
While feeling a sense of pride, she secretly looked forward to seeing just how big he would get.
'Hurry and grow up so we can look down on all those other ducal house bastards.'
"Should I just let you sleep...?"
She heard his voice, filled with worry and concern, wondering what to do.
His voice, telling her she should wake up, was gentle and soft, like a lullaby.
Flora put strength into her eyes, which were trying to close again.
'I mustn't sleep.'
If they were back at the castle, she needed to move quickly. Because there were two people she needed to visit.
"Oppa, I'm not going to my room. I need to go see Elena and Basi."
"Both of them are probably resting in their respective rooms."
"I just want to see if they're okay. Okay?"
"Hmm."
Benio fell into brief thought, rembering the two who were more injured than expected.
It was hard for him to readily decide, thinking that the kind-hearted Flora might feel guilty upon seeing the two injured people.
"Both got hurt because of . I have to see them. I won't cry and will be quiet."
If she said this much, even Benio couldn't stop her. He turned his steps toward the annex where Basilian lived.
"Alright, but if they're sleeping, you co out quietly. It's a promise."
Now quite familiar with handling Flora, Benio thrust out the pinky finger of his right hand toward her.
"Ung, promise!"
Perhaps because of the ten-year age difference, Flora's finger rely rested lightly on Benio's finger when they linked.
Looking down at his adorable younger sister, Benio had to desperately hold back from laughing at the trendous difference.
'I wonder when she'll grow up.'
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The two who had made a serious promise quietly arrived at Basilian's room. But Basilian, the room's owner, wasn't there.
"He probably went to receive treatnt. How about we go see Elena first?"
So that Flora, who was looking sullen and full of worry, wouldn't be disappointed, Benio naturally turned his steps toward Elena's room.
Fortunately, the servants' quarters and the annex weren't far apart, so they could arrive quickly.
Knock knock.
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