Episode 81
A punishnt where he personally experiences his plans falling apart just as the goal is within reach seems appropriate.
"There's nothing more pathetic than soone who lets their guard down. Count, you'll need to put on a little act for a while."
Flora smiled sweetly.
It was clearly the appearance of a lovely girl, so why did he feel an eerie chill?
As he watched quietly, Count Vittora ran a hand over his arm, which had broken out in goosebumps, thinking he should never cross her when she smiled like that.
"Yes, I'll do anything I can!"
Of course, he didn't forget to maintain the professional deanor of not showing it outwardly.
It was a fitting attitude for soone becoming Flora's subordinate.
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To deceive Marquis Strode, they needed a place for Count Vittora to hide for a while.
Fortunately, they were in the forest, and with Janet's help, they could go to the Ice Castle in the Demon Forest, evading people's eyes.
"This place is......"
"It's a place for you to stay for a bit. You must wait here quietly until I call for you."
Count Vittora nodded at Flora's words, but he was too busy marveling, mouth agape, at the wondrous and beautiful sight of the Ice Castle spread before his eyes.
"How can one build and maintain a castle like this out of ice? The forest temperature isn't even that low, it's amazing."
No, it seed he was marveling at its peculiarity, not its beauty.
"You have to stay here until the contest. Understood?"
"Yes, yes. Of course. Certainly. I'll wait quietly here until you call . Would it be alright if I researched how the Ice Castle is maintained?"
Are all alchemists like this?
Flora looked at the Count with slightly exasperated eyes, but thinking of his ordeal, she nodded.
"This Ice Castle is where the Northern demon lived. It's probably maintained by demonic energy, but if you want to research it, go ahead."
"Huh?"
Even though she had kindly explained for his sake, the admiration in his eyes vanished rapidly, replaced by fear.
It seed a demon was still a demon, even when dead.
Seeing how it evoked this learned fear proved it.
'Well, he's not a knight, so it's understandable to be scared.'
Janet, sitting quietly on Flora's shoulder, puffed out her chest proudly. She seed pleased.
Flora, habitually tapping and stroking the sparrow's head, pointed to the Ice Castle.
"It's my castle now, so don't be scared and go inside."
"Huh? M-? You don't an alone, do you?"
"I have to go back since I ca out without anyone knowing."
"C-Can't you stay with ?"
"An adult should act like an adult."
At the cold scolding, Count Vittora whined with a frightened face. A grown adult acting like that was just creepy.
Flora pointed her index finger at the Ice Castle.
"Go in."
"But!"
"There's a Shalias tree in the castle basent. If it's for research purposes, you're free to examine it."
"Gasp! You should have told that first! Then I'll wait quietly there, writing a new research report and business plan while I wait!"
Is it that alchemists are strange, or is the talented person Flora chose strange?
Flora watched the Count's back as he hurriedly ran into the Ice Castle with a cold, disapproving look, then shook her head side to side.
"Let's go back for now."
She had made the monsters flee back to the deep mountain ranges the mont the Lucifer knights appeared, so Atanas would be returning soon.
'He'll definitely stop by my room.'
On days when monsters appeared, he always checked if Flora was safe right before she fell asleep, so he would likely do the sa this ti.
She could fool Elena, but she probably couldn't fool Atanas or Benio. After all, they were Lucifers and possessed divine power.
Flora climbed onto Janet's back, who had transford back into a hawk, and shouted.
"Alright, let's go!"
Her first transgression had ended successfully.
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Arriving back at her bedroom window, evading everyone's eyes, Flora carefully sat on the windowsill and peered inside.
Luckily, Elena was dozing off, nodding her head.
'My luck really is sothing.'
Flora, praising herself, gave an order to Janet, who had returned to her sparrow form.
"Janet, from now on, you secretly tail Marquis Strode. If he exchanges any suspicious letters or such, you must get your hands on them sohow. Understood?"
「Yes, leave it to . I will definitely find the evidence.」
Janet truly understood ten things when told one; she was so convenient.
Flora lightly kissed the top of the sparrow's head and sent her off on her mission.
Then, she carefully opened the window and approached the bed, quieting her steps so as not to wake the still-sleeping Elena.
As she approached, the rabbit doll that had taken Flora's form returned to its original shape.
As Flora scrambled into the bed, a rustling sound must have been heard, because the dozing Elena shuddered and woke from her sleep.
"Young Lady?"
"Mmh, Elena."
As Flora pretended to have just woken up with a sleepy voice, Elena smiled softly and reached out her hand.
"You're awake? Do you need to use the bathroom? Or did you have a bad dream?"
Naturally picking Flora up, she opened her half-closed eyes wide and, with a startled expression, hurriedly put the child down on the bed.
"Oh my goodness, why is your body so cold?"
"Huh?"
Well, that was because she had just been outside and hurriedly co back in.
She hadn't had ti to warm up because Elena was so sensitive to even small sounds, so it couldn't be helped.
But Flora, pretending to know nothing, opened her eyes wide and tilted her head.
"Nothing, Elena is warm."
"Oh my. I must stoke the fireplace fire imdiately."
Elena hugged Flora tightly to warm her with her body heat, then placed her on the bed and covered her with the blanket up to her chin. She was about to ask Daphne, who was waiting outside the door, to bring more firewood.
Knock, knock. A voice calling for Flora was heard along with the knock.
"Flora, may I co in?"
It was a polite question, even though he could have just entered, as it was naturally ti for her to be asleep.
Flora answered imdiately.
"Okay!"
The door opened imdiately, and instead of the expected Atanas, Benio strode briskly into the room.
It felt like seeing him after a long ti, so a wave of happiness washed over her, and Flora sprang up and ran dododo toward the door.
As Flora spread her arms, Benio naturally picked her up and lifted her.
"You're not asleep yet?"
"I woke up a little while ago. I think I woke up because I knew Oppa was coming."
Heehee. At her bright laughter, a smile spread across Benio's lips. He stroked Flora's head and glanced at Elena as if to ask if it was true.
When Elena nodded, his face finally showed belief, which was a bit annoying, but she decided to let it slide since she had a history of causing incidents like kidnappings.
And her conscience pricked a bit since she actually had gone out and co back.
"Did you co because you missed ?"
When she asked with an innocent face, Benio dropped his pretense.
"I just ca to check if you were sleeping well."
But soon, as if thinking that wasn't right, he imdiately corrected himself.
"No. I ca because I missed you. And to check if you were sleeping well."
"Why? Did sothing happen?"
"Sothing happened? It's just the sa as always. And I said I ca because I missed you? Don't you believe your brother?"
Perhaps worried that Flora might be concerned, Benio didn't ntion the news about the monsters.
Seeing him now naturally joking with Flora made him seem quite like a teenager his age, and a sense of pride welled up inside her.
"You said it wasn't at first."
"I ca because I missed you. And to see if my lovely little sister is having sweet dreams."
Along with the affectionate voice, a light kiss landed on her forehead.
At the loving kiss, Flora giggled brightly.
"You're still not asleep even though it's late?"
In the midst of the warm atmosphere between the siblings, another welco voice was heard from beyond the open door.
This ti, it was Atanas who had co, just as Flora expected.
"Dad!"
Overjoyed, she reached her arms out toward Atanas, but another welco figure appeared behind him.
"Isaac!"
Flora moved the arms she had spread for Atanas and reached out toward Isaac.
Atanas, who had stretched out his arms to hug her, froze on the spot, but Isaac, true to his brazen nature as an aide, paid no mind and picked Flora up.
"Young Lady, did you miss ?"
At his quite pleased voice, Flora nodded vigorously.
'Perfect. I wanted to go find him right away.'
Flora hugged Isaac's neck and whispered softly into his ear.
"I sent the Count to the Ice Castle."
"……Huh?"
"Get the details from the Count. Understand?"
Isaac, who imdiately understood who the 'Count' was, nodded for now.
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