As Atanas’s gaze landed on her again, Flora flinched on purpose and buried her head in Mrs. Fini’s arm.
Of course, she didn’t forget to sneak a sideways glance through the gap.
Suspicious. Super suspicious.
“The orphanage facilities are good, and the children all seemed energetic. They get along very well, too.”
“Yes. They’re all kind and wonderful children. They get along with Flora just fine as well.”
“I’m not here to take Flora away right now. If she doesn’t want to…”
Atanas hesitated, then finally said with some difficulty,
“I won’t force her to go with me.”
Apparently, Mrs. Fini hadn’t expected that and drew in a sharp breath in surprise.
“Since Flora says she likes it here, I can’t just drag her away. Of course, if that’s the case, I intend to support this place generously as well.”
Atanas gently touched the rim of his empty teacup, his expression tinged with regret.
“Of course, I’d be happier if Flora chose to come with me…”
Before he could even finish, Flora looked away from him again, and Atanas gave a bitter smile.
“I just want to do what she wants. So please, Flora, don’t be so afraid of me.”
His polite tone prompted Mrs. Fini to nod, though her head was trembling slightly.
After the conversation ended, Atanas stood up and made to leave without hesitation.
But he stopped at the door.
“If it’s alright… I’d like to visit sometimes and get to know Flora a bit better. Would that be acceptable, ma’am? And Flora, would that be alright with you?”
“O-of course. I’ll let the staff know so they can deactivate the barrier when you visit. Please stop by the management office first.”
With Mrs. Fini saying that, how could Flora refuse?
She pouted slightly, then gave a small nod.
“Tank yoo…” (Thank you…)
And with that, it was over.
This time, Atanas left the parlor without looking back.
Ten seconds after he was gone, Mrs. Fini pulled Flora into a tight hug, her hands trembling.
“Why… why did it have to be him…”
It seemed she had forgotten that Flora was right there. Her voice trembled with fear as she held back tears.
“Miss Fini?”
“Oh, Flora. It’s okay, really. At least… he said he would respect your wishes.”
Atanas looked scary, sure, but his personality didn’t seem bad.
He hadn’t looked down on the orphanage, and he had treated Mrs. Fini, a commoner, with full respect. Yet, she was still filled with fear.
Flora couldn’t hold back her curiosity.
“Is dat man a bad pewson?” (Is that man a bad person?)
“Gasp, Flora! Y-you mustn’t say things like that!”
Though Atanas wasn’t anywhere near them, Mrs. Fini still clamped a hand over Flora’s mouth and looked around warily.
Atanas had already left the building long ago.
“…Whew. Well, since he’s your real father, I suppose you deserve to know.”
Tears welled in her eyes, but Mrs. Fini softly stroked Flora’s hair like she always did.
“You know there are four dukes in the Empire, right?”
“Yup~! Da otha fwiends of da Impewiaw Famiwy who beat da Big Demon got made dukes!” (…The other friends of the Imperial Family who beat the Big Demon got made dukes!)
Which is exactly why I’m pissed. All the ducal houses are descended from the ones who killed me in my last life. They’re my mortal enemies!
Just as Flora’s mood was about to turn sour again, Mrs. Fini continued.
“That’s right. Flora is such a smart girl. So… the man who just left is one of those four.”
She hesitated, unsure if she should go on. But then, with a sigh, she told the truth.
“That man is Duke Atanas Lucifer.”
Lucifer? Did she say Lucifer??
It was a name she hadn’t expected to hear here, and before she knew it, Flora was grinding her teeth.
〈I’m so happy to be friends with you. My name is Etar Lucifer. Just call me Etar!〉
Her very first friend.
〈Enemy of humanity. I, Etar Lucifer, will take your life with my own hands!〉
The one who broke their friendship and was the very first to drive a sword through the Archdemon’s heart.
The one who led the charge of betrayal, who gave her the deepest scar.
And now, his descendant was her father?
The sheer absurdity of it made Flora lose all composure.
“Wucifehw??” (Lucifer.)
“Yes. Lucifer. The disgraceful Hero, known as humanity’s traitor. That’s the one.”
“…Huh?”
Humanity’s traitor?
Disgraceful Hero?
Those titles didn’t add up. Flora tilted her head in confusion.
Even in this serious moment, her expression was so cute that Mrs. Fini let out a small laugh, a hint of her fear having faded.
“The first Duke Lucifer was instrumental in defeating the Archdemon but near the end of his life, he tried to use dark magic to resurrect the Archdemon. Thankfully, he failed.”
The more she explained, the harder it became for Flora to keep her jaw from dropping.
According to Mrs. Fini, the first Duke Lucifer had attempted a dark ritual, but it had failed, and he’d died as a result.
With the caster gone, the blame fell on the surviving Lucifers.
People began to doubt the whole bloodline, and the family’s name became notorious—thus the titles: “traitor to humanity” and “disgraceful Hero.”
Though they retained the ducal title in recognition of their past achievements, that was all.
“Even now, after all these years, that disgrace hasn’t been erased. I hear they still undergo regular judgment by the Inquisitors.”
“Judgment? But dey didn’t do anythin’ bad!” (…But they didn’t do anything bad!)
“The Lucifer family’s judgment is a little different. Think of it more as a regular check, to ensure they remember the sins of their ancestor and don’t fall astray.”
“How’s da judg’ment done?” (How’s the judgement done?)
“That… is something you’ll understand better when you’re older. I’ll explain then.”
Mrs. Fini didn’t go into detail, but the Lucifers were clearly still treated with suspicion and scorn.
She was already angry that the man had abandoned her and even angrier that he only now came back.
And now she finds out he’s from that house? The one that betrayed her first? That’s not all. He’s despised and pitied?
And he wanted to take her there?
Flora sprang to her feet.
“Me not goin’!” (I’m not going!)
“F-Flora?”
“Me nevew goin’! Fwowa gonna wive here foweva wif Miss Fini an’ Miss Lian an’ Sissy an’ Bwuddas an’ Sherry!” (I’m never going! Flora is gonna live here forever with Miss Fini and Miss Lian and Sister and Brothers and Sherry!)
“Oh my…”
Mrs. Fini, clearly moved by something else entirely, began to weep softly as she pulled Flora into another warm hug.
“I feel the same, Flora. I want to be there for you even when you grow up, get married, and have children.”
“Miss Fini…”
Between her and Lian, Flora already had more than enough people filling the parental role. Any more affection or attention was just a bother.
Besides, the Archdemon didn’t need parents.
Even worse, if she gained a real family, she wouldn’t be able to treat them like subordinates.
And she didn’t want that.
I’ll cut him off.
Next time he came, she would make sure to reject him clearly.
Thinking that, Flora smiled sweetly at Mrs. Fini.
But at the time, Flora had no idea.
That the day would come when she, overwhelmed with anger, would scream that she would go to House Lucifer.
