Chapter 89
After that, it was obvious even without looking.
Flora really got scolded until all her tears were gone.
Benio had witnessed the entire scene—Flora had left without permission, refused to reflect on her actions, and tried to silence Basilian to keep the secret—so there was no way for her to make excuses.
Kneeling on the tent bed with her hands raised, Flora’s face looked both wronged and sorrowful.
“I won’t let my past self off easy.”
Who knows what kind of nerve she had to think she could get away with it once caught.
“Is it really hard for you?”
Noticing her trembling hands, Basilian, standing beside her with hands raised in punishment as well, asked carefully.
Flora shook her head. She knew she was at fault and showed no attempt to defend herself, a firm determination to accept the punishment as it was.
“Is this the kind of punishment given when there’s a big age difference? Seems the young marquis is quite remarkable in many ways.”
Even if her status were hidden, there would be no noble child who could punish the crown prince like this.
“Well, if you did wrong, you deserve to be scolded.”
Although it would have been natural to feel unfair, she didn’t feel upset.
Yes, Benio’s punishment carried clear and unmistakable affection, so she understood that this was a punishment given with care.
“So Flora will quietly accept it too, I suppose.”
Unfortunately, that wasn’t entirely true. She was just wise enough to know that any attempt to argue here would only increase her punishment.
And she felt a faint guilt at causing disruption at Lucifer Castle, so she quietly accepted it.
What was certain was that Flora, even if she cursed her past self, would make the same choice again if given the same opportunity.
She was simply annoyed at her past self’s thoughtless actions, not regretful of her decision.
Of course, she kept her composure, showing no sign of this annoyance.
Seeing her deeply reflecting, Benio lowered both their hands.
“Flora, do you know what you did wrong?”
Flora lowered her arms and nodded with a remorseful expression.
“What did you do wrong?”
“You left the house without telling anyone, even though your family would have worried.”
“And…”
“And you didn’t go to your brother, trying to hide.”
“And…”
“And when Basil found out, you asked him to keep it a secret.”
“Why is that wrong?”
“Because you tried to lead a friend down the wrong path.”
Hearing her answers flow smoothly, Benio finally relaxed his furrowed brows.
He asked one last question.
“Flora, did you do wrong, or not?”
“I did. I won’t do it again.”
Of course, she didn’t know when the “next time” would be, but she promised anyway to get through the situation.
“That’s right. You shouldn’t do this again, understood?”
“Mm-hm.”
“Now, come here.”
Benio opened his arms, and Flora sniffled, burying herself in his embrace.
She had never been scolded this seriously before, except by Teacher Lian at the Phini Orphanage, and it stung quite a bit.
“Benio really is a brother who acts when he needs to.”
Flora pressed her face against his broad chest, trying not to let the tears fall.
“Even though he knows I’m not struggling much just by raising my hands, he gave me this as a punishment—fine, I’ll forgive him.”
Although Flora was the one at fault, she didn’t feel regretful, which made her mindset rather brazen.
“Does Basilian know he did wrong too?”
“Yes, he was just going along with Flora’s lies.”
“Don’t do that again. What would have happened if you both got into a dangerous situation?”
Feeling genuinely concerned, Basilian nodded sheepishly.
Benio paused for a moment, then loosened one arm from around Flora.
“Are you saying I should hug him too?”
Hearing Basilian’s alarmed voice, Benio nodded. Since they had both done wrong, it wasn’t fair for only Flora to receive comfort.
It was meant to be fair, but Basilian was flustered.
Seeing his panic, Flora quietly reached out to him.
“What are you doing? Come on, hug me.”
At Flora’s prompting, Basilian ended up in Benio’s arms, his whole body stiff and looking incredibly awkward.
Secretly, he vowed that the moment of reconciliation, hugging each other, had been far harder than being punished with raised hands.
“So, why did you follow me again this time?”
During a modest evening in the tent, Benio asked while handing Flora her favorite potato soup.
Chewing diligently, Flora didn’t hesitate to give her previously thought-out excuse while accepting her punishment.
“I wanted to learn what Lucifer’s duty is too.”
“……”
“I’m also a Lucifer, so it’s unfair if only Dad and you bear that burden.”
“You’re still too young.”
“Aren’t you still young too?”
Sometimes, Benio wondered who was truly the adult, sighing with a troubled expression.
Damn.
She was far too mature for her age.
Like a Lucifer raised outside, she could have indulged in childish whims and done whatever she wanted.
She would have learned soon enough anyway.
Flora was already seven, and soon she would face the despair every Lucifer must endure.
Until then, he wanted her to remain bright and carefree—was that too much to hope for?
Suppressing a bitter smile, Benio returned to his responsible older-brother demeanor.
“I see. You made me worry.”
“No, Dad and you did enough. I just didn’t want the family to suffer because I’m too smart, kind, and good-hearted.”
Basilian, sitting beside her, looked at her in astonishment.
Even he couldn’t find fault in Flora’s statement.
Her confidence made her charm undeniable, though he wished she wouldn’t act this way in front of others.
Why do I feel embarrassed instead of her?
“What, Basil, are you embarrassed for me?”
“When did I ever say that?”
Basilian raised his voice, caught off guard, while Flora narrowed her eyes.
He shouted immediately:
“It’s not just that you’re pretty; you’re smart, kind, and good-hearted—so why would I be embarrassed?”
“Hmm, really? Okay, I’ll let it go.”
Flora giggled, covering her mouth as she looked at Basilian’s flushed face.
Damn.
Basilian ignored all other thoughts and focused on his soup.
Anyway, she’s cute.
Her emotions were so visible on her face that she was just too easy to tease.
“You shouldn’t tease friends.”
“I’m not teasing, really.”
Flora, playing innocent, diligently enjoyed her soup alongside Basilian.
“But how did you find me so quickly, Brother?”
“I set up magic stone communicators in the castle for situations like this. Portable ones are linked to it as well.”
Benio pulled out a trendy magic stone communicator to show her.
“What? Something so expensive?”
“You know better than anyone that your older brother earns enough to buy things like this without worry, right?”
Flora clamped her mouth shut. She had thought to call it a waste, but he clearly earned enough to spend freely.
“You didn’t buy it just for me, did you?”
“Well, that’s one reason, I guess.”
He answered casually, even when she asked jokingly.
“Ugh, unfair.”
“You ran away like this, so what’s there to be unfair about?”
Once a completely innocent, defenseless bear, Flora’s mischief could now be met with Benio’s quick comebacks.
The warm chatter ended as soon as the meal did.
“First, we should let them know you participated in this journey… right?”
Benio sighed, clearly reluctant to announce it. Flora eagerly nodded, determined to inform them after returning from the Devil’s Forest.
Since a meeting was coming soon, it would be revealed then.
Glancing at the time, Benio shook his head.
“No, actually—it’s better not to tell them.”
“What? Why?”
“You can’t send someone who’s just starting to swing a sword into the Devil’s Forest.”
Flora puffed her cheeks, clearly disappointed.
“Do you think the Devil’s Forest is a place to play around? Listen to your brother.”
Even Basilian sided with Benio. They were in perfect sync, almost like siblings rather than Flora and Benio.
“They’re cunning and cruel, more than you think.”
“I know that too.”
“No, you don’t.”
No matter how pouting Flora was, Benio replied sharply and firmly.
“I won’t throw my sister to those snake-like, cunning, evil creatures. I can’t just watch.”
His cool, steady tone made Flora’s whining stop instantly.
“It’s better this way than having an accident.”
He added that regretting it afterward wouldn’t change anything.
Where was the naive little bear? Now, she seemed more like a grizzly, ready to tear enemies apart.
Flora couldn’t help but nod.
