This Three Year Old Is a Villainess-Chapter 233

I stared intently at Mari.

“Do whatever you want. But first......”

“Yeah, first......”

Mari and I exchanged glances.

“Let’s rest.”

“We should rest.”

At the same moment, our knees buckled.

Cainrod panicked and rushed over to catch both of us.

He shouted as if stunned.

“Yeah, you two almost died today, so why do you look so fine, you idiots!”

Ah, my body was fine, but my mental strength was completely drained.

It seemed that the mental realm of the sand sphere was responsible.

‘It feels weirdly unfair to be hurting only on one side.’

As I thought that, words appeared above Mari’s face.

[‘Ah, my mind is fine but my body is trembling. It does feel weirdly unfair to suffer only on one side.’]

I opened my eyes wide and then laughed.

Mari looked at me with a strange expression.

“What’s wrong? Why?”

“Because you have the same expression as I do.”

“Oh, come on......”

Mari acted exasperated, but soon she laughed too.

Cainrod shouted sharply.

“You two poisonous things laughing about what’s funny!”

—and we both giggled.

Of course, I recovered faster than Mari.

Because I had used mental strength and magic power, my recovery was quick.

After returning home, I received help from the magic stone and Sister Selene. After a good sleep, I was perfectly fine by noon.

But Sister Selene had a hard time.

She was sprawled on the bed, exhausted, having been called at dawn because of me.

“Erilot...... what on earth did you do......?”

Sister Selene looked at me like I was a holy power vacuum.

Even though the blessings were greatly strengthened thanks to the Blessed Land, her expression said she couldn’t understand how this could happen.

I gently fanned her while saying,

“A dragon......”

“What?”

“I faced Jörmungandr......”

“What?”

“The failure of Uncle Grimier, that was me......”

“What?”

Sister Selene stared at me incredulously.

After a brief chuckle and looking up at the ceiling, she asked,

“I have a lot of questions... but first, why didn’t you tell me this?”

“Because I trust you.”

“......Honestly?”

“If everyone finds out how much sacred power you used today, they’ll all find it strange. So I’m confessing it beforehand......”

I smiled awkwardly, and she gave a short, dry laugh.

Then she narrowed her eyes.

“Am I the only cousin who knows?”

“Yes......”

“That’s fine. I won’t tell anyone either.”

“What?”

“It’s our secret. I like that kind of thing.”

“......”

She really is an odd person.

I propped my elbow on the bed and rested my chin on my hand.

“Sis, why do you like me so much?”

“Because I wanted a cute little sister.”

I have a younger sibling, right?

There are other cousins too.

Then why me?

Thinking that, I recalled my cousins.

In my mind, monstrous cousins with beast wings, claws, tails, and so on swirled above my head.

Thinking of that, I understood.

“......There was no one else worth doting on.”

“Exactly.”

I chuckled softly.

“Then keep doting on me.”

“I really want to be your sister too. Would you adopt me into Daymond Jurisdiction? Like twins or Richmond.”

“Wouldn’t Dad be called a nephew collector? Aunt Bastina, Mom’s sister, would make a fuss.”

“Just joking. Even parents like that are still somewhat tolerable.”

Sister Selene chuckled and stroked my head.

I nodded and glanced at the clock.

“Ah.”

“What?”

“I have to go now. I have business at the imperial palace.”

“Imperial palace?”

“I need to go cheer up the emperor.”

She opened her eyes wide, as if asking what that meant, but I just shrugged.

“Well then, rest.”

Saying that, I left the room.

Han Ji-hyuk, who had been waiting, followed.

“How’s the situation at the Empress Dowager’s palace and the emperor’s palace?”

“The Empress Dowager’s palace is lively, but the emperor’s palace...”

I guessed that meant the emperor was very angry.

Which was natural.

Lagon flew over Ishiron street past midnight.

In other words, it flew over the imperial palace for the Empress Dowager’s birthday celebration.

Since I did something the emperor opposed on my own, it was natural he would be very angry.

‘And Grimier’s expedition was a total failure too.’

I smirked.

“What about Dad?”

“At the Central Tower. He has to fix the mess you caused.”

“Poor Dad, having to work hard because of a useless daughter.”

“Why do you talk like it’s someone else’s story? Your father is really having a hard time.”

“My dad likes struggling because of me.”

Ever since I was little, I was so mature.

I never caused trouble.

Not only that, I always brought all sorts of things to Dad, being a very admirable daughter.

‘So he was secretly a little disappointed.’

Parents seem to feel disappointed if their children don’t rely on them enough.

Han Ji-hyuk chuckled.

“No wonder you look so happy.”

“Well then, let’s go to the imperial palace.”

“Yes, Miss.”

Han Ji-hyuk and I headed to the imperial palace.

Imperial palace.

As soon as I got out of the carriage, groups of maidservants from the various palaces greeted me.

“I am Viole from the Empress Dowager’s palace—”

“I am Istaka from the emperor’s palace.”

The head maidservants from the Empress Dowager’s and emperor’s palaces glared fiercely at each other.

‘The mistresses don’t get along, so over there it’s chaotic too.’

The head maidservants soon smiled sweetly at me.

“The Empress Dowager is waiting, Seogun Wonhwa.”

“I will escort you to the emperor’s palace.”

“The Empress Dowager said she is waiting, Istaka.”

“The steward commands escort to the emperor’s palace.”

“Does the steward’s order take priority over the great lady of the empire?”

“Is the steward’s order anyone’s whim? The emperor requested Seogun Wonhwa—”

“How rude.”

“The times have changed, senior. I am the current head maidservant. Who should show respect to whom?”

“How dare you......!”

Oh, so this is the palace maidservants’ intrigue.

More fierce than the rivalry among imperial consorts, more sordid than princes’ rivalries.

Seeing it in person, their momentum was no joke.

The maids behind the heads glared at each other like they wanted to tear each other apart.

Then another group of maidservants hurried over.

“Welcome, Seogun Wonhwa. I will escort you to the Imperial Consort’s palace—”

“Respect the order!”

“Can’t you respect the order?”

The head maidservant of the Imperial Consort’s palace flinched.

‘Hmm, the Imperial Consort’s palace maids can’t even get involved.’

One side (the emperor’s palace) holds ultimate power.

The other (the Empress Dowager’s palace) holds ultimate seniority.

Han Ji-hyuk poked me secretly and whispered,

“They’re about to come to blows.”

I nodded and clapped my hands loudly.

“Excuse me!”

At that, all three maidservant groups looked at me simultaneously.

“Today, we will go to the emperor’s palace first.”

The maidservants from the emperor’s palace immediately brightened.

Meanwhile, the Empress Dowager’s and Imperial Consort’s palace maidservants looked gloomy.

If they lost me now, it would be a disgrace to their mistresses.

“Next, we will go to the Empress Dowager’s and Imperial Consort’s palaces in order, so don’t worry, Shueh (the foundation of the palace).”

Shueh was a nickname given to maidservants by Empress Isabella, known as the Mistress of Darkness.

It was a nickname given for the sake of the maids, who were often looked down on by bureaucrats while managing palace administration.

The Foundation of the Palace.

It meant “those who uphold the imperial family” no differently than the palace administrative officials.

It was the highest honorific possible for maidservants.

The head maidservants’ expressions softened immediately.

“Do you know that word~?”

“It’s a forgotten word, so how do you know it, young Wonhwa~?”

The head maidservants {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} of the Empress Dowager’s and emperor’s palaces smiled brightly at me.

“You all handle budgeting and execution for the palace bows, and care for the citizens of the imperial capital during disasters, so I wondered why you don’t have official bureaucrat titles.”

“Oh my~”

“Did you think about that~?”

“So I looked it up and found ‘Shueh’ was just the right word!”

The maids all cheered, “Oh my goodness...!”

The emperor’s palace head maidservant chuckled.

“I’ll escort you quickly. It would be terrible if a precious body is harmed by the spring breeze. Let’s go, Stema Ridor. (Source of Flames, Wonhwa)”

Since she seemed to really like the honorific Shueh, she answered me now using the Wonhwa title, only heard in the military march.

I replied, “Yes!”

Han Ji-hyuk silently clicked his tongue in admiration.

‘I’m truly the master of social maneuvering.’

I grinned and hummed happily as I followed the emperor’s palace head maidservant.

After a long walk, we entered the emperor’s palace.

With the head maidservant, there was no need for entry inspection.

Just as we reached the emperor’s office,

“Are you mocking me—!!”

The shout was so loud it seeped out even though the massive door was firmly shut.

The head maidservant flinched and looked at me.

Then she said to the palace guard at the door,

“I have brought Seogun Wonhwa. May I enter?”

The guard nodded.

“You may enter. Please wait a moment.”

The guard hurried inside, and the head maidservant bowed deeply to me.

“Miss Haman, please wait a moment.”

“Yes, please take care of your business.”

The maids disappeared, and I quietly approached the door.

‘I wonder if the emperor will shout more?’

I hoped he would give Grimier a good scolding!

Han Ji-hyuk grabbed my collar between his thumb and index finger and said,

“He’ll poke your nose.”

“Can you hear that?”

“Do you think I can hear what you can’t?”

“Ah, the office’s barrier is strong so blessings don’t work here either.”

No matter how strong my enhanced blessing was, I couldn’t hear a thing.

I muttered silently.

Then, the door creaked open.

I quickly straightened my posture and looked at the men stepping out.

They were handsome men in their early to mid-thirties.

‘These must be the emperor’s closest nobles.’

And then a familiar face appeared.

Uncle Grimier.

“Greetings, Uncle.”

I bowed stiffly to Grimier, who was unusually tense.

“Erilot, what are you doing at the imperial palace?”

“The emperor summoned me.”

“Because of the dragon?”

“I’m not sure......”

I tilted my head and smiled faintly.

“I don’t know.”

“......”

“Then proceed.”

As I was about to enter the room, Grimier said,

“About yesterday, your dragon flew over the imperial palace.”

I paused, then answered,

“Yes.”

“What kind of trouble did you cause?”

‘He’s asking if I was the one who closed the sand sphere.’

He must be pretty worried.

Seeing the usually sly Grimier unable to hide his true feelings.

I deliberately opened my eyes wide and looked at him.

“What do you mean......”

“......”

“Uncle?”

“......You seem to resemble me more than Daymond. I regret not giving birth to you as my daughter, Erilot.”

I feigned ignorance and just tilted my head again.

“I don’t know what you mean......”

“Yes, you must never know. Absolutely not.”

He seemed to say he would never forgive if I was the one who closed the sand sphere.

I walked on, saying,

“If something went wrong, isn’t it all cause and effect?”

“......What?”

“I’m glad I was born as Dad’s daughter. I’d never want to be Uncle’s daughter!”

“......”

“Really don’t want to. Really, really.”

“......”

“Ugh, I hate it so much.”

Then some of the men who came out with Grimier burst out laughing.

A chill ran down my spine.

Without looking back, I felt Grimier fiercely glaring at me.

“Then be careful going in.”

Just kidding!

Hope you trip and crack your head on the way!

Saying that, I stepped through the emperor’s office door.

Inside, I bowed to the emperor.

“May your glory shine. Seogun Wonhwa pays respects to the great emperor.”

Two or three people remained beside the emperor.

One was a neat, handsome man with dark blue hair, and the other a large man with red hair.

“Ah......!”

I opened my eyes wide.

Then the emperor looked at me.

“What is the matter?”

“Uhm, they seem to be acquaintances of yours.”

“Do you know these gentlemen?”

When the emperor asked, the dark blue-haired man and the large red-haired man looked at me.

The dark blue-haired man said,

“She’s a famous child, so I’ve seen her quite a bit through the magic mirror......”

“Are these your uncles?”

“Unc......what?”

The red-haired man opened his eyes wide.

I lightly bent my knees to them.

“I am Erilot, daughter of Daymond Astra, classmates with you at the academy.”

Those two men were exactly the old friends of my father I had been searching for.

The dark blue-haired man had helped me once in my first life, so I had always respected him.

Future Minister of Justice, Devon Roche.

Future Great General, Leo Talof.

Those two were the last pieces of the puzzle I was looking for.

“Ah, Daymond Astra was your classmate.”

The emperor asked.

But something was odd.

Devon, the dark blue-haired man, frowned.

“I don’t know such a damn— no, such a person.”

—and then—

‘Huh?’