This Three Year Old Is a Villainess-Chapter 234

Devon frowned, while Leo Talof laughed heartily.

The emperor looked at the two with a strange expression.

Devon bowed to the emperor.

“I will handle that matter as you have ordered.”

“You will comply, then.”

Ordered?

What?

‘I’m really curious.’

Could it be something related to Grimier or Dad?

After greeting the emperor, Devon and Leo turned away.

As they walked toward the door, our eyes met.

Especially, Devon’s gaze lingered on me.

Then I remembered ‘that time.’

When I was at my loneliest in my first life.

No matter how hard I tried, I was mocked. At that time, Devon came to Astra.

Seeing me skinny and wearing a dress too big for my body, he snorted.

Then he said to my uncles:

“If you’re going to raise her like that, why keep her in the castle?”

“What? What business is that of yours, coming to the castle uninvited and causing trouble?!”

“What have we done wrong to her? Starved her? Failed to teach her?”

Devon, shouting at the screaming uncles, said sharply:

“She’s just a kid barely in her teens and can’t even make eye contact! Is this how a properly raised child reacts─!!”

“Wha-what...?”

“Her complexion is terrible, she can’t answer when asked. Like a child who has never been questioned all her life!”

“......”

“How can you say you’ve raised her properly!”

Then he strode toward me, who was stiff behind the curtain.

“Come with me.”

“......”

“I can’t guarantee I’ll raise you well since I’m unmarried and childless.”

“......”

“But I will ask you questions.”

“......”

“Did you sleep well? How was your meal? Did you stay up all night? If you’re okay with that, come with me, Erilot.”

Back then, I thought I would die if I left Astra, so I couldn’t even nod.

But...

‘Does he know?’

How much those words gave me strength.

That at least one person in this world would ask me something.

That maybe, when I’m barely holding on, I could look forward to something.

If that person hadn’t died when Dahlia came, maybe I would have gone to him.

‘But it’s strange.’

He said he would take me away because I’m ‘Daymond’s daughter.’

Because of my connection with Dad.

Devon even said this:

“Why does Marquis Roche want to take me away......”

“...Because I owe your father.”

“Huh?”

“Just remember it like that.”

He said that while patting my head and leaving.

‘Why was he so disgusted?’ 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

While I was tilting my head wondering, the emperor sat down and said,

“You must have had a hard time coming all the way to the imperial palace with such a precious body.”

His tone was clearly sarcastic.

He even smoked a pipe in front of eleven-year-old me.

Taking a match from the box, he said,

“Your grandfather did not answer even my summons. Your father entered the Central Tower and hasn’t come out, so there’s no way to meet.”

“......”

“How dare you.”

With a snap, the match broke.

The emperor muttered, “Damn it,” slamming the pipe and matches on the table.

‘Wow.’

He’s really mad.

Well, the emperor privately funded Grimier’s treasure ship expedition, which the pro-imperial court officials opposed.

Though it was to find the previous emperor’s treasure, the official reason was ‘treasure ship expedition.’

Many nobles knew the truth, but the people did not.

Already, the emperor looked like a tyrant with bloodshot eyes killing his people for treasure ships.

‘He suffered huge losses, a big failure, and a great disgrace, so it’s understandable he’s furious.’

What’s more, Lagon flew over the Empress Dowager’s palace, singing ‘The Empress Dowager is a wise ruler~ the Empress Dowager is the best~’ as if mocking the angry emperor.

“What deal did your father make with the empress dowager?”

“Uhm......”

“What kind of deal made you call out the dragon knowing it would antagonize me?”

“Well......”

I bit my lip tightly and lowered my head.

“Your Majesty, in fact, my father didn’t know about this......”

“What?”

“I thought my actions would offend Your Majesty’s mood, and my father was also very flustered......”

The emperor frowned deeply.

“What nonsense is this?”

“Well... it’s just......”

I bowed my head at a 45-degree angle as if I couldn’t say more.

If Han Ji-hyuk were here,

“Wow, Oscar-worthy acting. What a great performance!”

—he would have applauded.

The emperor slammed the table and roared,

“Won’t you answer me?”

I flinched and gathered my shoulders tightly, then said,

“Th-that is......”

Kneeling deeply, I looked up at the emperor.

I had seen traitors in historical dramas act like this.

“I foresaw that Uncle Grimier’s treasure ship expedition would fail! So I tried to divert people’s attention......”

“What did you say?”

“I thought if I did that, people would praise the Empress Dowager and forget about the treasure ship......”

Tears welled as I looked up at the emperor.

“That’s why I tried so hard to bring Lagon to the Empress Dowager’s birthday celebration......”

Lying without batting an eye, the emperor’s expression hardened.

“What nonsense. You knew the expedition would fail?”

“Uhm, I......”

The emperor became very impatient.

He stood and approached me, grabbing my shoulder.

“You must speak clearly.”

Taking the chance, I mumbled,

“It seemed to me Uncle Grimier had other intentions......”

“What?”

“My father told me that the expedition was actually to find the previous emperor’s relic.”

“So?”

“I was worried because it was said to be a sea with a terrifying dragon called Jörmungandr...... I like Uncle Grimier the most among my relatives.”

I nearly threw up while saying that.

‘Ah.......’

Even if it’s a lie, saying I like Grimier the most made my stomach churn.

The emperor shouted,

“So!”

“......”

Pretending to be surprised, I watched as the emperor barely held back his anger and asked,

“I know Grimier Astra’s temperament is good compared to your other relatives. Continue.”

“Actually, I planned to secretly send Lagon to help. In case Uncle Grimier got hurt......”

“......”

“I was told by Joshua that if I use Lagon recklessly, I would incur Your Majesty’s wrath.”

“......”

“Because of Uncle Grimier’s character, I thought he would refuse to put his nephew in danger, so I acted without his knowledge.”

“So.”

“I was only trying to check the expedition schedule...... but I heard something strange.”

I fidgeted like a scared child.

“That they wouldn’t look for the previous emperor’s treasure, but head straight to Jörmungandr......”

“What?”

Even the emperor would find that strange.

Why would they go to Jörmungandr unless they were ready to die?

Surely the previous emperor didn’t leave his relic in the dragon’s mouth.

I kept mumbling.

“And the child I sent as an informant heard something strange......”

“Strange?”

The emperor bit the bait properly.

I inwardly chuckled but outwardly murmured in fear.

“That ‘to open the sand sphere, you need Jörmungandr.’”

“......!!”

The emperor sprang up.

I also rose with him.

“The sand sphere is the legendary gate, isn’t it? The one that sets the world right.”

“Nonsense! How could Grimier Astra open the sand sphere!”

“But...... it really opened......”

“It opened?”

“Lagon felt the sand sphere near the Ishiron estate. That’s why my family was at the Ishiron estate.”

I fabricated the events with lots of lies to make it plausible.

‘Check the magic flow.’

Then you would know.

The sand sphere really opened, and you were used by Grimier.

The emperor immediately grabbed a communication stone.

“Investigate the Ishiron estate in the imperial capital. Search every inch of the magic flow for traces of the sand sphere. Yes, the sand sphere, damn it!”

The emperor threw down the communication stone.

Clang!

The stone shattered with a sharp sound.

‘Oh, so he’s actually quite a hot-tempered person.’

I watched the scene, pursing my lips and raising my eyebrows.

“If......”

The emperor began speaking, and I quickly acted scared again.

“If Grimier Astra caused me that much harm and achieved his goal, I will never...... never forgive him.”

Exactly!

That’s right!

He ate all your money and made you a fool!

Never forgive him!

I rejoiced silently but covered my mouth with both hands.

Trying hard to hold back the laughter escaping.

“Y-Your Majesty......!”

I knelt deeply and pleaded.

“Please forgive Uncle! He’s a good man! Opening the sand sphere was for the good of the country......!”

“Who are you?”

“Eh?”

“What name did I give you?”

I quickly bowed my head.

“I am the Wonhwa responsible for Your Majesty’s army.”

“You may be young, but you are an official responsible for my army in the imperial palace!”

Oh dear.

Everyone knows Wonhwa are just like idols.

I and Sister Sebastia just work too hard.

But I bit my lips with a knowing look.

“Why do you block my way with personal feelings, Seogun Wonhwa?”

“I apologize. Your Majesty’s Seogun Wonhwa will suppress personal feelings with a heavy heart.”

I imitated words I’d heard in a historical drama and bowed.

The emperor pointed to the door.

It meant for me to leave.

I bowed deeply with a truly sorrowful face and left the emperor’s office.

The atmosphere in the corridor had frozen.

Since the emperor yelled so loudly, even the attendants noticed the mood.

I walked silently with a dark expression.

Han Ji-hyuk followed behind me.

We went to the carriage waiting area and got in.

When the surroundings quieted down...

“Urah!”

I punched the air.

Han Ji-hyuk asked with an excited face,

“Success? Did you succeed in screwing Grimier?”

“Completely. The emperor is furious!”

“Wow, you really are a master of intrigue!”

Han Ji-hyuk patted my head vigorously.

Usually, I would have frowned, but today I smiled broadly.

After all, Grimier was done for!

‘If it becomes known the sand sphere opened, you’re dead.’

Grandfather would somehow save him, but he’d be exiled far away.

Then I could expand my influence without worrying about Grimier’s eyes.

“Don’t you see Dad wearing the lord’s robe?”

I stared at the air with a blissful expression.

Han Ji-hyuk looked in the same direction, his eyes sparkling.

“I see you enjoying life riding on your father’s prestige, and me enjoying it with you......”

“When Dad becomes lord, he’ll quit work. We’ll live a life of leisure forever.”

“Fantastic......”

Han Ji-hyuk and I clasped hands and chuckled.

“Oh, meet Uncle Cainrod.”

“Why?”

“To calm the emperor down.”

“Do you think there’s any way when he’s that mad?”

“There is.”

“How?”

I tapped my temple.

“What’s my blessing?”

“... No way, you!”

“I checked the map early because the effect of the root is fading... the place with the previous emperor’s relic!”

Besides, Jörmungandr must be drained from opening the sand sphere now.

If I sneak in now and steal the previous emperor’s relic, it’ll be fine.

“Tell General Egritz to prepare immediately. Ten men... no, seven will do.”

“Yeah, if you bring that, the emperor will melt before you.”

What is he talking about?

I looked at Han Ji-hyuk disdainfully.

“Why give the relic to the emperor? It’s a great treasure that could have killed my father.”

“You’re calming the emperor down. If not by bringing the relic, then how?”

I smirked.

“If General Egritz brings the relic, I’ll have Cainrod duplicate it.”

The fake goes to the emperor, the real one stays with me.

Han Ji-hyuk jumped up.

“What if you get caught?”

“I won’t. The emperor can’t use it.”

Dahlia was so adored by the emperor because she brought the relic.

But the emperor couldn’t use the relic.

‘Because the previous emperor destroyed the instructions for its use.’

The relic is a sacred object and cannot be destroyed by human power, so it was left near Jörmungandr’s lair.

But the future emperor flaunted the relic as if he knew how to use it.

‘Just showing it silenced his enemies.’

It’s an incredibly powerful sacred object that can break any barrier.

If the emperor displeases, he could be killed.

Han Ji-hyuk clicked his tongue.

“You really are......”

“Pretty clever, huh?”

“That was a negative look just now.”

“I’ll take it as positive.”

He hummed happily.

Then at that moment—

Hiiiiiing─!

Our carriage, entering the shopping district, jolted to a stop.

The driver hurriedly opened the window connected to the carriage and said,

“Sorry, miss. Another carriage suddenly came out of nowhere......!”

Another carriage?