This Three Year Old Is a Villainess-Chapter 262

Hwangdo.

Rumelisa Paante entered the area near the salon with elegant steps.

Fanning her fan gently, she looked around.

“Miss Rumelisa!”

The noble young ladies who had been waiting for her raised their hands.

“So you’re here.”

“You’ve been gone for half a year, so of course we had to come greet you.”

“Did you enjoy your travels?”

The young ladies asked with voices full of flirtation.

Rumelisa Paante smiled warmly.

“It was enjoyable. Oh, yes—I bought some things at the Astra shopping district, and I’ll be sharing them with everyone.”

“Oh my, how delightful~”

“You’re so thoughtful.”

Rumelisa led the young ladies inside the salon’s fenced area.

Just as they were about to sit at a table—

“This is our spot.”

A certain group had completely taken over the seats.

Rumelisa’s face twisted.

“Miss Trang.”

Rumelisa and Catherine Trang’s eyes met fiercely.

Even after seven years, they were like oil and water.

Their grudges were even deeper than when they were children.

Rumelisa glared at Catherine, then moved to a neighboring table.

“That’s fine. We’ll sit here.”

Rumelisa’s group, wary of Catherine’s gaze, took seats at the next table.

Only then did Rumelisa smile lightly and gesture to the servants.

The Paante family’s servants placed wrapped boxes before the ladies.

The ladies eagerly unwrapped the boxes, and upon seeing the contents, they let out light screams.

“Oh my, brooches.”

“They’re so pretty. So luxurious, too.”

“Oh yes. Speaking of Astra, have you met ‘that person’?”

At this, a girl with a yellow ribbon nodded softly, “Ahh.”

“You mean Erilot Astra? But I heard all her fame is just bragging.”

The yellow-ribboned girl waved her hand and continued.

“People can be so naive.”

“What—!”

“We saw it with our own eyes!”

“Of course!”

The ladies who knew Erilot suddenly opened their eyes wide.

The girl with the yellow ribbon spoke with surprising force.

The ladies looked to Rumelisa.

“Isn’t that right, Miss Rumelisa?”

“Yes, it is.”

Rumelisa chuckled softly, causing the yellow-ribboned girl to tilt her head in confusion.

“But why has such a remarkable person been holed up in Astra Manor for seven years?”

“Well...”

“......”

“......”

The young ladies fell silent.

Erilot had not come up to the imperial capital once in seven years.

At first, they exchanged letters frequently, but even that stopped at some point.

The young ladies furrowed their brows as they looked at Rumelisa.

“But you still correspond with Miss Erilot sometimes, right?”

“Yes, well... not often though.”

Just then, Catherine burst into the conversation with a chuckle.

“You seem unaware of news about Miss Erilot?”

“Miss Catherine, do you know?”

“Of course. We’re from the same duke’s household after all.”

“You weren’t accidentally caught while chasing Lord Richmond?”

“What?!”

“I heard you went to Astra Manor on Lord Richmond’s birthday this year, even though you weren’t invited.”

“Ugh...!”

Catherine’s face twisted, but she had no reply.

Because it was true.

But she had an excuse.

She believed the false rumor that Richmond had gotten engaged, and with a desperate heart, sought out Astra Manor.

‘Mother and Father scolded me severely.’

She had never seen her mother so angry before.

Her father, who believed he was the best in the world, was also very troubled...

Catherine snorted and turned her head.

“I did hear news of Miss Erilot then. It was quite surprising.”

“...What was it?”

“Well...”

Rumelisa’s eyes narrowed.

‘Such a sly one. She clearly knows we’re curious.’

“Stop teasing and just tell us. I apologize for what I said earlier.”

“...Really?”

“Yes.”

“Well, since you apologized this much, shall I tell?”

All the young ladies in the salon focused their eyes.

Catherine lowered her voice.

“Miss Erilot is...”

“Yes, Miss Erilot?”

“...On the Kansis Continent.”

“What?!”

The Kansis Continent was far from the empire’s continent.

Even by ship laden with magic stones, it would take at least two or three months.

Rumelisa swallowed dryly.

“W-What is she doing on the Kansis Continent?”

“Well, I haven’t heard that far.”

“Exactly...”

“She left six years ago and hasn’t visited Astra even once since.”

“Why keep it a secret?”

“Because of the imperial palace, isn’t it?”

“That makes sense.”

Erilot is a dragon owner.

So the imperial palace would have tried to interfere with her travels to other continents.

Afraid she might defect with the powerful force of a dragon.

Catherine smiled slyly.

“But she said she’d be back soon.”

“Soon... will she come to the imperial capital too?”

“I hope so.”

“Me too.”

They both nodded.

Astra Manor, the grand conference hall.

Balzac ground his teeth and glared around.

‘Should I overturn everything?’

This year, he and Joshua came of age and earned the right to attend the grand conference.

Richmond had earned that right before the twins.

Every time he left the meetings, his expression was like ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) that of a monk.

There was a reason for that.

“The people of the Daymond jurisdiction caused trouble in my jurisdiction again!”

“Not only that! It has also become a hotbed for various crimes!”

“What else could it mean but that the Daymond jurisdiction is poorly managed?”

“We must divide the Daymond jurisdiction among the brothers to manage!”

‘Damn those fucking bastards...’

Just as Balzac clenched his fist tightly,

Joshua grabbed his wrist.

“This is before grandfather. Control yourself.”

“But those bastards are talking nonsense...!”

“I know.”

Why had the Daymond jurisdiction expanded?

Because their father had desperately tried to carve up as much land as possible.

Those uncles were trying to swallow it all while their father was away at war by imperial command.

“It is true the Daymond jurisdiction is poorly managed. Crime rates have risen nearly 15% compared to last year.”

“Since Father is gone, the managers have become corrupt... damn it.”

The three brothers had so much to do.

Richmond was the eldest and managed the imperial capital.

The twins had duties at the Astra main castle.

‘If only Michelan were here.’

After Father left, the first thing those uncles did was send Michelan to another country as an envoy.

They kidnapped the best talent of the Daymond jurisdiction and created a management gap.

Joshua stood up.

“We acknowledge the jurisdiction’s problems. We will resolve them quickly, so uncles and aunts, please give us time.”

Then,

An administrator hurried in.

“Mercenaries gathered in the mountain village have revealed their purpose.”

“What is their purpose?”

“That is...”

The administrator glanced at Balzac and Joshua,

Then spoke in a troubled voice.

“They say it is to support the uprising soon to occur in the Daymond jurisdiction.”

The grand conference hall stirred loudly.

The Duke of Astra, rolling a signet ring in his hand, stared intently at the administrator.

“It must be an undeniable fact.”

The hall instantly froze.

The old man, having absorbed seven years of experience, was even more seasoned.

He was the only great man whose single word could freeze Astra’s wild dogs.

Even those who spoke recklessly were frightened by his presence.

The young administrator paled and answered.

“Y-Yes, Your Grace.”

“The mercenaries...”

“Are being interrogated in the main square.”

“Go to the square.”

As the old man stood, everyone hurriedly rose.

The Duke led his relatives and retainers to the square.

Balzac gritted his teeth following.

“Enough of this shit...”

Joshua shot him a displeased look.

“Watch your words.”

“Does this not warrant swearing? I cut taxes by 20% due to drought! Our jurisdiction had the lowest tax rate nationwide.”

“...”

“Then why suddenly a rebellion?”

“...Who knows. Maybe they’ve gone mad from being full, or it’s the hyenas’ scheme. One of the two.”

They reached the square.

Information officials were interrogating prisoners tied to chairs.

Upon seeing the Duke, the officials quickly bowed on their knees.

“Your Grace.”

“Those are the rats who dared trespass on my grounds.”

The officials sprang into action.

One mercenary’s burnt, scarred face was revealed as he was grabbed by the hair.

He grinned.

“If you want to blame someone, blame the money. We only took money for the job.”

Valderic, the Duke’s fourth son, growled indignantly.

“Father, they are unforgivable. Execute them immediately as an example!”

“Leave it to me. I will tear apart the rats who invaded Astra!”

“No, leave it to me...!”

The second generation and the branched families raised their voices.

Then,

“The ringleader has not been identified. If you kill them now, you will not be able to root out those who rebel against the main castle.”

Suddenly, a voice came from the road connecting to the castle gate.

All eyes turned instantly.

The speaker wore a black hood with golden epaulets.

‘A woman?’

Her voice was beautifully melodic.

Though covered in a thick hood, soft contours were faintly visible.

Behind her stood tall figures also cloaked, but their outlines were strikingly different from hers.

Joffrey, Valderic’s son, frowned deeply.

“Who dares interrupt my grandfather? Arrest this madwoman immediately—”

“Was grandfather speaking? I thought uncle Valderic was having a fit.”

“What?! How dare you speak of fits to anyone!”

Just as Joffrey huffed and tried to rush out,

“Grandfather?”

“Uncle?”

Loreina and Selene pondered the words of the golden-epaulet hood.

Joshua was the first to notice who she was.

When he chuckled quietly, Balzac’s expression brightened as he realized her identity.

Suddenly, a breeze blew.

The golden-epaulet hood was pushed aside by the wind, revealing a face.

Honey-blonde hair flowing like waves.

Eyes beneath long, lush lashes resembled pure rubies.

A beautiful curved nose and full lips perfectly placed.

Even a beauty mark near the eye seemed deliberately painted by the gods...

“...!”

“...?!”

Her beauty stunned everyone into silence.

Even Joffrey blushed and stammered.

“Y-You are...!”

The woman smiled gently and looked toward the King of Astra.

“My respects, Grandfather.”

“Erilot—!”

Balzac shouted.

The men behind Erilot began removing their hoods and saluting.

Han Jihyeok, exuding a strong masculine scent.

Conrad, retired from the main castle’s administrative post and now a vassal of the Daymond jurisdiction.

Luka of the Igritz army and Iseze, former Wonhwa.

The Duke of Astra’s eyebrows twitched.

“You were sudden when you left, and now your return is just as unexpected. Wasn’t your arrival supposed to be in two weeks?”

“I was so eager to see you, Grandfather, that I hurried my journey. However...”

Erilot glanced at the mercenaries and continued.

“Seems something interesting is happening.”

The startled third generation flinched.

“A rebellion has broken out in the Daymond jurisdiction!”

“They brought mercenaries to violate the main castle!”

“The jurisdiction has been poorly managed and brought shame to the main castle! How do you plan to take responsibility?!”

Erilot walked lightly toward the mercenary leader.

“I see.”

“Y-Yeah! It’s your fault for failing to manage the jurisdiction!”

Joffrey shouted, but his voice faltered at Erilot’s beauty.

Loreina glared at him.

“Either shut your mouth or get a grip on yourself.”

Joffrey flinched.

Erilot grabbed the mercenary leader’s chin.

“Is this true?”

The mercenary leader, dumbfounded at Erilot’s blank stare, hesitated.

“Y-Yes, uh...”

“I asked if it was true you came to Astra Manor to support the rebellion.”

“Y-Yes.”

“I see. But I don’t think so.”

Erilot glanced around.

“You have no protective talisman.”

“Excuse me?”

“Usually in cases like this, the illness is deep or... it’s a case of impending suicide.”

“W-What do you mean?”

A strange sense arose in Erilot’s eyes.

[Ah, they’re kind of pitiful tooㅠㅠ They’re committing suicide for money because of a sick old motherㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ]

┖So cruelㅠㅠ Who made them do it?

┖Hint from the flashback scene. Probably Valderic.

┖Thanks!

[Erilot went to the Kansis Continent to find a cure for Mari, right?]

┖That too. Also to raise blessings, and to find information about the Veil.

┖The only one really kind to Mariㅋㅋㅋ Possible Mari’s love interest.

┖I vote for Mari’s love interestㅋㅋㅋ

┖Who’s the real male lead?

┖Seems undecided! Push Luka together (smiley emoji).

┖Future crown prince Alexis for the win.

┖Conrad... I haven’t given up on you yet...ㅠ

[But the mercenary leader is still a bastard of a baron family; isn’t he getting no help from them?]

┖Valderic is Astra’s second generation, but a small noble baron family probably wouldn’t bother.

┖Trang is a branch of a duke family, so the baron family has some standing?

“Even if he’s a bastard, is it worth a few coins for someone from a duke’s branch family to commit suicide?”

“...!!”

The mercenary leader flinched.

His pale face swallowed hard.

“W-What...?”

[Guinness was very surprised. How did this girl know his identity?

His sick mother and families of other mercenaries were in Valderic’s hands.

If they didn’t die here, their families would die instead.

The mercenaries didn’t know, but their families were nearby. That place was...]

Erilot lightly tapped his cheek and looked at Valderic.

“Uncle.”

“If you want forgiveness, kneel—”

Touching the main antagonist of [Ice.Black.Hand] awakens dormant villain instincts again.

“Do you really want to die?”