This Three Year Old Is a Villainess-Chapter 265

“After Erilot and Han Jiho turned pale, Conrad asked, “Is the crown prince of Baran named Raon? What kind of trouble does he have?”

Conrad had joined us after Han Jiho and I departed for Kansis. To summarize what happened:

[Han Jiho returns from the Western Empire Laontra.]

[Han Jiho and I depart for the Kansis Continent.]

[Our belongings are stolen at the inn: money, communication stones, forged identity badges—all gone.]

[The real hardship begins.]

.

.

[Conrad, Luca, and Iseze arrive in Kansis to find us, who had lost contact.]

[Han Jiho and I flee from Crown Prince Raon of Baran.]

[Han Jiho and I meet up with Conrad.]

[Han Jiho and I sob into Conrad’s arms. Conrad is flustered.]

[For two years we desperately elude Raon.]

[We return to Astra.]

—that was the order.

Han Jiho glared at Conrad with hollow eyes.

“When Erilot worked at the royal palace, she served in the crown prince’s residence. That fellow was truly....”

“Yes, truly....”

We hugged ourselves, looking thoroughly fed up.

“He was insane.”

“A madman.”

The one who threatened to break my ankles when I tried to resign and leave. He even imprisoned me for over two months. If not for the Third Prince’s help, escape would have been impossible.

Han Jiho said, “He has probably come looking for Lil—no, Erilot.”

“Why is the crown prince so obsessed with you?”

“It’s not my fault....”

When I spoke gloomily, Han Jiho shouted, “It’s not your fault? That’s why I told you to give up on that monster!”

I grimaced and averted my eyes.

Han Jiho puffed up and called to Conrad, “Your crown prince of Baran was called a monster. Half his face and body had rotted away into something hideous.”

“Ah, so he couldn’t show his face.”

“Yes. That’s why people said he was cursed by the late queen. I heard his birth mother, Queen Terevia, had poisoned her predecessor.”

“And then?”

“Raon was shunned by his father, the king, and his mother—every time they met, they raged at him for giving birth to a monster. But...”

Han Jiho glared at me. I cleared my throat and smoothed my sleeve.

“That creature was the one who fixed his face!”

“Fixed it?”

“Well... when I saw him, I read him immediately. His deformity wasn’t a curse but a monster clinging to him because it liked the royal aura of Baran.”

Han Jiho shot me a fierce look.

“I told you, didn’t I? I said his eyes were strange and if you got involved your life would become a headache.”

“How could I give up... when it’s so cute.”

Something popped out of my sleeve. Behold! A little purple jelly-like creature that kept changing shape.

“See how cute it is?”

“To me it looks like congealed blood gelatin. And it has six eyes!”

“It hears you.”

As Han Jiho and I bickered, Conrad pressed his temple and said, “So you helped the crown prince to catch that monster?”

“...I peeled it off Raon.”

“Therefore, the one you saved refuses to be separated from you.”

Conrad sighed deeply. Han Jiho angrily pointed at me.

“Actually, she didn’t care what happened to the crown prince!”

“...”

“She played the flute of the White Gyeong Tree every night to tame that monster, and the crown prince thought it was for him. It’s maddening.”

“...I told him I had my own reasons.”

“You don’t believe that, do you?”

I scratched my neck with a sullen expression. Conrad sighed.

“This is troublesome.”

“If it’s known that ‘Erilot Astra’ was on the Kansis Continent, the imperial court will be in an uproar.”

“The nations of Kansis will be greatly shaken too. It means a girl who tames dragons traveled their lands to learn their locations.”

“If your identity is revealed, it will be dangerous.”

They both narrowed their eyes at me.

“I had a good reason.”

“Give me a break. You were bewitched by a monster.”

“But it’s an ancient monster!”

Conrad jumped. “That creature is an ancient monster?”

“Yes, its name is ‘Deceiver.’ Want to see?”

I called the ancient monster by the name I gave it.

“Nana.”

At my call, Nana leapt onto Han Jiho.

“Eek!”

Then...

“What is—!”

Conrad stared as Han Jiho’s upper body transformed into a wolf.

“It’s ’s power of cellular alteration. It’s only five hundred years old, so it can’t perfectly copy abilities yet.”

“Changelings! Like the Changeling monster of legend!”

“Yes. Changelings were modeled after .”

“When it grows more, will it perfectly replicate powers?”

“Yes. When it molts. But as an adult it couldn’t have been tamed with a mere White Gyeong Tree flute.”

Han Jiho groaned, “Okay, just take it off! I can’t even breathe properly!”

“Nana, come here.”

Nana remained still.

“Ugh, not... falling off...?!”

Beep! Nana cried out loudly.

“You really like troublesome people.”

“Are you calling me troublesome?”

“Nana.”

Only after calling again did Nana slide down from Han Jiho’s back. Han Jiho panted and loosened his tie a bit.

“So what shall we do now?”

“That’s the problem....”

“Let’s hide as best we can.”

The three of us nodded in unison.

Night.

We arrived at the imperial workshop. Balzac had just stepped down from the carriage and asked me, “Why are you wearing a hat? You hardly ever like it, but—”

“I got used to it from traveling in Kansis.”

Joshua chuckled and adjusted the wide brim for me. “You wore it out in the day as well, right?”

“Yes.”

“And did you put on perfume?”

“Well... a little.”

Balzac frowned. “Not a little; it’s very strong.”

I planned to stay hidden from Raon but wore perfume just in case—he has a keen sense of smell. I laughed awkwardly, “Just a mood lifter. Let’s go in anyway.”

“Right.”

“Okay.”

We headed for the main hall. As we entered, Valderic emerged with his aide.

“Why are you so late? Intent on offending the guest, I see.”

Balzac snorted. “Had we known earlier, we’d have prepared on time.”

“What?!

Valderic ground his teeth. “We only heard at morning to request docking permission. The crown prince of the Magic Kingdom’s ship, indeed it bypassed the wards.”

“A boast? If it were warships, the place would be in ruins.”

“It wasn’t warded because they didn’t bring mana stones! It means no intention of war!”

Valderic puffed up. “A nation with marvelous technology. Father wishes to form an alliance—mind your behavior.”

“And you, Uncle.”

Valderic smirked at my retort. “You’ll be the ones suffering for coming out here.”

“We’ll see.”

“We will host our honored guests in my jurisdiction—even the Kansis crown prince’s group—right now to receive him—”

“Yes, yes. Good to see Astra’s kin adept at rubbing palms.”

Balzac cut Valderic off and passed him with a proud air. Joshua and I chuckled as we walked. Behind us, Valderic’s voice: “Those wretches!”

Cousins greeted us as we entered the banquet hall.

“Erilot!”

“You brat!”

Dionera and Liantin approached first. Dionera hugged me, overjoyed. Liantin glared and said, “Did you break your wrist? Couldn’t even send a letter?”

“I was busy.”

“What academy kept you so occupied?”

“Well....”

“I heard it was in the Asem Alliance. It’s the poorest nation in Kansis—nothing to learn there, right?”

I improvised. ‘Actually I spent most time in the very heart, Baran.’ The honored guests hadn’t arrived yet.

“How about the people of Kansis?”

“They should arrive after Grandfather’s private audience. I saw Uncle Valderic escorting them.”

Good. ‘Since we showed our faces in the hall, let’s begin before Raon arrives.’

Silently, I tapped the communication stone. A moment later: KUGUGUGUGU—! The ground shook violently.

Valderic dashed toward the approaching Kansis entourage. “Welcome! Was anything uncomfortable today?”

A blond man spoke politely: “You greeted us kindly, so we’ve had a pleasant visit.”

“That’s good. Father didn’t say anything unusual?”

His voice was subtle. The blond man glanced at his group. The teal-haired man snorted:

[He’s not as good as his father.]

Valderic, not knowing Kansis tongue, looked puzzled. The blond man smiled:

[The Duke of Astra was a hard old man to deal with. He never shows his desires, so you never know his intentions.]

Crown Prince Raon raised an eyebrow:

[Even so, they are just barbaric Kalsoi people.]

[Too harsh a judgment.]

[Ask if they’ve found Lil.]

The blond man asked, “Has the woman the crown prince seeks been found?”

“We’ve searched every port but no news.”

“I see....”

“Don’t worry. The only deep-water port large enough for continent-bound ships is Imetz Port in my jurisdiction.”

Valderic said confidently, “We’re combing through past passenger lists. We’ll find her soon.”

“I don’t know how to repay your efforts.”

“Repayment....”

Valderic glanced at Raon. “About that ‘Magic Cannon’ developed in Baran.”

The jurisdiction with the empire’s greatest military might was Daymond. Their wealth now matched. With military power, ousting Daymond would be trivial. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

“How do you intend to trade with us—”

Then: Bang! A tremendous roar shook heaven and earth.

“What’s going on?!”

Valderic shouted; guards rushed over. “It’s an attack of monster swarms!”

“What?! Why haven’t you summoned your direct troops immediately?”

“Leading the charge was Erilot Astra, flanked by the third generation direct heirs.”

Valderic clicked his tongue. The blond man asked, “Erilot? The daughter of Daymond Astra who tamed a dragon?”

“Yes. Did you not know? She also studied in the Asem Alliance, though it’s remote in Kansis.”

“I’m not sure. The Asem Alliance lost most connections to Kansis. It’s as if it doesn’t exist to us.”

“I see... please keep that confidential. Father ordered °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° discretion.”

Though he said so, his expression asked them to spread the rumor—if Kansis spreads it, the duke cannot stop it. The men smiled oddly.

[So the second generation feud is apparently worse than enemies.]

[Indeed. But must we hold a banquet at all? Why not use the monster attack as an excuse to depart?]

The teal-haired man said to Raon:

[Do as you wish. We can get the passenger lists from the ship’s clerk...]

Raon flinched and fell silent.

[Raon?]

[What is it?]

They asked, but Raon furrowed his brow and looked out the window. A familiar silhouette of a woman was running.

‘Good!’

I escaped the banquet under the pretext of the monster attack. ‘After resolving this, let’s fly back to the capital.’

“Ombre.”

My now enormous Ombre enveloped me in an instant. I climbed a tree swiftly, then leapt from Ombre into the sky, breaching the ward. Ombre vanished back into my sleeve. I whistled the White Gyeong Tree flute. The swamp sprites Pin and Pipi swiftly caught me. From above, I surveyed the imperial workshop.

‘I scattered chicken entrails around the ward stone to lure the monsters—where did they all go?’

The attack was strong enough to crack the ward.

“Awen, find them!”

[You’re the best at making use of others, truly.]

Awen’s darkness, the Crimson Ghoul’s, covered the sky.

[Northeast from the ward stone, toward the villages—five kilometers.]

‘Then around here.’

With Pin and Pipi’s help, I landed where Awen indicated. But it was strange.

“What is this?”

All the summoned monsters lay strewn about, charred black as if electrocuted.

“Awen, what happened?”

[Seems they were hit by the ward’s discharge.]

“Ejected five kilometers? Impossible.”

All the corpses faced away from the ward.

“They must have been fleeing something... what?”

As I muttered,

[Look to your left, Erilot.]

I glanced where Awen pointed. Faint magical traces lingered in the undergrowth. I followed them, but—

“They vanished here.”

At the base of a giant venerable tree, the traces disappeared. A memory flashed:

“Dahlia, where have you been? Do you know how hard we searched?”

“Um, sorry, but it’s a secret.”

“That tree is your secret storehouse... ah!”

Dahlia bit her tongue in regret.

‘A tree... secret storehouse... could it be!’

I pressed against the trunk, patting every inch until something caught at my fingertips.

Awen asked,

[What are you doing?]

“I planted the ward stone in the tree to hide something. It seems to be a storehouse....”

[Can you break it open?]

In my first life I had no blessings. I studied magic books tirelessly. Breaking wards like this is a piece of cake.

Then suddenly—

“Erilot?”

A familiar voice called from behind.