This Three Year Old Is a Villainess-Chapter 280

I checked the clock while waiting for a reply.

‘I need to head back soon.’

Nervously, I stared at the crystal orb.

[No reports of unusual activity.]

I bit my lip tightly.

This message confirmed it.

‘There really is a traitor.’

I manipulated the crystal orb and sent another message.

[The Duke of Astra mentioned the successor of the Red Flag. What should we do for the master?]

[The master will return soon. Prepare to welcome him.]

“......!”

I frowned.

Grandfather hadn’t said much about Grimie.

‘But how will he return?’

[Is the Duke of Astra searching for the master?]

[There will be an imperial decree.]

‘The emperor will summon Grimie?’

What on earth had been done in exile...

Just as I was about to ask, the communication stone buzzed.

The sender was Alexis.

‘I must have been gone too long; he’s looking for me.’

I couldn’t let this news reach Ayla’s side.

In this hidden underground passage, anyone could be caught without a trace.

I had no choice but to leave the room.

I emerged from the underground passage and returned to the garden.

The meal seemed to be over; tea was ready.

Lizzy frowned and asked,

“Why have you been away for so long?”

“The attendants caused trouble, delaying inspection preparations.”

“Ah, you said you expelled quite a few of them.”

“Yeah....”

I answered and sat down.

While sipping tea and exchanging small talk, two more arrived.

Lizzy’s older sister, Kara.

And...

“Milan? Didn’t you ally with Selene?”

“That’s how it went, Erilot. Since I saw you yesterday, no need for formal greetings, right?”

“I didn’t expect Milan to ally with Kara and Lizzy.”

Lizzy smiled faintly. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

“Milan and our sisters both lack fathers, right?”

That’s right.

The sisters’ father, Uncle Joslran, died in an accident.

Milan’s father, Uncle Hernan, was exposed for involvement in the Ayla incident and expelled.

He spent several years in the underground prison before taking his own life.

‘Grimie, the real mastermind of that incident, must have dealt with it.’

Kara lifted her teacup and spoke.

“Milan and our sisters are essentially eliminated from the succession. Our fathers aren’t here.”

“So?”

Lizzy said irritably, “Really....”

“They formed an alliance among the eliminated!”

“Forming an alliance among the eliminated gets you nothing.”

“What?”

“They’re not trying to attach themselves to uncles or aunts for survival; the eliminated teaming up gains nothing.”

“That is... so...”

“They wouldn’t have invited me [N O V E L I G H T] to push our father as the heir.”

“.......”

“Because this invitation was coincidental, right?”

If they wanted to promote my father, they’d have sought me out from the start.

But Lizzy invited me specifically to bring Heban.

‘So this alliance never intended to include me.’

Lizzy flinched.

Milan chuckled.

“See? I told you, Erilot is no ordinary child.”

Lizzy clicked her tongue and glanced at her sister.

“Sis....”

Kara lightly stirred her tea and spoke.

“We are the obstructers.”

“......Obstructers?”

“We won’t let the collateral lines take autonomy. So, we’ll become the obstructers and absorb the collateral forces.”

Heban frowned as he listened.

“What... no way.”

“Yes. We are the branchless of Astra. ...Meaning, we will be the collateral lines in the future.”

Since they’d become collateral lines, they couldn’t allow themselves to lose autonomy.

—That was the meaning.

“Daymond Astra is currently closest to succession. Why tell this to his daughter?”

Kara looked at me steadily.

“Erilot.”

“Yes, sister.”

“We will further expand our power.”

“Is that possible?”

“We’ve already negotiated with Aaron and Adam, also branchless. Even Loreina, whose name will be erased from the family registry.”

‘Then four jurisdictions have already formed an alliance.’

Lizzy and Kara’s .

Milan’s .

Aaron and Adam’s .

Loreina’s .

Together, they control 30% of the estate.

...Making them the largest power in the succession war.

Kara set down her teacup.

“I’ll propose to Uncle Daymond, the one closest to succession.”

“What proposal?”

“If he doesn’t touch our autonomy, we’ll support him.”

“And if he refuses?”

“Then we’ll negotiate elsewhere—anyone. Uncle Decons, Uncle Gustaf, Aunt Basile, Aunt Bastina... or even Uncle Grimie.”

“Grandfather won’t forgive that.”

“We aren’t afraid of grandfather, so we won’t back down.”

“.......”

“Erilot, our discussion is finished.”

“.......”

“Better to die gloriously under grandfather’s hammer than survive on the family’s allowance.”

I tightened my gaze.

Decons, Uncle Gustaf, or Aunt Bastina aren’t frightening.

Aunt Basile, Dionera’s mother, had already given up on succession.

‘But Grimie...’

I looked at Kara, Lizzy, and Milan.

‘They have no intention of backing down.’

I sighed and stood.

“Give me some time to think.”

“We won’t wait long.”

Jurisdictional estate.

The older brothers stiffened after hearing today’s events.

“Insane...! You really intend to side with them?”

“This complicates things....”

“Absolutely not. Think of father after he becomes duke! ...What’s wrong with you?”

Balzac tilted his head, puzzled by our quiet demeanor.

He expected us to be outraged by the obstructing cousins, but we remained silent.

Joshua quietly held down the jumping Balzac.

“Sit. This isn’t the important part.”

“What could be more important?”

“The existence of the traitor.”

Indeed.

So I told only the older brothers everything that happened today.

‘Because the traitor is among my close aides.’

Balzac glanced at me.

“You’ll want to know who the traitor is too.”

“Then they’ll realize someone exchanging messages is suspicious. Don’t worry, I have a way to check.”

“How?”

I leaned toward the older brothers.

Speaking quietly, I explained the plan.

“From today, I’ll be hiding. Tell the outside I went to see Father—for the succession conflict.”

“What....”

“And when I signal, tell Han Ji-hyeok, Conrad, Michelan, and Cainrod as follows.”

“How?”

“To Han Ji-hyeok: ‘I’m to be engaged to Prince Salvatore. I left secretly for the capital to discuss with the empress.’”

“.......”

“To Conrad: ‘I was infected with Madok in Kansis. I lost my blessing and left to find a cure.’”

“.......”

“To Michelan: ‘I found Maria’s location. No time to waste, so I entered the Land of Blessing under the prince’s name without permission.’”

“.......”

“To Cainrod: ‘To trade magical soldiers, I’ll secretly meet Baran King’s favored consort.’”

The twins nodded after hearing the plan.

“So you’ll confirm what information reaches Grimie’s side?”

“Yes, and identify the traitor.”

We nodded at each other.

Then Balzac asked,

“But how will you hide yourself?”

“Don’t worry about that.”

I picked up the communication stone and contacted Yuri, the third prince of Baran.

[Erilot?]

Yuri sounded puzzled.

“Yuri, I need your help again.”

[...That’s terrifying now.]

“Nothing major. Just disguise me and place me among Baran’s maidservants.”

[That’s easy... but the Astras have known you since childhood. They’ll recognize you no matter the disguise.]

“They won’t. You did the same.”

I have Nana.

With cell transformation, I can become someone entirely different.

With Yuri’s help, I could live as a Baran maidservant.

On the fourth morning, under the pretense of delivering Baran’s gifts to the family, I re-entered Grimie Jurisdiction.

The steward welcomed Baran’s maidservants.

“So this is the famous Palshua.”

The stewards murmured appreciatively, examining the gift.

‘Ah, my precious Palshua.’

It was basically a backup power device.

Equipped with a special conversion device, it could charge divine or magical power.

‘I swept up everything available from the Kansis continent.’

But I couldn’t ask Yuri for more for the family, so I had to give what I had.

The Grimie steward laughed.

“If the master were here, he’d be delighted. Let’s go inside; tea has been prepared.”

The maidservants followed the steward down the corridor.

As the steward rounded a corner, I slowed slightly.

And...

‘Ombre, I need you.’

Ombre emerged from my shadow.

From Ombre’s mouth, the Crimson Ghoul—Awen—sprang forth.

He was already wearing a Baran maid uniform.

[You dare make me wear a skirt?]

‘I have no choice. Fill in while I’m gone. Can’t you make yourself a little shorter?’

[I don’t have abilities like . This is the smallest I can make myself.]

“Then bend at the waist more.”

I shoved Awen firmly toward the corner.

He staggered slightly, and I heard the steward’s voice.

“Is something wrong?”

“Oh, no... haha....”

Awen exaggerated his voice, changing it completely.

I used the opportunity to move to the opposite side.

From afar, I saw a maid walking, observing something.

I quickly approached from behind and struck her neck downward.

The dazed maid slumped.

“Nana, change into this woman’s appearance.”

Then I went inside Ombre, changed my clothes, and emerged.

I made sure Ombre returned to my shadow.

Looking in the mirror, I was now a perfect Grimie Jurisdiction maid.

I picked up the communication stone and contacted my older brothers.

“Start.”

[Yes.]

[Okay.]

After ending the communication, I headed toward the underground passage.

I bypassed the barrier and entered; the familiar path stretched ahead.

‘The crystal orb. The location of the room with the crystal orb... right, here.’

Torches were lit again, so finding it wasn’t difficult.

I hid inside the room, waiting for the crystal orb’s signal.

After some time...

Ziiiiiing—

Like before, letters appeared on the orb.

[Urgent contact required!]

‘The message has gone through!’

The traitor is fast.

The letters changed rapidly on the crystal orb.

[Erilot Astra has moved. Dispatch The Veil immediately.]

[What’s happening?]

[Erilot Astra is meeting with the Baran King’s favored consort. Does the maid know?]

I bit my lip tightly, staring at the letters on the orb.

“......Damn it.”

The person spreading the false news about meeting the favored consort...

That was Cainrod.

I grabbed my head with both hands.

‘Why did he...?’

Why betray me?

I had fulfilled all Cainrod’s desires.

I saved the life of the sheep he cherished.

I supported him fully in pursuing his research.

‘Then why...?’

Where did things go wrong?

How much had he revealed?

Was it really him?

My thoughts twisted chaotically.

‘Calm down. Not the time for panic.’

I picked up the communication stone and contacted Balzac.

“I’m here.”

[Huh? W-what! Long time no see!]

[Long time no see? This isn’t the lady’s code! Hey, even in a hurry, you’re engaged to the prince...!]

[L-lady?! Are you okay? What about Madok?!]

[Madok? Were you going to get engaged to the prince because of Madok?]

[No, engagement... what...]

Balzac seemed to be with Han Ji-hyeok and Conrad.

“It’s a lie.”

[Excuse me?]

[What?!]

“It was to identify the traitor. More importantly, I found out who the traitor is. Send people, Uncle Balzac, to Cainrod.”

[Uncle Cainrod is the traitor?!]

Balzac shouted.

“Yes, so quickly—”

[No way. Uncle Cainrod? Impossible!]

“...What are you saying?”

[Joshua contacted Cainrod, but his nephew Ted Madillo answered.]

“Ted?”

“Yes. Madok infected Cainrod, probably due to an experiment gone wrong. He’s been ill for two years now.”

“.......”

[Uncle Cainrod hid it to spare you worry. That’s why tracking Maria was left to Ted... huh?]

“‘Huh?’ What ‘huh’? Then it’s Ted!”

[Damn, that bastard...!]

Click. The communication ended.

I slumped to the ground.

My heart pounded uncontrollably.

Amid the chaos, one thought persisted.

‘Thank goodness. Thank goodness... really.’

With trembling hands, I brushed back my hair.

‘It wasn’t Uncle Cainrod.’

I wasn’t betrayed by someone I trusted, like in past lives.

Even with my heart racing, I felt relief.

Then—

“What are you doing here?”

A familiar voice called from behind.

Ayla.

I froze and turned toward her.

Ayla approached, arms crossed.

Behind her were beings, neither clearly human nor beast.

“What are you doing?”

“.......”

“Can’t you hear me, Belma?”

Belma?

‘This maid’s name is Belma?’

“Yes, milady. I... um, well....”

In an instant, a sword pressed against my neck.

“Why did you sneak in like a mouse?”

“Th-that's... to... deliver news...!”

“News?”

“Yes, while spying on Baran’s maids. I heard Erilot Astra will meet the favored consort. I rushed to report it, but the master already knows!”

“What? Damn it! Follow me!”