This Three Year Old Is a Villainess-Chapter 283

“Dalia—it’s really you.”

That expression, those eyes, and the summer-green irises...

It was definitely the Dalia I knew.

“But whose body is this?”

Masa’s or Maria’s?

Damn, I couldn’t tell which.

Maria had been in the interspace—I had no idea how she’d grown.

Masa I’d only ever seen in paintings, which never quite matched reality.

Besides, the twins looked so alike their mother had fooled everyone.

“Is it Maria? Or Masa?”

I stared at Dalia, trying to confirm.

She wore a puzzled look.

“Why am I here...did I wander onto a drunken film set?”

As she murmured and tried to rise, she groaned, “Ugh!”

Grimie looked at her kindly.

“No, don’t move. I will explain in time—rest now—”

“No, you must explain to me.”

I said coldly. Grimie glanced at me.

Ayla snorted.

“Do you think you can face us all alone? How dare you—”

“Shut up.”

“How dare—”

“A foul stench comes from your mouth.”

“What—!”

Thorns sprouted on Ayla’s skin. Excited, she could no longer control her fused monster form.

Several hooded figures behind Ayla snickered.

Ayla’s face flushed scarlet as she snarled,

“You filthy blood, ignorant of your station—!”

“Please think before you speak, Ayla.”

“What?”

“You were erased from the registry—you're a commoner. And a criminal who practiced sorcery. By your logic, you belong in the gutter.”

One of Ayla’s hooded followers burst into laughter. Ayla glared at him.

“Silence!”

“You, enough. I said your breath stinks.”

“You...!”

Then:

“Enough.”

Grimie, who had draped clothes over Dalia, spoke.

He looked at me and asked,

“If my niece is curious, I should answer. Now, what do you wish to know?”

“Why is Ayla here?”

“...”

“Why did you leave your exile?”

“...”

“Who is that child you call your daughter?”

“...”

“And what did you do with Maria—answer!”

Grimie chuckled.

“It seems you no longer bother hiding your heart.”

“Because you do not hide yours.”

He laughed.

“You truly take after Daimond—fearless, especially.”

Those around him readied their weapons.

Grimie folded his hands behind his back and said,

“Go ahead, then.”

“But—Master...!”

Ayla’s startled cry made Grimie raise an eyebrow.

“Did you not feel it?”

“Feel what?”

“That malevolent aura from the root.”

“You don’t mean that woman—”

“Yes, the dragon.”

Grimie stepped toward me. Standing close, he asked,

“Did you intend to declare war?”

“Of course not. I acted only to protect myself.”

I had seen what he’d hidden in the underground passage. I would never fight someone who possessed such power.

Lagon was merely a deterrent—and it had worked.

Grimie showed no intent to battle me.

“Very well, I will answer your questions.”

“...”

“Ayla was originally under my care. Even if she sinned, she is my blood. I waited for the day your father might forgive her.” 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

“You call that an excuse? Do you think Grandfather will believe you?”

“That is my affair—worry not.”

“What makes you so confident...?”

“And what made you hide my daughter?”

“...!”

Grimie gently stroked my hair. I slapped his hand away.

He smiled darkly.

“If your father learns you were sheltering my daughter, you too will earn his wrath.”

“...”

“Neither of us is without vulnerability. So—”

“...”

“Until this matter is resolved, you shall remain silent about Ayla’s deeds. In return, I will forget you hid my daughter.”

“...”

“I have preserved proof you concealed her, Erilot.”

Grimie bowed slightly, meeting my gaze with icy intent.

“There is no gain in either of us speaking.”

“You and I differ. I sought only to protect Maria from you.”

“Is that so?”

“Indeed. I know you performed human experimentation on Maria’s mother—your greatest offense in Grandfather’s eyes.”

“Evidence?”

“...”

Grimie laughed.

“No one believes claims without proof.”

“Don’t you think otherwise?”

“Stop bluffing. Even if you have proof, you dare not reveal it now.”

“...”

“You are too clever to fail to grasp that you and Daimond must not clash at present.”

“...”

I said nothing. Grimie chuckled.

“Then we shall meet again at the estate. Formal introduction of Dalia will follow.”

He turned and went to Dalia, scooping up the bewildered girl.

His followers sneered and withdrew their Transit Blessing stones—soon vanishing in pale light.

Left alone, I ground my teeth.

I returned with Han Jihyeok to the Jurisdiction.

At the gates, my allies rushed out to greet us.

“Erilot! Grimie has—”

“I know.”

“You know?”

Balzac’s eyes widened.

“Yes— I encountered him at the tribal village... and saw Dalia.”

“Damn...”

Balzac scowled.

Joshua, unusually stern, said,

“The Emperor has summoned Grimie to the capital. After introducing Dalia, he will go to the First Imperial Manor.”

“Have you heard their deal?”

“Not yet. But there’s a summons from the Imperial Works.”

“Probably because of Dalia...”

“Yes.”

Balzac asked anxiously,

“What will you do?”

“I cannot °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° stay away.”

Now more than ever, Grandfather and family matter.

I looked to Conrad.

“There is a child from the tribal village. She’s in shock—take care of her.”

“You brought a child?”

“Yes. We may need her testimony that Grimie kidnapped the villagers.”

“I must find her a place to stay.”

“Indeed.”

I quickly changed my soiled clothes and headed to the Imperial Works.

It was abuzz—inevitably about Dalia’s appearance.

The blood relatives gathered in the grand hall.

When my brother and I entered, our cousins rushed up.

Liantin and Dionera gasped,

“E-Erilot! This is catastrophic! Our uncle has a daughter he hid from his first love!”

“...I see.”

Dionera scanned the crowd and lowered her voice,

“There’s chaos. Those planning to adopt the child as heir are furious!”

Liantin clicked her tongue.

“They’re not the only ones in trouble.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“The eldest brother, who lacked offspring, just had a child—at the moment they were selecting the heir!”

“Oh my—”

“Yes. The succession fight will intensify. Grimie even swayed the Emperor’s favor.”

“The Emperor?”

“Yes—exiled for offending him, now summoned back. That speaks volumes.”

The crowd buzzed. We exchanged glances—this was greater turmoil than we had feared.

Then:

“Stand at attention!”

The voice of Marquis Debussy rang out—Grandfather had appeared, with Grimie and Dalia at his side.

Aunt Vasile, Dionera’s mother, approached us.

“Mother!”

“Yes.”

“You were summoned, Grandfather? What’s happened?”

“He conducted a bloodline verification.”

Aunt Vasile was the Archmage in charge of the Tower.

I asked,

“What were the results?”

She glanced at Dalia.

“She is indeed Grimie’s daughter.”

“...!”

Everyone—including Balzac and Joshua—startled.

Balzac whispered,

“Then the body must be Maria’s—Masa would be another’s daughter.”

Joshua nodded.

“And Aunt Vasile confirmed it—she wouldn’t be deceived.”

Vasile’s integrity was beyond question. Only Grimie’s magic could have fooled her.

I closed my eyes tightly.

‘So it is Maria’s body...’

Then I shook my head.

“Masa’s body can’t be ruled out entirely.”

“But—”

“Why else kidnap an unneeded Masa?”

Grimie wielded astonishing magic.

‘He could have falsified the verification.’

Grandfather stepped onto the dais and announced,

“I address the blood relatives.”

Silence fell.

“Dalia.”

At his call, Dalia timidly approached him and then—

“...!”

She grabbed Grandfather’s hand.

Only I had dared grasp the Duke’s hand so boldly.

Grandfather stared at Dalia.

“What are you doing?”

“I—You reached out, so I—”

“You came here.”

“Indeed.”

Dalia smiled sheepishly. She let go and Grandfather cleared his throat, then looked over the hall.

“Dalia Astra, daughter of Grimie.”

An uproar erupted. The rumor had been expected—but Grandfather’s own announcement sealed it unquestionably.

“On the final day of this month, her name will be entered into the registry, sharing all rights and duties of an Astra.”

Liantin murmured, watching us.

“So the firstborn’s only child gets fast-tracked—”

She gasped and stepped back, chilled by our expressions.

“Haha, this is astounding!”

“You never remarried, so we wondered why...hiding such an adorable daughter?”

Even after Grandfather returned indoors, the hall buzzed.

Grimie’s retainers quickly gathered around him; the branch families hovered to curry favor.

Grimie smiled amiably.

“I only learned of my daughter recently.”

“Oh? How have you fared, Your Grace?”

“I lost my mother young and had to fend for myself. Then I suffered an accident and lost my memory.”

“Good heavens...”

“You’ve endured much, my child. Please be well cared for.”

His lies flowed smoothly.

Lady Loreina, arms folded, said to me,

“Those retainers clinging to Grimie—aren’t they yours?”

“Yes, I noticed.”

“Since the firstborn has a child again, even those loyal to Father switched sides at once.”

Loreina clicked her tongue.

At that moment—

“Um...”

Dalia, standing hesitantly by Grimie, approached me. She tugged my hand.

“Hello!”

All eyes turned to us. Dalia leaned close and whispered,

“You’re the girl I saw earlier, right?”

“....”

“I was so nervous seeing a stranger, but I’m glad I saw you...!”

She beamed, then added,

“Oh—Dad said not to tell anyone you and I met.”

“Father...?”

“Yes, Father.”

Despite possessing another’s body, she said “Father” with ease.

‘Indeed, Dalia always adapted quickly.’

While I thought this, Grimie reappeared with his retinue.

“It seems you two have become fast friends.”

“Yes! Marquis Debussy told me she’s my age—I want to be friends.”

Dalia linked arms with me and said to Grimie,

“Right?”

Grimie still wore a genial smile—yet his eyes were ice.

As if to say, “Do you think you can walk through my domain unchallenged?”

‘Of course you cannot—because...’

Suddenly, the stones of Grimie and his followers all blared urgently.

Connecting, we heard shouts in unison:

[Disaster!]

[A fire in the Grimie Jurisdiction—!]

[The Jurisdiction is ablaze!]

Of course. The reason I couldn’t visit the Jurisdiction earlier...

It was because I set it aflame!

If Grimie fears his hidden underground power, then burn it all down!

This was the very plan my brothers, Han Jihyeok, and Conrad had marveled at.

I smiled coldly at Grimie.

“Go ahead and bring Dalia.”

Do you think I will be so easily beaten?

Grimie’s rigid gaze met mine.

“You didn’t—did you?”

Yes. It was my doing, you bastard!