This Three Year Old Is a Villainess-Chapter 292

Most of the branch houses stirred and rose with trepidation, but a few did not move at all.

The first among them was Viscount Ezlo.

Next to him stood Baron Fushlhor.

And....

‘Who is she?’

I glanced at Joshua.

“That is Metel, only daughter of Viscount Ronodel, who died last year. It seems the Ronodel house is now represented solely by her.”

Ronodel.

A familiar house. Viscount Ronodel was my grandfather’s cousin—his nephew in the previous generation. All my grandfather’s siblings are dead, so by blood they are among the closest to the main line.

‘There’s something else here... what is it?’

No—first things first, the manifesto of support must be dealt with.

I looked at Viscount Ezlo.

“Viscount, you do not value your life, I gather.”

“Whether we kneel or not, Miss, you will not kill us,” Ezlo replied.

“Does it look that way?”

Ezlo lifted his chin lightly.

“You would not expose the manifesto and then slay the branch houses.”

“.......”

“Our mutual goal is to reclaim autonomy. You intend to make Lord Daemond Duke, correct?”

“.......”

“You would not wage a war against the branch houses, Miss.”

“.......”

“You surely did not instruct the Duke to slaughter every branch and seize autonomy by force!”

At last Ezlo rose and met my gaze calmly.

“If you reveal the manifesto, Your Grace will have to kill us all. You are not one to leave traitors alive as precedent. Yet, Miss....”

“.......”

“Now that you hold the manifesto, you must consider the future of Astra. How will you govern this vast estate without the branch houses?”

The kneeling branch members brightened at that. Their spirits revived.

‘Such slippery tongues, fitting of those who grasp power.’

I let out a short laugh. Ezlo responded evenly.

“A bluff? It does not sway me.”

I shook my head.

“No, it’s amusing you cannot distinguish ends from means.”

“......Pardon?”

“My grandfather reclaims autonomy because of your arrogance.”

I swept my gaze across the branch heads.

“To punish your insolence in daring to defy the main line, he reclaims autonomy.”

Ezlo’s expression grew impatient as the situation slipped from his script. I smiled and stepped closer.

“Even if you lose autonomy, your arrogance will persist, making it meaningless.”

“.......”

“Moreover, where did you get the notion Astra cannot be ruled without you?”

I struck the window with a bang!

“There are third-generation heirs who have graduated from the cages our grandfather built.”

“......!”

“They too require fiefs. If I slaughter you all and grant regions to your cousins, even the autonomy opposition will fall silent.”

“M-Miss...!”

I approached Ezlo with quiet footsteps. In my mind, a warning flashed:

‘Here.’

I must set an example now. One reason they still lift their «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» heads to me is Grimie. Grimie, the kind ruler—they believe even if they cross Daemond’s jurisdiction, they will be safe under Grimie.

‘Yes, no one appears as gentle as Grimie on the surface.’

He suits their tastes perfectly. So even if Father becomes heir, they’d rally under Grimie to overturn everything.

‘I cannot allow any faction to form henceforth in the estate.’

I drew the sword from Ezlo’s guard.

Then...

“AAAAAAAAH—!”

Viscount Ezlo screamed as his shoulder was deeply cleaved. I swept the sword again.

Ezlo slid to the floor, staring up in disbelief. I looked down at him and spoke slowly.

“You must remember.”

“Why... why go so far...!”

“Who stands before Daemond Astra.”

“......!”

“And that Daemond Astra’s child will do anything for his father! Etch those words deep into your eyes.”

Ezlo’s face had drained of color. At that moment, Baron Fushlhor and the new Viscount Ronodel scrambled to their feet and collapsed before me, bowing their heads.

“Spare us, Miss!”

“We will offer you anything you desire!”

The other branch houses dropped to their knees in panic.

“All that you wish!”

“For the glory of the next generation!”

“For the glory of the Red Moon under Daemond’s jurisdiction...!”

Straightening, I met the eyes of Balzac and Joshua. Autonomy had been reclaimed. The Red Moon stood before us.

At court.

Facing Grimie and Dalia sat Viscount Debussy, expressionless.

“You were impetuous.”

Grimie gave a faint smile.

“Yes. I know.”

“How could you commit such an act? Your Grace’s trust in Lord Grimie has yet to be restored.”

“...So you gave information to Erilot, to aid Daemond and prevent me from becoming head of the house.”

For the first time, Grimie’s eyes darkened. Viscount Debussy sighed.

“I commend the achievements of Lord Daemond and Miss Erilot.”

“I see.”

Dalia interjected.

“Umm, umm! Father is not at fault!”

She clutched her knees and cried out.

“Because Erilot confined me and took me to the Duke’s manse, Father tried to rescue me—!”

“I anticipated the situation.”

“Yes! So please forgive Father!”

“Forgiveness is not the issue. I cannot punish either of you when the Emperor wishes to keep Lord Grimie close.”

Debussy’s gaze chilled as he looked at father and daughter.

“The Emperor demands Lord Grimie remain at his side, so you cannot be punished. That would challenge Imperial authority.”

“Thank you for understanding, Viscount.”

“Not understanding, Lord Grimie—reproach.”

“Reproach?”

“To dare bind the limbs of your own blood and engage in mortal combat with your kin.”

“Ha ha, reproach... I miss it. When was the last time a Viscount reproached me? But...”

The smile left Grimie’s face.

“Do you believe yourself worthy of reproach?”

“...!”

Debussy’s features stiffened. Grimie smiled again.

“Having a child does that. One with something to protect will stop at nothing. Was this how Daemond felt?”

“Father....”

Dalia clutched Grimie’s arm, moved with emotion. Debussy remained rigid.

‘I feel I glimpsed his true expression behind the mask.’

At that moment, the communication stone chimed.

“Yes.”

[My Lord Viscount, Miss Erilot has arrived at the main estate leading the branch houses.]

Debussy ended the transmission and stood.

“It seems I shall have cause to reproach Lord Grimie. Governing the branch houses falls to me.”

“.......”

Debussy departed. Dalia tugged Grimie up urgently.

“Father, let’s go too! We must see what happened! Right?”

Pulling Grimie along, Dalia raced down the corridor after Debussy. She bit her lip.

‘What happened? Did they grant autonomy?’

So easily? In the novel they were utterly stubborn!

‘I fought Erilot. So Daemond must hate me. I can’t become heir like this...’

That would ruin my happy, happy life...!

Just as Dalia and Grimie reached the grand audience hall. The branch heads knelt before the Duke.

“We beg you, please send a steward to administer us lacking ones!”

“Please!”

“Please!”

“Please!”

Frowning, Dalia thought,

‘They’re offering autonomy!’

Their retinues filled the hall—apparently they had run as soon as they heard. The Duke looked on Daemond Astra with satisfaction.

“Truly, you never disappoint.”

He chuckled, then strode toward the golden throne—and the Red Moon banner behind it! Raising the banner, he spoke to Daemond Astra.

“Daemond Astra.”

“Yes.”

Daemond knelt first. Next came Erilot, Balzac, and Joshua, bowing to the Duke. The Duke handed the banner to Daemond and proclaimed,

“I hereby name Daemond Astra the heir to the Red Moon and charge him with protecting the house.”

Taking the banner, Daemond rose. Erilot Astra cried out,

“I pay respects to the heir of the Red Moon.”

Then Balzac and Joshua bowed their heads and intoned in unison,

“We pay respects to the successor of the Golden Throne!”

“We pay respects to the successor of the Golden Throne!”

Waaah—! Retainers, mercenaries, soldiers cheered. The other second and third generation heirs reluctantly applauded. Dalia stared at Grimie in shock.

“F-Father....”

“.......”

“Father?”

Dalia flinched. Her always gentle father’s expression was now terrifying. Grimie glared at Daemond holding the Red Moon banner.

‘This will not end here.’

Amid the crowd, Erilot stood. With a heart full of pride, she approached her father.

“Congratulations, Count Astra the Second... no, Count Astra.”

“Yes.”

“Finally, finally....”

“I know.”

Daemond embraced her. Watching this picture-perfect scene, Dalia thought,

‘Isn’t it unfair that just by being the protagonist he gets everything?’

No, it’s just unfair. Usually the new protagonist takes over. Dalia’s eyes hardened.

A few days later.

Our family arrived in the capital. We left the second count’s manor to move into the first count’s manor, proper for the heir.

Lysimond came to see off my father, me, and the twins.

“An unworthy heir greets Count Astra the First.”

“Well done.”

“It was rewarding.”

Father patted Lysimond’s shoulder; Lysimond bowed with a smile. I tiptoed up behind Father and popped my head out.

“I am not the First Count anymore. Now the only count—because the eldest’s rights have been revoked.” 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

So Grimie is no longer even a count. My brothers laughed at my giggle.

“Yes, that was my mistake.”

“You return to the capital as heir-in-waiting. How meaningful!”

“And my belongings? Are they sorted, brother?”

Joshua’s question made me start.

‘My luggage? Then...!’

“F-Father! I need to check what to bring! I—I’m going upstairs!”

I dragged Han Jihyeok into my room. The room looked the same as years ago—spotlessly clean, no speck of dust. Han Jihyeok, carried in, asked,

“What is it? Why so serious?”

“A treasure.”

“Huh?”

“The reason I bought this mansion and used it as the second count’s manor!”

Han Jihyeok gasped. Yes—this was once the late Emperor’s private residence. All kinds of treasures were hidden here—I found and stashed them, waiting for the right moment.

We sneaked into the study, rattling the bookshelves.

“Hey, Erilot, where was the button to the underground?”

“I don’t remember... I’ve never gone down since it was built.”

“Then why not check?!”

“There are eyes everywhere in this mansion. If the secret passage is discovered—plus, I’ve been busy... here!”

I pulled out a book and pressed a hidden latch. With a rumble, a door to the subterranean passage opened. Urgent voices called from outside.

“Miss? What was that loud noise? Is something wrong?”

“No, no! I dropped a book. I’ll handle packing here—please attend elsewhere!”

“Yes.”

I glared at Han Jihyeok.

“See? How could anyone find this secretly?”

“True. Let’s go.”

We took torches and entered. Seeing the late Emperor’s treasures revealed, Han Jihyeok said,

“They’re underwhelming. We could carry them in crates.”

“Well, if a dozen wizards tiptoe one centimeter at a time.”

“Huh?”

These were holy relics—sealed by ancient wards. I crouched and examined them.

“It’s fine to move into the count’s manor, but how to transfer these?”

“You’re skilled at dispelling wards.”

“These are ancient wards I’ve never seen. I could break one....”

I pointed to a censer-like artifact.

“This ward is easy. The ritual’s used even in modern magic.”

“Try it?”

“I don’t know what this relic does, so I cannot risk it going awry.”

“But we can’t leave them behind.”

I narrowed my eyes at Han Jihyeok.

“You didn’t know what blessing Grimie gave either.”

“I simply don’t know how to wield magic! ...It’s scary, yes. But let’s try.”

We’d come this far; we couldn’t leave the relics to waste.

I carefully dispelled the ward on one relic. It took under ten minutes. Another ten minutes to examine it without touching. Han Jihyeok exclaimed, grabbed the unsealed relic.

“What are you doing!”

“I’ll be up all night, man. What’s this button?”

A burst of light flared—

I stood frozen, watching the light spread...

“Wait, Jihyeok.”

“Huh? What?”

“...What is that?”

“What?”

“That... next to you...”

I pointed at a half-transparent figure looming beside Han Jihyeok.

‘This sensation, that presence... I’ve seen such a being before.’

“I-It’s a Guardian!”

The faint Guardians I occasionally saw when Sairon was near. The source of blessing, the spirits of the ancients—the Guardians!