This Three-Year-Old Is A Villainess - Chapter 109
Riantine and Geoffrey exchanged their test papers when the teacher wasn’t looking.
As I was watching them from behind, I frowned.
‘What are they doing now?’
The test time was almost up.
Why would Geoffrey exchange his paper now when it’s about to end?
The test paper Riantine got from Geoffrey looked almost blank.
Riantine started to quickly write on the paper she received from Geoffrey.
But, of course, there wasn’t enough time.
She couldn’t write much before the teacher collected the papers.
Riantine’s face turned pale.
‘If you were going to do that, why exchange papers?’
I tilted my head in confusion.
After collecting all the papers, the teacher said,
“We will group students based on their test scores for the class. The group with the highest performance can earn special scores, so please do your best.”
Meaning, the grouping based on this test was crucial.
‘The smarter kids grouped together will obviously perform better. It makes sense.’
The morning class ended with the test.
Given that many young children were present, the class seemed to be kept short.
Geoffrey left the classroom with a grin on his face.
One by one, other kids left as well.
“Um… Aren’t you going?”
Deianira asked me, still sitting. I replied, “I’m gowing,” and stood up with her.
Just as we were about to leave the classroom, Riantine’s nanny rushed in.
“Miss, did you do as I instructed?”
“…”
“Miss…”
“I did! I did it already!”
Riantine burst into tears, slumping over her desk.
Her nanny hugged her, patting her back repeatedly.
“You did well. You did really well…”
“I, I really studied hard… I didn’t take a single day off during the break, hoping to move up to the intermediate class…!”
“I know, Miss. I understand everything.”
As I continued to watch them, Deianira gently pulled my hand.
“Should we not go…?”
“Owkay.”
Deianira and I left for the corridor.
Riantine’s cries didn’t stop until we reached the end of the hallway.
Walking, Deianira sighed.
“Sistow, youw sad?”
“Huh? N, Not really… It’s just seeing Riantine like that…”
“Why?”
Deianira looked around and whispered quietly,
“Try not to get involved with Geoffrey if you can.”
“…?”
“Geoffrey’s father, you know, um… Uncle Valdrich is scary, right?”
“Uncow?”
“Yes. Uncle Valdrich’s domain is the most fertile land, and it’s close to the commercial district, so it’s very prosperous. It seems he lent a lot of money to relatives. To our domain too…”
Ah, I get it.
After the attack on Grandfather, most domains had their budgets significantly cut.
And apart from that, many disasters had hit the country this year, too.
“So, kids have to listen to whatever Geoffrey says. Otherwise, their parents will be in trouble…”
So that’s why Geoffrey, who’s not even in the top 7, was sauntering around with such bravado.
He had a backer.
‘Riantine must have exchanged papers because she had no choice, given her parents’ situation.’
Though what Riantine did wasn’t good, she loved her parents dearly.
And in turn, Uncle Deacons and his wife also doted on her, their only daughter, to no end.
I hummed thoughtfully.
***
After lunch—
The children gathered by the lake in front of the mansion to play.
It’s always crowded around lunchtime since it’s close to the dining hall.
Deianira approached me cautiously as I sat on a bench, kicking my legs.
“D-Do you like chocolate pie?”
“Ywes!”
“Good.”
She then opened her rattan picnic basket.
From it, she took out two round chocolate pies, each the size of her palm.
The pies were covered in crushed nuts, emitting a savory scent.
“We’ve got milk too!”
“Sit hewe too, Sistow.” (Sit here too, Sister.)
As I patted the seat next to me, Deianira happily sat down.
We sat side by side, munching on the pies.
Then, someone rested their chin on my shoulder.
“Me too.”
Looking to the side, Balzac was eyeing the pie I was holding with a very tired look.
I tore off a piece and fed it to him, and he chewed contentedly.
After swallowing the piece of pie I fed him, Balzac stretched and came to the front. Joshua was with him too.
“Didn’t you just have lunch, kiddo?”
“Bawshac awso eating now.”
“I haven’t had lunch yet.”
“Why nwot?”
“Training ended late, so I’m eating just now.”
He then said, “This swordsmanship teacher is murderous,” making a disgusted face.
I remember Conrad mentioning that the swordsmanship instructor was particularly strict.
Balzac glanced at me, then sneakily at Deianira next to me.
“Were you here too?”
“A-Ah, hello…”
Her voice was so quiet it was almost inaudible.
Balzac frowned.
“What? Speak up.”
Deianira, pale-faced, shrank like a turtle.
Poor thing, seems like she’s scared of the little beasts.
