This Three-Year-Old Is A Villainess - Chapter 118
I ascended to the corridor of the new wing where my room is located. From a room far from mine, I could hear shouting. The thunderous shouting filled the corridor.
“You must have stolen it then! You!!”
“H-How could that be, Mrs. Sara!”
Familiar voices. It was Geoffrey’s nanny and the nursery maid who had placed the fountain pen in my room.
‘Seeing them so enraged on Geoffrey’s side, it seems I needn’t step in to handle the maid matter myself.’
Serves them right.
Today, my designated nursery maid was away, so another maid took care of my bedtime.
“Miss, you’ve grown so much… I’m moved.”
“Right? I told you so, didn’t I, Ms. Hilda!”
It was Hilda and Greta, who had taken care of me when I lived in the main castle. After a long while, I finished preparing for bed, receiving their attentive and tender care.
* * *
Discussions about the land of Valdrich’s domain continued deep into the night.
Valdrich begged, pleaded, and prayed, but the decision was irreversible.
Eventually, he fainted, causing the meeting to halt. After Valdrich was carried out on his butler’s back, only Daymond, Viscount Debussy, and the Duke remained in the council chamber.
Daymond stared out the window in silence for a long while.
Viscount Debussy asked,
“What are you thinking about?”
“That I am powerless.”
The Duke, who had been massaging his temples, glanced at Daymond.
His son had always been wild, like an untamed beast, never bending because he did not fear for his life.
Not desiring anything, hence, despite his great abilities, he stopped here.
It was surprising to hear the word ‘powerless’ from such a son.
Viscount Debussy spoke with difficulty,
“How can you say that, being called the empire’s strongest warrior?”
“Would Valdrich have done such a thing if Erylotte were not my daughter but Grimier’s?”
“…”
“Would Valdrich’s child have apologized to Erylotte if it weren’t in front of the Duke?”
“…”
“─That’s what I was thinking.”
As he stared intently outside, Daymond turned and glanced at the Duke.
‘This time, we were lucky.’
The Duke had been wary of Valdrich’s growing power. Amidst this, an opportunity arose to divide Valdrich’s revitalized jurisdiction, the biggest strength he had.
That’s why the Duke supported Daymond’s jurisdiction.
‘If we were unlucky, Erylotte would have only received a few insincere apologies.’
He didn’t have the power to force those arrogant enough to bow at Erylotte’s feet like the Duke could.
He, who despised the Duke, turned out to be a worse father. Power alone couldn’t protect his treasures.
He needed greater strength to protect his children’s smiles.
Clutching his fist, Daymond stood up abruptly.
Viscount Debussy watched him and asked,
“Are you leaving? What about the discussion?”
“The areas Erylotte designated. No compromises.”
Daymond strode out of the council chamber.
As the door closed and the footsteps faded, the Duke burst into hearty laughter.
Hearing a genuinely joyful laugh from the Duke was a first for Viscount Debussy.
Viscount Debussy frowned,
“What’s making Your Grace so happy? Thinking about how to divide the Valdrich jurisdiction makes my head split.”
“Isn’t it amusing?”
“Pardon, sir?”
“Erylotte.”
“Why bring up Miss Erylotte here?”
“For years, I’ve been pushing him, and he wouldn’t budge. Yet, Erylotte completely changed her father in just three months.”
“That is…”
Viscount Debussy’s eyes narrowed.
Has the duke ever been this pleased? Clearly, there was something special about the Duke’s youngest granddaughter.
***
The next day.
I woke up early to see my father off. Today was the day he would return to his jurisdiction.
Father knelt before me to meet my gaze.
“Erylotte.”
“Ywes.”
“Do you like grapes?”
Is he planning to buy me grapes?
“Ewi wikes gwapes.”
“Good. This summer, you’ll be able to eat lots of them.”
With those words, Father stood up and said,
“Take care.”
The three of us bowed to Father and watched the departing carriage before entering the new wing.
And exactly three months later, during the peak season for grapes, Father truly brought something back.
…He brought back the king of a country famous for its grapes, tied up.
And, as a bonus, the territory of that country.
* * *
Seven months since the incident—
I looked at the enormous number of apples that had arrived for me with a blank expression.
‘Again, again!’
“Do you like apples?”
When I said yes, he went and conquered an entire region known for its apples, not even four months after receiving a mountain of grapes.
My designated nursery maid had been dismissed, and Hilda and Greta, who had been promoted, blinked at the sight of the countless boxes of apples.
“Apples this time?”
“Last time His Lordship asked through a letter if the Miss likes melons…”
“I dun wike mewons anymowe!” (I don’t like melons anymore!)
Which place was he planning to conquer this time!
‘Is he on some kind of land grabbing spree?’
I mean, I know there’s a game like this that kids like playing, but even the most enthusiastic of kids couldn’t snatch up lands this quickly.
‘Why has conquest suddenly become a hobby of his?’
