This Three-Year-Old Is A Villainess - Chapter 148
***
Dinner was with Grandfather, a few vassals, and Uncle Grimier.
“It’s been a while, Erylotte.”
“Yes, Uncle. How have you been?”
“Oh, you know.”
We chatted with smiles, but my mind was racing.
‘Why is Uncle Grimier here?’
He usually stayed in the imperial capital and rarely came down to the estate.
He only appeared for family events.
Just then, Viscount Debussy asked,
“By the way, what brings you here, Your Lordship?”
“There is something His Majesty asked of me, and I needed Father’s wisdom for a difficult matter.”
“A difficult matter?”
“A prince from Asalon has entered the empire for trade.”
“Asalon, the country with many iron ore mines?”
“Yes. His Majesty needs iron ore for a project he is dedicating himself to, but they are not willing to supply the amount we need.”
Grandfather looked at Uncle Grimier.
“And?”
“The prince of Asalon wants to meet with Daymond.”
With Father?
I pretended to focus on my meal but kept my ears wide open.
“Why Daymond?”
“Daymond conquered the Kingdom of Tigor seven years ago.”
Tigor? Ah, that’s where melons are from.
Thanks to my father conquering the Kingdom of Tigor, which had melons as its specialty, we had an abundance of melons to eat.
“Twenty years ago, Asalon lost their queen in a war with Tigor. The prince wants to meet Daymond, who avenged his mother.”
The vassals showed their shock and reluctance.
There was no way my father would attend such a meeting.
Even though he had softened considerably while aiming for the title of duke, he still had a steely side.
“What has gotten you all so worried? Lord Daymond’s daughter is present in this dining hall.”
Viscount Debussy looked at me with a subtle gaze.
Then the vassals’ expressions brightened noticeably.
Uncle Grimier also looked at me.
‘What should I do?’
I don’t like making my father do things he dislikes, but…
‘Opportunities to go to the imperial capital don’t come often.’
I had nurtured the jurisdiction well, fortifying its foundations.
Now, it was time to gradually expand our influence externally.
‘Besides, I need to take a gamble as well.’
I glanced at Uncle Grimier and said,
“Shall I speak to him?”
“Would you?”
Uncle Grimier was delighted.
***
A few days later,
My father stood in front of the carriage with a face that looked like he had chewed dirt.
As we waited, Grandfather and Uncle Grimier came out together.
“You’re here, Daymond. Thank you for coming too, Erylotte.”
Uncle Grimier had invited me to the imperial capital as well.
Probably intending to use me as leverage against my father.
‘Well, it’s fine with me.’
I had my own reasons to go to the imperial capital.
Uncle Grimier departed in his own carriage, and we decided to travel with Grandfather.
Grandfather frowned at the large box loaded into the luggage compartment.
“What is that?”
“It’s a painting I like.”
“A painting?”
“Yes. I want to purchase a few more paintings by the same artist because I like it so much. So, I’m bringing it to show the art dealer in the capital.”
Apart from it being an actual painting, everything else was a lie.
I have no interest in art.
But why did I bring a painting, you ask…
‘It’s my joker card for the Empress Dowager.’
It was a painting by the Empress Dowager’s mother.
I planned to use this joker I had saved up.
Grandfather, Father, and I got into the same carriage.
It was indeed a quiet space.
I said to my father,
“This is your first time going to the imperial capital with Grandfather, isn’t it?”
“I’ve gone a few times before.”
“And every time you did, it caused quite a stir.”
Grandfather spoke with a very displeased face.
“If you hadn’t pestered me so much about getting married, there wouldn’t have been any commotion… Father.”
Father spoke while gazing out the window.
He now calls Grandfather ‘Father.’
How did this happen?
A few years ago, after hearing me call him ‘Dad’ at least twenty times a day, people laughed and said,
“Do you like the word ‘Dad’ that much?”
“Yeah!”
“Why?”
“Because when Dad becomes a duke, I won’t be able to call him that anymore. I need to say it a lot now.”
At that time, my father, with a face like his world was falling apart, asked,
“Why—! Why won’t you be able to call me Dad?”
“Because when you become a duke, I gotta call you ‘Your Grace’.”
It was a remark made lightly, but a few days later, Father began glaring at Grandfather.
“What’s the commotion this time?”
“…”
“Daymond.”
“Nothing. F… Fa…”
“What?”
“Father…”
The look on Grandfather’s face was unforgettable.
