This Three-Year-Old Is A Villainess - Chapter 168
Balzac pressed my cheeks firmly with one hand.
His hard fingertips pushed into my soft cheeks, making them jiggle.
“Stawp ih.” (Stop it.)
“Just let me get some consolation before I go.”
He spoke pitifully, kneading my cheeks like sticky rice cakes.
‘Consolation?’
“Why?”
Balzac lifted his head and said in frustration.
“Some crazy people caused a commotion at the port, so I’ve been assigned there. I don’t even have time to investigate the test details!”
Joshua, who had sat down next to me, chided him.
“Even if you investigated, it wouldn’t help you, so just go quietly.”
That’s true.
Balzac isn’t exactly talented when it comes to using his brain.
“Tha’d be mice” (That’d be nice.)
Then Balzac squinted his eyes at me.
“How can you talk to your brother like that? Oh, Ery, I didn’t mean you.”
“Utter nonsense. Oh, Erylotte, I didn’t mean you.”
Joshua grabbed Balzac’s hand, which was still on my cheek, and tossed it aside like trash.
Balzac crossed his arms.
“Such insolence, little brother.”
“You always make a fuss over being born a minute earlier. If you were born ten minutes earlier, you’d be old and in a coffin by now, big brother.”
Good grief.
Watching them makes me doubt whether twins are supposed to get along.
Dad and Uncle got along well, so why are these two like this?
‘When they do get along, they get along extremely well.’
I flailed my arms to break their focus.
“You’re fighting again. Stop it.”
“He’s the one who picks a fight even though he was born a minute later.”
“He’s the one who talks nonsense even though he was born a minute earlier.”
“Balzac. Joshua.”
I called their names sternly, and they both turned their heads with a pout.
Balzac came back to me and poked my cheek again.
“Joshua. I’m healing, don’t bother me. I already have so much work I’m dying.”
“Do you have a lot of work?”
I asked while letting him poke my cheek.
Balzac and Joshua were old enough now to help with the affairs of the estate in addition to their family education.
They were both part of the security team, but it seemed Balzac got assigned more often than Joshua.
Joshua’s blessing, <Compression>, is more versatile, so Balzac is more suited for ‘security’ work.
Balzac nodded and sighed deeply in response to my question.
“The test is a mess, Grandfather’s mood is terrible, making the security team’s atmosphere the worst, and the guys at the port didn’t even have flags on their ships.”
Then, as if realizing something, his eyes widened.
“…Wait, do I have to write the report?”
Balzac looked at me and Joshua with a desperate expression.
Joshua coldly turned his head away.
There was no way he’d write it for him.
Balzac might hand over his elder brother position for that.
But I focused on something else.
‘A ship without a flag?’
I found another clue.
Teresa roses from the Kingdom of Aligiosa.
A ship with no flag.
Grandfather in a terrible mood…
I already knew why Grandfather was in a bad mood.
‘Ever since Uncle Grimier couldn’t enter the central tower, he’s been in a foul mood!’
Satisfied with playing with my slime-like cheeks, Balzac stood up.
He yawned widely and stretched.
Stretching his limbs fluidly, he looked more beastly than Loreina, who has the werebeast transformation blessing.
His wild red hair looked like a lion’s mane.
“I’m pissed. Maybe I should find fault with those guys on the ship and kill them.”
What?
I quickly grabbed Balzac’s clothes.
“No!”
We can’t have an international conflict!
* * *
Four days later—
The procession of distinguished guests arrived at Astra Castle.
The direct descendants of Astra gathered at the castle to welcome the guests.
The faces of the third-generation children were all stiff.
This was because the guests were completely different from the nobles or royalty of the empire they had expected!
Grandfather walked out from the center.
Even his footsteps seemed heavy with presence.
Grandfather appeared more flawless and perfect as a duke today.
He approached the man standing in the center of the guest group.
“You’ve had a long journey. Welcome, Prince Beleyn.”
“Thank you for the warm welcome, Duke Astra.”
The man called Prince Beleyn had a slightly different appearance and attire compared to the Empire’s people.
Instead of a hat, he wore a turban and draped a sash over his smooth silk clothes.
Moreover, his ruggedly handsome face was quite different from the typical good looks found in the Empire.
He had well-tanned, bronze skin.
Jet-black hair.
A tall stature.
He was about the same age as my father, but the aura he exuded was entirely different.
This man’s full name was Beleyn Aligiosa.
‘The Crown Prince of Aligiosa.’
Grandfather greeted him, and now it was Father’s turn.
With Uncle Grimier at the capital right now, Father was the eldest son present at the castle.
Today, Father looked exceptionally handsome.
His hair glittered in the sunlight.
His eyes were as red as rubies.
There was a dangerous aura, as if he was hiding poison in those eyes.
It was impossible not to notice him.
