This Three-Year-Old Is A Villainess - Chapter 203
A few days later, at the Aisa Jurisdiction, Noarizen summoned his son, Blitzen. Being a dutiful son, Blitzen obediently answered the call, as he always did when his only remaining parent requested it.
When Noarizen saw his son, he frowned deeply.
“Why do you look so gaunt? Is the Daymond Jurisdiction working you to the bone without feeding you?”
“…No, Father.”
Blitzen responded in a flat, expressionless tone. Noarizen, ever the doting father when he wanted something, took his son’s hand.
“I’ve told you this before, haven’t I? If something happens to you, I might as well be dead.”
“…”
“Think of your body as my lifeline and take care of it, okay?”
Noarizen spoke gently, pouring Blitzen a cup of tea and patting his shoulder. Blitzen knew well by now that whenever his father acted so kind, it meant he wanted something big.
‘The kinder he is, the bigger the request.’
Today, Noarizen was laying it on particularly thick, confirming Blitzen’s suspicion that a significant favor was about to be asked. And as expected, Noarizen gave Blitzen a calculated, soft look before cautiously asking, in an overly affectionate tone,
“Do you happen to know where the white crystal is stored?”
Blitzen’s face momentarily twisted into a frown.
“I don’t.”
Noarizen, a master at reading his son’s expressions, immediately caught the slight falter.
‘He knows.’
As always, Blitzen could hide his emotions from everyone except his father, especially when it came to someone he cared about. Noarizen placed his tea down and tried again.
“Couldn’t you just find out the location for me?”
“I told you, I don’t know.”
Noarizen grabbed Blitzen’s hand more firmly this time, his voice quivering with emotion.
“I don’t want to raise you like this anymore.”
“…”
“Look at the other Astra heirs. Their parents push them forward, while you, my brilliant son, have nothing because I can’t provide for you.”
“…”
Noarizen tightened his grip even more.
“You know we succeeded in creating the teleportation blessing stones. Once we sell them, we’ll be rich.”
“Give it up, Father.”
“Blitzen.”
“I’ve covered up your embezzlement of the jurisdiction’s funds until now, but there’s no way I can hide it from the year-end audit.”
“Exactly!”
“…”
“That’s why I need to make the teleportation blessing stones from the white crystal to fill the financial hole.”
“Father.”
“We can always buy back the white crystal once we make the money. Just help me, please?”
“…”
Blitzen lowered his gaze and fell silent. Memories of Erylotte flashed in his mind—back in the Daymond Jurisdiction, when she had yelled out:
“Noarizen, that total scumbag!”
In the Daymond Jurisdiction, they had treated him with great care. Even though they pretended not to, their kindness always showed in subtle ways.
‘That’s probably because they’re so used to being affectionate with the beloved youngest daughter.’
But his father, Noarizen, didn’t have an ounce of such unconscious kindness in him. He now watched his son with a desperate look, trying to persuade him.
“Power is the only way to keep what’s important to you.”
“Father.”
“Yes?”
“Someone once told me—if you get used to taking small steps across the line, one day, you’ll go too far.”
“What?”
“And when you realize you’ve gone too far, it’ll be too late to turn back.”
“What are you talking about, Blitzen?”
Blitzen closed his eyes, clearly disturbed. Noarizen, caught off guard, grew anxious. His son had never spoken like this before.
‘Is he really thinking of rebelling now?’
Just as the worry took root in Noarizen’s mind, Blitzen sighed and relented.
“I’ll check the coordinates and send them to you.”
“T-That’s my boy! You’ve made the right decision!”
Noarizen beamed, patting Blitzen’s shoulder with approval.
A few days after Blitzen’s visit, a note finally arrived from him. Noarizen, who had briefly feared rebellion, sighed in relief. In the end, his son was just as soft-hearted as his mother. He squeezed the note tightly and smiled.
‘This is the key to my success.’
He immediately contacted Count Talos, and they planned the operation for two days later, at 1 a.m., when Blitzen assured him no one would be around.
‘From now on, I’ll live like a king, watching those Astra fools grovel beneath me.’
Noarizen dreamed of the luxurious life he would lead—gems adorning his clothes, a house filled with priceless decorations, far from this dilapidated estate with its outdated furnishings.
‘I’ll have it all.’
***
The day of the heist arrived.
Noarizen and Count Talos moved separately since the Movement blessing stone could only transport up to 90 kilograms at a time—too little for both men to travel together.
At the appointed time, Noarizen activated the stone with his magic. He closed his eyes tightly, and when he reopened them, all he saw was darkness.
‘What’s going on? He should have arrived before me and started setting up.’
Annoyed, Noarizen muttered,
“Turn on the lantern. I can’t see a thing.”
He squinted and looked around but got no response.
“Hey.”
Silence.
‘What? Hasn’t he arrived yet?’
Noarizen scowled in irritation, muttering under his breath. Fumbling in his pocket, he pulled out the lighter he usually carried for his cigars. After a few flicks, a small flame sparked to life, barely illuminating the space.
“Wow…”
Shelves upon shelves of white crystal sparkled in the faint light. Noarizen, elated, quickly pulled out the bag he had brought.
‘I’m rich! Filthy rich!’
He hummed happily as he greedily shoved white crystal into the bag. But then, suddenly—
“Ugh!”
A strange sound echoed from somewhere nearby.
