This Three-Year-Old Is A Villainess - Chapter 21
After saying this, Riantine glanced at Viscount Debussy.
“Erylotte has been in the Twelfth Tower for a long time. She might not know much about the main residence, so I wanted to help her.”
“Cousins getting along well is a pleasant sight. However, Miss Erylotte has something else to do, so she should be on her way.”
“…Does that child have something to do?”
“It’s time for her to read the ancient language.”
Come to think of it, I didn’t mention that I would greet the servants yesterday, and today I was reading the time to meet my grandfather and have a meal.
I nodded and said, “Ywes,” and went to Viscount Debussy.
“Shall I carry you?”
“I can walk by mysewf.”
“You’re quite independent.”
Viscount Debussy smiled, and in response, Riantine said,
“May I join you? I’d like to meet Grandfather.”
“Of course.”
Riyantine exclaimed, “Wow!” and joined Viscount Debussy.
***
“Thwe monstuw subbugashun opewashun in thwe wess has begwun.” (The monster subjugation operation in the west has begun.)
“Yes, Miss. Let’s end here for today.”
“Owkay.”
I placed the history book I was reading on the table.
“Oh my gosh!”
Riyantine appeared surprised and flipped through the history book before gently putting it down again.
“Eylotte, this ancient history book is an original.”
“…”
“Since it has enormous historical value, treat it with care.”
It wasn’t placed down that hard, was it?
It was just an ordinary placement.
Riantine mumbled something.
“In fact, artifacts like this should belong to the imperial palace. So, just by having this history book, you can gauge the power of Astra.”
“You’re already aware of that, Miss?”
Viscount Debussy laughed, and Riantine, elated, said,
“My great-grandfather directly bequeathed this book to my grandfather.”
‘Oops.’
As soon as that was mentioned, I quickly looked at my grandfather.
He had the usual expressionless face, but his gaze was deep.
The book was indeed given to my grandfather by the former duke.
To be precise, among all the wealth, it was the only thing he gave.
The history book was nothing more than a nameless artifact at the time, and it meant,
‘You’re a beggar owning only the name of Astra.’
In other words, giving the book was a way to always remind my grandfather of his position.
Everyone ridiculed my grandfather because of that.
Until he slaughtered his brothers and ascended to the position of duke.
People never brought up that topic in front of my grandfather.
Viscount Debussy also knew how to read my grandfather’s mood.
However, Riantine chattered away without a care.
“By receiving something like this, it shows that my great-grandfather was great even when he was young—”
“A buttewfwy!”
I quickly turned around and walked down from the chair to catch the butterfly that had entered through the window.
I walked stealthily, and with my hand outstretched, I approached the side where the butterfly was.
‘Gotcha.’
Because I had been playing like this every day on the Twelfth Tower alone, catching something with wings was almost a warm-up.
I went to my grandfather and said,
“Fow yew.”
“…”
Viscount Debussy seemed to find the change of topic agreeable and watched the conversation shift.
“Even butterflies have various meanings, you know. White-winged butterflies signify ‘peace,’ blue-winged butterflies signify ‘miracles’…”
“…”
“Yellow-winged ones symbolize ‘seized glory’.”
I released the butterfly toward my grandfather’s hand.
The butterfly, brushing against my grandfather’s fingertips, flew up. It had yellow wings.
“Well, in the end, you’ve seized the glory.”
“Ywes!”
I replied brightly, and my grandfather faintly smiled.
Riantine clenched her lips and glared at me.
The girl who had been whispering under her breath without the adults noticing now spoke up.
“Um, Grandfather.”
“Yes.”
“I’m preparing a birthday present.”
With no response from my silent grandfather, Viscount Debussy instead answered.
“It’s a commendable effort. Other people are also working hard to prepare birthday gifts.”
“…”
“How about rewarding the person who gives the best gift, Your Grace? It’ll make the banquet more enjoyable.”
After a brief silence, my grandfather glanced at me.
Then, he nodded.
“It’s not a bad idea.”
Riantine looked extremely delighted.
“Wow—! I’ll do my best!”
With that, she left to prepare the gift. I followed Viscount Debussy out of the room.
‘I need to prepare a gift too…’
I felt scared to go to the second gate, where the library was located.
I quietly told Viscount Debussy,
“I wike bookies.”
“Would you like me to bring some picture books for you?”
Viscount Debussy, probably appreciative of the shift in topic, was very accommodating.
“I wanna see a pwants book.” (I want to see a plants book.)
“A botanical catalog? You might find it a bit difficult.”
“But thewe’s woooots of pwetty pictuwes.”
“Yes, I’ll have someone find it for you.”
I’m excited!
I had been feeling scared to approach monsters, but now I was looking forward to it.
I wondered how the Erylotte in ‘Grandvill’ had managed to tame such terrifying monsters.
To tame them, one had to get up close, and there was no guarantee that they wouldn’t attack even after being tamed.
Anyway, I had to focus on finding the green lavender.
Viscount Debussy told an attendant to fetch them, and he came back with a pile of books.
I placed them in my room and had been searching through them for days.
But something was off.
‘What’s going on?’
I had scoured everything from the botanical catalog to books on legendary plants, but there was no mention of any green lavender.
As if it didn’t exist.
