This Three-Year-Old Is A Villainess - Chapter 211
“When did you get here?”
I squinted my eyes and asked.
This kid acts like he thinks he’s some kind of Hong Gildong.
He seems to pop up here and there in an instant.
It’s no joke—he’ll travel from the Anantz coast in the east to the Plunn harbor in the west.
‘With him moving around like this, I can never get a grasp on the situation.’
Alexis replied nonchalantly.
“Just now.”
His words gave me a sense of foreboding.
The Egret Mercenary Corps was supposed to be dealing with the monsters in the Black Forest until the end of the week, right?
The fact that they returned so early must mean…
“So that problem flared up again this year, didn’t it?”
“Yeah, Commander Cali’s.”
“Right, that awful…”
Hemorrhoids.
I pressed my forehead with my hand.
Commander Cali’s eternal companion, hemorrhoids.
When it flares up, he has to rest for three to four months until it heals.
‘Looks like I can’t rely on the mercenary corps for help in case something goes wrong.’
With Commander Cali, the strongest force of the mercenaries, bedridden, trying to get him to move around in that condition would just make things worse.
As I frowned, Alexis asked,
“Why?”
“……”
I hesitated, debating whether to tell him about the Empress.
Alexis must have noticed my hesitation because his face soured.
“That protective look again.”
I flinched.
‘He really is sharp.’
I let out a sigh and decided to tell him.
“The Imperial Consort is coming.”
“Okay.”
He looked way too calm.
“The Imperial Consort is coming here.”
“I heard.”
“Aren’t you scared?”
“Not really.”
But when he was a baby, he was terrified.
I did the math in my head, trying to figure out Alexis’s age.
I’m four years younger than him, so that makes him… 14 now.
‘Still a year left before the rebellious phase hits?’
Not even in his teenage angst phase yet, and here he is acting all cool.
He used to have nightmares about being chased by the Imperial Consort when he was little.
Even if he acts otherwise, I know all about it from Commander Cali.
“Are you really not scared?”
“I’m more scared of your nagging.”
Alexis said, scrunching up his face.
‘This is what I get for worrying about him.’
As I made a disapproving face, Alexis smirked and lifted the corners of his mouth.
“You’re teasing me!”
When I said that, Alexis shrugged his shoulders.
‘He’s grown up so much that he can tease me now.’
This Noona is so proud, Alexis.
“Even if you’re not scared, make sure to stay hidden.”
“Alright.”
I ruffled Alexis’s hair as he smiled, and he pouted, clearly displeased.
* * *
One month later—
Two days before the Festival of Abundance, word came that the imperial carriage had passed the boundaries of Astra Manor.
All the Astra bloodline gathered at the ducal mansion.
Viscount Debussy looked much more gaunt than he had a month ago.
“Are you alright?”
When I asked, the viscount replied with a face like a corpse.
“At least I still have the strength to submit my resignation.”
It seemed he had been carrying his resignation letter around after struggling for a month straight.
I looked at Viscount Debussy with pity.
“Please hang in there…”
“They can’t keep working this old man to the bone like this.”
“You’re not old at all!”
As I hastily waved my hand, someone called out to me.
“Erylotte.”
I turned in the direction of the voice, and there was Dad, walking steadily from the castle gate.
‘Wow…’
It had been a long time since I’d seen Dad dressed up formally.
He looked absolutely splendid.
And he wasn’t alone.
Three of my older brothers walked alongside him.
Everyone was dressed up for the big occasion.
Lysmond had his hair parted slightly and neatly slicked back.
Joshua’s hair was smooth and tidily combed down.
Balzac had his red hair swept to one side.
Dad and my brothers looked so handsome, striding towards me with their long legs like models.
The servants and employees watching from behind the pillars let out soft sighs of admiration, gazing at the four of them with dreamy eyes.
Before I knew it, they had all come up beside me.
“You look pretty today, Ery.”
Joshua said with a bright smile.
Balzac yawned and approached me with a tired look on his face.
He then rested his chin on my shoulder and sighed deeply.
“Ugh. This is such a drag.”
Joshua pushed Balzac’s face away, saying, “Get off.”
“Hey, I’m your older brother!”
And just like that, the twins started shoving each other’s faces again.
“Enough…”
I said wearily, and Lysmond skillfully separated the twins.
‘Having a big brother is nice, after all.’
It’s really convenient how he always steps in and calms the twins whenever they start bickering.
