This Three-Year-Old Is A Villainess - Chapter 216
Daymond Jurisdiction—
The former princess eventually broke her promise and only sent me back late at night.
She kept asking what Dad liked these days…
…whether he remembered the red tulips that had memories connected to her…
……and if he still disliked broccoli……
I had never heard so much detail about Dad’s preferences, not even in novels.
When I went up to my room looking like a total mess, Han Ji-hyuk frowned.
“Why do you look like your mind is shattered?”
“Because it is shattered.”
I’ve never encountered such a formidable opponent in my life.
Honestly, this was a first.
“The former princess?”
My eyes widened at Han Ji-hyuk’s words.
“How did you know?”
“She told you to call her ‘Mother,’ right?”
“…Has that become a rumor?”
“Even the stray dogs on the street probably know.”
I hadn’t even been back at the jurisdiction for half a day, yet?
The rumors had spread faster than I had returned.
Apparently, everyone at the jurisdiction already knew.
I expected the gossip would spread quickly, given how shocking and appalling the story was, but…
‘Now I understand why Dad had that fed-up look on his face.’
He must have been tormented by the former princess for a long time.
The fact that he hadn’t emigrated was a testament to how remarkable a person he was.
‘I already feel like emigrating.’
How did he put up with it?
Dad even used to have quite a sharp personality.
I slumped down onto the sofa, patting my shoulders.
“Aigoo…”
A groan escaped my lips.
Han Ji-hyuk, who was changing the water in the flower vase, remarked,
“If you’re this worn out, she must have been completely crushed.”
“No.”
“Huh?”
Han Ji-hyuk furrowed his brow.
He stared at me for a while, then shrugged, saying,
“Ah, I see.”
“What?”
When I asked, he put down the vase and replied,
“You’re soft on people you care about. It seems like you took it easy on her.”
“What are you talking about?”
“When others bother you, you’re pretty ruthless. But if it’s coming from a place of affection, you tend to let it slide.”
Really?
As I pondered this, Han Ji-hyuk continued,
“You were like that with the maids, too.”
Now that I thought about it, that was true.
“You did the same with Riantine. You gave her a hard time at first because of what she did to you.”
“Yeah.”
“But now you’ve softened up, because Riantine likes you.”
That was true.
Even though Riantine pretends otherwise, she genuinely likes me, so even when she grumbles, it’s not irritating.
“Maybe that’s why you can’t be harsh to the former princess, even though she annoys and inconveniences you?”
Han Ji-hyuk frowned as he said this.
“Otherwise, knowing your personality, would you really have let it go?”
“Hmm… I guess you might be right.”
“You know what the twist is?”
“What?”
“When someone you’ve let off the hook stabs you in the back, you become terrifying.”
“……”
“I’m serious. You’re really scary. I’m telling you, you can believe it.”
Han Ji-hyuk shuddered.
I nodded.
“Yeah. Just like how I’m going to be with you?”
“Huh?”
I pulled the bell cord connected to the guards.
Not long after, Mosco burst into the room with a loud bang, bang, bang!
“Yes, Miss!”
“Han Ji-hyuk really enjoyed the training session. He said he’d love to train with you again.”
“Is that so?!”
Mosco laughed heartily and clapped Han Ji-hyuk on the back.
“You should’ve told me sooner! Let’s build some camaraderie with some manly training! Hahaha!”
Han Ji-hyuk turned pale as he was dragged away.
‘Serves you right.’
I smirked.
* * *
Morning at the Daymond Jurisdiction’s manor—
Dad was in a foul mood from the start.
We all quietly and gingerly ate our breakfast, occasionally sneaking glances at Dad, whose eyes were practically blazing.
Even normally quiet Lysmond.
Even the twins, who usually bickered and made a fuss.
Even me.
But that only lasted a minute or two.
Eventually, the tension became too much, and we began to whisper quietly.
“Dad’s frown might just get stuck like that.”
“It’s because Princess Anatoli told Ery to call her ‘Mother’, right?”
“No, it’s because of the rumors that Erylotte isn’t a commoner, but actually the child of Father and the princess.”
I was dumbfounded.
I worked so hard to avoid being called ‘dirty blood’, you know?
If I were the daughter of the former princess, would I have gone through all that trouble?
‘And I like my mom.’
Dad and Mom had me because they were in agreement, but Dad said that Mom really, really loved me.
He told me that she ended up loving me more than she expected, just like he did, so she came all the way from far away to Astra’s domain to give birth to me.
So even though I had never seen her face, I like my mom.
