This Three-Year-Old Is A Villainess - Chapter 231
When Dad froze, I pressed him again with more strength in my voice.
“Am I really just a burden to you, Dad…?”
“Never!”
His expression made it clear that he couldn’t fathom such an idea.
Even my brothers were flustered, shuffling nervously.
In no time, I was surrounded by the four men.
Seeing Dad’s kind eyes, a wave of emotion overwhelmed me, and I clenched my skirt tightly.
“We could have found another way.”
“……”
“It didn’t have to be about enduring it alone by going to the former princess.”
“……”
“Dad, your way of protecting me is just too sad.”
When tears began to fall in streams, Dad pulled me into a tight embrace.
“Yes, I know, Erylotte.”
“……”
“I’m sorry you had to witness that. I’ll strive to be a wiser father.”
“……”
“I’ll try harder.”
I buried my face into Dad’s shirt, sobbing and smearing it with tears and snot.
It felt like I had returned to my childhood.
When I was three, I used to cry looking for Dad, but now, he was here, soothing my tears.
My three brothers smiled softly as they watched me cry so hard I could barely breathe.
Balzac gently patted my head.
“That’s right. We could’ve found another way… But how do you manage to talk so smartly like this?”
Startled, I froze mid-cry, my shoulders twitching reflexively.
Then, abruptly stopping my tears, I darted my eyes around in search of an excuse.
“—Michelan said that.”
Sniff.
I made sure to let out a loud sniffle like a child.
“Oh.”
“Aha.”
The four foolish men in my family took my clumsy excuse at face value.
‘They never even consider doubting me.’
Even Joshua, the smartest of the third generation, was none the wiser when faced with me.
I sighed in relief internally.
It was truly fortunate that these simple, foolish men were my family.
I sniffled loudly one more time and then looked up at Dad.
“So, about that…”
***
Three days later—
The Daymond Jurisdiction.
To celebrate the Festival of Abundance, members of the Astra bloodline, the imperial family, and officials of the imperial palace ascended the altar.
A large crowd had gathered to witness the festival.
Trokan Square, where the altar was set up, could accommodate approximately 3,000 people.
The priest who had prepared the altar bowed to the Imperial Consort Othellia.
“May glory shine upon you.”
“You must have worked hard to prepare the rite.”
“Not as much as the noble ones who traveled from the distant imperial capital to pray for Astra’s prosperity.”
The Imperial Consort smiled graciously at the priest’s polite words.
“How is the First Imperial Prince faring?”
“He was ill the entire time he stayed in Astra. Could it be that his faith is lacking?”
“It must be because of the immense divine blessing contained within his small body. Such a great blessing could only have resulted in such an ailment.”
The Imperial Consort’s lips curled into a satisfied smile as she nodded at the priest’s response.
Having greeted the Imperial Consort, the priest turned to address Anatoli.
However.
Anatoli’s expression was as though she were chewing on dirt.
Anyone could see her eyebrows twitching furiously, her face a mask of irritation.
Her fiery gaze was fixed solely on that father and daughter—Daymond and Erylotte—standing below the altar stairs.
The priest, flustered by Anatoli’s expression, glanced at the Imperial Consort, who frowned disapprovingly at Anatoli.
“This is a ceremony to pray for the nation’s prosperity. You should at least control your expression.”
“Sister!”
Unable to contain her anger, Anatoli burst out.
Since Erylotte had dragged Daymond away from the garden, he hadn’t shown his face anywhere.
Even at the threat that the Emperor would grow angry because of Erylotte, Daymond remained immovable.
‘We’re back to square one.’
Anatoli bit her lips tightly, her clenched fists trembling.
‘That cunning little wench.’
After all the effort I made to get closer to Daymond, she dares to interfere?
I won’t let this go.
Anatoli stepped away from the imperial family and called a lady-in-waiting.
“Is everything prepared?”
“Well…”
“I asked if it’s ready.”
With a sharp expression, Anatoli pressed the lady-in-waiting for an answer.
“Yes…”
The lady-in-waiting, bowing her head, looked worried.
‘If this is discovered, it will be a disaster…’
But with the former princess’s outburst pressuring her, the lady-in-waiting had no choice.
Quietly, she approached the sacred brazier meant to light the fire for the ritual.
She removed the straw inside the brazier and hid a bundle of herbs within.
It was the same herb that had incited Ragon’s frenzy last time.
Watching from a distance, Anatoli smiled in satisfaction.
‘It’s a relief I managed to secure it on time.’
It had been worth the effort to bribe a servant from the duke’s castle.
Although the herbs had been destroyed after the incident with the Steel Crow, the servant’s skills had proven exceptional.
Despite being a rare herb, he had managed to procure it within days.
‘It must be because this is Astra’s domain.’
As a hub of trade, even rare herbs were easily accessible here.
Of course, bribing the servant wasn’t just to acquire the herbs.
She had also gathered information about Erylotte.
The amount of money used to bribe him would shock even some nobles, so it was only natural he spilled every detail.
“Are you speaking of Lady Erylotte?”
“Yes. Do you know of any information regarding magical creatures?”
“Hm… I’ve heard there’s another creature besides Ragon that’s been granted access to the castle.”
“Really? Where is it?”
“I heard it’s a special creature that lives hidden in shadows. It never leaves the young lady’s side.”
What would happen if not one but two creatures went berserk?
Especially at such a grand event as the Festival of Abundance?
Anatoli’s lips curled upward.
And not long after.
The Festival of Abundance began.
