This Three-Year-Old Is A Villainess - Chapter 234
———
< How to Survive in a Villainous Family >
I thought I had transmigrated, but it turned out I regressed!
Erylotte, a child with no special abilities but excellent at bluffing.
To survive in a villainous family, let’s make my father a duke!
#ReadingAncientLanguages?Lies! #MonsterTaming?Lies!
———
Oh my god…
‘Am I the protagonist now?’
I didn’t even have time to process my shock.
“WAAAAAAAH─!”
Another scream erupted.
I raised my head toward where everyone was looking.
It was Ragon—shedding his feathers.
…Turning into a dragon.
A dragon?
A crow shedding into a dragon?!
This is ridiculous!
There was only one explanation for this unbelievable situation.
‘It’s the protagonist buff.’
Ten years since I returned to my past life.
Now that my life as the protagonist had finally begun, it came with the perks of the protagonist buff.
Apparently, this world simply couldn’t accept a protagonist with no abilities.
***
The world was turned upside down.
And, of course, so was the Astra Duchy.
“A dragon?! Erylotte’s monster is a dragon?!”
Uncle Valdrich screamed.
“What’s going on here?!”
How could I possibly explain that this world, having accepted my fiery wit, now recognized me as the protagonist?
I tilted my head with an innocent expression.
The Imperial Consort and the Prince were staring at me intently.
They, too, couldn’t believe it.
Neither could I, really.
As for Former Princess Anatoli…
‘She might die at this rate.’
She had forgotten all decorum and was hunched over, biting her nails furiously.
“This can’t be happening. This can’t be happening.”
The villains of this world must have a handbook somewhere teaching them to repeat that line like parrots.
‘And understandably so.’
Hilda had carefully preserved every piece of evidence of the princess’s dealings.
Of course, I had advised her to do so.
At that moment, the Imperial Consort returned after finishing her communication with the Emperor.
“His Majesty has spoken.”
She scanned the crowd, her gaze finally settling on me.
Looking at me intently, she said,
“Erylotte Astra is to be brought to the Imperial Palace immediately.”
“What?”
When Grandfather scowled, the Imperial Consort added,
“As a guest of the Imperial Palace, of course.”
“And?”
“His Majesty wishes to meet her privately. He wants to verify that Lady Erylotte’s body is unharmed and that the dragon poses no threat to the nation.”
It made sense.
After all, we were talking about a dragon.
“Then we’ll leave at once, my lady.”
Though Grandfather’s expression darkened, Viscount Debussy shook his head at him.
It was an imperial decree.
Defying it would mean rebellion.
‘Well, it’s not bad news for me.’
I had plenty to discuss with the Emperor, and more importantly…
I leaned slightly toward Anatoli and whispered,
“You’ve got exactly two months left to live.”
“…What?!”
I had no intention of letting her off the hook.
In two months, at the Emperor’s birthday banquet, I would expose everything she had done in Astra.
Until then, she could enjoy her hellish countdown.
***
“Please, have some.”
“Yes.”
Upon arriving at the Imperial Palace, the attendants greeted me politely and guided me.
The Great Audience Hall, where I would meet the Emperor.
“Please wait here for a moment.”
While waiting, the attendant served tea and refreshments to stave off boredom.
‘They say offering nothing, not even water, when you wait is a subtle way of telling you to leave.’
Hmm.
Those well-versed in palace customs claim you can deduce your position by analyzing the type of tea and refreshments offered.
‘I have no interest in doing that, though.’
I don’t want to assign meaning to every little thing.
Clues and leads in resolving incidents are essential, but I refuse to be swayed by judgments made without even meeting me.
Crunch, crunch.
Sip, sip.
I enjoyed the cookies and tea that were served as I waited.
The Great Audience Hall was incredibly extravagant.
While not entirely gilded, it was close enough.
The edges of the ceiling and walls were lined with gold trim, and even the door decorations gleamed with gold.
Whether they were solid gold or merely plated was unclear, but I guessed they were likely solid gold.
Additionally, as befitting the Great Audience Hall, there were three massive chandeliers hanging from the ceiling.
The chandeliers were of varying heights and designs, subtly dividing the vast space into sections.
It seemed the room’s layout had been carefully considered to accommodate meetings with multiple groups simultaneously.
