This Three-Year-Old Is A Villainess - Chapter 27
However, Viscount Debussy, fearing that the atmosphere might become awkward again, stepped in.
“This is a gift Miss Erylotte has prepared with great care. How about having the taste?”
“…”
Grandfather glanced at me for a moment.
Then he took the chocolate in his mouth.
People watched Grandfather with great interest.
Viscount Debussy also inquired, “How is it?”
“It’s not bad.”
“Haha, I’m curious about the taste.”
The party atmosphere became cheerful again.
After I had given the chocolates, others also presented their gifts to Grandfather.
A talking bird from a distant land.
A diamond the size of a fist, shimmering with iridescent light.
Each one of them was something extraordinary.
The kitchen had also prepared an exquisite feast to celebrate Grandfather’s birthday.
It was a dish made from a whole roasted calf.
The meat might be tender, but it would be tough to chew compared to vegetables.
However, Grandfather ate the food without any expression as usual.
But then…
“…”
Grandfather, who was chewing the meat, suddenly stopped.
As he stiffened, the people who had been watching him attentively became agitated.
“Duke?”
Viscount Debussy asked.
However, Grandfather didn’t answer and continued to stare at the meat.
At this point, I decided to lean in and whispered to him,
“Not owwie anymow?”
“…What did you say?”
“Teef. Gwanfavver owwie, wight? Bwut if yew eat choco, not owwie anymow. Choco is medicwine!”
Grandfather’s eyes widened.
“How did you…?”
His expression was a mixture of surprise, asking both how I knew about his pain and the medicine.
But he didn’t say anything more. People were watching us, so I returned to my seat.
Grandfather resumed eating.
As if he was checking if he truly felt no pain.
Throughout the meal, he didn’t appear uncomfortable at all.
‘He emptied his plate.’
Well, he originally had a good appetite, but he couldn’t eat because of his teeth.
He must have been hungry until now.
As the banquet reached its final course, Viscount Debussy said,
“So many wonderful gifts have been presented. But which one did you like the most?”
The people at the banquet looked eager.
They were excited to know what he’d say because Grandfather would ‘reward the person who gave him the best gift’.
Grandfather looked at the valuable gifts piled up on the edge of the banquet table.
After a while, he slowly spoke.
“The one I like the most is… Erylotte’s gift.”
The reactions were instantaneous.
“…!”
“…!”
“…!”
Among the magnificent gifts, my chocolate might appear insignificant.
Then,
“It seems like His Grace favors Miss Erylotte quite a lot…”
“Yes, it appears that His Grace finds her even more charming than Lady Riantine.”
“Come to think of it, they do seem quite close, don’t they?”
The reactions of the people were understandable.
Conrad, who stood at a distance, gave me a thumbs-up.
Viscount Debussy also burst into merry laughter.
The lively music played by the musicians filled the banquet hall.
In the midst of it all, Riantine’s face looked pale.
Of course, Uncle Deacons was not in a good mood either.
Throughout the rest of the banquet, Riantine hardly said a word.
***
Grandfather got up from his seat.
It signaled the end of the banquet.
‘There’s going to be a short break before the second part begins.”
The nobles also rose from their seats.
Some even followed Grandfather to the door to bid their farewells.
‘Greetings, greetings.’
I was about to stand up quickly, but Riantine, who was sitting next to me, was quicker.
She got up abruptly, causing me to lose my balance.
In my attempt to regain balance, I inadvertently grabbed the table, and the juice glass fell to the ground with a loud crash.
“Kyah!”
Riantine screamed.
Deacons, who was following Grandfather, hurried over to our side.
“Are you alright?”
“I think I got cut by a piece of glass.”
Her tearful face met her father’s disapproving glare.
Without further ado, he scolded,
“You should have been more careful!”
It’s unfair.
‘I was the one who got pushed by Riantine though.’
He didn’t seem to have any intention of listening to my side of the story.
Deacons, Riantine’s father, was considered the least refined among Grandfather’s children.
He was hot-tempered, short-sighted, and prone to violence.
He looked at me fiercely and said,
“Apologize immediately.”
“…”
“Do you not hear me?!”
Amid the commotion, people began to pay attention to us.
Then, the moment Grandfather turned his gaze in our direction…
“I see that you still squeal like a little pig, Deacons.”
An unfamiliar voice spoke, coming from the person who sauntered into the dining hall.
With an air of danger surrounding him, covetous blond hair,
A smoothly contoured jawline, delicate features perfectly placed,
Tall in stature with the battle-hardened muscles in all the right places,
And red eyes.
Just like mine.
His extraordinary beauty drew gasps from those around.
In his hand, he held someone by the hair.
And with an effortless gesture, he threw the bloodied man onto the ground.
“Kyaaak—!”
People quickly retreated from the fallen man’s vicinity, some covering their mouths in shock.
The man on the ground, bloodied and battered, was in a dire state.
The beautiful man glanced briefly at Grandfather.
“I couldn’t possibly come to this joyous celebration empty-handed, could I?”
My skin prickled with goosebumps.
Even though I had never seen this man before, I recognized him instantly.
Daymond Astra.
My father.
