This Three-Year-Old Is A Villainess - Chapter 72
Viscount Debussy frowned.
“He is trying to win the favor of the nobles by revealing those ancient stones.”
“….”
“Even just having ancient stones increases his standing. And after five years, the price will likely skyrocket tenfold.”
“….”
“By revealing such a thing, people will gather around.”
Listening to the conversation between the two, Conrad sighed.
There seemed to be no other way around it.
Since Astra had joined hands with Imperial Consort Othellia, there was no way to directly deal with Boucherz without a pretext.
However, it was also impossible to prevent the sale of ancient stones.
‘The only solution is to lower the value of ancient stones.’
But how to lower the value of such a precious item…
As they were pondering, a butler from the Duke’s residence knocked on the door.
“It’s Albert, Your Grace.”
“Come in.”
As the butler opened the door and entered, he bowed.
“Lord Daymond and Young Miss Erylotte are requesting an audience.”
‘What did he say?’
Conrad and Viscount Debussy widened their eyes.
If it were Erylotte, it would be understandable, but Daymond?
Daymond’s aversion to his father was so strong that he would never come to the Duke’s residence unless there was a pressing matter.
The Duke furrowed his brow.
“They came to the castle?”
“Yes, they’ve passed through the central gate.”
“Open the reception room.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
The butler hurriedly left to prepare the reception room.
About an hour later, the Duke rose from his seat.
Conrad and Viscount Debussy followed suit.
When they arrived at the reception room, Daymond and Erylotte were already there.
As they entered,
“Gwanfathew!”
Erylotte rushed towards them with a very bright face.
Seeing his granddaughter running towards him and hugging his knees, the Duke coughed awkwardly.
Conrad and Viscount Debussy chuckled quietly.
“It’s been a month since we last met.”
“Hello, young miss.”
“Hewwo.”
Erylotte replied.
Sitting on the sofa, Daymond, who had an impressive look, called his daughter.
“Erylotte, come here.”
Switching between grandfather and father, Erylotte hesitated for a moment and then moved towards her father.
The Duke sat on the sofa opposite Daymond.
“Did you come to the castle?”
“Not just because I wanted to.”
“Go on.”
Daymond and the Duke exchanged meaningful glances.
Daymond’s eyebrows twitched.
“Speak.”
Erylotte took out a pouch from the corner of the sofa and handed it to the Duke.
“Fow Gwanfathew.”
Viscount Debussy and Conrad grinned.
“Is it a gift?”
“Was there any recent occasion?”
Daymond sighed deeply.
“It’s a reinforcement stone.”
“Haha, really? A rein… forcement… what?”
Conrad and Viscount Debussy were taken aback.
“A, a reinforcement stone? Did you just say a reinforcement stone?”
Daymond replied in an unwavering voice.
“Yes. A reinforcement stone.”
Erylotte opened the pouch and took out a stone, handing it to the Duke.
“Gwanfathew, hewe.” (Grandfather, here.)
“…Oberick Debussy.”
As the Duke called for Viscount Debussy, he quickly received the stone.
Not long after, the shadow of Viscount Debussy began to flicker.
Viscount Debussy’s blessing was <Shadow>.
It allowed him to separate shadows and make them move.
The gradually moving shadow soon expanded to an enormous size.
As the shadow covered half of the room, the air inside the room swirled intensely.
Items on the shelves and tables shook noisily.
“…!”
“…!”
“…!”
What Viscount Debussy could do with his shadow was typically limited to slipping through a crack in the door and grabbing a piece of paper.
“It’s a reinforcement stone—!”
Conrad and Viscount Debussy exclaimed. The expression on Duke Astra’s face also stiffened.
The Duke asked his granddaughter, sitting quietly next to her father,
“Why are you giving this to me?”
“Becaws Gwanfathew desowbs the bwest!” (Because Grandfather deserves the best!)
“What did you say?”
“Becaws Gwanfathew is oww famiwy head who pwotecs Astwa!” (Because Grandfather is our family head who protects Astra!)
Conrad and Viscount Debussy murmured, moved by her words, “Young Miss….”
Daymond frowned and muttered, “If I ever find the punk who taught you this, I’d…”
And then…
Hahaha─!
Duke Astra burst into hearty laughter.
Conrad, Daymond and even Viscount Debussy, who had served the Duke for nearly three decades, wore astonished expressions.
It was the first time Duke Astra had laughed so jovially.
Holding onto the armrest of the sofa, the Duke looked at Erylotte.
“Alright. How many reinforcement stones do you have in total?”
“Um, um, thwee hunwed, I fink… An maybe sisty sewvun mowe…” (Um, um, three hundred, I think… And maybe sixty seven more…”
Nodding thoughtfully, the Duke said,
“Conrad Marshal.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
“Attach a carriage with gold to Erylotte on her way back. …Yes, about 300 million gold should be appropriate.”
What?
300 million?!
The budget for the jurisdiction of Grimier, Duke Astra’s eldest son, was just 90 million gold.
“Hoh….”
Viscount Debussy, who had been standing until then, sank into his chair with a disbelieving exhale.
