This Three-Year-Old Is A Villainess - Chapter 86
Balzac wore a triumphant smile.
“Of course! I’m the older brother.”
With that, Joshua boasted he was no match for him.
Joshua smiled coldly.
“Your foolish bravado remains unchanged.”
“You’re always just reading in some corner. How could you beat me.”
“Forgotten already? I won the last swordsmanship duel.”
“You used dirty tricks.”
“It’s your fault for being fooled.”
The brothers’ glares reignited fiercely.
Balzac slammed one fist on the table.
“Let’s see who’s stronger.”
“I don’t do competitions without stakes.”
“Sure! If you win, from now on, you’re the older brother!”
Joshua raised an eyebrow.
The twin brothers sat down.
Erylotte placed a chair between them, stepped on it, and laid her tiny hand over their clasped hands.
“Weady—set—go!”
As soon as she said ‘go’, she removed her hand.
The brothers tensed their fists tightly.
***
I looked at Balzac and Joshua, their arms about to burst.
It seemed like they’d been arm wrestling for at least 10 minutes.
I was anxious they might break their arms, but they were fiercely putting in effort.
‘Anyway, it’s good.’
Provoking Joshua was worth it.
I’ve been planning to search Joshua’s room for a while now.
It’s hard to enter because Joshua locks it when he leaves.
‘Joshua’s behavior has been strange anyway.’
They didn’t care about me, focusing on their arm wrestling match.
I hopped off the chair and pretended to look around the room.
‘Joshua’s room is so tidy.’
The blue room had no unnecessary furniture.
The desk was neat too.
True to his meticulous nature, the desk drawers were locked tight.
‘Nothing unusual in sight.’
That’s when I noticed the fireplace.
There were a few charred logs in it.
‘Logs in this weather…?’
It might make sense at night, but the daytime sun was hot.
But there was still some embers alive.
‘He wasn’t warming the room. He burned something.’
And for a noble like Joshua, it’s obvious.
‘Letters.’
I glanced at Joshua.
Both were still preoccupied with arm wrestling.
“Now…! Just give up…! Why don’t you!”
“You… first.”
‘Should I look into it deeper? Or not?’
If Joshua wasn’t causing trouble in the jurisdiction, I’d have ignored it.
Messing up here could lead to a disaster.
‘But he caused trouble in my domain.’
What if he’s targeting Father or me?
Before trouble starts, I need to nip the problem in the bud.
That’s when.
Crack─!
The table split with a terrifying noise, unable to withstand their strength.
‘Eek!’
I was startled, but Balzac yelled,
“I won. You were being pushed down before the table broke!”
“Nonsense.”
“It’s true!”
“Before that, you nearly fell over twice.”
‘They’re really just little kids.’
Kids who don’t need to hide things, fight for power, or desperately cling to rights.
I hummed thoughtfully.
***
Nighttime.
After a hearty dinner, I patted my round belly.
“You must have enjoyed your meal, Young Miss.”
“Yeah!”
Today, I dined separately from the twins. Father ate with the officials too.
So, I enjoyed a leisurely dinner for the first time in a while.
“I ate a biiiiig fishie.”
“Oh my, that’s great. Did you brush your teeth?”
“Ywes.”
Heidi laughed and unbuttoned my clothes.
“Now, arms uuuup.”
“Upppp.”
Heidi went “Ooh,” with a happy expression and rubbed her face against my cheek.
“Our Young Miss is so good.”
She usually rubs her face for five minutes, but today she stopped early.
‘Huh?’
“I’ve got to hurry, gosh.”
I tilted my head curiously.
“Whewe go?” (Where are you going?)
“I have to take care of the young masters’ clothes too.”
“Bawshac an Oshua not bwing maids?”
“Of course not. They particularly dislike having people around. Though this time, surprisingly, they came with Baron Zahavin.”
Heidi shrugged and continued,
“Still, I heard that Young Master Joshua doesn’t like him.”
He doesn’t like him, but protects him?
“Why?”
“Almost no one likes Baron Zahavin. He’s like a hyena for power…”
“Hieeena?”
“Yes, he became an evaluator by clinging to power.”
“…”
“He follows Lord Deacons around, and eventually got what he wanted.”
“…”
“Such matters might be too complex for you, Young Miss.”
Heidi chuckled awkwardly and stood up.
“Cover yourself with the blanket, okay?”
“Owkay.”
“Sweet dreams, Young Miss.”
After Heidi left, I flopped onto the bed.
‘Too many strange things are happening.’
I can’t help but be bothered by everything.
‘Then, I’ve got no choice.’
I sent some magical energy to my body’s core.
Suddenly, the room brightened, and a window appeared.
‘I really didn’t want to use the blessing unless necessary.’
