Chapter 2

This is the villain. Chapter 2. (2/390)

Chapter 2.

Duke Astra quickly entered the study.

As soon as he sat down, the administrators who had followed him in began to speak.

"I can't understand it at all. How could a three-year-old lady interpret ancient language?"

The people of Astra did not believe that children could achieve good results in exams.

Another person spoke, taken aback.

"Perhaps the exam was leaked."

"Leaked?"

"It means that she might have known what sentences would appear on the exam and memorized them."

Ancient language was a script that was still difficult to decipher.

There were no precedents, and it was entirely different from any existing language, making it hard to guess.

Even the historical texts from which the exam questions were excerpted were only half-deciphered.

Another administrator shook his head.

"The exam questions were decided just before the direct-line members took the exam."

"Yes, and the young lady's fontanel has been closed for a long time."

That's why, as soon as her fontanel closed, she was sent to the twelfth tower where the collateral line members lived.

The duke, lost in thought, said,

"Bring Erylot."

His voice was frighteningly low.

* * *

When I arrived at my grandfather's study, I subtly looked around at the people.

Administrators, scholars, and even vassals were packed in.

They showed me a book.

"Read it."

"..."

"From the second line on page 72. Here."

I glanced at my grandfather and read the part the administrator pointed to.

"Cheomtabei angongdatta. Gosae, gieosieottatta. (The tower was completed. It was the fruit of hard work.)"

The scholars all drew a sharp breath.

"Y-Yes, that's correct."

The old man looked as if his eyes would pop out of his head in surprise.

The administrators nodded and looked at the duke.

"It seems that her <blessing> has indeed manifested."

'Just because it's in Korean.'

Since this is a novel written by a Korean, it's not strange that the ancient language is Korean.

However, it's within the realm of expectation that they would think this way.

People in this world often attribute unusual situations to blessings.

The vassals' expressions were subtle.

Blessings were like family assets, but just the ability to read ancient language...

That was exactly the kind of expression they had.

The vassals began to converse.

"At least it's fortunate. She has received a blessing..."

"Should we assign a priest to the young lady to develop her abilities?"

"Yes. What can we gain by developing the ability to read ancient language—"

While they were talking, I was looking at the book.

When I reached a certain point, I stammered the content.

"Mirute, pyeoya, yoe beot, maesanhae... (Mirten, plain, dragon's bones, buried...)"

"..."

"..."

Everyone's gaze immediately focused on me.

A vassal, with a stiff expression, asked me,

"What, what did you say?"

"Mirute pyeoya. Beot isseoyo. Yogi. (Mirten plain. Bones are here. Here.)"

When I pointed to the sentence, people's mouths dropped open.

Dragon bones were a very precious resource.

Because of their strength surpassing iron, weapons made from dragon bones boasted supreme power.

However, they were so rare that even if you offered money, no one would sell them.

It was like discovering a diamond mine.

"Map! Bring the map!"

An administrator hurriedly brought the map, and the adults gathered to check the location.

"This was the place known as Mirten Plain in ancient times."

The vassals quickly handed the map to my grandfather.

My grandfather, who had been quietly looking at the map, said,

"Verify if it's true."

The administrator rushed out.

I looked at my grandfather with a calm expression.

'It's true.'

It's clearly written in this historical text.

'Besides, it will be discovered soon anyway.'

It will be found during the construction of a temple a few months later.

I chuckled to myself.

'Since it was going to be discovered anyway, it's my achievement for telling them first.'

My grandfather turned his gaze to me. His narrow eyes gave me a chill down my spine.

It was a level of intimidation that would make an ordinary child burst into tears.

I clutched my skirt tightly and smiled awkwardly.

'I know my place.'

'I'll behave well if you just feed me and don't torment me.'

—That was the message I was conveying.

My grandfather's eyebrows twitched slightly.

* * *

I got out of the carriage feeling completely drained.

Thanks to the carriage provided by the castle, my body was comfortable, but my mood felt like I had ridden a roller coaster ten times.

'Why are people's gazes so menacing?'

Even criminals in movies wouldn't have such eyes.

I thought this as I trudged into the twelfth tower.

Perhaps because it was getting dark, the tower was quiet.

Only the sounds of children's voices and conversations came from the bedrooms.

"The main castle is amazing. There are monsters guarding every door!"

"I didn't cry at all."

The sound of children communicating with their parents.

"I hate it. I hate the nanny."

"Oh my. The nanny's heart is hurting. To think that the beloved young lady hates me."

"No! I was lying..."

"Then will you eat the carrot?"

"Ugh... I don't want to..."

The sound of a child being spoiled by a nanny.

I stood in the dark corridor, listening to the affectionate sounds coming from each room.

"..."

'Being a child is really inconvenient.'

If I were an adult, I wouldn't envy such things at all.

I don't have a mother, and my father is far away on the battlefield.

'And I don't even have a nanny.'

Here, children have nannies assigned to them. Even collateral line members, being nobles, naturally have nannies.

Until yesterday, I was a transparent person in the Astra family, and no one took care of me.

So, I didn't even have a nanny.

'Even though I've managed to get along well with the servants and teachers here...'

I rubbed my skirt with my palm and then suddenly lifted my head.

'I need to take a bath quickly.'

Here, warm water flows abundantly.

Unlike Yu Hye-min's dorm room, there's even a bathtub.

Soaking in warm water will make me feel better soon.

'No matter how bad my mood gets, I won't stay like this forever!'

I walked down the corridor confidently, planning for the future.

When the dragon bones are found at the site of the Mirten Plain, my status will skyrocket.

That will bring various benefits.

I need to use those benefits to plan my future.

'The best thing would be to save money and rise...'

Just as I was thinking this, I reached the door.

"Ow!"

Someone grabbed my collar.

Startled, I looked up to see a familiar face.

"Ho-jjuki... (Skinny...)"

It was the child who had reported me for bullying, resulting in writing ten pages of a reflection.

The child dragged me to a deeper part of the corridor.

"Do you know how much trouble I had because of you yesterday?"

'It's your fault for bullying me.'

As I thought this, Skinny frowned.

"Who are you, a half-breed?"

"..."

"You cheated on the exam today, didn't you? That's why you were scolded at the main castle, right?"

While I was at the main castle, the people here must have guessed that.

A three-year-old reading ancient language.

It couldn't be explained any other way than cheating.

Skinny smiled maliciously.

"Since you're already disliked by Duke, and now you've cheated, you'll probably be kicked out of the tower, right?"

"..."

"Because of a half-breed like you, I had to endure such humiliation... Do you know who my father is? He's a vassal with a fief!"

"..."

"Apologize to me. Get on your knees and beg!"

He pushed me, and I fell on my bottom.

"Ouch!"

It hurt so much that my eyes welled up with tears.

Despite the pain, Skinny continued to shout.

"Didn't you hear me?!"

Skinny raised his hand to hit me.

I don't really fight with children.

I usually reported to adults to resolve issues.

It was convenient, and most importantly, I dealt with them leniently because they were children.

'But violence is different.'

Especially when it happens multiple times.

"Get on your knees and beg... Ah!"

I bit Skinny's leg hard.

And at the moment he bent down to pull me off,

"Ouch!"

I firmly grabbed his hair.

He kept pushing me—

"Ouch!"

Calling me a half-breed—

"Ouch!"

Threatening and mocking me!

"Ah!"

Shaking his head up, down, left, and right, Skinny burst into tears.

"Ah! Mom...!"

He was crying so loudly that people started to gather.

The area quickly became bustling.

Soon, teachers rushed over.

The teachers who pushed through the crowd looked at us with wide-eyed shock.

* * *

Skinny and I were dragged into a room.

I sat quietly, holding my skirt, while Skinny cried loudly.

Lord Molo, the overall manager of the twelfth tower, held his forehead.

"What is this nonsense?"

"That one, ah, bit and hit me, ah...!"

Lord Molo glared at me.

I tried to calmly explain the situation.

"Ho-jjuki started—"

"Enough!"

Lord Molo sharply interrupted.

He didn't even give me a chance to speak and pressed on.

"To assault a fellow student and then try to justify it."

His gaze was cold and harsh.

'I knew he would react this way, but it's too much.'

Other teachers like me, but not Lord Molo.

In fact, I thought about making the teachers my allies because of him.

He is a staunch bloodline supremacist and an opportunist.

When I was an infant,

"How could I be assigned to such a fool? I'd rather die and be at peace."

—He had once vented his frustration.

Of course, he thought I was too young to understand.

Even as I grew up, he looked at me as if I were trash.

That's why I thought I needed to make other teachers my allies.

If the head is like this, it's hard to survive.

"Moreover, you cheated on the exam, didn't you?"

'So that's what he's really angry about.'

He thinks I tarnished his reputation by cheating at the castle.

Lord Molo clicked his tongue.

"As punishment, stand holding a bucket during lunchtime."

After saying this, he turned his gaze to Skinny.

His eyes were dripping with honey.

"Stop crying now. Your father would be heartbroken if he knew."

"Yes, Lord..."

"Was there a problem yesterday?"

"It was because of that half-breed—!"

Skinny glared at me angrily.

Lord Molo smiled softly.

"Don't worry. There won't be any record of this."

"Really?"

"Yes, and tell your father not to worry."

After saying this, Lord Molo called a servant to bring a bucket full of water.

He then made me hold the bucket.

"Don't try to trick me."

He firmly said this and went back into the room with Skinny.

Laughter could be heard from inside the room.

"Would you like a cookie?"

"Yes."

"By the way, what hobbies does your father have... Ah, horseback riding. I like it too."

While Skinny was excitedly talking, I was holding the bucket.

'Just hold it.'

For the first time, someone at the castle showed interest in me.

If I made a wrong move here, my initial image could be ruined.

While I was struggling, the children I share classes with approached.

"Why is the baby here?"

The children at my table, who called me a baby because I'm the youngest in the tower, asked.

"Beul bada. (Getting punished.)"

"Why?"

"Se-sae da geulon goya. (That's just how the world is.)"

"Ah, so the world is like that, and that's why you're being punished."

The children nodded.

"Go to the babies' room. Chue. (Go to the babies' room. Chue.)"

These children, unlike Skinny, were humble collateral line members.

If they were seen with me, the nasty Lord Molo might punish them too.

The children said, "Yes," and went inside.

I had to stand there for a long time.

10 minutes.

20 minutes.

30 minutes.

No matter how much time passed, Lord Molo didn't come out.

'How long do I have to do this?'

As time went on, my hands hurt terribly, and my shoulders felt like they were going to fall off.

While I was groaning, Lord Molo came out into the corridor.

"Tsk. Don't try to trick me."

He then hit the bucket.

"Stand properly!"

'Ah!'

Already weak, I stumbled under the weight of the bucket and fell.

Splash!

Water spilled on the floor, and I became a drenched mouse.

"You're no different from a rat."

Lord Molo glared at me fiercely.

At that moment,

"Erylot."

'...!'

Hearing a voice that shouldn't be here, I turned my head sharply. Lord Molo and Skinny also hurriedly looked behind them.

A silhouette that had been swallowed by the tower's shadow walked out of the darkness.

Holding a silver cane, looking at us—

"Grandfather... (Grandfather...)"

It was Duke Astra.