Chapter 4

This 3-year-old is a villain in Chapter 4. (4/390)

Chapter 4.

“……”

“……”

“……”

Despite running so hard, when Elliot's eyes met the Duke's, she froze on the spot.

After a long while, Elliot fumbled and then picked up the rabbit doll.

“The sisters gave it to me.”

Debussy, the Count, chuckled.

“Yes, it’s a very cute doll.”

“Yeah!”

A maid approached hurriedly from a distance. Upon seeing the Duke and the Count, she quickly bowed her head.

The Count spoke to Elliot.

“It seems they’ve come to take you. By the way, it’s time for dinner. You’ve worked hard today.”

The maid bowed and then bent her waist towards Elliot.

When the maid asked, “Shall we go?” Elliot nodded.

“Grandpa, bye-bye.”

“……”

Debussy, the Count, watched Elliot leave with the maid, chuckling.

She was really an amusing child.

‘Is it because she grew up in the twelfth tower, not in the castle?’

She was completely different from the direct descendants.

There was no child in this castle who carried a rabbit doll.

Especially not one who would show it off to Duke Astra.

And to say, “Grandpa, bye-bye”?

Even the seasoned nobles were tense around Duke Astra, yet she treated him like a regular grandfather.

Today, I had a fun show to watch.

To see Duke Astra, not out of contempt, but unable to respond.

‘How long will it last?’

Soon, she would realize that her grandfather was not an ordinary old man.

Children are surprisingly perceptive.

But contrary to what Debussy, the Count, thought, Elliot was consistent.

Whenever the Duke left his study, Elliot was sitting in front of the door.

In her hand was a book.

“Reading makes you smart.”

“……”

The next day, she was sitting in front of the dining room.

In her hand was a sketchbook as big as her body.

“Drawing.”

“……”

The following day, it was in front of the bedroom.

She held a bottle of milk.

“Drinking milk makes you grow tall.”

“……”

There was no need to report Elliot’s every move.

She did it all on her own.

A week passed.

“Eating snacks. We need to brush our teeth.”

“……”

As usual, Elliot was doing something in front of the office.

The Duke glanced at her and then entered the office.

Debussy, the Count, and Conrad, who entered with him, chuckled.

Conrad said,

“You’re here again today.”

“Was the young lady here yesterday too?”

“She’s been coming regularly lately.”

“I should have had a grandchild to watch.”

Debussy, the Count, laughed, and the Duke frowned.

The Count shrugged.

Would he care if that man had a grandchild trailing after him?

He placed the documents he brought on the Duke’s desk.

“It’s about the Torelso family. The atmosphere is strange since they lost their granary. With their only source of funds cut off... Your Excellency?”

“...Yes.”

His response was oddly delayed.

As if he was thinking about something else.

When Debussy, the Count, and Conrad looked at him with puzzled expressions, the Duke waved his hand.

“Continue.”

Though he said it casually, it kept bothering him.

That yellow back of his.

* * *

At dusk.

I stood on tiptoe and peeked into the office.

I mean, the ‘Conrad’ in the office.

I’ve been following Conrad closely lately.

‘Because he’s about to betray soon.’

It was mentioned in passing in <Ice.Black.Hand>, but I saw it clearly.

Conrad betrayed in the fourth winter after joining the Astra family.

And it turns out, it’s the fourth winter now.

‘I shouldn’t be alone with Grandpa.’

If I’m alone, he might attack.

But sticking to Grandpa all the time is also unrealistic.

Grandpa wouldn’t like it, and most importantly...

‘My life is precious.’

What if I get caught in the crossfire when he attacks Grandpa?

For that reason, I never enter the room and always stay outside.

I’m ready to scream if anything happens.

‘Being a child is inconvenient.’

If they were going to possess me, they should have given me an adult’s body.

A child can’t do much.

If I pointed to a well-performing subordinate and said—

‘He’s a traitor. I don’t have proof, but I saw it in the novel.’

—They’d think I was crazy.

I was thinking about this when Conrad came out of the room.

“You’re still here.”

I nodded, and he bent one knee to meet my eye level.

“Aren’t you bored?”

“Snacks are here.”

I showed him a bag of snacks, meaning I was fine as long as I could eat while waiting.

“You’re very well-behaved.”

“Yeah.”

Conrad chuckled at my response.

“If it’s okay, can I touch your cheek?”

There were other administrators behind, and it didn’t seem like he was up to anything dangerous.

I nodded.

Conrad then adjusted my collar, a very gentle gesture.

“It’s still cold.”

I could feel the maids passing by in the corridor glancing at us.

I understood them.

‘He’s so handsome, it’s impossible not to look.’

When he adjusted my collar, I felt like I was looking at a magazine.

The sunset seeping into his long eyelashes.

His clear eyes.

His straight nose.

His lips, drawing a gentle curve.

‘The biggest advantage of Conrad is this warm feeling.’

“Will you stay here?”

“Conrad?”

“I’m going home now.”

It was a welcome sound.

If Conrad wasn’t with Grandpa, there was no reason to guard this place.

Actually, I was a bit cold and wanted to go back to my room.

“Then I’ll go too.”

“The castle’s stairs might be too high for you. I’ll take you to your room.”

“Yeah.”

I held Conrad’s hand and walked.

He adjusted his pace to match a child’s, making it easy to walk.

Plus, he kept the conversation going to keep me from getting bored.

“Do you read history books every morning?”

“Yeah.”

“Isn’t it tiring?”

“No, it’s not. I read a little at a time.”

“That’s good.”

The walk from Grandpa’s office to my room was quite long, but I didn’t get bored at all.

Conrad took me to my room and said goodbye.

“Have a good night.”

He left, and I inwardly sighed, ‘Hmm...’

It doesn’t seem like he’s planning to attack Grandpa yet.

The best time to attack would be at night when there are fewer people, but Conrad has been leaving early recently.

‘But why did Conrad betray Grandpa?’

I was pondering this when a familiar voice came from behind.

“Young lady.”

It was the maids who came to take care of my dinner.

The maids looked at Conrad’s back and said,

“Oh, it’s Conrad. He’s always so impressive.”

“I know. I used to look forward to seeing him, but now I feel sad thinking I won’t see him anymore.”

I opened my eyes wide at the maids’ words.

“Why can’t you see Conrad?”

“He’s stepping down from the Duke’s inner circle.”

“Why?”

“He’s moving to a more relaxed position. He has to take care of his sick brother.”

Another maid added,

“His brother has been sick since summer. That’s why he’s been leaving early recently.”

“Sick? Where?”

“It’s called Imla disease... Ah, it’s time for you to sleep, young lady.”

The maids, who cut off their words, took care of my bedtime.

But I already knew about Imla disease.

When you get Imla disease, it starts with a few spots on your body.

The more spots you have, the more pain you feel, and eventually, when the spots cover your entire body, you die.

But the treatment itself is simple.

There’s a special medicine called Blue Flower Root.

‘The problem is that getting Blue Flower Root is as hard as picking stars from the sky.’

It’s almost a legendary flower.

Since it’s so hard to find, the price is astronomical.

Suddenly, a light bulb went off in my head.

Sick brother.

Extremely hard to get medicine.

And betrayal.

‘What, he betrayed to get medicine for his brother!’

The people who ordered the attack must have lured Conrad with the medicine.

Conrad must have betrayed Astra for his brother.

‘It seems they haven’t contacted Conrad yet.’

If they had, he wouldn’t have stepped down from Grandpa’s subordinate position.

There’s no better position for an attack.

‘Then, if he has the medicine, he won’t betray?’

If I can get the Blue Flower Root, the problem is solved.

‘That’s easy!’

The next day.

It was time to read ancient language, so I headed to the study.

In the study were only Grandpa, Debussy, the Count, and Conrad.

After the mention of “dragon bones” and “blessed land,” it seems they thought only a few should know the content.

I pretended to read the history book.

“There’s a theory that Blue Flower Root strengthens blessings.”

Of course, there’s no such thing in the history book.

Debussy, the Count, eyes widened slightly.

“Are you talking about Blue Flower Root?”

“Yeah.”

“Blue Flower Root has such an effect...”

Debussy, the Count, turned to Grandpa.

“What do you think?”

“If we can develop blessings, it’s worth checking.”

“Then...?”

“Get it.”

‘Yes!’

I inwardly grinned.

Getting Blue Flower Root for me was really easy.

Because I could use the Astra family!

No matter how hard it is to get Blue Flower Root, with Duke Astra’s power, it wouldn’t be that difficult.

Endless funds.

Informants spread across the continent.

The Astra family can really pick stars from the sky.

Grandpa went even further.

“Distribute it to my grandchildren as soon as you get it. We need to confirm the effects.”

“It’s not a poisonous plant, so it should be safe.”

Debussy, the Count, looked at Conrad.

“Conrad, contact the intelligence bureau and have them find the Blue Flower Root.”

“...Yes.”

Conrad’s eyes were trembling.

Of course.

It’s a thing he would betray for.

Conrad left with a stiff face.

I quickly put down the history book.

“I’m tired. Can I go?”

Debussy, the Count, looked at Grandpa for permission.

Grandpa nodded.

I bowed and quickly chased after Conrad.

He looked half-dazed.

“Conrad.”

“Ah, yes, young lady.”

I grabbed the end of Conrad’s jacket and whispered.

“I’ll give the root to Conrad when I get it.”

“...What?”

I raised both hands and said in a childish manner.

“The maids said Conrad’s brother is sick. He needs Blue Flower Root.”

“Such... Why would you give me such a precious thing?”

“I like Conrad when he’s happy.”

“...”

Conrad covered his face with one hand.

I could see his eyes trembling through his long, beautiful fingers.

After a while, he calmed his trembling breath and knelt.

“I will never forget this kindness. Never.”

His eyes were filled with determination.

I patted Conrad’s head.

‘Good. Don’t forget it.’

* * *

A few days later.

I whistled as I walked down the corridor.

‘Conrad’s brother recovered!’

Indeed, the Astra family’s intelligence bureau.

They found the Blue Flower Root in a week.

I gave the Blue Flower Root to Conrad as promised.

‘Good, good.’

Now I don’t have to worry about Grandpa falling into a coma.

“Young lady.”

I saw Conrad from a distance.

“It’s late. Where are you going?”

“To Grandpa.”

Even though I finished monitoring Conrad, I still visited the Duke frequently.

‘You need to build a bond by seeing each other often.’

Reading ancient language will eventually end.

Then my usefulness will be over.

So I need to get closer to Grandpa in preparation.

“Unfortunately, the Duke just went out. There’s an urgent meeting with the senior nobles.”

“Even so...”

“Especially on a day like today, you should be careful.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s the day of the red moon.”

Ah.

I nodded.

When the red moon rises, blessings become very weak. Nobles who rely heavily on blessings can become very sensitive.

‘It’s a dangerous day.’

Conrad looked around and, confirming no one was there, said,

“Young lady, your education schedule is set.”

“Education?”

“After the direct descendants return from training, you will receive education together. The content of the lessons is...”

Now Conrad started giving me various information.

He seems to consider me a benefactor for giving him the Blue Flower Root.

I was thrilled.

‘This kind of information is great!’

The upper class is all about information.

I was glad I gave the Blue Flower Root to Conrad.

I listened carefully to what Conrad was saying.

“Young lady, your swordsmanship teacher