Chapter 8

This 3-year-old is a villain. Chapter 8. (8/390)

Chapter 8.

I clearly saw something called green lavender in <Bing.Hei.Son>.

What on earth is going on?

“Hinda. (Hilda.)”

“Yes, Miss.”

“Do you know green lavender?”

“What is it?”

Sure enough, she doesn’t know.

‘Did Dalia find it first and name it green lavender?’

When I think about the novel’s description, it doesn’t feel that way at all.

I sighed.

The maids, who had been staring at me, cautiously spoke up.

“Um, Miss.”

“Yes.”

“You’ve been reading books for days. Why don’t you go out and play?”

Hilda’s suggestion was echoed by Greta.

“Reading too many books can make your head grow mold.”

The maids’ eyes were brimming with concern.

It seemed they felt sorry for me, who had no friends and was confined to my room.

Thinking about it, I’ve been staying in my room for four days now.

I even ate in my room unless I had to read ancient language.

‘It is a bit stuffy.’

Maybe I should go out and get some fresh air.

“Going out is good.”

“Of course. Greta, bring Miss’s coat.”

“Yes.”

I put on the coat and went outside with Hilda and Greta.

Our destination was the walking path.

This enormous Astra Castle has several walking paths and a greenhouse in addition to the garden.

I hopped over the stones on the walking path.

“Doesn’t your head feel clearer now that you’re outside?”

“Yes!”

The walking path recommended by the maids was serene.

This place is more secluded than others, so it doesn’t seem to be artificially decorated.

There were also wildflowers growing naturally.

“It’s cold, but there are so many flowers.”

“It’s because of the magical tools. They have a magical effect that makes various flowers bloom even in winter.”

“Beautiful.”

“Shall we make a flower crown? Wildflowers have soft stems, making them perfect for a crown.”

I squatted down with the maids.

We picked the flowers one by one to make a crown.

With my small hands and underdeveloped muscles, it took a long time to weave even one flower.

The maids watched me with great concentration, looking pleased.

“Who are you going to give it to, working so hard?”

“To Conrad.”

“You really like Conrad, don’t you?”

Of course. He’s my precious information book.

So far, the only person I can trust in this castle is Conrad.

The maids are good people, but they have to follow the butler’s orders.

The Count de Boussac, whom I often see, is my grandfather’s man.

“Adding cherry blossoms would be beautiful.”

Greta picked a flower from the tree. Then Hilda said,

“That’s not a cherry blossom, it’s an apricot blossom. This is an apricot tree.”

“Oh…”

Greta rubbed her hands on her apron, looking embarrassed.

I took the flower from Greta’s hand.

“Apricot blossoms and cherry blossoms look similar. I get them confused.”

“T, that’s right?”

“Yes!”

There’s really no need to be embarrassed.

‘They look so similar… Wait a minute.’

With wide eyes, I jumped up.

Hilda and Greta, who had been squatting, looked at me.

“Miss?”

“I need to go back to my room.”

“Without giving the flower crown to Conrad?”

“Hinda will give it! (Hilda will give it!)”

Then I quickly returned to my room.

‘It wasn’t lavender.’

There are flowers that are hard to distinguish, like apricot blossoms and cherry blossoms.

Lavender and periwinkle are such flowers.

Dalia must have seen periwinkle and thought it was lavender. They really do look similar.

‘It’s not green lavender, it’s green periwinkle!’

I opened the plant guide.

I quickly flipped through the pages to find the section on periwinkle.

<Periwinkle>

A member of the Buxaceae family. Its flowers resemble lavender and grow well in dry shade. Occasionally, the buds bloom green.

‘Of course!’

I memorized the characteristics of where periwinkle grows.

I was happy to find a big clue, but the castle is so large that I had no idea where to start looking.

I wandered around the shadows all day but couldn’t even catch a glimpse of it.

It was almost like looking for a needle in a sandbox.

But on the fifth afternoon.

‘I found it! No, I found the periwinkle!’

I raised my dirt-covered hands high.

A tiny flower, easily mistaken for a leaf, among the purple flowers.

This was the raw material for the physical regression potion.

* * *

Getting the other ingredients was easy.

The castle had everything.

I went to various places, put my hands together, and said,

“Give me flour.”

─and I could get almost any ingredient.

I got flour from the kitchen, evening primrose from the herb storage, and didn’t forget to get the colostrum from the stables.

Thus…

‘Yes!’

The day before my grandfather’s birthday, I completed the potion.

Since there was only one green lavender, I could only make two bottles, but this is enough.

I smiled with satisfaction.

The maids who had just entered spoke to me.

“You’re in your room today.”

“I don’t need to go out anymore.”

Since the potion is complete.

The maids laughed, seeing how happy I was.

“That’s good. You need to try on your dress today.”

The administrative office had ordered a dress for the birthday party.

It seems to be completed today.

I headed to the parlor.

The dressmakers were already there, with several dresses laid out.

Mrs. Rita, the representative, said with a kind smile,

“Do you like it?”

Of course!

I approached the people holding the dress hangers.

‘Wow, wow─!’

It was so beautiful that I couldn’t even speak.

The hem was long enough to prevent a child from tripping.

Various jewels were sewn on top of the gold embroidery, like flowers on a vine.

It was a dress fit for a truly noble child.

“Beautiful…”

As I held my cheeks with my small hands and sighed, “Oh…,” laughter erupted around me.

Hilda smiled, finding my awe adorable.

“Mrs. Rita is the best designer in this Astra Manor!”

“Oh, such high praise.”

“It’s not an exaggeration. Even the direct descendants couldn’t get Mrs. Rita to design for them.”

That was strange.

Mrs. Rita was a popular designer.

During the last party season, she received the highest praise for her unique and beautiful designs.

So why did she make a dress for me, who had no power?

Mrs. Rita covered one cheek with her hand and said,

“Sir Conrad is quite intimidating.”

“Sir Conrad?”

“He asked me to sign a contract when placing the order.”

“A contract?”

“Yes. It was the first time I saw such a thing in our dress shop, which is dedicated to nobles.”

“Of course. Who would cheat while making clothes for nobles?”

“We couldn’t even suggest a contract first.”

“Yes…”

“After signing, it turned out that we could only make one dress for the Duke’s birthday party.”

“Oh!”

“So, we only made Miss Erylot’s dress this time.”

‘Conrad is amazing!’

It’s natural to put more effort into making clothes for higher-ranking people.

So Conrad made it impossible for them to deal with others.

To prevent Mrs. Rita from putting effort into other direct descendants’ clothes and neglecting mine.

‘He’s really good at his job.’

I felt proud that I had made Conrad my person and smiled.

At that moment.

A nervous voice came from the open door of the parlor.

“Stupid! You couldn’t even get that!”

“It’s a legendary item, after all…”

“There’s nothing Astra can’t get if it sets its mind to it!”

It was Lianthin.

Her face was red as she scolded her governess.

“It’s a lack of effort. You’re ignoring me because I’m the lowest in the direct line!”

“Why don’t you try getting something else? The birthday party is tomorrow…”

“Shut up! Dragon’s egg! I want a dragon’s egg!”

Lianthin shouted and turned her head.

Then she met my eyes, who was inside the parlor.

Seeing Mrs. Rita with me, her eyes twisted.

The dressmakers and maids quickly bowed.

“I greet the beloved of the house.”

“I thought you refused my order because of other cousins…”

“…”

“You did well not to order. Would I wear a dress made by someone who can’t see quality?”

Saying this, Lianthin strode in.

She picked up an ink bottle from the table and poured it on my dress.

“Oh!”

“My goodness…”

Hilda and Mrs. Rita turned pale.

Lianthin looked at me without a word.

“Look, I made it pretty to match. Aren’t you grateful?”

She threw the ink bottle on the floor and smiled.

I squatted down and picked up the ink bottle.

“Miss…”

Thinking I was very disappointed, the kind-hearted Hilda didn’t know what to do.

But I…

Thud!

“Squeal─!”

I threw the ink bottle at Lianthin.

“…!”

“…!”

“…!”

Everyone in the room opened their mouths wide.

Lianthin, hit on the shoulder by the ink bottle, trembled.

“What are you…?”

“You said it was beautiful.”

“What, what?”

I smiled widely.

“I’ll treat you beautifully too!”

Lianthin’s face turned red with anger.

After trembling for a while, she raised her hand.

“This…!”

“What’s going on?”

A familiar voice came from the door.

It was Count de Boussac and Conrad.

Lianthin clenched her hand and shut her mouth.

Then she looked at Count de Boussac with a pitiful expression.

“Erylot─”

“You’ll treat me beautifully if I do this.”

“That’s not─”

“I’ll treat you beautifully too!”

“No, I─”

“Right? You said you’d treat me beautifully.”

“I want to speak─”

“Why are you angry, sister?”

Cutting off all of Lianthin’s words, she looked frustrated.

‘You know I’m better at this.’

Count de Boussac frowned.

“I see.”

Then he looked at Mrs. Rita.

“Fix Miss Erylot’s dress and bring it.”

“Yes, Count.”

That was it.

But this matter will surely reach my grandfather’s ears.

That’s why Lianthin is trying so hard to impress Count de Boussac.

Count de Boussac bowed.

“Count! Wait a moment, Count!”

Lianthin chased after him frantically.

I smiled, watching her back.

‘I’m better at this.’

It’s my specialty.

* * *

Lianthin left the room, trembling.

She chased after the Count all afternoon, trying to explain the ink bottle incident, but he just laughed.

“You don’t need to explain. I’ve heard enough.”

She clenched her fists.

‘Cunning girl. Do you think I’ll let this slide?’

Lianthin strode forward.

Her governess, waiting outside, quickly followed.

“Miss, where are you going?”

“Where is that girl’s room?”

“Pardon?”

“I mean the room of that annoying girl!”

“I heard it’s on the third floor of the annex.”

Lianthin bit her lip.

‘Living in the annex, of all places.’

The education space for the 3-year-olds (the Duke’s grandchildren) is in the new wing. Their bedrooms are also in the new wing.

Since she doesn’t have a room in the new wing, she’s living in the annex, and yet she dares to…

Lianthin headed straight for Erylot’s room in the third-floor corridor.

A guard standing outside Erylot’s room said,

“Miss Erylot─”

“Move!”

Lianthin pushed the guard and went inside.

Her governess gave the guard a few gold coins.

“Do you know what to do?”

“Yes, sir!”

The guard quickly pocketed the gold and stepped back.

Lianthin frowned when she entered the room.

There was no one inside.

Not Erylot, not even a maid.

Tsk, she clicked her tongue and looked around the room.

It was a shabby room, without a parlor, study, or even a dressing room.

It couldn’t compare to the rooms in the new wing.

There was only a bed, a few wardrobes, and a desk.

‘Even the desk is old…’

Lianthin roughly opened the desk drawer.

There was something strange inside.

“Bottles of medicine?”

The bottles were lined up with ribbons clumsily tied around them. Next to them was a small card with crooked writing.

Judging by the messy writing, it was clearly written by that girl.

“What kind of medicine is this?”

“Shall I try it, Miss?”

“…What?”

The governess was hesitant.

Are you telling me to eat it without knowing what it is?

“It’s probably just a supplement.”

“Try it.”

“…”

When Lianthin roughly handed the bottle to her, the governess looked at it with trembling eyes.

When Lianthin gets like this, no one can stop her.

If she doesn’t listen, who knows what trouble will happen.

The governess closed her eyes and drank the medicine.

“Tell me if your body feels strange. I’ll reveal it at the Duke’s birthday party.”

Saying this, Lianthin roughly closed the drawer.

‘I shouldn’t be dealing with this kind of person.’

The other cousins are more important.

Due to poor practical scores, she had been pushed to the bottom of the ranking.

She needed to impress her grandfather to recover her position.

But then.

“Ah…?”

The governess clutched her jaw.

“What? Why?”

“My teeth don’t hurt, Miss.”

“What?”

“I’ve been in so much pain that I couldn’t even eat, but now they don’t hurt at all.”

Lianthin quickly opened the desk drawer again.

She grabbed the remaining bottle of medicine.

“Does this have such an effect? How did that girl get this?”

“It must be from Conrad Martial.”

“Conrad? The Duke’s adjutant?”

“I heard he’s the one who made Mrs. Rita exclusively make Miss Erylot’s dress.”

Conrad Martial was a man known for his outstanding abilities.

That’s why he became the Duke of Astra’s adjutant at such a young age.

‘How stupid. To team up with that girl.’

Lianthin stared at the bottle of medicine.

“This medicine is too good for a girl like her.”

She put the bottle in her pocket.

“Stop searching for the dragon’s egg. I’ve already found my gift for the Duke.”

Lianthin smiled arrogantly.