Chapter 9

This is Chapter 9 of "This 3-Year-Old is the Villain" (9/390).

Chapter 9.

* * *

The next day.

I woke up early in the morning and moved busily.

I had a lot to do.

By the afternoon, I had to prepare for the banquet as well.

Lady Rita's dress arrived in the morning.

The part where the ink had stained yesterday was completely clean, without a trace.

‘They must have cut out the ink-stained part and reattached it, what a hassle.’

Conrad, who saw me dressed up, said,

"You look very beautiful today."

"It's because I'm a princess."

I lifted my chin proudly, and he burst into a pleasant laugh.

"Yes, you look like a beautiful princess."

"Thanks for the dress."

"You're welcome."

Conrad told me what I needed to know for the party.

"The party is divided into two parts."

The first part is the dinner, and the second part is a lighter party in the hall with drinks.

"I'm in the first part."

As I said this, Conrad nodded.

"Yes. Miss Lianxin is also assigned to the first part."

Then he continued with a worried look.

"You can just greet everyone and leave. You're still young, after all."

"Okay."

I nodded obediently.

‘He seems worried about Lianxin.’

Conrad witnessed the ink bottle incident yesterday, so it's understandable that he's worried.

Finally, the sun set, and the lights in the banquet hall were turned on.

The birthday banquet was about to begin.

As I entered the banquet hall, my eyes widened.

‘Amazing...’

The shiny black marble floor.

Pillars adorned with gold, climbing like ivy.

Behind the head table, water cascaded like a waterfall.

As I looked around the banquet hall, people's gazes focused on me.

After all, I was the only small noble lady, about the size of a forearm, who could enter the banquet hall.

"Hello, Miss Erylot."

People who recognized me started to gather.

"I am Stein from the Moriho family."

"It's an honor to meet you. I am Gilas from the Jober family."

I spread my skirt and bowed slightly.

"I am Erylot Astra."

People smiled at my clear speech.

Of course, not all the gazes were good.

"Is she a bastard?"

"They say the Grand Conjunction opened and she received a blessing. Is that even possible? It must be a mutation..."

I could see Conrad's expression stiffen from a distance.

He seemed worried that I might be hurt, but I wasn't.

I had expected this kind of reaction.

In fact, it was less harsh than I had anticipated, and most importantly—

‘Jackpot! This is a jackpot!’

If I could build a lot of connections here, it would definitely help me in the future.

I greeted people confidently.

People admired me for being able to attend the party confidently without my parents.

"You're so cute."

"My daughter was like this too."

Just then.

"Lord Moriho!"

A cheerful voice rang out.

"Oh, Miss Lianxin."

"It's been a long time."

"Yes, it has. About... four months, I think."

"Thank you for inviting me last time. I told ‘Grandfather’ that the garden was beautiful."

"To the Duke!"

The man's eyes sparkled.

Lianxin giggled.

"Yes. I like to tell Grandfather all sorts of things."

"The Duke spends time with Miss Lianxin...!"

"Well, among the direct descendants, I talk to him the most. Right, Dad?"

Lianxin looked back.

A plump man with brown hair appeared.

‘It’s Uncle.’

He was Uncle Decons, the third son of Grandfather.

"Yes. Our Lianxin is always affectionate to Father."

"Dad said that Grandfather is soft on me. Isn't that right~?"

"Indeed. He finds you particularly adorable."

Uncle laughed.

The attention in the banquet hall shifted to Lianxin.

Duke Astra was known as a cold-blooded old man who had no blood or tears.

A ruthless man rumored to have killed his own son who plotted a rebellion.

He was not someone who let people get close, even if they wanted to.

If the Duke's beloved granddaughter were to befriend someone, it would be advantageous.

"The garden at my mansion is also very beautiful, Miss Lianxin."

"My daughter is the same age as you. Why don't you visit my castle sometime..."

Lianxin quickly became the center of attention at the banquet.

She giggled.

"Although I need to focus on my education, it's hard to find time. But since you all are asking..."

Just then.

"His Excellency Duke Astra has arrived."

The banquet hall fell silent instantly.

People parted as if on cue, and soon he entered through the door.

The owner of the golden scent.

The king of the most vast and prosperous territory in the west.

The center of the empire's underworld.

—Duke Astra.

"I see the Duke."

"I see the Duke."

Grandfather walked through the crowd to the head table.

People gathered around the large table one by one.

When Grandfather sat down, they followed suit.

The seats next to Grandfather were taken by Uncle and Aunt, and Lianxin. I sat next to Lianxin.

A glass of champagne was served to each seat. Orange juice was placed in front of Lianxin and me.

Uncle Decons stood up and shouted.

"For the endless glory of Astra!"

"For the glory—!"

"For the glory—!"

A loud cheer echoed.

The atmosphere of the banquet was good.

It couldn't be bad, as everyone was trying to impress Grandfather.

When the meal was about halfway through, Uncle Decons spoke.

"Father, Lianxin has prepared a gift for your birthday."

Grandfather's gaze turned to Lianxin.

Lianxin smiled shyly.

Uncle Decons laughed and placed his hand on his daughter's shoulder.

"She worked so hard on the gift, and it really is something special. Hahaha! Go on, Lianxin."

Lianxin gestured to a servant.

The servant brought a small box. The box itself was very luxurious.

Lianxin blinked and said to Grandfather,

"It was really difficult to obtain. I only managed to get it yesterday after much effort."

"..."

"I really, really tried hard because I wanted you to be happy, Grandfather..."

People murmured in amazement.

They seemed interested in the item that the Duke's direct descendant had obtained with such difficulty.

Lianxin pursed her lips and said, "Open it, please."

Grandfather slowly opened the box.

During this time, Lianxin and I made eye contact.

Heh,

Lianxin smiled with a crooked mouth. It was a clear sneer.

Then she shrugged her shoulders toward Grandfather.

"You can eat it now. The effect will show immediately."

"What is it?"

"This. The one I gave you—"

Grandfather, with a blank expression, took out a vial from the box.

It was full of a liquid that, at first glance, no one could possibly drink, covered in mold.

"......!!"

Lianxin's face stiffened.

I subtly lifted the corners of my mouth.

‘Why, did you think I wouldn't notice you stealing it properly?’

Lianxin glared at me.

"What...?"

I pointed to the vial Grandfather held.

"Evil, evil!"

* * *

So, this is how it happened.

Before Lianxin entered my room, I had put away the poison just in case.

And I replaced it with something else.

‘A fake body regression potion.’

What Lianxin took was a failed batch of the body regression potion.

Erylot was the one who started making the body regression potion in <Bing.Hei.Song>.

But she failed.

At first, it seemed to alleviate tooth pain, but after three days, a greater pain would come.

Moreover, even after the hard work of making the potion, its effectiveness lasted less than a day.

After 24 hours, it would just turn into a rotten liquid.

‘The real body regression potion was improved by adding green lavender to the formula.’

Last night, when I returned to my room, I noticed the drawer on my desk was empty.

I knew Lianxin had taken the fake body regression potion.

Uncle Decons looked at Lianxin in confusion.

"What happened? Is this the gift you prepared? Is it safe to consume?"

"Well... it is... but..."

Lianxin turned bright red.

‘She doesn't know what to do, does she?’

If she insisted it was safe and something went wrong after Grandfather consumed it, there would be no turning back.

People started to murmur.

Lianxin had boasted so much before opening the gift, making the situation even more embarrassing.

"What can I say, Miss Lianxin is a bit... "

"Yes. She tends to speak before thinking."

"Bringing rotten items as a birthday gift... It has tarnished the Duke's reputation."

Uncle Decons was very flustered, and Lianxin's hands were trembling. Her expression showed that this was the first time she had experienced such humiliation.

The atmosphere of the banquet turned comical in an instant.

Grandfather didn't say much, but his eyes were deeply sunken.

Lord Debussy tried to lighten the mood.

"By the way, I heard Miss Erylot also prepared a gift."

"Yes."

"Show it to us."

I jumped up and got the item from Hilda, who was waiting by the wall.

Lord Debussy asked with a smile,

"What kind of gift is it?"

I took something out of the envelope Hilda had wrapped and held it up.

"Oh?"

"That's... "

Ha ha ha.

Laughter erupted in the banquet hall.

Because what I had prepared was chocolate.

This was the reason I was busy in the morning.

I made chocolate with the maids.

And when the maids weren't looking—

‘I put the medicine in the chocolate.’

I went through all this trouble because a 3-year-old wouldn't just take medicine.

What did I put in it?

People's reactions would definitely be like this.

The nobles in the banquet hall burst into laughter.

It seemed they found it cute that a child had prepared something.

I ran to Grandfather and offered him the chocolate.

"Here you go."

As I placed it in his hand, people were taken aback.

"Miss... "

One of the nobles tried to stop me, flustered.

Who would give food to Duke Astra like this?

But Lord Debussy, worried about the atmosphere becoming awkward again, stepped in.

"Miss Erylot worked hard on her gift. Would you like to try it?"

"..."

Grandfather glanced at me.

Then he put the chocolate in his mouth.

People watched Grandfather with interest.

Lord Debussy also asked with a raised eyebrow,

"How is it?"

"It's not bad."

"Ha ha, I'm curious about the taste."

The atmosphere in the banquet hall became warm again.

After I gave the chocolate, others also offered gifts to Grandfather.

A talking bird from a foreign land.

A fist-sized, multicolored diamond.

Each one was extraordinary.

The kitchen also brought out an enormous meal to celebrate Grandfather's birthday.

It was a whole roasted calf.

The food was served to Grandfather first.

The meat would be tender, but as it was meat, it would be harder to chew than vegetables.

Still, Grandfather ate it without showing any discomfort, as usual.

However,

"..."

Grandfather paused while chewing the meat.

As he stiffened, people who were watching him started to murmur.

"Duke?"

Lord Debussy asked.

But Grandfather just stared at the meat.

I saw my chance and whispered to Grandfather,

"Does it hurt now?"

"..."

"What did you say?"

"It's for the tooth. It hurts, right? But it won't hurt after eating chocolate. I have medicine for it!"

Grandfather's eyes widened.

"How do you...?"

He seemed to wonder how I knew his tooth hurt and what the medicine was.

But he couldn't say anything else because people were watching.

Grandfather glanced around and closed his mouth.

It seemed he would ask later, so I returned to my seat.

Grandfather continued eating.

He seemed to be checking if it really didn't hurt.

And he didn't show any discomfort throughout the meal.

‘He finished the whole plate.’

After all, he usually had a good appetite, but he couldn't eat because of his tooth.

He must have been hungry.

At the end of the banquet,

Lord Debussy said,

"Many wonderful gifts have been received. Which one do you like the most?"

The people in the banquet hall looked expectant.

They seemed to know that Grandfather would reward the person whose gift he liked the most.

Grandfather glanced at the pile of valuable gifts at the edge of the banquet hall.

Then he slowly spoke.

"Miss Erylot's gift... is the one I like the most."

"..."

"..."

"..."

Among the amazing gifts, my chocolate must have looked the least impressive.

So,

"The Duke seems to like Miss Erylot quite a bit..."

"Yes, he seems to be more fond of her than Miss Lianxin."

"Come to think of it, he looked very close to her."

People's reactions were understandable.

Conrad, standing at a distance, gave me a thumbs up.

Lord Debussy also burst into hearty laughter.

The strong melody created by the musicians filled the banquet hall.

In the midst of it, Lianxin's face was pale.

Of course, Lord Decons also had a bad expression.

Lianxin and her mother didn't say a proper word throughout the banquet.

* * *

Grandfather stood up from his seat.

This meant the banquet was over.

‘I’ll rest a bit before the second part starts.’

The nobles also stood up.

Some people followed Grandfather to the door to greet him.

‘Greetings, greetings.’

I was about to stand up quickly, but Lianxin, who was sitting next to me, was faster.

She stood up roughly, causing me to lose my balance.

I instinctively grabbed the table to prevent myself from falling, and the juice glass fell.

Clang!

A sharp sound echoed.

"Ah!"

Lianxin screamed.

Uncle Decons, who was following Grandfather, quickly came over.

"Are you okay?"

"It seems I was cut by the glass shards."

Seeing his daughter's distressed face, Uncle Decons frowned and glared at me.

Then, without asking what happened, he started to scold me.

"You weren't careful!"

I felt wronged.

‘I was pushed by Lianxin.’

He didn't seem to want to listen to my side of the story.

Lord Decons was known as the least competent among Grandfather's children.

He was hot-tempered, short-sighted, and violent.

He glared at me fiercely and said,

"Apologize now."

"..."

"Didn't you hear me!"

The commotion drew people's attention.

At that moment, Grandfather looked over.

"You're still making pig noises, Decons."

A stranger's voice rang out as someone strode into the banquet hall.

Lush blonde hair that seemed to exude a dangerous scent.

A sharp jawline that fell smoothly.

Fine features that were perfectly placed.

A tall stature and muscles honed from countless battles.

And the same red eyes as mine.

A man with a face so beautiful that gasps of admiration could be heard from all around.