This Three Year Old Is a Villainess-Chapter 269

“Alexis!”

No sooner had I shouted than there came a sharp crack.

Alexis’s blade was aimed at Raon’s throat, and something flying in from the door had intercepted it.

Hevan burst through the door.

“You bastard, did you really intend to kill the Crown Prince of Baran?”

Hevan’s face was taut with tension as he held something between his fingers.

‘A Raxicle.’

In other words, a mini barrier.

But since it was a magic device developed in Kansis, its strength was beyond imagination.

It had been modified from a magic vial so it could be used even on nights of the crimson moon.

Was that what he’d thrown at Alexis and Raon?

‘But the Raxicle he used to block it shattered?!’

My eyes went wide.

“Seize them!”

Following Hevan’s shout, Yuri, the Third Prince of Baran, stormed in.

Baran’s royal assassins poured in behind him.

‘The Crown Prince’s personal elite guard!’

Especially that man with the scar at his mouth—he was known as Baran’s Swordmaster.

I shouted desperately.

“This one is Duke Isiron’s son! If there’s so much as a scratch, it’ll become an international incident!”

The assassins faltered.

Hevan gave a hollow laugh.

“If the one who tried to assassinate the Crown Prince is Duke Isiron’s son, wouldn’t that be an even bigger problem? ‘Miss Astra’.”

“You were the one who kidnapped me first, ‘Prince Brique’.”

Hevan and I locked fierce gazes in midair.

I rose from the bed and stepped to block Alexis.

“Shall we ask my emperor to decide whose fault is greater?”

“If you do, it’ll be revealed that Erilot Astra came all the way into Baran.”

“Then I suppose I’ll be detained at the imperial palace instead of dragged into Baran.”

I twisted my lips and continued.

“But is that really wise?”

“What?”

“To kidnap me again, you’d have to storm the palace. Wouldn’t that be an act of war?”

“This is—”

Hevan’s brows drew together in frustration.

Yuri glanced at Raon.

“If Saxoia’s palace is breached, we’ll never lay a hand on him again, Your Highness.”

“So what?”

Raon showed no sign of backing down.

Hevan and Yuri looked out the window, uneasy.

If the moon set, it would be a battle of blessings.

‘They must fear Raon’s blessing is so fearsome he might harm Duke Isiron’s son.’

But Alexis’s blessing was formidable too.

The Supreme Majesty of the Ruler, the very power that let the First Emperor of Saxoia found his empire.

Hevan wielded an offensive blessing, Yuri a dangerous support blessing.

If Alexis copied their blessings with the Supreme Majesty of the Ruler, this entire place would be laid waste.

‘This should be our domain...!’

No!

Tax revenue is already pitifully low from the drought!

If it’s razed, the restoration costs and compensation to civilians...

I shuddered at the thought of gold coins dancing away.

I spoke hastily, my face drained.

“If we end it here, I’ll pretend it never happened.”

I did not want things to escalate.

If they did, the court would find out I was in Baran.

Though I’d threatened to live at the Saxoian imperial palace, I loathed the idea.

Hevan’s expression brightened.

“See? It can be like it never happened.”

I nodded vigorously.

“If you withdraw, the kidnapping never took place.”

“It can be like it never happened, Your Highness!”

Yet Raon and Alexis remained unmoved.

Alexis pulled me close.

“Step back. It’s dangerous.”

Raon said, “Let go of her hand.”

“You’re the one who should stop leering.”

“Do you want to die, descendant of Isiron?”

“Let’s see if you can still talk after you’re struck.”

Raon drew his blade in an instant from his hip, his gaze fixed on Hevan.

“Your Highness—”

“Alexis, that’s enough!”

We needed to finish this and leave—otherwise...

Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!

The sound of disciplined boots rang out beneath the shattered window.

I gasped and peered outside.

Soldiers surrounded the building in tight formation.

Through the ranks flew a red banner emblazoned with a black raven.

The Scarlet Raven Standard.

The duke’s personal troops had arrived.

My grandfather must have come when he heard Heidi said I’d been kidnapped...!

“How dare the scoundrels who kidnapped my granddaughter show their faces? Step forward and kneel.”

At that, Hevan and Yuri rushed to the window.

They saw the imposing old man before the soldiers and muttered in disbelief.

“Ch-Chronos Astra....”

“The Duke Astra has come. How on earth....”

I let out an exasperated sigh, my face twisting.

“I told you to let me go quickly.”

“What?”

“What will you do now, you villains? With my grandfather involved, this is a declaration of war!”

My head ached at the thought of settling this.

The family seat.

When Balderick was brought in by soldiers, I turned pale.

No, more precisely, not seeing my grandfather in his cloak but the people behind him.

“No, Your Highness! Father, why have you arrested the Crown Prince of Baran—!!”

Grandfather had bound Raon in chains.

Balderick, Gustav, and Bastina ran in, aghast.

Gustav shouted, “Will you not release him at once?”

Bastina echoed sharply, “What have you done to the Crown Prince—”

Bang—!

Grandfather slammed his sword scabbard on the floor.

My foolish uncles and aunt flinched, their shoulders hunching.

“Father...”

“Father...?”

Grandfather’s expression was impassive as he strode to the golden throne on the dais.

Seated there, he looked down at the Baran party in chains.

Hevan spoke up.

“We only cooperated with Duke Balderick’s request. At his bidding we detained his granddaughter, nothing more.”

“No, your Highness...!”

Stony-faced Balderick flinched.

‘Always so stupid.’

Did he really think they’d stand by him when his own life was at stake?

They’d try to pin everything on Balderick.

Whether he screamed or cursed, Hevan ground his teeth.

“We are Baran’s royalty and nobility. You bind us as though we were criminals—this is how Astra treats guests?”

His retainers, administrators, and kin looked on helplessly at Hevan.

“Duke Astra, release the restraints and offer Your Highness your apologies.”

“You speak loudly.”

“What, what?”

“How dare you.”

“...!”

No one flinched at Baran’s protest from fear of their kingdom.

“Shut your mouth. My heart races at the thought my grandfather might slaughter you all.”

I whispered, and Hevan stiffened.

“What?”

“Haven’t you heard of my grandfather’s fearsome reputation?”

“Your grandfather is—Chronos Astra....”

Yes, Chronos Astra. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

He who charged the family seat alone and beheaded the former duke.

He who dragged the still-warm head by its hair.

They called him the Human Butcher.

But that’s not what mattered now.

I sighed and said, “Do you know whose bloodline my great-grandfather was of?”

“That would be House Astra’s....”

“Yes. His father was Duke Astra. And his mother—”

“...!”

“A princess of another continent. So my great-grandfather even had a claim to the throne. And he killed that man in one stroke.”

“...”

“And what became of his retainers? Among them were nobles from that continent.”

“What happened....”

“He buried them alive, without exception.”

“...!!”

No one could stop my grandfather once enraged.

Uncles, aunt, retainers, administrators—they all knew his temperament.

I looked at my grandfather, then whispered again.

“Now that you know, speak properly, yes?”

“Duke Astra... please hear our explanation.”

Hevan’s tone turned deferential.

“What explanation?”

At my grandfather’s words, Hevan swallowed hard.

“We truly only acted at Duke Balderick’s request. We did not know why he asked us to detain his granddaughter.”

“Hevan Brikt.”

“Yes, Your Grace...!”

“I hate those who lie.”

“...Yes?”

“First, I will cut out that three-inch tongue that has the gall to shout at me. Debussy.”

At once Viscount Debussy seized Hevan’s jaw.

Our one sensible aunt, Vasile, hurried forward.

“Father!”

“Will you punish her as well, Vasile?”

Everyone flinched.

Vasile clutched her skirts, trembling.

“If you wish to punish the troublemakers from Astra, Your Grace, you will need their testimony.”

That was right! Well done, aunt!

“You can cut out their tongues afterward...”

“You make a mockery of me.”

At my grandfather’s words the hall froze.

He fixed his gaze on Raon’s party and Balderick.

“Did you think I would not know that Balderick was trading weapons with Baran behind my back?”

“Father...!”

“Or that the Crown Prince of Baran was using Balderick to abduct Erilot for some purpose?”

“...!!”

“Did you think I would not know what happens within my domain?”

Balderick, Hevan, and Yuri went ashen.

“How amusing, Crown Prince.”

“....”

“Because of your arrogance, you will die here in ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) Astra. Do you have any last words?”

Raon’s lips curled in a crooked smile.

He looked at me.

“If you speak, I will remain as a spirit by her side.”

“What?”

“Now would be best to kill me. Otherwise I will kill you and take your place.”

“...”

“You have one chance, Duke Astra.”

Everyone closed their eyes tight.

They realized war with Baran stood upon the brink.

‘This madman...’

My grandfather snorted with derision.

“Then do not let that chance slip away. Do as I say, Debussy.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Viscount Debussy drew a sharp breath and raised his sword.

Even Aunt Vasile gave up and closed her eyes.

Then—

“No!”

I cried, rushing to my grandfather.

“Grandfather, please don’t kill him!”

“You were the one who planned to kidnap and drag me off, to use me as a horrific test subject to steal my power—”

“No!”

Grandfather may have thought so, and I would have preferred that, but...

“Crown Prince Raon only loves me.”

“What?”

“What did you say?”

“Yes?”

“What...?”

I felt too humiliated to speak aloud, so I shut my eyes and pointed at the Crown Prince.

“He says he loves me.”

“...”

“He wants to make me his queen, not a test subject.”

My grandfather had suffered gruesome experiments as a youth under the former duke.

That must have made him even more furious at the thought I would be experimented on.

His eyes rolled to Raon.

Raon met his gaze brazenly.

“I love her, Lil.”

“You...”

“I will make her my consort and live with her for all time.”

“You madman...!! Fetch my sword!”

My grandfather seized Raon’s collar in a flash, enraged.

I clung to my grandfather’s waist and shouted.

“There’s a better way than killing the Crown Prince, waging war, and spilling blood!”

“Let go! I will kill you!”

But didn’t I say he wasn’t a test subject? Why did he get angrier?

I screamed, “If you kill him, I will hate—!”

“What?”

As if by magic, my grandfather’s hand froze.

Only then did I realize—

‘Huh?’

What was happening?

This worked?

I let go of his body and stole a glance.

“Hate...?”

“You... you....”

“Grandfather, do you hate me?”

“How could I...!”

It was working!

‘I thought that only worked when I was a child, but even after all these years...’

Raon stared at me, bewildered.

“Were you trying to save me, Lil?”

I didn’t even look at him as I called to my grandfather.

“I need compensation from Baran. If I don’t get it, I will hate you!”

My grandfather and Raon fell silent.

Good.

I sighed and sat on a sofa in the small reception room of the family seat.

I had summoned Hevan and Yuri to sort out the matter.

Of course, that disgusting Raon was locked away somewhere.

My first interviewee was Hevan.

I stared intently at Hevan, his hands still bound.

“I am one thing, but you are another.”

“Stop your nonsense and untie my hands, will you?”

“I’ll want five hundred million gold and a hundred magic vials as compensation for the kidnapping.”

“You speak nonsense.”

Hevan snorted derisively.

I rested my chin on the armrest of the sofa.

“It nonsense? You saw it yourself—my grandfather really meant to kill you.”

“He thinks a hundred magic vials are the price of a child’s name? Do you think the king would pay such a sum for a thorn in his side like the Crown Prince?”

“You have those secret magic vials your house manufactures, don’t you?”

“...You!”

He looked as if to ask how I knew.

Why shouldn’t I?

‘I obtained that information by entering the palace.’

I stared at Hevan.

“Hand them over. And I need proof of your deal with Balderick.”

“Why should I? If the Crown Prince loses his position, my house will simply abandon him. Do I look like a madman who’d bear such losses for a prince obsessed with a woman?”

“But you love me.”

“What?”

I smiled faintly.

“Don’t you think I know why a calculating man like you followed after the Crown Prince?”

“...Nonsense.”

“You wanted to see me again, didn’t you?”

“...!”

I rose and tipped Hevan’s chin up with my fingertip.

“I could feel your gaze on me in the palace all the time.”

“....”

“A steady, longing gaze. You were always there whenever I looked around.”

“....”

“Admit it, Hevan. If you do, I might just grant you a look in return.”

I whispered, and he ground his teeth.

“You knew that and still....”

“Yes, Hevan. I am a wicked woman. And that’s why you love me.”

“....”

“Will you give them? The magic vials.”