This Three Year Old Is a Villainess-Chapter 273

Cousins and cadet-branch nobles looked utterly bewildered.

Did that settle everything?—their expressions seemed to ask.

‘It couldn’t be simpler.’

Raon’s faction had no choice but to agree.

Besides, King of Baran was already waiting for an opportunity to remove Raon from the crown prince position.

To bestow the throne on his favored youngest prince.

So if news of this reached the king’s ears, it would be tantamount to “Please depose me.”

‘Still, why did he resist so stubbornly...?’

I glanced at Raon.

He looked at me as if to say, “What did I shout about?”

‘...Because you told me to come ask in person.’

That must have been the reason.

I handed the dagger back to Raon’s guard.

Then I looked at the most reasonable among the three, Third Prince Yuli.

“Then let’s consider this settled.”

Yuli sighed and nodded.

I surveyed my cousins.

“Shall we go? Prince Salvatore must be waiting.”

“Mm....”

“Y- yes.”

Alexis and I left the room first.

After the third-generation scions paid their respects to Raon, they hurried after me.

The cadets followed in a fluster.

Returning to the old wing where Prince Salvatore awaited, I asked Alexis,

“How did you get here?”

“Your grandfather contacted me.”

“My grandfather? Why?”

“I don’t know. He didn’t give me a reason, only that I should meet him in his study at this hour.”

“He asked to see you at a time like this? Why....”

I muttered as footsteps approached.

“Miss.”

Turning, I saw Florence Ezlo approaching.

“I have something to ask.”

“Later.”

“But I ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) must ask now. Why did you do such a dangerous thing?”

“...Pardon?”

She fixed me with wide, intense eyes.

“Did you swallow the blade to protect the people at any cost?”

Liantin frowned.

“Is there really any reason to answer that right now?”

“There is... because if it’s true, I owe you an apology.”

“An apology?”

Florence Ezlo looked at me.

“I thought you were a terrible person. I heard you forced the domain’s retainers out of their positions....”

“....”

“That you were rude to your elders, that you were extravagantly wasteful....”

“....”

“That when the people suffered drought, instead of relief you spent lavishly competing with other domains on the Festival of the Divine Accumulation....”

“....”

“That you lived off the people’s precious taxes while spending enormous sums on studying abroad... and other reasons made me think you were bad.”

“And yet?”

“If you truly are someone who would risk her life for the people, I wish to apologize for my misunderstanding.”

She seized my hand and smiled brightly.

“But we exist because of the people. I want to work for them. It’s only right.”

‘This girl is just like Dalia.’

Though her head seemed even firmer than Dalia’s by three hundredfold.

I pulled my hand back from Florence’s grasp.

“Why must you apologize now, at a time when every minute is precious, just to comfort yourself?”

“...Pardon?”

She looked startled.

I regarded her impassively.

“You don’t need to apologize. There’s no reason to be praised simply for living to your own standards.”

“....”

Saying that, I passed Florence Ezlo and walked on.

Loreina and Liantin clicked their tongues and glared at her.

Florence blinked and watched Erilot’s departing figure.

The cadet-branch nobles surrounded her, frowning.

“It’s rude. They must still think Astra’s structure from seven years ago is some monstrous system.”

“That cadet branches shouldn’t even tread in the main branch’s shadow—that absurd setup?”

“I saw it myself during the Erekka Girard incident. Even back then they were unbearably arrogant.”

As they grumbled, Florence said,

“Don’t speak so.”

“Pardon?”

“I learned from this that one mustn’t judge a person by rumors alone.”

“Ah....”

Florence smiled.

“I thought she was bad, but she’s truly noble if she’d sacrifice herself for the people.”

“Oh, that lady....”

“She’s just too kind.”

The cadet nobles sighed in resignation.

Florence raised both hands lightly.

“And yes, I admit I stole this time when every moment is rushed.”

“To apologize, yes. Erilot Astra was wrong to scold someone who came to apologize.”

“I appreciate your kindness, but you must point out what I need to reflect on.”

“Good grief....”

Florence chuckled with a clear face.

“Aren’t you glad?”

“Glad about what, exactly?”

“That there’s at least one person in the main branch worthy of respect.”

“You’re so naive!”

A cadet-branch maiden sighed and crossed her arms.

“Do you really think Erilot Astra would swallow a blade for the people?”

“Or maybe...?”

Young Ezlo scoffed and answered in her stead,

“She’s just showing off.”

“Showing off?”

“That she cares so much the Crown Prince of Baran would give up political gain for her. She wanted to show that to us, right?”

“....”

The cadet nobles frowned.

“Those in the main branch never miss a chance to boast.”

“How much have cadet families grown in power over these seven years? Yet they still won’t acknowledge us.”

“If we united, even the main branch would be at a loss.”

“That’s right.”

As the cadet nobles grumbled, Florence twisted her skirt tightly.

‘What is it?’

So that was it?

With such selfish thoughts, how could she be so confident?

In House Ezlo’s lands, eighty percent of the people live by farming.

They suffered most from this drought.

‘And in that situation, the main branch, masters of Astra, focused only on drawing our attention?’

Florence Ezlo bit her lip firmly.

“I will no longer stand by.”

“Pardon?”

“I will stop the main branch’s tyranny.”

She stared at the place where Erilot had passed with determined eyes.

The old wing’s VIP reception room.

Prince Salvatore and Raon were conversing.

It had been four hours already.

Their atmosphere grew increasingly tense.

Prince Salvatore set down his teacup with a click and asked,

“So, will you reject the Empire’s proposal?”

“I’ll make clear that what they call a technological alliance means there’s nothing in Baran for them to learn.”

“....”

“....”

Their gazes clashed fiercely in midair.

Liantin poked my waist.

When I looked at her with a ‘what?’ expression, she frowned and whispered,

“Why don’t you intervene?”

“Why would I?”

“If Baran could acquire technology, the Empire would benefit too.”

“Only the throne benefits.”

I was already negotiating with Heban for mage-weapons.

Those incredible arms combining Baran’s magic.

Once acquired, Uncle Cainrod would dismantle them for our research.

‘Why grant the palace any boon?’

Liantin narrowed her eyes.

“...So you’ll leave them be? They look ready to strike each other soon.”

“Let them hit me.”

“I’d love to see this war—!”

Liantin’s voice rose before she snapped her mouth shut.

All eyes turned to her.

She hurriedly bowed her head.

I pretended not to notice and looked ahead.

After attention shifted away, I whispered to Liantin,

“War isn’t a game, and they nearly started one over me.”

“But they almost did when they threatened the crown prince’s life.”

“That only applies if they actually beheaded him.”

“True, but....”

Liantin gloted at Prince Salvatore with anxiety.

“He’s different than usual.”

“What?”

“The person who’s usually so composed is somehow....”

Now that I think of it, Salvatore did seem different today.

Somehow impatient.

‘But I know him from working with the Wonhwa. How would Liantin, who’s only lived at the manor, notice that?’

I scowled.

“Don’t tell me, sister—you still harbor feelings for the prince?”

“Are you mad? After that at the Sun Society. I couldn’t help but watch, hoping he’d mess up, and I naturally learned it.”

“Give it up.”

“I told you I won’t.”

“Fine, then just drop it.”

Liantin turned her head with a pout.

I rose from my seat.

And said to Prince Salvatore,

“Your Highness, night will soon fall. Let us resume the remainder of this discussion tomorrow.”

Raon’s side would never accept the proposal anyway.

Seeing my look, Salvatore furrowed his brow.

But seeming to agree, he sighed.

“Very well.”

“What shall we have for dinner?”

“Prepare it in my chamber.”

“Yes. And as for Baran’s Crown Prince...?”

Until then, Raon’s face had been expressionless, but he smiled broadly.

“Shall we dine together?”

“Please prepare it in their chamber.”

“How disappointing.”

The palace attendants looked between Raon and me with odd expressions. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

They seemed to sense the strange atmosphere.

Everyone rose.

Blood relatives and retainers headed to the underground dining hall.

Palace and Baran personnel each went to their lodgings.

I exited the room one last time.

Prince Salvatore spoke to me.

“You seem quite close with Baran’s Crown Prince.”

“They presume closeness one-sidedly.”

“How so?”

“He fancies me.”

“....”

Salvatore looked at me in astonishment.

Even the attendants still beside him were taken aback.

“Ah, h-hahaha, y- yes, I suppose.”

“You resemble your father so much that anyone would be enamored by your looks.”

“Baran’s Crown Prince must also be... a man, haha.”

They awkwardly chimed in.

Salvatore sighed and said,

“Then your persuasion must have worked.”

“Perhaps. But he didn’t strike me as the sort to foolishly hand over technology for a woman’s beauty.”

“A silver tongue can achieve much, yes?”

“My tongue specializes in drawing out anger.”

“Will you continue so?”

The prince’s expression grew serious.

I glanced at him and sat across.

“It won’t help much. He isn’t so easy as to hand over technology for a woman.”

“I’m not demanding anything extraordinary. What we seek from Baran is the .”

Asar is, simply put, an energy conversion device.

“Our magic railway’s energy resources are nearly exhausted.”

“I have heard as much.”

“So prices have skyrocketed. The state can scarcely operate the railway.”

“You intend to run it with Asar?”

“It’s a costly project. If it succeeds, it will be the greatest achievement of the late king’s reign.”

“The late king wishes for Asar. You should step forward for the people and the father of the nation.”

“Your Highness, these days....”

I said with a crooked expression,

“Even children get allowances from parents just for running errands.”

“...What?”

“If it’s free, I’d be deeply troubled.”

What could he do?

Seeing that, Salvatore gave a wry laugh.

“You’re something else....”

“So, shall I help?”

“...What do you want?”

“I don’t ask for much. Just one of your private holdings, Your Highness.”

“And?”

I quickly signaled Han Jihyeok.

He rummaged anxiously and produced a parchment.

I propped my chin and chuckled,

“Will you sign the contract?”

Salvatore’s face darkened.

The attendants’ eyes widened on the prince.

With no other choice, Salvatore scrawled something on the paper.

Essentially promising, “If you procure Asar, I will grant one of my private possessions.”

“That should suffice.”

I hugged the contract and giggled.

“But of course~!”

—and with that.

‘Excellent.’

Once this is resolved, the new Land of Blessing will be mine!