This Three Year Old Is a Villainess-Chapter 294
I averted Dalia’s gaze.
“E-Erilot...?”
“Discipline, Dalia. We must hurry or we’ll be late for our appointment.”
Dalia bit her lip and appeared in the window’s reflection—then she and her servant disembarked the carriage.
At the Empress’s palace, the attendants guided me to the reception room.
“Glory to the Imperial House. We welcome Your Highness.”
“Indeed. Yet I see your new cousin is absent.”
I masked my thoughts.
‘They deliberately barred Dalia from the central gate...’
No attendant could have overlooked Dalia’s plight. Someone must have known she could not enter—and yet all feigned ignorance. Undoubtedly at the Empress’s direction.
‘To heighten Dalia’s gratitude when the Empress deigns to receive her.’
Or, should no hand be extended, to signal to me—watching that new cousin—that “the Empress is on your side.” And perhaps to avenge the power play when Prince Salvatore visited Astra.
Such pettiness. I smiled as if unaware.
“She arrived via the northwest gate. Though delayed, I beg your indulgence.”
“Ah. Her name is not yet on the registry... Very well.”
The Empress nodded politely.
“Please, have a seat.”
‘Now it begins.’ I sat and signaled to Han Jihyeok. He approached clutching the censer. I smiled at the Empress.
“I acquired a rare herb. May I demonstrate its incense?”
“I am intrigued—your Highness, Pray show.”
“Han.”
At my call, Han Jihyeok set the censer center-table, kindled it, and soon the rich fragrance filled the room.
“Oh my....”
The attendants inhaled in rapture.
‘No wonder—they’re paying a fortune for this herb on the black market.’
I had bled to purchase it, valuing it for some future use. And here it was—perfect for this moment.
The Empress looked delighted.
“This incense—‘Bride of May.’ I recall seeing it used as perfume by the Grand Ambassador’s wife long ago.”
“Indeed.”
“Thank you. It does not bloom on Irad—and in Kansis it was banned as an addicting plant.”
“I refined it by magic to remove narcotic elements. Please enjoy without concern.”
“You brought this because you wed His Majesty in May, did you not?”
...That was it? I had no idea.
The attendants chuckled and echoed praise.
“‘Bride of May’ symbolizes domestic prosperity, motherhood, and eternal love—a most thoughtful gift.”
I had merely chosen the most potent herb on hand. If they’d draw that conclusion, so much the better.
I smiled lightly and glanced about.
‘Time to show myself.’ Beside the Empress and attendants, I now saw their Guardians. The Empress’s Guardian was a woman in an ornate gown, wearing an equally haughty expression.
“You, little wretch—using a blessing in the palace? Have you lost your mind?”
Like Joshua’s Guardian, she was astonished to sense fragrance.
‘Now!’ I signaled to Han Jihyeok, who swallowed dryly and palmed his inner pocket—drawing forth a sacred stone. The blessing activated.
‘So that’s why the story titled him “The Ex-Scammer’s Servant Labor Chronicle.”’
Paragon of Servants: a divine blessing of comprehensive support, usually boosting soldiers in one’s domain. But I learned from the Guardian itself additional uses:
“Actually, it enhances the caster’s physical abilities—fitting one’s master’s attire swiftly and impeccably...”
“And allows clandestine communication with the master.”
“And as a finisher, it can slow the master’s speech for faster transcription...”
Currently its range barely covers this room, but as I level it, the area will expand—usable even now!
“Waaaaaaaaah—aaaahhh—slower—slower—please—(the lady’s thoughts...)”
The Empress’s words droned as if at 0.05× speed.
“More... slow it further.”
“E-Excluding you from the domain’s effect is already taxing....”
“No, Jihyeok—one can do anything if tried. You did it yesterday, remember?”
Jihyeok paled at the memory of hellish training.
“One—if you try, you can. Two—if you try, you will. One!”
“I—I can....”
“Two!”
“I, I will... gah! Ugh! I’ll do it, okay?! Ah!”
By training’s end, he was utterly spent.
“Damn...!”
The Empress’s voice slowed further still.
‘Perfect—so slow she won’t even notice what I do.’
I looked at the Empress’s Guardian.
“You’re lively, girl. Using blessings in the palace? Truly mad. Such vulgar creatures....”
“It may seem so, but vulgar is not the word. Though by your aristocratic standards...”
“Shocking... tongue?!”
The Empress’s Guardian gaped. The attendants’ Guardians likewise appeared stunned. Of course, they could neither hear nor join our conversation—for I addressed only the Empress’s Guardian.
I smiled and offered her tea.
“Please, drink. You sensed the scent—taste it as well.”
“.....”
“Hurry and end your chat—once the Empress finishes, I must reply.”
The Empress’s Guardian hesitated, then lifted her cup—tasting the tea, clutching her shoulders, trembling.
“Oh my... thirst quenched. Sublime...!”
Indeed—Guardians go wild for food or drink.
‘They say half of life’s joy lies in eating.’
Jihyeok groaned, “Ugh...”
“That’s unsettling. Like a ghost. I don’t see Guardians.”
“Ghost, am I? Dare you compare me to such vulgar vermin? I am Tatara, favored consort of Lord Gadel!”
“Forgive me—my friend lacks the refinement to discern your dignity.”
“Hmpf... Your ability is rare, true. But intriguing—though you seem blessingless, how do you possess such power?”
“I have a Guardian myself.”
“Do you? Who—someone I know?”
He would know—my Guardian is the ancient priest none could forget. I stifled that with a change of topic.
“The tea is to your liking?”
“Not bad, for a lowly creature’s brew.”
“Would you like a cookie? You might actually taste it.”
“.... Perhaps I shall—may I?”
The Empress’s Guardian cleared her throat and reached—with focus starkly betraying her vanity. I picked up a cookie, then paused, smiling.
“Want to eat it?”
“You wish to offer it! I graciously accept!”
“Is that so? Then... here.”
I handed the cookie to Han Jihyeok’s Guardian instead. His eyes lit up as he devoured it.
“Marvelous! This cookie surpasses yesterday’s!”
“What—why did you...!”
“If it’s unwanted, there’s no need to give it.”
I picked another and gave it again. He gorged himself gleefully; the others gazed on with envy.
The Empress’s Guardian trembled.
“Oh dear, only one chocolate cookie remains. It pairs so well with butter and chocolate’s richness...”
[Th-then...!]
“Well? Will you try? Say ‘please.’”
“Me? Say that?!” She sputtered.
“Then....”
Han Jihyeok’s Guardian still waited eagerly. As I began to hand it to him...
“Please!”
The Empress’s Guardian cried out. Tears brimming, she looked at me.
I smiled kindly.
“I’m sorry—I did not mean to tease. You were just too adorable.”
“Adorable? Me?”
“Yes. Here.”
When I gave it, she blushed and nibbled the cookie.
“Wah...”
She was surprisingly cute. Not at all fierce. I propped my chin on my hand, enchanted by her savored bites.
“I’m curious—there is said to be a ‘synchronization rate’ with one’s Guardian.”
“Yes—when your blessing’s tier rises, your sync rate increases. Some are born with high sync, too.”
“Do you and the Empress have high sync?”
“Yes—she was created with my blood.”
The Empress’s Guardian lifted her chin proudly.
“Nobles share blood when forging a servant—ensuring the seal is strong, the Guardian cannot flee, and blessings may be stably shared.”
“What if you’re absent—what happens to the Empress?”
“Fool! She would collapse. Your kind rely on Guardians to withstand the world’s poisons. Without us, you faint at the slightest shock.”
I curled my lips.
‘Just as I thought.’
Now I could plan ahead.
“Do you want more cookies? And the attendants’ Guardians—do they wish some?”
“Of course!”
“I want some, too!”
“Me too! Wait—I can speak?!”
The Empress’s Guardian gleamed.
“Then will you grant my request?”
A prearranged signal. Han Jihyeok opened the gift box we had prepared—it contained a beautiful cake.
“I offer this to you.”
“R-Really?”
They all stared, entranced by the cake. I snapped the box shut.
“But only if ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ you accept my request.”
“Request?”
The Empress’s Guardian spoke first, attendants’ Guardians bewildered.
“When I signal, step away from those you protect.”
“But... then Maron will fall....”
“We cannot let our humans die for food....”
“Only briefly. If danger arises, I will aid them. Should you stray from the deal, you may return.”
I looked warmly at each Guardian.
“You know best if your human is in peril. If truly at risk, the bond loosens.”
They exchanged glances, hesitant.
“If so....”
“Then....”
Guardians, starved of taste for over a millennium—this cake was a treasure. When treasure stands before one, greed often outweighs reason.
They all accepted. At that moment, Han Jihyeok flinched.
“Dalia has arrived.”
“Release the domain.”
Han Jihyeok swiftly lifted the temporal domain. Time resumed normally.
Knock, knock. The guard’s voice:
“Miss Dalia Astra, daughter of Grimie Astra, requests entry.”
The Empress nodded.
“Admit her.”
Dalia entered.
“Your Highness, I greet you!”
She spread her skirts and dipped in a deep curtsey, then beamed awkwardly.
“Is this correct? I—I’ve forgotten court etiquette.”
I gave the signal.
“Now.”
The Guardians dashed through walls. Once a safe distance away, the Empress collapsed with a soft “Thud.” Dalia, stunned, looked around.
“E-Empress?”
Did you think you’d conspire with the Empress? ‘Prepare for an imperial inquiry, Dalia—and let the secret of your new servant be revealed to all.’
