This Three Year Old Is a Villainess-Chapter 295
Dalia, her face a mask of panic, rushed to the Empress.
“Your Majesty? Empress, are you—are you all right?”
Just as she reached out to touch Her, I screamed.
“Kyaaah—! Your Majesty!”
At my cry, the palace guards burst into the chamber—and all witnessed Dalia, poised to touch the Empress. They leveled swords and spears at Dalia’s throat.
“Wh-what....”
Frozen in terror, Dalia stared at them.
‘What else? She’s been summarily arrested for treason against the royal family.’
I smiled inwardly.
The realm was thrown into uproar—no surprise there. Dalia was immediately imprisoned, and both Han Jihyeok and I were confined to the palace dungeons for investigation.
When the Empress and attendants regained consciousness, they testified as follows:
“She was inhaling the incense from the censer brought by Lady Astra. The herbs too were hers. But the moment she saw Miss Dalia....”
“I tell you! The Empress collapsed instantly. We ran to support Her, then lost consciousness ourselves.”
At first the investigators focused on my censer—yet it produced nothing hostile.
‘Naturally—it’s a holy relic.’
Rather, palace magicians established that its true power is to enhance the user’s physical abilities. The imported herbs were likewise found harmless.
“But then how did the Empress faint so suddenly?”
“It can only mean Miss Dalia Astra used a blessing.”
“What blessing? Speak.”
“We must assume it was her blessing.”
“But what blessing?”
My blessing was already public knowledge—and Han Jihyeok, a confirmed commoner, possessed none. Everyone assumed a thirty-year-old, temple-sealed commoner could not wield blessings. As I predicted, suspicion fell entirely on Dalia—and I stoked the flames during questioning:
“Well, all I saw was the Empress and attendants faint after Dalia entered... Oh, but wait... No, never mind.”
“If you do not speak candidly of what happened, Lady, you too will be charged with attempted regicide.”
“Well... actually, Miss Dalia entered by the northwest gate, not the central one. The Empress must have been displeased—”
I shook my head, feigning horror.
“No, that must be my mistake. Please disregard that statement.”
But the investigators would not let it go. Dalia’s interrogation grew harsher.
“I—I don’t know! Truly!”
“Stop lying. Each denial deepens your guilt.”
“B-but...!”
“You are Grimie Astra’s daughter, of noble blood—surely you have a blessing. Which one?”
“I... I lost my memories. I don’t know what blessings are!”
“We must examine your past: where you were born, where you served.”
“I—I don’t know... Please, Father...!”
All eyes in the ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ palace turned upon her. The more they probed, the more inconsistencies emerged.
“You lose your memories just before finding your father? Preposterous.”
“You conceal your lineage and blessing.”
“No imperial records of your past can be found.”
“Even Grimie Astra will not reveal his daughter’s origins.”
“This is most peculiar.”
“Most suspicious—!”
A storm rose... focused squarely upon Dalia.
Days later, at Astra Manor:
“My Lady—!”
“Ma—dam—e—!!”
Heidi and Betty, newly arrived in the capital, burst in. Heidi, tears in her eyes, clung to me.
“Good heavens, look how you’ve wasted away.”
“I haven’t shrunk at all.”
I may have even grown—inactivity leaves me heavy of flesh. Betty grabbed my other arm.
“Did the palace guards not feed you?!”
“They gave three meals and snacks.”
Truly—since I was merely a person of interest and the real suspect was Dalia, I was treated most comfortably.
Yet they wept regardless.
“But....”
“But—but...!”
I patted their shoulders and asked,
“What of Lord Egritz?”
Just then, someone emerged from the rear hall.
“Luca! Are you well?”
“Yes. Thanks to the Blessing of the Land opening its roots, I feel entirely restored.”
“But you’re not fully healed?”
I indicated his bandages. His broken arm was splinted to his neck.
“This is... a fashion statement?”
“Nonsense. I used the Land’s power so often that its reserves are nearly spent. The poison may be gone, but I’m not entirely healed—so I must be cautious.”
In the capital I had repeatedly employed the Land’s blessing: to heal Roxanne’s sister, to mend Father’s war wounds...
‘Perhaps Uncle Cainrod also trusts it over medicinal cures.’
And knowing his temper...
‘He held off treatment to study the poison’s effects.’
In any case, I shook my head. Han Jihyeok whispered to me,
“You have another Blessing of the Land—the Prince’s Land.”
“It’s not fully mine. I entered without permission in haste, opening its root.”
“When will you claim it? Now that you’ve honored the Prince’s request, you can negotiate. Back in the capital, too.”
“Mother collapsed. In this state, to propose a deal would seem insane.”
“It would....”
At that moment I heard Father’s voice.
“Erilot.”
“You look splendid today. Where are you headed?”
“To the Central Tower. Your grandfather has come to the capital.”
“For Dalia’s affair?”
“Yes. Do you have plans today?”
“I must change and return to the palace—the Empress has summoned me.”
“Let us dine together tonight.”
“Yes.”
I embraced Father and saw him off, then ascended to my room.
‘So this is the First Count’s Manor....’
All my belongings had been moved in my absence. The former Emperor’s treasures still lay at the Second Manor. But this had once been the Duke’s capital residence. Grandfather had stayed mostly at the estate, leaving this for Father, my brothers, and me. It was vast, and re-decorated to our tastes—far grander than when Grimie lived here.
‘At last I claim the First Manor.’
A wave of emotion swelled. How long I had anticipated this day. As I surveyed my surroundings, the steward approached.
“Milady, a carriage awaits to take you to the palace.”
“Very well, I shall be down shortly.”
I vowed never to lose this house—and never to let Grimie’s faction seize my life again. I resolved this as I toured my new home.
At the palace:
CLASH—!
A teacup flew against the wall, shattering silence. The Emperor’s ashen face, black circles under his eyes, drew a ragged breath.
“Your daughter... what blessing... does she possess—!”
Grimie bowed his head.
“Your Majesty, I swear my daughter is not the culprit in the Empress’s collapse.”
“The palace guards are shamed. Am I so helpless I cannot even protect my wife... Ugh...!”
Supporting his head, the Emperor sank upon the throne. An attendant hurried to uphold him.
“I will summon Head Courtier Ante.”
The Emperor glowered and waved her away.
“But Your Majesty—”
“Be gone!”
“....”
The attendant, full of concern, withdrew. Three years ago, the Emperor fell ill of an unknown malady. Without a Crown Prince appointed, any hint of his condition sparks chaos and invites rivals. Thus only a select few know of His Majesty’s sickness.
‘His condition worsens daily.’
His face was scorched as if by sun—his strength ebbing, stomach pains constant. He could barely breathe, and his voice bore a metallic rasp.
He glared at Grimie, gripping the throne’s armrest.
“You have laid ruin on my palace... and yet you demand your daughter’s release?”
“Miss Dalia Astra is essential to fulfill Your Majesty’s wishes.”
“I will interrogate her. Only when the investigation is complete will she be freed.”
“To do that, Your Highness, you need her. Do you not wish to continue our bargain?”
“Are you daring to blackmail me?!”
“It is no threat, but a plea for the empire’s morrow.”
“Ha—!!”
The Emperor clenched the armrest and roared. Grimie hastily knelt.
“I remember my vow: to lay down my life for the empire’s future.”
“....”
“I swear that the child can cure Your Majesty’s illness.”
The Emperor frowned, pressing his palm to his brow.
“Can you truly keep that word?”
“Even fifty years hence, Your Majesty will still rule this realm.”
The Emperor clicked his tongue, then said to his attendant:
“Esther.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Relay my command to the knight questioning Lady Dalia.”
Esther bowed deeply.
On my way to the palace I encountered a stranger.
‘Who is this?’
She wore the imperial court pendant and a maid’s gown, but I did not recognize her. Her dark bronze skin, azure eyes, jet-black hair—and a large scar upon her hand—marked her foreign.
“Lady Attendant.”
At my greeting, she bowed quickly.
“Former Western Army Major, I greet you.”
“I am Erilot Astra—not Major anymore.”
“The Western Army Major post has stood vacant since you departed, in your honor. Who better to bear the title?”
She smiled gently—her demeanor kind and refreshing.
“What is your name, if I may ask?”
She blinked in surprise.
“My name? I am Esther. I have no family name.”
‘A foreign maid indeed.’
In this realm, a lady attendant is noble-born—unlike a common maid.
I smiled warmly.
“Thank you. I will remember.”
Esther returned my smile and bowed. Then I heard the Empress’s voice.
“What brings you here?”
We both hastened to bow before Her.
“Yes, Your Majesty.” “You have come, Lady Astra.”
She regarded me kindly—but when her gaze fell upon Esther...
‘I’ve never seen the Empress look like that.’
Her voice turned sharp.
“Are you deaf? Speak up.”
“To relay His Majesty’s order to the knight questioning Lady Dalia....”
“How dare a foreign slave speak of imperial law before the Empress?”
“....”
“What is His Majesty’s order?”
“My apologies, Your Majesty. The edict cannot be disclosed outside the palace—”
SLAP—!
Esther’s head snapped aside at the sharp smack. The Empress glared.
“How dare you invoke imperial law before me.”
“My deepest regrets, Your Majesty. But the order is—”
SLAP!
Again the Empress struck her.
“You wretched girl—how dare you speak of His Majesty.”
Ah.
I realized.
‘She is the secret consort.’
The Empress is the birth mother of Prince Salvatore—Her only son. She flared to see Esther, the Emperor’s maid of foreign birth, who might bear a son and challenge Her own.
I stepped forward before the Empress.
“Your Majesty, many eyes are upon us. To avoid misunderstanding your noble intent to uphold imperial order...”
“.......”
The Empress clenched her fist, then whirled away.
“Bring Lady Astra to the gardens.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Once the Empress departed, Esther exhaled softly, bowed in gratitude, and hurried off.
As we passed, I caught a subtle fragrance.
“...Herbaceous.”
I knew that scent well—it was unforgettable. It was the rare herb Crumata, once believed a cure for plague. Though later found only to relieve pain, not halt disease.
‘The plague began in the capital.’
Yes—the doom that claimed sixty percent of this continent’s people started here, owing to the palace’s stagnant evolution.
‘Then what was the Emperor doing?’
A wild hypothesis flickered in my mind.
There exists a foreign people skilled with rare herbs. This attendant is of that race. The Emperor keeps her close enough to unsettle the Empress. The plague began in the capital.
‘...What if the palace itself spawned the plague?’
