This Three-Year-Old Is A Villainess - Chapter 37
***
My father and I rode the carriage back to the castle.
Throughout the journey, my father kept his eyes on me.
‘Looking at me like this makes me a bit burdensome.’
I felt embarrassed and covered my face with my hands. Suddenly, my father urgently grabbed my hand.
Startled, I widened my eyes, and my father said,
“It’ll worsen.”
There was already medicine on my wounds, so I guess he wanted to stop me from touching it with my small, fidgety hands.
“Owkay!”
I quickly lowered my hand and nodded vigorously.
“It doesn’t itch?”
“Nwo.” (No.)
“Where does it hurt?”
“Does’n huwt.”
“…Alright.”
My father nodded.
Then, he let out a soft sigh.
“From now on, don’t do things like that.”
“But, for Fathew…”
“Even if I need it, don’t do it.”
“…”
I fell silent, and my fingers fidgeted. My father’s gaze became sharper.
“Why would a child like you do such things?”
“Um…”
I cautiously chose my words, glancing outside and whispering to make sure no one heard.
“Becaws I’m not Fathew’s weal baby.” (Because I’m not Father’s real baby.”
“…What?”
“Ewywotte is’n hyooman. I’m awtifishal. So, if I wanna staw with Fathew, I hab to twy vewy hawd.” (Erylotte isn’t human. I’m artificial. So if I want to stay with Father, I have to try very hard.)
My eyes sparkled with sincerity, as if to say, ‘I’ll really try, so please don’t abandon me.’
Hearing this, Father’s expression hardened.
“Who told you that?”
“Pwipol…” (People…)
Griiit.
My father gnashed his teeth, appearing somewhat angered.
Seeing this, my shoulders grew tense.
After letting out a sigh, my father said,
“I’m not angry at you.”
“…”
“I’m angry at myself.”
“Why?”
I wore a bewildered expression as my father slowly explained,
“You’re human.”
“Ywes…?”
“You’re my daughter.”
‘Eh?’
I was taken aback, my eyes widening.
‘Huh? Huuuuh—?!’
I was completely surprised. I had been quite certain that I was a homunculus.
My father didn’t show much interest in me since I was a homunculus.
I may be considered to be a noble, but I don’t have a blessing.
And being an artificial human in this world should make it easier for a soul to enter.
‘But if I’m really a human and I’m my father’s daughter…’
Wow!
The thought excited me.
I started bouncing up and down.
It meant I didn’t have to worry about being abandoned now.
My father grabbed my arm gently as I was getting increasingly excited.
“You’ll hurt yourself again if you get this excited.”
“Uh, I, umm…!”
But I couldn’t calm down easily. My father took something out of his pocket.
It was a small magic tool in the shape of a lamp, and when he turned it on, a pleasant scent filled the carriage.
“Wow.”
It smelled like a baby, or like herbs from a meadow.
I couldn’t quite pinpoint the scent, but it was a warm and comforting fragrance.
As I inhaled it, my eyelids grew heavy.
“Now, rest for a bit.”
I leaned back against the chair and closed my eyes.
The last thing I remembered was my father gently laying me down.
It was the first time his touch had felt so gentle, and I couldn’t help but nuzzle my cheek against his large hand.
***
The carriage passed through the main gate of the Astra Ducal Castle.
After the wheels stopped, Enzo opened the door. Other knights also leaned forward, curious, but Erylotte was fast asleep.
“Oh my.”
“The Young Miss must be tired.”
“She’s also is quite the brave lady.”
Haha, laughter echoed.
Daymond glanced at them with a stern look. The soldiers all immediately hushed, interpreting his gaze as a warning not to wake the child.
“I will carry her.”
It was Enzo who spoke.
“Never mind.”
Daymond was the one who carefully picked up the child.
Enzo gave orders to the soldiers to return to the camp and followed alongside Daymond.
“The young lady worked hard. I doubt any child would have done what she did today.”
“I know.”
“But why did she do such a thing in the first place?”
“Someone said that she wasn’t human, that she was created. She felt she needed to prove herself to stay by my side.”
“What?!”
As Enzo’s voice grew louder, Erylotte responded with a soft “Mmm…”
He gasped and quickly closed his mouth. After confirming that the child was still asleep, he spoke in a hush.
“Who in the world said such things to the Young Miss?”
“Probably those damned siblings of mine. They’re experts at spreading baseless rumors.”
