When I came to my senses, the first thing I saw was a luxurious chandelier.

A large chandelier that could never be hung in my palm-sized room.

As soon as I saw it, I realized.

‘…Turns out, I’m still in this world.’

If I could, I wanted to hurl a bucket-load of curses until I was satisfied, but even that was impossible.

Because this body was that of a three-year-old that couldn’t even pronounce words properly, let alone say swears!

All I could do was curl up like a Hoppang and cry.

(t/n: 호빵 [hoppang] is a filled steamed bun.)

My name is Yoo Hyemin.

No, I mean, Erylotte Astra.

Erylotte, a three-year-old who possessed the villainess of a tragedy novel with the highest difficulty.

‘Please save me!’

***

Three years ago, I, who was an ordinary Seoul citizen, died from a disease.

The disease was pancreatic cancer.

When I realized I had it, I already missed the treatment period. I tried to hang on by myself for months, but I couldn’t bear it and died.

And when I opened my eyes again…

‘I was in this body.’

A plump body that was wrapped in a baby blanket.

With small and round hands like flour rice cake.

The body of a literal ‘newborn baby’ that couldn’t even say words like ‘ah-ah’ or ‘ooh-ooh.’

No one explained to me, but I had a hunch.

‘So, it’s reincarnation!’

This was because it was a familiar setting for me, who once spent all my money on Kakao Page.

For that reason, I grasped the situation quickly.

‘Considering that I was reincarnated as a baby, it’s definitely a childcare thing.’

‘Looking at the luxurious room, my father is a noble.’

‘…He’s either a Grand Duke or an Emperor.’

‘You’re the cold Northern Duke, but it must be that you’re warm to your daughter, right?’

Anyway, since I had already become like this, I decided to prepare steadily for the moment I’ll meet my Father.

The reason why I was not preparing to meet my Mother was because usually, in this kind of setting, there was no mother.

And seeing that she didn’t come find me, I was sure that there was no mom.

Anyway, I worked hard until an adult finally came.

‘Let’s practice not crying even when I see something scary.’

[It’s interesting that she’s a child that doesn’t cry after seeing me]

I even practiced smiling for that development—

‘Aba? Baba? Dada? … Dwuke?’

[Father who is flustered by the friendly title]

I even thought hard about the title for that development.

And like that, with a pounding heart, I waited for Father, but…

“Is it this kid?”

“Yes, Duke.”

…The one who showed up was Grandfather.

‘Shouldn’t the father of a childcare novel be young?’

Was it a modification?

Still, he had a very terrifying aura, just like a duke.

The Duke asked his aide who came with him.

“You said she hasn’t revealed her ability?”

“Yes.”

“Damn it.”

“What should we do with the Young Miss’ name?”

The Duke glanced at me and said with an insincere tone.

“Erylotte. Call it Erylotte Astra.”

Strangely, it was a familiar name.

‘Erylotte, Erylotte, Ery… lotte?’

While I kept thinking about the name, I suddenly remembered.

I’m sure there was a character with that name among the novels I had read.

It was a romance-fantasy novel that was published on a free site.

[I Possessed The Villain’s Granddaughter]

This was the content of the novel that was simplified and called [IPTVG].

[I was an ordinary university student in South Korea.

When I possessed an extra of a novel that I usually enjoyed reading.

I had to go through all sorts of hardships as an orphan, but it turned out that I was the granddaughter of the Duke of Astra?!

The Duke of Astra, one of the villains who could pressure even the Emperor?!

I tried to run away because I was afraid, but I became attached to my family.

‘It can’t be helped now that things are like this.’

I have to charm my family members well and make them repent.

Can I defeat the original female lead who took everything from me and change the future?]

So, you’re probably thinking that Erylotte is that ‘main character who possessed an extra’.

No, she is the ‘original female lead’ and the cousin of the main character, Dahlia.

In other words, my role was to play the villainess who was pretending to be the original female lead.

What’s worse was that this was a villainess role destined to die miserably for harassing the real main character…

‘So, the person who gave me my name just now wasn’t Father, but Grandfather.’

I tried to think calmly, but my heart was in total despair.

To think that I possessed a character from a possession novel!

What kind of nonsense was this?

‘Moreover, this novel… had long stopped being published.’

Yes, that’s right. This was a novel that failed and was stopped in the middle of its publication.

The start wasn’t bad. There were quite a few readers who came because they were fascinated by the clichés and the familiarity of a plot that they knew was good.

However, it all fell apart due to the poor development.

The reason why the remaining readers clicked on the next chapter was because it was worth seeing the villainess, Erylotte, suffer.

Perhaps the writer also knew that and tremendously harassed Erylotte.

‘To sum up, in the future, I’ll….’

Be treated as an invisible person because I was not born with the power that Grandfather wanted.

Father went to the battlefield before I was born and died when I was around the age of four.

Since I had no proper guardian, I would be faced with all kinds of harassment in the household.

Blackened by my jealousy I would harass the female lead and my neck would go clang.

Before I knew it, the genre of my life was already decided.

It was a tragedy.

***

Three years later, the present.

I crawled up onto the chair with a gloomy look.

‘This time, too, I couldn’t return to my original world.’

Yesterday was the day of the lunar eclipse.

I expected a lot, since I thought that it was the last way, but I failed again this time.

‘Let alone returning, I didn’t even sleep a wink.’

Thanks to it, I’m about to die from sleepiness.

‘No, don’t. Don’t.’

I shook my head and grabbed a crayon.

I was taking classes at the ‘12th Tower’ where the indirect descendants from the Astra Family lived.

Because I was born out of Grandfather’s sight, as soon as I was born, I was living in this tower, even though I was a direct descendant.

If you were lazy for even a second, you’d be completely marked.

I looked at the teacher while holding the crayon.

Our table, which gathered all those under the age of 7, was currently learning letters.

“Now. This time, shall we try to write a little difficult word? ‘Kka-ma-deuk’.”

I wrote the letters on the paper as instructed.

[Kka-ma-deuk]

Since my small muscles weren’t developed yet, the writing was extremely crooked.

‘Hm, good.’

Turns out I can write the Imperial language roughly now.

After thinking, I looked around, and the letters that were written by the children sitting around me were seen.

[Gae-man-deo]

[Kkyae-aet-deuk]

[neo-it-j-ng]

“….”

I stealthily covered my paper and added letters.

[Kkam-manh-deukt]

This was a skill that I had developed over the past 3 years.

I couldn’t perform too badly, but I also couldn’t perform too well.

‘Because I can’t stand out.’

Only then could I move freely.

Being able to try various methods of returning to the original world was also something I could do because I was free.

The teacher looked at the children’s writings and nodded.

“Surely, it is a difficult word. Among the spellings we learned last time, we wrote ‘Wi’ and ‘Lot’ so, ‘Kka-ma-deuk’ is…”

While the class was in progress.

The door opened and a servant walked in with hurried steps.

“A message came from the Main Castle. It was an order to take the children to the Main Castle by tomorrow at noon.”

“They’ll be ready.”

So that’s why it had been noisy ever since a few days ago, it must’ve been because tomorrow was the day we had to go to the Main Castle.

‘It’s already that day.’

The day when the children of the direct and indirect descendants of the main family gathered to take the test.

The test was very important.

‘Since with this, it will determine one’s ranking.’

At Astra, the terrifying Villain family, everything was determined by one’s ranking.

Everything, starting from allowance to the rooms we live in, and even future public posts.

Therefore, everyone had no choice but to devote themselves to the test.

‘Although it doesn’t matter for young kids like me.’

How would kids who couldn’t even dictate properly, take the test?

It’s just roughly assembling the number of people and then coming back.

However, the young kids were excited.

“Will I be able to see the direct descendants? Richmond, and Joshua…!”

(t/n: the indirect descendants, except Erylotte, spoke about the direct descendants with honorifics, even adding 님 [nim] \= a very respectful way to call a person/the title to the direct descendants’ title and name.)

“I like Balzac the best. He’s so cool! The Youngest Aura User!”

For the children who were indirect descendants, the direct descendants were just like celebrities.

‘They don’t know how scary they are.’

In [IPTVG], Erylotte almost died several times because of the direct descendants.

It was so harsh that Erylotte, who was originally timid and easygoing, became crooked and darker in personality.

I was thinking like that, when someone pushed the chair that I sat on.

“Hey, Worthless Thing.”

Looking back, a skinny boy was snickering.

Skinny was the kid who had been harassing me lately.

Because there was a rumor that I was neglected by the main family, it was something that he wanted to provoke.

Just by looking at him, it was obvious that he was a typical extra.

I could roughly predict what he was going to say.

‘I heard your mom was a commoner?’

“Your mom is a commoner, right?”

‘What a lowlife.’

“You lowlife.”

It wasn’t any different from what I expected, so there was no surprise in my eyes, only dullness and boredom.

Skinny snickered, raising his hand. This time it was my turn to press my head hard against his fingertips.

I said, “Wait,” then grabbed Skinny’s index finger, and raised my other arm.

“Tweacher, dat kid is hawassing me!” [Teacher, that kid is harassing me!]

Immediately, the eyes of the adults looked at us.

Skinny was extremely flustered.

When this kind of thing happened, the standard was usually for me to hold the hem of my skirt and cry while trembling, but because I told on him, it was him instead who was flustered.

The teachers approached right away.

They looked at the situation and soon their eyes narrowed.

“To think that you’re harassing a child who’s taking classes together with you? I’m really disappointed Timothy.”

“I’ll take note of this matter. Please reflect on yourself.”

Skinny was scolded, and he had to write ten pages of apology.

I hummed as I watched Skinny sob while writing his apology.

I knew what to do because I had been through everything when I was Yoo Hye-min and it was always best to tell on bullies at times like these.

‘Besides, I think I haven’t done anything for these past three years?’

Of course, returning to my original world was my top priority, but I had prepared various prevention tactics just in case.

“How are you? Are you feeling alright?”

The teachers asked with a kind look on their faces.

“Ywes.” [Yes.]

“That’s a relief.”

“Der is, you know. Gwandfader. They say inbwesting in the Pena Commersyal Bwusiness makes a wot of money.” [There is, you know. Grandfather. They say investing in the Pena Commercial Business makes a lot of money.]

The teachers picked up their notebooks with their eyes shining brightly.

“Pena Commercial Business.”

“Pena Commercial Business…!”

For a child to survive, an adult’s help was essential.

So, I won the teachers’ hearts by sharing the jackpot stock information.

I’m glad that I remembered the contents of the novel.

“How can you be so exceptionally smart?”

“Candy. Would you like candy?”

“Ywes!” [Yes!]

Ah, right.

There was one thing that I had yet to mention.

When I was Yoo Hyemin, I worked as an aide to the National Assembly.

I served a trashy boss, and there were only three things that I learned there.

If the faction you’re in falters, don’t look back and walk like migratory birds heading to another faction. Walk like you’re on a tightrope.

The way of speaking by finding fault in the other person’s words and turning them on themselves so they look like bastards.

A raccoon-like habit of pretending to be nice to the weak, pretending to be nicer to the strong, and making myself the most pitiful person in the world.

As I used the skills that I learned from my garbage boss, I thought,

‘This is K-Politics, kids.’

A day after I completely failed to return to my original world.

I made up my mind.

‘Since I’m already here, I’ll have to survive somehow.’

***

The next day, at noon.

I arrived at the Main Castle together with the children of indirect lineage.

As soon as the children entered the Main Castle, they all burst into exclamations.

Sculptures of 11 Gods occupied the entirety of a huge wall.

There was also a big and beautiful stone pillar.

As well as an extravagant curtain that was fully decorated with gold.

It was an overwhelming sight.

‘It’s surely a spooky sight, but–’

I glanced at the strange monsters that were wearing chains in front of the gate.

Their eyes were so big and sharp that just looking made one feel afraid.

‘This is really uncomfortable.’

Suddenly, the immature and unsteady feelings of a child came.

What was worse, I sometimes felt like I reverted back to being a child, not in body but in mind.

‘Maybe it’s a penalty because I’m not the main character.’

I guess it was normal for a kid my age to be scared of the monsters. I took a quick step to pass the monsters quickly.

I ran after the kids in a hurry.

A three-year-old’s body hasn’t developed all their muscles yet, so no matter how hard I ran, it was hard to follow the older sisters and brothers.

‘Oh my, I’m going to die.’

I barely followed the children to the test site.

One indirect descendant child, who arrived first, muttered with a dull face.

“What’s this, there’s no one except us…”

In the room, there were no direct descendants like the children expected.

‘Of course it was like that.’

The direct descendants were ‘those who handle’.

The indirect descendants were ‘those who were called’.

The dividing line was clear, but it wasn’t good to let the direct descendants and the indirect descendants take the test together.

That’s because the indirect descendants usually get scared and become unable to show their skills properly.

‘No matter how good the results the direct descendants get, people won’t bat an eye.’

That’s why, for me, a direct descendant who had to take the exam together with the indirect descendants, this was the worst situation.

If even my father dies next year…

I got goosebumps just thinking about it.

‘I have to get a good result on this test no matter what.’

Even if I don’t have the [ability] Grandfather wanted, I had to show that I could at least be helpful to the family.

The older ones looked happy, perhaps thinking that it was a relief. On the other hand, the younger children were disappointed.

Soon after, the executives entered the door.

“The Lord is coming.”

The children who were in their seats got up at once.

The atmosphere quickly became quiet.

Then, I heard the dull sound of feet walking from outside the door.

Finally…

‘Whoa.’

Seeing the man who was entering the door, I took a big breath.

There was a terrifying feeling of intense pressure every time one saw it.

A black jacket made of beast fur.

A dress suit decorated with all kinds of luxurious things.

However, instead of the luxurious attire, the very first thing that stood out was the look in the man’s eyes.

A terrifying look that seemed to contain a collection of all the wicked things in the world.

That man was the villain of this world.

The Duke of Astra, who was my grandfather.

‘It’s amazing.’

The younger ones and even the slightly older ones, turned pale.

Although it was not an expression of excitement, the executives were familiar with this kind of reaction.

The children and grandchildren were also trembling. However, that was natural.

One executive said.

“We’ll start the test.”

Then the other people pulled out a trolley. On the trolley was a certain frame.

The executive held the frame up and said.

“This is an excerpt from a historical book written in ancient language.”

“….”

“I will give points to those who give the answer most similar to the interpretation that the scholars have revealed.”

‘It’s extremely difficult.’

The ancient language was extremely difficult to interpret, and there were only a few spelling and words that had been revealed so far.

‘And they want us to interpret that–’

It was impossible for small children, who had barely begun learning their native language, to solve it. The older ones also looked like they were about to have a mental breakdown.

Even so, the test began, and they had to do at least something, whatever it was.

The children grumbled as they transcribed the excerpts on the paper they were handed out.

“So… this is….”

“Uhm, since this letter has this pronunciation….”

No matter how hard they tried, there was no way to pass this test.

‘Of course, it’ll be impossible for me, right?’

It was only last month that I started learning the imperial language. The ancient language was an alphabet that I had never seen before.

Still, I thought it would be better to show signs of effort than to just stand still.

I got on my tiptoes to look at the excerpt.

The sound of the executives whispering, surrounded me.

“As expected, this test was too difficult.”

“Still, although it’s only a few sentences, the direct descendants could roughly… ”

“About that, it’s because they’re the direct descendants. Don’t they have ancient language classes?”

It seemed that no one was expecting anyone to get it right.

Grandfather looked at the children with cold eyes and got up. It seems like he was about to leave because there was no result.

At that moment.

“The land, where da dwagon, fell asweep…” [The land, where the dragon, fell asleep…]

The people’s attention was drawn to me, who was reading the excerpt stammeringly.

Grandfather stopped and looked at me.

The executives’ eyes grew big as if their eyes were going to pop out.

They hurriedly opened the book and started flipping through its pages.

“The land where the dragon fell asleep… The interpretation is correct.”

“How ridiculous. How can such a young child…”

Yeah, I know right.

It was a ridiculous thing.

‘But– Why was the ancient language the Korean Alphabet…?’

Duke Astra entered his study with quick steps.

As soon as he sat down, the executives who were chasing him opened their mouths.

“What kind of mysterious phenomenon is this? To think that a three-year-old can interpret the ancient language?!”

The people of Astra didn’t believe that the children could perform well on the test.

At the puzzled remark, another person opened his mouth.

“It’s also possible that the test had been leaked.”

“Did you say leaked?”

“In other words, she may have known what the question was beforehand and memorized the answer.”

The ancient language was still an alphabet that was difficult to interpret.

It was difficult to interpret because it’s structure was completely different from the existing languages and thus there were no examples to be used as reference.

Even the history books where the exam question was taken from had yet to be fully interpreted.

Another executive shook his head.

“The test questions were decided just before the immediate examination by the direct descendants.”

“That’s right. Above all, how could ‘Young Miss Erylotte’ bribe the examiner?”

Her mother was a commoner.

Her father was also the son who had the most horrible relationship with the Duke.

‘Which fool would leak the test questions for such a Young Miss?’

The executives were all convinced and groaned.

‘But… just how did she…?’

While everyone was murmuring to themselves, an executive said.

“Perhaps Young Miss Erylotte has awakened her abilities.”

“…!”

“…!”

Nobles in this world were born with special abilities.

Supreme intelligence.

Superhuman strength.

The power to make plants grow fast and many more.

There was a wide variety of abilities a person could have.

The abilities were called [Blessing], and it was to the extent that people thought that one had to be born with a Blessing to be a noble.

‘But Young Miss Erylotte was incompetent, right?’

An executive asked.

“A Blessing is manifested before the fonticulus anterior (a soft spot in a baby’s head/skull) is closed.”

“Yes, it’s been a long time since her fonticulus anterior closed.”

Wasn’t it exactly because her fonticulus anterior closed without an ability that she was sent to the 12th Tower where the indirect descendants resided?

The Duke who had been lost in thought said,

“Bring Erylotte.”

His voice was terrifyingly low.

***

Coming to Grandfather’s study, I stealthily looked around at the people.

It was packed with executives, scholars, and even vassals.

They showed me a book.

“Please read it.”

“….”

“Page 72, starting from the second line. Right here.”

I glanced at Grandfather and read the part the executives pointed at.

“The steeple has been compweted. It was the fwoot of hawd work.” [The steeple has been completed. It was the fruit of hard work.]

All the scholars gasped.

“S-She’s right.”

That old man was so surprised that his eyes looked like they were about to pop out.

He nodded at the executives and looked at the Duke.

“As expected, it seems that it is true that her [Blessing] has manifested.”

‘But that’s just because it’s the Korean Alphabet…?’

The ancient language being Korean because it was a novel written by a Korean wasn’t the strangest thing.

The strangest thing was what the people thought was within the expected range.

People in this world think that most ’unique situations’ were due to the Blessing.

The vassals’ faces were subtle.

A Blessing was like a family’s prized possession, but to say that being able to read the ancient language was an ability…?

It was exactly that kind of face.

The vassals started talking.

“Isn’t it a relief? At least she has received a Blessing….”

“Don’t we need to attach a priest to the Young Miss to watch over her ability development?”

“Yes. Just think of what we can get by developing her ability to read ancient language–”

While the vassals were talking, I continued reading the book.

At a certain point, I read the contents stammeringly.

“Buwied, dwagon bone, in da Myrten Pwain…” [Buried, dragon bones, in the Myrten Plain…]

“…!”

“…!”

In an instant, all of their eyes turned to me.

The vassal asked me with a stiff look.

“W-what did you say?”

“Myrten Pwain. Der’s a bwone. Wite hewe.” [Myrten Plain. There’s a bone. Right here.]

When I pointed to the words in the book, everybody’s mouths opened wide.

Dragon’s bone was a very precious resource.

Because it’s strength easily surpassed that of iron, all weapons made using dragon bones boasted extreme power.

However, the amount available was very small, so even if people gave a lot of money, no one in their right mind would sell it.

It was like discovering a diamond mine.

“Map! Bring a map!”

The vassals hurriedly brought over the map. All of them gathered to check the location.

“During ancient times, this place was called the Myrten Plain.”

The vassals hurriedly handed over the map to Grandfather.

Looking at the map silently, Grandfather said.

“Check whether or not it is true.”

The executives rushed out.

I looked at Grandfather with a calm look.

‘It’s true.’

Since it was clearly written in this historical book.

‘Moreover, it’ll be discovered soon.’

It was going to be discovered a few months later during the construction of the temple.

I snickered in my mind.

‘It would be discovered sooner or later, but because I told them in advance, then the credit would be mine.’

Grandfather turned his gaze towards me. I could feel shivers roll down my spine from his narrowed eyes.

There was an intense sense of pressure that any ordinary child would be unable to bear. They would inevitably burst into tears at any moment.

I grabbed the hem of my skirt tightly and smiled awkwardly.

‘I know my place.’

As long as you feed me and don’t bother me, then I’ll be calm.

—It was that kind of appeal.

Grandfather’s eyebrows wrinkled slightly.

***

I got off the carriage feeling exhausted.

Thanks to the carriage ride from the castle, I felt comfortable, but I also felt like I went on a jet coaster ten times.

‘How could the look in a person’s eyes be so poisonous?’

Even the criminals in movies did not have such eyes.

Thinking so, I trudged into the 12th tower.

Perhaps because the sun was setting, the tower was silent.

However, word after word came out of the children’s bedrooms.

“The Main Castle is really cool. Every door is guarded by a monster!”

[So, you didn’t cry because you were scared?]

“I didn’t cry even a bit.”

[Yeah. Because our Dellon is brave.]

It was the sound of children talking with their parents.

“I don’t like carrots. I hate Nanny.”

“Oh my. Nanny’s heart is hurt. To think that the Young Miss that I love, hates me.”

“No! It was a lie…”

“Then, you’ll eat the carrot, right?”

“Heuung… But I don’t want to…”

It was the sound of acting spoiled to one’s nanny.

I stood blankly in the dark hallway, listening to the sound of friendly conversation from the bedrooms.

“….”

‘Having a child’s body is really uncomfortable.’

If I were an adult, I wouldn’t be jealous of this at all…

I had no mom and my dad was far away in the battlefield.

‘On top of that, I also have no Nanny.’

For the children here, their parents always gave them a nanny. It was natural for the nanny to be by their side because they were nobles even if they were of indirect lineage.

Until yesterday, as the Astra family’s invisible person, there was no one taking care of me.

That’s why I didn’t have a nanny.

‘Even though I’m not uncomfortable because I charmed the servants and teachers of the tower well…’

I rubbed my skirt with my palm, and soon raised my head.

‘I need to hurry up and take a bath.’

Warm water poured out here.

Unlike Yoo Hyemin’s rented room, there was also a bathtub.

If I soak in warm water, I’ll feel better quickly.

‘Seeing how fast my emotions turned for the worse. Will I be like this forever?’

I bravely walked down the hallway and envisioned my future.

Stock prices will soar if dragon bones are found in the Myrten Plain.

If it became like that, there would be tons of benefits.

I’ll have to make use of the benefits to secure my way of living in the future.

‘But saving money is still the best thing…’

It was when I approached the door that,

“Augh!”

Someone grabbed my clothes with a snap.

I looked up, surprised, when I saw a familiar face.

“Skwinny…?” [Skinny…?]

It was the kid who wrote ten pages of reflection because I told the teachers about him harassing me.

The kid dragged me deep into the hallway.

“Do you know how much I suffered yesterday because of you?”

‘That’s because you harassed me.’

I was thinking like that, but Skinny frowned.

“To think that there was this kind of fool.”

“….”

“You– you cheated on the test today, right? That’s why you remained in the Main Castle and got scolded.”

While I was at the Main Castle, the people of this tower seemed to have formed their own speculations.

A three-year-old was able to read the ancient language.

It could only be explained by one thing. The three-year-old cheated.

Skinny gave a nasty smile.

“You’re already hated by the Duke, but now you even cheated. I guess you’ll be kicked out of the tower soon?”

“….”

“Because of this kind of fool, I was humiliated like that… Do you know who my father is?! He’s a vassal with jurisdiction!”

“….”

“Apologize to me. Kneel and ask for my forgiveness!”

I was hit and like that, I fell on my butt.

“Ayaa!”

It hurt so much that tears inevitably fell down my cheeks.

Even while I was struggling with pain, Skinny kept shouting.

“Can you not hear me?!”

Skinny raised his hand at me.

I really don’t fight with kids.

I usually just report them to the adults and that would solve the matter.

It was comfortable, and above all, I handled it gently because they were children.

‘But of course dealing with violence was different.’

And it wasn’t just once he hit me, but several times too.

“Kneel immediately and be– Aack!”

I bit Skinny’s leg hard.

At the moment he bent down to pull me off.

“Ack!”

I even grabbed his hair.

He pushed me—

“Ack!”

Called me a Fool—

“Ack!”

Threatened me, and mocked me!

“Aaack!”

When I shook his head up, down, left and right, he burst into tears.

“HUAAAAAAAAAA! MOMM…!”

He cried so hard that people started flocking in.

In an instant, our surroundings became crowded.

Soon after, the teachers came running.

The teachers who finally saw us after pushing through the crowd of people, looked at us with puzzled faces.

***

Skinny and I were taken to a room.

I sat still holding my skirt, but Skinny cried, wanting to leave the room.

Baron Moro, the general manager of the 12th Tower, rubbed his temples.

“What’s all this?”

“She, to me, huaaa, she bit me and hit me, a-and… Huaaaaaa!”

At Skinny’s words, Baron Moro glared at me.

I tried to convey the situation calmly.

“Skwinny fiwst—” [Skinny first—]

“Stop!”

Baron Moro shouted sharply.

He suppressed me without even giving me a chance to speak.

“To think that you assaulted a colleague who you study with and yet you’re even making excuses?”

The way he looked at me was cold.

‘Even though I knew it would be like this, this is still too much.’

All the other teachers adored me, but Baron Moro wasn’t like that.

In the first place, it was because of that man that I thought of making the teachers take my side.

He was a terrible and bloody opportunist.

When I was a newborn,

“To think that out of all things I’m in charge of this idiot. I’d rather die than live in comfort.”

—There was a time when he burst into anger while saying that.

Of course, he said such things because he thought a child couldn’t understand. But–

Even when I grew up, his eyes always looked at me like he was looking at garbage.

That’s why I thought that I had to make the other teachers take my side.

Since it’s hard to live peacefully if the general manager was like that.

“Moreover, you cheated on the test, right?”

‘So, you were actually angry because of that.’

He thinks that I’ve ruined his reputation by cheating on the test in the castle.

Baron Moro clicked his tongue.

“During lunchtime, stand while holding a bucket. It’s your punishment.”

The Baron then turned his gaze to Skinny.

It was a gaze that was practically dripping with honey.

“Please stop crying now. How hurt would your father be if he knew?”

“Yes, Baron…”

“I heard that you had a difficult time yesterday?”

“That’s also because of that Fool—!”

Skinny huff and puffed as he glared at me.

Baron Moro smiled softly.

“Don’t worry. There won’t be any record of it left.”

“Really?”

“Yes, I’ll tell your father not to worry, too.”

Baron Moro, who said so, called in a servant and made the servant bring a bucket full of water.

He then sent me out together with the bucket.

“Don’t even think of fooling around.”

Speaking firmly, he went inside the room again with Skinny.

There was a laugh from the room.

“Would you like some snacks?”

“Yes.”

“Anyway, what kind of hobbies does your father have… Oh, horseback riding. I like it, too.”

I held the bucket while Skinny continued chatting with Baron Moro excitedly.

‘Let’s hold it for now.’

In the Main Castle, for the first time, he became interested in me.

If I make a single mistake here, it would ruin my image in his eyes.

While I struggled for a long time, the kids who took classes together with me approached.

“Why is Baby here?”

The children who sat at the same table as me, called me, the youngest in the tower, Baby.

“I weceib punishmwent.” [I receive punishment.]

“Why?”

“Dat’s how the wowd is.” [That’s how the world is.]

“Aah, because that’s how the world is, you received punishment.”

The children nodded.

“Babwies go to their wooms. It’s cowd.” [Babies go to their rooms. It’s cold.]

Different from Skinny, these children were humble indirect descendants.

However, if he sees them together for no reason, that dirty Baron might punish them.

The children said, “Okiee,” then returned to their rooms.

I was punished for a long time.

10 minutes.

20 minutes.

30 minutes.

No matter how much time passed, the Baron didn’t come out.

‘Until when do I have to do this?’

As time passed, my hands started to hurt so much that it felt like my shoulders were about to fall off too.

As I groaned in pain, Baron Moro came out into the hallway.

“Oho. Don’t fool around.”

Then he slapped the bucket.

‘Ah!’

As I barely had any strength left, I stumbled under the weight of the bucket and collapsed.

Spill.

As water spilled on the floor, I also became wet.

“It’s really no different from a rat.”

Baron Moro stared fiercely at me.

It was at that time,

“Erylotte.”

‘…!’

I turned my head at the voice that was impossible to be heard out here. Baron Moro and Skinny also looked back in a hurry.

The silhouette swallowed by the shadows slowly walked out of the darkness.

The one who was looking at us together with a silver cane—

“Gwandfader….” [Grandfather…]

It was the Duke of Astra.

It was the middle of winter. As I was wet with cold water, I knew I would shiver soon.

The aide who came with Grandfather walked straight towards me. He took off his jacket and put it on my shoulders.

“What’s going on?”

“That’s…”

Looking at the Duke, the flustered Baron Moro laughed awkwardly.

“I heard about what happened in the Main Castle. When I heard that she had cheated, she passed out while screaming. Even if she didn’t, I thought she needed to reflect on herself, but she even quarreled with another child.”

“What did you say?”

“Please don’t worry. Since at this point, she should have reflected on herself, such a thing won’t happen agai—”

“What nonsense are you talking about?!”

The aide raised his voice.

With a flustered look, Baron Moro looked at me and Grandfather in turn.

“Due to cheating, today she returned home late….”

“The reason why the lady was late to return was because she had manifested her Blessing!”

“…Pardon?”

Grandfather looked at me.

“Your words were right. The area where the dragon’s bones were buried was really the former Myrten Plain.”

I thought it would take a long time, but it seemed they had already found it.

Well, searching wouldn’t have been difficult if they used a Blessing.

Baron Moro turned pale.

He seemed to have slowly grasped the situation.

His hands trembled.

‘Of course he’d be like that.’

The thing Grandfather hated the most was the mutiny.

Even though I looked like this, I was still the granddaughter of the Duke of Astra.

Even if he treated me as an invisible person before, now that I had proven my value, I was clearly one of the small masters of Astra.

Baron Moro opened his blue lips to make excuses.

“T-this is… So…!”

“I’ll ask once.”

It was Grandfather’s words.

Even though it was only a few words, goosebumps spiked up from the tip of my toes.

Even the sound of wind was engulfed by the darkness of the night.

The moonlight flowing from the window broke along the outline of his silhouette.

As he walked, the sound of his low-pitched heels echoed. Baron Moro collapsed.

Grandfather asked.

“What are you?”

There was no change of tone in his voice.

When he glanced down, only the glint of the Duke’s dark blue wrath lingered in his eyes.

Baron Moro swallowed and said.

“I-I’m the Moro Family’s 16th generation—”

“No.”

Grandfather raised Moro’s chin with the end of his cane.

“You’re a dog.”

“….”

“Dogs bark when asked to bark, and bite when asked to bite.”

The tip of the cane trailed down from Baron Moro’s chin until it reached his adam’s apple.

“And because the dog failed to recognize its owner.”

Baron Moro could barely speak using his voice.

“Ple– Please save me.”

“….”

“Pl— Please— Please save me. Please save me. Please save me. Please save me. Please save me. Please save me. Please save me. Please save—!”

“So you do know how to bark.”

After leaving those words, he turned his back on Baron Moro.

The aide took care of me and followed Grandfather.

It was only when the aide put me down that Baron Moro finally let out a breath.

What touched my ears at that moment was.

Crack

…It was a strange cracking sound.

“Cou-cough…. Co, cou, cough…!”

My body turned stiff. I slowly turned my head like a broken machine but,

“Please do not look back.”

The aide stood close and covered the sight from my eyes.

It wasn’t difficult to predict what Baron Moro’s state was.

***

I was moved to the main castle.

When I packed up my luggage and came out, the teachers and children who had already heard the news were waiting.

The teachers saw me off from the hallway.

“Class with the Young Miss was really fun.”

“Even if you go to the castle, please stay strong.”

“Since you’re wise, you’ll be good at anything. If by any chance, you need anything, please contact me.”

The teachers were really nice to me.

They even gave me a lot of candy, and even gave me milk.

“Thanw you, tweachers. If you invesht in Sabon Banw, you’w mwake a woth of money.” [Thank you, Teachers. And if you invest in Sabon Bank, you’ll make a lot of money.]

The teachers took out their notebooks in tears.

“Yes, Young Miss. You have to be well. But, is it Sabong? Or is it Sabon?”

“I will never forget the two years I spent with the Young Miss… The ink isn’t coming out. Can you lend a pen to me? Did you say Sabon Bank?”

We had a tearful farewell.

The teachers saw me off in front of the carriage, and as I got in the carriage, I waved goodbye.

Subsequently, the aide in the carriage looked at the teachers, who were stroking their notebooks while crying loudly, with a strange expression.

“Isn’t that Sir Annward and Sir Simoric?”

“Yesh. It’s the tweachers’ nwames.” [Yes. It’s the teachers’ names.]

“Aren’t they each the heads of the eastern and western academies?”

The aide murmured, “Why didn’t such talented people take the bureaucratic exam, and become teachers instead—”

It was because…

The teachers were actually talented enough to get their names mentioned in [IPTVG].

The reason why people like them were my teachers right now was because—

‘Of course it’s because they had no money.’

The smart ones knew.

Even if you became an official, you would only end up rolling yourself to death without any money and backing.

That’s why, they become the teachers of the 12th Tower.

Even if it housed only the indirect descendants, they could still establish ties with the nobles of Astra.

‘And that’s how they were going to get their backing, right?’

But the children were so young that it would have taken decades to bring them to their side.

At that time, I appeared.

The granddaughter of the Duke of Astra (backing), and a child who possessed amazing information (money).

In other words, a treasure that would allow them to get both backing and money.

‘The teachers think I only gave them investment information, but that wasn’t true.’

I was investing.

Just in case, it was to create a talent who would be my strength if I entered the Astra Castle.

The teachers were still crying and waving at me.

I kept waving my hands too.

‘Quickly make capital and become the Main Castle’s officials, Teachers!’

After a while, the carriage began to move.

I looked at the aide in surprise.

“There’s no Gwandfather!” [There’s no Grandfather!]

She was asking if they could depart even when the Duke wasn’t on the ride.

“The Duke wanted to stop by another place for a while, while he was out. You’re going with me together to the Main Castle.”

“Ywesh.” [Yes.]

I said, obediently folding my hands neatly.

The aide smiled brightly.

He was a friendly man who did not seem like the aide of the terrifying Duke.

‘Even his face is handsome.’

Soft brown hair and yellow eyes.

He was a handsome man with a gentle image.

He even had the charm of making people feel comfortable, so the trip to the castle wasn’t uncomfortable.

When the carriage arrived at the castle, it stopped. The aide hugged me and carried me down.

“Then, I will guide you to where you will stay for the time being.”

I got to stay on the third floor of the annex.

He opened the door and said.

“The servants will unpack the luggage. Please rest.”

I quickly grabbed the end of his jacket and he turned back.

He lowered himself and asked.

“Is there anything that you need?”

“Nwame, I wanth to know yow nwame.” [Name, I want to know your name.]

At my words, he hesitated for a moment.

“As expected, you’re unique.”

“…?”

“Ah…. I don’t mean it in a bad way. It was simply because none of the direct descendants wanted to know the name of an employed person.”

“Ywesh.” [Yes.]

“It’s Conrad Marshal.”

He smiled with his eyes, and then rose from his bending position.

“I hope you have a pleasant dream.”

Then he left.

I looked at his back without even thinking of closing the door.

‘Conrad?’

Did he say Conrad Marshal?

I covered my mouth with my two small hands. It’s because I almost screamed…!

‘If it’s Conrad Marshal, then it’s that man.’

There were many words that described Conrad in the novel.

The Commander of the Blackout.

The Youngest Person who Passed the Bureaucratic Test.

And also… the Traitor.

‘Since he stabbed Grandfather and fled.’

After that, he appeared as the Head of the Information Guild.

***

The next day.

It was the morning. The birds were chirping and the wind was cool, but I was not refreshed at all.

‘So Conrad comes out from here.’

Conrad played the role of a helper for Dahlia, the protagonist of [IPTVG].

He was targeted by the Duke of Astra his entire life because he betrayed the Duke.

It was Dahlia, who was loved by Grandfather, who interfered and mediated their relationship.

In fact, Conrad, who was tired of Astra’s pursuit, became her person.

Until then, there was no problem.

‘The problem is that after being attacked by Conrad, Grandfather was in a coma for some time.’

When Grandfather falls into a coma, this place will become a battlefield.

Astra’s direct descendants were like beasts. And they weren’t the tamed kind either.

Right now, they were bound by the leash called Grandfather, but if that disappeared, it would surely be chaos.

‘Then, I, who has no one to protect me….’

It felt like my heart was being ripped off.

I was thinking like that, when a knock interrupted.

“May I help you get ready?”

“Ywes.” [Yes.]

After I answered, the maids came in with a basin full of water.

The maid wet a towel and used it ro remove my eye boogers and wipe my face.

She also brushed my hair, but somehow it didn’t hurt at all, even for me who had very curly hair.

“Which ribbon do you want to use? I think this yellow lace ribbon will look good on you.”

“Yesh.” [Yes.]

“Young Miss is very well-mannered. It was easy to help you get ready.”

“Ywesh!” [Yes!]

The maids laughed as if I was cute for answering well.

After everything was finished, they showed me myself in the mirror.

“Do you like it?”

My eyes opened wide as I looked in the mirror.

I couldn’t believe it. To think that my hair which was like a bundle of hay had become so neat?!

Indeed, they were the maids of the Main Castle.

‘Right. Erylotte’s setting was the world’s best beauty.’

Since my hair wasn’t managed, I looked like a sick poodle and because of that, I forgot about it.

After being well managed, even the first impression was different.

It was a very cute face.

After I finished preparing, I had breakfast.

It was cream soup with light beef and fresh vegetables that was cut into small pieces.

It was delicious because it was savory and soft.

When I was about to eat the garnish with it, I paused when I saw the bell peppers.

Then I stealthily looked at the maids.

‘I hate bell peppers.’

I didn’t eat bell peppers. Bell peppers were a child’s enemy.

If I were in the 12th Tower, I would have quietly buried it in another vegetable, but now the maids of the castle were looking at me.

Every move I made would be reported above and would undoubtedly reach the ears of Grandfather.

I really don’t like bell peppers, but Grandfather must like children who eat bell peppers, right?

I pierced the bell peppers with a fork and I swallowed.

Then with a rustle, I bit a piece off but I immediately became teary.

The maids, who were looking at my war against bell peppers with an exciting look, laughed.

Fortunately, the employees seemed friendly to the young me.

‘In order to continue being as carefree as this, Grandfather is important.’

Even if he was in a coma, the house must not fall into chaos.

I made up my mind.

Since I don’t have any other choice, I’ll protect Grandfather.

***

After eating, I played with the maids for the rest of the morning.

Playing with the maids was fun.

“Kyaa, please look here.”

“Come over here, Young Miss. There you go. You did a very good job.”

…Rather than me, it looked like the maids were having fun.

As a matter of fact, what kind of fun would there be to work inside the terrifying Duke’s Castle on the surface and also in reality?

‘Poor Older Sisters.’

I played passionately with the Older Sisters.

In the afternoon, there was a summons, so I went to Grandfather’s study.

Several scholars and vassals were present in the study.

As I learned from the maid in the morning, I put my hands on my belly button and bent down flatly.

“Hewwo.” [Hello.]

The vassals opened their eyes widely.

“Aah, yes. I am called Debussy. It’s an honor to meet you.”

He said in a bewildered voice.

Because they had only seen direct descendants who would easily beat people up from a young age, it seemed that I, who was polite, looked rather peculiar.

Viscount Debussy smiled.

“Thanks to the Young Miss, we were able to discover the dragon’s bones.”

“Ywes.” [Yes.]

“Turns out, the Blessing of reading ancient languages is very useful. So, can you read another part of the history book?”

“….”

“Today, we invited the Young Miss to check how much you can read and understand.”

“….”

“Because using a Blessing is a hard thing to do, we know you can’t read that much in a day.”

“….”

“Please read comfortably. You can stop if it hurts your body.”

The servant brought me a book.

When I opened the book cover, the adults nodded as if asking me to read it now.

Grandfather, who was sitting at the highest seat of the big table, also focused on me.

I began to read the book from the first sentence.

“Fwom the begiwwing, Despwair cweated a wowd.” [From the beginning, Despair created a world.]

“Hm. As expected, the limit is one sentence—”

“The fwirst worwd is a wand wuled by siwence and daknwess. We caww this Vain.” [The first world is a land ruled by silence and darkness. We call this Vain.]

“One paragraph is also fine—”

“Lwife was born fwom Vain.” [Life was born from Vain].

“One page…?”

I read a series of texts in a row.

At first, the vassals watched while nodding their heads, but then their expressions gradually changed.

One page..

Two page...

..

Four page...

“…!!!”

The vassals screamed. Even the scholars and executives looked at me with their mouths open.

“H-how long has it been since she started reading the book?”

“It’s 30 minutes.”

“Is it possible to use a Blessing for 30 minutes at that age?”

That’s because it’s just Korean.

It wasn’t that I was really using a Blessing. So, reading a book was not difficult.

But my throat was a bit dry.

“Vain fewt sowwy for the fwagile Lwife and gave them Bwessing. To mwaintwain a stwong Bwessing, a lwand of gwace was bestowed and—” [Vain felt sorry for the fragile Life and gave it Blessing. To maintain a strong Blessing, a land of grace was bestowed and—]

“A land of grace?”

[A land of grace was bestowed to maintain a strong Blessing.]

—At that part, people’s eyes opened wide.

“Are you saying that there is that kind of land?”

Of course, there was a fuss.

“Where is it? Is there a location?!”

“No.” [No.]

“There must be a hint in the book. Oh my God!”

It felt like I was in the middle of a festival.

***

The Duke looked at Erylotte with a strange look.

It had already been about an hour since she started reading the book.

That kid didn’t seem to know the word tired.

She also didn’t know how to complain.

‘But she does resent the tower’s matters.’

The vassals screamed and after that, they were in a mood to dance at the tremendous content that came out from the book.

Erylotte, who had been reading for a long time, coughed.

The vassals and scholars hurriedly looked at that kid.

“It’d be better to stop here today.”

It was a look that said they were worried that her precious Blessing would go bad.

The Duke nodded.

“Officers, organize the contents of the book. Let’s call it a day.”

The Duke got up from his seat.

He left the room with the elder, Viscount Debussy.

“The Young Miss is amazing.”

Even Viscount Debussy, who was cold-hearted in evaluations, could not hide his surprise.

“How’s the progress of the dragon bone excavation?”

“It’s going smoothly. To the point where the fruit flies are already twisting after hearing rumors.”

Boing.

“Even the Imperial Family was looking forward to grabbing it.”

“Surely we can’t give it to them easily.”

Boing.

“Go to the Capital of the Empire yourself and find out those bastards’ weaknesses. It’s not because their drooling isn’t annoying.”

“Yes, I’ll manage the officials right away—”

Boing.

‘…Boing?’

He felt a sound of constant worry behind his back.

Glancing back, there was Erylotte, who held a rabbit doll’s ear, running.