입양딸 역할을 지나치게 잘해버렸다 199화

A ridiculous event.

It was that Zeno suddenly stopped dead in his tracks and spoke seriously.

“Princess.”

“Yeah?”

“Will you really leave with me far away like this?”

“What are you talking about?”

Viola looked at Zeno. Upon closer inspection, Zeno’s hand, clad in white gloves, was trembling slightly.

“You are my princess.”

That was a bit strange. After lying down for five years, it seemed that some sort of obsession had developed with Butler Zeno.

“I’ve come to want to possess you all to myself.”

Viola stared at Zeno with a bewildered expression. “Zeno, you weren’t like this before, were you?”

“What’s a personality in the first place?”

“That’s….”

Viola cocked her head in confusion. Once again, a strange sense of déjà vu washed over her.

‘Zeno was someone’s butler in [The Shadow of Bellatu]…’

That butler was a character whose intentions were completely unknown. Only in the latter part of the story did he open his heart to the protagonist.

That helper surely played the role of assisting the ‘protagonist.’

‘That protagonist…’

One thing that I had forgotten suddenly came back to me.

‘It’s me.’

I couldn’t be sure, but for some reason, the original protagonist’s existence had vanished. Viola realized this fact.

Looking at Zeno, she said.

“Anyway, your jesting feels way too sincere, and it’s a bit scary.”

“It wasn’t a joke.”

Zeno smiled softly. He held Viola’s hand tightly with the escorting hand.

“You’re still small.”

Five years have passed. Bichen and Hela have grown a lot.

However, Viola remained the same. To Zeno’s eyes, Viola was, before being the hero of the great continent, my small master whom I served.

A short phrase flickered through Viola’s mind.

‘Was I so arrogant as to display a desire for possession just because of that?’

I originally thought I should say that. ‘It felt like I had been acting that way.’

But now, there was no need or reason to do so. Since Viola decided to live as Viola, just like Tundra taught, there was a way for Viola to live.

“I understand that Zeno cares for me.”

“Then let’s run away together…”

But before Zeno could finish that thought, he just smiled broadly.

“I’m joking.”

Half of it was serious, but it was brushed off as a joke. Viola had many precious relationships.

And there were many who wished for Viola. It wouldn’t do for Zeno to possess Viola all to himself.

“However.”

Zeno’s eyes narrowed. Since he decided to hide his true feelings, he covered a big truth with another small truth.

“I’m so looking forward to the Winter Castle that you will completely rule over.”

Viola attempted to sneak away from Zeno’s gaze as she climbed onto the carriage. There she encountered the second ridiculous event.

Another ridiculous thing.

Before she knew it, a now tall Bichen was hiding inside the carriage.

“Vi! O! La!”

As far as Viola knew, Bichen should have been dispatched to the Brandia family. It looked like he utterly ditched his mission.

“Didn’t you have a mission?”

“Mission?”

Bichen rubbed his ears. “What was that again?”

“…What are you doing here?”

“Anyway, I’ve got to run away with Viola.”

He pounded his chest.

“Just trust me, I’ll protect Viola.”

“…From what?”

“From all the many people who are after Viola.”

Bichen’s words weren’t entirely wrong. Viola was already a hero of the entire continent, holding a fame that rivaled or even surpassed that of the Emperor.

There were countless people who wanted Viola.

For Bichen, that wasn’t a pleasant situation.

“…Where are you running to?”

“W-well, that is….”

He thought only of running away. He apparently hadn’t thought about where or how he would actually go.

Even as he aged, Bichen seemed to always be Bichen, which made Viola laugh.

“Eh? You laughed?”

“Is it such a big deal that I laughed?”

“That’s the best thing for me.”

At that moment, the spirit king Pongpong, whom Viola hadn’t even called upon, suddenly appeared and poured water over Bichen’s head. Pongpong couldn’t let anyone take Viola away.

He said.

“Viola will be with me.”

“Did you just splash water on me?”

“Did you just call me ‘you’?”

“Why would I call you that?”

“I’m the Spirit King?”

“I’m Bichen?”

After saying that, Bichen let out a light laugh. “And I’m Viola’s elder brother?”

“So what? I’m Viola’s contractor?”

“Elder brother is just better?”

“The contractor is closer?”

“No, it isn’t?”

“Yeah, it is?”

Viola was left speechless, dumbfounded. Was this really a conversation between the Prince of Bellatu and the Spirit King?

[The Shadow of Bellatu... originally a bleak novel.]

There was bloodshed everywhere, and it was a story filled with all kinds of political machinations and tricks.

How could it have ended with the female protagonist killing everyone around her to become a lonely ruler?

Yet now it was so bright it reached the level of childishness. “It’s better to be bright than dark, though…”

The handsome gazes of the two fell on Viola. All their attention was focused on Viola’s lips.

“I never expected it to turn out this childish.”

Viola asked Bichen. “So, brother, how did you complete your mission?”

“Hehe.”

Bichen beamed. “I just lied and said you were there.”

“To whom?”

“To Tundra.”

“Tundra?”

So that’s how Tundra rushed over there. “I guess my mission will be taken care of by him.”

* Brandia is a noble family that protects the Central Continent from invaders from the Western Continent.

Any intruders within Brandia’s protective sphere wouldn’t dare approach.

But the continent is vast. Brandia couldn’t guard everywhere.

Pirates still roamed in remote areas far from Brandia’s influence.

On the other hand, Bellatu had become free now. ‘Place Where the Eye Shines’ was gone, and its monsters had disappeared. So Brandia and Bellatu made a pact. The warriors of the Winter Castle were to be dispatched to the western part of the continent to fend off the pirates.

The one who called himself the Pirate King, Morkin, knelt down.

He had lost all his subordinates, and the ‘ghost fleet’ he had boasted about sank completely. All of this had happened just because of one person. “You… what exactly is your identity?”

“Is there a reason for me to tell you?”

“Y-you monster…”

“The monster is you.”

Having plundered many people and committed all sorts of crimes, Tundra had no intention of forgiving Morkin.

After completing the pirate hunt, Tundra asked the village chief.

“Has a young lady with purple hair come by here?”

“I haven’t seen her.”

The chief took Tundra’s hand. “Thank you. I will never forget this kindness.”

Tundra shook his head. “That kindness belongs to Princess Viola.”

“Princess Viola?”

“I am the sword that lives for Princess Viola.”

Unbeknownst to Viola, her fame had grown in a fishing village. Tundra slightly bit his lip.

‘I’ve been deceived.’

Nonetheless, the issue was that whenever Viola’s name came up, he would lose his composure.

‘Bichen!’

Having been deceived by Bichen, he had come this far. In the meantime, news arrived that Viola had visited Elder Evato’s grave to pay her respects. He was about to return to the Duke’s Mansion when he coincidentally met Jeremy.

The two were martial artists and rivals.

Without anyone asking, they both drew their swords.

“Shall we see how strong you’ve become over the past five years?”

“I hope you didn’t weaken during the five years you were lying down.”

Jeremy underwent grueling training over the five years. For Jeremy, Tundra was a wall he had to overcome.

He trained desperately.

Behind that determination lay a desire to become a partner sword for the princess. On the other hand, Tundra had been lying down for five years.

“Ha… ha…!”

“Ha… ha…!”

The swords of both men simultaneously touched each other’s throats. Their duel ended in a draw.

Originally, Tundra had been much stronger. But five years is a long time. Tundra couldn’t help but acknowledge Jeremy.

“Pretty good, you’ve become strong.”

“You’re a monster. A draw after lying down for five years.”

Jeremy laughed, feeling deflated. Meanwhile, Tundra felt a sudden resolve. ‘In order to truly become the princess’s partner sword…’

This wouldn’t do. He needed to be overwhelmingly strong.

Only then would he be worthy of standing by Viola’s side.

Tundra thought that and made a decision to become stronger once again.

After sheathing his sword, Tundra began to move.

“Where are you going?”

“I need to return to the Duke’s Mansion.”

“Let’s go together.”

“Why?”

“To see Viola.”

Tundra responded defensively, “Why you?”

“I’m Viola’s friend, after all.”

Tundra pointed his sword at Jeremy. “You’re a friend.”

And he pointed his finger at himself. “I’m a partner. Got it?”

* On the way back to the Duke’s Mansion.

In the meantime, Bichen and Pongpong hadn’t stopped their petty arguments. Just seeing them once or twice felt like it wouldn’t be a big deal.

As they continued their back-and-forth banter, Viola finally snapped!

“Both of you, stop!”

Bichen and Pongpong continued their childish banter, and only after Viola scolded them did they quiet down. “……….”

“……….”

With Viola in the middle, Bichen and Pongpong sat back to back, looking out of the carriage. But after a while,

Bong! Bong! Bong!

The sound of drums and trumpets filled the air.

Just by the sound, it felt like a grand general’s march.

‘What is this now?’

It was the military band. Numerous people adorned in gold and many military musicians had come out to welcome Viola.