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Adopted Daughter Role Went Too Well 001

Prologue

I thought everything was a dream.

“It would be wise to read the winter castle’s disposition quickly if you wish to survive.”

“That child brought by the Duke will soon display a sharp and cruel nature without needing to be told.”

I had heard that line many times before.

The handsome man, reminiscent of a sharp blade, looked strikingly similar to my favorite character, Heron Bellatu.

That line was spoken by Heron Bellatu during his first encounter with his adopted daughter, Viola.

‘It must be a dream?’

Naturally.

I thought it was just a dream.

While reading the novel Shadows of Bellatu, I often felt a sense of regret.

The protagonist Viola Bellatu aimed to dominate the Bellatu Duke House.

In the end, she ascended to that position through innate talent and relentless effort.

However, I felt that Viola did not seem happy.

As a ruler, she succeeded, but as a person, she was lonely and isolated.

Towards the end of the novel, she murmured, “I gained Bellatu, which I longed for so much. But I lost everything else.”

As a reader, that part had always disappointed me.

I thought I could have unravelled it differently.

Lost in such thoughts, I guess I ended up having this dream.

Wait a minute.

This moment is at the beginning of the Shadows of Bellatu prologue.

On the day Heron Bellatu, the lord of the winter castle, took Viola, who was abandoned in the slums.

This moment was the prologue of the novel.

Heron Bellatu brought Viola to the winter castle for one reason.

He realized Viola’s talent as a “murderous monster” at a glance.

The Duke spoke, and the oblivious seven-year-old Viola just stood there silently.

As a devoted reader of this novel, I felt this was also a regrettable part.

After all, the first button is always crucial.

‘It’s just a dream anyway, right?’

I decided to try whatever I wanted.

“Uncle, does that mean you’re my father now?”

Hearing my voice, Duke Heron paused in the corridor.

A man beside him also flinched in surprise.

From his appearance, he seemed to be Chief Butler Carlton of the Duke’s House.

Dream father.

With a dry voice, Duke Heron responded, “That will be the case.”

The Duke adopted me for my exceptional talent as a murderous monster.

He believed that this talent would serve as a good stimulus to the direct descendants of Bellatu.

In simpler terms, I came to this place to be used and then discarded.

However, Viola was the main character in the novel, overcoming everything with her protagonist-like abilities to become the heir.

In that process, she faced tremendous crises and trials.

“Have I ever been a part of your family, even once?”

“You have grown well as a remarkable Bellatu.”

“Family? That sounds inappropriate.”

“Right. It doesn’t suit me.”

Yet, the reader, Han Ah-rin, knows.

Viola actually wanted to hear the word family.

Not the cruel heir Viola Bellatu.

She wanted to be the daughter, Viola Bellatu.

In the end, that wish was unfulfilled, and Viola ended up killing Heron to ascend to the throne of Bellatu.

Just as a reference, many readers cursed the author and dropped the novel at this point.

There are many hidden backstories, but those who dropped out were unable to read that part.

Anyway, I posed a question to my dream father, Heron.

“I’ve heard a lot about Bellatu.”

“How did you hear it?”

“I was told it’s a rational family.”

“If it’s a rational and logical family, why wasn’t I given the right to choose my father? It should be Bellatu-like to allow me to choose for myself.”

Carlton tried to intervene.

“U-uhm, your Highness?”

Mind your manners. You’ve become a princess of Bellatu now. You’re a different entity altogether compared to your time in the slums.

That’s what he seemed to want to say.

But I knew.

Duke Heron would want to hear such provocative questions from me.

My favorite character is precisely that type of character!

“You seem to know much about Bellatu.”

“Yup.”

I probably knew Bellatu better than they did themselves.

“Tell me what you know about Bellatu.”

I answered as if reciting from a prepared test paper.

“A survival of the fittest ecosystem where everything is proven through ability.”

“A ruthless family that encourages even fratricide.”

“At the same time, they’re the northern shield protecting humanity from the northern forest, ‘Place Where the Eye Shines.’”

“A family of iron blood that values only rational choices and the family’s interests.”

Good.

I should give a light smile here.

Hehe.

“Despite being such a meticulous and rational family, why didn’t you give me the choice and acted solely on your whim?”

“Now that you mention it, that’s true.”

The Duke asked me, “Will you become my daughter?”

“Sure. I like it.”

“That was quick.”

“Yup.”

“Reason?”

“Because you’re handsome.”

Silence fell for a moment.

I seized the moment and continued.

“Clarify this. Our becoming father and daughter was your choice, not mine. The prospective father offered and I accepted it, right?”

“Correct.”

“I think it’ll be interesting.”

I could sense Heron Bellatu’s gaze.

In those seemingly cold eyes, I could see curiosity lurking beneath.

By the way, when will this dream end? It doesn’t seem like a bad dream, though.

I guess it’ll end soon.

I asked again, “Since I’m now your daughter, that means I’m qualified to be the heir, right?”

“Of course.”

“Got it. I’ll make sure you don’t regret bringing me here. And by the way…”

Not as just an adopted daughter for sacrifice, nor just as a tool for stimulation,

“I’d prefer if you loved me.”

How regretful it was while watching the novel.

Viola ultimately becomes the ruler, but no one remains around her.

Everyone feared Viola.

Yet, no one loved her.

“Will you do that for me?”

“…….”

“I’ve always thought having a family would be wonderful. Not as just a father in name but to actually be my real father.”

I felt I perfectly embodied Viola Bellatu from the prologue of my thoughts.

What can I say?

It feels like I’ve become a fanfic author in real life.

To enter the novel I cherished and change the story.

This is what real-life fan fiction feels like!

I’m glad this dream is lasting long.

I glanced at the Duke beside me.

Chief Butler Carlton stood there with a baffled expression.

In an elegant suit, yet his face was riddled with small scars.

Carlton’s thoughts were transparent.

That adopted daughter is going to die soon.

It was obvious that he was thinking that.

Duke Heron chuckled lightly.

“Interesting.”

Duke Heron’s alias is “Thousand Kills Duke.”

This name was given because he allegedly killed a thousand people to become the head of Bellatu.

In that moment, a terrifying aura erupted.

Ugh!

I flinched instinctively.

Is this the murderous intent from the novel?

My whole body tingled.

It felt as if electricity was coursing through me.

My heart trembled, and cold sweat trickled down my back.

At this point, it felt a little strange.

Why is this so vivid?

Why haven’t I woken up yet?

“Try your best to survive. I won’t kill you myself.”

There was an ominous feeling somewhere.

An inexplicable sense of unease began to creep in.

Why hasn’t this dream ended?

*

Heron sat at his desk in the study, lost in thought.

“This is interesting.”

The first time he discovered Viola, she had crimson eyes.

In her hands was a shard of glass stained with droplets of blood.

In the distance, a slave trader who had attempted to kidnap Viola lay on the ground clutching his neck.

“A seven-year-old, and an untrained child did that.”

She seemed like a child born with the “Killing Star,” which had appeared several times in history.

He found that fascinating and decided to take her in.

It was a whimsical choice.

It was akin to discovering an amusing animal and keeping it in a zoo only he could see.

Through the method of adoption…

She wasn’t like a typical seven-year-old.

Despite being so meticulous and rational, why didn’t he give the right to choose and instead acted according to his own whims?’

Chief Butler Carlton said, “Duke, you seem to be in good spirits.”

“It was entertaining.”

“What do you mean?”

“The content of her words is far more mature than a seven-year-old, yet her way of speaking is younger than that.”

The content of her speech was not what you’d expect from a seven-year-old, nor was her pronunciation.

“She claimed to be seven but is likely at a five-year-old level of development. She probably hadn’t eaten well, resulting in very slow growth. Or perhaps she’s confused about her age.”

“Do you think she appears to be the kind of child who would confuse her age?”

“Not really.”

“There’s a distinct difference between the mind’s thoughts and the body’s expression.”

Heron accurately read Viola’s—and, rather, Ah-rin’s—state but did not suspect possession.

“Are you suggesting it seemed unnatural?”

“Yes.”

Carlton didn’t consider the possibility of possession either.

He logically deduced the reason.

“She pretended to be composed but was ultimately nervous. That would indeed make it awkward.”

Only then did Carlton realize.

‘Ah…!’

In that state of anxiety and fear, she spoke boldly against Heron.

That little girl had an immense heart.

‘Strong will to overcome fear. He found that admirable.’

In Carlton’s eyes, Viola had very well done on her first impression.

She showcased the best performance expected from a seven-year-old adopted by Bellatu.

Though her somewhat impudent behavior could have been a problem, it didn’t matter since the Duke was unconcerned.

However, the Duke was remembering something else.

‘It would be nice if you at least loved me.

No one in Bellatu has ever so boldly asked for affection.

Yet, Viola was different.

She audaciously requested love.

What mattered was that her request didn’t come off as wretched, but rather, was confident.

It was a personality he had never encountered before.

‘And… she was small.

Unlike the children of the Duke’s House.

She didn’t look like a typical seven-year-old.

Her slenderness made it seem like she would break if held tightly.

The Duke asked, “Carlton, what do you think are her chances of survival in Bellatu until she matures?”

“I estimate them to be below 40%.”

“I see.”

The Duke lost himself in thought.

He possessed an instinctive insight to read a person’s true intentions.

In the novel, it was referred to as “True Eye.”

He read through his True Eye.

Viola harbored a significant fondness for Heron himself.

She genuinely desired a family.

Viola acted as if she had long awaited him.

Not as a performance, but with true feelings.

It didn’t make sense.

‘Why does she like me?’

When did we even meet?

It wasn’t mere fondness.

There was even a hint of nostalgia and affection.

Why?

He had no way of knowing.

In a place devoid of familial affection.

Heron Bellatu, the ruler of the winter castle, found that inexplicable fondness very strange.

Heron stated, “Assign Zeno as her butler.”

“…Zeno?”

He was far too competent for a butler.

He held back those words.

Double-checked.

“Are we talking about a regular butler, not a temporary one?”

“Yes.”

In this place, the Duke’s word is law.

“Understood.”

Two days passed since then.