I took the role of an adopted daughter a bit too well. Viola gripped the switch, swinging it with a hard bite of her teeth.

One or two wounds began to accumulate.

Viola’s eyes rimmed red.

“It hurts.”

To Arin, Tundra looked like a little child.

On the other hand, Tundra’s head was growing colder.

‘If I scream from the beginning, the butler will only become suspicious.’

The whipping continued for a while.

And just as Viola and Tundra expected, Zeno heard the sound of the whipping from the next room.

“It seems the discipline and training have begun.”

He slowly stood up and pressed his ear against the wall.

“Ouch, that must hurt.”

After a while, faint groans emerged.

I could even hear the sound of breaths that were strained, trying to endure the pain.

Zeno observed Tundra’s hardened will.

His gaze was intense.

For a child with such a look to let out that level of groan meant they were being subjected to quite a bit of cruelty.

“Just how cruel are they being…?”

Killing isn’t difficult.

However, to make someone groan like that is not an easy feat.

I’ve seen plenty of types like that.

Those who won’t bend even if they break.

Zeno was evaluating Tundra like that.

“I see you’re serious about breaking him.”

His eyes gleamed with interest.

“Very much Bellatu-like, Princess.”

*

While Tundra was groaning,

Someone entered the room.

“Viola! Are you playing a fun game?”

It was the 5th Prince, Bichen.

Bichen’s eyes sparkled.

It was the gaze of a predator who had found its prey or toy.

“Hehe.”

He caught sight of Tundra in pain.

With curious eyes, he watched.

“Already playing with a toy?”

“No, it’s training.”

Viola momentarily set down the switch.

She couldn’t understand why Bichen had suddenly come by.

‘He’s unpredictable.’

She felt unnecessarily tense.

“Why are you here?”

“I came to see how you were treating your toy.”

His eyes narrowed.

It seemed he picked up on something strange.

“But you know…”

He looked like a young beast who had found its prey.

“Are you going to put ointment on him too?”

“……”

When Viola fell silent, Bichen pressed again.

“He’s hurt. Are you going to put ointment on him?”

“Is that important?”

“It is.”

Viola was a bit taken aback.

‘What is so important about it?’

Bichen squinted.

“It might be better to not put ointment on him.”

“Why?”

“If you put ointment on him, he’ll die.”

“So, why?”

”

Each time Viola asked why, Bichen seemed to grow frustrated.

“Just!”

“Just why?”

“Just! Just! Just! Just! He’ll die! Got it?”

Bichen’s eyes were filled with fierce killing intent.

It felt like a malevolent aura was swirling around.

Viola sat down in her chair.

Although her insides were burning with frustration from Bichen’s nonsensical insistence, she didn’t show it.

Fortunately, Bichen wasn’t great at arguing.

“I can do whatever I want to my toy, whether I apply ointment or not, has nothing to do with you.”

“But if you kill my toy, that’s a different story. It means you’ve crossed my territory.”

“Hmpf, that kind of thing doesn’t matter.

What’s important is that I don’t want you applying ointment to others.”

“Then why? Provide a reason that I can understand. You are Bellatu after all.”

“Well, that’s…”

Bichen’s face turned as red as a tomato.

“Because it’s my first experience!”

Viola momentarily lost her words.

Could that word even come up here? But Bichen’s intention was clear as day.

“So you don’t want to lose your first experience to someone else?”

Bichen nodded.

“You realize you’re being unreasonable right now?”

“Nu-uh? Bichen doesn’t know.”

He acted as if he was oblivious.

‘He probably thinks I’m unaware of his unreasonable behavior!’

“Bellanatu is supposed to be reasonable and rational. I might be a little disappointed in you. Is that okay?”

“Di-disappointed?”

Bichen’s expression darkened slightly.

He thought he had shown enough of his greatness while defeating a group of bandits, but now he was being told he might be disappointing.

“Well, disappointment is…”

“Present me with a logical basis and rational conditions that I can accept. Until then, I’ll do whatever I want. I want you to act like a Bellatu.”

“If you just continue to be unreasonable like this…”

Viola narrowed her eyes and smiled.

“From now on, I will never apply ointment.”

“Then I’ll specially forgive you.”

Bichen flipped his attitude remarkably quickly.

“What?”

“No. It means I will forgive you for using ointment on others for the time being.”

“Are you being unreasonable again?”

“Gosh, apply it! Yes, apply it.”

Bichen stormed out, slamming the door.

“I’ll really kill you. Just wait until you turn ten.”

He was sincere when he spoke.

When Bichen returned to his room, he was caught up in strange emotions.

But…

….

It’s common for siblings to engage in a slaughter competition.

However, the image of the small hand applying the ointment lingered in his mind.

‘Do I really have to kill him?’

For some reason.

I, Viola, don’t want to kill him.

‘But I probably have to, right?’

That’s what Bellatu siblings do, right?

But does it really have to be that way?

I don’t know.

I wish someone could teach me the answer.

A small ripple began to form in Bichen’s heart.

*

After the commotion had ended,

Zeno opened Viola’s door.

He approached the collapsed Tundra.

“The boy raised a knife against our princess. He even held the knife to his neck.”

In that moment, Viola flinched.

The killing intent radiating from Zeno was terrifying. It felt hellish.

It felt like being in hell.

“If our princess were not merciful, I would have pulled out all your teeth and slit your throat.”

Viola felt a shock as if she had been hit in the head.

This wasn’t simply for her sake.

It was a test.

The butler Zeno was testing the female protagonist Viola. Similar dialogue existed in the novel.

“If our princess wasn’t merciful, I would take your life.”

The content was slightly different, but the essence was the same.

In Bellatu, ‘mercy’ was a luxury. To be merciful, one must possess strength.

Only a being as powerful as Duke Heron could afford that.

To show mercy without having that level of power only meant that you were foolish and weak.

Here, in Bellatu, that was the case.

Viola spoke.

“Zeno.”

“Yes, Princess.”

“Kneel.”

“Should I kneel this boy?”

Viola deliberately fell silent. Time passed.

“You meant for me to kneel.”

Eventually, Zeno walked up to Viola. He began to bend his body slowly.

In the original work, it went like this.

He abruptly made the boy kneel and slapped him.

“Don’t test me.”

“Next time, I will kill you.”

However, Tundra was visible beside him.

Even though Tundra was mine, it didn’t look good to scold him in front of Tundra.

“Zeno, come with me.”

Just like Bichen’s room was enormous, Viola’s room was big too.

It was divided into a living room and several rooms.

Zeno silently followed behind Viola.

He closed the door.

Tundra was no longer visible.

“Oh.”

“Yes, Princess.”

Zeno didn’t particularly oppose.

‘Should I slap him… too?’

Ugh.

This really isn’t something a person should do.

But I decided to slap him.

My inner feelings didn’t matter.

The butler testing the princess.

The butler who was exposed. Naturally, he needed to be punished severely. That’s how it should be in Bellatu.

Slap!

I struck his cheek.

Not knowing how hard to hit, I just hit him with all my might.

Considering he was someone who had defeated twenty imperial knights single-handedly, I thought he would be fine.

Whack!

Zeno’s neck snapped sideways.

His lips burst open slightly. Blood immediately welled up, and a handprint as if burnt by fire was imprinted on his cheek.

“Sorry!”

I had to act like a proper Bellatu.

I wondered if I hit him too hard, but it was already done.

I tried to speak as calmly as possible.

“I don’t mind you testing my worthiness as a Bellatu. But don’t do it so overtly. It’s uncomfortable.”

“I’m sorry.”

“How little do you think of me that you would test in such an obvious way?”

“I’m sorry. As a sign of repentance, how about I offer my arm?”

No!

Is that a thing?!

Why are you giving it up?!

And why does it seem so sincere?!

Viola wanted to cry, but on the surface, she smiled faintly.

“You think that’s enough to apologize with just your arm?”

“Then would offering my life be acceptable?”

Cold sweat trickled down Viola’s back.

If I asked if that was serious, I felt like he would say yes.

“Then I wouldn’t be able to get you to work.”

“That is true.”

“If your arm is cut off, it would decrease work efficiency.”

“That’s also true.”

Saying something that didn’t fit his character made his face turn a little pale.

“Act a bit more capable. That’s the reason I’m sparing you, for daring to test me.”

“Thank you, Princess.”

Zeno noticed Viola’s pale complexion. He realized the reason.

‘She’s intentionally suppressing her boiling madness.’

If Zeno had identified Viola Bellatu, who had mercilessly plunged a dagger into a boy’s mouth, she would have been seething with rage. She must have felt really terrible at that moment.

Yet Viola was controlling that madness.

‘To the point of even sweating cold.’

It was an restraint and rationality unfitting of a seven-year-old.

She was managing her anger, steering the situation to her advantage.

Viola Bellatu was not simply a murderous madwoman infatuated with blood.

‘Impressive.

Ruthlessness, charisma, and strategy combined.

There had never been a Bellatu to show this kind of prowess at just seven years old.

Zeno rose up.

There was one more fact to address.

“The reason you brought me here… was it to establish your prestige before your toy?”

“After all, you are my one and only closest aide.”

“Thank you.”

Zeno felt a strange emotion, albeit a tiny bit.

Viola Bellatu was exceedingly Bellatu-like.

He felt it when he was struck.

This lady was even more Bellatu-like than a pure-bred Bellatu.

‘But she shows consideration.’

A strange gap occurred.

So very Bellatu-like, yet bizarrely different from a Bellatu.

A pure-bred Bellatu wouldn’t have shown such consideration. Moreover, she called him her ‘one and only closest aide.’

Hearing that expression felt strangely good.

‘The Princess is indeed a remarkable person.’

That sense of wonder was not unpleasant.

The consideration from the most Bellatu-like Bellatu felt new yet delightful.

Zeno smiled faintly.

“I seriously began to think that I hope the princess will rule Bellatu.”

Viola’s breath caught in her throat.

For now, she had survived another day.

Though it felt slightly excessive,

*

Zeno returned to his room and organized the events of the day to write in his journal.

‘She did slap me.’

At that moment.

It had cleared his mind completely.

How did such strength come from that small frame…?

The Duke’s words made sense.

He said she was born under the Killing Star.

Had he not instinctively drawn upon mana for protection, his facial bone might have shattered.

It was certainly not the strength of a child.

It was the power of a knight who skillfully handled mana.

[You are gifted with exceptional talent.]

[What’s amazing is that you have never received any training in mana handling.]

[In my personal opinion, I suspect you possess the qualities either on par or even superior to the 1st princess.]

Zeno recalled one more fact.

‘In my first encounter with Prince Bichen…

When she threw the quill, it was infused with mana.

Bichen had also raised mana for protection.

But Viola easily broke through that shield.

It was because the quill Viola had thrown was infused with mana.

He added one more thing.

[You were born with a level and quality of mana beyond what is common.]

[It is certain that you possess superior mana compared to Prince Bichen.]

Even now, it seems that Princess Viola herself does not realize this.