I played the role of an adopted daughter far too well, revealing my cleverness as a reincarnated person.

I had no regrets about it.

If I hadn’t taken action, a disaster would have occurred.

Being scouted by the Empire was certainly better than losing dozens or hundreds of lives.

‘Now that it’s come to this, I might as well show off my intelligence.

I changed the plan a bit.

‘Let’s appear as a lone wolf whose arrogance interferes with the cooperation and unity of the organization!’

It seemed that this position was the best one right now.

“It is deemed necessary for Your Majesty to be in the palace at this time.”

The initiative had now passed to Viola.

One thing that the Monarch Empire always emphasized was principles.

If principles collapse, everything collapses.

Nelak had lived his life adhering to principles.

At least until he fell in love with Selina.

“However, the Emperor is the only sun of the Monarch. Who dares to speak against the rising and setting of the sun?”

Viola’s gaze turned towards Selina.

“But Lady Selina is not in that position.”

Mentioning Selina, Nelak’s only weakness, made him scowl.

“What do you mean?”

“Lady Selina must have known that His Majesty was slacking off and hiding here.”

Zeno, who had been observing the situation from a distance, couldn’t help but clear his throat.

“Ahem.”

Even Zeno was trembling.

‘Slacking off?’

Who talks like that about the Emperor?

Not even Heron could use such expressions.

While such a statement might not be a major crime, it could seriously offend the Emperor.

“If Lady Selina, who must see through everything, failed to notice the existence of her most beloved lover, then that would be a disqualification in its own right.”

“Lady Viola, you might want to choose your words carefully.”

Nelak didn’t hide his displeasure.

He could forgive everything else, but crossing the line when it came to Selina was hard to tolerate.

Viola’s body started to tremble.

‘Ugh. I’m scared to death.’

The only saving grace was that this lavender-colored dress, a masterpiece of the dwarven race, was hiding all bodily reactions.

The trembling of my body, changes in body temperature, subtle muscle movements.

This dress concealed all of it.

It was like a high-performance mask.

Then Selina clapped her hands.

Clap. Clap. Clap.

To Viola, it felt like the sound of the grim reaper.

‘Why?’

Why was she clapping at this moment?

This was not the time for applause; a much more common reaction of “That annoying little brat is just puffing herself up” should have come instead.

“Lady Viola, you do realize that your current appearance is not very helpful in socializing, don’t you?”

“I was merely stating the facts. Lady Selina should have been in a position to assist the sun and ensure it remained in its place.”

This isn’t helping in the organization.

Though it was the truth, arguing back with a superior is disruptive to teamwork.

So please, just kick me out!

“Of course, that is correct. But may I ask one thing? Do I possess excellent insight in your eyes, Lady Viola?”

“Yes.”

I began to feel anxious.

The genius characters in the story often navigated situations in unexpected ways.

Somehow, I had a feeling today would be the same.

“Then did I truly not know about today’s ‘Heat Wind’ terror?”

I didn’t know!

Viola wanted to shout that out.

But she couldn’t.

Saying she didn’t know would create contradictions in everything she had said up until now.

“And who could quietly thwart the bomb threat from the Heat Wind?”

Selina smiled softly.

“His Majesty personally came to prevent a disaster because he was concerned about the potential harm to the Empire’s future talents.”

“I had no idea it had such a deeper meaning.”

“No, that can’t be true.”

As Selina’s laughter grew more pronounced, Viola’s anxiety only intensified.

“………What?”

Yes.

“You don’t need to pretend to be humble while hiding your ambitions.”

…What?

Did I reveal my ambitions?

When?

Viola felt increasingly stifled.

No! I’m really saying I didn’t know, sister!

“Lady Viola has always been clever. From before her debut in the social circle until now, she has meticulously planned and executed everything.”

That’s not true.

I just ran away.

Viola wanted to cry but couldn’t.

“And at this moment, you deliberately mentioned facts that could upset both the Emperor and myself, urging me to respond.”

“………..”

“A smart lady like Viola wouldn’t do that.”

No!

That’s entirely possible.

Why do they view me so positively?

I’m not that kind of person.

“If a person who shouldn’t act that way behaves as such, that implies there’s an ulterior motive.”

The more Selina spoke, the more it felt like she was dragging me deeper into a pit.

Like I was caught in an ant trap, struggling to breathe.

“What could that ulterior motive be?”

“That would be…”

“I surely wanted to ascertain who managed to stop a bomb threat that should have gone off. The moment His Majesty revealed himself, you probably predicted it.”

Nelak silently stared at Selina.

This situation didn’t seem to matter much to him.

‘How beautiful.’

To Nelak, Selina was elegant and beautiful.

Having been obsessed with the sword, he was now obsessed with Selina.

‘Just, Selina, do whatever you want.’

Nelak didn’t interrupt Selina’s words and didn’t show any other reactions.

In that moment, he absorbed every word Selina said and every action she took.

In his world, Selina seemed to be the only one.

Selina continued.

“I understand that serious curiosity very well. You might have had a hunch but lacked actual proof; you must have wanted to confirm it.”

Selina shifted her gaze to Nelak, who was infatuated with her.

“His Majesty intervened to prevent the explosion, correct?”

“Indeed.”

“How did he prevent it?”

“I cut it off.”

Nelak, as if entranced, answered mechanically, too busy taking in Selina’s form.

Selina giggled again.

“How about it? Has that curiosity been resolved?”

Yes.

Something felt seriously wrong, but I couldn’t dispute it either.

Reluctantly, I acknowledged her words.

“Lady Viola possesses yet another quality for great success.”

“I have qualities for great success…?”

The willingness to resolve intellectual curiosity at the risk of some danger, and an insatiable thirst for knowledge—this attitude, I believe, is one of the conditions for success.”

Selina made an unexpected proposal.

“If you have any questions in the future, feel free to ask directly. You don’t have to dance around like today.”

“…Thank you.”

“I’ve fully recognized Lady Viola’s excellent qualities and appearance, so I hope we can meet warmly at the next good opportunity.”

That night.

Selina updated the list of potential recruits.

Originally, it had names ranked from 1 to 10, but now a rank 0 had appeared above that.

This was the first time since Lady Selina began making the list.

[0th Place: Viola Bellatu.]

*

Inside the carriage.

Seivan Marcos glanced sideways at the handsome man in front of him.

‘He really is beautiful.’

He had never seen such a beautiful man in his entire life.

Too dangerous to get close, yet too addictive to stay far away.

That man was none other than Heron Bellatu.

“I just received a transmission report from Zeno. Shall I read it out loud?”

Heron nodded, and Seivan Marcos read the report.

“…Thus, Lady Viola managed to prevent a disaster, and Lady Selina expressed considerable favor. Furthermore, she has gained the right to correspond with Lady Selina… Duke?”

As Seivan marveled at the report, he thought the Duke would surely be very proud.

The contents of the report were astonishing.

It showcased the absolute best images that the 12-year-old Bellatu could present.

Viola’s demeanor in front of Sword Master Nelak and Lady Selina was the epitome of Bellatu itself.

‘But why does he look so displeased?’

Seivan couldn’t understand.

‘Is there a way to embody Bellatu more perfectly than this?’

Perhaps the Duke had such a method.

Seivan Marcos finished reading the report and fell silent.

A chilling atmosphere settled inside the carriage.

After a short while, Heron spoke.

“Seivan.”

“Yes, Duke.”

“You know Lady Selina well, don’t you?”

“Yes.”

“Tell me what you know.”

Seivan shared everything he knew about Selina.

Seivan had been friends with Lady Selina since childhood.

They had formed a close bond at the delicate Forget-Me-Not Ball, and even now they maintained a good friendship.

“What are her recent interests?”

“I’ve heard she’s passionate about discovering talents who can prosper the Empire in the future. It seems that Lady Viola has caught her eye.”

“She scouts every year, right?”

“Yes. Every January 1st. They officially scout, and she’s the object of envy for many noble youths.”

Heron didn’t seem too pleased with that.

“Is the Winter Castle insufficient to accommodate Viola?”

“Not at all, but it’s not a fertile environment for Lady Viola to grow.”

“Humans tend to grow even taller in extreme conditions.”

With that remark, Heron fell silent.

Seivan felt something unusual.

‘The Duke is unusually chatty today.’

He usually didn’t speak unless necessary, but today he had a lot to say.

‘It’s like he dislikes scouting.’

Choosing a path with White Bellatu’s guidance would be a significant achievement in receiving the Lady’s scout.

It would serve as strong fertilizer for her growth.

Yet somehow, Heron seemed less than satisfied with that.

‘How strange.’

Strange but all the more charming.

‘An unpredictable person.’

He didn’t try to understand Heron.

He simply accepted him comfortably as an appealing enigma.

*

Though the honor of the Hailris Marquisate suffered a bit, the Forget-Me-Not Ball proceeded without major incident.

Viola diligently avoided Jeremy, and the ball entered its final stages.

Day 6 of the Forget-Me-Not Ball.

Princess Sena persistently chased Viola and finally managed to confront her.

Somehow, her entourage had grown to seven.

“Princess Viola!”

Sena scrutinized Viola.

‘Same outfit again.

How can she wear the same clothes and accessories for five days straight?

‘She seems to be subtly changing some of the accessories.’

And her makeup looked slightly different.

It felt odd.

Whoever did her makeup deserved some credit.

‘What good is a talented makeup artist?’

In any case, beautiful accessories and outstanding clothes were necessities on the battlefield of socializing.

Viola was a fool who couldn’t even master those basics.

At least, that was how Sena saw it.

‘Especially!’

The utterly plain ring devoid of any luster caught her eye.

‘Wearing the same ring for five days straight.’

Even with minimal knowledge about social circles, that was bound to raise eyebrows.

Was Bellatu really advertising their poverty?

Sena sneered at Viola inwardly.

“I’d like to give you a gift, Princess Viola. Is that alright?”

She presented a jewelry box.

“It’s a ring that contains my heart.”

It was, in essence, charity, mocking Viola for constantly wearing a single ring.
Sena and the six others behind her looked at Viola and laughed.