I played the role of the adopted daughter just a bit too well. Chapter 105, the Forget-Me-Not Ball is a social gathering for the young nobles of the aristocracy.

There was a special tradition for them.

On the sixth day, they invited a hero of the continent to give a speech.

The young nobles listened to the speaker’s words, nurturing their dreams and hopes.

However, this time, the speech had a special twist.

It was given by someone who rarely steps up as a speaker.

A few days ago, Selina received a letter.

“Duke Heron Bellatu sent a letter requesting to speak himself.”

“Duke Heron?”

Even Nelak was surprised.

“He’s more than qualified, but…”

“Isn’t it surprising? He usually detests social gatherings.”

“Indeed. It’s unprecedented that he made the first request.”

“Anyway, why is Duke Heron suddenly willing to speak at the Forget-Me-Not Ball?”

“Well, I’m not sure.”

“Maybe he wants to witness his lovely daughter’s debut through his own eyes?”

“That’s the most absurd joke I’ve heard from you.”

“Right?”

That couldn’t be it.

After all, the other party is Duke Heron Bellatu.

“Anyway, it seems it will be quite interesting. If it’s Duke Heron, it will be a great challenge for the children as well.”

Selina accepted Duke Heron’s request.

She still didn’t know the reason.

She could only vaguely infer it might have something to do with Viola.

And today.

Selina could discern Duke Heron’s intentions.

“It’s not without a reason after all.”

In fact, Selina already knew what was going on between Viola and Princess Sena.

Though she was quite far away, she was using magic to keep an eye on the situation.

“Princess Sena wouldn’t have the discerning eye to recognize such an outstanding artifact.”

That wasn’t a mistake.

Selina had thought it was just an ordinary ring when she first saw it.

It wasn’t strange at all for the still young noblewoman Sena to not know the value of that ring.

“And that’s good bait thrown at Viola, who was waiting for an opportunity.

Selina was aware of the deep rift between Bellatu and Mariantu.

The family that opposed the Golden Road plan the most fiercely was Mariantu.

So… Viola had thrown out bait, and Princess Sena had taken it.”

Selina believed that Viola was not one to act frivolously.

Such a noblewoman would not shy away from a fight with Sena but would continue to engage in such childish squabbles?

“There must be something she is aiming for.”

She thought of the grand scheme being drawn up by Viola and Duke Heron.

“I can interpret it as her having a significant standing within Bellatu, enough to conspire with Duke Heron. Princess Viola has grown to that extent already.”

So intelligent was Selina that she completely misinterpreted Viola’s intentions.

“Something will be shown.”

She decided to anticipate.

*

The appearance of Duke Heron Bellatu silenced the surroundings in an instant.

It became so quiet that the sound of his footsteps echoed throughout the banquet hall.

Duke Heron’s speech was simple.

“Rise up and move forward, overcoming your fears.” His message was straightforward and clear.

As soon as his speech ended, applause erupted.

Lady Selina spoke.

“Thank you for taking the precious time. Is there anyone among the young nobles who would like to ask Duke Heron a question?”

A game of social maneuvering began among the nobles.

Lady Selina was present in this place.

Depending on how beneficial and wise the questions asked were, one could catch the attention of Lady Selina.

Princess Sena raised her hand.

“I am Sena of the Duke of Mariantu. It’s an honor to meet the great northern ruler and the shield protecting humanity. If it’s not too much trouble, may I ask a question?”

She was convinced that Viola was lying.

Even a father gifting a ring to his daughter was rare, let alone one who is the Duke of Thousand Kills?

Didn’t the archmage forge it?

“Complete nonsense!”

She thought it couldn’t be true.

“Let’s see you get humiliated, Viola.”

Sena boldly asked.

“I’ve heard that you are just and thorough, my lord. I understand that you oversee and mediate the succession competition of the successors neutrally. But did you perhaps give special treatment to your youngest daughter by gifting her a precious and valuable ring? Someone said that the ring is one-of-a-kind, and it’s hard to believe, so I’m asking.”

The pathetic adopted daughter resorting to lies while using her great father’s name.

Viola would soon face such treatment.

Sena thought as she gazed at Heron, who slowly opened his mouth.

“I gifted it.”

In that moment, Sena doubted her ears.

The shock of realizing that Duke Heron gifted it was startling, but she never expected him to speak so casually to her in such an official setting.

Even Lady Selina had shown him respect.

This was a blatant insult.

“What a barbaric family!”

Her pride was severely hurt.

Heron could easily read Lady Selina’s thoughts.

“Is it unpleasant?”

“I didn’t expect you to speak to me like that in an official setting. Lady Selina was also polite on that occasion.”

“I’m not Lady Selina.”

Sena’s legs began to tremble.

Staring into his eyes felt as if the world was darkening.

While Heron didn’t intentionally radiate a fierce presence, he didn’t have the personality to hold back either.

As his aura reached Sena, breathing became difficult.

Lady Selina clapped once.

“My dear Duke Heron, you are far too outstanding a martial artist, and Princess Sena is not equipped to handle even your natural presence.”

“I kindly ask you to restrain your aura, please?”

Heron respected Selina.

He saw Selina as sufficiently capable and worthy to be called a lady.

Once Heron reined in his aura, Sena could finally begin to breathe again.

Sena thought he was intentionally insulting and messing with her.

“Bellatu…!”

However, getting angry here would undoubtedly make her look ridiculous given her current situation.

To be honest, she was also quite fearful of Duke Heron.

Heron spoke.

“Bellatu does not shy away from challenges.”

At that moment, a heavy silence descended.

“Those who feel their honor has been tarnished may always visit Winter Castle. That is the way Bellatu lives.”

It was a declaration of war directed at Sena.

If one feels their honor has been compromised, it meant resolving it through a duel.

Whether one hired mercenaries or sent out the family’s outstanding knights, it didn’t matter.

The young nobles could say nothing in response.

There were countless rumors about Duke Heron Bellatu, but among them, no one truly knew who he was.

Those facing him could hardly part their lips.

They were seized by instinctive fear and could do nothing.

In contrast, Viola felt more confusion than fear.

“What is he doing? That’s a complete declaration of war!”

It wasn’t just a declaration meant for the Duke of Mariantu.

He clearly expressed, “those who feel their honor has been tarnished.”

It meant that someone among them could challenge Bellatu to a duel.

“That probably won’t happen, but what if Selina feels offended?”

Then the Sword Emperor Nelak would take action.

Heron couldn’t have been unaware of that.

Since “challenge” was mentioned earlier, it could also be interpreted as “I will accept the Sword Emperor’s challenge.”

It was a grave remark, yet no one was able to retort, nor did anyone feel Heron’s words were arrogant.

It seemed as though he was simply stating facts.

“My youngest daughter will step forward and engage in a duel for honor.”

The sound of his footsteps echoed.

Heron lightly nodded his head toward Lady Selina, and she smiled back as she bowed her head.

Even after Heron exited, silence lingered in the Forget-Me-Not banquet hall for quite some time.

Viola stood there in a daze.

“What just happened?”

*

Inside the carriage waiting outside, Seivan Marcos grinned.

He had extended his senses and interpreted all the waves and vibrations from within the banquet hall.

“You did that on purpose, didn’t you?”

Heron did not reply.

To Heron, Seivan seemed overly chatty.

Seivan found great charm in Heron’s demeanor.

“You did that on purpose to give Princess Viola an opportunity, didn’t you?”

“Let’s depart.”

Seivan smiled widely.

After instructing the coachman to set off, he again took his seat.

He pondered as he admired the handsome face of Heron.

“The Duke of Mariantu won’t be able to hold back.”

He had set things up so that it would be impossible to stand it.

If he held back, he would look utterly ridiculous.

Mariantu would request a duel for Princess Sena’s honor.

“Representing Bellatu would be the 12-year-old Princess Viola.”

Mariantu would start to worry considerably.

It would be unreasonable to send a regular knight to duel Viola.

Besides, Viola was not the Black Bellatu but the White Bellatu.

So they would have to request a duel at an appropriate level.

“Whoever comes at that level, Princess Viola cannot lose. She is an elegant killer.”

Seivan smiled.

“How warm-hearted you are, Duke.”

The Duke had deliberately set the stage so that Viola could only win.

All for the sake of his rather slow youngest child.

Seivan observed Heron thoroughly while returning to Winter Castle.

He was an outstanding master of disguise and makeup, capable of detecting even the slightest movements of facial muscles.

“The corners of his eyes and mouth are very subtly moving.”

Seivan Marcos was convinced.

“He is quite pleased!”

It seemed he believed he had given his daughter a wonderful gift.

Then suddenly, something strange occurred to Seivan.

“His voice trembled more than usual when giving the speech.”

Seivan understood that kind of tremor.

“It only occurs when he’s angry.”

This was a fact known only to Seivan.

It was clear.

Immediately after stepping into the banquet hall, Duke Heron was angry.

“Why was he angry?”

Seivan did not know.

That was the very moment Viola and Sena were engaging in a verbal fight.

*

The last day of the Forget-Me-Not Ball had come.

Jeremy’s popularity soared to new heights, surrounded by numerous young noblewomen.

The noble ladies who hadn’t seen Jeremy yesterday flooded in like a wave.

Squeal!

Did I just make eye contact with Jeremy?

No! He made eye contact with me!

Ah! How could someone have such beautiful features!

Hearing screams of excitement, Jeremy glanced around.

“Darn. I should have come to the banquet yesterday.”

That was a miscalculation.

“I waited in front of the inn thinking he wouldn’t show up at the banquet.”

However, rumors spread that Viola had participated in the ball and had a showdown with Princess Sena.

There were also rumors that the Duke of Mariantu was sending someone to duel Viola.

“Where could she possibly be?”

Meeting with Viola was delightful.

For reasons he didn’t quite understand, she kept pushing him away, yet that perplexing behavior intrigued him.

At the same time, she was a benefactor who had greatly aided him in the spirit contract.

“We must become friends.”

It was the last day.

He desperately wanted to get closer to Viola.

He had also prepared a small gift for her.

“Is there a gift exchange ceremony on the last day?”

Today, he was determined to meet Viola!

Determined, he searched for her.

As the Forget-Me-Not Ball was nearing its end, Lady Selina spoke.

“Do you all remember the proposal I made on the first day?”

It was a proposal involving the Blue Diamond.

“I’m going to announce the results.”

Countless noble children concentrated on Lady Selina’s words.

Who could the “special people” that Selina spoke of be?

Who understood Lady Selina’s intentions and built even better networks?

“The noble lady I will gift the Blue Diamond to is…”

At that word, disappointment flashed across the boys’ faces.

“Lady” meant they were certainly not being considered.

In contrast, the expressions of the girls brightened.

All eyes were focused on Lady Selina.

With a cheerful smile, Lady Selina began to speak.