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I’ve gotten way too good at playing the role of an adopted daughter. 106th episode. “Well, they wouldn’t call my name or anything, right?”

Honestly, it’s not that I’m not tempted by the Blue Diamond.

That would be a splendid retirement fund.

But, you know, I’m not going to starve to death without it, right?

If I get greedy, it’ll backfire on me.

In fact, receiving such a rare treasure would likely put my safety in jeopardy.

“I’ll just keep it moderate. Just moderate.

To live thin and long, happily, that’s the best route.”

I didn’t even glance towards the Blue Diamond.

“Ugh, tastes terrible. Strawberry Ade is still the best when it comes from Zeno.”

I don’t care.

Let’s just drink the Strawberry Ade.

Viola was feeling greatly relieved.

She thought Lady Selina would be deeply disappointed in her.

Moreover, her father showed up and ruined the atmosphere by bringing up duels.

The Forget-Me-Not Ball was hosted by the Hailris Marquisate.

“There’s no way they’d call me, thinking about the Marquisate’s reputation.”

This was a double safety lock.

They wouldn’t hand that gift over to Bellatu.

So, there wouldn’t be any further attention directed my way.

It was regretful that I couldn’t build a friendship with the children of Baron Raimon, but it couldn’t be helped.

“I’m giving the Blue Diamond to Viola Bellatu, the 6th Princess of the Bellatu family.”

Silence fell, as if no one expected that.

Viola felt the same way.

“Me? Why?”

I could feel the gazes.

Hundreds of eyes turned towards Viola.

Their expressions were laden with confusion.

“Don’t look at me like that. I’m confused too!”

I was certainly told to form a group to find a ‘special person’.

That was Lady Selina’s order.

Viola hadn’t formed a group, nor did she build any notable connections.

She just enjoyed a bunch of delicious desserts with Hela.

“No, no matter how open-minded a person is, why? Why? Why me? Bellatu ruined the atmosphere of the Forget-Me-Not Ball, didn’t she?”

That meant for the sake of reputation, it shouldn’t come to me.

But then, someone shouted loudly.

“Wow! Viola! Congratulations!”

It was a familiar voice.

The owner of that voice was none other than Jeremy.

Jeremy had always been taught.

His father said that a true friend is someone who shares sadness during hard times, rather than someone who only rejoices during happy moments.

Jeremy faithfully obeyed his father’s teachings.

“You’ve gotten a treasure. I’m so happy!

I’m really happy!”

Jeremy grinned.

“Oh, by the way. I prepared a gift too, can I give this to you?”

Jeremy’s pretty smile turned towards Viola.

At the same time, countless glaring looks shot towards Viola.

Viola’s face turned ashen.

“I’m doomed.

At that moment, Viola’s dress and makeup were shining bright.

The dress amplified her unique haughty and fierce aura, on top of that, Seivan Marcos’s exquisite makeup technique was added.

Viola appeared with a proud expression that seemed to say she knew this would happen.

“What’s this, so annoying.”

“What’s with that haughty and upright expression?”

“Our dear Prince Jeremy is congratulating her, and she’s acting like that!”

Viola sensed it.

She had caught the gaze of Jeremy’s fanclub, the first generation idol of this world.

“A proper catching…

She’s definitely caught.”

It was to the point that I wanted to punch Jeremy’s cheerful face.

Viola knew very well how relentless and dreadful Jeremy’s fanclub could be.

The moment any scandal breaks out involving a first-generation idol, various threats of murder would soon follow.

In fact, there was a noblewoman who had a scandal with Jeremy and ended up committing suicide.

“Is this how I’m being played?”

Why is he unnecessarily good-looking causing this chaos?

Viola didn’t even dare to glance Jeremy’s way.

Whether I look or not, I’ll be bashed either way, but I figured it might be less annoying to not look at all.

“Let’s avoid scandals at all costs.”

In this world, those over the age of 12 could engage in free relationships.

In reality, children aged 12 to 17 often saw each other as romantic partners.

Even though Viola was merely 12 years old, it was still possible for a scandal to arise.

“Princess?”

Zeno extended his hand, wearing white gloves.

Viola, in a daze, accepted Zeno’s escort towards the podium.

As she walked towards the podium, Viola’s thoughts were a mess.

“Why would they be so disappointed in me!”

Lady Selina smiled brightly and said.

“You are all still young. And I believe that I have the right to enjoy happiness that suits my age.”

There’s happiness that can only be enjoyed when one is young.

Don’t miss that happiness.

Never forget the precious people around you.

Don’t take for granted those who love you the most.

“That’s roughly the meaning, but…

Viola realized she had made a huge mistake.

“I see now. It’s because this is the beginning of the story.”

Lady Selina would have her major role in the latter part of the story.

Viola had judged based on Selina’s character at that time.

“I was thinking wrong.”

It’s true.

Selina found herself unable to bear a child due to falling for Viola and Sido’s scheme.

She was a character destined to even force her beloved partner to marry another woman.

“Having experiences like that, her character would surely change by the later part.”

Right. I’d also change my personality.

Why hadn’t I thought of that?

The Selina of now seemed warmer and had dreams of something greater.

“Congratulations, Princess Viola.”

“Thank you.”

Viola masked her anxiety as she took the jewelry box containing the Blue Diamond.

Applause erupted, but Viola felt anything but at ease.

Wow. This overwhelming killing intent.

I’m extremely sensitive to killing intent.

It felt very sharp.

Let’s call it the fan club’s killing intent.

In some ways, it was scarier than a martial artist’s refined killing intent.

“Is it thanks to the ring? The overwhelming killing intent isn’t too bothersome.”

That was a relief.

I wasn’t greatly affected by such ferocious killing intent.

What Viola didn’t realize was that being so effortless seemed to generate many more fans.

Zeno smiled brightly and offered his hand again.

“Watch your step. There are four steps ahead.”

Zeno’s heart raced as he escorted Viola.

“Today, you’ve made history again.”

Zeno believed today’s event was incredibly significant.

He acted with precise understanding of Lady Selina’s thoughts.

No one had managed to read Lady Selina’s heart.

Yet, Viola was different.

Thinking it a little strange that she would act so differently from other nobles, she realized there was a grand intention buried within.

“Princess Viola was different.”

It seemed as if she had shown everything one could show as a White Bellatu.

Zeno’s heart swelled with rich satisfaction.

“I’m proud of you, Princess.”

*

Tundra wiped the blood from his sword.

At that moment, a man rushed in from behind.

“Die!”

He wielded a pair of hand axes.

He swung the axes with the intent to split Tundra’s head open.

“I’m going to kill you!”

He had been lurking, waiting for the right moment.

Now was the chance to take revenge for the family he had lived with like kin.

“Hmm?”

But something was off.

Suddenly, his hands felt light.

Thud!

The axe fell to the ground.

To be precise, the hand holding the axe was chopped off completely.

The man didn’t even feel the pain.

He simply stood there in a daze.

“W-what is that?”

It was the first time he had seen mana manifesting in a form.

He thought only advanced knights could do that.

For mere mortals, it was an unreachable domain.

Yet, the shape looked a bit bizarre.

“A tail?”

A tail… attacked me?

The manifestation of mana was nothing short of mystical, but the fact it took the shape of a tail was quite puzzling.

“Right. If you had just left when I spoke nicely, it wouldn’t have come to this.”

Finally, the bandit screamed in pain.

“Graaah!”

Tundra didn’t kill the bandits.

He gathered them together.

The bandits sat on their knees, paralyzed by fear, utterly unable to move.

Tundra tossed aside a map.

“We’ll move along this line.

In the meantime, spread rumors to ensure no troublesome actions occur.”

“W-why are you going this far?!”

The bandit’s deputy cried out, tears streaming down his face.

One of his ears was missing.

“Why, you ask?”

Viola had obtained a treasure.

He figured there’d be bandits that would surely cause trouble.

Even if not treasure, there were bound to be fools who would attack without recognizing the Bellatu family.

“My lord loves elegance.”

He dreaded any troubles that could arise for Viola.

So, he decided to attack and wipe out the largest bandit group around.

Tundra’s eyes shone brightly.

An ominous aura swirled around him.

To the bandits, it seemed like this.

“There shouldn’t be pests like you along her intended path.”

After fiercely warning the bandits, Tundra sought the nearest waterfall.

It was a large waterfall, fierce enough that the water cascaded down savagely.

“I imagine she’d hate the smell of blood?”

He washed himself for four hours under the waterfall.

He had no desire to smell of anything Viola didn’t like.

And then he washed himself once more with the spirit water that Pongpong had splattered everywhere while crying.

“Sniff sniff.”

He took a whiff.

The scent of blood was all cleaned off.

“Great.”

The fearsome glint in his eyes had disappeared.

It was time to go meet his master.

In front of bandits, he was a hunting dog, but before Viola, he was a pet dog.

“Let’s go see my lord.”

He walked slowly.

His strides were stable, carrying the aura of a well-trained martial artist.

One could sense the atmosphere of a proper knight’s aura.

However, behind him, a tail made of mana swayed gently.

*

Realizing she had made a colossal mistake, Viola returned to her lodging with a troubled heart.

She had certainly left a big imprint in the social circle, but it had spawned far too many fans.

Hela kicked and burst into laughter.

“I knew it. Your behavior was odd.”

Viola revealed the jewelry box.

“Here, this is for you, sister.”

“Can I take it? This is a ridiculously expensive treasure.”

“That’s precisely why I’m giving it to you. Because it’s expensive.”

Hela tilted her head in confusion.

“It’s expensive, so why would you give it to me?”

“Sister. Long, long ago, there was a magical piggy bank.”

“Suddenly?”

“Listen! If you put 100 dalars in the magical piggy bank, it would become 200 dalars the next day.”

Hela kicked again and burst into laughter.

“So I’m the magical piggy bank?”

“Yeah. You’d use this Blue Diamond far more valuably than I would.”

Today’s 100 dalars would turn into tomorrow’s 200 dalars.

Today’s one Blue Diamond would become two Blue Diamonds tomorrow.

Hela would surely do that.

Hela nodded.

“It sounds like you’re suggesting I accompany you.”

Viola flopped down on the bed.

Today was too tiring.

I felt like I had made far too many enemies and was completely drained.

“I’m so sleepy.”

Viola didn’t hear.

She didn’t hear Hela’s muttered words, “I’m glad I can accompany your grand dreams.”

How much time had passed?

Viola awoke thanks to the commotion echoing from outside.

“Sister?”

Hela was not beside her.

Viola was alone in the room.

“What on earth is all this noise?”

She walked over to the window and looked down.

People were gathered in groups, watching something.

“Huh? W-what’s that?”

An absurd situation was unfolding.