I’ve been overly good at playing the role of the adopted daughter, and Viola has been thinking about it for a long time.

I’m aiming to grow into a White Bellatu, but I should at least have some minimum level of strength, right?

However, that’s not as easy as it sounds.

If you can’t handle a genius-level body properly, it can become a huge minus on its own.

‘Viola is the protagonist, and she has innate physical talent.’

But if such outstanding talent isn’t utilized properly?

In that case, it might be better not to learn martial arts at all.

Because not being able to do it from not learning is a lot different than being able to do it but failing.

So, I purposely didn’t learn the Bellatu swordsmanship.

Even though Bellatu swordsmanship is hailed as the strongest on the continent, it is also a sword style that all family members practice.

If I rashly learned Bellatu swordsmanship now, I would clearly expose a lot of weaknesses.

‘I’ve been rolling like a dog to build this reputation; I can’t let it go to waste.’

People generally assessed Viola like this.

She has more than enough qualifications as a Black Bellatu, yet she chose to become a princess of the White Bellatu for her own ambition.

As such, even if Viola wanted to learn Bellatu swordsmanship, she couldn’t.

‘In that sense, the martial arts from the Eastern Continent suit me perfectly.’

The main stage of [Shadow of the Bellatu] is the Central Continent governed by the Monarch Empire.

People from the Eastern Continent don’t often show up.

However, they had their own quirks.

For example, there’s the comedic character, Sheilan.

Sheilan practiced a martial art called ‘Grass Sword,’ using grass to fight her opponents.

‘It’s good if there’s grass around, but if not, I can create it artificially.’

Using Mana to create it, or carrying grass in her pockets.

‘The fact that I don’t have to stab myself directly and the fact that it specializes in sneak attacks! And it’s a sword style that’s unfamiliar to the people of Bellatu!’

It was actually ambiguous to call this ‘swordsmanship,’ but since Sheilan herself claimed it was swordsmanship, we decided to call it swordsmanship…… According to the author’s setting.

‘If I ever learn swordsmanship, I’ll learn the Eastern Continent’s style, ideally one that lets me avoid stabbing directly.’

That was already two years ago.

And today, I met the assassin from the Eastern Continent, Sheilan.

*

“I’ll bite the nape of your neck and cut off your breath if you command it, my lord.”

Viola replied.

“No, that’s fine.”

Viola stepped closer to Sheilan.

Her hands and feet were all tied, yet Sheilan’s spirit was undaunted.

“Don’t insult me; just kill me!”

Viola crouched down.

She then poked Sheilan’s neck repeatedly.

“Stab here, and you’ll die within three seconds.”

Viola grinned.

She knew very well the kind of atmosphere that seeped out when she smiled like this.

To Sheilan, she must have looked like the harbinger of death.

“But you dared to attack Bellatu, huh?

I suppose a comfortable death wouldn’t do?”

Viola’s smile didn’t fade.

Of course, she was deliberately putting effort into it.

‘Ugh. I’m gonna spasm.’

It was torture to force a smile when she wasn’t laughing or happy.

‘Still, the creepy and ominous murderous aura is definitely radiating from me.’

Viola knew one very important fact.

Though Sheilan, the assassin from the Eastern Continent, had appeared quite serious, she ultimately turned out to be a comedic character.

The biggest characteristic was that she was a coward.

Even though she was an assassin, being fearful caused a lot of trouble, and she fell to being the most pathetic assassin compared to her abilities.

In fact, her abilities were excellent, but she became the butt of the joke due to the author hastily changing her setting, which led to her tragic role as a supporting character.

‘Anyway, she’s the biggest coward among assassins.’

Viola’s finger brushed over Sheilan’s nape.

“How would you like to die?”

Sheilan’s body flinched.

She could feel the goosebumps rising on her neck.

Her gaze softened significantly.

“Just killing you seems boring; how about tossing you to the man-eating monsters instead?”

Viola turned around.

“Zeno. Is there a colony of man-eating monsters nearby? Preferably insects.”

“There may be. If you command, I’ll find them within two days.”

“It’d be amusing to watch you getting eaten alive.”

Ughhh!

Viola wanted to scream internally.

Even with five years of possessing magical resistance, saying this was still difficult.

But there was someone who wanted to scream even more than Viola.

“P-please spare me.”

She was so scared that her pronunciation faltered.

Hela burst out laughing.

Not “save me” but “spare me.”

“Too shabby for an Eastern Continent assassin, don’t you think?”

Many skilled assassins hailed from the Eastern Continent.

They wielded a vast array of mysterious powers, and counting those who died at their hands would easily exceed ten fingers.

But to see an assassin from the Eastern Continent like this…

Hela then asked.

“Brother, is this your first time?”

Sheilan nodded vigorously.

For some reason, she thought that if she confessed it was her first time, she might be forgiven.

In fact, she was too frightened to make rational judgments.

Especially that girl with the purple hair scared her the most.

The girl with the shining eyes looked like a blood-crazed witch.

“It’s my first time, Viola. Who the hell sent an assassin this sloppy to attack Bellatu?”

“I told you earlier, didn’t I?”

“Did I say that?”

“Yeah, you said Mariantu.”

Sheilan’s eyes widened significantly.

As if she were passionately acknowledging that was true.

“See? Told you.”

Only then did Sheilan realize her blunder and shook her head.

But it was already too late.

“I-I never said that! I didn’t reveal anything!”

“You definitely said it just now!”

“No, I didn’t!”

“You did.”

As Viola spoke with certainty, Sheilan’s eyes began to waver.

Did… did I really say that? She was confused.

Viola couldn’t help but smile again.

[Shadow of the Bellatu]’s weakest two in terms of verbal sparring.

One was Bichen, and the other was Sheilan.

Both were absolutely pathetic in verbal arguments.

At least Bichen had the Bellatu buff; Sheilan was the comedic character always getting beaten with words.

“I saw earlier that your ability itself was quite remarkable.

Enough that Zeno had to reattach his finger.”

It seemed easy to subdue her, but Zeno didn’t have it so easy either.

It was only possible because Ersa and Tundra were flanking her.

“So Mariantu hired her just based on her abilities.”

“You’re saying they observed her martial prowess but not her human qualities?”

“Yep. If a seasoned guy like Duke Mariantu had been around, he wouldn’t make such a blunder.”

“Then….”

“It must be Princess Sena.”

Viola lifted Sheilan’s chin with two fingers.

“It’s Sena, right?”

“I-I don’t know!”

“If you tell the truth, I’ll spare you.”

In that instant, a glimmer of hope shone in Sheilan’s eyes.

“Y-you’ll truly spare me?”

An assassin like me?

No way, but I want to believe it.

She was terrified of death.

Moreover, that witch seemed like she would kill her in the most agonizing way possible.

“It is Sena, isn’t it?”

“I got a commission through a courier.”

“You must have tailed that courier.”

It was clear that she had secretly confirmed the client.

Goosebumps ran down Sheilan’s entire body.

This witch had to be a genuine witch.

“Fine. So there was an elaborate carriage pulled by two white horses, and a young noblewoman draped in glittering jewels, right? With brown hair and relatively fair skin.

She had quite large eyes with a slightly fierce impression. And most importantly, she’d have at least five fancy rings on her fingers.

Am I right?”

Viola drew a dagger from her thigh.

“This is your last chance. If you lie, I’m cutting out your tongue.”

“Uhuhuh!”

Tears welled up in Sheilan’s eyes.

Seeing that fierce threat made her extremely frightened.

‘I don’t know!’

Forget the qualities of an assassin.

I’m scared to death.

“Yeah, you’re right. You’re totally right……”

She sniffled and raised her voice.

“Right, yes.”

*

Hixson opened the door to Duke Heron’s office.

Heron was rummaging through a pile of documents.

Without even glancing at Hixson, he asked.

“Knock?”

“Why bother knocking when you already knew I was coming?”

Hixson plopped down on the sofa.

“Hey, Heron.”

If Carlton had seen this, he would have been like, “Please, Sir Hixson. Could you show some manners!” but Carlton wasn’t here.

And Heron didn’t particularly mind Hixson’s irreverent attitude.

“Why did you give a speech at Forget-Me-Not?”

“Do I need a reason?”

Heron set down his quill.

He looked at Hixson, and Hixson didn’t shy away from his gaze.

“Since you couldn’t escort, you thought you’d settle for a speech instead?”

“I don’t quite grasp what you’re saying.”

Hixson was convinced.

Heron offered a speech because of Viola.

“And tell the truth.”

“What about?”

“You mentioned Viola there, didn’t you?”

Heron shifted his gaze back to the documents.

“Yeah, I did.”

“You could have just said her name; why make it so complicated?”

Hixson sighed.

“Just call her ‘my youngest daughter’ as usual. Why complicate something simple?”

“Hixson, the only reason I’ve spared you is that we are friends.”

Hixson flinched.

“I hope you don’t cross the line.”

Even in that moment of hesitation, Heron grew stronger.

He’d been fighting and winning against the monsters attacking from the shining place daily.

“Got it, got it. I’m gonna end up getting you killed.”

Hixson scratched the back of his head and stood up.

It would be a lie to say he wasn’t afraid of Heron now.

Though he was much kinder than people thought (?), Heron was a cold-blooded killer who would mercilessly cut off the other’s neck the moment they crossed a certain line.

That target could very well be Hixson.

But he still managed to say what he needed to.

“Define your position. Are you going to be a good father?”

Just like me.

In Heron’s ears, the phrase “just like me” sounded missing and he felt a bit peeved.

“Or will you remain Duke of Bellatu? Because being wishy-washy will only confuse Viola.”

Viola is, in fact, sweet and gentle.

She’s a cute girl who complains about wanting to hold hands!

No one would believe it, though.

Having said that, Hixson left the room.

Meanwhile, at the same time.

Viola, with sparkling eyes filled with life, casually said.

“Shall we make a deal? Of course, the choice is either one of two.”

“What, what is it?”

“Will you end up as the prey of fire ants and meet a pitiful end, or will you accept my proposal?”

Of course, she didn’t reveal what the proposal was.