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Ersa stood at the door, taking in the sight of Viola’s back and Hela’s figure at the same time.

Hela was sitting at her desk, examining a pile of documents, while Viola was gracefully walking towards her.

‘Time flies, doesn’t it?’

Hela had now turned 14 years old.

She had become more meticulous and a tad colder.

Ersa felt a pang of sadness about that, but she thought it was an unavoidable part of growing up as the White Bellatu and continued to look after Hela.

‘At least she smiles more when she’s with Princess Viola.’

There weren’t many people who could make Hela smile.

Among them, Viola was one.

So, whenever Viola came to visit, Ersa felt her heart warm.

“Big sister, I have a favor to ask,” said Viola.

“What is it?”

Hela lifted her gaze from the pile of documents and looked up at Viola.

She said it was a favor.

That was something Viola usually didn’t say.

Typically, she made suggestions or negotiated when she needed something, rather than asking for a favor.

“Do you remember the story about the piggy bank I talked about before?”

“I remember. The one where you put in one and it comes out as two?”

That was when she had entrusted Hela with the Blue Diamond.

“I want to get back the diamond I entrusted before, but with something of greater value.”

Hela quietly placed the quill she was holding down.

She locked eyes with Viola.

“What kind of favor is that supposed to mean?”

Viola’s gaze sharpened.

Hela felt a calm yet piercing energy, not as creepy as Bichen grinning with a sword, but more serene and sharp.

Hela liked Viola, but she strictly distinguished between work and personal feelings.

She didn’t do anything that felt like a pointless act of kindness.

Viola replied, “I need to visit someone and show my respect.”

“Why ask me for a favor when you’re the one showing respect?”

“Because I need something you have.”

A year ago, Hela had split the Blue Diamond given to her by Viola and sold it to various workshops.

Then she used the proceeds to purchase Pink Diamonds in bulk.

At that time, Blue Diamonds were over three times more expensive than Pink Diamonds, and Hela had used her skills to get a lot of Pink Diamonds.

While Blue Diamonds were far rarer and more expensive a year ago, that had now reversed.

With the discovery of a mine full of Blue Diamonds on the Eastern Continent, their price had dropped, and the trend of Pink Diamonds among young noblewomen had surged, causing their value to skyrocket.

Of course, it was Hela who had invited designers from all over the world to make Pink Diamonds the trend.

“Something you need?”

“Yeah. I know that the finest Pink Diamonds were traditionally given as gifts to comfort and show respect to someone.”

“That’s right. So?”

“You already have the finest Pink Diamond, and I want to receive it from you.”

“You’re not asking to buy it; you want it for free?”

Hela was a merchant.

No matter how much she loved her sister, asking for a Pink Diamond without any reasonable cause was unacceptable.

However, she didn’t get angry.

Viola must have had some thoughts behind it.

Hela trusted Viola and remained patient, waiting.

“It has to be something that you can’t buy with money.”

The most resplendent Pink Diamonds were all handled by the Terra Consortium.

Those diamonds were mined from the Pershak mine near the Barbarian Canyon, where Terra had a exclusive contract.

“So I can show my true feelings.”

“What do you think you can pay with if it can’t be bought with money?”

Hela narrowed her eyes.

What could one offer if not money?

“Your future.”

In that moment, Viola gripped her toes tightly.

She barely managed to hold back the urge to curl up and spoke seriously.

Hela liked such talk.

“I’ll buy it by giving you my future.”

Hela burst into laughter.

“If someone else had said that, I would have laughed my head off.”

“Sounds like you’re still laughing now.”

“Not like that.”

Hela laughed for a long while.

She liked this aspect of Viola.

“Fine. I’ll give away the Pink Diamond.

After all, it was bought with the Blue Diamond you gave me.”

Hela’s laughter grew deeper.

“I actually had something prepared as a gift for you.”

Viola tilted her head.

“For me?”

Such a plot twist wasn’t in the original novel.

In the story, the Terra consortium wasn’t the one dealing with Pink Diamonds.

“Interestingly enough, I was dreaming the same dream as you.”

Hela took out a small note from her desk drawer.

It was a note written in Hela’s handwriting.

[I want to sell my future.]

Coincidentally, Hela had prepared a birthday gift for Viola in advance.

She had intended to present it along with the finest Pink Diamond.

“What I want is to share breath with your grand dream; that’s my dream. I thought you would buy my dream at a high price.”

From the back, Ersa looked at the two princesses with a warmer smile than before.

A bright smile also graced Zeno’s lips.

‘Everyone… is smiling.’

I was the only one who couldn’t smile.

A chill shot down Viola’s spine.

*

Viola headed towards the Seaal Viscountdom accompanied by Zeno and Tundra.

As usual, there weren’t many servants around.

Zeno had offered himself as the coachman, and Tundra acted as Viola’s attendant.

It was an overly simple and humble arrangement for a journey of a duke’s daughter.

Because of that, there was a small incident where a knight from the Seaal Viscountdom failed to recognize the duke’s carriage and tried to stop it, but thanks to the Seaal Viscount coming out personally to greet them, there was no major problem.

The Seaal Viscount, standing in front of the carriage, felt something strange.

‘There’s not a single insignia of the duke on the carriage.

The Bellatu Duke House isn’t a family known for luxury but neither are they a frugal one.

While they don’t decorate their carriage with jewels, they always use the finest materials.

Yet this carriage is not like that.

’It looks old and shabby.’

It was a carriage that one wouldn’t expect a duke’s daughter to ride in.

It looked more like something a fallen noble’s daughter would barely scrape together to go around in.

Finally, the carriage door opened.

“Thank you for coming such a long way.”

The Seaal Viscount extended his hand to Viola, whom he could consider his benefactor.

Viola gently took his hand and stepped down from the carriage.

She wore white cotton gloves on her hands.

‘What’s with the outfit?’

She was wearing a bright white dress.

It was an outfit unsuitable for a long journey.

This plain white dress had no craft or detail included; it was simply pure white.

Viola’s face bore no makeup.

Considering that noble young ladies always wear makeup when going out, this was quite unusual.

“Seaal Viscount, it’s been a while.”

Viola grabbed the hem of her dress and bowed, and the Seaal Viscount placed his right hand on his chest and bowed back.

“I have something to discuss with you. Would you guide me?”

“Of course. I’ll escort you in my carriage.”

The Seaal Viscount escorted Viola into the carriage.

Inside the carriage, Viola didn’t say a word, and an awkward silence lingered between them.

It was only when they arrived at the Viscount’s reception room that Viola finally spoke up.

“I’ve come here to comfort you and express my gratitude.”

As Viola raised her palm, Zeno stepped forward and placed a jewelry box on her hand.

“I made you face a truth that you might not want to know.”

The affair of the viscountess.

The son’s addiction to black magic.

The child of another man.

She made him face those things that he had known but had been ignoring.

“No, your highness’s actions were right.”

“Still, it’s true it hurt my heart.”

It was evident that human sympathy was felt for the viscount.

The Seaal Viscount could be said to be the most pitiful supporting character in this story.

“If it were me, I may have collapsed.”

Seaal did not believe that.

The Iron-Blooded Princess Viola wouldn’t crumble.

But he could sense Viola’s sincerity.

‘She isn’t mocking me.’

She genuinely empathized and comforted him about his misfortunes.

Unable to reject that sincerity, he meticulously accepted the jewelry box.

Inside was a Pink Diamond.

The viscount knew.

It was a high-end Pink Diamond that couldn’t be bought with just money.

“As you know, this is something that cannot be obtained with money. I prepared this for today, and I want to gift it to you with my respect and gratitude.”

Only then did Seaal realize.

The old carriage. The pure white dress with no design, the face without a touch of makeup.

All of it had meaning.

It meant empathizing with the deep pain the Seaal Viscount carried, expressing that she was here as Viola, not as a duke’s daughter.

“Your lord’s love was beautiful.

I don’t know if it was right, but I respect you.”

“……”

Seaal was at a loss for words.

Every single word from that young princess was impactful.

“That’s why, as a guardian, I intend to take the child.”

The child was Serfon and the Viscountess’s son.

Each time the Seaal Viscount saw the child, he would have to remember the affair of the viscountess, and every time would bring him pain.

‘Since it’s my mess, I have to take responsibility.’

He was moving to prevent the birth of Archmage Vengas, but he felt sorry for the Seaal Viscount.

He had done something he shouldn’t have to the Seaal Viscount.

“The Viscountess has agreed as well.”

She had communicated with her via letters.

But she had come to Seaal in person, looking him in the eye and speaking to him.

The attitude towards the cheating viscountess and the one who showed noble and sincere love, the Seaal Viscount, couldn’t have been the same.

“…I need time to think, your highness.”

The Seaal Viscount took the Pink Diamond and fell deep into thought for a long time.

There were times he despised the viscountess and the child in her womb.

But he always promised and promised again.

Still, since it’s the child of the woman I love, I must embrace it in my heart.

That child is also my child.

He had tried hard to think that way.

But that wasn’t as easy as it sounds, and he was lamenting.

For now, he returned the jewelry box and said, “Can you give me a few days… time?”

“Take your time to think it through.”

Viola didn’t impose her own thoughts or judgments.

It was her way of showing respect to the viscount.

Days later.

The Seaal Viscount reached a conclusion.