I played the role of the adopted daughter a bit too well. Chapter 128. In Carlo’s hand was a pink diamond emitting a resplendent glow.

Such a pure pink diamond, radiating that level of brilliance, was exceedingly rare, and one of that size was even rarer.

Literally top-notch.

Viola had seen that top-notch pink diamond before.

‘That was the one given to Viscount Seaal.’

It was the pink diamond given as a symbol of respect and consolation to Seaal.

‘Why is it here?’

Viola had no difficulty deducing the situation.

The true noble among nobles, Seaal, seemed not to have used the pink diamond for selfish reasons.

After pondering how to use this pink diamond valueably, it appeared he sent it to Chief Designer Carlo.

‘It seems… he thought it was a path for me.’

Viola’s guess was accurate.

Seaal felt greatly comforted by Viola and felt he had faced a giant.

He was sincerely thankful for meeting Viola.

So he intended to use this pink diamond for Viola.

Hearing that Chief Designer Carlo was looking for a pink diamond, Viscount Seaal personally visited the Viscountcy of Parah to hand over the pink diamond.

‘This is a gift for Princess Viola.’

Though it wasn’t really a gift from Viola, he purposely framed it that way.

Thus, Carlo believed wholeheartedly that this pink diamond was a present from Viola.

“Teardrops of Illua, what a debt I must repay…!”

Viola was once again flabbergasted.

Teardrops of Illua.

It was an immense gem that appeared several times in the novel.

These Teardrops of Illua were said to have been granted to a knight whom the first Emperor of the Corel Empire of the Eastern Continent held dear.

‘The knight’s name was Illua. The strongest martial artist of the time and the Emperor’s lover.’

Illua infiltrated the enemy lines alone for the Emperor and ultimately saved him.

In the process, Illua lost the pink diamond given by the Emperor and was devastated.

She could not recover from the injuries she sustained on the battlefield and eventually died in the Emperor’s embrace.

‘The Emperor wept deeply for three days and nights… and henceforth, it was called the Teardrops of Illua.’

The Teardrops of Illua were acquired by the enemy general Bladokte and later presented to the Emperor of the Petto Empire.

It symbolized that the strongest martial artist, Illua, had been killed and was designated as a treasure of the Empire, managed for hundreds of years.

Later, as the Petto Empire fell, the ‘Teardrops of Illua’ came into the hands of the first Master of the Magic Tower, Cabruel, who then lost it to the first Duke Brandia.

After that, the ‘Teardrops of Illua’ passed through the hands of several Absolutes before eventually vanishing.

“This Teardrops of Illua contains history and records. I cannot cease my admiration for the deep heart of the Princess who bestowed this.”

The Teardrops of Illua was also a remarkably special gem.

It absorbed a small amount of the owner’s mana and recorded it in the mineral itself, allowing exceptionally talented magicians to review the mineral’s records.

Moreover, it was said they could feel the small amount of mana infused in the diamond.

This was the realm of the mysterious.

“I shall honor the Princess’s heart and rewrite the history of Louis Varten. Definitely.”

I never said that.

Viola couldn’t voice it.

At this point, saying it wasn’t her gift would only make her look ridiculous.

Just then, Kaiser opened his eyes.

“Hey. Who the heck are you?”

He had a long beard.

His head was balding.

An old man.

“Just a bad magician, huh?”

He concluded it logically or rather illogically, from his excessively narrow-minded way of thinking, that he was facing a “pursuing magician.”

He lifted his mace.

A child. No, if you mess with kind Viola, you’re gonna get it!

He glared with fierce eyes.

“Uncle, please. Think about it for a moment.”

“Why? Why are you angry?”

“Didn’t you hear the conversation?”

“I didn’t hear.”

Those ears and brain were truly astonishing.

He selectively heard only what he wanted to and let slip away what he didn’t.

“Anyway, I’m not the enemy. Please keep still and don’t keep throwing pancake bombs at me.”

Kaiser turned sullen.

*

Carlo pulled out a wooden token from his pocket.

“This is a wooden token made from lightning-struck zelkova. Sirson carved the name here with his own mana.”

With this token, one could access the Magic Tower up to ten times.

“Moreover, you can meet Master Sirson up to three times.”

“Wow, what a ridiculously overpriced guy.”

Kaiser rubbed his ears.

No matter how he thought about it, he couldn’t stand the magicians.

“I have already met Sirson once, and with two opportunities left, I wish to give this to the Princess.”

“Thank you.”

Viola did not decline Carlo’s kindness.

Though Carlo’s sparkling gaze was somehow quite burdensome.

“I will accompany you into the Magic Tower. Is that all right?”

“Sounds good.”

Kaiser didn’t seem keen on entering the Magic Tower.

Still, he accompanied her to the boundaries of the Magic Tower.

“I want to verify safety with my own eyes.”

If those Magic Tower guys bully Viola again, I won’t let it slide.

He vowed silently.

Crazy magic weapons or whatever; he thought he would smash them all, but there was no attack from the Magic Tower.

Thanks to ‘Sirson’s wooden token.’

Though it was called the ‘tower,’ the Magic Tower was a vast domain.

Like any castle, there was a castle gate, and as Viola approached, the gate opened automatically.

As the gate opened, Kaiser seemed relieved finally.

“If any bad guys harass you, call me.”

“Got it. Thanks.”

Kaiser was slightly surprised.

He had been gloomy and fuming about everything.

But now he suddenly received thanks.

For no reason at all, he felt a bit moved.

“You’re not angry?”

“Why should I be angry?”

“You were angry the whole time!”

“I was angry because the uncle’s way was wrong!”

“I don’t know what the right way is!”

He had lived that way all his life and would continue to do so.

Kaiser in the world created by the author was that kind of character.

“Still, I’m grateful.”

Kaiser’s eyes widened.

His earlobes were as thick and large as his massive body and turned bright red.

“I hope your beautiful heart doesn’t change.”

I hope your love for animals and children remains the same.

It was sincere.

“And come visit Winter Castle later.”

“Really?”

Hearing those words, Kaiser felt he genuinely made a friend in Viola.

“Am I really coming over?”

“Yep. There’s a friend there who understands you well.”

“Who is it?”

“There is. Cat-mom.”

Kaiser waved his hand from a distance.

It looked like a massive tree waving its branches.

Kaiser waved until the castle gate was completely shut, and Viola was no longer visible.

As Viola entered the Magic Tower, Kaiser took out the contract from his pocket and tore it up.

“What kind of insane idiot would request to kill such a child?”

Kaiser never intended to fulfill the contract in the first place.

Children deserve protection and are beings that should never be killed.

However, it was obvious that if he refused this offer, someone else would take this contract, so he accepted it intentionally.

“Hey. You lurking from afar.”

Kaiser precisely looked in Carlton’s direction.

Even without discerning Carlton’s identity, he roughly pinpointed his location.

“Are you one of Bellatu’s people? Go and clearly convey this: if you ever request again to kill Viola, I’ll smash Winter Castle to bits.”

And he muttered.

“The King of Mercenaries never betrays his friends, understand?”

As he spoke, he became furious by himself.

To ask for that child to be killed.

It had been a long time since he encountered such a horrible request.

“How could you kill such a small, precious child?”

*

Carlton, being the capable chief butler, inferred everything.

To put it simply, Kaiser being there was no coincidence.

Someone from Bellatu had commissioned it.

‘I, the chief butler, failed to notice that.’

Besides, only the Duke and the two noble ladies could move the King of Mercenaries.

It wouldn’t have been the Duke.

One noble lady had been missing for a long time, so the remaining person must have been Duchess Isabella.

‘Knowing the King of Mercenaries’ beliefs…

They would have had faith that he wouldn’t kill Viola.’

What Isabella wanted was not for the King of Mercenaries to kill Viola, but for him to fight against the Magic Tower to protect her.

‘Without Chief Designer Carlo, Viola would have faced a very uncomfortable situation from many angles.’

If time continued like this, Viola and the Magic Tower would have been at odds.

If they couldn’t improve their uncomfortable relationship with the Magic Tower, her reputation as White Bellatu would surely suffer.

Carlton drafted a letter to the Duke.

[Yet, Viola has succeeded in winning over the King of Mercenaries.

Outwardly, they have become friends, and the King of Mercenaries has promised to visit Winter Castle.

It’s very rare for someone who values loyalty like the King of Mercenaries to make a promise.

Based on that, Princess Viola’s military diplomacy can only be described as truly remarkable.]

Meanwhile, the Duke, upon receiving the letter, felt inexplicably displeased.

Even though the letter contained only praise, he still felt that way.

His eyes settled on the last line of the letter.

[The King of Mercenaries vanished with a mumbled line that made no sense.

‘How could you kill such a small, precious child?’ he said, and the meaning needs deciphering.]

Viola entered the Magic Tower.

A vast plaza came into view, showcasing a well-planned city.

…Wow.

Without realizing it, Viola let out an exclamation.

The artificial sun floating above was warm, and a pleasant breeze wafted gently.

This was a space where temperature and humidity were perfectly managed.

The people of the Magic Tower could live without working.

The magicians of the Magic Tower could focus solely on researching magic, having all other jobs excluded.

For the magicians, this place was a paradise on earth.

‘That’s the 6th Magic Tower.

The reason this massive city is called ‘Magic Tower’ is precisely because of the spire built in the center of the city.

People began referring to the city with that spire simply as ‘Magic Tower.’

Viola’s destination was that place.

“If you follow this path straight, there will be short-distance warp gates. If you follow the guides’ instructions to warp, you should be able to arrive at the Magic Tower.”

Chief Designer Carlo was breaking out in hives.

Such symptoms existed, indeed.

Once you entered the Magic Tower, your skin seemed to turn inside out.

This condition was called ‘Tower Hives.’

Initially just an itching sensation, but if left untreated, it would rot the skin.

“Chief Designer Carlo, you should go back. I owe you quite a bit.”

“Owe? I only returned a favor. I’m sorry I can’t accompany you for the rest of your journey, Princess.”

Carlo still meant it sincerely.

Teardrops of Illua.

“If possible, I would like to wipe your feet… Ahem!”

I accidentally let slip my innermost thoughts.

“What?”

“I will kiss your feet.”

He bowled down with respect and gratitude.

Viola wanted to kick Carlo but refrained from doing so.

“Oh, I hate this!”

It was the culture of this world, but it was still hard to accept.

In any case, Carlo expressed his respect and gratitude to Viola before leaving the Magic Tower.

Zeno’s lips bore a smile as always.

‘You’ve surely won over the hearts of the King of Mercenaries and Chief Designer Carlo as well.’

Viola said.

“Let’s go.”

Now she had to find Elcina.

“Where shall I guide you?”

Hmm? You’re guiding me?

Viola doubted her ears for a moment.

“Do you actually know the way?”

“Yes, I know the 6th Magic Tower relatively well, compared to the others.”

That meant he knew the routes to the other Magic Towers as well.

It was odd.

In the novel, Zeno didn’t know the roads of the Magic Tower.

‘Did the setting change?’