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And the fact that the possessed individual has a very close wealthy older sister. She has been playing the role of an adopted daughter a bit too well. Chapter 139

On the white cloth supported by Zeno, there were three stones gleaming with a splendid light.

At first sight, Elcina could tell.

‘That black glimmer undoubtedly comes from a magic stone originating from the Apocalypse Ghost.

The Apocalypse Ghost is a type of monster that reveals itself when disaster and famine strike, taking the form of a ghostly knight.

It’s classified as a Great Monster and can only be hunted by skillful individuals of A-rank Knight or higher.

The price for each is approximately 100 million Dallia.

‘That yellow stone must be from a Armadillon… No, judging by its size, it’s definitely from a Giant Armadillon.’

When it exceeds 20 meters in size, it’s classified as a Giant Monster. Among them, the ‘Giant Armadillon’ is a beast-shaped monster covered in a hard shell, and it is on the smaller side of the giant monsters, around a size just over 20 meters.

One of these, one alone, was weaker than the ‘Apocalypse Ghost.’

However, the ‘Giant Armadillon’ always lived in packs, and could only be killed using fire-based magic, making the hunting difficulty much higher. The market price is 150 million Dallia each.

And one more. Elcina gulped.

‘Silver. A mysteriously colored magic stone…’

There was a creature known as ‘Moon Fox’ famous for its beautiful silver fur and mystical appearance, also referred to as a divine beast. In ancient times, people revered the ‘Moon Fox’ and performed rituals or offered humans as sacrifices.

However, by modern times, the ‘Moon Fox’ was classified simply as a man-eating monster with only shiny fur. The Moon Fox is skilled in mental magic, capable of enchanting people and devouring their livers and hearts.

‘It’s said to be extremely difficult to hunt due to its quick reflexes and stealthy movements.’

Even Elcina had never seen a Moon Fox in person. That’s how rare it was, only mentioned in the Monster Encyclopedia.

‘If I could obtain the magic stone from hunting the Moon Fox… no matter how little, it would fetch at least 300 million Dallia.’

So the highly valuable magic stones held in Zeno’s hands amounted to almost 600 million Dallia. “H-how does Princess Viola have those…!”

“I told you to trust me.”

Elcina looked at Viola, speechless. What on earth does that young girl know? How high up does her understanding go?

“How about accompanying me?”

“Y-yeah…”

Elcina was stunned. It was hard to believe this situation. “You mean you want to give this to me?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Please be a good guardian for Benato.”

“With those three magic stones, you could find a far better guardian than me.”

“It has to be you, Lady Elcina.”

“Why…?”

“Because I’ve never seen an adult as wonderful as you.”

Those words made Elcina feel a surge of emotion. No one at the Magic Tower had ever needed her like this.

Master of the Magic Tower, Sirson, used to say repetitively.

‘Someone like you shouldn’t have been bought. Ungrateful thing!’

Elcina was sold as a child. Sirson brought her over by paying for three calves and educated her in magic.

Elcina was a genius who absorbed Sirson’s teachings like a sponge.

As time passed, Elcina was praised as a genius, while Sirson was recognized as the commendable teacher who had nurtured her.

However, at some point, Elcina had sealed her own mana. ‘It would have been better if someone like you had never been born.’

From that time on, Sirson treated Elcina with scorn.

He would have loved to kill her, but there were too many eyes watching.

She was rejected by the mages of the tower and turned away by the beggars of the tower.

From the moment she decided to help the beggars, she was always alone.

Many mages, including Sirson, despised Elcina, and she had grown accustomed to those disdainful gazes.

But Viola regarded her with respect instead of contempt. “You know that I’ve been adopted, right?”

“……Yes, I heard.”

“I was abandoned by my parents.”

Elcina felt a deep sense of empathy. She had also been sold for three calves.

“I needed a guardian.

Someone who could hold my hand, an adult I desperately wished for.” “From what I’ve seen, Lady Elcina is an adult.”

Elcina’s belief was correct. She wanted to use the power she possessed more beautifully and warmly.

“Your belief was right. I respect those who have such a belief.

“…Thank you.”

“You’re a warm adult. I believed you could be the most wonderful mother.”

As Viola calmly spoke, something within Elcina began to stir. All the sorrow she had accumulated over the past ten years felt like it might explode.

“So please accept my gift…”

Viola hesitated, another better line coming to her mind.

‘It’s a bit embarrassing though.’

But for characters like this, this line is spot on. Viola changed her words slightly.

“I will grant you the future of Lady Elcina with these worthless things.”

Elcina accepted the three magic stones.

*

Viola sat at the table.

As usual, Zeno had brought her strawberry ade made from spirit ice.

Zeno’s strawberry ade had progressed to a point where it was almost addictively drug-like in taste.

Viola slurped the straw.

Seeing that, Zeno smiled as always. Feeling Zeno’s gaze, Viola flinched.

‘Did I look too pig-like?’ She felt embarrassed but didn’t show it.

“Why are you smiling like that?”

“Because it makes me happy.”

Through his narrowed eyes, Zeno’s pupils were visible. His expression was endlessly warm but still seemed mischievous.

Suddenly feeling happy was baffling to Viola.

‘Did he bring some tremendous mission?’

That didn’t seem likely. There was no mention of a mission.

Zeno reported about Elcina.

“……It seems there’s a maternal instinct in the way she looks at Benato.”

“Right.”

Now, she really didn’t have to worry about the ‘Archmage Vengas’ appearing anymore. A letter had come from Viscount Seaal, who said he was doing well.

‘It looks like the big problems have been roughly solved. From the time Viola turned thirteen, there won’t be any major incidents anymore.

At least that’s how it was in the novel.

While it was briefly described that she participated in hunting down mountain bandits or monsters, those could hardly be considered ‘major incidents’ anymore.

Moreover, having chosen White Bellatu, she wouldn’t be dispatched on bloody missions for a while, and so she should be able to enjoy a peaceful daily life.’ She had lived as if walking on thin ice every day. There weren’t many big events, so it seemed acceptable to solidify her inner self and live a bit peacefully.

‘Since Medea will be coming over anyway, let it be.’

The sunlight filtering through the window was warm. The strawberry ade was so sweet and delicious that even if one were to eat with a partner, one wouldn’t mind if one were to die.

‘Mmm!’

So delicious. She picked up a cookie placed on the tray.

Having just been baked, it was still warm.

It felt fluffy, as if she were holding a cloud.

‘Tasty!’

Ahh. This is happiness. She would live independently, safe and peacefully, and build her own cookie house.

But…’

The sunlight was warm, the breeze felt good, and cookies and ade were delicious. ‘Why do I feel anxious?’

The reason was unclear, but something felt off. Sure enough. Prince Bichen’s butler arrived at Viola’s room.

“The Duke wishes to see you.”

“Why are you here?”

Why was Prince Bichen’s butler carrying out Duke Heron’s orders? The butler bit his lip slightly.

Upon closer inspection, his eyes were bloodshot.

He looked like he was suppressing grief.

“Because Prince Bichen made a shocking declaration.”

“A shocking declaration?”

“Yes, and that’s why Duke Heron has called for Princess Viola.”

Viola’s head spun. Truly, peace was a luxury.

This warm routine did not sit well in Winter Castle.

‘Such events weren’t in the novel.’

She felt an inexplicable sense of crisis. When she hurried to the duke’s study, she found Bichen covered in blood.

‘What the?’

The stench of blood was overwhelmingly strong. ‘That’s not Bichen’s blood.’

It seemed to be that of some monster. He must have just come back after killing some monster.

‘He would normally have washed up before coming to report.

That meant there was an urgent matter for him to attend to without even washing himself.

Viola needed to find out what it was.

Bichen’s voice echoed.

“Viola, hehe.”

Though his laugh was covered in blood, it didn’t look particularly good. He looked ready to charge with a knife at any moment.

The Duke’s voice could be heard as well.

“Have you come?”

Viola hid her trembling legs and put on a gentle (?) smile. “I heard you called for me.”

“Right, Bichen has something he wants to say.”

But why does it have to be here? They could have done it separately.

Viola still didn’t understand.

“Hehe, Viola. I’m not going to kill you anymore.”

“What do you mean?”

“I want to keep you alive.”

Bichen said brightly, looking towards the duke. “Isn’t that right, Father?”

Duke Heron nodded slightly. “So I went into the abandoned Black Temple, killed a Black Troll, and swore an oath with its blood.”

The Black Temple was a shrine where many monsters known as the ‘Black Monster Species’ were found. It was known that the blood had special powers and was used during swearing oaths. “I won’t fight with Viola.”

Having turned fourteen, he clearly understood and admitted his feelings. “Instead, I’ll kill those who fight with Viola.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I don’t want to be the heir.”

“Then?”

“You can have it.”

Viola felt a headache coming on. Bichen, after all, had no great desire to be the heir.

However, he was not the type to openly support someone else either. “…So you’re saying you’re renouncing your claim to the succession?”

Now that she thought about it, Bichen’s butler was nearly on the verge of tears. It was truly a bombshell declaration.

To have the heir candidate he served, renouncing his claim to succession.

“Yeah, so Father has decided to notarize it.”

“He permitted that?”

Viola looked at the Duke in disbelief. Then, the Duke let out an utterly implausible statement.