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Return Journey to Winter Castle: Chapter 147 – Exceedingly Well Played the Role of Adopted Daughter

On the way back to Winter Castle.

Sheilan was tense and focused on controlling the Grass Sword for a smooth ride.

In the meantime, he also had to eliminate the groups of mountain bandits scattered about. ‘Busy, busy.’

All for the sake of his master’s restful sleep, which was clearly going to be disrupted. He harbored some irritation inside.

‘You just stay still.

It was quite bothersome that Dexial, who was forcibly shoved into the void, kept squirming.

Generally, people aren’t thrown into the void.

The void is an artificial space disconnected from dimensions and time, and living beings entering there can experience unpredictable side effects.

Thus, the Empire strictly prohibited putting people into the void. However, Sheilan decided to conveniently ignore that fact. ‘If I’m already messing with the righteous master, this is more than generous.’

If there was a slight regret, it was that he should have beaten him up a bit more fiercely to knock him out completely. It felt like his wake-up was too quick.

‘Yikes, a pile of stones.’

He wielded the Grass Sword.

Things like that needed to be cleared away quickly.

‘Don’t lose focus.’

As he focused and immersed himself in the work of the coachman, he sensed an ominous wind. ‘What is it?’

He couldn’t pinpoint exactly what it was, but it felt foreboding. He instinctively paused the carriage and began to observe the shadows.

Nothing was out of the ordinary.

Yet, the intuition of an assassin kept warning him about something.

‘Who is it?’

He fixed his gaze on the distant forest. A woman with red hair was walking this way.

Her voice reached him. “The assassination has already failed.”

The head of the Quilton family. It was Quesa Quilton.

Viola, who was inside the carriage, distinctly heard those words.

It was a small voice but made it clear to the inside of the carriage.

‘Who else is this?’

Viola felt a slight dizziness. ‘What? Assassination failure?’

Wasn’t that implying she had come to assassinate in the first place? The voice continued.

“Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. I’m Quesa. I’m kind of like an aunt to Viola.”

Viola felt increasingly uneasy. ‘Why is Quesa here?’

‘Assassination, you say? Why would someone of Quilton’s high rank come to assassinate me? Isn’t that just wildly out of line!’

The only relief came from the fact that the main character, Tundra, who had completely transformed, and the butler Zeno were with her.

Thanks to them, she could calm her tumultuous emotions and think rationally.

‘She’s not the type to just kill anyone.

Moreover, she wasn’t the kind of character who’d personally move to kill a child like Viola.

She must have received a request. Under normal circumstances, she wouldn’t have accepted such a request.

The party that made such a request would have lost their head for it. For the crime of insulting Quesa Quilton.

‘It must be Isabella’s doing.’

Viola said. “Zeno, open the carriage door and escort me out.”

“Understood.”

Zeno stood up and opened the carriage door. He descended first and extended a hand wearing white gloves.

Viola took that hand and lightly descended to the ground.

“Nice to meet you, aunt.”

“You have a bright greeting.”

Quesa’s eyes formed crescents. They were filled with curiosity. “Aren’t you afraid? You must feel killing intent.”

“As you know, I was born with the Killing Star. I’m extremely sensitive to killing intent.”

Viola slightly lifted her skirt. “So, I’m quite scared.”

Her legs trembled slightly. Normally, she would have concealed such trembling legs at all costs, but today was different.

This was acceptable.

After all, it was the situation of facing the assassin Quesa Quilton.

It was completely natural for her body to tremble in response to Quesa’s killing intent.

“Your body is afraid, yet your mind isn’t. What a strange feeling.”

Quesa chuckled and walked towards her. Her red hair flowed like silk.

As Quesa approached, the coachman spoke.

“Stop.”

It was Viola, not Quesa, who was slightly startled by those words. ‘What’s that about?’

Viola didn’t know the identity of the coachman was Sheilan. She merely knew he was the coachman hired by Zeno.

Until now, he had been almost invisible, but suddenly, a tremendous presence was felt.

‘He was hiding his aura all along.’

With the formidable adversary Quesa appearing, it seemed he couldn’t afford to hide his presence any longer. Quesa did not halt her steps.

“Even a mere coachman can command such a skilled individual.”

The grass around the coachman Sheilan began to sway. Faced with a pressing situation, he effortlessly wielded the Grass Sword.

Only then did Viola realize the coachman’s identity.

‘Sheilan?’

Why was Quesa showing up here, and why was Sheilan here too? Viola thought this situation seemed strangely unfamiliar.

The cowardly Sheilan was blocking the way against Quesa Quilton.

‘Why is the coward not afraid?’

He must certainly feel that prickling killing intent in his skin. ‘But he isn’t the slightest bit fearful.’

Her head became muddled. It was hardly pleasant that the character settings were changing.

‘Why has he suddenly lost his fear?’

It wasn’t sudden; it had gradually faded away. Viola didn’t realize that she was the cause of Sheilan’s transformation.

Quesa Quilton unsheathed her elegant sword.

The elegant sword could adjust in length and perform unpredictable attacks through whip-like movements.

However, it was extremely difficult to learn, and few could wield it properly, but Quesa was the best trained swordswoman on the continent. “How could such a martial artist be hired as a coachman? Money wouldn’t suffice.”

I don’t know either! This was all Zeno’s doing!

Viola felt a sense of unfairness but did not show it.

She stepped forward despite her fear and stood in front of Sheilan.

“You don’t intend to kill me, do you, aunt?”

“I came to kill you.”

“But you already said you’ve failed.”

“The first attempt failed; the second hasn’t started yet.”

“That’s a lie.”

Quesa’s body tensed. A subtle killing intent seeped from her. It was like poison; the surrounding grass lost its vitality, making it hard for Viola to breathe. “You’re speaking strangely, niece.”

“There are two reasons you’ve revealed yourself, aunt. Either you intend to kill us all without leaving any evidence, or you’ve decided to abandon the assassination.”

Those were the two choices Quesa could make upon showing herself. Complete crime or mission abandonment.

“Hm, but?”

“You must have given up on your request.”

“Why do you think I would do that?”

“Because it’s already too late for a perfect crime.”

Viola glanced around. “Do you think I was unprepared for an ambush?”

She pointed a finger at Sheilan. “My coachman possesses the skill to read your presence. He’s my master as well.”

“Hm, I see. No wonder. He isn’t an ordinary coachman.”

“It’s a strange situation, isn’t it?”

“Strange. Very, very strange. The mere fact that a martial artist of such caliber is acting as a coachman was already strange.”

“I was prepared in advance. For today. More than anything, I know who commissioned the request for you, aunt.”

Thinking back, it wasn’t difficult. Outside of Isabella, there was no one who would request such a mission.

“I recently ruined a brother of mine. He renounced his claim to succession because of me. A certain mother was greatly disappointed because of that.”

She didn’t specifically mention ‘Isabella.’ Quesa lightly nodded.

“Indeed, there’s a strong scent of preparation.”

Quesa raised her left hand slightly. “Zeno, it’s been a while.”

“Long time no see, Lady Quesa.”

“I can’t believe you’d really be acting as a butler.”

“I’m glad to serve someone worthy of respect.”

Quesa’s gaze then shifted to Tundra. “Who is that boy?”

“Tundra.”

No signs of goodwill could be found in Tundra. Regardless of his identity, he was an assassin who had come to kill Viola.

Tundra remained alert as he gazed at Quesa.

“Oh. So you’re the partner sword?”

“Your words are brief?”

“So are yours.”

Tundra merely nodded slightly in response. “I’m the head of Quilton; shouldn’t you offer some respect?”

“I think it’s better to wipe away the killing intent before mentioning manners.”

Tundra stepped three paces forward. The killing intent pressing down on Viola melted away like snow. Tundra’s presence pushed Quesa back.

Unknowingly, Viola gasped in amazement.

‘Wow…!’

Who could push back the killing intent of Quesa at such an age? “Your skill matches your short tongue.”

“I’m not of a body that can be weak.”

“What does that mean?”

“I must be by her side.”

Tundra exuded the killing intent like a completely different person. “Hahaha! You’re quite interesting.”

Quesa continued, seemingly enjoying herself. “A coachman who’s a keenly sensitive and sharp former assassin, Zeno of the Raspbone Ice Sword art, and an underestimated partner sword.”

There was still one more. The youngest daughter of Brandia was riding along in the carriage without returning to Brandia.

In truth, as long as Selbin was with them, the request had failed. After all, they couldn’t kill Selbin.

‘Everything was prepared perfectly.’

It felt like a total blow to the gut. Although, in reality, Selbin just wanted to be with Viola a little longer.

“I was certain you’d come, Iron-Blooded Princess.”

“Of course.”

Though, she had no idea. It seemed they had sufficiently navigated the crisis.

Viola decided to move on to the next step.

“Aunt.”

“Hmm?”

She uttered words that no one here could have expected. “I’m hungry.”

“Huh?”

“I’d like to have a meal with you… is that okay?”

Zeno flinched. But soon he smiled lightly. ‘As expected, our princess.’