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Adopted Daughter Role Overdone – Chapter 171

Nelak bit down hard.

His body trembled like jelly. Seeing this, Viola swallowed hard. ‘He’s furious.’

Unaware of the situation or perhaps oblivious, Hixson burst through the door. “Viola!”

The mansion shook with his footsteps. Just like the Black Whale, who creates tsunamis when angry, his movement and momentum were forceful.

Without hesitation, he grabbed Viola’s hand and asked, “Are you okay?”

Viola glanced around, feeling the heavy atmosphere. Nelak’s presence was intense.

If Hixson’s momentum was like a volcano erupting, Nelak’s was like a blizzard carrying the chill of a deep freeze.

The two forces clashed in the air, shattering glass designed to withstand great monsters.

“The Emperor is having a private audience. How should we interpret this, Hixson?”

“Oh, Emperor, hello? I didn’t know you were here.”

Nelak demonstrated extreme patience. If they were anywhere but Winter Castle, or if Heron wasn’t the lord of Winter Castle, he would have drawn his sword right there.

Hiding his anger, Nelak said, “I will behead you to restore order.”

Viola struggled to grasp the situation. ‘Hixson may be reckless, but he’s not an idiot like Kaiser.’

Despite his look, he was quite strategic, at least the Hixson Viola knew was.

‘Kaiser might be close with Nelak, so I get that.

But Hixson isn’t like that.

He doesn’t have that deep of a friendship with the Emperor.’

If Nelak was managing to hold back, it wouldn’t be odd for a knife fight to break out should he lose his composure.

‘Goodness, to barge in while the Emperor is having a private audience.

Looking ahead, the door was in tatters.

I couldn’t tell if it was broken down or pushed open.’

“Did you just say you would behead me?”

“I did say that.”

Their gazes clashed again. It felt like a powerful storm was about to hit.

“You will regret those words.”

“Regret them?”

Nelak’s eyebrows twitched. He might tolerate Kaiser and Heron, but he’d never allowed such familiar language from Hixson.

“Your arrogance will hasten your demise.”

“If the Emperor fails to keep his word, it’ll be quite embarrassing.”

“It won’t come to that. I will personally cut off your head….”

Nelak’s eyes widened. Hixson was holding something in his hand.

“See? I told you you’d regret it.”

Hixson held the Silver Star Medal. The one who possessed the Silver Star Medal could speak informally to the Emperor.

That was the privilege of the medal.

“I don’t recall granting you the Silver Star Medal….”

In that moment, something clicked for Nelak. ‘Oh, where have I seen that? Can it even be reissued?’

Mercenary King Kaiser had claimed to have lost his Silver Star Medal.

Gathering his breath, Nelak asked, “Did you steal it?”

“No way.”

“Then?”

“I found it.”

“You found it?”

“Yep, I picked it up.”

How could one just pick up the Silver Star Medal? I wanted to ask but didn’t. ‘If it’s Kaiser, anything is possible.’

Nelak sighed and sat down. “I can’t believe someone would immediately start speaking informally to me just because they possess the Silver Star Medal.”

He shook his head. “I don’t like either of them, it seems.”

This was Winter Castle. Without the tacit approval of Duke Heron, there was no way Hixson could have barged in here.

In other words, it meant that Heron and Hixson were accomplices.

“I’m really worried about my daughter.”

“Daughter?”

Hixson stood tall. “My daughter born from the heart.”

“……”

He looked so confident that even Nelak was at a loss for words. A moment of silence followed.

Eventually, Nelak turned to Viola.

“It must be nice having two fathers.”

“Doesn’t seem all that rosy.”

Viola had also figured out the situation and nudged Hixson from behind. “You’re interrupting a private audience with the Emperor, Uncle. Please step outside.”

Nelak couldn’t help but chuckle. “Funny how you call Heron ‘Dad’ but refer to Hixson as Uncle. Didn’t you just say he’s your dad?”

Even Hixson’s previously confident face flushed red. But he couldn’t force Viola to use the term “Dad,” could he? “Hey, Viola, don’t push.”

“Please. Think for a moment.”

While Hixson’s love and concern were appreciated, there’s a time and place for everything. “No, Viola, I’m just worried about you. I don’t want to pressure you or anything.”

“This is my business. I’ll handle it myself.”

That remark struck Hixson’s heart like a dagger. Why did “I’ll handle it myself” cut so deeply?

“It hurt.”

“Still, it can’t be helped. You’re the one interrupting the decorum.”

As Viola gently pushed Hixson toward the door, she quietly said, “You’re my father who accepted me with an open heart.

Can’t you trust me a little more? I can handle this.”

When Hixson stepped outside, he encountered Heron leaning against the wall.

“What happened?”

Hixson spoke gloomily. “Viola has grown up.”

“That child has always been mature.”

“Seems like just yesterday she was reaching out to me for support as she needed an adult to rely on.”

“Now, you’ve become unnecessary, huh?”

As Hixson’s mood soured, a smile crept onto Heron’s face. “Don’t be arrogant. Viola maturing means she’s also distancing herself from you.”

“That’s not true.”

Heron’s smile deepened. “Do you know the phrase, Bbu? Ppa? Bbi? Bbo?”

“What’s that?”

“Seems you don’t know for sure.”

“I don’t. What nonsense is that?”

“You really don’t know.”

Heron wore a smile as if he owned the world. Two weeks had passed since Nelak’s private audience with Viola.

A letter arrived at the Duke of Brandia’s house.

It bore the Emperor’s seal.

[Will you join in the resurrection of the myth?]

Under Nelak’s leadership, the three great dukes met secretly. Sword Master Nelak.

Heron Bellatu.

Salmon Brandia.

Merisa Mariantu.

Nelak began speaking.

“Hero King Kan and his three comrades have united to face the King of Evil Spirits, Bahakarun…”

He briefly explained something everyone was already aware of. “…and now we must once again join forces to fortify the seal on Bahakarun.”

Salmon Brandia, the head of Brandia, frowned slightly. “So, is it certain that Bahakarun is stirring again?”

“Yes.”

After a moment of contemplation, he shook his head. “I’m out. I’m too busy looking for my daughter.”

Salmon Brandia had lost his youngest daughter, who was as precious as a pearl in his eyes. She had left a letter and vanished towards the ‘Place Where the Eye Shines.’

Though they were searching there, Salmon knew well.

‘Just because she’s headed to the ‘Sacred Ground of the Ancient Warriors,’ it doesn’t mean we can find Selbin. But I can’t give up.’ Salmon wandered around the area near the ‘Sacred Ground of the Ancient Warriors’ every day, heading towards the ‘Place Where the Eye Shines.’

Meanwhile, Merisa Mariantu shook her head. “I’m busy these days as well. I have to find my daughter.”

Nelak nodded. “Princess Sena has gone missing.”

“Yes.”

“Have you given up?”

Merisa glared at Nelak. “There’s no mother who gives up on her child.”

“Really.”

It seemed Nelak had already anticipated the reactions from Duke Salmon and Duchess Merisa. This time, it was Heron who spoke up. “Seems like my daughter’s predictions were spot on.”

Merisa was the first to react. “Your daughter, could it be Young Noblewoman Viola?”

Merisa hadn’t been particularly fond of Viola. She suspected Viola was the reason Sena went missing.

It was all because she went to apologize to Viola, and then this situation unfolded.

While she could rationally understand it wasn’t Viola’s fault, she found it hard to accept in her heart.

“Yeah, Viola.”

“Does that mean Viola foresaw how we would act?”

“That’s right. I knew how much you all loved your children and how you’d respond.”

Heron continued speaking. “However, ‘Heat Wind’ is utilizing those feelings against us. My long-time friend Hixson did so, and my rival Storm Blade Jackal did the same. Even the infamous sword demon Ersa followed suit.”

The mention of ‘Ersa’ caught Salmon’s attention. “Ersa? Where is she now?”

“She’s working as a maid for my other daughter, the 4th Princess.”

“She’s working as a maid?”

“Why? Is it stirring up youthful memories?”

Salmon shuddered. In his youth, Salmon had once lost to Ersa.

“I thought I’d challenge her again, but then she just vanished.”

“She disappeared because her daughter was abducted.”

Heron surveyed the dukes around him. “Do we believe we’re immune to such magic?”

He glanced at Salmon Brandia. “If you lost your daughter, would you be confident you wouldn’t go insane?”

He turned his gaze to Merisa Mariantu. “If your daughter never returns,

how could you not lose your mind? Above all, I believe your daughter’s disappearance is deeply connected to ‘Heat Wind.’”

“Why so?”

“Right after she went missing, Medea led the elite forces of Winter Castle into search parties. Yet, no trace could be found. Even Mariantu’s search team struck out completely. Do you think that’s possible?”

“……….”

Merisa closed her mouth. What he said was correct.

In fact, Merisa had also been puzzled. “No matter what, there should have been some trace left—yet both my daughter and her escort group simply vanished without a hint.”

This time, Nelak spoke up.

“I wouldn’t claim I wouldn’t go insane if I lost Selina either. In fact, there’s a high probability I would go mad.”

He looked toward the door. “One who can read God’s will calls it ‘Contamination.’”

Both Salmon and Merisa tilted their heads at the same time. “Did you say reading God’s will?”

“What does that mean?”

Nelak chuckled lightly. “One who can interpret God’s will. One who defies God’s will and carves their own destiny. Bringing miracles to the Elf Forest, the one whom the Queen of Elves elevates to the throne. Let me introduce the real mastermind behind this secret meeting, the Iron-Blooded Princess.”

The door opened. Someone stepped into view.