비올라 spoke up.

“Bring me the quill and the Red Frog poison.”

“The Red Frog poison? That’s quite a potent nerve toxin, you know?”

Viola flinched inwardly.

Zeno’s sly smile hid a gaze that felt burdensome.

It felt as if everything inside her heart was being laid bare.

She knew this from the novels, but it was still a bit frightening.

“Butler. What is your role in this household?”

“My role is to assist and supervise the princess.”

“Then be faithful to that role.”

Zeno nodded and bowed his head.

“That’s the right thing to say.”

He straightened up and smiled cheerfully.

Be faithful to your role.

That was very Bellatu-like.

“It’s expected to take about 12 minutes.”

And precisely when 12 minutes had passed, a knock resonated.

Not a second off.

A magic clock created by the Master Mage of this era, allowing for no error down to 1/10,000th of a second, indicated that exactly 12 minutes had elapsed.

It sent a slight shiver down her spine.

“Here’s the quill and the Red Frog poison. I thought it might be needed, so I also brought a notepad, Your Highness.”

“Good job.”

Viola sat at the desk, contemplating the events of the next day.

This household didn’t harbor many normal people.

That was the nature of this world.

Most were twisted and broken individuals.

The 5th Prince Bichen, whom she would meet tomorrow, was no exception.

“A naive, innocent killing machine that kills without malice… propagandized from birth.”

He was depicted as having no guilt about taking lives.

There were even expressions of him being innocent and kind.

“Tomorrow.”

The real story would begin tomorrow.

Viola bit her lips.

“I must survive.”

She resolved to do her best.

*

Viola adjusted her outfit, adopting a prepare-for-battle posture.

The fabric brushed her hands.

The soft touch of the silky material felt like it would melt away in her grip.

It was a red dress.

The hem wasn’t too long, so it wasn’t uncomfortable to move in.

She waited for Bichen.

Eight years old.

His name is Bichen.

He would become Viola’s most annoying rival at the story’s beginning.

‘Hah.’

It seemed he was about to arrive.

Knock knock.

She heard the knocking sound.

“Come in.”

The door opened.

A blonde little boy walked in, who was both a budding murderer and her one-year-older brother, Bichen.

‘‘Cute…?’

In his outfit featuring suspenders, he looked like a little gentleman, nearly causing Viola to chuckle.

‘No. Don’t be fooled.

That’s Bichen.

A murder prodigy.

She couldn’t let her guard down.

Bichen’s face held no trace of laughter.

He spoke coldly.

“I hope you don’t presume that I consider you my little sister.”

But Viola knew.

That wasn’t Bichen’s true self.

“Bichen clenched his fists and thought before entering Viola’s Room.

‘Let’s show a frightening facade.’

He intended to act like the 3rd Prince Kundo.”

Viola, seeing that attitude, would soon clash severely with Bichen.

Both would end up hurt.

From there, their relationship would start to entangle.

However, Bichen’s comment was not genuine.

“Bichen secretly wanted a little sister.

“All my brothers and sisters have one, but I don’t.”

So Bichen had always hoped for a sibling.

Then Viola got adopted.

“Isabella, Bichen’s mother, said.

“Bichen. That child doesn’t qualify to be your sister.”

“Why not?”

“Because she is of lowly lineage not born of Bellatu’s blood. That child is not your sister; she is merely a sacrificial offering.”

“Then can I greet her?”

“You can. Just make sure you confirm she isn’t your sister.”

Viola, who knew the whole story, grinned.

That little gentleman, acting fierce and scary, was actually a cute position of a murder prodigy wanting a sister.

Ultimately, Bichen was very weak in verbal sparring.

“If I’m not your sister, then what am I?”

“That’s…”

What did Mother say again?

Right!

“You’re a sacrifice.”

“I see.”

Bichen seemed a bit flustered.

‘Why isn’t he getting angry?

Is he possibly an idiot?

Is he unable to get angry even when disregarded due to his stupidity?

‘That would be quite disappointing.’

Viola thought it would be better if he got mad.

It wasn’t like Bellatu to endure humiliation.

“Why aren’t you angry?”

“Do you want me to get angry?”

“I insulted you. You should get angry.”

“Wait.”

“Okay.”

Bichen blinked and stared at Viola.

He had forgotten the initial mindset to appear solemn and menacing.

With keen eyes, he observed Viola.

‘What is he plotting?’

Slice!

Something zipped past.

In that instant, Bichen flinched.

‘What the?’

Turning around, he saw a quill lodged against the wall.

A sharp pain stung his cheek.

“Whoa.”

He touched his cheek.

“Nice throw!”

He marveled genuinely.

Bichen was convinced that Viola had expertly aimed and thrown the quill.

Just barely grazing him.

Of course, Viola’s true thoughts were otherwise.

‘Ugh, that was a mistake.

I’m still not entirely used to this body.

I meant to throw it beside him to scare him, but I ended up hurting his face.

Is he alright?’

The quill’s tip was sharp, and it would sting quite a bit on Bichen’s cheek.

‘If I had missed just a bit, it could’ve been disastrous.’

Her heart raced.

What if she had accidentally poked his eye?

‘And how did it fly so fast?’

It didn’t even register in her eyes.

Fortunately, Bichen didn’t scream or get mad.

Instead, he seemed satisfied with Viola’s reaction.

“Was that a warning to me?”

In that moment, cold sweat dripped down Viola’s back.

His narrowed eyes glinted with madness.

“An amusing little sister, no, a sacrificial offering!”

Viola, shaking with fear, asked back desperately.

“Was it fun?”

“Yeah. That warning was splendid.”

A calculated trajectory.

Faster and sharper than an arrow.

Everything far exceeded Bichen’s expectations.

To Bichen, there was no hesitation in Viola’s hand.

He found it perfectly fitting to say that she was born with the essence of killing.

Though it wasn’t Viola’s intent, Bichen could sense the sharpness of death from her.

“I like that you’re like a weirdo.”

“Thanks for the compliment.”

“Will you give me a hug?”

Bichen spread his arms.

Even with his arms wide open, his short stature made him look like a cute doll; Viola nearly shouted, “Yes!”

Viola stared at Bichen for a while.

With innocent eyes, he asked.

“Can’t we?”

In Bellatu, a hug wasn’t just a hug.

Hugging someone in the Duke House was a kind of exploration to analyze their body shape and discern their weaknesses.

Viola nodded.

“Fine.”

“Ehehehe.”

Bichen hugged Viola tightly.

“I liked you. I wonder who can kill better? Hehe.”

He acknowledged Viola as a rival.

Viola felt the weight of that acknowledgment.

‘So I’ve been recognized.’

To be recognized by Bichen meant that she was recognized as a rival in the brutal heir competition.

“Let’s do well from now on. Hehe.”

Hearing that chilling remark, Viola felt her body freeze.

But just then.

A voice came from behind.

“Hello, Prince Bichen! It’s Zeno, the butler assigned to the youngest princess.”

Zeno, neatly dressed in a suit, wore a bright smile.

“Yeah. What’s up?”

“The Duke has given the princess ten days of grace.”

That meant they wouldn’t be disturbed for ten days.

“But?”

“I would appreciate it if you could step aside.”

An odd atmosphere formed between them.

“I don’t want to.”

“Then I’ll have no choice but to submit an official report.”

“A report?”

“Yes, I serve as the princess’s butler, as well as her supervisor and reporter.”

“Supervise? Report? Why?”

“It’s suspicious, isn’t it? That calmness at such a young age.”

Bichen scratched his head.

“Isn’t that supposed to be kept secret?”

“I wasn’t given orders to keep it secret.”

Zeno continued, smiling nonchalantly.

“Anyway, I have the authority to submit reports. Of course, I wouldn’t necessarily want to.”

“Tch.”

Bichen released Viola.

His face was lit up with a broad smile.

In the midst of it all, a dense aura of killing intent was directed at Viola.

An aura full of curiosity and enjoyment.

Viola felt as if her guts were being pierced by that sharp energy.

Truly, a murder prodigy.

She reaffirmed her determination.

‘I need to make him my ally.’

Failing to do so would surely lead to being chased down with knives, rain or shine.

Hehe! With a smile.

That was how it happened in the original story.

Such developments were undesirable.

Bichen waved his hand.

“See you again, sacr… no, sacrificial offering!”

Phew.

She almost slipped up and called him brother.

Suppressing her startled thoughts, Bichen attempted to leave.

No.

He tried to, but he collapsed and couldn’t walk.

“Ugh, the world is spinning!”

Mumbling on the ground.

“Am I flying?!”

It seemed the Red Frog poison was finally taking effect.

Viola stared blankly at Bichen.

He was already immune to poison, so he would be up again soon.

“That was a splendid welcome. A perfect victory for the princess. If you had harbored any malicious intent, Prince Bichen would’ve been dead today.”

Zeno came closer.

With purple hair resembling Viola’s, he wore a kind smile.

Yet his oddly gleaming eyes made him difficult to read.

“Was this why you asked me to gather the quill and frog poison?”

“Exactly.”

“But, my lady.”

Viola intentionally put on an arrogant expression.

But inside, she was afraid.

‘How should I respond if he asks why I told him to prepare this in advance?’

If I say, “I know everything because I’m the reincarnated one, so I told you to prepare in advance,” I would surely face a witch hunt.

However, Zeno’s next words weren’t about that question.