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Adopted Daughter’s Role Performed Too Well 035

“I used the allowance as an excuse because I missed you, Father.”

Heron instinctively felt it.

The “Jinan” set in the story had discerned Viola’s true feelings and intentions.

‘Is it sincere?’

There was genuine intensity in Viola’s eyes.

And it was a very strong sincerity.

It wasn’t an incorrect observation, after all.

Ah-rin’s desire to see her favorite character was genuine.

Also, for no particular reason, it was a heartfelt fondness.

Heron narrowed his eyes slightly.

She wanted to see her father, him.

‘Not exactly welcoming.’

The corners of Heron’s mouth lifted slightly.

“Why?”

“Because you’re good-looking.”

Carlton gasped inwardly.

In the past 15 years, he’d never heard such a compliment.

He almost dropped the stack of documents he held.

The Duke spoke with an impassive expression.

“How much do you need?”

“100 million Dali.”

The average monthly salary for ordinary citizens was about 3 million Dali.

It was money that a commoner would have to save without spending a penny for three years.

However, this was the Duke’s household.

“When I turn twelve, that’s money I’ll be entitled to, right?”

Candidates for heirs receive 100 million Dali when they turn twelve.

How they choose to spend it is up to the candidates themselves.

She was asking for an advance on that money.

Such a request had only been made once in the Duke’s house.

The only other instance had been by Hela, who had detailed plans for how she would invest that 100 million Dali.

No one had ever come asking so recklessly before.

“What do you plan to do with it?”

“I plan to make money.”

“You’ll be using leverage?”

It referred to the investment strategy of borrowing capital to enhance returns on asset investments.

It seemed this young girl instinctively understood the concept of leverage.

“Yes. I want to empower Sister Hela.”

After winning over Hela, she planned to take the route of the 1st Princess, Medea.

A shortcut to a happy ending.

“Why?”

“Creating capable allies is, after all, a Bellatu thing to do, right? Since Hela can’t become the heir anyway, I figured it was better to make her my ally.”

Viola continued, “Of course, I’m not asking for it for free.”

“And what will you offer in return?”

“April is coming soon. That’s when the monster boar packs go wild. I heard Maple Village suffers great losses every year.”

“You seem to be studying hard.”

“Yes. Otherwise, I feel like I’ll lose my head.”

The Duke found himself involuntarily chuckling.

Her boldness and shamelessness were appealing.

The peach-blossom cheeks caught his eye once again.

“So?”

“I’ll solve the monster boar problem. Then will that prove my abilities?”

“Are you confident?”

“Yes.”

“My time is precious.”

“I know.”

Viola swallowed hard and continued.

“If I fail, I’ll offer my head.”

Carlton cleared his throat again.

It seemed like Princess Viola had slightly overstepped. Offering her life?

Carlton cautiously spoke up.

“Princess, it’s inappropriate to speak so irresponsibly.”

What if she truly failed?

The Duke would genuinely consider killing Viola.

If he decapitated his adopted daughter soon after adopting her, a terrible rumor would spread.

The reputation of the Winter Castle and Duke Heron would suffer.

The Duke stated.

“Interesting.”

“Give and take. You like that, right?”

Viola was unyielding.

This was the conversation style that Ah-rin had picked up on, tailored just for the Duke.

Viola extended her hand.

“Give me the money first. Since I’m risking something more important.”

I’m putting my life on the line, so please give me the money first.

That was the meaning behind her words.

The Duke looked at Viola’s outstretched hand.

Her hand was small and delicate, like a sprout.

She was asking him to give her 100 million Dali as an allowance with that petite palm.

“Did you say 100 million Dali?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll give you 200 million Dali.”

The Duke’s eyes gleamed brilliantly.

*

The Duke paused in the middle of signing a document.

‘Using the allowance as an excuse, she missed me, Father.’

She brought up the concept of leverage to invest in Hela.

Duke Heron thought Viola’s choice was not entirely wrong.

It was a good choice.

Manageable debts can become another asset.

Heron’s rational mind recognized that aspect.

‘But…’

Originally, it should have been the focus, yet he couldn’t help but notice other things.

That little sprout-like hand came to mind.

He didn’t know why. Why did that mischievous hand stick in his thoughts?

‘That hand is…’

He unconsciously smiled.

‘So tiny.’

It looked like it could crumble if he squeezed it tightly.

Like a dry fallen leaf.

‘How strange.’

He couldn’t shake the image of that peach-blossom cheek and the memory of her munching on egg tarts.

Then suddenly he felt a bit uneasy.

‘Why am I feeling so soft-hearted?’

Even he thought it was too lenient.

Perhaps it was the memory of Rael, who had been brazen and confident.

So he spoke.

“Keep an eye on Viola.”

“Understood.”

“If it turns out you’ve deceived me…”

Duke Heron Bellatu, as a true Bellatu and as the lord of Winter Castle, stated.

“If you don’t produce satisfactory results by the time you’re ten, we will no longer discuss your qualifications as an heir.”

If that were to happen, her original purpose as an adopted daughter would come into play.

She would be consumed as a sacrifice to provoke the purebreds.

“…Understood.”

The Duke momentarily got up from his seat.

He looked out the window.

Today was a fine day.

The sky was clear, without a single cloud, and warm sunlight filtered through the window.

Down below.

He could see Viola walking briskly on her short legs.

Her steps appeared to be quite light.

She seemed pleased to have received her allowance.

And so he thought again.

He couldn’t accept that he had softened.

‘I must do well.’

A chilling intensity filled the Duke’s gaze.

If not, his neck wouldn’t be safe.

He forced himself to think that way.

He still denied having fallen for her.

And three years passed.

Spring arrived at Winter Castle, and Viola turned ten.

*

Turning ten at Winter Castle had special significance.

Once one turns ten, they are no longer protected from the absolute laws of Winter Castle.

If attacked outside, they wouldn’t be able to say a word.

The one most excited about this was the 5th Prince, Bichen.

Bang!

With that sound, the door swung open.

“Viola! I’m back from my mission!”

The now eleven-year-old Bichen had grown remarkably tall.

Bichen had excellently completed his mission outside in the last five months.

“You came straight here after finishing your mission?”

“Yep!”

Please don’t answer so cheerfully.

“Did you report to Father?”

“I’m about to.”

Don’t lie.

I can see you feeling guilty.

“You were planning to pass it off to the butler, weren’t you?”

“Oh, no, not like that.”

Bichen rubbed his nose and chuckled.

There had been significant changes in Bichen over the past three years.

Compared to the original Bichen, he had become quite amiable.

At least towards Viola, that is.

Viola got up from her chair.

“Brother.”

“What?”

“Do you still want to crush me and win the succession battle?”

Bichen flinched and trembled slightly.

“Of course.”

“I’ve turned ten now, and you can legally compete with me for the succession.”

“Hehe.”

“So, I hope you can now fulfill your role as the 5th Prince properly.”

To Viola, Bichen needed to be a reliable ally.

He had to grow properly as an ally.

“If you don’t act like the 5th Prince of Bellatu…”

…then what?

“I won’t recognize you as a competitor.”

At those words, Bichen looked as if he’d lost everything.

“So hurry up and report!”

“Got it! I’m on it!”

Bichen slammed the door shut again.

To twenty-one-year-old Ah-rin, he still seemed like a foolish child.

Zeno, who had been standing next to them, smiled brightly.

“It seems like Prince Bichen is the one Princess Viola wanted to see the most.”

“Do you think so too, Zeno?”

“Yes. But what’s interesting is… he’s lost a lot of that murderous intent in his eyes.”

“Is that how it appears to you?”

“Yes. It seems the curiosity about Princess Viola remains, but there’s a bit of disconnect between reason and emotion.”

Reason seems to be thinking, ‘I must face Viola in a life-and-death battle!’

But emotion seems to think, ‘I don’t want to fight with Viola.’

“Was this your intention, Princess?”

“Well…”

Viola’s response trailed off.

It was indeed intended. She had worked hard over the past three years, and thanks to that effort, things had flowed as she hoped, or even better than she’d imagined.

Bichen had returned from his long mission.

Now it was time for a new episode to unfold.

‘May 12th.’

At Winter Castle, spring, summer, and autumn are incredibly short.

The seasons change dramatically in a very brief time.

One considers May as spring, June as summer, and July as autumn.

The next episode was ‘Spring’s Garden.’

An encounter in secret between the budding murderer, Viola, now ten years old, and Duke of Thousand Kills, Heron.

In this, Viola would clearly define her path.

Through this episode, Viola would firmly proclaim that she would grow into the true Viola Bellatu and as an heir.

The original Viola had clearly established her identity, saying:

“I’m the daughter of the Duke of Thousand Kills, so I guess I can be the daughter of ten thousand kills.”

It was now May 12th.

When May arrives, the Duke typically walks for 30 minutes in the corresponding flower garden within the Duke’s Mansion to meditate.

This is also a place where he loved to walk with Rael.

“Father.”

In the garden blooming with pink flowers, Viola met Bellatu.

“Did you come here on purpose?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

In a way different from the original Viola,

“I remember today, three years ago.”

“Today, three years ago?”

Three years ago today.

It was the day Viola boldly demanded 100 million Dali from the Duke.

“That day. Shall I take a guess at what you told the chief butler?”