I had been playing the role of adopted daughter way too well. Chapter 36, three years ago.

The Duke had said this.

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

Now, three years later.

Viola said,

“If I don’t achieve proper results by the time I turn ten, it would mean an order to revoke my qualifications as the heir or to expel me, right?”

“You see it correctly.”

“Then, now that three years have passed, what do you think of that order?”

“Isn’t your mere existence proof enough?”

Heron Bellatu maintained an attitude that suggested this conversation was incredibly bothersome.

“At that time, I told Father that I would protect the granary region of Maple Village from wild boars.”

“You kept that promise quite splendidly.”

“Why didn’t you ask anything about the method I used? It was quite unique, you know?”

Viola had chased away the herd of boars in a way that was very different from Heron Bellatu’s usual style.

To be more precise, she chose coexistence.

The wild boars had proliferated due to a lack of food in the foothills.

That was what Viola had nudged.

“I created a hybrid of the red-mouthed earthworm and the tooth mole in a special environment, and that hybrid enriched the soil in the foothills.”

Although it wasn’t publicly announced, Heron Bellatu knew all about it.

“With the soil becoming fertile, the boars had plenty to eat and no longer had to come down to the village.”

Back then, many people were worried.

As the population of wild boars increased, they worried they would invade the village again.

Sometimes mutated monsters that had turned into beasts appeared, which heightened that anxiety to the extreme.

“After that, the apex predator, the snow leopard, migrated within the Kanto Mountain Range and the ecosystem balanced itself out.”

“Do you want to commend my achievement?”

“No.”

Viola squatted down.

The fully bloomed Korean rose bay was in view.

At a glance, those flowers resembled hibiscus and were covered in a mysterious hue somewhere between pink and purple.

Bees buzzed busily among the yellow stamens.

The petals and green stems swayed gently in the breeze, looking almost like calm waves.

‘Beautiful.’

Seeing it in person was much different than merely reading a description in a novel.

The description in the novel had failed to properly convey the real scenery.

Viola’s hair fluttered in the breeze.

Heron Bellatu gazed at Viola intently.

It looked like a peaceful scene captured in a frame.

Viola, who was looking at the flower field with surprisingly warm eyes that were very different from usual, said,

“Actually, what I accomplished is quite remarkable. Some scholars have their eyes lit up searching for the origin of the ‘tooth worm.’

I heard that it was a coincidence, but nonetheless, this marked a significant achievement in biological magical engineering for me.”

Heron grimaced.

“Your introduction is long.”

“But why didn’t Father reveal that to the world?”

“I thought it was an opportunity to widely announce your achievements as a Bellatu.”

Viola could read Heron’s mind.

‘Viola is a child who will become the ‘Black Bellatu.’

The Bellatu are divided into two major factions.

The Black Bellatu in charge of strength.

The White Bellatu in charge of strategy.

What Viola had achieved three years ago was closer to the realm of the White Bellatu than the Black Bellatu.

Using biological magical engineering to create chimeras, she restored the natural ecosystem.

Instead of annihilating the boars, she created harmony through a better method.

However, Heron did not explicitly reveal that fact.

“Father wants me to become a Black Bellatu, right?”

“Do you remember why I adopted you?”

“Yes. It was because of my talent.”

Talent for murder.

That’s why Viola was adopted and became Viola Bellatu.

Viola smiled lightly.

“But Dad.”

Viola’s tone was always peculiar.

She usually referred to him as Father out of politeness, but at times, she would call him Dad.

Heron was unaccustomed to the title “Dad.”

Yet, Viola’s tone felt natural and not uncomfortable.

No.

Rather, the title “Dad” felt surprisingly nice.

It was fundamentally different from how she interacted with other siblings.

“You recognized my talent, Dad.”

“I did.”

“But what if my talent as a White Bellatu is even greater?”

“Viola, your talent as a Black Bellatu is comparable to Medea’s.”

Heron spoke honestly.

“When I brought you home, you were the nourishment for my biological children. I hoped to inspire them by seeing you, a child with outstanding talent.”

“I knew it, but hearing it directly is shocking.”

In truth, it wasn’t shocking.

I had known it all along.

The shock was in being reincarnated, not in being adopted by such a father.

“So I want you to grow into a Black Bellatu.”

“Even though my talents as a White Bellatu are far superior?”

“You showcased your exceptional abilities as a Black Bellatu since the first day of adoption.”

Meeting Zeno, Bichen.

Following the relationships with Hixson and Tundra, up to the moment at the welcoming banquet.

“If I were to defy your wishes and choose a path as a White Bellatu?”

The White Bellatu is responsible for the strategy of the Bellatu.

Alongside strategy, they handle internal matters, such as financial departments.

If the Black Bellatu deals with all external affairs, the White Bellatu manages all internal affairs.

At a glance, both seem important, but that’s not the reality.

“It’s difficult to consider the White Bellatu as the legitimate heir. You know this well, right?”

The Bellatu is a house of iron-blooded dukes, where strength is more crucial than strategy.

It’s not an exaggeration to say that it’s rare for someone to volunteer to become a White Bellatu.

They accept the position only when they fall behind in the competition for heirs or deem themselves lacking in strength.

At that point, they take on the role of White Bellatu.

While they hold real power in the house, they live their lives as unfortunate supporting characters, enduring neglect and disdain from the Black Bellatu.

On the bright side, they receive what could be called special privileges.

‘You can avoid the slaughtering competition with your siblings.’

Black Bellatu must engage in bloody competition among siblings for succession.

The White Bellatu do not need such competition.

Although they may be looked down upon by their siblings, they are not at risk of dying a meaningless death.

‘Better to be dismissed than to die a meaningless death!’

Viola continued speaking.

“I think my talents and qualifications as a Black Bellatu are already sufficiently proven.”

Heron Bellatu could not deny that.

The memory of the welcoming banquet remained vividly in his mind.

“Therefore, I don’t believe I’m running away from the competition for heirs.”

It was a complete opposite path from the original Viola.

In the original story, Viola clearly promises to grow as a Black Bellatu.

“A skilled general can take the necks of several enemy commanders.”

“………..”

“However, an outstanding strategist can topple kings and armies.”

“…….”

“If my hands and feet kill a hundred, my head and mouth can kill ten thousand.”

The processes were completely different.

Yet the conclusion remained the same.

“Since Father is the Duke of Thousand Kills, I must be the Princess of Ten Thousand Kills, right?”

“Since Father is the Duke of Thousand Kills, I must be the Princess of Ten Thousand Kills, right?”

*

Heron returned to the study, deep in thought.

I can kill ten thousand, but I will also save ten thousand of my people.

Viola, who was speaking, held a wreath of Korean rose bay in one hand.

In the midst of the green, rippling waves, it felt like a small treasure island floating alone.

‘White Bellatu.’

Throughout history, there were very few who volunteered to be a White Bellatu as soon as they turned ten.

One of them was Hela, and the other was Viola.

He had expected Hela, but he hadn’t thought Viola would do this.

Heron called Zeno.

“Zeno. Three years ago, you know that Viola took two hundred million Darlia, right?”

“Yes, of course. I already prepared detailed reports. Would you like me to present them?”

At that time, Heron intentionally refrained from receiving the report.

It was intended to give a proper evaluation after she turned ten.

It also meant that he would assess the results, ignoring the process.

“Bring it.”

Zeno presented the report as if it had been prepared in advance.

After reading the report for a while, Heron unconsciously let out a humph.

In the past three years.

How Viola spent two hundred million Darlia.

What had happened as a result.

All the details were recorded.

Zeno smiled brightly.

“It’s not just because I’m serving the princess; it’s truly remarkable, isn’t it?”

“……Bring Viola here.”

“Understood.”

Zeno went to find Viola’s room.

Zeno noticed that Viola’s hands were incredibly dirty.

He couldn’t tell what she had been doing, but her hands were covered in dirt.

“Shall I clean them for you?”

“No, it’s fine.”

Viola followed Zeno’s escort to the Duke’s office.

“Did you report about me to Father?”

“Yes, the Duke asked about you first.”

“Okay.”

Here it comes.

He planned to precisely recount what she had been doing over the past three years.

Then, opposing the path of becoming a White Bellatu would be absolutely impossible.

Both justifications and practical benefits were all provided.

Arriving at the Duke’s office.

Zeno opened the door, and Viola calmly approached her father’s desk.

The Duke, without even glancing at Viola, asked,

“What are you hiding behind your back?”

The Duke’s mood had soured.

That couldn’t be memorization; even if it were, bringing it out so openly would be disqualified as a Bellatu.

Viola hesitated for a moment.

Heron Duke’s gaze darkened.

“I asked what you’re hiding.”

It felt as if the surrounding air turned into needles.

It felt like needles were poking into her skin instead of air.

“This.”

She pulled out the wreath she had been hiding behind her back.

It was a wreath made of Korean rose bay.

“I thought you would like it, so I made it.”

It was a type of gift that the Duke had never received even once in his lifetime.

He never expected to receive such a gift from his adopted daughter.

“I thought it would suit you well.”

The atmosphere around them shifted.

The needles disappeared.

“Did I make a mistake?”

The Duke stared at Viola for quite some time.