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Adopted Daughter Role 004

“I am both a watcher monitoring the Princess and, on the other hand, a helper as well.”

“So?”

“Therefore, I hope you’ll call on me often.

Despite appearances, I’m quite capable.”

Viola narrowed her eyes.

“Are you sure you’re capable?”

Absolutely. You know it well.

It’s mentioned several times in the story.

‘Zeno was an exceedingly excellent butler.’

That phrase has appeared more than three times.

There aren’t many characters described as directly standout as much as that in the story.

“I may have shown you some unsightly aspects, but I wish to claim I’m capable for now. Is that alright?”

“That’s better than claiming you’re incompetent.”

Viola nodded and added.

“Since you’ve made two mistakes, you must do well.”

“Of course.”

Zeno bowed.

“Butler, Zeno at your service.”

Viola discreetly observed Zeno’s reaction.

Having heard of his keen perceptions since childhood, she had already read the novel.

‘It seems like he’s itching to ask something.’

She noticed his curiosity barely being held back.

“Go ahead and ask. If it’s a worthwhile question.”

“Really?”

“Your face is practically screaming that you want to ask.”

“Did it show?”

“Yep.”

Zeno lightly scratched his cheek.

He flashed a warm smile while not taking his eyes off Viola.

‘Is it insight or intuition?’

Naturally, Zeno couldn’t imagine that Viola had read the novel.

‘Growing up in the slums makes having a sharp sense understandable, but…’

He concluded it was a quick wit and asked.

“Why did you allow the 5th Prince to hold you?”

In the original, the response would be something like ‘That’s none of your business.’

Viola smirked.

“That’s none of your business.”

“That’s true, huh?”

Ah-rin adapted it a bit differently.

She chose a better way than the original Viola.

“If you hug, it’s easier to analyze body shape. Easy to pinpoint weak points, assess the arm length when holding a sword, gauge mobility based on the thickness of various body parts, and feel the muscle fibers to estimate which parts have well-developed neuromuscular systems. So I allowed the hug.”

Zeno was momentarily at a loss for words.

They said she was a seven-year-old girl from the slums who hadn’t received formal education.

If she hadn’t learned, it meant it was instinctive.

Hiding his surprise, Zeno replied.

“Isn’t that the same for the 5th Prince?”

“Do you think that’s a problem?”

“A problem… it isn’t.”

Zeno felt like he’d been hit in the head.

‘Impressive indeed.’

He honestly admired her.

Anyone could give that answer, but it wasn’t something a girl who had just been at the Bellatu household for three days could say.

Zeno approached Viola and knelt on one knee.

“You’re absolutely right; I have no words. Frankly, I didn’t expect you to calculate that far.”

“…….”

“There’s no problem. Your confidence is truly beautiful, Princess.”

Zeno pulled something from his front pocket.

It was a small knife.

Viola flinched slightly. However, she didn’t let it show.

Zeno tidied up the stray thread sticking out near Viola’s sleeve.

It was a very delicate and tender touch.

‘This situation wasn’t in the original?’

Zeno was a bit more tender than in the original.

“I’ll report to the Duke.”

“Do your job.”

“However, I plan to let the Princess know about it too.”

Zeno pulled out a piece of paper from his coat.

It seemed to be a report.

This was also something not present in the original.

[It has been assessed that the basic qualities necessary to become the absolute ruler of Winter Castle are present.]

[Additionally, there is an instinctive desire for dominance and ambition toward becoming an absolute ruler.]

[She possesses the madness that is absolutely necessary for Bellatu.]

[She also has the reason to control that madness.]

It’s certainly well done, but…

The content was a bit odd.

Instinctive desire for dominance?

Ambition?

“Why are you showing this to me?”

It wasn’t shown in the original.

“I’ve seen enough of the Princess’s qualities and talents. As intended, you adequately demonstrated that qualification in your encounter with the 5th Prince.”

“………..”

“Therefore, I will do my utmost to make you the next Duke.”

“………..”

“You want that too, don’t you?”

No.

I have no intention of becoming Princess Mancell.

The goal is to simply survive.

The plan is to pass the heir position to the 1st Princess.

And I want to live as a person, Viola, rather than a killing machine or Princess Mancell.

‘Please!’

The desperate longing that I cannot express from the outside shimmered in my eyes.

“I can read it. The urgency contained in that gaze.”

That’s not the urgency!

“I feel like it’s been ages since I’ve seen such eyes.”

“…….”

“I’ll make an effort, Princess.”

My head started throbbing. But for now, I decided to do what I needed to.

Get the family tree. The more detailed, the better.

*

A stormy day passed.

Meeting with Bichen was chaotic, and talking with Zeno was intimidating, but I seemed to have gotten through it fine somehow.

‘Phew.’

I lay on the bed and took a deep breath.

Ah-rin made a silent vow over and over again.

‘I will survive.’

I must prove my abilities.

I must not become a shameful Princess in Bellatu.

The moment I show a side that is unworthy of Bellatu…

Viola herself would be removed without a sound.

‘Phew.’

I don’t know how many deep breaths I took.

For now, I decided to do what I had to do.

‘Bichen should be dealing with it right now?’

That’s a scene from the novel.

「“Bichen, how did you find that child?”

“It was interesting.”

Duchess Isabella raised her switch.

This switch was a thin rod made from the Aisillana tree. Aisillana means ‘of love’ in the southern dialect.

While it’s a switch, its shape is closer to that of a whip, leading some to refer to it as a whip.

“That child will become your foe.”

“Can you show such gentleness toward the enemy?”

“Enemy?”

“You must trample them.”

“I know that, so why did it happen?”

“I was wrong.”

“What happens when you’re wrong?”

“I must be punished.”

“You know well. Get ready for the switch, my son.”

Bichen knelt silently, preparing to receive punishment from his mother, Duchess Isabella.」

Bichen does not rebel against his mother, Duchess Isabella, but silently endures the punishment.

「“Why are you crying? Is Bellatu going to shed tears?”

“Mother’s hand is bleeding.”」

The bark of the Aisillana tree causes a chemical reaction when it touches human skin.

Some can suffer severe burns, including Duchess Isabella herself.

Whenever she wielded the switch, Duchess Isabella would always injure her hands.

It didn’t hurt Bichen to be punished.

However, it was painful to see his mother’s hand hurt.

「“Please don’t hurt yourself.”」

Bichen endured the punishment, which would be too much for an ordinary child.

Then, with superhuman resilience, he would return to normal life in a day or two.

That is the setting of the story.

‘I need to make Bichen my ally too.’

Not just Bichen.

If possible, I need to make everyone my ally.

1 AM.

Blue moonlight filtered through the window.

I clapped my hands.

“Zeno.”

A little while later, the door opened, and Zeno entered.

“I have a place to go. Guide me.”

“At this hour?”

Zeno was the same as always.

He remained completely unfazed by the sudden call at 1 AM.

“Yeah.”

“Where shall I guide you?”

“To Bichen’s room.”

Zeno’s gaze shifted toward Viola.

“5th Prince must be struggling and in pain from collapsing.”

Not just from the pain of the switch, but from the regret of having upset his mother after messing up.

My mother’s hand was hurt because of me. I was the bad kid, murmuring with unfocused eyes.

“I know.”

“You knew?”

Zeno’s eyes narrowed.

“How did you know?”

“I saw the family tree.”

Before Zeno could doubt any further, Viola continued.

“If I were the third assassin in this household, I would certainly scold a son who went looking for a half-blood instead of pure-bloods.

Duchess Isabella is from that famous Quenton family, so her discipline would be ruthless. The trembling and groaning Bichen would be crumpled.”

“Aha. So your plan is to poke the collapsed Bichen?”

Zeno subtly revealed a dagger.

On its blade was a purplish-black substance; it was clearly a deadly poison.

“Can you handle it? I’ve already learned about the absolute laws.”

First, inside Winter Castle, one cannot commit violence or murder. No one except the absolute Duke.

Second, all children under ten are protected.

“If I kill Bichen, who must be collapsed right now, Zeno, who failed to provide proper service, will face execution.”

“That would be troublesome.”

“I’d also find it troublesome if the butler were to die.”

Viola, who turned into Ah-rin, needed Zeno as well.

“Why?”

I didn’t know what to ask with a ‘why?’

Viola was slightly flustered.

Because I need you. She unknowingly said it in full name.

Like a third party. It was a habit of hers when she was a reader.

“For the sake of Viola Bellatu?”

Zeno went silent for a moment. Not just Viola, but Viola ‘Bellatu’ was the phrase he used.

A chill ran down Zeno’s spine for an instant. That single word contained a lot of meaning.

‘Pointing out Bellatu specifically, huh?’

That little girl seemed to have an accurate grasp of her role and position in this place.

‘It wasn’t intuition.’

She wasn’t just a sharp-witted girl from the slums.

It couldn’t be explained just by intuition.

‘This is…’

It was remarkable insight.

Zeno smiled at the meaning he attributed to it.

“Since you stated that Bellatu is necessary, I feel empowered.”

He bowed.

“Please continue to rely on me. Butler, Zeno at your service.”

“Yeah.”

Ah-rin didn’t relax her tension.

Zeno was a loyal butler to Viola, but only in the latter part.

From the beginning, he did not serve her sincerely.

He constantly tests and judges whether Viola is a suitable person to serve.

Such descriptions existed in the original too.

「“If the Princess didn’t suit Bellatu, I would probably have committed suicide by commemorating your neck.”」

It was a joking remark from Zeno after becoming good friends with Viola later in the story.

However, Ah-rin, who had been a reader, knew.

More than half of that statement was genuine.

So, she decided to be careful and cautious. There was no harm in being careful.

“This way.”

I walked along the long corridor. I had to go upstairs too. This mansion was incredibly vast, and it took quite a while.

“This is the room of the 5th Prince, Bichen.”

“Thank you for your hard work.”

I took a deep breath.

Behind this door, I imagined Bichen in a state of utter despair.

“Open the door.”

“Without knocking?”

“Yeah.”

“Understood.”

1 AM.

It was very quiet.

Not a sound was heard.

Creak—

A very faint sound of the door opening could be heard.

As I opened the door, a strange and unfamiliar atmosphere and smell hit me.

The scent of despair I had only felt through the words in the novel. That smell that pierced through the entire story filled the air.