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Adopted Daughter Role Overdone Chapter 047

“No more sad people like our uncle should come out.”

Hixson’s nostrils flared.

If I exaggerated a little, it seemed like white breath was shooting out.

“Did you hear that?”

“What are you talking about?”

“You just referred to him as our uncle.”

“Is that a serious issue?”

“Indeed.”

Hixson burst into a laugh.

He looked absolutely delighted.

In reality, Jackal couldn’t understand Hixson’s feelings.

What was so serious about ‘our uncle’?

“Anyway, let me explain.”

Hixson stepped up to explain.

He had also lost a daughter.

“That situation is very similar to yours and mine.”

Both were fathers who loved their children.

Both were martial artists boasting great strength.

“The kidnapping happened with a very clever calculation and precise timing. I couldn’t find the traces and ended up becoming a waste of a man, used here and there.”

“…I’ve heard the rumors before.”

“Do you know what I did back then?”

“I heard you disrupted various families and committed misdeeds.”

“And?”

“You caused a ruckus at Winter Castle and were subdued by Duke Heron, being exiled to a separate building.”

“Exiled, my foot. I just allowed it to happen.”

Hixson glanced at Viola.

He apparently didn’t want to reveal that ‘our uncle’ had lost so disgracefully.

Hixson quickly changed the subject.

“And you? You attacked Winter Castle, right?”

“That’s correct.”

“Let’s just say you were threatened first.”

Hixson had acted in a state of madness.

Viola was right.

‘Why is it that even a child like me could figure it out, but our uncle didn’t?

Is it just coincidence?’

Hixson continued.

“In hindsight, I was somewhere enchanted.”

“Enchanted by what?”

“I don’t know exactly. But it definitely has something to do with magic.”

Viola stepped in.

“I have pursued this for three years. I’m working hard to avenge Uncle Hixson and to prove my abilities as White Bellatu. So I want to help Sir Jackal.”

This instilled trust in Jackal.

Helping for no reason would be more suspicious.

“To prove your abilities as White Bellatu? That’s a rather Bellatu-esque mindset.”

“Because I am Bellatu.”

“What does it mean that it’s a type of magic?”

“It’s cowardly and petty magic that digs into the hearts of loving parents. No matter how strong a martial artist is, they’d be helpless against mental hypnosis or suggestion magic.”

Both Hixson and Jackal reacted similarly.

They acted as if something had broken inside them.

If Hixson had been in his right state, he wouldn’t have become a drunken mess, and if Jackal had been normal, he wouldn’t have published a targeting column against Winter Castle.

Both were not acting like themselves.

“I suspect that the heart of love was twisted into fear, paralyzing reason. He was probably terrified of losing his son forever. So, Sir Jackal decided to turn Winter Castle into an enemy for the sake of his son.”

“I never said I was threatened or that I lost my son.”

“But.”

Jackal was certainly not easy to deal with.

Viola chuckled lightly.

“Once you turn twelve, you can step into the social circle. I’ll become the sharpest blade in the social circle.”

This was also a very Bellatu-like statement.

Not to be the most beautiful flower, but to become the sharpest blade.

“To do this, I’ve gathered information on my competitors in advance and studied them. This includes Jeremy, the heir of the Storm Blade.”

“…….”

“So I’ve used every means at my disposal to keep track of Jeremy’s movements.”

“This is a highly secure fortress. Was that possible within Storm Fortress?”

“Kidnapping is possible here, but observation isn’t?”

Jackal momentarily found himself speechless.

Viola’s words seemed airtight.

It felt as though he was conversing not with a ten-year-old child but with a seasoned trickster.

In reality, Jackal had respected Jeremy’s freedom to the utmost.

Therefore, he hadn’t provided much protection.

Jackal believed that one must protect themselves.

“Moreover, I have a special relationship with the Tera Guild. The Tera Guild visits here often, right?”

“Indeed.”

Jackal ultimately had no choice but to listen to Viola.

All circumstances pointed to certainty.

“After hearing Lady Viola’s words, I feel as if my mind has cleared.”

“Did you feel that too?”

Hixson chuckled.

“It feels like the fog in my head has lifted.

That was how I felt. What about you?”

“I feel the same, Sir Hixson.”

Viola secretly let out a sigh of relief.

All it takes is to break one shell.

They were already martial artists at a high level, and if that one shell was broken, they would manage just fine.

“I think I finally understand what needs to be done. It seems I was somewhat broken.”

“And think carefully. Is Prince Jeremy someone who can so easily get kidnapped? Reflect on his character.”

“Thank you.”

“Then the Storm Blade should get to work, right?”

“Absolutely.”

Jackal called his butler to bring Princess Medea.

Medea arrived.

She tilted her head.

“Viola? Sir Hixson?”

Though she couldn’t understand what had transpired, the results were astounding.

“…So I’m planning to write a formal letter of apology to Duke Heron, the Lord of Winter Castle. However, I’d appreciate it if the official apology could be postponed just a bit. Please allow me a little time.”

Medea was inwardly flustered but didn’t show it outwardly.

‘What in the world has happened?’

It seemed Viola had used some trick, but she couldn’t tell exactly.

In any case, she played it cool.

“I don’t quite understand what you mean, but if you give me a letter, I will deliver it to my father.”

“Thank you.”

Medea accepted the letter.

‘I must report this to my father.’

An apology letter.

A variable had arisen.

It seemed she would need to be re-assigned a mission.

“I’m sorry. I think I was under some sort of enchantment. I feel embarrassed.”

Viola responded to that.

“That’s proof that Sir Jackal loves his son. I don’t think you should feel embarrassed.”

“…Is that so?”

“You’re amazing.”

At that moment, Han Ah-rin was sincere.

She had been abandoned by her parents.

She hated her parents but longed for them at the same time.

‘I’m a little envious.

The black magic that bewitched Jackal is magic that only works on parents who truly love their children.

It meant that Storm Blade Jackal truly loved his son, Jeremy.’

Hixson patted Viola’s shoulder.

“Cough, let’s go.”

He felt inexplicably angry.

He could somewhat read the emotions reflected in Viola’s eyes.

‘How could such a warm-hearted child be subjected to that harsh competition among Bellatus?’

In any case, Heron was not fit to be a father.

He vowed once again to become a much better adult than that jerk.

Jackal knelt on one knee and locked gazes with Viola.

“Thank you for saying that, Lady Viola.”

“Don’t mention it.”

“I look forward to your twelfth birthday. I hope you’ll be the sharpest blade.”

*

Duke Heron accepted Jackal’s proposal.

In fact, this was much better than killing Jackal.

It was a different way to complete the mission.

“Is it really okay not to kill Sir Jackal?”

“Yeah.”

Medea breathed a sigh of relief inwardly.

Heron had caught on to it.

“Why so?”

“Because I thought he was a great martial artist. Losing a good rival is a sad thing.”

Heron nodded.

Indeed, it was a very Bellatu-esque way of thinking.

“And… he seems to be a good father.”

“Is that so?”

Heron showed no special reaction.

After sending Medea off, he read Jackal’s letter once more.

[I will surely rescue my son. Please allow me some time until then. It won’t take long.]

At this point, Heron scoffed at Jackal.

All this over a son.

Got his weakness exposed and targeted Winter Castle.

Was Jackal really this irrational and foolish?

‘And… he seems to be a good father.’

[Lady Viola seems to have a significant interest in Jeremy.

Two years later, before he formally steps into the social circle, I would like to introduce Jeremy to you. What do you think, Duke? They could develop a good relationship.]

In an instant.

Heron crumpled the letter involuntarily.

At that moment, the office door opened.

The only person who could freely enter Heron’s office without permission was Carlton.

“Duke…?”

Carlton’s eyes fell on the crumpled paper.

‘What is this?’

He had heard that the mission was successfully completed.

That must be the letter of apology Jackal sent.

Why crumple that?

‘Something… must have gone wrong?’

However, it didn’t seem like anything had gone drastically wrong.

The Duke had not given the order to kill Jackal, and a month later, Jackal issued an official apology statement.

[Everything I claimed was purely a figment of my imagination and a mistake.

I erred out of jealousy towards Winter Castle’s foresight. I apologize.

I bow my head deeply and sincerely apologize to Duke Heron, the Bellatu family, and all the citizens of Winter Castle.]

It was a humble and sincere apology.

Thanks to that, Jackal received a lot of ridicule, but it was only for a moment.

Powerful monsters began to emerge in the ‘Gorge of Savagery’, and Storm Blade Jackal, along with Jeremy, who returned safely to Storm Fortress, successfully hunted the monsters.

The fame of Storm Blade Jackal and his son, Prince Jeremy, skyrocketed.

And two years passed.

*

Viola had now turned twelve.

On a spring day at the age of twelve, a bird flew by, tapping on the window with a note tied to its leg.

Viola approached the window.

It was a smooth-feathered yellow bird.

“A bird?”

She spotted the note tied to its leg.

Upon opening the note, she found the words:

[I’ll be visiting soon.]

‘Who is it?’

Could it be someone attempting an assassination?

No one would be crazy enough to attempt such a thing from Winter Castle.

She showed the note to Zeno.

“It has the seal of Storm Fortress.”

“Storm Fortress?”

Indeed, a spiral-shaped seal was visible.

“Are you saying someone from Storm Fortress sent me a note?”

“It seems so.”

“Why?”

“Well.”

Zeno smiled broadly.

Somehow, it felt like a chilling wind was blowing.

“It’s because you’ve turned twelve now, Princess.”

Age twelve is when one can start stepping into the social circle.

It’s the age at which one is officially recognized as a noble young lady.

It’s also the age when marriage talks can arise.

“And now that you’ve turned twelve, you’ve become even more beautiful than before.”

“Really?”

She had certainly matured a lot.

But to Han Ah-rin’s eyes, she still looked childish.

She was reminded again that the standards of Earth and this world were different.

“And so, I fear that Prince of Storm Fortress might make a move.”

What a ridiculous notion.

She thought she heard that phrase.

‘It must be an illusion…… right?’

Looking at Zeno’s bright smile, it seemed like it had been a mere auditory hallucination.

Days later.

News spread that an official delegation from Storm Fortress would be arriving.

It became a huge topic among the people as well.

“Have you heard the rumor?”

“Prince Jeremy is coming too!”

“Really?”

Jeremy.

That name made the hearts of many girls flutter.

“Are you talking about the Little Storm Prince, that guy?”

“Who calls him that? It’s just the barbaric folks who like to fight.”

Little Storm Jeremy.

He had another nickname.

“The young prince is coming to Winter Castle!”

A small storm brewed within Winter Castle.