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056 – I Overplayed the Role of an Adopted Daughter

“I’ll ask. Was my father’s choice wrong?”

“It was not wrong.”

The Viscount said this and then fell into a long silence before finally speaking again with great difficulty.

“To be honest, I knew as well.”

He then covered his face and sobbed.

In that moment, Viola felt that Viscount Seaal seemed much smaller.

He appeared diminished and pitiful.

The noble described in the novel as having an unwavering belief strong enough to risk death was not present here.

‘He knew?’

This was unexpected.

To think he would have already known about his son’s transgressions.

It wasn’t mentioned in the novel.

“Zelton is killed by Bichen, and the Viscount Seaal is killed by Heron.”

That was the content of the story.

‘He knew, yet pretended to be oblivious?’

Viola turned her gaze to the sobbing Viscount Seaal.

After watching for a while, a realization started to form.

‘More than being noble, he wanted to be a father.’

He didn’t want to reveal the fact that his son had gone astray.

It seemed he wished to keep the truth of his son’s descent into dark magic hidden from the world.

‘As a father, he couldn’t bring himself to punish his son, even disregarding his own beliefs.’

She decided not to judge right from wrong.

Zelton was already dead.

In other words, the Viscount paid the price for losing his son.

“No matter the reason, Zelton had a father.”

The sobbing Viscount looked at Viola.

Her words were unexpected.

‘He had a father.’

It was precisely what the Viscount wanted to hear.

“I always wanted to be a tree for that child.”

“…….”

“I wanted to be a solid protector.”

That was why he showered too much love and affection.

“It’s a noble thing for a father to love his son.”

Viola genuinely believed that.

Some might say that it’s natural for parents to love their children.

However, Han Ah-rin, who had been abandoned by her parents, did not share that belief.

It was not a given.

Though others had it, it was not a certainty for her.

“I’m sorry. I was wrong.”

“Though the method may have been flawed, it cannot be denied that your heart was noble.”

Viola lightly bit her lip.

Even if it was a misguided paternal love, the Viscount’s love was genuine.

‘I’m not a judge.’

She didn’t want to nitpick about right and wrong.

She decided not to judge the heart of a father who had already lost his son he loved.

‘He lost his most beloved son, and that must be a fitting punishment.’

There was no need to press someone who had already paid the price.

“Thank you for your kind words.”

After a long time, the Viscount took out a handkerchief and wiped his eyes.

They were red and bloodshot.

“Prince Zelton must have always been supportive.

That must be why he was able to act so confidently in Winter Castle.”

It was not solely the side effects of dark magic.

Zelton believed in his father.

The manifestation of that belief might have taken a wrong turn, but the faith in his father was certainly there.

“You were a trusted father, Viscount.”

How nice it would have been if I had such a father too.

My father said he would come back after sleeping for a long night but never returned.

“I will not judge you, Viscount.”

“While I do not agree with your methods, I empathize with your heart. You may not have been a perfect father, but it’s true you were a warm one.”

Viola stepped closer to the Viscount.

She reached out her hand to the Viscount, who appeared infinitely smaller and exposed.

As if enchanted, he placed his hand over hers.

Though the hand was very small, it did not feel small.

Viola’s presence felt very large.

“Special envoy of Bellatu, Viola Bellatu, conveys that Bellatu will not hold accountable Zelton’s dark magic nor the Viscount Seaal for turning a blind eye to it. This is because the Viscount has already received the greatest and most painful punishment.”

The Viscount knelt on one knee.

She was a princess speaking as an envoy.

Her words were also a message being delivered from Bellatu to Seaal.

She maintained propriety.

“I, Viola Bellatu, understand the noble heart of a father and the choices he made as a father. Therefore, I also request this of the Seaal family.”

Viola bent her knees, aligning her height with the Viscount.

“Would you not understand my father’s position?”

The Viscount flinched.

Viola continued speaking.

“My father also has his position. He is a great lord governing Winter Castle and the first shield protecting humanity from the Place Where the Eye Shines, and he is also the head of Bellatu, but before all that, he is a human named Heron and a father of several siblings.”

“…….”

“And so, my father wished for the honor of Zelton and his father to be preserved.”

“Did the Duke say this?”

“My father does not say it directly. The moment he does, the honor of your family would plunge to the ground. Everything I say are words I have thought of myself.”

I looked at the novel and the author’s setting book.

I hadn’t heard it directly from my father, but it’s probably true.

After all, the author is the creator of this world.

“So the judgment is entirely your choice, Viscount.”

Viola stood up.

She gently withdrew her hand.

“If you accept the envoy’s request, a friendly relationship will form between Bellatu and Seaal. If you refuse, Bellatu and Seaal will become enemies. Seaal may declare war on Bellatu.”

In return, she made one promise.

“Even if war is declared, I will protect the honor of the Viscount’s family.”

If it were Heron Bellatu, he would do just that.

Though he would kill Seaal, he would uphold the honor shown when declaring war against Bellatu.

Zeno secretly laughed.

“There’s no way out here.”

In effect, the Viscount had no real choice.

The moment the Viscount confessed, “I already knew,” the advantage belonged to Viola.

Though it appeared she was offering a choice, in reality, the choice was with Bellatu.

The Viscount knelt and wept for a long time.

Those were tears of self-reproach.

Tears of remorse that his misguided love had ruined his son.

“Thank you for opening my eyes, Viola Bellatu.”

My heart ached.

No matter how well it was wrapped up, the sorrow of losing a son was beyond words.

And the thought that it was his fault only made the Viscount suffer more.

“And…”

He spoke to Viola, who was not a princess.

“Thank you sincerely.”

For saying he was a warm father.

That sentiment nearly choked coming out.

*

Two days passed.

Zeno officially prepared the report.

“I plan to send a brief report using magical communication. I will submit the formal report in person once I return, Your Highness.”

“You don’t have to tell me everything.

Just do your job.”

“Still, I want to look good in your eyes!”

Zeno smiled.

“So… did I earn your approval?”

“How could I dare to judge that?”

“Give it a try.”

Zeno’s smile deepened.

“There will be no more beautiful outcomes.”

He had made the Viscount acknowledge his mistakes without losing the authority and honor of Bellatu, and rather, Viscount Seaal said he would apologize.

Zeno continued speaking with a bright smile.

“I truly admired your mask, Your Highness.”

“Mask?”

“Yes. It seems you possess a magic that moves the hearts of others. A flawed yet noble deception.”

Zeno naturally considered it a mask.

No matter how noble it may be, if it is flawed, it is no longer noble.

‘If I thought about the princess I had seen until now, I would definitely think so.

If it were Princess Bellatu, of course.

She is the renowned Iron-Blooded Bellatu.

Someone who acts based on rational judgment and reasoning.

‘You know exactly how to thoroughly deceive and conquer others.’

He included that content in the report.

“Shall I show you the report?”

“Is that report for me?”

Viola did not fully trust Zeno.

Even in the original story, Zeno was the one who tested Viola until the end.

With a smile and friendly expression.

‘If he suddenly asks to show it to me, I would be disappointed.’

Zeno responded.

“The report is for the Duke.”

“Then do as you wish.”

“I want to show you, but…”

Zeno was sincere.

It wasn’t some test regarding Viola.

To put it precisely, Zeno did not fully understand his own feelings.

‘Am I… trying to earn praise right now?’

It felt like he was asking, “Look, I wrote this report well. Please praise me.”

Though Zeno didn’t precisely recognize it, that night.

He used the magical communication portal to send the report.

[It has been determined that she has the ability to sway others’ emotions based on her cool rationality.

In other words, she can thoroughly portray the opposite human figure, that is, a “highly empathetic, warm person capable of comforting others.”

Thus, Princess Viola Bellatu perfectly demonstrated her capabilities as White Bellatu.]

An additional explanation was included.

[Based on the audacity and skill shown by cutting off the Viscount’s ear, her ability as Black Bellatu is also deemed excellent. Of course, this was a planned action executed within the meticulous calculations of her role as White Bellatu.

Both her capabilities as Black Bellatu and White Bellatu can be said to be exceptional.

This is declared to be the personal opinion of Butler Zeno.]

After sending the report, he gazed out the window.

‘Huh?’

But he felt something strange.

‘What is it?’

Down below.

He sensed the aura of someone.

It was not the aura of the Seaal family.

This aura undoubtedly belonged to someone well-trained.

‘Who?’

That aura was heading towards Viola’s bedroom.