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Duchess Isabella had thrown herself into the role of adopted daughter a bit too well.

Duke Heron sat at the long table, his expression blank as he spoke.

“How surprising. I didn’t expect you to volunteer to have dinner with Viola.”

“The order is wrong.”

Duchess Isabella smiled faintly.

“I didn’t ask for dinner with Viola; I simply wanted a cozy evening with you. It just so happened that Viola joined us.”

“I see.”

Heron nodded, as if it all didn’t really matter.

“Show a bit more affection in front of Viola. Though we’re bound by a contract for mutual benefit, we still appear as a couple publicly.”

“I shall keep that in mind.”

“If I press Viola a little, you wouldn’t mind, would you?”

“Of course not.”

“That’s a relief.”

Duke Heron frowned slightly.

He didn’t understand why the Duchess was asking such things.

Duchess Isabella was clearly the second-in-command of this noble house, fully capable of reprimanding or urging someone.

She managed the internal affairs of the Duke House almost perfectly, making her a wonderful partner and ally.

She was in a position where she could scold anyone—whether it was Viola or Medea.

“I know, and I assume you know too.”

Heron spoke with an emotionless tone.

“You’re asking a question that doesn’t need to be asked.”

“Have I ever asked anything that wasn’t worth asking?”

Duke Heron closed his eyes for a moment, seeming to contemplate.

He thought it over carefully.

“I don’t think so.”

“Even then, did you find my question to be worthless?”

“I just hope it won’t become the first worthless question.”

“Let’s make that happen.”

Eventually, Viola arrived.

Isabella spoke first.

“You’re late, Viola.”

“I recall the appointed time being 8 PM.”

Duchess Isabella glanced at the magical clock on the wall.

A masterpiece that allowed for no deviation, even down to 0.1 seconds.

The clock marked exactly 7:58 PM.

“Was I late, or was mother early?”

Viola walked gracefully, hiding her trembling heart as she acted relaxed.

‘Why is Isabella here?’

Isabella usually ate alone.

Occasionally, she would have a meal with Bichen, but that was typically when Bichen needed to be reprimanded.

‘She’s not trying to poison me with some special brew…’

Or maybe,

‘It’s a mind control session until Bichen’s heart softens…’

In any case, Isabella preferred to dine solo, leading to rumors that she drank blood at night.

‘This definitely doesn’t bode well for me.’

In a way, Isabella was the most troublesome figure in the Duke House.

Isabella wished for her son, Second Prince Garcia, to inherit the legacy.

She firmly believed that he alone was worthy to carry on the Bellatu name.

Thus, she excluded other brothers and raised her biological son, Bichen, as a monster.

All to make her older son, Garcia, the head.

‘A character with absolute settings, indeed.’

Other characters could somehow be swayed and brought to her side.

But not Isabella.

She was a character who was nearly impossible to win over no matter what tactics were employed.

From the outset, she clearly distinguished allies from enemies and would never betray that position.

‘The White Bellatu wouldn’t dream of poisoning me directly.

She’s too savvy for such clumsy methods.

Isabella is competent and the second-in-command governing the Bellatu family.’

There’s no way she’d resort to strange tricks in front of the Duke.

Viola thought as she looked into Isabella’s eyes.

‘Those eyes are like a viper hiding venom in its fangs.’

Even in the original story, Viola always remained cautious when meeting Isabella.

Instinctively, she had found her unsettling and uncomfortable.

“Of course, if you are displeased with my arriving here two minutes early, I apologize. I’ll strive to arrive a bit sooner next time.”

Heron spoke in her stead.

“Sit down.”

“Excuse me.”

Zeno pulled out a chair for Viola, who naturally took her seat while being served.

The first dish was creamy mushroom soup.

Seeing the steaming cream soup made her salivate, but the atmosphere was suffocating.

‘It would be so much easier to just eat alone.’

She couldn’t understand why they had to create such an uncomfortable situation by inviting her.

After spooning some soup a couple of times, Heron spoke.

“I heard you got hurt.”

“Yes, a little.”

Viola averted her gaze, staring off toward Zeno who sat well away from them.

‘There’s no need to go out of your way to ask.’

She was frustratingly rigid and lacked flexibility.

Viola had never mentioned her injury to Heron.

Yet, he seemed to know.

That meant Zeno had reported it himself.

“The wound doesn’t seem deep.”

“Right. I intentionally let myself get hurt.”

Having barely touched her soup, Isabella put down her spoon and dabbed her lips with a napkin.

Every action radiated elegance and calm.

“Isn’t the skill gap between you and Zeno quite clear, though?”

“Had it been that clear, I likely wouldn’t be here.”

“If Medea hadn’t arrived in time, you might not be here.”

“Then that would have been my fault. It was my choice, and I would have paid the price of my choice with my life, mother.”

Isabella nodded.

A faint smile tugged at her lips.

“That’s right. You have a keen understanding of the Bellatu.”

Viola immediately understood the subtle nuance in her words.

Saying “you understand the Bellatu well” held obvious intent.

“Was it necessary for you to point out that I am not a pureblood Bellatu?”

“I didn’t mean it that way, but I apologize if it came across as such.”

Viola felt her insides burn.

Isabella remained leisurely, smiling faintly.

It was difficult to gauge her thoughts, making her a tricky opponent.

Isabella slowly directed her gaze toward the Duke.

“Then what do you think about the butler?”

Isabella’s intent was clear.

She was pointing out that Zeno had hurt Viola, who was diligently fulfilling her role as a true Bellatu.

Regardless of whether it was intended as a trial by Viola, the fact remained that she was hurt.

Viola wanted to cry.

‘Is it my soup or my tears that are going down my throat?’

How could dining with family be this uncomfortable?

Though Viola had always dreamed of a family and longed for a simple evening with them, such gatherings were something to decline.

It felt like a dinner she would never want to share again.

Amidst this, Heron polished off his soup bowl entirely.

‘Father finished it all?’

No idea how, but the bowl gleamed.

He most likely infused mana into his spoon to achieve such precise control.

Seeing him exercise exquisite control in such a manner indicated that the Duke was currently very relaxed, which was somewhat annoying.

It felt unfair that he alone seemed to be comfortably satiated.

‘It’s irritating but….’

Given how handsome he was and how well he ate, it also made her inexplicably proud.

‘Am I losing my mind?’

Must be the aftereffects of obsessing over my favorite character.

No matter how she looked at it, this wasn’t quite sane.

Even in this situation, being pleased that her favorite character enjoyed their meal made her feel a certain way.

Her favorite character spoke up.

“Zeno claimed it was his.”

“Yes.”

“In that case, have you made a decision?”

“I believe I’ve just shown you my decision through Zeno’s excellent service.”

Zeno continued to serve Viola as usual, pulling out her chair.

He was also the one who escorted her here.

The Duke did not question the appropriateness of that.

“I see.”

“Why is it that the most Bellatu of you shows such soft behavior towards Zeno?”

Viola felt she was finally beginning to understand what ‘viper-like eyes’ referred to.

Her expression was serene, yet a fierce aura emanated from her.

It felt like she was peering into every corner of her heart, spying on her weaknesses.

If she caught a glimpse of her little flaw…

She would tear it apart without mercy.

Viola replied.

“Is it wrong to present a softer demeanor?”

“Those destined to be rulers must often be ruthless toward those closest to them. It’s a sad reality.”

One must maintain strict principles in relationships with those closest to them.

If not, the morale would falter, and the ruler’s surroundings would slowly rot away.

“Thus, rulers are lonely. Just like your father and my husband.”

“That’s a sad thing.”

“It’s sad yet a burden that must be borne.”

In other words, Viola was also not properly bearing the burden she ought to be carrying.

“If you truly desire to become a Bellatu,”

she pointed at Zeno.

“You must cut away Zeno’s neck to establish your principles.”

“Your small mistake will inevitably become a fatal flaw that torments you in the future. No justification will hold up then.”

The Bellatu family highly values principles above all else.

This mindset formed naturally to protect humanity from the powerful monsters of the north—the Place Where the Eye Shines.

To confront the formidable monsters of the north and protect humanity from their land.

The Bellatu must uphold principles above all else.

‘Isabella… she’ll find a way to poke at my weaknesses.’

I can’t let even the smallest opening show.

I might as well give up on swaying Isabella to my side.

Even if it means earning her scorn a bit—though it feels like I’m already receiving it— I had to maneuver through the situation regardless of that animosity.

“Justification is only needed by the weak, isn’t it?”

“Justification is also needed by the strong, Viola. You still do not understand the world well enough because you are young.”

Viola felt Isabella’s eyes flash.

She seemed to have implied she had grasped a weakness.

“You’re still young; you don’t realize that justification isn’t only essential for the weak.”

“Though Duke Heron possesses more strength than anyone, he does not act without justification.”

That was true enough.

Justification is crucial.

No matter how powerful Duke Heron is, he cannot wage war against all of humanity alone.

Viola nodded.

“True, I’m still young. Just a child who hasn’t even entered the social circle.”

Isabella seemed a bit taken aback.

She hadn’t expected Viola to candidly accept her youth.

To Isabella, Viola was a fitting Iron-Blooded Princess and a child proud beyond others.

So, when she touched that pride, she didn’t expect her to acknowledge it so easily.

It was an attitude not very befitting a twelve-year-old.

“So, isn’t it fine for me to speak like a twelve-year-old? If I have absolute strength, shouldn’t I be able to say that I don’t need justification?”

“You’ve stumbled upon childish thoughts.”

“I think it’s okay for a twelve-year-old to be a bit naïve. After all, I am just twelve.”

Duke Heron, who had been enjoying pasta in tomato sauce with golden-brown scallops grilled in butter, paused with his fork.

He quietly set down his fork without a sound.

He seemed curious about what Viola would say next.

“Many steel-like Bellatus exist in this Duke House; my older brother Bichen, right above me, is one of them.”

She deliberately pointed out Bichen.

Sure, her method was a bit odd, but Isabella must have cared immensely for Bichen.

“However, I don’t think that toughness alone will complete the Bellatu.”

There were already five sturdy Bellatus residing in the Castle of Riverbend.

Viola picked up a buttered scallop with her fork.

Watching Heron eat to his heart’s content made her want it so badly.

Out of ten scallops served, Heron had already eaten seven.

There were barely three left, and her twelve-year-old self was filled with a sense of duty to claim at least one for herself.

“Surely one of us can complete the Bellatu in a different way.”

Nom.

Chomp.

“Mmm!”

‘This is it!’

If she had to point out one good thing about being in this body, it was being able to enjoy these delicious foods.

In a world rife with swords and magic, these beautiful dishes sustained her through the hardships.

“So good.”

Viola experienced a taste from the heavens.

Taking a bite of the still-warm scallop thanks to the magical dishware, the unique flavor of the shellfish filled her mouth—rich without being fishy.

The texture was incredibly tender yet chewy, akin to eating well-crafted cheese.

Viola mumbled with her mouth full.

“So, I’ll try to complete the Bellatu my way.”

“I thought you were the Iron-Blooded Princess, but you seem to be a dreamy princess instead.”

Isabella appeared somewhat reassured by this.

Viola must have seemed like a little girl rambling on in a dream.

Of course, it wasn’t a bad thing to appear that way to Isabella, but the table wasn’t filled solely with Isabella.

‘She’s someone who could influence Duke Heron tremendously.’

So, she couldn’t afford to appear too easygoing in front of him.

“I’ll show you that it’s not that way, right here.”

“…Right here? Your ambition is beautiful, but excessive arrogance can be worse.”

That was true.

She understood too.

But she was just trying to survive.

Viola concealed her true feelings and forced a relaxed smile.

“You’ll know whether it’s arrogance or not by observing.”

She turned her gaze toward the Duke.

“If you allow me, I’ll prove to you right here how to complete the Bellatu in a way that’s anything but rigid.”