I was too good at playing the role of an adopted daughter. In chapter 83, Viola spotted a handsome man with thick eyebrows.

With sharp, distinct eyes and double eyelids.

He had a prominent nose and chiseled jawline, and he was wearing an uncomfortable-looking blue uniform.

Oddly enough, the uniform was not made of cotton or polyester, but leather, which looked too hot just to glance at.

“He wore the blue outfit with the characteristic logo of Louis Varten to showcase the craftsmanship of Louis Varten.”

Louis Varten.

A very famous and long-established family from the Parah Viscountcy.

Everything produced by Louis Varten was considered luxury and charged accordingly.

“Some referred to him as a walking billboard, which later became the catalyst for the birth of a new industry called modeling.”

His name was Serfon.

The second son of Louis Varten.

“A key figure who almost brought the Seaal Viscount House to ruin.”

He was a notorious womanizer who seduced the Seaal Viscountess, collapsing the Seaal Viscount House and eventually giving birth to the great mage Vengas.

“He looks really handsome.”

Tall and with fair skin.

By appearances alone, he certainly looked like he was from a different world.

“The art style is different.”

Moreover, his uniform did not fit in with this place, making him stand out even more.

Zeno asked, “Princess? Did you spot someone you know?”

“No.”

Viola averted her gaze from Serfon.

She didn’t particularly like the character of Serfon.

Not just dislike; she almost loathed him.

“He was an extreme womanizer.”

The character Serfon was famous for his good looks, excellent conversational skills, and charming manners, which he used to seduce many women.

“Every lady in the world deserves to be loved and has the right to be loved.”

But for Han Ah-rin, who lived in 21st century Korea, he was a character who often crossed the line into creepy and embarrassing territory.

“I like you, so of course, you should like me too.”

“Your father must be a thief, for he stole all the stars in the sky and placed them in your eyes.”

Most shelters in the Parah Mountains took the form of large cabins.

There weren’t properly divided rooms, and it was merely a large area where everyone could rest for a while.

Many young noblewomen were stealing glances at Serfon.

“Guys, don’t even give him a glance over there.

He’s a homewrecker by hobby.” Serfon would say this.

“Those who truly need love are the lonely and neglected noblewomen.”

“I’m grateful I can love you, Marquis Lady.”

The longer the tail, the more it gets stepped on.

Years later, after the Seaal Viscount House met its tragic fate, hearsay about Serfon’s lowly reputation began to spread among the nobles.

Eventually, he even seduced Furilke, the matriarch of the noble Brandia family known for martial arts, spending their last night together.

That was his final night.

After that night, he met his end at the hands of Duke Brandia, crushed by a single punch to his skull. Just before dying, Serfon laughed heartily.

“You made your wife lonely.”

“You made her lonely and miserable, which is why she strayed.”

“That’s the decisive difference between you and me.”

“You mastered savage and violent techniques, while I cultivated a gentle heart towards women.”

After saying that, he left the famous “Serfon’s Last Words.”

“I dedicate my death to all the women of this land.”

“You have the right to be free and happy.”

Viola leaned against the wall and shook her head.

At least according to Han Ah-rin’s standards, it was nonsense.

Wasn’t it said that if others do it, it’s an affair, and if I do it, it’s romance?

From Han Ah-rin’s perspective, Serfon was just a womanizer who would seduce any woman indiscriminately for a night of fun.

But why…

was he coming this way?

“It better not be towards us?”

But then she felt it.

Serfon’s gaze was directed this way.

“Enchanted by the lady’s eyes, he ended up here.”

Serfon’s gaze was on Ersa.

After Serfon returned to his place, Zeno spoke.

“Princess, what will you do about Serfon’s proposal?”

“Well.”

Serfon made a single suggestion to Viola and her party.

In the Parah Viscountcy, there were three entrances.

Named the Golden Road, Silver Road, and Bronze Road.

The Golden Road was a door that only the prominent families of the Parah Viscountcy and their direct descendants, as well as those directly invited by them, could use for quick entry.

No matter how high-ranking a noble one was, they could not enter the Parah Viscountcy without an invitation from a prominent family.

This was an edict from the emperor who declared the Parah Viscountcy, and even the reigning emperor could not pass through the Golden Road without permission.

Hela tilted her head.

“Viola, I thought you’d naturally accept the proposal.”

“Why?”

“You’re definitely the Iron-Blooded Princess and you like rational things, right?”

Serfon’s proposal was indeed shocking.

He would treat Viola and her party as “guests of Louis Varten.”

“You would bypass all the entrance procedures, securing at least three extra days and enjoying every convenience within the Parah Viscountcy.”

You’d even receive VIP treatment in Louis Varten’s shops.

With Serfon, they could enjoy all those benefits.

Originally, Viola’s party was supposed to enter the Parah Viscountcy via the Silver Road.

The Silver Road was the most common and universal entry route.

Most nobles used this path.

Viola said, “I don’t like Serfon’s gaze.”

“Hehe.”

Hela couldn’t help but laugh.

She never expected such words to come from Viola.

“Specifically, what exactly do you not like about it?”

“It’s evident that he’s pulling tricks on Ersa.”

“And why is that a problem?”

“It is.”

“Why?”

Instead of treating Viola’s party as family guests, Serfon requested to date Ersa.

“That can’t happen.”

Viola was well aware of both Ersa’s circumstances and Serfon’s tendencies.

Perhaps surprised by Viola’s response, Ersa asked as well.

“Is it okay if I ask why it’s a problem?”

“My sister. I don’t want Hela to be unhappy.”

Hela and Ersa flinched simultaneously.

It was an unexpected answer for them.

“My unhappiness?”

“Our princess’s unhappiness?”

The two ladies’ gazes shifted toward Viola.

Hela didn’t seem entirely pleased.

“While I appreciate your words, how can you judge my unhappiness?”

Hela’s eyes turned serious.

“Please be careful with your answer, Viola.”

It could be seen as insulting to Hela.

What made Serfon’s proposal a cause for Hela’s unhappiness?

Although she maintained a good relationship with Viola, Hela was still a Bellatu.

Without sufficient grounds and justification, Viola’s words could be interpreted as belittling and insulting to the Bellatu family.

It could also be seen as implying that the weak Bellatu cannot control their own happiness.

“I believe in you, sister. But I don’t trust Ersa that much yet.”

“I’ll work hard to earn your trust.”

“It’s not your fault. It was your ex-husband’s mistake.”

Viola knew very well why Ersa raised her daughter alone.

There were indeed many characters like Hixson who tried hard to be good fathers, but there were also the opposite, like Ersa’s husband, who was utterly useless and the worst type.

Ersa’s husband abandoned her when she was pregnant.

No reader could understand the reason behind it.

“Her husband began to feel fear towards Ersa.

It happened when Ersa saved him from bandits.”

Even before meeting her husband, Ersa was already an exceptional martial artist.

She wielded her sword to save her husband from danger.

Having rescued him from the bandits, Ersa sustained quite a deep wound in the process.

As a reader, Han Ah-rin could vividly read the character’s innermost thoughts.

“Covered in blood, Ersa approached her husband.

‘Don’t… come any closer.'”

Instead of feeling grateful for saving his life, he felt fear.

Ultimately, he inflicted wounds that made no sense and hurt Ersa.

“You are not modest. You mimic men in a woman’s body.”

That night.

While Ersa was asleep, her husband fled.

“Here’s my thought: that dark night when your husband ran away, you were not asleep.”

Ersa was an exceptional martial artist.

There’s no way such a martial artist wouldn’t have sensed her husband escaping.

Viola spoke as if she had witnessed everything.

“You were probably crying silently beneath your thick blanket.”

“You thought it was your fault, that it was because you scared him with your frightening appearance.”

That accurate observation left Ersa at a loss for words.

“If it were me, I would have cut off his tongue. But you didn’t. You silently cried, letting him leave. Why? Because you loved that worthless man.”

One thing was certainly made clear.

“It doesn’t mean it was your fault.”

That statement struck deep into her heart.

Ersa’s eyes grew red.

“If there’s any fault, it’s that you didn’t kill him on the spot.”

Viola felt heartache.

Why must Ersa bear a bruise in her heart that would never heal, despite not being at fault?

The bad guy is that worthless husband.

“Don’t cry. Your love was noble. You were a mother and you were great.”

She genuinely loved her family.

“If I ever meet that man, I’ll cut off his tongue.”

From Han Ah-rin’s perspective, Ersa was an overly beautiful yet foolish character.

“I feel your pain.”

The miserable feeling of being abandoned by family.

Viola knew all too well.

She understood how deep and vast that wound was.

How that pain could never be healed by anything was palpable.

“But you forgave the person who inflicted that painful scar and loved the offspring from that relationship. Foolishly.”

Hela grimaced.

“So, what’s the conclusion?”

“Ersa is foolish.”

She stared into Ersa’s eyes.

Ersa’s gaze trembled endlessly.

Like a lion caught with its secrets exposed.

“Too warm.”

“You’re probably the only one who would tell a Sword Demon they are warm.”

“And it seemed to me that Serfon would audaciously pretend to cover that wound. Targeting Ersa’s foolish and warm side.”

Whether it was sincere or not didn’t matter.

Serfon would whisper sweet nothings to Ersa, and the love-starved Ersa would momentarily be entranced by that sweetness.

After gifting a moment of honey, Serfon would likely depart in search of another flower.

Just like in the Seaal Viscount House, this was a foregone conclusion when viewed from an omniscient reader’s perspective.

“I don’t want my sister’s partner to suffer anymore.”

That was what Viola said as a person, and then spoke as Viola Bellatu.

“To be precise, I don’t want anything to interfere with my role as a butler.”

“So what should we do?”

Viola, lost in thought for a moment, then spoke.

“Sister, can you lend me Ersa for a moment? We need to have a little chat.”