입양딸 역할을 지나치게 잘해버렸다 009화

“It won’t be okay. Still, I’ll be right here with you.”

At that moment, Tundra felt as if someone had struck both his heart and head with a massive hammer.

‘What the…?’

It was strange.

‘Why…

Tears streamed down his face.

He couldn’t understand why he was crying.

Was it because he was being comforted?

Because of kind words?

It wasn’t that kind of concept.

On the other side of memories.

Somewhere, it felt oddly familiar.

‘Why… is this happening?’

Meanwhile, Viola steeled her heart in her own way.

If this were modern society, perhaps she would have treated Tundra more warmly.

But this was the shadowy world of Bellatu.

Kindness was a potential poison in this world.

“Look at the situation clearly.”

No false hope was offered.

“Your father and sister are dead.”

“I avenged your enemies and saved your life. You know what you need to do, right?”

Thinking back, the girl was right.

It was he who had drawn the blade first, and it was he who had tried to take her hostage.

It was the enemy who had avenged him, and it was also true that he had lived because of that.

“How about it? Do you have time to listen to me now?”

Viola slowly explained the situation.

“I’m not originally from the Duke’s family.”

“This is Bellatu Duke House. I, Viola Bellatu, became the 6th Princess just a few days ago.”

“…Just a few days ago? (Adopted)?”

A look of disbelief crossed Tundra’s eyes.

He had thought he was a member of this family since birth.

Yet, she had just become a princess a few days ago.

‘You mean, you’re the youngest princess adopted by Bellatu?’

Tundra had also heard the rumors about Bellatu.

The conquerors of the North ruling over the Winter Castle.

The terrible duke family ruled by the Duke of Thousand Kills.

It was unbelievable.

To think she had been adopted just a few days ago.

Viola approached Tundra.

She raised her hand.

Tundra flinched.

He still felt a tingling sensation on his cheek.

Viola gently loosened the bindings that restrained Tundra’s body and mouth.

“Is it easier to talk now?”

“…Yeah.”

Viola spoke softly about many things.

She started with the story of her adoption.

Unlike the other siblings who had maternal families, she was alone.

She elaborated on what she had said earlier.

“My mother and father abandoned me.”

The same went for Ah-rin.

Viola had grown up in the slums.

Without the protection of parents.

Her voice was filled with profound sincerity.

“It seems you don’t have a guardian either.”

Saying this, Viola completely loosened the magical restraints binding Tundra.

Whoosh!

The magical chains automatically coiled away and vanished into the void.

Thud!

Tundra’s body fell to the ground.

Though he still wore shackles around his wrists and ankles, it was undoubtedly more comfortable than being suspended in midair.

Viola extended her hand towards the fallen Tundra.

“I’ll help you.”

“Why?”

“What?”

“Why do you want to help me?”

Then a thought echoed in his heart.

Why is she saying she’ll be by my side??

Logically, it didn’t make sense.

Out of the blue, she says she’ll be right there.

Yet, he couldn’t understand why those words were comforting, leaving him confused.

“I told you. I was adopted. I don’t have a solid maternal family, nor anyone to stand by me. So, I need my own people.”

“I’ve chosen you as my person.”

“Why?”

“Because I liked your gaze.”

In truth, she actually didn’t.

Kang Han-jun’s gaze was always warm.

It was always a warm and vibrant gaze.

Tundra’s cold stare was completely different.

It was too different.

Yet, she said otherwise outwardly.

This child is Tundra, not Kang Han-jun.

Though it didn’t suit her,

She offered some comforting words to the boy who had lost both father and sister.

Just as Kang Han-jun had done for Ah-rin.

She repeated the same words.

“I’ll be right here with you.”

Not logical or rational, but words that provided strength to the one who had lost everything.

Tundra found those words lingering in his ears.

“So, I hope you grow up wonderfully.

As my person.”

Viola extended her hand.

Tundra stared at her hand for a long moment before eventually clasping it.

*

An hour passed.

“Have you organized your thoughts a bit?”

“Yeah.”

Tundra nodded.

Life began to return to his gaze.

Viola found it a bit fascinating to see Tundra like this.

‘So he is the male lead.’

It was hard to regain composure within just an hour after such a big event.

In truth, she didn’t expect much.

Even so, Tundra truly demonstrated the resolve of a male lead.

Regardless of what was going on inside, he appeared to have completely recovered on the outside.

Tundra hurriedly spun his thoughts.

A Tundra who would one day gain enough strength to surpass Viola.

He displayed insight.

“Then I’ll need to be your loyal dog publicly.”

Viola nodded.

This way, he could be perceived merely as the princess’s toy, and he wouldn’t be under any scrutiny or surveillance.

“Right. My dog. Or my toy.”

That’s how it had to be.

Only then would there be a justification for keeping Tundra close in this Bellatu.

Understanding the situation, Tundra continued speaking.

“I attacked you. I can’t just let that slide, right?”

“That’s right, you need some discipline.”

“Dogs that bite their owners need to be properly trained, right?”

“You’re clever.”

That’s how Bellatu operated.

A dog that bites its owner.

A toy that points a blade at its owner.

They don’t simply forgive.

It would be unlike Bellatu to just let things go.

“Is that what it means to be Bellatu?”

“That’s what it means to be Bellatu.”

“Sounds a bit sad.”

What Tundra learned about forgiveness from his father was this:

“The most beautiful and noble thing in the world is forgiveness.

Forgiveness is for others, but ultimately, it’s for oneself.

So you should forgive your mother.”

But it seemed the kind of forgiveness spoken of in Bellatu was a bit different.

You had to take responsibility for any events that occurred. Even if the involved parties claimed to have forgiven.

“What?”

“Nothing. Anyway, you need to discipline me to show a Bellatu-like demeanor, right? So you can have grounds for forgiveness?”

“Exactly.”

He had to showcase a Bellatu-like image.

Everything would be observed.

He couldn’t just have Tundra beneath him and command him without consequence.

Viola had to pay the price for biting Tundra.

Tundra said,

“I’m prepared in my heart.”

He looked at Viola.

‘But the way he looks at me…’

Tundra was reading the emotions embedded in Viola’s gaze as she looked at him.

Killing intent.

Compassion.

Anger.

Longing.

‘Why does he look at me so complicatedly?’

It felt as if incompatible emotions were merging together.

‘Viola said she lost her mom and dad too.’

That little girl seemed strangely strong.

She looked about five years old, yet her gaze was infinitely serious.

There was an oddly adult-like feeling about her.

‘Not okay.’

‘I’ll help you.’

‘I’ll stay by your side.’

He knew those words were meant to manipulate him.

He understood well that they were efforts to create an ally.

‘It’s definitely a facade.’

Even knowing that, his heart inexplicably raced.

It felt like he should take her hand.

‘Not okay.’

This single word approached him like a magical word.

Why did that ordinary word sound so special?

He felt a strangely familiar feeling continuously.

He lifted a thick stick twisted from the Aisilara tree. It was a flexibly bending rod.

It was called the Aisilara Whip.

Some referred to it as the Aisilara Tree Whip because of its whip-like shape.

“It’s going to hurt a lot.”

“Get ready.”

A complex emotion that he had never felt before wriggled inside his heart.

She was pretty.

Not pretty in the conventional sense.

Those purple eyes shining enchantingly were beautiful.

A unique blend of killing intent and compassion radiated from those eyes.

For some reason, it didn’t feel entirely unfamiliar.

“Have we met before?”

Tundra asked.

“Have we met before?”

“No. We haven’t.”

Viola almost found herself answering that they had.

But Tundra was not Kang Han-jun.

Lost in thought for a while, Tundra concluded and asked,

“The fact that you’re so actively trying to make me your ally means I can interpret it as you intend to rule Bellatu someday, right?”

“Otherwise, there wouldn’t be a reason for you to dedicate several hours to a mere outsider like me. You’ve become the adopted daughter of the Duke’s family, and honestly, you don’t need someone like me right now.”

A bizarre atmosphere filled with ambition and a desire to dominate.

Yet it held a peculiar sense of warmth without losing warmth.

Viola avoided giving a direct answer.

He was a smart male lead, and he would figure it out on his own.

“Once things settle down, let’s go to your hut together.”

“My hut?”

“Your father. He’s there, right?”

“……..”

“I should make you comfortable.”

One day, Tundra would go to find his hut as a free man.

To give his father a burial.

But by then, his father’s corpse would already have been completely devoured and decomposed by wild beasts.

That would leave an indelible bruise in Tundra’s heart.

“I’ll go with you.”

“…Thanks.”

Tundra’s eyes grew watery.

‘What a strange girl.’

He had thought the girl from the fairy tale was lovely.

He knew people generally described such things as pretty.

But after meeting Viola, he realized it was not the case.

That strange atmosphere and aura were what made her beautiful.

Tundra looked at the Aisilara whip in Viola’s hand.

‘She’ll use that to hit me.’

It sounds painful, but he wasn’t afraid.

“Hit me as much as you want.”

“I will.”

He was conscious of Zeno, who might be listening from the next room.

He recalled words that suited Viola.

And spat out words that weren’t from the heart.

“Make sure to scream beautifully.”