Chapter 17

I ended up playing the role of the adopted daughter a bit too well 017. After a while, Heron spoke again.

"Isn't it ridiculous that such a small head can come up with schemes?"

"When she was caught, her refusal to let go was also quite impressive, Duke."

Carlton thought it was a bit strange.

'He's not the type to repeat himself.'

He keeps talking about Viola.

Today, he seemed to be repeating similar impressions more than usual.

Perhaps his disappointment in the youngest lady is that great.

The Duke continued.

"But from now on, things must change."

The first time was a mistake. But mistakes cannot be repeated.

Now that I've taught her, things must change from here on out.

Bella must be like Bella.

Heron's rational side thought so.

But he kept thinking about her peach-colored, plump cheeks and her face smeared with cream.

Carlton continued.

"Since we had our first meeting today, I think she'll show a different side at the welcome banquet. A more Bella-like side."

"That must be the case. If not, she'll be beheaded."

The feeling of her cheek lingered on his fingertips.

He remembered her desperate gaze, fixated on the egg tart, and her almost obsessive desire.

She seemed like a hedgehog hunting for prey.

A disheveled appearance that could never be seen in the pure-blooded Bellas.

Her purple hair falling down.

Her plump cheeks tinged with a peach hue.

The carelessness of smearing cream on her cheeks and lips while eating.

Her determined eyes focused on the egg tart.

The little girl who, with a visibly reluctant expression, handed over the egg tart she was so fixated on.

A body much smaller than that of a typical seven-year-old.

Strangely, Viola kept coming to mind.

The Duke shook his head, thinking to himself several times.

No. Bella must be like Bella.

It was as if he was forcing himself to recite a spell, as if he was denying his true feelings.

He repeated to himself.

'For now, she's my daughter.'

'Treat her with care.'

Those words kept echoing in his ears.

He deliberately, forcefully, and again, thought to himself.

'If she's not like Bella, she'll be beheaded.'

***

Meanwhile, Viola returned to her room.

She sprawled out on the bed.

'Wow.'

Today's experience was truly special.

It felt like she had gone to heaven and hell dozens of times.

'Why did he come?'

She couldn't understand why Heron Bella had come to Azulegia.

She fell asleep for about 30 minutes.

After 30 minutes, she woke up as if by magic.

When she opened her eyes, Zeon's face was there.

"How long did I sleep?"

"You slept for 30 minutes and 12 seconds."

It seemed Zeon had been there the whole time.

Lately, whenever she opened her eyes, she saw Zeon, and she wondered if butlers were always this close.

It felt like he was spending more time with her than with the original Viola.

'Must be my imagination.'

In the original story, it's not described that the butler was with Viola for 22 hours, 11 minutes, and 10 seconds.

In fact, the content that isn't described is much more than what is.

'He must have been this close to the original Viola, too.'

Viola said,

"Call Tundra."

***

'I need to check.'

Strange things happen when she meets Tundra.

If they make eye contact for too long or have physical contact, she starts to feel dizzy.

Before she knows it, she ends up being taken over by the real Viola.

She needs to know her limits to prepare.

Tundra entered.

His wounds were almost healed, and he still had restraints on his wrists and ankles.

"How are you feeling?"

"Much better."

"Good."

Viola nodded and looked at Tundra.

'No matter how many times I look, I can't get used to it.'

The same appearance as the twelve-year-old Joon from her memories.

"Do you know why I keep you here?"

"Yes, to become the lady's hunting dog someday."

"Right. Come closer."

Viola approached Tundra.

She couldn't suddenly start a staring contest or hug him to check.

Viola decided to check in her own way.

"I need a dog. A well-trained, sharp-toothed hunting dog."

In the original story, Tundra learns swordsmanship from Hixon, a guest at the Duke's mansion.

"What are your teeth made of?"

"Excuse me?"

"What weapon do you handle well?"

"I..."

Tundra hesitated.

Viola took Tundra's hand.

She needed to confirm one thing.

'Light hand-holding should be fine.'

She didn't feel dizzy.

Light hand-holding was fine.

She stroked his palm and fingers.

There were calluses on his index and middle fingers.

'This is fine too.'

Viola lightly touched Tundra's shoulders and back.

She could feel the muscles. The muscles under Tundra's skin, like live fish, twitched.

"Your shoulder and back muscles are quite developed. You were wearing a rough animal skin that could protect your skin but had almost no insulation."

"Yes."

Tundra felt his face heat up.

'Strange.'

The twelve-year-old Tundra felt an odd, subtle sensation.

Do dogs feel this way when they accept their owner's touch?

Tundra couldn't think of anything else.

"The material was tough and could protect your skin, but it had almost no insulation. So, you lived in a warmer place to the south, where you traversed rugged terrain near your hut."

"Yes."

"You lived in a place with poor security, where you could be easily kidnapped by a group of bandits."

"...Yes."

"You and your father were mountain hunters, weren't you?"

Viola continued without hesitation.

She already knew all this from the novel.

"You're the child of a hunter."

Viola moved her hand, rubbing Tundra's calluses.

'Hmm. Is this okay too?'

She interlocked her fingers with his.

It was fine.

She needed to keep track of this.

If she accidentally got taken over by the real Viola, who knows what might happen.

"I've never handled a sword before."

"You probably didn't have the opportunity."

A sword is too expensive for a hunter to handle.

Moreover, to train in 'sword qi,' systematic training and a lot of money are required.

So, it's difficult for non-nobles to handle a sword properly.

She whispered in Tundra's ear.

"Learn the sword for me."

Click.

She released the restraints on his wrists.

Click.

She released the other wrist.

'I need a hunting dog who can handle a sword.'

Click. Click.

She released the restraints on his ankles.

"I'll introduce you to an excellent sword instructor."

Viola and Tundra made brief eye contact.

She counted in her head.

'One. Two. Three.'

Three seconds was fine.

She continued the experiment.

After three seconds, she started to feel a bit dizzy.

'Still okay.'

Four seconds. Five seconds.

'Now the limit... huh?'

Tundra looked away first.

His face was flushed, and his eyes were downcast.

'Why is he like this?'

'Why is he so embarrassed?'

His face is so red.

Is it because of puberty, or is he just shy?

"Um... Master."

"What is it?"

"Do noblewomen usually touch men's bodies without hesitation?"

Viola burst out laughing.

"Men?"

"Yes."

To Viola, Tundra didn't seem like a man.

Though her body was seven years old, her mind was twenty-one.

A twelve-year-old boy couldn't possibly seem like a man to her.

Now that she thought about it...

This child, whose face was flushed and couldn't even meet her eyes.

This little boy, who was tapping his feet nervously.

'He's so cute.'

The little boy asked seriously.

"Am I not a man?"

"You're a dog."

"So, I'm a male dog."

Hmm. What should she say to that serious and solemn expression?

Sometimes his eyes were fierce like a wild beast, and now they were filled with longing.

'He's still a child, after all.'

Viola placed her hand on Tundra's head.

She stroked it.

Tundra didn't mind the touch.

It was a comforting touch.

Now, he had no one left in this world, no one by his side.

He always felt a void in his heart and longed for human touch and voice.

He spoke.

"To become a good man, I will learn the sword."

"Really?"

"I promise."

Tundra wanted to learn the sword.

'If I work hard at swordsmanship...'

Tundra's eyes were on Viola's hand.

He saw the hand that had interlocked fingers with his.

'Maybe she'll stroke my head again?'

And,

'Maybe she'll recognize me as a man?'

That would be nice.

He felt that way.

"Master."

Tundra knelt down.

He crawled closer.

He knelt and bowed before Viola.

"I swear to sharpen my teeth."

To be recognized as a man someday.

He lightly kissed Viola's foot.

This was an action taken by slaves to swear loyalty to their masters or by debtors to show the utmost respect to their benefactors.

Tundra, with a reverent heart, showed the best respect he could.

Viola almost kicked Tundra.

'Ugh, so gross!'

This custom didn't exist in 21st-century South Korea, so it felt strange.

She didn't feel any sense of respect, only embarrassment.

She had been out all day.

She hadn't even washed yet