Chapter 35

I overdid it with the adopted daughter role, Chapter 035

"Also, I wanted to see Father."

Heron instinctively felt it.

The in-story 'Jin-an' had seen through Viola's true feelings and sincerity.

'Is it sincere?'

Viola's eyes were filled with sincerity.

It was a very intense sincerity.

In fact, it wasn't a wrong observation.

Arlin's fangirling for her favorite character was genuine.

'And, there's a sincere affection, for no reason.'

Heron narrowed his eyes.

She wanted to see her father.

'Not at all pleasant.'

The corners of Heron's mouth twitched slightly.

"Why?"

"You're handsome."

Carlton inwardly gagged.

It had been 15 years since he last heard such words.

He almost dropped the stack of documents he was holding.

The Duke said with a deadpan expression.

"How much do you need?"

"100 million dalia."

The average monthly salary for ordinary citizens is about 3 million dalia.

It's the amount of money that ordinary people would have to save for three years without spending a single penny.

However, this was the Duke's household.

"When I turn twelve, it's the money I'm supposed to receive anyway."

The successor candidates receive 100 million dalia when they turn twelve.

What they do with it is up to them.

She was asking for an advance on it.

It was a demand that had never been made in the Duke's household.

The only time it had happened was with Hera, and Hera had provided a detailed report on how she would invest and grow that 100 million dalia.

She had never asked for it so bluntly.

"What do you plan to do with it?"

"I plan to make money."

"Are you going to use leverage?"

It refers to the investment strategy of using borrowed capital (debt) to increase returns from asset investments.

It seemed that this young daughter instinctively understood the concept of leverage.

"Yes. To support Hera."

To make Hera her ally and then ride the first princess line, Medea.

It's a high-speed path to a happy ending.

"Why?"

"Isn't making capable allies also a Bellato-like thing to do? Since Hera can't be the successor anyway, I thought it would be better to make her my ally."

Viola continued.

"Of course, I'm not asking for it for free."

"What will you offer?"

"April is coming soon. It's when the monster boars are rampant. I heard Maple Village always suffers significant damage."

"You seem to be studying hard."

"Yes. Otherwise, I feel like I might get my head cut off."

The Duke couldn't help but chuckle.

He liked her bold and shameless attitude.

Her radish-like cheeks caught his eye again.

"So?"

"I'll solve the monster boar problem. Will that prove my capability?"

"Are you confident?"

"Yes."

"My time is precious."

"I understand."

Viola swallowed and continued.

"If I fail, I'll offer my head."

Carlton cleared his throat again.

It seemed that Lady Viola was being a bit too extreme. Offering her head?

Carlton cautiously spoke.

"Lady Viola, it's problematic to say such things so casually."

What if she fails?

The Duke would really kill Viola.

If he beheaded her shortly after adopting her, it would cause a scandal in society.

It would tarnish the reputation of Winter Castle and Duke Heron.

The Duke said.

"Interesting."

"Give and take. You like it, don't you?"

Viola was unhesitant.

This was the Duke-tailored conversation method that Arlin had figured out.

Viola extended her hand.

"Give me the money first. I've put up something more important."

I've put my life on the line, so Father should give the money first.

That was the meaning.

The Duke looked at Viola's outstretched hand.

It was small and cute, like a sprout.

She was asking for 100 million dalia as pocket money with that tiny, cute palm.

"100 million dalia, you said?"

"Yes."

"I'll give you 200 million dalia."

The Duke's eyes curved into a smile.

***

The Duke stopped signing the documents.

'Also, I wanted to see Father.'

She said she would use the concept of leverage to invest in Hera.

Duke Heron thought Viola's choice wasn't wrong.

It was a good choice.

Because manageable debt can also become another asset.

Heron's rationality recognized this.

'But...'

He should have focused on that, but other things kept catching his eye.

The small, sprout-like hand came to mind.

He didn't know why. Why did that cheeky hand keep coming to mind?

'That hand...'

He couldn't help but smile.

'Was so small.'

It felt like it would crumble if he squeezed it.

Like a dry leaf.

'Strange...'

Her radish-like cheeks kept coming to mind, and he remembered how she ate the egg tart.

Suddenly, he felt annoyed.

'Why am I so soft?'

He thought he was being too soft.

Probably because he remembered how shameless and confident Lael had been.

So he said.

"Keep an eye on Viola."

"Understood."

"If you deceived me..."

Heron Bellato, being a true Bellato and the master of Winter Castle, said.

"If you don't produce satisfactory results by the time you turn ten, you will no longer be considered a successor."

If that happens, the purpose of adopting her.

She would be consumed as a sacrifice to provoke the purebloods.

"...Understood."

The Duke stood up from his seat for a moment.

He looked out the window.

It was a beautiful day.

The sky was clear and cloudless, and warm sunlight was streaming through the window.

Far below.

Viola was walking briskly with her short legs.

Her steps looked incredibly light.

She seemed to be in a good mood after receiving her allowance.

So he thought again.

He couldn't admit that he was being soft.

'She must do well.'

The Duke's eyes were filled with a chilling killing intent.

Otherwise, her neck wouldn't be safe.

He deliberately made up his mind.

He still denied being a fangirl.

And three years passed.

Spring came to Winter Castle, and Viola turned ten.

***

Turning ten in Winter Castle.

It has a special meaning.

From the age of ten, one is no longer protected by the absolute laws of Winter Castle.

If attacked outside Winter Castle, there's no excuse.

The person most excited about this was Prince Vichen.

Bang!

The door opened with a bang.

"Viola! I'm back from my mission!"

Vichen, now eleven, had grown much taller.

He had been assigned an external mission for the past five months and had returned after performing it excellently.

"Did you come here right after completing the mission?"

"Yeah!"

Don't answer so innocently.

"Did you report to Father?"

"I'm about to."

Don't lie.

I saw everything.

"Did you plan to pass it off to the butler?"

"A, ah, no, nothing like that."

Vichen rubbed his nose and laughed awkwardly.

Over the past three years, Vichen had also undergone significant changes.

He had become much friendlier compared to the original Vichen.

At least when it came to Viola.

Viola stood up from her seat.

"Brother."

"What?"

"Do you still want to crush me and win the successor competition?"

Vichen shuddered.

"O-of course."

"I'm ten now, and you can legally compete with me for the successor position."

"Hehe."

"I hope you can properly fulfill your role as the fifth prince."

For Viola, Vichen needed to be a reliable ally.

He needed to grow into a proper ally.

"If you don't act like the fifth prince of Bellato..."

"...If not?"

"I won't recognize you as a competitor."

Vichen's face looked as if he had lost everything.

"So, Brother, go and report to Father first."

"Got it! I'll go and come back!"

Vichen slammed the door shut again.

To 21-year-old Arlin, he still seemed like a naive child.

Zeno, standing beside her, smiled.

"It seems Prince Vichen was the first person Lady Viola wanted to see."

"Zeno, you think so too?"

"Yes. But what's interesting is... the killing intent in your eyes has diminished a lot."

"You think so too?"

"Yes. It seems your curiosity about Lady Viola remains the same, but there's a gap between your rationality and emotions."

Rationally, it seems you think 'I have to fight a life-or-death battle with Viola!'

But emotionally, it seems you think 'I don't want to fight with Viola.'

"Was it intentional on your part?"

"Maybe."

Viola was vague in her response.

It was intentional. She had worked hard over the past three years, and thanks to that, things seemed to be going as planned, or even better.

Vichen had returned from a long-term mission.

Now it was time for a new episode.

'May 12th.'

Winter Castle has very short springs, summers, and autumns.

The seasons change dramatically in a short time.

May is considered spring, June is summer, and July is autumn.

The next episode was 'The Garden of Spring.'

A secret meeting between Viola, who had grown into a ten-year-old murder prodigy, and Duke Heron, the Thousand-Killer Duke.

Here, Viola clearly defines her path.

Through this episode, Viola will transform into the true Viola Bellato and declare her intention to grow as a successor.

In the original, Viola firmly establishes her identity with these words.

"Since Father is the Thousand-Killer Duke, I should be the Ten-Thousand-Killer Princess, right?"

It was May 12th.

In May, the Duke would meditate while taking a 30-minute walk in the peony garden within the mansion.

This was a place he had strolled with Lael, whom he loved.

"Father."

Viola and Bellato met in the garden where pink flowers were in full bloom.

"Did you come here on purpose?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

In a different way from the original Viola,

"I remember this day three years ago."

"Three years ago today?"

Three years ago today.

It was the day Viola boldly asked the Duke for 100 million dalia.

"That day. Let me guess what you said to the head butler."