Chapter 42

I overdid it with the role of the adopted daughter 042

"Sure. Can I finish the strawberry milk before I go?"

What would be the best way to handle this?

Medea interpreted this action, which was meant to buy time for thinking, differently.

"You're so calm."

None of the siblings act like Viola.

Even the openly hostile Second and Third Princes have never been this calm when drinking strawberry milk.

Especially when heading to the training ground.

There was no sign of tension or fear in Viola.

"It's delicious. Jaxon made it for me."

"The butler?"

"Yes. He grinds and freezes the strawberries to make it."

Jaxon smiled.

"The ice."

Jaxon and Viola said simultaneously.

"Like snowflakes."

"Like snowflakes."

Jaxon bowed.

"Because the Lady loves strawberry milk so much, I practiced a bit."

"Mr. Jaxon, you are a master of the Ice Sword, right? Are you using that skill to make strawberry milk?"

"Though it's a bit embarrassing... I'm glad my sword skills can be used in this way."

"Strawberry milk made by finely grinding strawberries using the Lasbon Ice Sword technique. That sounds interesting. Could you treat me to some next time?"

"Of course."

Viola drank the strawberry milk as slowly as possible.

Medea waited for Viola, sipping her tea in a manner befitting a lady.

'Even this appearance is beautiful.'

If the main character was Heron, the secondary character was Medea.

Medea was always upright and strong, never yielding to any trials or threats.

She was like a calm lake that maintained its peace.

A massive lake that could flood and engulf everything if it chose to.

Viola, while sipping the strawberry milk slowly, organized her information about Medea.

"Medea loved her family more than anyone else.

That's why she wanted the strongest power more than anyone else."

Medea was born with a natural talent and was a hardworking genius who put in relentless effort.

"She thought, 'Under the powerful hegemony, I don't want any more of my siblings to get hurt or die.

She had to become stronger.'"

She didn't want to kill anyone.

Ironically, that's why she had to become the strongest.

And in the later part of the novel,

Viola was also the one who brought about Medea's tragic end.

"Viola, you've grown so much."

"Big sister, I admired you while also hating you."

Even in the later part of the novel, Lady Medea was a towering wall that was hard to surpass.

"You were always brilliant and proud. You were different from me. What I hated the most was that you even loved me, your unrelated sister."

"If I were you, I wouldn't have died so pointlessly that day.

Bella, you were the one I admired the most, and will continue to admire. But why..."

That day, it happened to rain.

It was a day of heavy rain.

"Why did you die so pointlessly that day? Medea smiled and answered.

"Because you've grown enough. I'm already tired. I just want to rest."

Viola swung her dagger.

Medea's body tilted.

"I'm sorry for burdening you. Forgive your weak sister."

Even as she fell, Medea maintained her composure.

She sat cross-legged.

In a state where blood was flowing, she said,

"Even so, I loved you. My family. My sister."

With those words, Medea closed her eyes.

Sitting cross-legged, the always upright Medea remained upright until the end.

"The First Princess doesn't want to hurt me."

If that's the case, there was a way.

***

Training Ground.

Tundra was there, learning swordsmanship.

"Oh, Medea. What brings you here?"

"Uncle, it's been a while."

When Jaxon explained the situation, Hixon shook his head.

"Even if Viola is a genius, is it reasonable for you to test her?"

"I just want to confirm something."

"What if I stop you?"

"I can't let anyone who blocks Bella's will stand."

"You? Me?"

"Isn't it possible?"

Hixon's eyes widened.

"You've grown a lot. You used to be so small."

It seemed like a tense situation.

But the feared confrontation didn't happen.

"You've shrunk, Uncle. Your hands used to be so big."

"It's not that I've shrunk, but that you've grown."

Hixon sighed.

"Who would have thought you'd look at me with such a fierce gaze? Are you going to eat me alive?"

"If necessary."

Hixon sighed again.

It seemed like no amount of persuasion would change her mind.

"Still, there should be a mediator, right?"

"I'd feel reassured if you took the role, Uncle."

"If I get cut trying to stop you, I won't be responsible."

"It could be me, too."

"High probability?"

Medea smiled.

"You seem to care a lot about your sister."

"Yeah. She's like my daughter."

"Daughter?"

"Didn't you hear? I told Heron exactly that."

"I've never heard that before."

Medea found it amusing.

'Uncle's face is full of life. He seems like a completely different person from before.'

At the time, Medea thought Hixon would die in a few years.

She thought her father, a friend, would kill the broken Hixon and felt sad about it.

But six years later,

Hixon, who had overcome his past wounds, had become even stronger.

'The reason is Viola, you.'

Her curiosity about Viola grew even more.

"Choose your weapon. What weapon do you use?"

"I use a dagger."

"Are you aware that it's a disadvantageous weapon by nature?"

Medea drew her sword.

Swish—

A clear sword sound echoed through the training ground.

The blade shone brightly, even without sunlight.

The blade, emitting a sharp blue edge, looked like a masterpiece crafted by a master.

"To use a dagger, you must close the distance with your opponent first."

"I know."

"Right. I guess I'm stating the obvious."

"Big sister."

"What?"

"Give me a handicap."

If the opponent was another Bella, she wouldn't have said such a thing.

But the opponent was the First Princess, Medea.

"What kind of handicap?"

"Stay in that spot and don't move. Then I will definitely win."

"Is that so?"

Medea smiled.

The brazen request for a handicap didn't annoy her.

'Just need to confirm her skills.

That's why I asked her to do this.

Whether the Third Prince Kun's injury was accidental or due to skill.

I just need to confirm that.'

"Let's go, big sister."

Viola started walking steadily.

"For this, footwork is more important than sword skills. You need to read and enter the timing at least half a beat faster than others..."

Medea tilted her head.

Viola was walking steadily towards her.

'It's not footwork.'

She was just walking.

"If you come like that, you'll be cut."

Medea swung her sword.

Whoosh—

Medea's sword grazed Viola's hair.

A few strands of hair were cut and floated in the air.

Viola didn't flinch.

'There's no sign of disturbance.'

That's how Medea saw it.

But in reality, it was different.

'Oh, so scary!'

She was terrified inside.

But as the saying goes, even a dog at a village school becomes poetic after three years.

'I've been doing this for three years.

I've become quite used to it.

I've practiced a lot against the bloodthirsty killer-in-the-making, Vichen.

I had to pass Jaxon's tests every day.'

'This is nothing.'

Medea is a cautious character.

She's not used to such situations.

She wouldn't cut her own sister.

'Big sister would never cut her own blood.'

That's why the original Viola hated Medea.

She would throw herself into danger, but Medea would always just accept it.

This made the original Viola angry.

But the current Viola wasn't the original Viola.

'I'm not angry.'

Why would I be angry if she doesn't cut me?

There's no reason to be angry.

Instead, thank you, thank you, oh, thank you!

Medea said,

"If you approach recklessly, you'll be cut."

Again, a threatening sword stroke came at her.

Viola didn't dodge.

She just walked.

The sword grazed her neck by a hair's breadth.

A light scratch appeared on Viola's neck.

Tiny droplets of blood formed.

'Ugh, it hurts!'

But the acting was now second nature.

She just walked steadily.

The sword genius Medea found this situation unfamiliar.

This was the first time.

Viola walked up and tightly hugged Medea's waist.

"I win."

Clang!

The sound of the dagger falling to the ground.

Viola had dropped the dagger.

Medea was momentarily speechless.

She had never hugged any of her siblings.

A real hug, not for analyzing body structure.

It felt strange.

"Viola, you're too defenseless. If I were your enemy, you'd be dead."

"Then you should have stabbed me."

"..."

"But."

Viola released Medea's waist.

She took a step back.

"If you could have, the openly hostile Second and Third Princes wouldn't have survived."

Viola smiled and continued.

"Big sister, can I ask you to step aside? I want to talk to you alone."

First Princess, big sister.

I've chosen you as the successor!

Please become the next duke willingly.

'For my comfortable and brilliant old age!'

She decided to lay out this plan.