Chapter 52

Xiaoming stood at the classroom door, took a deep breath, and firmly gripped the secret letter from his mother.

---

In the midst of cherry blossoms dancing in the wind, Misaki opened the old diary and read the words of promise written there.

---

I ended up playing the role of the adopted daughter too well. Chapter 52: Bella Tu is sending a special envoy.

This itself became an issue.

"Did you hear? The Bella Tu family is sending a special envoy."

"From Bella Tu?"

"They say you killed the son of the Count of Seal."

"Send a special envoy for something like that?"

To the common people, Winter Castle has always been perceived as a terrifying place.

It wasn't a place that would send a special envoy just because one of the count's children was killed.

"But the person they're sending as a special envoy is apparently a twelve-year-old kid."

"Hey, hey. Be careful what you say. A kid!"

The man cautiously looked around.

"Didn't you hear the rumor?"

"What rumor?"

"The rumor that the Duke of Thousand Kill adopted a witch five years ago."

"Witch? What are you talking about?"

"I don't know much either. They say she killed bandits and ate their flesh at the age of seven. Oh, and at the welcome banquet, she drank the blood of a demon."

It wasn't Viola who killed the bandits at seven; it was Bizhen.

Viola merely saved Tundra.

Moreover, she never drank the blood of a demon.

She only drank the potion 'Viola.'

However, as rumors always do, they were distorted and spread further.

"Be careful what you say."

"Y-Yeah. I will."

The rumors about Viola were distorted and spread even more.

If she heard them, she might have been furious.

But there were also people who had a more objective understanding of Viola Bella Tu.

Selina, who had started handling the empire's affairs three years ago, was now the second-in-command of Monarch Empire.

The second-in-command, who used honorifics, was the only one in the world.

The Sword Emperor Nellak Froitz Karl von.

He sat on the edge of the bed in casual attire and asked.

"Is the child twelve years old?"

"Yes."

"Since when has the minister been paying close attention to this child?"

"Since five years ago, at the Bella Tu welcome banquet. She was recognized by Bella Tu with a stunning entrance..."

She continued, amused.

"She also made a significant profit by securing the land for the Golden Road development."

"Was it a coincidence?"

"The probability of it being a coincidence is the highest, but it also seems like it might not be."

"Why?"

"Because she used all the cash she could to invest in that land."

The emperor cleared his throat.

He looked around.

"Talking about 'all-in.' Maintain some decorum."

"There's only the two of us. What's the problem?"

"Leaking inside means leaking outside."

"I don't leak. Have you seen me leak?"

"Unless you can't speak."

Selina swept her emerald hair behind her ear.

She walked softly and sat next to the emperor.

"Your Majesty, I think it's not a coincidence."

Then she placed her hand on top of the emperor's.

The emperor's face turned red.

'You're so cute.'

The emperor was undoubtedly an outstanding person.

At least his talent with the sword was unparalleled, and he even earned the title of Sword Emperor.

However, due to his one-sided focus, he was inexperienced in other areas.

To Selina, the emperor belonged to the rather cute category.

"S-Selina. Aren't you in the middle of a report?"

"Is there an imperial law that forbids holding hands during a report?"

"That, that's..."

"If you really don't like it, we can make such a law. After all, you are the sun of the empire."

"I, I never said I would make one."

"Then can I hold your hand while reporting?"

"Y-You may."

"Why do you keep stuttering?"

"Well..."

Nellak's face turned red.

When Selina's hand touched his, his heart pounded.

"You're so cute."

"I am the emperor."

"Is there a law that says the emperor can't be cute?"

"J-Just finish the report."

Selina smiled and continued her report.

"She is a child with extremely excellent insight and analytical skills. She cleverly resolved the recent issue with Storm Fortress. It seems that the young master known as the 'Flawless Prince' also has an interest in Viola."

The emperor nodded.

In fact, his heart was racing so much that he couldn't properly hear the report.

"Your Majesty, are you listening?"

"I am."

Selina rested her head on the emperor's shoulder.

Her hair smelled good.

The emperor clutched his racing heart and tightened his toes.

He would have preferred to go to the battlefield and face ten thousand troops.

"The key is to observe how this matter with the Count of Seal is handled."

"Why?"

"Based on my prediction..."

She cautiously continued.

"Before Viola arrives at the Count of Seal's territory, the count will likely be dead. If her luck is bad, Viola might be suspected of his murder."

***

Zeon knelt on one knee.

"The shoelace has come undone, Lady."

Viola stood still, looking at Zeon.

Zeon tied the leather shoelaces with a gentle touch.

"We have a long ride ahead and will pass through barren mountain paths. I taught you how to tie them so they won't come undone, didn't I?"

"I didn't learn it."

He only taught her unilaterally.

'Why would a mana spell be necessary for tying shoelaces?'

Using a mana spell to infuse mana and then finishing with a special method, this knot was something Viola couldn't learn.

'I've always been bad at tying knots.'

She used to get nagged by Gang Hanjun every day.

'You still can't tie your shoelaces properly?'

'I don't know. It's hard.'

'Tying shoelaces?'

He laughed in disbelief.

'You're good at studying, so you're not stupid. Why can't you tie shoelaces?'

'Hey, stop teasing me!'

'Well, it's fine. Everyone has a flaw. But I didn't expect someone who can't tie shoelaces to exist.'

'Brother!'

Just as she was about to say, 'Stop teasing me, I'm frustrated too!' Gang Hanjun bowed.

'Oh, I'll just do it for you.'

Since then, he always tied her shoelaces.

Viola said brazenly.

"You can do it for me."

"Me?"

"Yes, you."

For some reason, she couldn't understand knot-tying.

Even if she learned, she would forget.

So, it was better not to learn at all.

'If Bella Tu can't do this, it would be strange.'

Bella Tu should be nearly perfect in every aspect.

That's the direction Bella Tu aims for.

Therefore, she decided not to learn knot-tying.

'I don't want to reveal any weaknesses.'

But Zeon was a bit strange.

He had a brighter smile than usual.

It seemed like the sun was rising on his face.

"I'm happy."

Huh? Happy about what?

"I'll always be there for you, Lady."

Is this something to be happy about?

Viola tilted her head in confusion.

"I'm happy to be by your side."

With Zeon's help, she mounted the horse.

Even if she couldn't tie knots well, she had become quite familiar with horseback riding.

'I wish we could go by carriage...'

The road to the Count of Seal's territory was too rugged for a carriage.

There was a main road, but following it would take at least a month.

So, they chose the route that cut through the mountains.

"As you know, Lady, to reach the Count of Seal's territory, we must pass through eight large and small mountain ranges."

"I know."

"I expect multiple attacks."

Among them, there would be bandits and enemies of the Bella Tu family.

'After all, Father's nickname is the Duke of Thousand Kill.'

A name given for killing a thousand people.

That means at least a thousand people have a grudge against him.

'If you consider their families and friends...'

The number would increase exponentially.

That's why the young Bella Tu, who hasn't fully grown, is always under threat.

Overcoming these dangers is also part of Bella Tu's mission.

'No one has actually been assassinated, though.'

It also means that everyone in the Bella Tu family has overcome these dangers on their own.

"Viola!"

In that case, Bizhen, who was waving and running over, would have been swinging her sword innocently, saying, 'Hehe! Kill all the weak ones!'

Clang!

The blades clashed.

Tundra drew her sword and blocked the dagger in Bizhen's hand.

"Tch. It's you again?"

Bizhen reluctantly retracted the dagger in her hand.

Viola had a hunch.

She would have died many times if not for Tundra.

But she said coldly.

"To kill me, you'll have to step over my dog first."

"Okay."

Seeing Bizhen nod obediently, Viola sighed.

Is she lacking or kind?

"I would have gone with Viola if I didn't have a mission."

After saying that, Bizhen waved and rode away.

She rode incredibly fast, and dust flew behind her.

Viola was puzzled.

'She's busy with her mission. Why did she come here just to stab me once?'

Riding that fast consumes a lot of energy.

It means there's a reason to move quickly despite the energy cost.

She's very busy, so why did she come here just to stab me once?

'Am I that tempting to stab?'

She couldn't think that Bizhen came just because she missed her sister.

---

Just before departure, Viola seemed to remember something and turned her horse back to the ducal mansion.

"Why are you doing that?"

"I forgot something."

"Shall I bring it for you?"

"I'll go myself."

Zeon couldn't bring it.

Because what she forgot wasn't an object but a person.

'There will be many attacks.'

After hearing Zeon's words, she felt uneasy.

So, she decided to bring Hixon.

With Hixon, Zeon, and Tundra.

This should be enough to feel safe.

"Huh? Me? I'm not sure..."

"Why?"

"Well..."

Hixon hesitated and finally spoke.

"When I was young, I beat him up a bit."

"Why?"

"Um."

Hixon scratched the back of his head with his large hand, embarrassed.

"I confessed to my first love."

"Were you dating?"

"No?"

"So, you beat him up even though you weren't dating, just because you confessed to someone you liked?"

"I was young back then."

Hixon kept avoiding Viola's gaze.

He couldn't lie, but it was embarrassing to tell the truth as an adult.

"Did you apologize?"

"Well, it's been so long, and, um, you know..."

"You didn't apologize."

Hixon was sweating profusely.

It's been over twenty years.

Wouldn't it be more awkward to pretend to know about it now?

"If the person who hit you remembers this much, the person who was hit must have a bruise in their heart."

"Pfft, a guy wouldn't be like that, would he?"

"Men hurt just as much, whether it's a woman or not."

Hixon slumped his shoulders.

"A deep bruise in the heart doesn't heal no matter how much time passes. Isn't that true, Uncle?"

Hixon couldn't meet Viola's eyes.

In fact, Hixon knew.

There was a deep bruise in his heart too.

He pretended to be fine, but he wasn't.

The face of his daughter became clearer with each passing day.

"So, apologize sincerely. I'll give you the chance."

In the end, Hixon decided to go with them.

Three days passed.

Zeon wiped the blood-stained dagger and tilted his head.

"The frequency of attacks seems much higher than usual."

Hixon agreed.

"They seem quite well-trained."

During the three days, there were seven attacks.

Since they entered the mountains two days ago, it means they faced seven attacks in two days.

"These aren't just ordinary bandits, Viola. Did you secretly go somewhere and kill people?"

"No, I didn't."

Viola fell into thought.

'Zeon might know the reason.'

He might know but choose not to tell her.

To silently test her qualifications as Bella Tu.

'If that's the case, I need to... give an answer.'

As she thought this, new possibilities began to emerge.