Chapter 56

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.

---

"Let me ask you. Was my father's choice wrong?"

"It was not wrong."

After saying that, the count fell silent for a long time before finally speaking with great effort.

"In fact, I knew too."

Then he covered his face and sobbed.

Viola suddenly felt that Count Seal's body had shrunk a lot.

He seemed to have shrunk and looked pitiful.

The noble Count Seal, who was described in the novel as having an unwavering belief that could face death, was not present here.

'He knew?'

She hadn't expected it.

That he already knew about his son's deviation.

It was never mentioned in the novel.

'Gelton died at the hands of Bichen, and Count Seal died at the hands of Heron.'

That was the content of the novel.

'He knew but pretended not to know?'

Viola looked at Count Seal, who was sobbing silently.

The more she looked, the more she understood.

'He wanted to be a father to Seal, not just a noble.'

The father didn't want to reveal that his son had deviated.

He didn't want the fact that his son had delved into dark magic to be exposed to the world.

'As a father, he ignored his own beliefs and couldn't punish his son.'

She decided not to judge right or wrong.

Gelton was already dead.

In other words, Count Seal had paid the price by losing his son.

"For whatever reason, Gelton had a father."

Count Seal, who had been sobbing, looked at Viola.

Her words were unexpected.

'He had a father.'

It was also what Count Seal wanted to hear.

"I always wanted to be a tree for that child."

"......"

"I wanted to be a strong protector."

That's why he poured excessive love and affection.

"A father's love for his son is a noble thing."

Viola truly believed that.

Some people said that a parent's love for their child was a given.

But Han Ahreum, who had been abandoned by her parents, didn't think so.

It wasn't a given.

Everyone might take it for granted because they all had it, but Han Ahreum didn't have that given thing.

"I'm sorry. I was wrong."

"Even if the method was a bit wrong, I can't deny that your heart was noble."

Viola bit her lip slightly.

Even though it was a misguided paternal love, the count's love was real.

'I am not a judge.'

She didn't want to judge right or wrong.

She decided not to judge the heart of a father who had already lost his beloved son.

'He lost his most beloved son, and that must have been the greatest punishment.'

She thought there was no need to press further on someone who had already paid the price.

"Thank you for your kind words."

After a long time, the count took out a handkerchief and wiped his eyes.

His eyes were bloodshot.

"Lord Gelton must have always felt strong.

That's why he could act boldly in Winter Castle."

It wasn't just the side effects of dark magic.

Gelton believed in his father.

Even though it manifested in a bad way, his belief in his father was solid.

"You were a trusted father."

If I had such a father.

My father said he would come back after a hundred nights, but he never returned.

"I will not judge you, Count."

"I may not agree with your methods, but I can empathize with your heart. You may not have been an excellent father, but you were a warm one."

Viola approached the count.

She extended her hand to the count, who looked infinitely small and exposed.

The count placed his hand on hers as if he were enchanted.

His hand was very small, but it didn't feel small.

Viola's presence felt very significant.

"Violetta Bellaudo, the special envoy of Bellaudo, declares that Bellaudo will not hold Gelton's dark magic or Count Seal's negligence responsible. Because the count has already received the greatest and most painful punishment."

The count knelt on one knee.

The young lady was speaking as a special envoy.

These words were also a message from Bellaudo to the Seals.

She observed the etiquette.

"Miss Violetta Bellaudo, as a father, I appreciate your understanding of my noble heart and my choices as a father. Therefore, I request this of the Seals."

Viola knelt down.

She matched the count's eye level.

"Can you understand my father's position?"

The count's body trembled.

Viola continued.

"My father also has a father's position. He is a great ruler of Winter Castle, the first shield protecting humanity from the snow, and the head of Bellaudo, but before all that, he is a human, Heron, and a father to many siblings."

"......"

"That's why he wanted to protect Gelton's and his father's honor."

"Did the duke say that?"

"My father didn't say it directly. If he did, the count's honor would be ruined. Everything I say is what I have thought on my own."

She looked at the novel and the author's setting book.

Even though she hadn't heard it directly from her father, it was probably true.

After all, the author is the creator of this world.

"So the judgment is entirely up to you, Count."

Viola stood up.

She slowly withdrew her hand.

"If you accept the special envoy's request,

a friendly relationship will be established between Bellaudo and Seals. If you don't, Bellaudo and Seals will become enemies. Seals can declare war on Bellaudo."

In return, she made one promise.

"Even if war is declared, I will protect the count's honor."

Heron Bellaudo would do that.

He would respect the count's honor, even if he were to be killed, because he admired the count's courage in declaring war on Bellaudo.

Xeon smiled.

"There's no way out."

In fact, Count Seals had no choice.

From the moment Count Seals confessed that he 'already knew,' the advantage was with Viola.

Although it was in the form of a request, Viola's words were a declaration.

'On the surface, it seems like Count Seals has a choice, but in reality, the choice is with Bellaudo.'

Count Seals knelt and bowed.

He sobbed for a long time in that position.

It was a tear of self-reproach.

A tear of remorse for his misguided paternal love that had ruined his son.

"Thank you, Lady Violetta Bellaudo, for opening my eyes."

Her heart ached.

No matter how well it was packaged, the pain of losing a son was indescribable.

And the thought that it was his own fault made Count Seals even more miserable.

"And......"

She spoke to Viola, the person, not Lady Bellaudo.

"I sincerely thank you."

For calling me a warm father.

The words stuck in her throat.

***

Two days passed.

Xeon wrote a formal report.

"I plan to use magical communication to send a brief report. I will submit the formal report in person when I return, Lady."

"You don't have to tell me everything.

Do your job."

"Still, I want to impress you, Lady."

Xeon smiled.

"So, did you like it?"

"How can I judge that?"

"Judge it."

Xeon's smile deepened.

"There could be no more beautiful result."

Without losing Bellaudo's authority and honor, she made Count Seals admit his mistake, and he even offered to apologize.

Xeon continued with a smile.

"I was truly impressed by Lady's ability to move people's hearts."

"Move people's hearts?"

"Yes. It seems like you have the magic to move hearts, even if it was misguided but noble paternal love."

Xeon naturally thought it was an act.

No matter how noble, if it was misguided, it was no longer noble.

'If it were the original Lady, she would have definitely thought that.'

Lady Bellaudo would.

She is the famous Iron Blood Bellaudo.

A person who acts based on rationality and judgment.

'You know exactly how to thoroughly manipulate and conquer the other side.'

He included this in the report.

"Report. Shall I show it to you?"

"Is this report for me?"

Viola didn't fully trust Xeon.

In the original story, Xeon was the one who kept testing Viola until the end.

Even with such a kind expression and smile.

'If I show it to her right away, she might be disappointed.'

Xeon answered.

"The report is for the duke."

"Then do it yourself."

"I want to show it to you......"

Xeon was sincere.

It wasn't a test.

To be precise, Xeon didn't fully understand his own feelings.

'Me. Do I want praise?'

I wrote a good report.

So please look at it and praise me.

That's how he felt.

Although Xeon didn't fully realize it, that night,

Xeon used the magical communication device to send the report.

[Based on her cold and rational judgment, she has the ability to touch the other party's emotions and persuade them.

She can thoroughly act as a character who is very empathetic, warm, and can offer comforting words.

Therefore, Lady Violetta Bellaudo has perfectly proven her outstanding ability as White Bellaudo.]

One additional note was added.

[Given the boldness and skill shown in cutting off the count's ear, it is also judged that she has outstanding ability as Black Bellaudo. Of course, this was a planned action within her thorough calculation as White Bellaudo.

Both her ability as Black Bellaudo and her ability as White Bellaudo are excellent.

This is the personal opinion of Butler Xeon.]

After sending the report, he looked out the window.

'Hmm?'

He felt something strange.

'What is it?'

Far below,

he sensed someone's presence.

It wasn't the presence of the Seals.

This presence was clearly that of a trained individual.

'Who?'

The presence was heading towards Viola's bedroom.