Chapter 74

Xiaoming stood at the classroom door, took a deep breath, and firmly gripped the secret letter given to him by his mother.

074 Chapter: Heron sat in the chair placed at the center of the long dining table and said with a blank expression.

"Surprising. For the lady to volunteer to dine with Viola."

"The order is wrong."

The Duchess Isabella smiled faintly.

"I didn't invite Viola to dine, but rather wanted to have a cozy evening with you, and it just so happened that Viola joined us."

"I see."

Heron nodded once.

His attitude suggested that it didn't matter either way.

"Please show a bit more affection in front of Viola. Even though our relationship is a contract for mutual benefit, we are still a couple in public."

"I will keep that in mind."

"Even if I push Viola a bit, you won't mind, will you?"

"Of course not."

"That's a relief."

Heron frowned slightly.

He couldn't understand why the lady was asking such questions.

The Duchess Isabella was the clear second-in-command of this duchy and had the authority to discipline or push someone.

Isabella was an excellent colleague and companion, handling the internal affairs of the duchy almost flawlessly.

Whether it was Viola or Medeia, she was in a position to discipline them.

'Both of us know this well.'

Heron spoke in a tone devoid of emotion.

"Lady, you are asking something that doesn't need to be asked."

"Have I ever asked something that didn't need to be asked?"

Heron closed his eyes as if thinking.

After a moment's thought.

"No."

"Then why do you think my question is worthless?"

"I hope it doesn't become the first worthless question."

"Let's make sure it doesn't."

Eventually, Viola arrived.

Isabella spoke first.

"You're late, Viola."

"I remember the agreed time was 8:00."

The Duchess Isabella glanced at the magical engineering clock on the wall.

A masterpiece that allowed no error, not even 0.1 seconds.

The clock pointed to exactly 7:58.

"Perhaps it's not that I'm late, but that you're early, Mother?"

Viola walked gracefully.

She hid her nervousness and maintained a composed demeanor.

'Why is Isabella here?'

Isabella usually dined alone.

Occasionally, she would dine with Bichen, but only when he needed discipline.

'Isabella might have given Bichen a special poison...’

Or,

'Bichen's mind needed reprogramming...’

In any case, Isabella enjoyed dining alone, to the point that rumors spread that she drank blood every night.

'It can't be a good sign for me.'

In a way, Isabella was the most difficult person in this duchy.

Isabella wanted her son, the Second Son Garcia, to inherit the duchy.

She believed that Garcia was the only one capable of succeeding Bellato.

Because of this, she had alienated the other siblings and even raised Bichen, her own son, as a monster.

All for Garcia to become the head of the family.

'An absolute character setting.'

While other characters could be swayed and brought to her side, Isabella was different.

She was a character who, from birth, clearly distinguished between allies and enemies and never changed her position.

'Isabella wouldn't try to poison me directly.'

She wasn't that naive.

Isabella was competent and the second-in-command of Bellato.

She wouldn't use any strange tricks in front of the Duke.

Viola thought, looking into Isabella's eyes.

'The eyes of a venomous snake, hiding poison in its fangs.'

In the original story, Viola always remained on guard when meeting Isabella.

Viola instinctively avoided and felt uncomfortable around Isabella.

"Of course, if you find it unpleasant that I arrived with two minutes to spare, I apologize. I'll come a bit earlier next time."

Heron spoke instead.

"Sit down."

"Excuse me."

Xeon pulled out the chair, and Viola sat down gracefully.

The first dish served was a mushroom cream soup.

Despite the steam rising from the cream soup, making her mouth water, the atmosphere was suffocating.

'I'd rather eat alone.'

She didn't understand why she was called to such an uncomfortable setting.

After a few sips of soup, Heron said.

"I heard you were injured."

"Yes, a little."

Viola glanced at Xeon, who was standing far away.

'There was no need to report it.'

Xeon was overly strict and inflexible.

Viola had never told Heron about her injury.

Yet, Heron knew.

That meant Xeon had reported it on his own.

"The wound doesn't seem deep."

"Yes, I deliberately offered my body."

Isabella, who hadn't even taken a few sips of soup, put down her spoon and dabbed her lips with a napkin.

Every action exuded grace and composure.

"Still, isn't the skill gap between you and Xeon too obvious?"

"Would I be here if it were that obvious?"

"Medeia didn't arrive in time.

If she hadn't, you might not be here."

"Then it was my fault. It was my choice, and I would have paid the price with my life, Mother."

Isabella nodded.

A faint smile played on her lips.

"You're right. A well-understood statement of Bellato."

Viola instantly grasped the subtle difference in nuance.

Instead of saying, 'A statement worthy of Bellato,' she said, 'A well-understood statement of Bellato.'

The intention was clear.

"Is it necessary to point out that I'm not a pure-blooded Bellato?"

"I didn't mean it that way. If it sounded that way, I apologize."

Viola's insides burned.

Isabella remained composed and smiled faintly.

It was hard to read her, making her difficult to deal with.

Isabella slowly shifted her gaze to the Duke.

"Then, what do you plan to do about the butler?"

Isabella's intention was clear.

Viola, who was so Bellato-like, had been attacked and injured by Xeon, the butler.

Even if it was a test Viola had intended, the fact that she was injured remained unchanged.

Viola wanted to cry.

'I don't know if the soup is going down my throat or up my nose.'

A family dinner could be this uncomfortable.

Viola had always dreamed of a family and longed for a simple evening with them, but she didn't want this.

She never wanted to have dinner with them again.

Meanwhile, Heron had finished his soup bowl.

'Father ate it all?'

Somehow, the bowl was spotlessly clean.

He must have used mana on the spoon to control it precisely.

The fact that he could control it so finely meant the Duke was in a very relaxed state.

It was a bit annoying.

He seemed to be the only one who was full and at ease.

'Annoying, but...'

Meanwhile, he was handsome, and seeing him eat so well made her feel proud.

'I must be crazy.'

Maybe it was a side effect of being a fan.

No matter how she thought about it, this wasn't normal.

Even in this state, she felt good that her favorite character was eating well.

Her favorite character spoke.

"Xeon claimed it as his own."

"Yes."

"Then have you decided on the punishment?"

"I believe I showed my decision by having Xeon serve me excellently just now."

Xeon was still serving Viola, pulling out her chair as usual.

He had also escorted her to this place.

The Duke didn't comment on this.

"I see."

"Why do you show such a soft side to Xeon, when you are so Bellato-like to everyone else?"

She understood what 'eyes like a venomous snake' meant in the novel.

Her expression was gentle, but the aura was deadly.

It felt like she was probing and scrutinizing every corner of her heart.

If she found a small weakness...

She would tear it apart mercilessly.

Viola replied.

"Is it wrong to show a soft side?"

"Those destined to rule must be cruel to those closest to them. It's a sad reality."

One must adhere to principles and rules, even with those closest to them.

Otherwise, discipline would slacken, and the ruler's surroundings would slowly decay.

"That's why rulers are lonely. Your father, and my husband, for example."

"What a sad thing."

"It's sad, but it's a burden one must bear."

In other words, Viola was also not properly bearing her burden.

"If you truly want to be Bellato..."

He pointed at Xeon with his finger.

"You should cut off Xeon's head to establish principles and rules."

"Your minor mistakes will become fatal weaknesses that will torment you. In the distant future, you won't be able to justify them."

The Bellato family values principles and rules more than any other.

It naturally formed this way to protect humanity from the 'snowy north.'

To face the powerful monsters from the north and protect humanity from their land.

The Bellato family had to adhere to principles and rules more than anyone.

'Isabella... will try to find and exploit my weaknesses.'

There should be no room for error.

She had already given up on trying to sway Isabella to her side.

Even if she incurred Isabella's dislike—she already seemed to dislike her—she had to handle the situation regardless.

"Isn't justification only necessary for the weak?"

"Even the strong need justification, Viola. You are still young and don't understand the world."

Viola felt Isabella's eyes flash.

She had found a weakness.

Being young and not fully understanding. Justification isn't only for the weak.

"The Duke is the strongest, but he doesn't act without justification."

That was true.

Justification was important.

No matter how strong Duke Heron was, he couldn't fight the entire human race.

Viola nodded.

"You're right, I'm young. I'm still a child who hasn't even entered society."

Isabella was a bit surprised.

She didn't expect Viola to admit her youth so readily.

To Isabella, Viola was a girl who fit the role of the Iron-Blooded Duchess and had the strongest pride.

So, when she poked at her pride, she didn't expect such an admission.

It was an attitude unbecoming of a twelve-year-old.

"So, can I speak like a twelve-year-old? If I were absolutely strong, I could say that justification isn't necessary, right?"

"Pointing out that it's an immature thought."

"I think twelve is a good age to be a bit immature. I'm twelve, after all."

Heron's fork paused as he was enjoying a tomato-based pasta and perfectly grilled shellfish with butter.

He silently put down his fork.

He seemed curious about what Viola would say next.

"There are many Bellato-like people in this duchy. My older brother Bichen is one of them."

She deliberately mentioned Bichen.

Although her methods were a bit strange, Isabella cherished Bichen deeply.

"However, I don't think that hardness alone will complete Bellato.

There are already five solid Bellato members in the Citadel."

Viola picked up a piece of grilled scallop with her fork.

Watching Heron eat so well, she really wanted to eat too.

There were ten scallops in total, and Heron had already eaten seven.

Only three were left, and a twelve-year-old Viola felt a strong sense of duty to secure at least one.

"One can complete Bellato in a different way."

Crunch.

Chew.

Chew.

'This is it!'

If she had to name one good thing about being possessed, it was the ability to enjoy delicious food.

These beautiful dishes that kept her going in this harsh world of swords and magic.

'Delicious.'

Viola experienced heavenly flavors.

Biting into the still warm scallop, thanks to the magical dishware, the unique aroma of the shellfish filled her mouth. It was not the least bit fishy and was very savory.

The texture was incredibly soft yet chewy, almost like well-made cheese.

Viola mumbled with her mouth full.

"So, I want to complete Bellato in my own way."

"You seemed like the Iron-Blooded Duchess, but you're a dreamer."

Isabella looked relieved.

Viola must have seemed like a young girl lost in her dreams.

Viola knew it wasn't bad to appear that way to Isabella, but she wasn't the only one at the table.

'Someone who can greatly influence Heron.'

She couldn't appear that way in front of Heron.

"I'll show you that I'm not, right here."

"Here? Your ambition is beautiful, but excessive self-confidence is worse than none."

"You're right. I know."

"But I'm doing this to survive."

Viola hid her true feelings and smiled composedly.

"You'll see if it's excessive self-confidence or not."

She turned to the Duke.

"If Father allows it, I'll prove it here. I'll show how to complete Bellato without being hard."