Chapter 84

I overdid it with the role of the adopted daughter. In Chapter 084, Viola moved to a different seat and confided all her secrets to Ersa.

She told her everything that happened at the Seal Manor without leaving anything out.

"Do you understand why I’m telling you all this?"

This was information that had not been made public.

If this information were to leak, the honor of the Seal Manor would be ruined, and even the honor that Heron Bellato had tried to protect would be mocked.

Ersa swallowed hard.

'She’s bound me with a secret I shouldn’t know.'

Ersa nodded.

"There’s one thing I’m sure of."

"What is it?"

"That the second son of the Leibarten family is a shameless person who destroys other people’s precious families."

Viola smiled with satisfaction.

To Ersa, someone who destroys other people’s families is like a pathogen.

"Still, don’t show too much contempt on your face."

"I understand. I will always be on guard and prepared, as a warrior going to war."

Viola felt a bit relieved.

From Ersa’s expression and attitude, it seemed unlikely that she would be toyed with by Serphon.

***

Viola said,

"I’ve made my decision. Thank you for the invitation, Serphon."

The second son of the Leibarten family.

Serphon tilted his head for a moment.

'Is this young lady the actual leader of this group?'

He knew who this young lady was.

According to rumors, she was Bellato’s adopted daughter and known as the Iron Blood Duchess.

However, Serphon didn’t pay much attention to such titles.

'She’s just a kid, after all.'

Rumors are always exaggerated.

The further away they are, the more distorted and exaggerated they become.

'Rumors are just rumors.'

Serphon put aside his interest in Viola.

In fact, his attention was solely on Ersa.

He smiled at Ersa and said,

"I’m delighted to invite you all. I will escort you. The noble ladies who have come from the North, friends of Bellato."

Viola replied politely,

"I sincerely appreciate the invitation."

"This is Lady Bellato’s Sixth Duchess, right? Lady Viola?"

"Do you know me?"

"Of course. I’ve heard that you have cold blood flowing through your veins."

Serphon then turned his gaze to Hera.

"And the lady sitting there must be the famous Lady Hera, right?"

"Am I famous?"

"They say you’re like a flower of the eleventh hour, elegant and noble."

"Is that so?"

"Yes. In reality, your silver hair is like silk, and your silver eyes are like a snow-covered lake. You seem to be growing into a lady who is purer and more beautiful than anyone else."

"Thank you for the compliment."

Viola frowned for a moment.

'Flower of the eleventh hour?'

The flower of the eleventh hour was a special flower in this world.

It grows in barren lands and blooms with beautiful silver flowers for only ten days.

After ten days, the flower of the eleventh hour withers and turns to dust.

Serphon’s description of Hera as a flower of the eleventh hour carried several meanings.

' ‘The Bellato family is a barren and savage soil.

Serphon thinks of warriors as savage and violent people.

Therefore, he almost despised them.

He also tended to believe that all violence in the world was due to warriors or the martial arts they practiced.

'Growing in such a barren place, even if you struggle to live despite being born with a limp, you’re ultimately just a ten-day wonder.'

This was the meaning behind his words.

It seemed that Serphon wanted to help Ersa escape from this savage group.

'He probably thinks he’s truly in love.'

It’s a ridiculous notion, but Serphon always believed he was truly in love.

When he seduced and slept with the Countess of Seal, he genuinely believed he loved her.

Although that love lasted only a day, he thought so, and he probably still does.

If he had to express it, it would be something like, 'Oh, beautiful Ersa, won’t you escape from this bloodthirsty savage group and share a beautiful love with me?'

Viola glanced at Hera out of the corner of her eye.

'She must have noticed.'

Hera must have realized that Serphon was insulting her.

She might have even known that she would meet Serphon at the 7th shelter.

'She’s not reacting much.'

Hera was a bit different from usual.

What bothered Viola was the subtle smile on Hera’s face.

It seemed like she had some plan.

It was like the calm before the storm.

'Ugh, scary.'

Hera was the one who really tormented the original Viola in the story.

Indeed, she was someone who shouldn’t be made an enemy.

Becoming friends with Hera was a stroke of genius.

'For now, everything’s fine.'

Nothing unusual happened until they reached the entrance of the Parah Baronet.

Serphon said,

"The road we’re passing through now is the second route to Parah, the Silver Road."

They walked past the Silver Road.

'There are so many people here.'

So many people had gathered in this desolate place.

Prince Serphon walked with his shoulders back and a confident stride.

In the Parah Baronet, he enjoyed power and prestige almost equal to that of the royal family.

Indeed, whispers could be heard.

"Which family has been invited as a VIP by the Leibarten family?"

"I wonder. I don’t recognize them."

Some people recognized Hera.

"I know the young lady in the wheelchair. She’s the Fourth Duchess of Bellato, Hera."

"Bellato?"

The people waiting on the Silver Road were a bit confused when they realized who Viola’s group was.

"Bellato is located at the northernmost part of the kingdom."

"Yes. The Winter Castle. They seem to be the children of the Duke of Winter Castle."

To most nobles, the Winter Castle is a mysterious and legendary place.

It is the frontline shield protecting humanity from the 'snowy wasteland,' but very few people have actually visited it.

Especially not the nobles who avoid danger.

"Why would the Duke of Bellato come to the Parah Baronet?"

"That’s what I’m wondering. It’s quite strange."

One of the reasons the Bellato family became so mysterious was that they didn’t actively participate in social circles.

Even recently, when Hera started attending social events, she wasn’t very active.

"Even more strange, when did the Duke of Bellato and the Leibarten family become close?"

It was a mystery to them.

"I heard the Winter Castle is a savage and terrifying place, but maybe it’s not as bad as that?"

"Perhaps Prince Serphon is being threatened right now?"

Some people had reasonable suspicions, but they soon faded.

"Still, Prince Serphon’s expression is so beautiful."

"Really. He looks like a boy in love."

At this point, Serphon’s true nature was still unknown, and many people were captivated by his handsome appearance, admiring him.

One boy grumbled,

"I’ve been waiting here for 13 hours. Isn’t this unfair?"

Viola heard the grumbling but pretended not to.

'This is really stressful.'

It seemed that the rumor about having to camp for three days and nights to enter the Parah Baronet wasn’t a lie.

'The gazes are intense.'

Envious and resentful gazes.

On the other hand, curious gazes.

An overwhelming number of gazes were focused on them.

Before even properly entering the social circles, they were receiving so much attention.

Whenever Hera’s eyes met someone’s, she would smile slightly and bow her head, but Viola couldn’t do that.

'I’ll just ignore them.'

She kept her eyes forward and walked.

After passing the Silver Road, they stood in front of the Golden Road.

During this time, Serphon seemed even more confident.

He asked Ersa,

"We’re almost there. Was your journey here comfortable?"

"I’m fine."

Viola shook her head secretly.

'How could a demon sword user feel uncomfortable just walking this road?'

Serphon probably thought he was being considerate of Ersa, but as a warrior, Ersa would have found it unpleasant.

'He doesn’t know what kind of people Bellato’s butlers are.'

Viola felt a bit more at ease.

Unaware of Viola’s inner thoughts, Serphon confidently said,

"This is the most splendid road to Parah, the Golden Road."

Then, Serphon added something absurd.

"Can I ask a favor of the Lady of the Eleventh Hour?"

The Golden Road was the most prestigious road leading to the Parah Baronet.

Direct descendants of noble families.

Families that had long-standing friendships with noble families or had received favors from them.

Only VIPs invited by noble families could walk this road.

"What kind of favor?"

"Could you put the wheelchair in a subspace for a moment?"

"Is the road designed so that wheelchairs can’t pass?"

"It’s not that, but there’s no precedent for it. The Parah Baronet is a very conservative place, and as a direct descendant of Leibarten, I feel burdened to break tradition."

Though he spoke in a roundabout way, his true intention was simple.

He wanted her to hide the wheelchair in a subspace because it didn’t fit the prestigious Golden Road.

Viola shook her head again secretly.

'You really have no idea what you’re dealing with.'

It seemed that Serphon wanted to show off his noble lineage.

'I can make such demands to Bellato, oh beautiful Ersa, come to my safe shelter and I will protect you, roughly that kind of meaning.'

'No need to worry.'

Viola was completely at ease.