Chapter 98

A

"Little did I know I'd be too good at playing the role of an adopted daughter." Chapter 98: Selina liked to sit on the Emperor's lap.

"What if someone sees you?"

Monark, the colossal empire that governs over 70% of the central continent.

Nelarc, the Sword Emperor who ruled over Monark, blushed slightly.

He, a warrior who had lived his life with a sword, always found situations like this strange.

"You're so cute."

Selina gently stroked Nelarc's ear.

Seeing Nelarc's ears turn bright red, she couldn't help but burst into laughter.

"Who would think of you as the Sword Emperor when they see you like this?"

"I am not the Sword Emperor."

"People say that."

"That's just because I am the Emperor."

Nelarc truly believed that.

If anyone had to be called the Sword Emperor, he thought it shouldn't be him.

The one truly worthy of the title of Sword Emperor was the one guarding the north.

Heron, the Duke who stood as the frontline shield protecting humanity from the 'Blizzard Land.'

"Still, you're so cute."

"I wish you would consider my dignity a bit more."

"What's wrong with being cute? Being cute is the best."

Nelarc cleared his throat.

Selina, who had been with him since childhood, seemed especially beautiful and lovely lately.

Selina said,

"Didn't we first meet at the Watercress Ball? Back then, it was called the 'Tender Watercress Ball.'"

Nowadays, one enters society at the age of twelve, but back then, it was at seven.

This was often referred to as a preliminary practice.

A social gathering for unmarried boys and girls from the ages of seven to twelve.

That was the 'Tender Watercress Ball.'

"From there, I marked you."

Selina and Nelarc were the same age and first met at the 'Tender Watercress Ball' when they were seven.

"You were just a naive fool who only knew about swords back then."

Nelarc only started to see Selina as a woman in his mid-thirties.

Until then, Nelarc had been a man who only knew about swords.

"I always appreciate that you've waited for me for so long."

Nelarc looked at Selina with affectionate eyes.

Selina had always been consistent and always stood by his side.

Without Selina's help, there would be no Emperor today.

"There's a very promising child at this Watercress Ball."

"Who?"

"Viola Bellato, the adopted daughter of Winter Castle. She has been spreading her presence everywhere even before entering society."

"Bellato is hesitant to expand into the central continent."

"I know. They are honorable people who live by their mission to protect humanity from the 'Blizzard Land.'"

"It's not that they are hesitant. They just find the intrigues and politics of lesser people annoying."

Nelarc knew Heron well.

Including the reasons why Heron didn't participate in politics.

Nelarc sometimes envied Heron.

'He must be even stronger now.'

Heron must be fighting every day in the 'Blizzard Land,' where endless monsters pour out.

Swinging his sword with his life on the line in a thrilling battlefield.

He enjoys it.

All the Bellatos throughout history have been like that.

A group that stands proudly as the rulers of the north.

A collection of warriors who rarely come down from the north and are often underestimated.

"What if Bellato decides to expand into the central continent?"

"Bellato will not choose that path."

Not only is it troublesome, but they are well aware of their own strength.

The protruding nail gets hammered.

Bellato is too strong and would become a target for all factions.

The strongest shield can also become the strongest spear.

"Because they know that as the strongest shield, they would also be the most feared weapon. They will not leave Winter Castle."

"Until now, that has been the case. But the Viola Bellato I saw is different.

She has built a close relationship with the Southern Storm Fortress and made Hixon her own."

"Hixon?"

"Yes, the Hixon who has connections all over the continent. Moreover, it's said that she recently did a great favor for the Louisbarten family."

"For the Louisbarten family?"

Indeed, it was an uncharacteristic move for Bellato.

Bellato of the north.

Louisbarten of Parua.

Two families that seemed to have no common ground.

"Even receiving a gift from Carlo, the chief designer, who was a student of the master."

"I don't think these are coincidences."

Viola clearly showed her ambition to dominate Bellato at the welcome banquet for ten-year-olds.

She even chose the 'White Bellato,' an unusual choice.

"That child knows. She knows that the current Bellato cannot rule the world."

Bellato was the strongest family but had never ruled the world.

The world has always been ruled by those weaker than Bellato.

"That's why she wants to complete Bellato. A completed Bellato.

What impact would it have on the continent?"

"Are you suggesting she dreams of rebellion?"

"Perhaps. I want to gauge how grand her dreams are."

Selina's eyes narrowed.

"Her fate will depend on whether her grand dreams benefit or harm the Empire."

Selina loved the Monark Empire.

She had grown it with Nelarc since childhood.

In a sense, the Monark Empire was also Selina's alter ego.

"If her dreams are beautiful, I will embrace her and make the Empire even more prosperous."

Conversely,

"If her dreams are dirty, I will have to make a different choice."

Nelarc's body twitched.

Nelarc feared no one in the world, but he was afraid of Selina.

Selina was the only person he feared in the world.

"Let's focus on our time for now."

She whispered a nickname they had used in secret since childhood into Nelarc's ear.

"Nelar."

A

"I have a proposal for all the distinguished guests."

Selina was the second-in-command of the Empire, and some even said she was the first.

In any case, there was no one in this room who would refuse or reject Selina's proposal.

"There are special boys and girls among the guests. Of course, everyone here is special, but a few are particularly distinguished and will add even more luster to this event."

People perked up their ears.

Sometimes, the organizers arrange special events.

This seemed to be one of those times.

"I hope you will find these special people and pair up with them. There are no restrictions.

Girls with girls, boys with boys, or boys with girls."

It was a gathering for young heirs, from twelve to seventeen years old.

"Twelve and seventeen."

Age difference.

Gender difference.

Social status.

None of these mattered, she said.

"Please pair up without any conditions. The number doesn't matter either, as long as the special people are included."

She said it would be fine even if ten people paired up.

The important thing was how many of the 'special people' Selina mentioned were included.

"On the seventh day, I plan to give a great gift to those who find good partners."

Selina revealed an item.

It was something she had brought from the imperial treasure vault, a blue diamond the size of a child's fist.

"I will give this as a gift."

The eyes of many young heirs sparkled.

The blue diamond was a precious treasure, legendary across the continent.

It was so valuable that its price was hard to determine, and it was the size of a child's fist.

With something like that, one could buy a medium-sized territory or even a barony.

It was a treasure of immeasurable value.

Everyone couldn't take their eyes off the blue diamond.

Except for Viola.

'Strange. Too strange.'

It was really strange.

Why did Selina keep looking at her?

'This must be because of me. Something that wasn't in the original story suddenly popped up.'

Then, the most likely person Selina had in mind was Viola herself.

'But it can't be just because of me that she's setting up such a grand event.'

Viola couldn't read Selina's thoughts.

Selina was an extremely capable minister and was depicted as a genius in the story.

'I need to be more careful. I need to lay low.'

Viola had a hunch.

This Watercress Ball was the episode where she needed to be the most cautious.

The Watercress Ball began.

The symphony orchestra filled the ballroom, and many young heirs continued their social gathering.

Laughter and chatter echoed throughout the room, and in one corner, a pair of young men and women danced the waltz.

"Viola, do you have any idea who the 'special people' Minister Selina mentioned are?"

"No, I don't."

She didn't know if there were any special boys and girls with hidden missions.

Frankly, Viola didn't want to know.

She wanted to stay as far away from Selina's gaze as possible.

"Which direction are you planning to go?"

Without being told, the girls and boys were already pairing up and chatting.

On the first day of the Watercress Ball, they didn't reveal their names or families.

It was an unwritten rule.

Even if everyone knew each other, the implicit rule was to keep it that way.

Unlike the others who had already paired up, Hera and Viola were standing apart.

Bellato was great as a shield protecting humanity but was not particularly welcomed in high society.

"I don't really want to approach anyone first."

But all of this was just an excuse.

'I'll just stay quiet and low-key.

The timing is too bad today.

She needed to avoid Minister Selina's gaze.

She was playing the role of a not-so-bright adopted daughter of Winter Castle.

'If Sena comes and picks a fight, I'll just get a little angry.'

That would make her seem even more foolish.

It was just right in front of Selina.

The second day of the ball.

That day, she didn't even leave her quarters.

She took a walk in the garden outside 'Moon Shadow' with Hera.

Hera, sitting in a wheelchair, said,

"Surprising. You seemed so enthusiastic about high society."

"I have a lot on my mind."

"Something on your mind? What?"

Fortunately, she didn't run into Jermi, who had already become a superstar on the first day and was surrounded by people.

And she couldn't read Selina's intentions.

"Everything just seems off. Minister Selina's proposal is strange too."

Just then, a voice was heard.

"What was so strange about my proposal?"

Why.

Why are you here!

The organizer should be overseeing the ball!

She had deliberately avoided the ball to stay away from you, so why are you here!

Viola inwardly groaned.

The 'organizer' of the Watercress Ball, who shouldn't have been there, was standing in front of her.

She stood there with a smile warmer than the sun.

A breeze blew.

Her abundant golden hair fluttered like waves.

"I thought my proposal would be enjoyable for many young heirs, including Lady Viola. The blue diamond is a tremendous treasure, after all."

Selina was there.