Chapter 99

I ended up playing the role of the adopted daughter a bit too well. Chapter 099: Viola was momentarily taken aback.

She quickly thought about how to respond and act.

'I can't act too smart. But I can't appear too stupid either; I need to find that right balance.'

Even the young Hera is a terrifying and fearsome supporting character.

But now she has to deal with a seasoned schemer in her late thirties.

'No, I can do this.'

I know Selina's personality and tendencies.

Selina is a character who gets involved in many episodes in the later parts of the story and makes Viola's life difficult.

In the story, Selina decides that Viola Bella should not inherit Bellatu.

"Viola Bella is far too dangerous. In the end, her sword will be aimed at Monarch."

In fact, in the later parts of the novel, Selina is Viola's most dangerous and powerful enemy.

Information about Selina came to mind one after another.

'Now that I think about it, I've crossed a point of no return with Selina.'

Selina was originally supposed to become the Empress.

But due to Viola's wicked schemes, she can't become the Empress.

"I can't bear children, Your Majesty."

For Selina, this was equivalent to a death sentence.

"Those who cannot bear the Emperor's child are not fit to be Empress."

"No, to me, children and bloodlines are not important. You are the only one for me, Selina. In my world, there is only you. I won't marry anyone else if it's not you."

But Selina's resolve was firm.

"No, think of Monarch. For the Empire, Nellark's bloodline is essential."

In the end, Selina gives up on becoming Empress and encourages the Emperor to marry another woman.

Crying secretly every night.

Of course, Nellark is also stubborn and ends up living his life as a bachelor.

"Lady Viola?"

"Ah, I'm sorry. Seeing the famous Lady Selina made me so dazzled that I lost my words."

Hera's body twitched.

'Viola can say things like that?'

In fact, Hera was a bit worried.

She was concerned that Viola might hold her head high and act too rudely in front of Selina, but that turned out to be unfounded.

"Lady Viola is known as the Iron-Blooded Lady, but it seems the rumors have been exaggerated."

"I don't treat everyone the same. I'm standing in front of Lady Selina now, and I don't think I need to be the Iron-Blooded Lady in front of you."

Selina smiled.

"Good words. So, can you tell me what's wrong with my proposal?"

Viola sighed inwardly.

She quickly thought about how to leave a good impression, not too good and not too bad.

"From a distance, Lady Selina always seems to be dedicated to Monarch. You prioritize Monarch above all else and are willing to give up and let go of many things for Monarch's development and glory."

"Thank you for saying that. I try to live each day with that in mind."

Viola was genuinely impressed.

Her expression, eyes, the way she treated people, and every gesture were elegant.

They say grace cannot be bought with money, and now she understood what that meant.

From Selina, she felt a different kind of grace and dignity compared to Bellatu.

"And I know you highly value the cooperation and unity of the nobles."

"Why do you think that?"

In fact, this was the general evaluation of Selina across the continent.

It wasn't particularly special or secret.

So she could continue without feeling too much pressure.

"You can see that from the Golden Road. Bellatu and Winter Castle have been intentionally excluded from central power. Of course, that wasn't necessarily wrong. Bellatu wasn't particularly interested in central power, and I think it was a mutual understanding."

"An interesting point. Please continue."

"But Lady Selina proposed to create a trade route connecting Bellatu and Monarch. Bellatu, a giant sword, could also be aimed at Monarch."

Hera's body twitched.

If misinterpreted, those words could sound like treason.

"I felt that Lady Selina prioritizes unity and cooperation when I saw you make such a bold decision. The Selina I saw is someone like that."

"Do you see me as a man obsessed with the empire's prosperity, regardless of the danger? Is that what you think?"

"That's what I wanted to say."

In short, a capable strategist obsessed with the empire.

That's how she could see it.

"Good. So, what's next?"

"Such a person suggesting to form a political force and a faction at the Forget-Me-Not Ball seemed strange to me."

"I never said that. I asked you to look for young boys and girls with special missions."

No way.

Viola didn't believe that.

'It was a more aggressive order to form a faction. Using the pretext of finding people with special missions, you could form a faction more actively.'

She was certain of it internally but said something different outwardly.

"If that's the case, it was my misunderstanding. I'm sorry. I must have viewed Lady Selina's grand vision with a narrow perspective."

Viola subtly observed.

Good.

Let's show a childish side now.

"Lady Selina said that, regardless of the conditions, I should find special people and give great gifts to those who find good matches."

"That's right."

"I've already found the most special person at the Forget-Me-Not Ball."

Viola gripped the wheelchair tighter.

Her gaze was directed at the back of Hera's head.

She could feel Hera's body slightly twitch.

"The most special person to me is my sister."

Viola was inwardly satisfied with her answer.

'Selina will be disappointed in me.'

Selina is undoubtedly warm, but when she's cold, she's colder than anyone.

Regardless, this is a process of building political power and forming factions.

In this process, Viola avoided the war and showed a very childish way of thinking: 'My most special person is my sister.'

'Selina will think I need to make rational and political calculations in such a situation. I'll appear like a child who is lost in idealistic dreams while pretending to be smart.'

That's how Selina would think in the later parts of the novel.

'Well done, Viola. I'm just a kid.'

She would definitely appear like a kid.

I guess I'm a scheming protagonist after all.

Viola was very satisfied with today's meeting.

***

Lady Selina returned to the Haileys Marquisate.

As she entered her room, which she had used since childhood, she saw a mysterious masked figure.

"You!"

Selina wasn't afraid.

Even with a mask, she could immediately tell who it was.

"I came secretly because I missed you."

"You've been eliminated as Emperor. Isn't it your working hours now?"

"I am a man who loves you before I am Emperor."

"You've become quite good at saying embarrassing things. Maybe you can get married soon."

Selina could see it.

Though hidden behind the mask, Nellark's face must be very red.

"Can we see your handsome face, Your Majesty?"

Selina and Nellark had a secret conversation.

"So, did you meet Viola?"

"Yes. She's an excellent and upright child."

"You look very pleased. It seems you really like her."

"Yes. She saw through the purpose of my proposal and the message I sent very clearly."

If Viola heard this, she would be furious.

"What was the message you sent?"

"To look after the precious people by my side before anyone else."

Viola had misunderstood something.

The Selina at this point and the Selina in the later parts of the novel were very different.

What Viola knew and understood was the Selina from the later parts of the novel.

Selina is one of the characters who shows the most dramatic personality changes throughout the novel.

She is a supporting character who becomes active in the later parts, and Viola could only grasp her personality after that.

"Would I really send a message to form a faction and build power at the Forget-Me-Not Ball?"

"That's what everyone thought."

"Did you think that too, Your Majesty?"

Selina's eyes narrowed.

Her lips slightly protruded, and the Great Sword Emperor Nellark felt a sense of crisis.

"Of course not."

Cold sweat trickled down his back.

I thought that because everyone said so.

"The Lady Viola who read my hidden intentions is very commendable. I could feel her sincerity in her attitude and gaze towards her sister."

"It's been a long time since I've heard someone praised like that."

Nellark suddenly felt a desire to be praised by Selina.

But he was the Great Sword Emperor and didn't show his feelings.

"Even if she understood my hidden intentions, there was no need for her to avoid the Forget-Me-Not Ball. Lady Viola actually tried her best to participate in the ball."

She knew everything.

She met Carlo, the chief designer, and prepared a lot. The lavender dress she wore was a masterpiece by the dwarf master, Kurumkurum.

"She drew attention to herself even before the ball started, as if she was aiming to be the main character of this Forget-Me-Not Ball. It's strange that she deliberately avoided the ball to spend time alone with Lady Hera. I think she was sending a message to me."

Selina, with her exceptional mind, thought of things others couldn't.

She saw too many things others couldn't see and misunderstood them.

Selina genuinely admired Viola.

At least, it wasn't the choice of a twelve-year-old child.

The Viola Selina saw was a talent