“The child’s father is not Viscount,” she said.
The moment Lady Ilail, Viscount’s wife, heard those words, it felt like the world turned yellow.
Though Viola didn’t actually smile, Lady Ilail could see Viola smiling in her mind.
It was a very bitter smile.
‘I need to stay calm.’
She hid her trembling hands and lightly smiled.
“I occasionally engage in such thoughtless behavior. My husband even finds me endearing in such moments.”
Her attitude seemed as if dropping the fork was nothing significant.
Viscount’s wife wiped her lips with a napkin.
“I was curious about Lady Biolla’s reason for desiring a private meeting with me. Could it be that this naive reason is the cause?”
In Lady Ilail’s mind, Viola was simply the “Iron-blooded Lady” of Bellato.
The cold-blooded and ruthless lady made of iron.
At just twelve years old, she gained the name “Iron-blooded” and was a prodigy with unparalleled “Bellatonic” qualities.
“I must not reveal any weaknesses.”
Otherwise, life would become difficult.
She might have to live in fear for the rest of her life.
“Lady Viola, you are making a grave mistake right now. Are you intending to tarnish my honor?”
She had to press harder.
Currently, the best defense for Lady Ilail, Viscounts wife, was to attack.
“I plan to publicize this issue and make it a problem.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. This goes beyond insulting me; it’s an act of mocking Lord Viscount.”
Viola casually sliced the steak, pretending to be at ease.
She had experienced such situations many times before.
Dealing with her father, the pinnacle of this world, made Lady Ilail, Viscount’s wife, relatively easy to handle.
“I have an excellent hound at my disposal.”
“A hound?”
“The world refers to that hound as the Companion Blade.”
“Ah.”
Companion Blade.
Lady Ilail, Viscount’s wife, was familiar with that name as well.
“He is the person who was taken in by the Iron-blooded Lady five years ago and is known as the sole disciple of Mr. Hikson. Isn’t he the boy?”
“That’s right. But why do you think I made a person into a hound?”
“Does that have anything to do with the current topic?”
“I’m currently discussing Lady Viola’s insults and mockery towards me and Viscount.”
“Your sense of smell is excellent.”
In fact, I learned about that ability yesterday, but thanks to it, this excuse became possible.
“It must be something you’ve never heard before. It has been kept strictly secret.”
“I have no interest in Lady Biolla’s secrets. I don’t want to know. I request an explanation for the insult you directed at me instead.”
Viola shrugged her shoulders.
She seemed very relaxed.
On the other hand, Lady Ilail, Viscount’s wife, felt an indescribable sense of unease within that relaxed demeanor.
“Do you really know something?”
Desperately pretending to be at ease, but her inner feelings were tightly clenched.
She never expected a twelve-year-old girl to exude such calmness and pressure.
She thought the rumors about Viola Bellato were somewhat exaggerated, but they weren’t exaggerated at all.
“My hound can smell humans. Each person has a unique scent of mana.”
Viola smirked.
“But you see, two scents emanate from Viscountess’s body. Thanks to that, I discovered that you conceived a child.”
Viscount’s wife nodded.
She decided to admit to the pregnancy.
There was no point in hiding it any longer.
“I am indeed pregnant. In that case, shouldn’t Lady Viola have congratulated me instead of insulting me?”
“But here’s an interesting thing. There is another person’s scent mixed in.”
That was a lie.
It was information Hanarin, who had read the novel, knew.
“Why would another man’s scent be mixed in the child in your womb?”
“Please don’t confuse my mind with groundless accusations.”
Viscount’s wife stood up as if she had nothing more to listen to.
“Our pleasant meal ends here. Next time, we may meet in an unpleasant setting, with unfavorable expressions.”
“But why does the child emit a fairly pure mana?”
Viscount’s wife, who had turned around and started walking away, abruptly stopped.
“The child’s father must have had abundant natural mana. But it seems to be not just any commoner’s mana. Their status must not have been low. Should I mention the name? Shall we stop here?”
“The father came down from a high mountain, right? He must have whispered words of love with sweetness and tenderness.”
Viola knows that name.
Serphon Louis Bartengan, the second son of the Louis Bartengan family.
At the rugged summit of Parasa Mountain, renowned for its harshness.
He was the partner in adultery, the second son of the Louis Bartengan family located in the Parasa Valley.
Lady Ilail, Viscount’s wife, almost lost her strength and nearly collapsed.
“You know everything.”
That night was a mistake.
That night, the fireworks were beautiful, the moon in the sky was stunning, and people’s smiling faces were delightful.
On that day, the wine tasted exceptionally sweet, and the night breeze blew pleasantly.
‘What should I say?’
Her mind turned completely blank.
Viola a’s voice echoed.
“It must have been a mistake.”
She whispered as she had seen in the novel.
“That night, the fireworks must have been beautiful.
The moonlight must have been unusually blue.”
“…Stop it.”
“People must have been in a good mood, smiling.”
“Stop it, please.”
“On that day, the wine must have been particularly sweet, and the night breeze by the riverside…”
“Stop!”
Viscountess covered her face with her hands.
“You know everything. You really know everything.”
The resolute Lady Viola knew everything.
Knowing everything, she came here to exploit and shake her weaknesses.
With the blood of a demon and the venomous tongue of a snake.
Her hands and feet trembled.
“What do you want from me?
Why did you come here to threaten me?
What resentment is there between you and me?”
Viscountess hesitated and sat back down, starting to sob.
“That day was a mistake.”
She believed it was a mistake and that no one found out.
She returned to her daily life and maintained her original position.
She pledged never to repeat the same actions.
She vowed not to engage in foolish behavior influenced by the atmosphere and reflected on herself.
“Even if it was a mistake, it doesn’t change the fact that it was wrong. I met Seal, the Viscount, and he was someone worthy of respect. He valued honor and was an upright person.”
Viscountess also admitted it.
She was born into a fallen noble family but had grown to this extent.
Although she couldn’t become a high-ranking noble due to her birth limitations, Seal, the Viscount, was one of the noble families with a solid foundation.
Seal was excellent as a man and affectionate as a husband.
“I have no one but you, my wife.”
“I sincerely love you.”
He always confessed his love with simple words, without any pretense.
He stood by her side like a sturdy magnolia tree.
Viscount Seal was always reliable and steadfast.
On the other hand, he was not a very entertaining person.
That’s why on that night, without even realizing it, I was captivated by someone more interesting.
“I want to raise a toast to my wife’s eyes tonight.
“Forget everything and enjoy with me while looking at the stars.”
Vio;a looked at Viscountess with a desperate expression.
She had sown the seeds of despair.
Now it was time to harvest.
“There is no intention of blackmail.”
“…Lies.”
“I swear on the name of Bellato.”
Viscountes, who was sobbing, looked up and stared at Viola.
“You swear on Bellato’s name?”
“It’s a forbidden action. Swearing in the name of Bellato is an action allowed only to the head of the family.”
Viola shrugged her shoulders.
“So, if Viscountess speaks lightly, I will immediately be cut off from being a successor candidate. Those with reckless tongues are not qualified to be successors.”
“…”
“We each have one of each other’s weaknesses in our grasp. Do you believe me now? I believe Viscountess knows better than anyone how important the position of Bellato’s successor is to me.”
Of course, it was a lie.
The successor position of Bellatu held no interest at all.
The successor is Medeia.
Viola decided that in her heart.
However, Viola’s words had a convincing effect on Ilail.
“If it’s not a threat, what kind of situation is it?”
“I want to become friends with Lady Bellatu.”
“Friends?”
‘The child in her womb has incredible talent to become a great sorcerer. It’s an amazing talent.’
That child will become a great mage in the future.
They will also be one of the main characters who torment Bellatu and Viola in the latter part of the novel.
I don’t want such a villain to be born.
“I need influence. So, this is an investment for me.”
“Investment…?”
Ilail’s wife felt relieved instead.
She found this much more reassuring.
Rather than the abstract word ‘friend,’ the idea of an investment for the future resonated more with her.
‘Lady Viola, a relentless noblewoman who doesn’t hesitate to use any means for her goals.’
That’s why it seemed like they were having this conversation now.
An adopted daughter who can’t rely on the help of her relatives.
It was easier to understand that this adopted daughter, who had exceptional abilities but lacked external support, was expanding her influence.
“More precisely, I want to invest in the child in Lady Bellatu’s womb. If they grow up and can help me, it would be ideal.”
Viola stared at Ilail’s wife for a while before finally speaking up.
“Madam Ilail is a clever person. I’ve mentioned that before.”
“Yes.”
“Do you also think the same way?”
“I do.”
“Then, do you believe that she knows nothing?”
In an instant, Ilail’s wife flinched.
I felt my heart thumping, sinking.
“I know. He genuinely loves Lady Ilail.”
“Could someone who values the honor of their child and their family, who knows they could die, still think of going to war? Leaving behind the person they love the most in this world? Knowing how much sorrow their wife would experience?”
It was a heartbreaking part for Hana Rin, who was a reader.
Ilail had his own circumstances.
He was a nobleman who valued honor, but he wasn’t so heartless as to choose death while leaving behind his beloved wife.
If he hadn’t known about his wife’s adultery, he might not have chosen death.
In a sense, Ilail’s wife’s adultery led Ilail to commit suicide.
“If I hadn’t come as a special envoy, Lord Ilail would have declared war on Bellatu, and by now, Lord Ilail wouldn’t be in this world.”
“In my opinion, he doesn’t seem like someone who would choose death while leaving behind his wife.”
Viola stood up from her seat.
“The choice is Lady Ilail’s to make. I am part of Bellatu. As a White Bellatu, I observe all situations from the perspective of an observer.”
She walked towards the door.
“One can only correct their own mistakes. And nobles have the responsibility to rectify their own wrongdoings.”
She added one last comment.
“The way I perceive Lord Ilail, even if Lady Ilail committed a greater mistake than adultery, he would forgive her. Because he loves you so much.”
She closed the door and left.
A day passed since then.
Around 12:30 AM.
Knock, knock.
I heard the sound of knocking.
“Lady Viola, can we have a moment to talk?”
It was certainly not a usual visit.
There was no official letter, and there had been no prior arrangement.
Moreover, it was 12:30 AM, a time when people wouldn’t normally meet.
“Lord Ilail?”
When I opened the door, I saw a pale-faced Lord Ilail.
In his right hand, he held a long sword.
But something was off.
Blood was dripping from the sword.
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Translator Note:
T/N: if you seee change of titles its because they are changed according to the org text I didnt do anything
This chapter was translated by Bree.
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