Hera, sitting in a wheelchair, chuckled as if in disbelief.
“Ersa, what did you do?”
“I didn’t do anything particularly remarkable. I just talked seriously and persuaded the servant.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, it is.”
“Did you do something that could tarnish Bellato’s reputation?”
“I would never do such a thing.”
Viola listened quietly to Hera and Ersa’s conversation. This conversation was clearly for Crimson to hear. In a way, it was also baiting Crimson’s state of mind…
‘Of course, you did something that could tarnish Bellato’s reputation! You beat me for 3 hours! You ghostly old woman!’
It was clear that Crimson wanted to shout this out, but he held it in. However, Crimson’s thoughts were wrong.
‘Sorry, sir, but beating you wasn’t something that could tarnish Bellato’s reputation.’
Remaining silent in the face of a servant’s excessive impoliteness would never be in line with Bellato’s character. Rather than letting it slide, beating was much better. Bellato didn’t belong to the world of common sense.
Viola interjected, “Ersa, I’ll ask you again. You really didn’t do anything that could tarnish Bellato’s reputation?”
She intentionally asked like this. She judged that mages were very prideful people and they wouldn’t easily let go of their pride with just one beating. The probability that footage of the beating was recorded and saved on a magic stone was very high. Actually, even if that footage was spread on the news, it wouldn’t matter much, but it was still better not to create an unsightly incident.
And in reality, Crimson did secretly use a magic stone to record all of Ersa’s actions. It was Crimson’s last bit of pride.
Ersa answered, “Yes, of course. I swear on Bellato’s honor.”
“But why are you being so reserved about it?”
Crimson’s eyes were darting around. It seemed like she was being very cautious.
“I really don’t know.”
“There’s no way you don’t know.”
Viola turned her gaze towards Crimson. Viola, who had become quite familiar with this new body of hers, drew upon the hidden power within. It had a tremendous impact on Crimson, who was already somewhat hunched and dejected.
“I am Viola Bellato, the 6th Princess of Bellato. I will ask you a question, staking my name. Do you have the time to honestly tell me what Ersa did?”
This was a one-time opportunity. It seemed as though she was speaking as such.
“Th-that is…!”
Crimson avoided Ersa’s gaze. Ersa appeared to be quite fearful. She was indeed frightened, but it seemed like she had something to say.
Viola smiled slyly.
“Time’s up.”
Crimson’s response gave everything away. Crimson had not mentally surrendered. He had only briefly submitted to Ersa’s beating.
“Hand it over.”
“W-what are you talking about?”
“Don’t you know?”
“I-I don’t know.”
Crimson laughed nervously and scratched the back of his hand like a fly had suddenly landed there.
“I’ll escort you safely and comfortably. When should we depart?”
“Ersa, give him 2 more hours.”
Viola pushed Hera’s wheelchair away once more.
“C-customer?”
The bewildered Crimson tried to grab Bellato’s two ladies, but it was already too late. Another 2 hours of hell had arrived. In the end, Ersa even confiscated the magic stone. Inside Bellato’s meticulous calculations, Crimson felt an immense sense of powerlessness.
‘Mo-monsters…! Monsters made of blood and iron’
All Bellatos were monsters but the 6th Princess, who smiled sweetly while exuding a sinister aura, was more frightening than Ersa, who had directly administered the beating.
If Ersa was a visible sword, Viola was an invisible venom.
It was only now that he realized Viola had probably planned to confiscate the magic stone from the start.
‘I was just a pawn in her hands. That’s right. Those noble ladies were the ones who cruelly administered this beating in the first place. Why did I momentarily trust those ladies? It was just for a brief moment, but I felt like Viola was on my side, and that was expressed as a slight hesitation.’
That had been a mistake.
‘I feel like I’m being looked down upon, from the top of my head to the tips of my toes. I never experienced this feeling in the mage tower. It feels like I’ve been in a warm greenhouse and now I’m facing a harsh wilderness. Let’s be careful.’
In the end, he fully surrendered.
‘I shouldn’t get involved in a bad way.’
After 37 years, he experienced the wilderness for the first time and genuinely had his pride broken. He became a new person.
* * *
The departure was scheduled for 7 a.m. the next morning.
Hera, who was staying in the same room as Viola, asked, “Were you sure about the magic stone?”
“I couldn’t be sure.”
Crimson was not an exceptional mage. He lacked social skills and wasn’t particularly sharp. Viola didn’t know if he had actually prepared a magic stone.
“Then why did you go to such lengths?”
“Anyway, it was getting too late for a departure today.”
“What if the magic stone wasn’t discovered?”
“That can’t be helped.”
“I have a scary little sister.”
“You should be careful, too. I’m a scary woman.”
Hera burst into laughter, “Be careful, Viola. You might end up in the Imperial Human Rights Committee one day.”
Viola chuckled, “It’s okay.”
Zenon, who had been waiting outside, entered.
“I’ve prepared a magic stone, too.”
– “Aren’t these supposed to be the famous Bellato mistresses? What’s with these little kids?”
– “Am I being ignored just because I’m not affiliated with the Mage Tower anymore? Is that what’s happening?”
Even Hera was surprised.
“When did you prepare this?”
“I thought a non-affiliated mage like him might react like that.”
Hera was absolutely shocked. Viola was so strong. She had a different nature from herself, who had chosen the White Bellato out of necessity. Viola truly had tremendous potential.
‘She’s so strong and uncompromising.’
In the end, Hera smiled and looked at Viola with affectionate eyes.
“Can I lie down next to you?”
“The bed is small, why bother?”
“Just let me lie down for a moment.”
Hera lay down next to Viola and stared at her. She could feel Viola’s body temperature.
“I thought your body would be cold. It’s warm.”
“What do you want to say?”
“Just that I don’t think I made a wrong choice in picking you.”
“All of a sudden?”
“Well, those who don’t let their guard down are the most terrifying.”
Viola, lying on her side, found Hera who was staring at her with puppy-dog eyes, somewhat burdensome.
“Of all the strong people I’ve seen or those who could become strong, I’ve never seen someone who lives so desperately and vigilantly, never letting their guard down.”
Viola deliberately ignored Hera’s gaze. Ugh, it’s so burdensome. It was nice to become friends with Hera, but this was too burdensome.
“That probably means you’re desperate to take the successor’s position, right?”
‘No! Absolutely not! Never! No way!’
Hera misunderstood the silence in a completely rational way, regardless of Viola’s inner thoughts.
“I like your precision. The fact that such a strong person still doesn’t let their guard down is a beautiful and noble thing.”
Hera slowly raised her hand and placed it on Viola’s head. Then, she looked Viola in the eyes.
“Thank you for choosing me, my little sister.”
* * *
The next morning arrived and Viola woke up as usual. Normally, she should have seen Zenon’s face first, but today was a bit different.
‘Hmm, for some reason, the bed feels uncomfortable.’
She thought it had been a dream but it seemed that it wasn’t. There was a memory of Hera persistently snuggling into her embrace. Viola was half-asleep, so the memory wasn’t clear, but in the midst of falling asleep, Hera had pulled Viola’s arm over to use as a pillow and fallen asleep.
‘Oh, my arm is numb.’
When Viola opened her eyes, Hera was still asleep.
“You two seem to be getting along quite well.”
“Zenon, please wake up my sister.”
Behind Zenon, Ersa suddenly appeared.
“I’ll take care of Lady Hera.”
Ersa, as if she was accustomed to it, swiftly lifted Hera. It looked as easy as lifting a feather, as if she could do it with just one finger. With one arm she cradled Hera and pushed the wheelchair with the other hand. She moved as if handling a very delicate baby.
Zenon interjected, “Ersa, I’ll push the wheelchair.”
“It’s my turn.”
“But I don’t have any work right now. How about giving me the opportunity to help a colleague? Lady Viola might appreciate it.”
“Lady Viola?”
“Yes, she values efficiency. She probably thinks it’s better to help her colleagues rather than wasting my labor. Don’t you think so?”
Viola replied, “Sure. You can push the wheelchair.”
Only then did Ersa hand over the wheelchair to Zenon.
Ersa carefully walked while holding the sleeping Hera. Seeing Hera sleeping soundly in her arms made her think of her late daughter.
‘She slept so well when I held her.’
Hera seemed to be the same. Her breathing was very calm and slow. Ersa’s eyes welled up. Hera looked somewhat different than usual.
‘She’s such a light sleeper… Why did she sleep so deeply yesterday and today?’
It was probably the power of Lady Viola. Sleeping next to Viola, Hera seemed like a little child despite being taller than Viola.
‘In front of Lady Viola, is it possible for 4th Princess Hera to become just Hera? At least for that moment, will she be an older sister with a reliable younger sibling?’
Ersa felt good. Every time she saw Hera, who struggled to get by, it hurt her heart.
‘I hope Lady Hera is happy. To achieve that, Lady Viola needs to stand firmly in a high position.’
Ersa was determined, ‘I will support Lady Viola.’
Hera could not become the head of the family. Hera knew it and didn’t even aspire to it. Ersa knew that as well.
‘I will support Lady Viola. Without Lady Viola knowing, I want to fervently support her as the next head.’
Viola felt a strange sensation at the back of her head.
Finally, Viola and her group began to ascend towards Parr Viscounty, guided by the newly revitalized Crimson.
“Fly.”
He used a flying spell to lift the wheelchair slightly off the ground making it easier for Ersa to push the wheelchair.
“It feels almost weightless.”
“This is the essence of magic. Hehe. My mission is to comfortably assist the employers. How is it? Are you comfortable?”
“It’s great. Magic is wonderful.”
“You flatter me. Haha. I will do my best to assist you even more comfortably! Hehe.”
There were three routes to climb to Parr. They chose the most manageable one and began the ascent. During their journey, they encountered several people. Some were riding horses while others were being carried by porters. There were also people who employed mages to carry them, and while there was only one, there was even a person who flew (probably a tower mage).
Parr was rugged and it wasn’t a mountain that could be climbed in a day. Rest areas were provided along the way.
“We’ll soon reach Rest Area 1.”
It seemed like a tough journey, as Crimson’s breathing was heavy.
Ersa smiled, “Today, we’ll rest there.”
The next day, they reached Rest Area 2. The day after, it was Rest Area 3. After a week, they arrived at the final Rest Area 7. Just two more days of travel, and they would reach Parr’s summit. Rest Area 7 was quite large, and many people had gathered there.
‘Hmm?’
There was someone who caught Viola’s attention.
‘No way?’
—————————————————————
Translator Note:
This chapter was translated by Bree.
If you like my work please support us in Patreon. Next post will be released on November, 9.
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