Viola, who had temporarily changed location, revealed all of Serphon’s secrets to Ersa.
She told her everything that had happened at the Seall Viscounty without leaving out a single detail.
“Do you understand why I’m revealing all of this?” Viola asked.
This information was unknown to the world. If this information were to be leaked, Viscount Seall’s reputation would plummet and the position of Heron Bellato, who had protected the Viscount’s honor, would be ridiculed.
Ersa swallowed hard.
‘She’s roped me in with a secret that I shouldn’t know.’
Ersa nodded, “I think I definitely know one thing.”
“What is it?”
“Louis Bartengan’s son is a ruthless man who ruins other people’s precious families.”
Viola smiled contentedly.
To Ersa, anyone who destroyed other people’s families was like a pathogen.
“Right. But don’t show too much disdain on your face.”
“I understand. I’ll always be on guard with the attitude of someone entering a battlefield.”
Viola was able to relax a little. From Ersa’s expression and attitude, it seemed unlikely that she would be taken advantage of by Lord Serphon.
***
Viola responded, “Thank you for the invitation, Lord Serphon. I’ve made my decision.”
Louis Bartengan’s son, Serphon, momentarily cocked his head.
‘Is this young child the actual leader of this group?’
He knew who this young child was. According to rumors, she was adopted by Bellato and was known as the Iron-blooded Princess. However, Serphon didn’t pay much attention to such titles.
‘Ultimately, she’s just a kid.’
Rumors tended to become inflated. The further they travel, the more they distort and exaggerate.
‘Rumors are just rumors.’
Serphon lost interest in Viola. His interest was now solely directed toward Ersa.
He smiled at Ersa and said, “I’m pleased to invite all of you. I will be your escort, Bellato’s friends from the North.”
Viola responded politely, “We sincerely appreciate the invitation.”
“Isn’t this lady Bellato’s 6th Princess, Lady Viola?”
“Do you know me?”
“Of course. I’ve heard the rumors about the cold blood running in your veins.”
Serphon then turned his gaze to Hera.
“And the lady seated here must be the famous Lady Hera, right?”
“Am I famous?”
“They said you’re as elegant and graceful as a Ten-Day Flower.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. In reality, your silvery hair is like silk, and your silver eyes are like lakes covered with frost. It seems like you’ll grow into a more noble and beautiful lady than anyone else.”
“Thank you for the compliments.”
Viola’s expression briefly twitched.
‘Elegant and graceful as a Ten-Day Flower?’
The Ten-Day Flower was a unique flower that existed in this world. It struggled to grow in the wasteland and bloomed into a beautiful silver flower but for only ten days. After blooming for ten days, the Ten-Day Flower withered and turned to powder.
Serphon referring to Hera as a Ten-Day Flower held various meanings.
‘Bellato is said to have barren and savage soil.’
Serphon considered warriors to be savage and violent individuals, so he despised them.
There was a tendency to believe that all violence in the world was due to warriors or the disciplines they practiced, such as martial arts.
‘A flower that blooms in such a barren place but still dies after just 10 days is only ornamental.’
The Ten-Day Flower was a flower that crumbled after faithfully fulfilling its role as short-term ‘eye candy’ for the nobles.
‘It’s like praising Hera on the outside while ultimately showing disdain.’
You’re just a cripple born and raised in a violent and savage place. In the end, you’re just a Ten-Day Flower. That’s what it meant.
Viola thought she understood why Serphon was acting this way.
‘He probably wants to rescue Ersa from this savage group.’
Perhaps Serphon thought he was truly in love. It might sound funny but Serphon fell in love every time. Even when he seduced Viscountess Seall, he genuinely loved her. Although the duration of that love only lasted a day, he still believed it was love and it’s likely he still thought the same way.
In other words, it could be expressed as, ‘Oh, beautiful Ersa, why don’t you escape from the savage group that has driven you to madness and come to me for a beautiful love affair?’
Viola glanced at Hera from the corner of her eye.
‘There’s no way Sister Hera doesn’t know.’
She would have realized long ago that Serphon was insulting her. Hera may have known from the start that she would meet Serphon at the 7th Shelter.
‘No reaction.’
Hera was a little different from her usual self. A subtle smile hung on her face and it seemed like she was up to something. It was like the calm before the storm.
‘Ugh, she’s scary.’
It was Hera who really made Viola suffer in the original novel. As expected, she’s a sister that you should not make an enemy of. Becoming friends with Hera was a godsend.
‘At least there’s nothing wrong for now.’
Nothing happened until they reached the entrance of Viscounty Parr.
Serphon spoke, “The place we’re walking now is the second route leading to Parr, the Silver Road.”
They continued to walk along the Silver Road.
‘There are so many people here.’
Viola never expected so many people would gather in this desolate place. Lord Serphon walked confidently with his shoulders straight. At least in Viscounty Parr, he enjoyed as much power and honor as a prince. In fact, whispers of recognition could be heard.
“What family could they be from to be invited as VIPs of Louis Bartengan?”
“Yeah, I don’t know that family.”
But some people recognized Hera.
“I know the young lady in the wheelchair. She’s the 4th Princess of Bellato, Lady Hera.”
“Bellato?”
The people walking on the Silver Road had realized Viola’s group’s identity and were somewhat confused.
“If it’s Bellato, they’re located at the northern border.”
“That’s right, at Winter Castle. It seems to be the children of the Duke of Winter Castle.”
For most nobles, the Winter Castle was a mysterious and legendary place. It was considered the frontline shield protecting humanity from ‘The Place Where the Snow Blows,’ but very few had actually visited Winter Castle, especially among nobles who avoided danger.
“Why is Duke Bellato in Parr Viscounty?”
“That’s true. It’s strange.”
One of the reasons they were so mysterious was that they didn’t actively participate in social circles. Hera was the only one who had recently been seen at social events, but even she wasn’t extremely active.
“When did Duke Bellato become close to the Louis Bartengan family?”
It was a mystery to them.
“They said it’s a savage and terrifying place, but it doesn’t seem that bad, does it?”
“Maybe Lord Serphon is being threatened right now?”
Some entertained the idea, but the suspicion quickly faded.
“But isn’t Lord Serphon’s expression too beautiful?”
“True. He looks like a boy in love.”
This was when Serphon’s true nature was not yet known to the public and many were captivated by his beautiful appearance.
One young man grumbled, “I’ve been waiting here for 13 hours. Isn’t this really unfair?”
Viola heard the complaint but chose to ignore it.
‘This is quite overwhelming.’
The comment that you had to set up a tent and camp for three days and nights to enter Parr Viscounty seemed to be true.
‘The attention is immense.’
Envious and admiring glances, mixed with some curiosity. On one hand, there were glances filled with curiosity. An immense number of gazes were focused in their direction. Who would have thought they would garner such attention before properly entering the social circle? When Hera made eye contact with people, she would give a slight smile and nod her head. However, Viola couldn’t bring herself to do the same.
‘Let’s just ignore them.’
She continued walking, looking straight ahead. They passed the Silver Road and stood in front of the Golden Road. Serphon appeared even more confident than before.
He asked Ersa, “We’re almost there. Did you have any discomfort on the way here?”
“It was fine.”
Viola secretly shook her head.
‘Would The Sword Demon feel uncomfortable walking such a short distance?’
While Serphon might claim to be considerate of Ersa, the consideration would likely make the warrior Ersa uncomfortable.
‘It looks like you don’t know what kind of people Bellato’s butlers are.’
Viola felt slightly more at ease.
Serphon, who couldn’t possibly know Viola’s thoughts, confidently spoke, “This is the most magnificent road to Parr, the Golden Road.”
Then, he added a strange request, “May I make one request, Lady Ten-Day Flower?”
The Golden Road was the most prestigious path leading to Parr Viscounty. Only direct descendants of the prestigious Parr family, families that had built friendships with the Parr family for a long time, or those who had received favors from the Parr family could walk on this road.
“What’s the request?”
“Could we temporarily stow away the wheelchair in your spatial storage?”
“Is the wheelchair designed in a way that it can’t pass through?”
“No, but it has never been done before. The Parr Viscounty is quite traditional and I feel burdened as a direct descendant of Louis Bartengan to break with tradition.”
He said it in a roundabout way but the truth behind his words was simple. It meant that things like wheelchairs didn’t suit the noble Golden Road and he wanted it hidden away in the spatial storage.
Viola once again secretly shook her head.
‘You are definitely messing with the wrong person.’
Perhaps Serphon wanted to show off that he was a noble descendant of Louis Bartengan and could make such a request even to Bellato. It seemed like he meant something along the lines of, ‘I, the beautiful Serphon, someone who can make such demands of even Bellato, oh, beautiful Ersa, escape from savage Bellato and come to my safe shade, I’ll protect you.’
“No need to worry.”
Viola finally relaxed completely.
—————————————————————
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, 16.
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