I Played the Role of the Adopted Daughter Too Well

Viola concentrated her mind. Unlike Shailan, she did not need to prepare separate items, such as leaves from a nearby tree or the nearby grass. This was because there was an infinitely growing flower garden on her finger. A voice was heard by Viola, who was surrounded by a curtain of water.

 

“I hate that guy.”

 

Pom-Pom cried.

 

“It’s painful!”

 

“Hold on a little while longer.”

 

“Uh-huh. I can endure it because I am the great Pom-Pom… Ugh!”

 

A man swung his wooden sword. In fact, it could hardly be considered a wooden sword. It looked like he had picked up a twig from somewhere. The man’s name was Heron, and he was the absolute ruler of Winter Castle. He was one of the few people who could make Pom-Pom suffer, and he was also Viola’s father.

 

‘Eww. I can’t even touch one of his hairs.’

 

No matter how much she used her grass sword, Viola couldn’t leave a single slight wound on Heron. Viola’s heart became anxious.

 

‘I need to show myself growing little by little.’

 

For some reason, a year ago Heron became Viola’s sparring partner. It was quite a big deal within Winter Castle. It was extremely rare for Heron to directly spar with one of his children. Even the amazing Princess Medea had only sparred with Heron a handful of times. So all kinds of rumors hit Winter Castle.

 

“Hey. Did you hear? They said the Iron-Blooded Princess was actually born with the talent of a devil.”

 

“I heard it too. But I thought that was only possible by drinking blood.”

 

“That’s why she decided to become a White Bellato instead of a Black Bellato.”

 

“What does that have to do with it?”

 

“Because that way she won’t become crazed with bloodlust. A White Bellato requires extreme mental training. She became a White Bellato to control and stabilize herself.”

 

Until now, a White Bellato had always been on the outskirts of the Duke’s residence. It was an era where only a Black Bellato was recognized as a real Bellato and a White Bellato was perceived as an outcast.

 

“Oh my God, there was such an inside story?”

 

“To have the talent of a devil but the heart of an angel.”

 

Anyway, Viola frequently sparred with Heron, and thanks to this, her value within Winter Castle grew. However, Viola felt that she was going to die. It is said that a thirsty man digs a well and Viola was exactly like that. As she was sparring with Heron, she desperately needed to become stronger.

 

“Teacher! Teach me more. I’ll give you a big bonus.”

 

Shailan was a generous tree. He would give her anything as long as she gave him water (money).

 

“Brother Vichen, let’s spar.”

 

She also sparred countless times with Vichen, whom she had been avoiding for so long. She couldn’t help it. Because it was obvious that if she didn’t show that she was growing, she would be discarded. She dreamed of a long, easy, and happy life, but she kept having to become something grandiose.

 

Viola let out a ragged breath.

 

“Enough for today.”

 

Heron, like a ghost, pushed Viola to her limits, only stopping the spar just before she passed out.

 

“I’ll show a better side next time.”

 

‘Please, can we stop sparring entirely?’

 

She felt trembly every day but she couldn’t say that.

 

“You said you’re visiting the Six Magic Towers?”

 

“Yes, I have someone to recruit.”

 

Heron nodded his head.

 

“Alright. But why are you recruiting them?”

 

“To take responsibility for what I did.”

 

Vengas, or rather Benato, needed a magic teacher who could not only teach him magic but who would embrace him with love. Viola knew that she could find the right person at the Six Magic Towers.

 

“I heard the Six Magic Towers rejected your visit.”

 

The Six Magic Towers was the most closed place on the continent. It was very difficult to enter unless you were either a wizard or an employee of the magic towers. No matter how high a noble was, he could not enter without a special reason.

 

“They did.”

 

“Are you going to visit despite their refusal?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Heron frowned slightly. The Six Magic Towers did not forgive trespassers. Something quite annoying could happen.

 

Heron, who returned to the study after parting ways with Viola, called Carlton.

 

“Did you call me, Duke?”

 

“Support Viola.”

 

“…Yes?”

 

For a moment, Carlton thought he had heard wrongly. In all his life serving the duke, this was the first time he had heard an order to support someone other than the duke.

 

“She said she was going to The Six Magic Towers.”

 

“Where is she going?”

 

“The Six Magic Towers.”

 

Carlton’s eyes deepened.

 

‘Are you sure you don’t have the idea to create a war in mind?’

 

The Winter Castle and the Six Magic Towers were geographically close. In addition, as the Six Magic Towers were recently deeply involved in the Golden Road’s conflict of interest, there were many disputes over winter performance and opinions.

 

‘If Princess Viola dies there… Then there will be a reason to attack the Magic Tower.’

 

Support Viola? It was also a strange command. Although he expressed nominal support, he interpreted it as a request to follow and collect evidence. Evidence to prove Viola’s death. Carlton felt like he finally understood.

 

‘The reason the Duke has often sparred with Princess Viola was to show his friendship with her to the outside world!’

 

That way, when the duke lost his beloved daughter, he would have a justification to destroy the Six Magic Towers. It seemed like the duke had been planning for this day for over a year.

 

‘Hmm! Isn’t the duke proud…?’

 

Carlton sighed and cleared his throat.

 

“Duke, Viola is showing excellent performances.”

 

To be honest, Carlton didn’t want Viola to die. Viola grew up to be a wonderful Bellato, and she always showed only her best side.

 

“I know.”

 

“So, why don’t you give her another chance?”

 

This child was too unfortunate to be sacrificed like this. The words rose up his throat.

 

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Butler.”

 

Heron had always trusted Carlton. Not only was there deep trust in Carlton, but Carlton was a butler who was worthy of that trust. However, today, Heron uncharacteristically felt a little frustrated with Carlton.

 

“I mean for you to provide support to prevent Viola from being killed or injured. But secretly.”

 

Carlton’s mind became confused. Heron had never given an order like this for any child of Bellato. It was such a strange command. He couldn’t figure out the duke’s intentions.

 

“…Alright.”

 

There must be something he didn’t know about. While it was difficult to know Heron’s true intentions, he still decided to carry out his orders.

 

* * *

 

“What are you doing, calling me here?”

 

Hickson was no longer the Hickson of old. The appearance of a drunkard was gone and he now had the appearance of a hero who dominated an era. All of the belly fat that had made him look like a jar had disappeared, and the thin limbs had regained good-looking muscles. Hickson, who had given off the air of an old man, had now regained his handsome appearance.

 

“You looked like rotten fish eyes but now you’ve regained your vitality.”

 

“It’s to help her become a good adult.”

 

“Her who?”

 

“My daughter.”

 

The quill that Heron was holding cracked, completely broken in half. Anyway, it seemed that the word ‘daughter’ bothered him.

 

“Your daughter is dead, isn’t she?”

 

“I have a new daughter. You didn’t know?”

 

“Did you get married without my knowledge?”

 

“Introduce me to a girl first and then say something like that.”

 

It seemed like Heron didn’t want to admit that Viola was Hickson’s daughter. On the contrary, he wanted to assert that somehow Hickson had another daughter.

 

“The documents confirm that you don’t have a daughter.”

 

“I have a daughter who is more special than someone who is violent and only has a daughter on paper.”

 

“Does that violent person possibly mean me?”

 

“Well, I didn’t say who.”

 

Fortunately, Butler Carlton was not there. If he were, he would have been in a cold sweat as he listened to their conversation. This conversation sounded like the bickering of young boys, but the clash of mana that could be felt was comparable to a battlefield. The entire Winter Castle shook as the forces of Hickson, the Black Mirror, and Heron, the Duke of Death, collided.

 

“Earthquake?”

 

“There was no disaster notification?”

 

“It’s a precursor sign of a monster wave!”

 

“Hurry and evacuate!”

 

There was an untimely commotion of evacuation as several windows in the Duke’s residence shattered. The windows of the Duke’s residence were made of special glass strengthened by magic. This just went to show how fierce the mana of the two was.

 

Heron said, “I would like to ask you a favor.”

 

“For a person asking for a favor, you have a bit of an attitude, don’t you?”

 

“I’ll correct that. I want to give you an order.”

 

“Ha! An order?”

 

Hickson snorted loudly through his nose and crossed his arms. It seemed his pride was greatly hurt by the word ‘order.’ He scratched the back of his neck.

 

“Even if I can’t beat you, when I go, I can at least take one of your arms with me.”

 

All this time, Hickson had been training hard in places that no one could see. He really wanted to be a good adult for Viola. He devoted himself to training, even putting aside his investigation into the terrorist organization, ‘Fever.’ He was earnest, and the more earnest he was, the more he grew.

 

“Vi…”

 

Heron was about to say ‘Viola’ but changed his words.

 

“Bellato’s youngest daughter will go to the Six Magic Towers. This is a place you haven’t been invited to so it’s possible big or small fights will break out.”

 

When Viola’s story came up, Hickson and Heron softened a little.

 

“However?”

 

“Keep my youngest daughter from getting hurt.”

 

It was an extremely strange command from Duke Bellato, but Hickson didn’t notice anything strange at all. He was different from Carlton, who was smart and capable. He just took it for granted.

 

“I already lost my daughter. I don’t repeat the same mistakes twice.”

 

He hadn’t been able to protect his daughter but he would protect this daughter born from his heart. He now lived by making this resolution hundreds of times a day. Hickson snorted and turned away, striking out one more time. 

 

“I will protect her not by your command but by my own will.”

 

Hixon walked away, thinking that such a trivial thing was an order. Finally, he added one more sentence.

 

“Try being this honest in front of your daughter too. I know what kind of tsundere you are.”

 

Hickson frequently asked himself, ‘What do young ladies like? Why does she like it? What is the psychology of young children? What kind of person is cool in the eyes of young ladies?’ Thus, he was currently reading a romance novel said to be read by all the noble ladies these days. 

 

“You don’t even know what a tsundere is, right?”

 

Reading romance novels was one of Hickson’s efforts to be a good father. Heron didn’t know what ‘tsundere’ meant, but he felt bad for some reason. 

 

No one at Winter Castle knew that this conversation had taken place between Heron and Hickson.

 

Meanwhile, Viola was worried as she packed her bags.

 

‘I have to take responsibility…’

 

She also spoke nicely to Hera. She told her father and there was no turning back now.

 

‘It’s all over, now.’

 

She had to go to the Six Magic Towers. She had to go and meet Elsina, Sirson’s failed disciple and the so-called bastard of the Six Magic Towers. Due to the nature of the magic tower, it would probably be a difficult process.

 

“Pom-Pom, you can protect me, right?”

 

“Of course! Because I am great.”

 

“If magic comes flying or a magic weapon attacks, block it well. I’m trusting you.”

 

‘The only person(?) who can protect me is you.’

 

Zenon wouldn’t be directly involved. However, if she took a bunch of guardian knights, it may seem like a declaration of war against the Six Magic Towers. Thus, Viola set off alone with Zenon.

 

‘I am a harmless being… This number of people is perfect to claim so.’

 

Zenon’s voice came from outside the carriage.

 

“We will soon arrive at the territory of the Six Magic Towers.”

 

After a while, sirens began to be heard everywhere. It was a magical warning for unauthorized persons to return. Several verbal warnings followed. They said that if they didn’t turn back, magic weapons would be fired.

 

“What should I do?”

 

“Stop.”

 

Viola got down from the carriage.

 

“I will break through to the front gate of the Six Magic Towers.”

 

Viola spread her water curtain and began to walk slowly. At first, light magic attacks poured in. Something that would give a body a little shock, make something skin itch, or have a sudden need to go to the bathroom. These attacks were at that level.

 

“Now we are truly entering the territory of the Magic Tower, princess. It won’t just end with a warning.”

 

Zenon smiled like always. At the same time, magical notifications were heard.

 

[The area in question is property of the Magic Tower.]

 

[The Magic Tower does not forgive intruders.]

 

[You are hereby notified that if you do not return, our magic weapons will begin firing.]

 

‘Phew.’

 

Viola exhaled.

 

‘I expected this much.’

 

“Let’s go.”

 

But then, an unexpected situation occurred.

 

“You guys in the Magic Tower, this is too inhumane! I’m starting to get angry!”

 

A new person who was not in Viola’s plans appeared.

 

—————————————————————

Translator Note: