I Played the Role of the Adopted Daughter Too Well

There was no way to know who they would meet on their way back to Winter Castle. As they traveled, Shailan remained tense as he continually used his Grass Sword to make the ride comfortable. Meanwhile, he also eliminated various bands of bandits. 

 

‘Busy, so busy.’

 

All this for the sake of his sure-to-be-exhausted young master’s sound sleep.

 

Irritated, he internally grumbled, ‘You, just stay still for a bit.’

 

Dexial, who had been forcibly stuffed into a subspace pocket, kept wriggling, which was very distracting. Normally, people weren’t put into subspaces as subspaces were artificial spaces where dimension and time were disconnected, causing living beings to experience various unpredictable side effects. Thus, the Empire strictly prohibited putting people into subspace. But Shailan decided to easily ignore such facts.

 

‘He deserves it for trying to touch my disciple.’

 

If there was a regret, it was that he should have beaten him more harshly to make him completely lose consciousness. He seemed to have woken up too quickly.

 

‘Eek, a pile of rocks.’

 

He operated the Grass Sword. Such things needed to be quickly cleared away.

 

‘Don’t lose focus.’

 

As he concentrated and immersed himself in his role as a coachman, he felt an ominous breeze.

 

‘What’s that?’

 

He couldn’t tell exactly what it was, however, it definitely felt ominous. He briefly stopped the carriage to instinctively observe the shadows. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary and yet, his assassin’s senses kept warning him of something.

 

‘Who is it?’

 

He looked towards the forest in the distance and saw a woman with red hair walking towards him. Her voice could be heard. 

 

“The assassination has already failed.”

 

It was the head of the Qualton family, Quiesa Qualton. Viola, who was inside the carriage, heard her words clearly. Even though it was a quiet voice, it carried distinctly inside the carriage.

 

‘Who is it now?’

 

Viola felt a slight dizziness. 

 

‘Wait, what? Assassination failed?’

 

It must mean that she originally came to assassinate. The voice was heard again.

 

“Ah, I haven’t introduced myself yet. My name is Quiesa. I’m like an aunt to Viola.”

 

Viola grew more uneasy. Why was Quiesa here?!

 

‘Assassination?’

 

Why would a big shot like the head of the Qualton family come to assassinate her? The difference in status was too great! Fortunately, the completely changed male lead Tundra, and the butler Zenon were with her. Thanks to them, she was able to calm her emotions and think clearly.

 

‘She’s not the type to kill just anyone.’

 

Quiesa wasn’t the type of character who would personally move to kill a young child like Viola, but here she was so she must have accepted the job. She wouldn’t normally accept such a request, choosing to decapitate the person who insulted her, Quiesa Qualton.

 

‘It must be Isabella’s doing.’

 

Viola said, “Zenon, open the carriage door and escort me.”

 

“Understood.”

 

Zenon rose from his seat and opened the carriage door. He stepped out first and extended a white-gloved hand. Viola took his hand and lightly stepped down to the ground.

 

“Nice to meet you, Aunt.”

 

“You are very polite.”

 

Quiesa’s eyes curved into crescents. Her eyes were filled with curiosity. 

 

“Aren’t you scared of me? You should feel the murderous intent.”

 

“As you know, I was born with a disposition for murder. I’m extremely sensitive to murderous intent and that’s why I’m quite frightened.”

 

Viola lifted her skirt, showing her trembling legs. Normally, she would have definitely hidden them, but not today. Today, it was okay because she was facing an assassin named Quiesa Qualton. It was a natural reaction for her body to tremble in response to Quiesa’s murderous intent.

 

“Though my body is afraid, my mind is not. It’s a strange feeling.”

 

Quiesa chuckled and walked towards her, her red hair shimmering like silk.

 

As Quiesa approached, the coachman said, “Stop.”

 

The one startled by these words wasn’t Quiesa, but Viola.

 

‘What is he doing?’

 

Viola didn’t know that the coachman was Shailan, she only knew he was a coachman hired by Zenon. Up until now, he had been almost invisible, but suddenly his presence was felt strongly.

 

‘He must have been hiding his aura until now.’

 

The appearance of a formidable enemy like Quiesa meant he could no longer focus on hiding his presence, but Quiesa did not stop walking.

 

“To think you could employ such a skilled person as a mere coachman.”

 

As the situation became urgent, Shailan operated the Grass Sword without hesitation, causing the grass around him to flutter. It was then that Viola realized the true identity of her coachman.

 

‘Shailan?’

 

Why was Quiesa here, and why was Shailan here? Viola found this situation strange and unfamiliar. Cowardly Shailan was standing in front of Quiesa Qualton.

 

‘Why him?’

 

He must be feeling the prickling murderous intent through his skin.

 

‘He’s not afraid at all.’

 

Viola’s mind became cluttered. It wasn’t entirely pleasant to see character settings change because it made it impossible to predict the actions of the characters.

 

‘Why isn’t he scared all of a sudden?’

 

It wasn’t ‘all of a sudden,’ it had been gradual. Viola hadn’t noticed that Shailan was changing because of her.

 

Quiesa Qualton drew her flexible sword. The flexible sword was adjustable in length and could perform intricate movements like a whip, allowing for unconventional attacks. It was extremely difficult to master, and few could properly wield it, however, Quiesa was the best flexible sword fighter on the continent. 

 

“How could you employ such a warrior as a coachman? Money can’t buy that.”

 

‘I don’t know! Zenon did that on his own!’

 

Viola felt somewhat wronged but didn’t show it. Overcoming her fear, Viola walked to stand in front of Shailan.

 

“You’re not here to kill me, Aunt.”

 

“I came here to kill you, didn’t I?”

 

“But you said it yourself; you already failed.”

 

“The first attempt failed but I haven’t started the second one yet.”

 

“Lies.”

 

Quiesa’s body twitched as a subtle murderous intent leaked from her, like poison, causing the nearby grass to lose its life. Viola found it hard to breathe. 

 

“Niece, you speak so strangely.”

 

“Aunt, there are only two reasons you’d reveal yourself. One, to kill us all without leaving any trace, or two, to decisively abandon the assassination.”

 

These were the only two choices Quiesa could make at the moment of revelation: a perfect crime or abandoning the mission.

 

“Huh… and?”

 

“You have abandoned the mission.”

 

“Why do you think that?”

 

“Because it’s already too late for a perfect crime.”

 

Viola looked around. 

 

“Do you think I didn’t prepare for an ambush?”

 

She pointed at Shailan, “My coachman can read your moves well enough. He is also my teacher.”

 

“Hmm, I see. No wonder, he’s not just an ordinary coachman.”

 

“It’s strange, isn’t it?”

 

“Strange. Very strange. It’s odd that such a warrior is playing the role of a coachman.”

 

“I prepared in advance. For today, more than anything, I know who commissioned you, Aunt.”

 

It wasn’t difficult to guess. No one other than Isabella would commission such a task.

 

“I recently ruined an older brother’s life. He renounced his inheritance because of me and this has greatly disappointed a certain mother.”

 

She didn’t explicitly mention ‘Isabella.’ Quiesa nodded lightly.

 

“Indeed, I can smell a lot of preparation.”

 

Quiesa raised her left hand slightly. 

 

“Zenon, it’s been a while.”

 

“It has been a while, Lady Quiesa.”

 

“To think you are really acting as a butler.”

 

“I serve because it is a pleasure to serve those worth serving.”

 

Quiesa’s gaze then shifted to Tundra. 

 

“And this boy?”

 

“Tundra.”

 

No favor could be found in Tundra’s demeanor. Regardless of her identity, Quiesa was an assassin who had come to assassinate Viola. Thus, Tundra kept his vigilance and continued to watch Quiesa.

 

“Ah. Are you the companion sword? Aren’t you being rude?”

 

Tundra nodded slightly in response. 

 

“You as well.”

 

“I am the head of the Qualton family; how about showing some respect?”

 

“Before talking about respect, how about you drop the murderous intent?”

 

Tundra took three steps forward. The murderous intent that had been pressing down on Viola dissipated like melting snow. It was Tundra’s presence pushing back against Quiesa’s and Viola couldn’t help but be impressed.

 

‘Wow…!’

 

At his age, who else could push back against Quiesa’s aura? 

 

“Your wit is as short as your tongue.”

 

“It can’t be helped.”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“I need to stay by her side.”

 

Tundra, as if he had become a completely different person, brushed off Quiesa’s murderous intent. 

 

“Hahaha! You’re an interesting kid.”

 

Quiesa continued in a cheerful tone, “A coachman with sharp instincts with an assassin’s background, Zenon of the Rathbone Frost Blade, and an underestimated companion sword.”

 

There was one more. The youngest daughter of Brandia was also in the carriage, having refused to return to Brandia. In fact, the commission was doomed to fail once Selvin was involved as it was not politically possible to kill Selvin.

 

‘You’ve prepared quite perfectly.’

 

Quiesa felt thoroughly outplayed. Of course, the truth was that Selvin just wanted to spend more time with Viola and had pestered her to come along. 

 

“You knew for sure I would come, Iron-Blooded Princess.”

 

“Of course.”

 

Of course, she hadn’t known but it seemed she had managed the crisis well. Viola decided to move on to the next step.

 

“Aunt.”

 

“Yes?”

 

She uttered words that no one could have anticipated. 

 

“I’m hungry.”

 

“Hm?”

 

“I’d like to have a meal with you. Is that okay?”

 

Zenon’s body twitched, but he soon smiled lightly. 

 

‘As expected of our lady.’

 

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Translator Note:

 

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