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Adopted Daughter Role 073

“If that’s truly what you want, I’ll take the punishment, Sister. You can take my arms if you wish.”

Though the words came from a heart that didn’t mean them, Medea eased her killing intent.

Viola still seemed so small in Medea’s eyes.

Since being adopted into the Duke House, she was undoubtedly well-nourished, but it appeared the lack of proper food during her early childhood had left a significant mark.

“Viola, I have four other younger siblings besides you.”

Suddenly?

Why mention something everyone knows all at once… Viola felt a wave of unease.

I don’t mean to say that having one less sibling wouldn’t be okay, right?

“Of course I remember each of their faces clearly.”

As expected.

Sister is an unparalleled genius of this generation.

“I remember what they looked like at twelve years old as well.”

Unlike Viola’s worries, warmth suffused Medea’s gaze.

“You’re much smaller and more delicate than they were at that age. I hope you don’t take that the wrong way; it’s not meant to imply you’re lacking as a martial artist.”

“……”

“Seeing you like that strangely makes me want to cherish you.”

Viola interpreted that feeling in modern terms.

If that feeling were to be expressed in modern language, it would be ‘bittersweet.’

‘Is it a kind of bittersweet affection…?’

Anyway, it was a good thing for Viola.

The more she received Medea’s affection, the closer she would get to a rosy future.

“Therefore, I can’t punish you.”

“Thank you for saying that.”

“Not just ‘thank you.’”

“Eh?”

“Can’t it be ‘I appreciate it’ instead?”

“I understand that they are similar in meaning but…”

“Instead of ‘but,’ how about ‘however’?”

Medea smiled brightly.

“Though we are certainly rivals in the heir competition, we’re still family, right? I’d prefer you not treat me like a superior.”

*

Viola forgave Zeno, and finally, he stood up from his seat.

Though he had stood up, Zeno could not hide his feeling of shame.

“I’m sorry.”

Hearing apologies so often made them feel almost like a permanent mark in his ears.

Furthermore, he was particularly concerned about Medea, who had just softened her heart.

Don’t provoke Sister Medea any further…

Medea regarded the Butler’s attack on Bellatu as a dire crime punishable by execution.

She had only just managed to forgive him because of me…

There was nothing good to be gained by repeating “I’m sorry” in front of Medea.

It would only remind her of earlier memories.

“If you say sorry one more time, I’ll cut out your tongue.”

“Understood.”

He had to stop Zeno’s apologies somehow.

Viola stood before Zeno.

Five years ago and now, Zeno had grown significantly taller than her.

Viola reached up and tapped Zeno’s shoulder from below.

“I told you it was a test.”

“……”

“You passed the test I administered; so why keep saying you’re sorry?”

“I was short-sighted.”

He nearly blurted out “I’m sorry” again.

Viola turned her body.

Naturally, she glanced at Medea to gauge her reaction.

Fortunately, Medea seemed to be lost in thought.

‘To hold no grudges against someone you’ve forgiven says a lot about her character.

It seemed like all my anxious worrying was unnecessary since Medea appeared tranquil.

“What’s going on with you, anyway?” Viola asked.

“There’s been a pack of ogres spotted nearby.”

“Ogre pack?”

Ogres are powerful monsters classified among the higher ranks of monsters.

They resemble humans but range in size from 3 to 5 meters tall.

Strong enough to tear apart an elephant barehanded, they are frightening predators, moving swiftly, even faster than leopards.

“Did you come with the Knights of Bellatu?”

“No?”

Medea smiled brightly.

“There’s no need for elite knights to hunt a mere pack of ogres.”

Medea single-handedly slaughtered thirty-six ogres.

The thirty-six ogres scattered away like dogs before a tiger.

“I happened to meet Sir Hixson while wandering around after missing one.”

“Sir Hixson?”

“He was busy hunting the ogre I missed.”

“Sir Hixson?”

“No.”

Medea narrowed her eyes.

An amusing memory flickered in her mind.

“Four, what was his name again?”

“Tundra.”

“Tundra was hunting.”

Viola gulped.

Ogres are beings that no ordinary person could possibly hunt.

With strength stronger than an elephant and agility faster than a leopard, they are powerful monsters.

“So I got pretty banged up, but I managed to hunt it down in the end.”

That was quite an accomplishment, akin to Medea’s achievements in her early teens.

Medea, as a Bellatu, had been trained in all manners of elixirs and techniques from a very young age, mastering systematic swordsmanship.

Not to mention she had learned the prestigious techniques of Bellatu, known throughout the continent.

Yet Tundra began learning swordsmanship at just twelve years old, and it had only been five years since he started training.

‘As expected, a male lead.’

That was truly the growth rate befitting the male lead.

‘They say the best buff is the protagonist’s buff.’

That seemed to hold true.

While inwardly surprised, Medea spoke nonchalantly.

This was to match her gaze and height with Viola’s.

“Not bad growth at all.”

“Right?”

Viola felt her energy draining away from that moment.

Medea genuinely seemed to think it was merely ‘not bad growth.’

Being a notable genius herself, Medea didn’t seem particularly surprised by Tundra’s progress.

‘As expected, she truly is fitting to lead the family.’

A genius among geniuses.

Such a person should really be at the forefront of Bellatu.

As Viola mused about this, Medea thought quite the opposite.

‘Not bad growth?’

Contrary to Viola’s thoughts, Medea was genuinely impressed by Tundra’s growth.

Geniuses recognize other geniuses.

One cannot simply be called a genius purely based on innate talent.

Medea had toiled with efforts so far beyond what an ordinary person could even imagine, building on her natural gifts.

She understood more than anyone that Tundra’s growth indeed couldn’t be achieved through mere talent alone.

‘Viola is growing in line with her identity as the White Bellatu, and therein lies her growth.’

While being a White Bellatu precludes her from being a Black Bellatu, conversely, a Black Bellatu cannot also be a White Bellatu.

A genius like Medea understood this all too clearly.

A human body is singular.

In pursuing the pinnacle in any field, there are certainly sacrifices to be made.

‘She must have given up a significant portion of her Black Bellatu growth. Yet for Viola to see this as simply not bad growth…’

What on earth is the standard for this child?

‘Her potential far surpasses mine.

The more I see, the more I realize how smart and wise she is.

Her potential as a Black Bellatu is staggering too.

‘Could it be that this child is truly…?’

The one best suited to bear the name Bellatu?

The most appropriate heir to carry on the legacy of Bellatu?

‘It seems she might even have the necessary ambition and desire for it.’

Ambition and desire are essential for an heir.

What Medea lacked, Viola seemed to possess.

Thus, Medea misunderstood.

Before long, as they exited the ruins, Viola and her group walked through the Red Tree Forest.

They planned to take a break at the Viscountcy and then return to the Winter Castle.

But then Jeremy spoke up.

“I’ve admired Sir Medea since I was little.”

He pulled out crumpled paper from his pocket.

With a somewhat awkward expression, he glanced around before asking Zeno.

“Do you happen to have a pen?”

“Of course.”

Zeno retrieved a pen from the void space and handed it to Jeremy.

“Thank you.”

Jeremy’s face flushed red.

He looked completely different from when he was around Viola.

“Could you give me just one autograph?”

“I’ve never given an autograph to anyone.”

Viola felt a bit puzzled.

‘Sister doesn’t seem to like Jeremy much.’

Of course, she was polite on the outside, with no breach of decorum.

It was just a gut feeling as a human.

‘Why is that?’

It seemed there wouldn’t be a particular reason.

Jeremy was a character loved by all.

‘Looking closely now, it seems she’s not giving him a glance.’

Jeremy, in fact, was attractive enough to turn heads regardless of age or gender.

At the very least, he was cute enough to garner some affection.

‘To Sister, he must feel like an adorably cute idol.’

Little whirlwind Jeremy, who gives his all in everything he does.

To Medea, he likely felt like a charming and cute boy.

Yet here was that boy shyly presenting paper and pen, claiming to admire her. Why was there such a chilling breeze?

“What value is there in my autograph, but if you want it, I can provide it.”

Medea drew her great sword.

She swiftly swung it.

Viola gasped in shock.

‘What?!’

Even Jeremy squeezed his eyes shut.

A gust of wind swept through as Medea created a sword wind.

It was as if a whirlwind erupted.

Jeremy gasped in awe.

“Ah…!”

Instead of a signature written with a pen, a signature was carved with a sword.

On that thin paper, Medea’s signature (?) was inscribed.

[Medea Bellatu.]

That name was written in cursive.

But there was an even bigger name visible.

[Viola’s Older Sister.]

Viola was flabbergasted.

Don’t we usually write the signature larger and make the name smaller underneath?

In South Korea and in this world of “Shadows of Bellatu,” it’s the same.

‘Among them…’

The words ‘Viola’s’ were the largest.

As if emphasizing it blatantly.

She verbally reiterated something everyone already knew.

“As you know, I am Viola’s older sister.”

“Of course I know.”

For whatever reason, Jeremy seemed ecstatic.

The very fact that he received an autograph from someone he admired was evidently overwhelming and touching for him.

“Viola is a kind and innocent child.”

Jeremy momentarily lost his words.

While he might have noticed some cuteness in Viola, it was hard for him to agree with the term ‘kind and innocent.’

“So please, conduct yourself properly in all your actions.”

It was a conventional piece of advice a senior martial artist could give to a junior martial artist.

But Viola didn’t see that advice as mere formality.

From the start, Medea was not a character who casually gave advice to others.

‘When she does, she typically puts 300 spoons worth of seriousness into genuinely offering guidance.’

That means Medea was currently wholeheartedly sincere.

‘Did Jeremy do something wrong?’

Could asking for an autograph have upset her?

Does she dislike being admired?

Why?

Was it like this in the original work too?

“You need to conduct yourself properly so that pretty face of yours doesn’t get hurt.”

Jeremy seemed unfazed.

He appeared half-mad from meeting his idol.

“Of course. I will think twice, thrice, and be careful in all my actions.”

“Please do not forget that I am Viola’s older sister.”

After resting in the Viscountcy, Viola rode back to the Winter Castle with Medea.

The moment they arrived and unloaded their baggage, Zeno reported.

“The Duke is calling for you.”

“Father?”

“Yes. He has asked to dine together.”

Hiron, a character who avoids meeting with heirs in private like the plague, was now inviting them to dinner?

‘Why again?’

A wave of tension washed over her.

Meeting too often makes flaws stand out. Those little flaws could complicate life.

Though he was a favorite character in the novel, in real life, he was the number one person she wanted to avoid.

Still, she answered properly.

“Understood.”

That evening,

Viola found Hiron in the Duke’s exclusive dining room.

‘Huh?’

Besides Hiron, there was someone else present.

 

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