Chapter 22
She was a little relieved after introducing Tundra to Hixen.
The great skills from the male lead had been sown in the good soil of Hixen. Now, he would grow to be the world’s best swordsman. Viola walked in the hallway with a light heart.
‘Oh?’
Far away, someone was seen walking towards her. The man was wearing a striking red suit, while his tall height was another feature that she noticed. His face was pale, together with his short hair and his bright red lips. Viola could tell exactly who it was.
‘Seivan Marcos!’
Seivan Marcos. He was one of Duke Heron’s close aides.
Thinking she should discover more about him, Viola continued her steps towards the man. His movements were slightly alluring.
“Oh my, Who is this? Aren’t you Princess Viola, the new sixth Princess?”
Seivan also made eye contact with Xenon, who was behind Viola.
“Xenon looks nice today, too.”
“It’s been a while since I saw you.” Xenon bowed down lightly. In the meantime, Viola opened her mouth.
“Aren’t you Seivan Marcos?”
“You know me?”
Seivan Marcos opened his eyes wide. Smiling, she curled a strand of her bobbed hair with her index finger.
“Did the duke introduce me to you already?”
Twirling with her hair around her chin, Viola poked out my lips. Though before she could say anything, he continued.
“Hmm. I don’t think so. He’s not such a meticulous man.”
She asked. “Then, why do you like him when he’s not thoughtful at all?”
Seivan’s body flinched after hearing Viola’s words. It seemed that he acknowledged her mild manner.
“Because he is handsome.”
The duke’s appearance is the exact opposite of Seivan Marcos, whom he entrusted to the winter castle’s affairs. After becoming a close associate, Duke Heron also knew Seivan’s thoughts, so he flatly refused him.
[ “Seivan Marcos, I don’t like men.”
“You don’t like women, either.”
“I value your ability. That’s why I put you next to me. Don’t cross the line.” ]
In the novel, the duke warns him fiercely. He said it very clearly that he would kill him if he ever did something stupid.
“Dying because of the Duke would be rather ecstatic.”
This was a fantasy world, and sadly, it is not a world where gay people are welcomed. Usually, they are discriminated against, and in severe cases, they would be stoned to death. So, growing up as a close aide to the duke meant that his ability is rather excellent.
Viola opened her mouth again, “You’re one of my father’s close aides, aren’t you?”
“Yes, for now.”
“A masquerade and puppeteer who trusts and is in love with my father. In my opinion, you’re handsome.”
“Did you study about me?”
“Yes.”
Rather than saying study, reading about him would be more accurate. His character did come out often, though. Seivan Marcos had been described as quite capable. He was good at creating masks using corpses, and also excelled in disguising by using makeup, as well as handling dolls.
Seivan grinned. “How does the Six Princess see me?”
He added a word while twisting his hair.
“Everyone says that I’m disgusting.”
“Oh. You are disgusting.”
Viola, in the original novel, did say that he was incredibly disgusting.
Seivan liked to admit his ability, saying that he was just plain gross rather than peeling pumpkin seeds.
After observing, I decided to follow the flow. The words were similar, but the details were different from what she said in the novel.
“That’s a heartbreaking thing to say.”
One corner of his mouth went up. It didn’t look like things were going too bad. It didn’t seem like he was upset.
“You’re some twisted pervert.”
“I often hear that I am broken.”
Viola glanced at Seivan. As a fan of his work, I then recited a straight to the point opinion.
“Whether it’s men or women, it’s dirty to be flirting with married people.”
“…Pardon?”
Seivan opened his eyes round.
“Come to think of it, that’s true?”
“It’s none of my business whether you like men or women, but my father is married.”
“It’s just a marriage.”
“Regardless, he’s still married.”
Duke Heron signed a marriage pledge with two wives.
“Marriage is a vow to someone, isn’t it? Even if you exclude the feeling of love.”
“Well, that’s true.”
“Hence, it’s not normal for you to squeeze yourself between their vows and beg for my father’s love.”
In fact, Arin did not like Seivan Marcos. To the reader, Arin, Seiven was like a bully who kept flirting with her favorite character.
“Even though I know he turned you down.”
Seivan Marcos grinned as if he is having fun.
“Do you often hear that you hit the bone with the facts?”
“Sometimes.”
“You’re a type to be hated.”
“What do you think of yourself?”
“Didn’t you say you thought of me as a twisted pervert sometime ago?”
Viola grinned.
“If you are simply a twisted pervert, he wouldn’t have put your neck on the guillotine.”
“…”
“You know the reason why you’re still alive.”
“What do you think, princess?”
“Because you are useful.”
In the original novel, Seivan Marcos always does his best. He was afraid of the day when the duke didn’t need him anymore, so he constantly tried to get out of his sight.
[ “If the moment comes when he doesn’t need me, I’ll become relentless.” ]
And so, Seivan managed to live his life like a dog.
He did his very best.
The life of trying and pleasing truly equates to the effort of Seivan Marcos. That was his life. ]
“I think you are a useful person.”
“Thank you for saying so.”
He continued his words. “you actually thought that way… I wish I could be useful.”
Seivan bent down.
I couldn’t clearly see his face because he was bending his neck down.
Seivan was smiling.
‘I think you are a useful person.’ Rather than comforting or making fun of the fact that he was different, this person recognized and respected him.
Arin, who was a devoted reader, grasped it and shook Seivan’s heart. On the other hand. Viola’s words were rather fishy to his ears.
‘I wish I could be useful now.’
Intrigued, he asked. “Princess, you are seven years old, right?’
He seemed to have an insight into the nature of this little girl.
Seivan slowly rised up again. Then, laughter leaked out of his mouth. Just now, he remembered what Viola had said.
“Hence, it’s not normal for you to squeeze yourself between their vows and beg for my father’s love.”
No one had ever said these kinds of things to him before.
It was as if he had a mental illness and blamed him for something breaking down. It’s like he’s whispering behind his back.
“That’s very good advice, princess.”
No one has pointed out the courtship of a married man. If he were a woman, he would probably have been criticized by the world. It was natural to say that he was making fun of married men.
However, Seivan was always attacked and criticized for different reasons. And this seven years old princess pointed it out. She said something very natural and very obvious to him, the way that no one was able to, though he is very pleased with their small talk. The princess frowned slightly.
“What are you staring at?”
“If you don’t mind.” Abruptly, Seivan suggested.
“At tomorrow’s welcome dinner, can I put on your makeup?”
“You? Why?”
“You said I’m a useful person. I’ll show you what I can do. I’d love to. I’ll make you shine more than anyone else.”
At the moment, Viola was able to tell what was going to happen next.
‘I’m scared.’
That look wasn’t normal. It was the mad artist’s eyes. Seivan’s eyes slowly drew a half moon. He looked rather drunk. Then, he stretched his arm high. Obsession and madness flashed in his eyes.
“Your beauty is more arrogant than anyone else, but also more brilliant as well.”
I had a bad feeling about this.
“The little eyes of the princess will be all the more sensational.”
‘…Is it really like that?’ I had never thought that way. And surely, things seemed to be getting worse.
“A cold look of pride and arrogance combined with the magic of color will add to the ferocity of the beast.”
“…”
His grin went wider.
“You resemble a deadly lily with a poisonous thorn. I’ll make you a ruler who outshines anyone else.”
Wait a minute.
Isn’t that too grand?
“With the vastness of a tidal wave that does not fluctuate but devours everything.”
Viola couldn’t understand what he was saying anymore.
Nonetheless, she realized one thing. He was in between the line containing the artistic soul of the mad artist.
“You want it, don’t you?”
Studying Seivan’s eyes, it contained a great deal of madness.
‘I didn’t think I should say no.’
The moment she said no, he would have said, “Why are you rejecting me! You told me to do your best! You told me to try! You told me to be a useful person!” It seemed as though he was going to flip her eyes and rush in with a knife at any moment.
‘Oh, that’s scary!’ She hid her innermost thoughts desperately.
He smirked on purpose.
“I am looking forward to it.”
Under the long dress, her hidden legs trembled.
***
Laying in bed, Viola kicked several times in the air.
‘Ugh!’
Not this person. Transformation genius. Master of disguise. Seivan’s ability to create something out of nothing was brilliant.
Viola already had a bad feeling about this.
It was not just makeup. As Seivan mentioned before, he had the ability to transform the atmosphere as well. It was clear that the makeup magic would be discreet so that the atmosphere could be roughly permeated.
‘I’m screwed.’ Knowing her fate, Viola quickly realized that she was doomed.
Then, she jumped up swiftly and stood in front of the mirror.
‘I really am pretty.’
Pretty. Cute. Those words weren’t far off.
However, after that beauty, there was an aura that could be ambiguously described in words.
Ominous and shady.
It was quite difficult to explain, like a prospective killer, like a dreamer.
‘I look like a pretty unlucky woman in a horror movie…’ She was beautiful, but it felt as if there would be a gloomy background music whenever she appeared.
On purpose, she put more pressure on her eyes, then laughed. As Seivan said, she did look arrogant and prideful. There was a peculiar atmosphere which she had. So, this unique atmosphere would only intensify when Seivan got her makeup done.
‘Sigh. It’ll be okay right?’
Then, someone tapped on her shoulder when she was lost in thoughts.
“What are you doing?”
Vixen backed away in a hurry. His movement was like a quick weasel.
“Hehe. That is not good.”
Viola wanted to cry at the moment. ‘Why is there a knife in my hand…?’
There was a dagger in the air.
Verratoux’s successors carry weapons somewhere in their bodies. Most of them were in the form of daggers for easy carrying. The same goes for Viola, as she wore a dagger around her thigh.
‘Did I just swing the knife?’
It happened in the blink of an eye. While looking in the mirror, bewildered, Vixen spoke, “It seemed that Viola is acting.”
“Hehe. Calm down. It’s a knife, not a sword.”
His eyes narrowed down. It seemed as though opposite to Viola, Vixen had found this rather exciting.
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