Chapter 35
“As an excuse for my pocket money, I missed Father.”
Heron felt it in his gut. His logical setting from the original novel could see through Viola’s heart and sincerity.
‘Did she mean it?’
Viola’s eyes were full of sincerity. A very intense sincerity. In fact, it wasn’t a wrong observation. Because Arin’s virtuous desire to see her favorite character was real.
‘Though there really is no reason, other than my sincere feelings for him.’
Heron squinted his eyes. He wanted to see himself as a father.
‘I don’t like that idea at all.’
Though the corners of his mouth rose slightly.
“Why?”
“You’re handsome.”
Carlton screamed inwardly. In the last fifteen years, he had never heard anything like that. He almost dropped the bunch of papers that were right in his hand.
The Duke said with a grave look.
“How much do you need?”
“One hundred million dalias.”
The average monthly salary of ordinary people was about three million dalias. So, that amount of money was ordinary people’s savings for three years without spending a single penny.
However, this was Duke Heron.
“That’s the money I’m supposed to get when I’m twelve.”
Succession candidates receive one million dalias when they turn twelve. It’s up to the candidates how to spend it. She was asking him to receive it in advance.
It was a request meant to do once in the Duchy.
At least, that was the case for Hera. She reported in detail how the one million dalias would be invested. She didn’t ask for it recklessly.
“What do you plan to do?”
“I’m going to make money.”
“So, you want to use leverage?”
This refers to an investment strategy where borrowed capital (liabilities) is drawn to increase profits from asset investment and then purchased assets.
Perhaps his young daughter was instinctively aware of the concept of leverage.
“Yes, I’m trying to empower Hera.”
After bringing Hera to her side, Viola decided to get along with the Medeia Line, the First Princess. That way, she had a high probability of a happy ending.
“Why?”
“Isn’t it also Verratoux-like to build a capable ally? I thought it would be better to have Hera on my side because she couldn’t be the heir.”
Viola continued. “Of course, I’m not asking for it for free.”
“What do you suggest?”
“April is just around the corner. It’s time for the hoard of wild boars to rise, and I heard Maple Village always suffers a lot of damage.”
“You seem to have studied hard.”
“Yes. Otherwise, my neck will be cut off.”
The Duke grinned unconsciously. He liked it when Viola was confident and brazen. Gazing at the child, her peachy cheeks caught his eyes again.
“So?”
“I’ll solve the problem of the wild boar. Would that prove my ability?”
“Are you confident?”
“Yes.”
“My time is precious.”
“I know.”
Viola swallowed her saliva and continued. “If I fail, I’ll give you my neck.”
Carlton coughed again.
‘Princess Viola seems to have gone a little too far. What do you mean, giving up your neck?’ Thinking so, he opened his mouth carefully.
“You can’t say such a thing like that, Princess.”
What if she failed? If Duke would really kill Viola. And beheading his daughter shortly after adopting her would inspire vicious rumors among people.
Winter Castle and Duke Heron’s prestige would seriously be compromised.
Moments later, Duke Heron opened his mouth again.
“That’s funny.”
“Give and take, that’s what you like isn’t it?”
Viola was flabbergasted, so her reply was Arin’s customized conversation method. She reached out her hand.
“Give me the money first. I have more weight on the line.”
‘I risked my life, so Father should give me the money first.’
That was what she meant.
The Duke looked at Viola’s hand. Her hands were tiny and dainty. Asking for one hundred million dalias as pocket money with those dainty palms…
“Did you say one hundred million dalias?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll give you two hundred million dalias.”
Saying so, Duke Heron’s eyes drew a line.
The Duke paused as he was signing the papers.
“As an excuse for my allowance, I really missed you, father.”
She will take the concept of leverage and invest in Hera. Duke Heron thought Viola’s choice was not so wrong. Rather, it was a good choice because a debt that one can afford is another asset. Heron’s thoughts went directly to that part.
‘But…’
Originally, it was right to focus on that part, but other things kept catching his attention.
The small hand that looked like a fern came to his mind.
He didn’t know the reason, though why does only that presumptuous hand come to mind?
‘Her hand—’
He grinned unconsciously.
‘It was very small.’
He felt like it would crumble if he held it tightly, like dried leaves.
It was strange.
He kept thinking of her peach-like cheeks, and now he even remembered her eating those egg tarts. Then, he suddenly felt bad.
‘Why is she so soft…?’
Thinking about it, she looked too frail. Perhaps it was because he remembered Rael’s brazen and confident appearance.
So, he ordered,
“Watch Viola.”
“Yes.”
“If she really deceives me…”
Heron Verratoux spoke like Verratoux, like the true master of the Winter Castle.
“If she does not produce satisfactory results at the age of ten, we will no longer discuss her qualifications as heir.”
She would then be consumed as an offering to stimulate the purebloods, as per the true purposes of adoptive daughters.
“…Very well.”
The Duke stood for a moment and gazed out of the window.
The weather was good. The sky was cloudless, and the warm sunshine was seeping through the window. Far below, Viola was seen strolling with her short legs. Her steps looked very light as if she felt happy after receiving her pocket money.
Duke Heron thought back again. He couldn’t admit that he had let his guard down.
‘You’ll have to do a good job.’
The Duke’s eyes harbored an eerie light within them.
‘…Otherwise, your neck won’t survive.’
He made up his mind. Even if it had been three years already, he still wouldn’t admit to her strength.
Soon after, spring came to Winter Castle, and Viola turned ten years old.
Ten years old in the Winter Castle has a special meaning.
From the age of ten, she would have no protection from the absolute law of Winter Castle. So, anyone else would have nothing to say even if she was attacked outside the Winter Castle.
However, the most excited person of all was Prince Vixen.
Clash!
The door opened with a loud thud.
“Viola! I’m back from my mission!”
Vixen, who turned eleven, grew up beautifully before she knew it. He had been outside the castle for the past five months. Besides, he had also done a great job on his mission.
“Did you come here as soon as you finished your mission?”
“Yeah!”
‘Please don’t answer me so brightly.’
“Did you report it to Father?”
“I’m going to do it now.”
‘Don’t lie! I could see that you are getting prickly.’
“You are going to leave it to the butler, aren’t you?”
“N- no. Why would I?” Vixen said, as he rubbed his nose and laughed.
There had also been a big change in Vixen over the past three years. He was now much more flexible than the original Vixen.
At least, for Viola.
Viola stood up from her chair.
“Brother.”
“What?”
“Do you still want to crush me and win the race for succession?”
Vixen flinched and then shuddered.
“Of- of course.”
“I’m ten years old now, and brother can legally compete with me for succession.”
“Hehe.”
“To do so, I want you to perform that role properly as the fifth young Lord.”
For Viola, Vixen had to be a strong ally. And as an ally, he had to grow properly.
“If you don’t behave like the fifth Prince of Verratoux…”
“…If I don’t?”
“I won’t recognize you as a competitor.”
As she finished her words, Vixen looked as if he had lost the whole world.
“So, Brother. Go ahead and give the report first.”
“Okay, I’ll be right back!”
Vixen banged the door and hurriedly closed it again. To twenty-one-year-old Arin, he was still a child.
Xenon, who was standing next to her, grinned.
“Prince Vixen really wanted to see Princess Viola first.”
“Did he look like that to you too, Xenon?”
“Yes, but the funny thing is, he’s lost a lot of liveliness in his eyes.”
“You think so as well?”
“Yes, his curiosity towards Princess Viola remains the same, but I think there is a gap between his reasoning and emotions.”
It was as if his reason seemed to be saying, ‘You have to fight in a life-or-death battle with Viola!’ even as his emotions seemed to be thinking, ‘I don’t want to fight Viola.’
“Did the Princess intend that to happen?”
“I don’t know.”
Viola mumbled her reply. It was right that she had been working hard for the past three years and she thought it’s going well as she anticipated, or even better. And now, Vixen is finally back from his long-term mission.
It was time for a new chapter to unfold.
‘May twelfth.’
Winter Castle had very short spring, summer, and autumn seasons. The seasons changed dramatically in a short time.
The month of May was considered spring, the month of June was considered summer, and the month of July was considered autumn. Moreover, the next chapter was ‘Spring Garden.’
A secret encounter between Viola, a ten-year-old prominent aspiring murderer, and Heron, a sinister Duke, the punishment from heaven.* Here Viola clarified her course.
[tl/n: 천살 comes from the theory of the 12 Shinsal, and means an unavailable disaster or a sinister fate.]
Through this chapter, she was reborn as the true Viola Verratoux and declared a successor. Viola, in the original book, affirmed her identity by saying this.
[“My father is the sinister Duke, so I’ll be even greater.”]
Finally, May twelve arrived.
In May, the Duke used to meditate by taking a 30-minute walk in the Duke’s residence flower garden. This was also the place where he had walked with his beloved Rael.
“Father.”
Viola and Duke Verratoux met in the garden where pink flowers bloomed.
“Did you come here on purpose?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
She did it differently, unlike the original Viola.
“I remember this day three years ago.”
“Three years ago?”
On that day three years ago. It was the day when Viola proudly asked the Duke for one hundred million dalias.
“What Father said to the butler on that day, shall I guess?”