Chapter 7
Vixen’s butler, Ferron, doubted his ears.
“It means someone who knows how to deal with a bow, shot a man in the watchtower and sneaked in through the door.”
“Then, brother. You can explain the scent of blood as there was probably a battle.”
I whispered to Xenon just in case. “Did you want me to explain that?”
“No, you don’t have to.”
In fact, the butler understood most of the situation since the moment there were no people in the watchtower. Though, what the butler found out was different from what the seven-year-old princess did.
“Did the Duke give her special training in secret?”
“No, he came across her and brought her in.”
“But how can she…” Ferron was not convinced.
No matter how much genius she was, he couldn’t understand the insight she had.
“Well, I still don’t understand.”
“If you don’t understand, just accept it.”
“Do you understand?”
“If I don’t understand, I should just accept it.”
“I’m glad you understand.”
Ferron frowned.
“I’m going to accompany Prince Vixen first then.” Then, Ferron disappeared.
He went to Vixen, who ran first, secretly.
Xenon walked behind Viola, who was walking slowly.
“Are you going to follow the prince?”
“No.”
“How come?”
“I found a tiny footprint leading here. They didn’t move in groups, so I don’t think it’s bandits.”
I know everything, actually.
The fact that Tundra was here.
“A child skilled in tracking. I think they’re about twelve years old.”
“That’s interesting. Why did he come to the cottage on his own?”
“Why do you think?”
“Isn’t that obvious?”
He gave a plausible reason.
“It’s the brother of the child who died earlier. I’m sure he has a grudge. He’s a child with no sense of remorse, so he didn’t care.”
“…”
“Why? Am I wrong in my analysis?”
“No, it’s exactly the same as what I analyzed.” Viola kept walking.
A scream came from far away.
A violent scream.
Vixen seemed to be punishing the bandits.
Viola’s body stiffened. ‘In this world, I have to get used to it.’
She walked past the yard. Everywhere, there were old wooden buildings in the form of huts.
“A child who doesn’t know what to do. He was blinded by vengeance and chased after them to this place.”
She continued. “Maybe they were shot or axed before he got his revenge. That’s why there was no disturbance inside.”
Xenon listened to Viola in silence. He guessed that Viola wasn’t just talking about this.
‘You’re telling me to listen.’
Viola Verratoux was aware of her position and role accurately.
So, now she’s giving him her insight into everything, and she’s telling him that on purpose.
It was a self-appeal, so to speak.
It was surprising for Xenon.
He couldn’t hide his amazement, “Wow…”
“Then, wouldn’t he be hiding somewhere over here?”
“Are you sure that’s where he’s hiding?”
Creak.
They opened the door.
She could see a boy in the corner.
His hair was in a disheveled form, and his leather clothes were covered with soil and sweat. There was also blood all over the place.
As soon as it rained, she felt like she had been hit on the head.
What is this?
There was no such thing in the novel.
‘Why are you-‘
He looked so much like someone she knew very well.
***
There was always a word of consolation to Arin, who was abandoned in the nursery.
‘It’s all right.’
It was Kang Han-joon, her five-year-older brother.
‘It’s all right. I’ll help you.’
His words magically eased Arin.
Our parents will be back soon.
She didn’t give such consolation in return.
He just told her that he would help her. He said he’d be there for him, and he had actually always been there for her.
When she went up to the top of the school, the first person she thought of was Kang Han-joon.
Time passed. Arin turned nineteen years old.
Her mind became complicated.
‘Does that mean I like him?’
It felt so strange.
Does she like him as a man, or does he feel like a reliable guardian to her?
‘Let’s not get confused. My brother is just my guardian.’
We’ve been together for a long time.
And since we spent a long time together, we made a lot of memories together.
So, I thought it was a good thing.
Then, one day, Kang Han-joon introduced his girlfriend to her.
She was a pretty sister.
That day Arin was filled with jealousy.
She liked Kang Han-joon before she knew it. She admitted it herself but she hid it in her heart.
It was obvious that she would be rejected if she told him now.
Kang Han-joon’s warm eyes always showed love, but his love was not out of rationale.
Time flew faster than I thought.
‘I’m an adult now.’
I decided to be honest with my feelings.
‘I’ll just confess and get dumped.’
Though it was scary to confess.
…Let’s think about it for one more day.
A day later, she wore black on that day.
The subject to consider confessing has gone too far.
Kang Hanjoon, who was always there for her, became a star in the sky and suddenly disappeared.
He got into a car accident.
It was the day he had an appointment with Arin.
She cried for a long time in the corner of the funeral hall, dressed in black.
“You said you’d buy me something delicious. You said you got paid so why aren’t you buying me one?
No matter how hard I tried to call out to him, my brother didn’t come back.
But… now he’s here.
A twelve-year-old boy was seen with a beastly harsh breath.
His body was in a complete mess, but the light in his eyes was still there.
Tundra saw a girl who suddenly appeared.
She was very small, she seemed to be around five or six years old.
“Who…?
Viola came close to Tundra like she was possessed by something.
He was the same as Kang Han-joon.
His face was so similar to the person she had known.
“S-stay away from me.” Tundra took a small knife out from his arms.
It was an old, shabby knife.
His hand that was holding a knife trembled.
Viola looked at Tundra’s face.
‘They are very much the same.’
Viola stood right in front of him.
“I-I’ll stab you if you come closer!”
Viola didn’t care about his words. She squatted and lifted Tundra’s leg.
Calf.
She checked his calves.
There were three dots on the left calf. It was triangular.
‘What is this…?’
Why are they the same?
Viola squatted down and looked straight into Tundra’s eyes.
Their eyes were the same, but his eyes felt different.
‘Is this a coincidence?’
There is no such thing in the novel.
“Why is there such a coincidence?’
At the moment, she felt dizzy.
‘Uh… oh, I feel dizzy.’
Tundra agonized a thousand more times in his head.
Should I poke it?
Should I not?
This girl in front of me is too small to get stabbed.
However, she somehow looked threatening.
‘Is this the boss’s daughter…?’
The way she behaved without hesitation and the clothes she was wearing was rather luxurious.
“If she’s really the boss’ daughter…” He clenched his teeth.
‘No matter how young she is, I can’t forgive you.’
Tundra asked, “Are you the boss’ daughter?”
“Answer me. Are you the boss’s daughter?”
Viola did not answer.
No, she couldn’t answer.
After making eye contact with Tundra, Viola felt dizzier and dizzier.
‘Why do I feel so dizzy… huh?’
At that moment, she felt that the eyes of Tundra had become huge.
His huge eyes got bigger, it looked as if he was approaching her.
I felt like I saw something I shouldn’t see.
Teuk!
She felt like something was breaking inside her head.
At that moment.
Tundra, who was looking for a chance to escape, quickly stretched out his arms.
He raised his arms that had a knife and aimed it at Viola’s neck.
He spoke to Xenon. “Guide me to the boss. Otherwise, she’ll die!”
But then.
A faint voice escaped from Viola’s lips.
“Are you seriously pointing a knife at me?”
Viola’s eyes and spirits changed in a flash.
Xenon grinned.
“I think you’re going to show your true self now, Princess Verratoux.”
In the eyes of Xenon, Viola’s behavior was strange.
How dare she approach him so defenselessly and lift his leg?
She continued to show a state of being overly defenseless.
‘You’ve exposed your weakness.’
Then, he understood the situation.
‘It looked like Princess Viola was interested in the little boy.’ That’s why she provoked him on purpose.
The stimulated boy pointed the knife at the princess.
‘Everything is going the way she wanted.’
The princess’s operation looked like a complete success.
‘So, what are you going to do now?’
Viola Verratoux finally revealed her true feelings.
They decided to wait and see how she would move.