I Played the Role of the Adopted Daughter Too Well

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Chapter 36

Three years ago, the Duke had said, “If she doesn’t produce satisfactory results by the age of ten, we will no longer discuss her qualifications as heir.”

And three years later Viola stood before the Duke.

“If I don’t achieve proper results at the age of ten, I’ll be disqualified as a successor or expelled, right?”

“You said it exactly.”

“Then, now that three years have passed. What do you think about that command?”

“Isn’t it proven? Seeing that you’re still alive.”

Heron Verratoux kept thinking the chat was very annoying throughout the conversation.

“I told Father at the time that I’ll protect Maple Village, a granary, from the wild boars.”

“You have fulfilled that promise very well.”

“Though I did it in a very unusual way, why didn’t Father ask me anything?”

The hoard was driven away, but she did it in a different way than Heron Verratoux. More precisely, she had chosen symbiosis instead. The reason why the wild boars were forced to come out was that there was nothing to eat in the hills.

And that was the part Viola had taken advantage of.

“I created a hybrid of red-mouth worms and tooth moles in a special environment, which fertilized the soil of the hills.”

“…”

Heron Verratoux knew all about it, though he didn’t disclose it publicly.

“As the soil becomes fertile, the boars are now rich in food. Thus, they no longer had to come down to the village.”

Back then, many people were worried. As the number of wild boars increased, wouldn’t they invade the village again? Even then, sometimes, wild boars that had mutated into demon beasts appeared, and the anxiety reached its peak.

“Since then, the ecosystem has been balanced as the snow leopard, an intermediate predator of the Kant Mountains, migrated its habitat.”

“Do you want to celebrate your achievements?”

“No.”

Viola squatted down, then she saw a flower in full bloom.

At first glance, the flower was so similar to the rose of Sharon and covered the garden in its mysterious hue that is combined with pink and purple. Bees were flying through the yellow flower liquor. The petals and green stems swaying in the wind were like a gentle wave.

[tl/n: The mugunghwa, or the rose of Sharon, it’s the national flower of South Korea. Meaning “eternal blossom that never fades,” it has been an important symbol of Korean culture for centuries.]

‘Pretty…’

It was very different from the description in the novel. The novel didn’t do justice to the real scenery.

Viola’s hair fluttered freely in the wind. Heron Verratoux gazed at the girl in front of him. It was like a scene in a frame portrayed peacefully.

She then opened her mouth, gazing at the flower garden with warm eyes, which was very different from the usual.

“In fact, what I’ve done is great. I heard that some scholars are looking for the origin of ‘tooth worms’ with their eyes burning in admiration. It was a coincidence, but anyway, I left a mark in biosynthesis magic engineering.”

Heron frowned. “You’re taking too long.”

“But, why didn’t Father make it public?”

“…”

“I think it is an opportunity to promote my achievements as a Verratoux.”

She was able to read Heron’s mind.

‘Viola is going to be the ‘Dark Verratoux’.’

The Verratoux Family was divided into two main strength pillars.

The Dark Verratoux was in charge of the military force. In comparison, White Verratoux was in charge of resourcefulness. What Viola accomplished three years ago was closer to White Verratoux than Dark Verratoux.

Using life-mado engineering, chimeras were created, and natural ecosystems were restored through them. So, instead of exterminating wild boars, she found a harmonic result in a better way.

However, Heron did not elaborate on that fact.

“Father wants me to be the Dark Verratoux, right?”

“Do you remember why I adopted you?”

“Yes, it’s because of my talent.”

Talent for murder. Because of that, she was adopted and became ‘Viola Verratoux.’

She smiled lightly.

“Though, Dad…”

Viola’s tone was always strange. One minute she would call him ‘father’ with courtesy, but at some point, she had called him ‘dad.’ Heron was unfamiliar with the title ‘Dad’ although her tone was so natural and didn’t come across as uncomfortable.

No. Rather, the ‘dad’ came out as a good thing. It felt essentially different from the other children.

“You recognized my talent.”

“I did.”

“However, what if I am more talented as a White Verratoux than the one you thought?”

“Viola, your Dark Verratoux talent is comparable to Medea.”

Heron said it all honestly.

“When I brought you, you were the nourishment of my own children. I hoped they would be stimulated by you and your extraordinary talent.”

“I knew that, but it’s shocking to hear it in person.”

To be honest, it wasn’t. She knew it from the beginning. It was a shock to possess someone else’s body, not to be adopted by such a father.

“That’s why I want you to grow up to be a Dark Verratoux.”

“Even if my talent as a White Verratoux is much greater?”

“You’ve done a great job as a Black Verratoux since the first day of adoption.”

Her encounter with Xenon along with Vixen. To her relationship with Hixen and Tundra until her welcoming dinner.

“What if I want to go against Father’s will and set my course in White Verratoux?”

White Verratoux was responsible for the Verratoux Family’s resourcefulness.

Estate affairs along with strategies. For example, they were in charge of the department division related to money management.

If Dark Verratoux takes care of all external affairs, White Verratoux takes care of all internal affairs.

At first glance, both seemed essential, but in reality, they weren’t.

“White Verratoux is a difficult direct-line assignment. I’m sure you know that, aren’t you?”

Verratoux is an iron-blooded Duchy, a family whose force is more important than resourcefulness. It’s no exaggeration to say that few volunteers become White Verratoux.

When one was defeated in the succession race or judged that their strength was insufficient. At that time, they accepted the position of White Verratoux.

Although they have real power within the family, they were unfortunate supporting actors who spend their whole lives subject to the ignorance and disdain of the Dark Verratoux. Instead, they were given preferential treatment that wasn’t really preferential treatment.

‘They can avoid a slaughter race with their siblings.’

Dark Verratoux faces a bloody heir rivalry between their siblings. A White Verratoux needs no such competition. It meant that even though they would be ignored by their siblings, they would not be put to death.

‘It’s better to be despised than to die like a dog!’

Viola continued, “I think I have fully proved my talent and qualities as a Dark Verratoux.”

“…”

Heron Verratoux could not deny it. The memories of the welcome dinner were still entrenched in his mind.

“So… I don’t think I’m running away from the succession race?”

That was the opposite response of Viola in the original story. There, Viola, in the original work, clearly promises to grow as a Dark Verratoux.

“A good general can decapitate several enemy captains.”

“…”

“However, an outstanding strategist as General, who takes control of military discipline, manages troops, and organizes military operations, can bring down the King and the entire enemy army.”

“…”

“If my hands and feet can kill a hundred, my head and mouth can kill ten thousand.”

Though the process was completely different, nevertheless, the conclusion was still the same.

[“My father is the sinister Duke, so I’ll be even greater.”]

“My father is the sinister Duke, so I’ll be even greater.”

* * * *

Heron returned to his study room and meditated for a long time.

“I can kill ten thousand people, but I will save another ten thousand of my people.”

Viola, who was talking to him, was holding the flower in one of her hands. It felt like a small treasure island floating alone amid the green waves.

‘White Verratoux, huh…’

In history, few volunteered for White Verratoux as soon as they turned ten years old. One of them was Hera, and the other was Viola.

He expected that much from Hera, but he didn’t even know that Viola would do this herself.

Making up his mind, he called Xenon.

“Xenon, three years ago… You know Viola got two hundred million dalias, right?”

“Yes, of course. I’ve already made a detailed report. Would you like it?”

At that time, Heron deliberately did not ask to receive the report.

After turning ten, it was to make a proper evaluation. It also meant that he would not look at the process, but rather focus on the results.

“Bring it.”

Xenon reported as if he had prepared it in advance. Heron, who had been reading the data for a long time, groaned unknowingly.

For the past three years: How Viola used the two hundred million dalias. What happened as a result… All the details about her were written down.

Xenon grinned.

“It’s not because she’s the Princess I serve, but she’s amazing, isn’t she?”

“…Bring Viola here.”

“Yes.”

As he went to fetch Viola from her room, Xenon noticed that Viola’s hands were very dirty. He didn’t know what she did, though there was a lot of dirt on her hands.

“Would you like me to wipe them?”

“No, it’s okay.”

Viola, escorted by Xenon, headed to the Duke’s office together.

“Did you report about me to Father?”

“Yes, the Duke asked about it first.”

“I see.”

‘The time has come.’ She had decided to tell him exactly what and how she had done over the past three years. Then, Duke Heron would never object to her being a White Verratoux. The cause, the benefit, she brought it all.

Eventually, they arrived at the Duke’s office. Xenon opened the door, and Viola walked slowly to the Duke’s desk.

The Duke spoke to Viola without even looking up from the papers.

“Behind your back, what are you hiding?”

The Duke’s mood rapidly deteriorated. There was no way that she had memorized it, and even if she did, to hide it openly like that was disqualification as a Verratoux.

As she hesitated for a moment, Duke Heron’s eyes became sharp.

“What are you hiding?”

The air around them seemed to turn into needles. Instead of air, it felt like a needle was poking into her skin.

“This.”

She brought out a wreath she was hiding behind her back. It was a wreath made of flowers.

“I made it because I thought Dad would like it.”

It was the sort of gift that the Duke had never received in his life. So, obviously, he didn’t expect to receive something like that from his adopted daughter.

“I thought it would look good on you.”

After Viola finished her words, the air around him suddenly shifted and the invisible needles pointed at her disappeared.

“Did I make a mistake?”

The Duke only gazed at Viola for a long time.

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