Translator and Editor: Skye and Nabi

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Chapter 14

It had nothing to do with Viola’s will.

“Your… hey.”

My body crept down. ‘I’m…sleepy.’

My consciousness became hazy, and I fell asleep.

Since it was 3:45 in the morning, the seven-year-old’s body couldn’t handle it. Her body is very vulnerable to basic human needs.

Eat, eat, sleep, and eat. Stomach bath. Sleep bath. She was especially weak on these three things. Viola couldn’t stand it if she was too sleepy, if there were something delicious, or if she had to go to bed. At those times, the body would react on its own regardless of her will. Just like now.

Viola fell asleep. As breaths and breaths crossed, her chest slowly went up and down.

Xenon glanced at the figure.

“Oh, my God.”

He scratched the back of his head.

“Was it rude for me to ask that?”

Xenon bowed down calmly and covered the blanket with delicate touches.

Several purple hairs entered Viola’s mouth. Maybe it’s a dream, but Viola was chewing her hair so he pulled out her hair slightly.

His hand brushed past her plumpy cheeks.

Viola tossed and turned, feeling itchy.

“You look cute sleeping.”

The princess, who is exceptionally Verratoux-like, seemed no different from other children when she was sleeping.

He was serious. ‘She’s seriously cute.’

She is much smaller than seven years of her age. Even if someone told him that she was five years old, he would believe it.

When he looked at her, she was sleeping with her eyes slightly open.

Xenon closed Viola’s eyelids that had a much more friendly and careful touch than when she covered them.

He raised his back.

“Oops.”

He thought she was cute when he saw Viola, but the process he had to go through was not so cute.

Viola was testing him. So, Xenon had to be on alert.

“She is the child who can handle mana like that, there’s no way she couldn’t sleep properly by herself, right?”

He’d seen her deal with mana personally.

When she had thrown a git pen at Vixen.

When she overpowered Tundra in an instant.

When she slapped him on his cheek.

Mana is the product of this era that gives superhuman strength. It is very commonly mistaken that a person who treated mana like that would not be able to sleep easily…

‘You’re doing it on purpose, aren’t you?’

This was a test for him, Xenon, the butler.

Take care of yourself.

It is also a way of indirectly showing that reporting to the Duke is not so important to her. It was very much a Verratoux-like way.

‘This report… I’ll post it on my own.’

Xenon grinned and turned off the magic light.

Just in case Viola might wake up, he came out slowly without creating any sound. The smile didn’t disappear from Xenon’s mouth.

Xenon, who closed the door silently, said quietly.

“I’ll pass the exam, princess.”

It is a strange test with no one asking questions and only acknowledged by those who are determined to solve them.

***

It was 5 A.M.

It was the time when Duke Heron Verratoux usually woke up.

As usual, Heron lifted himself from the bed.

He always fell asleep alone after losing his first wife, ‘Rael,’ whom he truly loved. Heron had two more wives to succeed in this house, but he had never slept with them except when he succeeded the dukedom.

As usual, it was Carlton, the general butler, who welcomed him in the morning.

“I’ll get you a shower gown and a warm tea.”

Duke Heron lived like a machine. He got up at five. Around that time, Carlton came to the duke’s bed and waited.

Duke Heron took a shower for precisely fifteen minutes, then he would get out of the shower. He wore a white shower gown that Carlton gave him. Between the open shower gowns, his chest muscles, as though they were carved with a piece of knife, and shading abs were seen.

The butler Carlton approached the Duke of Heron.

He opened his shower gown with his hand in white gloves. Next, he would take out the strap on the back and tie the ribbon in front of the gown. The Duke’s smooth body is covered by a shower gown.

“If Mrs. Rael were alive, she wouldn’t like it.”

“She’s dead.”

“She always told you every time you came out of the shower. She would be worried if you might catch a cold.”

Duke Heron nodded his head with an expressionless face.

Rael always did.

‘You. You’ll catch a cold.’

‘I won’t get a cold.’

Duke Heron’s body contains strong mana. This mana protects his body.

e wouldn’t catch a cold and wouldn’t get sick, but he was rather worried about Rael. He liked it when Rael approached him first and took care of him, so he purposely unwrapped his shower gown every time.

‘I’ve told you many times that I wouldn’t want you to get sick. Are you not going to listen to me at all?’

‘Then, why don’t you do this all the time?’

The word was actually Duke Heron’s wish. Rael also wanted to stay next to him.

‘Don’t die. Be the only one in my life. I loved you with all my heart and body.’

So, he said that on purpose. ‘It is your responsibility to take care of my health. Never forget your duty.’

What he truly meant, was, please don’t die and don’t leave him behind.

From the first time he met Rael, he knew she has a limited lifespan. Even the priests of the temple had incurable diseases.

Still, Heron loved Rael. She was everything in his life.

‘You should know how to do this on your own.’

‘I’m busy. I don’t have time to worry about something so trivial.’ He intentionally exposed his shower gown even more.

It has become a habit now. This habit was also the duke’s way of reminiscing about Rael.

“Let me tell you about today’s schedule.”

But he had a special schedule today.

“Twenty-five minutes ago, Xenon said he’d tell it to you face-to-face. He’s waiting outside right now. It was about the Sixth Princess”

***

Duke Heron heard Xenon’s report over tea. Upon hearing the report, Heron smiled faintly.

“That’s an interesting report.”

The particularly interesting part was that Isabella and Viola met.

“So, Isabella’s on the lookout.”

The Duke does not love Duchess Isabella. However, he acknowledges her ability as a hostess. Duchess Isabella is a must for the duke. Though she is wary of Viola, who is only seven years old.

Xenon said with difficulty.

“I didn’t even say she was on guard, Duke.”

“Isabella tells me most events in the family.”

The same goes for the opposite. Duke Heron discusses many things with Isabella. The two are political marriages that help each other according to their interests.

“Though she didn’t say anything about Viola.”

That means she doesn’t want to tell the Duke about Viola. It could be interpreted that she was on guard.

Carlton, who was standing next to him, carefully asked back.

“It’s not worth talking about, but isn’t it because you are challenging her?”

“I don’t think that’s what Xenon said.”

Carlton glanced at the duke in his chair. ‘It’s been a long time since you’ve had someone you’re interested in.’

Fifteen years have passed since the death of Duchess Rael. The duke lost his emotions. He just buried himself in his work and ran forward like a man chased by something.

Thus, the current Duke of Verratoux is completed.

A man who can be a king himself, but not whole. He became Heron Verratoux, the greatest monarch who is protecting the Winter Castle.

Heron asked. “When is the reception dinner?”

“Three days from now.”

“What events do I have before that?”

“Tomorrow, from 3 P.M. to 5 P.M. After that, your schedule is empty.”

“Good.”

Duke Heron decided to meet his adopted daughter.

“She’s extremely Verratoux-like, but it’s as if she’s an advanced Verratoux.”

Advanced Verratoux is a bad word to hear at first glance. Now, Verratoux is in line with the word ‘Stagnant Verratoux.’

“She’s a seven-year-old adoptive daughter who knows how to wear a mask and use her partner. You won’t regret it when you meet her.”

“My time is expensive, Xenon.”

“Of course.”

The Duke’s time is gold. If you take that time away for nothing, it is a greater sin than robbing of gold. Xenon is very aware of that fact.

“You must be confident that you even asked for a face-to-face report.”

“Yes, the princess gave me a test.”

“A princess tests you.” Duke Heron smiled faintly.

Butlers always doubt the qualities of their successors. If the successors don’t grow properly, the butlers are culled. Therefore, he always doubts and tests his successors. That’s how butlers survive. On the contrary, a Verratoux, who tests butler, appeared.

Xenon grinned.

“If the meeting with the Duke takes place, I think I’ll get some points from the Princess. Though, of course, you’re not very satisfied with the meeting…” He scratched his head.

“However… you’re not gonna kill me, are you?”

“I’ll meet you at 3 P.M. tomorrow.”

“Yes, sir.”

Xenon bent down and paused.

“Oh, I have one more thing to tell you. It’s not a formal report, but… it’s not from Xenon, the Butler. It’s what Xenon, a human wants to say personally.”

“Tell me.”

Carlton also listened.

Xenon was brought by Heron himself. He’d never seen him put his personal opinions.

“Princess Viola is actually cute.”

“…”

He thought of her sleeping soundly while chewing her hair.

‘That was cute.’

“Cute. It’s not Verratoux-like, but more Verratoux-like than anyone else. It’s a wonderful sense.”

“That’s a useless feeling.”

Carlton, who listened carefully, is also a little disappointed.

What do you mean by cuteness to Verratoux, who will grow up to be armed with the charisma of a monarch?

‘What a useless virtue.’

He could see why it is not put in official reports.

A cute Verratoux, what would you use it for? Cuteness is not an essential virtue for Verratoux.

Just then, Heron changed the subject.

“I’ll see you tomorrow at three.”

It’s been a long day.

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