I Played the Role of the Adopted Daughter Too Well - Chapter 62

Chapter 62

“Then, I’ll make sure you don’t know what to do.” Jermi was quite confident that he had planned well.

He had promised to come alone, but he came a day earlier than the appointment date. He deliberately created this situation so that she could not reject his proposal.

However, Viola’s answer was unexpected. “It means that this place will be where you and I will duel.”

Jermi doubted his ears at the moment.

A duel?

“I know… The duel that I’m thinking of and the duel that you’re thinking of are the same, right?”

“Of course.” Viola pointed at Jermi with a dagger.

Jermi shrugged as if embarrassed. Even at that moment, he still did not lose his relaxed smile. “Let me tell you about the duels I know. First, a fight to decide victory or defeat. Second, a battle fought under certain conditions and formalities in order to relieve grudges or insults.”

“That’s correct.”

“Why do we have to duel?”

“Because you looked down on me and my family so easily.”

The smile disappeared from Jermi’s face.

If she said, “You’ve offended me so easily,” there was a possibility that it could be resolved through conversation.

However, she mentioned her family. The name of the Verratoux

It meant that Viola was that sincere.

‘Uh… This isn’t it.’

Jermi was perplexed; he didn’t want to duel with Viola. “I just wanted to explore the ruins with you, though I didn’t mention it directly.”

Viola continued with her dagger pointed at him, “Did you think I was just some pawn on a chessboard that you could move as you please?”

“What are you talking about? Stop, I’ve never thought of you like that.”

“Your intentions don’t matter, because that is how it seems to me.”

Jermi was originally an innocent and positive character. Naive instead of scheming.

For example, “It would be fun to explore the ruins with Princess Viola” or “If you find a treasure while exploring the ruins,” would light-heartedly be said as, “I’ll give you a gift, Princess Viola, when you come.”

“You made your board, and you acted as if I was playing on it. In front of so many people who followed you, you acted as if I was going to bend according to your will. What do you think of me?”

“I…”

‘Yes, I am Princess Viola Verratoux.’

She couldn’t simply say that.

There were too many eyes around.

He had a sinking feeling that he had just made it harder for himself to become her friend.

‘You made it impossible to answer. I guess I fell into my own trap?’

“Take out the sword.”

At some point, iron-clad guards came and took control of the people.

This was also what Viola had requested in advance.

Some of the people who flocked here even asked the guards, “John. Who the hell is that woman?”

“…”

But the guards were silent. In fact, they know who that woman was.

Since she was a youth from a family of high rank, they only moved at her orders.

“Who dares to ask Sir Jermi for a duel?”

“…”

“Why won’t you say anything? Is it not allowed?”

“It is, but…”

“I think it’s a good opportunity to see Sir Jermi’s excellent swordsmanship.”

“Huh? I think so too.”

Viola could feel it. The longing of Jermi’s fans.

How dare she draw your weapon against Sir Jermi?

They’d be expecting Jermi to perform a beautiful sword trick and subdue her gracefully.

‘Wow… Their eyes are fierce. How can there be no one on my side?’

“Sir Jermi! Show us what you can do!”

“Sir Jermi! Please scold me for being immature!”

His position became even more difficult.

‘Ah. This isn’t it…’

He didn’t mean to do this. He only wanted to have fun with Viola, but…

‘Do you want me to show you? A reckless young girl?’

Jermi scratched his head at what she seemed to be saying. In fact, he wanted to pull his hair out, but he couldn’t. If it remained like this, the situation would get worse and worse.

The favor of the crowd was twisting the situation.

“Then, shall we move?” I don’t think this is the right place to have a duel.”

“Sir Hickson. Will you be okay?”

“Just call me as usual. What kind of bastard am I to be called ‘Sir Hickson’?”

The viscount frowned. He used more genteel words because they were in front of children, but that didn’t work for Hickson.

“Are you okay?”

“It will be fine. Viola is smart. She always thinks one step ahead.”

Still, it was worrying. Their gazes followed the two children.

Viola was great, but she was still a 12-year-old girl. Her physical development was not comparable to that of Jermi’s.

At that age, there is a huge difference that an extra year of growth can make.

Besides, the opponent was Jermi, who is already called a small storm.

Jermi said with a shy smile, “We don’t have any spectators now. Can’t I just apologize and move on?”

“I am a Verratoux. Don’t you remember what I said?”

“What was it?”

In her first meeting with Jermi, Viola told him to come in his true form.

“But you didn’t show any truth at all. It was hard to understand. He made me do all this.”

“I’m really sorry about that.”

“I think the time to end with an apology has passed.”

“Are you really going to have a duel with me?”

“I’ve always been sincere since the moment you called me out in private.”

Of course, she didn’t mean it. If she really fought, she’d be in trouble. There was no way that she could properly fight a master swordsman.

As a last resort, she might have to trigger the real Viola.

“How can I fight with a princess?”

“Why not? Because I’m a Verratoux?” Viola moved her head to the side with a seemingly confused expression. “The House of Verratoux will not seek retribution for any injuries or deaths caused by a legitimate duel. You won’t have any trouble, so you can relax.”

“No, it’s not like that…” Jermi scratched the back of his head. In fact, Jermi had never faced a woman with a sword yet. “A duel with a lady is a little…”

He was a major supporting role who believed that knightly abilities should be used to protect ladies.

‘But it’s a different story if it’s a warrior who has learned swordsmanship.’

Even if the opponent was a woman, if the opponent was a warrior, Jermi would do his best to deal with it. It was courtesy among warriors. However, he was still young and had not yet had a duel with a woman. It meant he was still naive.

“I first faced a woman with a sword at the age of 19. Medea. I couldn’t withstand her strength for even three seconds.”

It was said that it was the right time to fight a woman at the age of 19.

He was originally a dull person who believed that women were weak until he met Medea in the original story.

Viola pointed out his prejudice properly. “Does it mean that I can’t deal with you because I’m a woman?”

“That, that…”

“Before I am a woman, I am a warrior. You seem to be determined to insult me, Sir.”

“Oh no, Princess Viola. That’s not it.”

Then Tundra came out.

He knelt down on one knee and spoke politely, “Master. Is it okay if I fight for you?”

“You? Why?”

“I don’t think it’s appropriate. The master is a much stronger person than me, so I didn’t think there was any need to cross swords with Scholar Jermi.”

Jermi was rendered speechless.

Viola felt bad for saying it, but his side insulted me first, so there.

He couldn’t really refute the insult.

“You won’t run away from me, with your tail between your legs, will you, Scholar?”

She saw it in Jermi’s eyes.

The current Tundra was an eye-catching fighter.

In case of an accident, if the situation got too dangerous, Hickson would jump in to stop it.

Only then did Viola relax.

‘Ah. done.’

While avoiding a direct duel, she also maintained her prestige as a Verratoux. Hickson would intervene, so nobody was going to die.

‘Is this going to make Jermi a little uncomfortable with me?’

That would be for the best.

He may not be the type to hold grudges, but just a little discomfort was fine.

Meanwhile, Tundra stared at Jermi while holding a large iron sword. Instead of his own sword, Jermi picked up an ordinary iron sword borrowed from the viscount.

“Tundra, you’ve spent five years learning the sword, right?”

“Yes.”

“It’s been over ten years for me”

“I know.”

“That’s why I will use this sword. It’s not about disrespecting you, it’s about pursuing fairness for the time we spent learning each other’s swords, so I hope you don’t misunderstand.”

“As you please.”

It didn’t matter to Tundra. He didn’t think he was having a duel now. Duels were a pastime for nobility, or perhaps great warriors.

’I hunt.’

His identity as Viola’s hound gave him confidence. It was okay if the method was not noble. All he had to do was hunt.

Tundra was dramatically different from who he was in the original story.

‘I didn’t like you from the beginning.’

It was like that from the first meeting.

‘You even walked out of my master’s room. Even in the middle of the night.’

That provoked Tundra’s wrath, which had been looking for a way to escape.

Seeing that, Jermi had a subtle smirk.

Those eyes weren’t those of a dueling warrior. They held a dog’s possessive desire to monopolize their master—in this case, Princess Viola.

He didn’t understand completely, but he understood enough.

‘At first, I just wanted to get to know her.’

It wasn’t that he was romantically interested in her. Viola was too young to be considered a woman, and Jermi wasn’t interested in little girls.

That was it.

In Jermi’s view, Viola was an interesting and mysterious princess, so he wanted to get close.

“If you come out this far, I’ll go, too.”

It gives you energy.’

He felt that it was somewhat unexpected to see him so obsessed with Viola. It seemed that he also had the same wish.

‘It’s not like you’re the only one who can get close.’

As if reading his mind, Tundra said, “Your eyes. I like them.”

“I should fight with all my heart”.

“Yeah. I’m starting to get tired of it.”

“What’s coming?”

“You’ll see.”

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