Translator and Editor: Skye and Nabi

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Chapter 1

I thought it was just a dream.

“You’d better read the providence of winter. If you want to survive.”

“The Duke has brought me here, so I’ll be sharp and cruel in no time.”

It was a line that I’ve heard a lot.

That sharp blade reminds me of the most talented man I’ve ever known, Heron Verratoux.

That was what Heron Verratoux said when he first met his adopted daughter, Viola.

‘This is a dream, right?’

Of course, I am dead.

I thought for sure this was a dream.

I’ve always had regrets reading the novel “The Shadow of Verratoux.” The heroine, Viola Verratoux, was the ruler of the Duke of Verratoux. Eventually, Viola rose to the top with her natural talent and desperate efforts.

But I felt that Viola never felt happiness.

Viola may be the succeeding ruler, but in reality, she was lonely and melancholy. I imagined that made me dream of that thought.

Let’s pause for a second.

This is the prologue of the novel.

On the first day, the Winter Castle’s owner, Heron Verratoux, brought in Viola, who was abandoned in an empty private house.

There was only one reason why Heron Verratoux brought Viola to Winter Castle.

It was because Viola has a ‘talent as a murderer,’ near the ending of the novel. She murmured.

I got cherished by Verratoux, but I lost everything because of Verratouxx as well.

As a reader, I always felt sorry for her because of that.

I would have done things differently.

Since I recognized it from a glance.

Usually, whenever the Duke spoke, the seven-year-old Viola, who knew nothing, just listened.

As a reader of this novel, I felt pity for her.

The first step is always the most important for anything.

‘Anyway, this is a dream, right?’

So I’ve decided to do as I please.

“Are you my father now?”

When I said that, Duke Heron, who was walking in the hallway stopped.

The man next to him also flinched.

It seemed like he’s Carlton, the Duke’s general butler. A dreamy like father.

The Duke of Heron answered in a dry voice.

“That’s what it will be.”

The Duke adopted me because of my great talent as a killer, which he believed could be a good stimulus to Verratoux’s immediate family.

To put it simply, I came here as a substitute, who was originally used and abandoned. However, Viola is the main character in the novel, and with her ability, she was able to overcome everything and become his successor. While in the process, facing a tremendous crisis and a great deal of troubles.

“Have you ever seen me as your family, even once?”

“You have grown up to be a great Verratoux. Family? Saying things like that doesn’t suit you at all.”

“Yes, it doesn’t suit me.”

But of course Han Ah-rin, the reader, knew.

I wanted to hear that Viola is actually a part of the family. Not the cruel successor Viola Verratoux.

I wanted to be the daughter, Viola Verratoux.

Though eventually, that wish never came true. Viola ascended to the throne of Verratoux, by killing Heron. Countless readers dropped the novel after this part, and started to curse the writer.

Although there are many behind-the-scenes stories, the readers who dropped the novel weren’t able to read the passage.

Anyway, I asked my dream father, Heron, a question.

“I’ve heard a lot about Verratoux.”

“And how did you hear about that?”

“It’s a rational family.”

“If it’s a reasonable and rational family, why don’t you give me the authority to choose my father? I could only be a part of Verratoux if you allow me to take the lead myself.

Carlton tried to restrain me.

“Well, Princess?”

Be polite. You are now the princess of Verratoux. I’ve become qualitatively different from you in the slums. It seemed like that was what he was going to say.

But I knew.

Duke Heron would rather hear my provocative question, since that’s his favorite character!

“You seem to know a lot about Verratoux.”

“Yes.”

I think I know them, better than the Verratoux themselves.

“Ask me any questions about Verratoux. I could answer you like a test taker who had memorized the answer sheet.”

“It’s a weak, yet strong family in which everything would be proven by ability.”

“An unsophisticated family that encourages the slaughter of their own family.

“They are the shield of the north, protecting mankind from the ‘snowy place.’”

“And a Duke who had iron blood and valued a reasonable choice and farce of the family.”

OK.

I’m going to smile at this point.

Squeak.

“You’re asking me, why didn’t I give you a choice when you’re in such a thorough and reasonable family, right?”

“That sounds about right.”

Then the Duke asked me.

“Will you be my daughter?”

“Yes. I will.”

“You answered quickly.”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because my father is handsome.”

There was a moment of silence.

“Please be precise. It’s not your choice that I was chosen, it’s my choice. My father-to-be was just “proposing” it to me, and “I accepted the offer, okay?”

“Yes.”

“This sounds like fun.”

I could feel Heron Verratoux’s gaze.

I could see curiosity hidden in those cold eyes.

Anyways, when am I going to wake up from this dream? It’s not a really bad dream.

I should be waking up soon.

I asked something

“I’m your daughter now, so I’m eligible for posterity, right?”

“Of course.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll make sure you don’t regret taking me in”

I don’t want to be a sacrificial adopted daughter.

And not regarded as a tool or stimulant.

“I wish you’d love me more.”

It was depressing for me, when I read the novel where Viola eventually became the ruler, but no one no one was on her side.

Everyone was afraid of Viola.

No one loved her.

“You’ll do that for me, right?”

“I’ve always thought it would be nice to have a family. You act like a real father, not just in name.”

I thought about Viola Verratoux from the prologue.

I think I nailed it perfectly.

How should I word this?

I feel like I’ve become a successful fan..

I can’t believe I changed the novel, for her family to become more affectionate to her.

This feels like I am more than a fan, it feels like I am in her body.

I’m glad this dream lasted for a while.

He glanced at the Duke.

The butler, Carlton, stood with a strange look on his face.

His face was full of small scars, making it seem like he doesn’t fit in a neat suit.

The butler’s thought was clearly visible, ‘that adopted daughter is going to die.’ It was obvious what was on his mind.

The Duke of Heron laughed.

“Amusing”

The Duke of Heron is known as the “Duke of Heaven.”

He was named that, after killing as many as thousands of people before becoming the head of Verratoux.

That was when I felt a terrible energy pouring out

Ugh!

I was astonished that I didn’t realize it.

Am I… inside the novel?

My whole body is tingling.

The electricity seemed to penetrate my body. My heart trembled, and cold sweats flowed down my back.

It was a little strange at this point. Why is this so vivid?

“Make sure you survive. I won’t kill you myself.”

Somehow it was ominous. Unknown uneasiness began to creep in.

…Why won’t I wake up?

***

She is like a child born with “Killer Star,” which has appeared several times in history books.

I bought it on a whim, since I find it quite interesting. It was like finding an intriguing animal, and locking it in a zoo so only he could see. Through the adoption, the child was not even seven-years-old.

The thorough and reasonable Heron sat at his desk in his study, lost in his thoughts.

“Amusing.”

That was his thought when he first met Viola.

She had red eyes. There was a piece of stained glass dripping with blood in her hand. She grabbed the neck of a slave merchant who tried to kidnap her, making him collapse.

A seven-years-old child, who wasn’t trained was able to do that. That caused him to wonder why she didn’t give him a choice at that time.

The butler, Carlton, uttered.

“You look happy, Duke.”

“That was delightful.”

“What do you mean?”

“The growth of that child is beyond her years. Besides, isn’t the way she speaks better than Lina, who is older than her?”

Her words were not like a seven-years-old child, nor her pronunciation.

“I’ve identified myself as seven years old, but in reality, I’m about five years old. I think I was very slow to grow because I couldn’t eat properly. Or she’s just confused about her age.”

“Did I look like a kid who’s confused about my age?”

“That’s not it.”

“Your mindset, your body language, is different from others.

Heron observed the state of Viola, but there wasn’t much to learn.

“…You mean it was unnatural?”

“Yes.”

Carlton also couldn’t think of anything.

He pointed out the reason with great common sense.

“I may have pretended to be proud, but I am nervous. If that’s what you’re trying to say, then it’s because I felt awkward.”

Carlton, who was speaking, realized only then.

“Ah…!”

Being nervous and scared, she had said such things to Heron.

It meant that the little girl had a huge heart.

‘A strong spirit to overcome fear. You’ve taken a good look at that.’

By Carlton’s eyes, Viola had a very good first step.

The seven-year-old adopted by Verratoux showed the best she could show. A rather rude attitude might have been a problem, but that doesn’t matter because the Duke didn’t mind.

But the Duke was thinking of something else.

‘If he eventually loves me, I should probably be waking up soon.”

No one in Verratoux.

Ever ask for affection so proudly.

But Viola is different.

“I asked you to love me with impudence and dignity.”

The important thing was that it was not done out of servile and confidence. This was my first time experiencing this.

And…she is kind.

She is different from the other children of the Duke.

She didn’t look like seven years old in any way.

If feels like if he holds her in his hands, she will break.

The Duke asked.

“Carlton, what do you think is the probability that this child will survive in Verratoux until she becomes an adult?”

“I think it’s less than 40 percent.”

“I see.”

The Duke was lost in his thought. He had an instinctive insight to read a man’s true heart.

In the novel, they called it ‘Genuine Eyes”, which is also read as Real Snow.

[T/N: Eyes and snow are written the same way in Korean.]

Viola had a strong affinity for Heron himself. It was also true that he really wanted a family. Viola acted as if she had been a child for a long time. Without feigning ignorance, but from the bottom of his heart, he didn’t understand why.

‘Why do you like me?’

When did you see me? It wasn’t just a simple favor. There was longing and affection in her eyes.

Why?

There was no telling why.

Heron Verratoux, the Winter’s ruler, whose family is nowhere to be found, was very unfamiliar with the unprovocative fondness.

Heron commanded.

“Assign Xenon as her regular butler.”

“…Xenon?”

‘He’s too good to be a butler’, that’s what he thought.

He also wanted to make sure what he heard was right.

“Is he going to be put as a regular butler, not just temporary?”

“Yes.”

The Duke’s word is the law here.

“Yes, Sir.”

Two days have passed since then.

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