A Painting of the Villainess as a Young Lady

Meeting his eyes, which were brimming with tears, Violet responded shortly.

“I never said I’ve forgiven you.”

“……”

The years of resentment wouldn’t vanish in an instant. Although seeing Cairn cry and apologize had eased her heart somewhat, she couldn’t make any promises.

If she forgave him now and then felt a sudden surge of anger someday, having to suppress that emotion because she had already forgiven him would be incredibly frustrating.

Knowing this, Violet did not say she forgave him, just as she hadn’t with Roen.

Roen, being smart, understood her meaning immediately, but Cairn, being somewhat dense, did not.

“…I’m sorry.”

Seeing him bow his head again was almost amusing. Violet sighed.

Their relationship might be worse than that of strangers, but this was a significant step forward.

Cairn looked up at his sister again. Violet, having said what she wanted, turned away.

“I left in the middle, so I should get back. Before you come, clean up that mess of a face. …And from now on, take care of yourself. Don’t make me worry.”

Her words, spoken with her back turned, were still cold, but Cairn understood what she meant this time.

“Okay!”

He nodded earnestly. Violet didn’t see the expression he had behind her.

* * *

Walking alone after leaving Cairn, Violet thought briefly about the conversation she had with her grandfather.

The old man had reminisced about the past. He spoke of the moment he met his cherished daughter’s children shortly after Cairn was born.

His expression, as he looked at Violet who resembled his late wife and daughter, was nothing short of kind.

A knight is not merely someone who trains in martial arts. As they engage in the act of ending others’ lives, only those prepared to lay down their own lives can become knights.

Thus, they must constantly cultivate their minds with the same level of vigilance.

This was a determination that should be possessed by anyone dealing with human lives, not just knights.

Pointing this out, the old man expressed regret that nowadays, knights seemed to believe that strength alone was enough.

Violet naturally thought of Mikhail and Cairn.

Both Mikhail and Cairn were knights. They considered themselves knights and honed their martial skills.

Originally, Violet would have thought that Cairn and Mikhail were equally foolish. However, this incident had changed her opinion.

Cairn was clearly changing.

This deeply impressed Violet.

Constantly striving and refining one’s spirit—this applied not only to knights.

“Those who wield weapons must always remain vigilant, dear.”

The margrave’s expression as he said this to Violet was incredibly kind.

Violet understood why her grandfather was saying such things.

The Violet in the rumors was a villainess who trampled on others and wielded power recklessly. Some of it was indeed true.

Though words and swords are different, they were similar in the sense that they could kill people. Debating which was stronger between the pen and the sword could be complex, but it’s clear that words can be a weapon capable of killing.

Whether it’s a light command or a sharp rebuke that cuts deep.

So, Violet could never be completely free from her past.

Realizing what her grandfather was trying to say, Violet could not bear the momentary shame.

“I believe in what I see and judge for myself.”

He elaborated extensively that he does not blindly believe in rumors.

However, Violet, who could not claim to be an innocent victim, chose to remain silent.

Under normal circumstances, she would have boldly asserted, ‘I had no other choice.’

It was a truth that deeply resonated within Violet and was the underlying emotion she held.

Yet, for some reason, she could not say that to her grandfather.

Seeing Violet like this, the old man smiled kindly and patted her head.

“My offer for you to come to Blaise is not a mere joke.”

If you stand proud, I will support you.

His voice was calm as he said this.

The peace that Violet currently enjoyed was not easily won. It was peace built upon layers of past tears—how could it not be sweet?

However, now that she was at the eye of the storm, could she confidently say that it would remain peaceful in the future?

If it were the margrave’s territory, which had its own military system, not even the crown prince could easily meddle with it.

The drawback was that it would be the first battlefield if war broke out, but that did not matter.

Violet, having obtained a better option than exile, cherished this fact in her heart.

“Did you have a good conversation?”

When she returned to the training ground, Delta immediately greeted her.

Violet awkwardly smiled. He had shown a demeanor far from being gentle during the recent sparring.

“Yes.”

Her cousin, older than her by a few years, was a truly unpredictable person.

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