A Painting of the Villainess as a Young Lady

“I don’t remember anything though.”

“I know.”

“And yet you wish to protect me?”

“……”

Aldin remained silent, even though he planned to protect her regardless of her refusal.

He just clams up when things don’t go his way, huh? Violet swallowed a silent laugh.

“I’m sorry,” Violet said.

“…Yes.”

Thus, the words that came from Violet’s mouth were the beginning of a refusal.

Aldin, who had hoped for nothing more than to protect Violet by her side, looked downcast at her words of rejection.

“I can’t give you any answer right now. Can I put off my response for a bit?”

“What?”

“I’m sorry to give you such an answer. Would you like to stand up now?”

Aldin’s head shot up at her answer, which was not a rejection but a postponement. Violet stood with her back to the moonlight, extending her hand.

Aldin, almost instinctively, took her hand and stood up, looking dazed. Violet dusted off her hands and smiled, still with her back to the moonlight.

“Depending on your efforts, my answer might change. So why not try a little harder?”

Aldin gaped at her words, smiling in a daze. Violet seemed relieved.

Though the question had been impulsive and the situation embarrassing, it was better to have addressed it directly. It was an ambiguous answer that might seem like she was hedging her bets, but for someone who couldn’t be sure of her own feelings, it was the best she could do.

“…Pardon?”

Aldin seemed unable to grasp her answer.

It would take him quite some time to fully understand her words. Violet patted him gently.

“Shall we go inside? While moonlit exercise is nice, sleep is also important.”

“Yes?”

After sending the seemingly broken man back inside, Violet also returned to her assigned room.

Under the moonlight, the romantic knight’s vow ended in such happenstance.

* * *

As if he had never been downcast at all, Cairn showed a desire to stay longer at the Blaise estate.

He was still walking on eggshells around Violet though. Violet left Cairn there and returned home first.

The first thing she did upon returning home was to question Roen. It would have been more satisfying to punch him in the gut, but unfortunately, her imagination could not be realized.

Roen’s smiling face was the same as always, but that day he was especially cheeky.

Violet’s voice carried a sigh.

“Were you aware and decided not to show up?”

“Aware of what?”

His response was nonchalant. Violet sighed. So he knew and decided to stay out of it.

“Haha, did you have a good time with Grandfather? I should have greeted him personally, but it wasn’t possible… Anyway, it seems like you reconciled with Cairn.”

“You’re quick with the news.”

For a brief moment, Violet considered pouring tea over Roen’s smiling face. With his exceptionally bright expression, Roen kept rambling anyway.

“How could I not know about you two? I deliberately stayed out of it so you could have a chance to talk. It seems things went well. Did Cairn say he would stay for a few more days?”

“……”

Knowing everything yet still asking was truly infuriating. Violet clicked her tongue. She couldn’t just spit in his smiling face.

To be precise, it was more that she found it tiresome to get angry.

Whether Violet sighed or clicked her tongue, Roen’s demeanor remained elegant.

“Oh, by the way, Cairn said he would return to the academy.”

“That’s good news.”

“You’re not going to ask more about it?”

“I’m not particularly curious.”

“You’ve reconciled, but you’re still awkward with each other…”

“Do you think a brief conversation will suddenly make us close? And to be exact, it wasn’t even a reconciliation.”

“Hmm, well. Alright. But it doesn’t matter. He’ll become a better adult than he is now.”

Roen intertwined his fingers and rested his chin on them, lowering his voice a notch.

“More importantly, Violet, it seems your problem is more serious. Has His Highness given you any hints?”

“Hints?”

“Yes. Like why he’s meeting with Aileen.”

“……”

“Seems not. He’s not the type to act without a reason…”

This is worrying. Roen swallowed his last words like a mutter.

Given that Rajaden considered Roen to be his future advisor, he shared various information with him.

Their relationship was subtly balanced, not entirely trusting each other, but things changed significantly with Violet and Aileen involved.

Setting aside matters concerning Violet, Roen had been troubled recently by Aileen’s regular meetings and his refusal to explain their purpose.

Violet pretended not to care about Aileen, but it was clear she harbored such resentment.

Thus, Roen found himself having to gather information and draw boundaries. However, the information linked to the crown prince was elusive, which was turning out to be a problem.

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