A Painting of the Villainess as a Young Lady

“I expected as much.”

Violet laughed lightly at the expected answer.

Becoming the empress wasn’t a bad choice. There would be losses, but the gains would be just as substantial.

However, she was certain with that recent answer.

Complete respect without alienation. Devotion in the name of love. Pure love without calculation.

It might be excessive greed. Violet knew that well.

Rajaden, sensing the meaning of her words, clenched his teeth invisibly. His expression was vastly different from that in the portrait.

Who would look at the current crown prince and call him a brilliant, radiant existence like the sun?

Violet alternated her gaze between the Rajaden in the painting and the Rajaden before her, and she laughed again.

“Since you desire it so, I shall be Your Highness’s partner for this Founding Festival.”

“…Are you serious?”

“Of course. In return, I will skip all seven days of the banquet.”

As he had been staring blankly into space, Rajaden soon gathered strength in his voice and replied,

“…Even that much is fine.”

“Yes, even that much is fine.”

His expression was complicated as she answered. Violet put down her brush.

Once this portrait was finished, the connection between them would vanish.

Of course, they could meet under any pretext. With Roen between them, face-to-face encounters could be arranged. However, Violet was certain it wouldn’t come to that.

She confronted the truth buried deep in her heart.

I hope you become a wise ruler, not a tyrant.

I hope you don’t become someone who forcibly takes and breaks others.

Though not a match as human beings, she respected him as the empire’s crown prince. She thought he was unpleasant but still wished him to progress peacefully as the emperor.

Violet briefly reflected as she put down her brush.

Controlling others in the name of their well-being, not sharing any conversation, and proceeding as he wished.

The situation where one pressured another, asking why their efforts weren’t acknowledged, was the most dreadful she had ever experienced.

“I shall see you next at the temple.”

“…Take care on your way.”

Rajaden’s arrogance reminded her of her time in Everett.

Could there be a possibility for change?

He claimed he would change for the sake of love, but could he truly forsake everything?

How far can you go for love?

Violet didn’t ask, and Rajaden said no more.

* * *

Amidst the increasingly excited atmosphere, Aldin naturally asked Violet to be his partner. It was a significant improvement.

Of course, Violet already had a prior engagement. When she declined, saying she had an earlier commitment, Aldin immediately looked as if his world had collapsed.

She wasn’t supposed to laugh, but as someone who rarely showed emotions, his reactions were always too funny.

It wasn’t through a letter but a direct encounter, making it impossible for him to hide his expression, which looked all the more miserable.

Violet twitched the corners of her mouth but then spoke in a calm, unaffected voice.

“I have a prior engagement for the ball, but I’m free at other times.”

“…I see.”

“I want to check out the street festival…”

“You will enjoy it…”

He seemed deeply shocked. It was as if he wasn’t even aware of the conversation they were having. Violet considered teasing Aldin but decided against it.

“Would you accompany me?”

“Yes, then I will accompany you to the festiva… huh?”

Violet couldn’t hold back her laughter anymore.

Aldin was startled as he watched Violet laugh quietly, clutching her stomach. He replayed their conversation in his mind.

“So, that means…”

“I asked you to accompany me to the festival.”

“Are you sure about going with me?”

“Of course, even though you’re a knight who doesn’t know how to make a restaurant reservation…”

“……”

“But who would know the streets of the festival better than you?”

Aldin’s face crumpled in embarrassment with every word Violet said. He looked like he wanted to find a hole to crawl into.

“Truly, I am sorry…”

“I’m not looking for an apology for past events. So, will you accompany me to the festival?”

“Y…Yes.”

At that moment, someone interrupted.

“Me! I want to go too! I want to go with you!”

It was Cairn.

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