“Right, did you hear about the relationship between Lady Arsene and Lord Hortus? Don’t they just make your heart flutter? It reminds me of the time I was still dating before I married. Ah, young love. I do hope that Alesia also finds a good match soon,.”
…Sometimes, it felt like the marchioness was just an old soul who wanted to talk. But anyway.
Alesia had not shown herself in front of Violet ever since that day. Of course, the marchioness wanted her daughter to be friends with Violet as they were of the same age, but she couldn’t force them to do so.
“You are very beautiful today as well, Ducal Lady.”
Instead, it was Alec who persistently showed his face each and every time. The way he kept trying to stand out in Violet’s eyes was actually quite pathetic, too.
After watching her son act in that way, the marchioness mentioned him.
“He doesn’t even take a moment to hesitate before saying such embarrassing things. I know he’s my son, but… Never ever choose him, alright? Haa, I do wish my daughter-in-law will be someone like you…”
What followed was the marchioness’s lamentation about how her son grew up like that.
Violet wondered, though. What really is the right way of raising someone within a great noble household?
A subtle smile rose on Violet’s lips.
* * *
With less than fifteen days until the crown prince’s birthday banquet, Violet’s activities were not anymore limited to just meetings with the marchioness.
She began to paint again. The brush was pliant in her hand, its strokes smooth and soft across the white canvas.
Violet loved that sensation.
However, she had yet to completely overcome her slump.
She didn’t know what to paint.
There were so many sceneries and subjects that she wanted to paint, but she couldn’t bring herself to put any of them on the canvas.
Besides that, there were two such people who were causing such a ruckus by Violet’s side. Though they were her brothers who she shared blood ties with, Roen and Cairn were like sworn, irreconcilable enemies to her.
“Wow. How can someone possibly come up with this kind of thing? Only a witch would make something like this. If I were you, I won’t ever show this kind of art to the world— Ow! Why’d you hit me!”
“Even if I say it for a thousand times more, you still go on and run your mouth like that.”
“So what? You also think that Sister’s art is weird anyway.”
“……”
Violet just wished that Roen and Cairn would get out of her gallery.
“It’s unique, indeed.”
“Look, I knew it. You say it’s unique but what you mean is weird, so why are you taking it out on me?”
“You really don’t think that your mouth is a problem, do you. And above all, what do you mean by ‘witch’. Haha. Beloved little brother, looks like you need a good beating.”
“Hey? Excuse me? Excuuuuse me, my dear Older Brother? Elder Brother??”
“Ah, that reminds me. Sir Aldin said that he’ll be free tomorrow, so I invited him over. He’ll be a good sparring opponent for you.”
These two brothers’ conversation was really free.
Violet pondered why they had to have this conversation in front of her, but she could not find the answer.
“Of all people, why does it have to be that jacka—!”
“For the nth time, language. He’s still a duke’s son.”
Roen had been wary of Aldin at first, but after they had met, he became quite pleased with him.
Aldin Aesir was a member of the First Order of the Black Wolf, and he often exchanged letters with Violet these days.
The letters he sent her were comprised of short and concise sentences, and it was very like him to write in that way. Violet sent replies consistently as well.
At first, Roen smiled coldly as he concurred that the knight had to be thoroughly investigated, but in the end, he was pleased with his findings.
Rather, it’s come to a point that Roen was thanking him for remaining friends with a scoundrel like Cairn during their time at the academy.
Violet clicked her tongue at Roen, who characteristically ran background checks on other people like a routine habit.
Of course, just as usual, Cairn ran wild.
“I’m supposed to be your younger brother, aren’t I? Not that guy!”
“It’s quite an unfortunate thing, yes. I actually wish that Sir Aldin is my younger brother.”
“What? Have you seriously gone insane? Hey, hey! Witch!”
As Violet was looking over her past pieces, she just casually ignored Cairn, who shouted again and again. Ignoring him was just standard practice at this point.
“Ugh, damn it— Sister! Hey, Elder Sister!”
“I told you time and time again to fix your language, but you stubbornly refuse to change.”
“And why are you telling me off now? Why doesn’t anyone in this family ever take my side!”
Violet would never answer him unless he’d respectfully call her ‘Sister’, so he shouted again. Violet just snorted and left her younger brother behind her.
“You have to use the right title from the start. Anyway, I’m not taking anyone’s side. Go and take your brotherly fight somewhere else.”
In other words, she wasn’t taking the side of anyone she shared blood ties with.
Roen thought that he had gotten closer to Violet in his own way, but hearing this, he looked sad.
Violet just scoffed at his performance.
