* * *
After hearing about what his siblings had talked about before, Cairn became extremely miffed. How could they talk about such a thing without him?
But Violet just answered him with a cold stare. She had no reason to accept her lout of a younger brother’s stubborn persistence.
Even though it looked like she was still in a cold war with Roen on the outside, she couldn’t deny that her resentment against him had lessened somewhat. Otherwise, it would have been impossible for the two of them to interact amicably with each other.
But with Cairn, on the other hand? All that he offered was a one-sided, violent, unruly apology. Could it have possibly been a sincere apology? Not to mention, was Cairn even aware of what he had done wrong?
Though Violet and Cairn looked like they had a cordial enough relationship, it was a mere façade. In reality, it was a relationship akin to a tightrope between them.
Cairn was also hurt, and he was not unaware of this.
He had yet to graduate from the academy. He could not even use the title ‘Sir’ because he had yet to have an official adoubement ceremony. Of course, he could still be referred to as ‘Young Master’ or ‘Young Lord’ due to him being a duke’s son, but that was another matter.
In other words, he was not even qualified to attend the crown prince’s birthday banquet.
“Ugh, damn it. I’m the only one who’s hated…”
Violet wouldn’t care about such a younger brother. Though she might feel sympathetic, the sadness and hatred that she had been harboring was deep.
Then, time passed, and the crown prince’s birthday banquet thus began.
* * *
Everyone’s attention was focused on the crown prince, who would soon wield much power.
As the empire’s one and only heir to the throne, he was a man who resembled the sun itself. More than anyone else, he was the most fitting to be called the purported descendant of the sun god.
Alongside people’s attention towards him, however, there was one other such presence linked to him that received much attention as well.
It was the ‘Crown Princess candidate’.
In fact, it was even more so because the crown prince had gone long since passed the usual age to be engaged.
The most likely candidate for the position was the esteemed daughter of the Tolofia County, but these days, it was just old news now.
This was because the wicked woman from all the rumors had returned.
Whispers were going around saying that Everett’s duke and heir both regard her preciously. It was for this reason that people thought her to be an arrogant, haughty ducal lady.
To add to this, people had surmised that it was because of her haughtiness that she didn’t even show her face in high society. It was no different than saying that she had already taken the position of crown princess.
The attention being paid to her was immense. Even when it’s already been a while since Everett’s ducal lady had kicked out the chief designer of the most renown boutique of the capital, this incident still remained on many people’s lips.
The arrogant, inconsiderate duke’s daughter.
How was she in reality? Given that she had the kind of attitude that made her go as far as to kick out Laurent’s chief designer, what kind of amusing sight would Violet S. Everett bring them?
In the midst of such growing anticipation…
“Banquets start in the evening anyway. The terrible custom of having to starve starting from lunch time should be abolished.”
“Good heavens, Milady. It’s all for the sake of style.”
“Exactly. They’re all just terrible customs. Terrible, I say.”
While Violet protested against the terrible customs, as she had put it, expensive beauty products from alchemists were being placed upon her visage.
She thought, I’m already suffering enough from just being allowed to eat salads for breakfast and lunch. So should I even participate in the damn banquet where I’d starve yet again for dinner so that I wouldn’t show a full belly?
But, at the end of the day, it’s impossible to turn down an invitation from the imperial palace, so she was forced to participate.
The employees all pretended to be deaf to their lady’s insistence that just one simple meal should be fine.
They all knew that she was different from how the rumors had painted her out to be, and they were aware that her clothes were far from what’s in fashion in the capital.
Nevertheless, they were determined to do everything in their power to make sure that ‘our lady’ would not look less than stellar.
Still though, eating lunch should be harmless. Violet didn’t eat much in the first place.
Thus, she was sad and resentful. Whatever one might do, health should always come first. What’s the point in doing anything when it’d come at the cost of one’s health?
“M-Milady. I snuck in some cookies for you. Would you like some?”
“Mary…!”
As Violet was in that state, a small helping hand came to bless her. Mary laughed quietly.
They were just a few pieces of unsweetened cookies, but Violet was hugely grateful.
At times, given her beauty and grace, Violet looked like she was beyond human. But Mary was the only one who knew just how human she was.
Goddesses did not need to eat, but humans needed sustenance. Mary was wise.
“I was wondering what you were doing, snooping around in the kitchen…”
“H-Huh?”
“Mary. Yes, you are Milady’s exclusive maid, and further, her most cherished maid. But even still, this time, your actions are unacceptable.”
“Huuuuh?”
Mary was then taken away by the head maid. It was already after Violet had eaten all the cookies.
The arrogant, inconsiderate duke’s daughter passed her time as humanly as one could say.
