Normally, it was a place no one else could enter, but Violet was an exception. The sudden arrival of the ducal lady caused a stir among those present.
“Huh? Violet, what brings you here…”
Roen started to greet her with a smile, but his expression quickly turned serious. It was fortunate that Rajaden had instructed the servants in the tent to leave, ensuring privacy. Otherwise, it could have led to a significant issue.
“Explain. Now.”
There would undoubtedly be rumors about the Lady of Everett grabbing the Young Duke by the collar.
Rajaden, watching from the side, whistled. He swiftly ordered the servant inside the tent to consider everything he had witnessed that day as non-existent.
“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”
“Are you pretending not to know? Or do you genuinely not know?”
Usually, in official settings, Violet would respectfully address him as ‘Young Lord’ in a calm tone.
But this was unlike Violet, who typically kept her emotions in check.
Though she appeared indifferent in other people’s eyes, she had always maintained a minimum standard of decorum.
“…What happened?”
“You really don’t know?”
Sensing that something serious had occurred, Roen’s expression turned grave as he asked. Violet clicked her tongue in frustration and frowned. Her grip loosened.
Although she had maintained a composed facade in front of Aileen, Violet’s emotions were boiling inside like lava. The years of pent-up resentment could not easily be forgotten.
Even after years, the current Violet still harbored animosity for Aileen. The mere sight of Aileen was enough to stir her anger. An unwanted presence at this event. She had sought Roen to find the reason, but even he seemed unaware.
That meant this wasn’t Roen’s doing, nor was it Duke Everett’s intention.
“…I apologize for the disturbance.”
Violet composed herself and politely excused herself. She also courteously curtsied in front of Rajaden, who seemed amused by the situation.
“What could have happened…?”
As Violet left the tent, Roen muttered in a hollow voice. Rajaden chuckled.
“It seems she’s really taken offense, hasn’t she?”
“Until yesterday, she wasn’t like this…”
“The cause doesn’t seem to be you, apparently. Ah, there comes Everett’s third son. Why not ask him?”
“Cairn?”
If Cairn had followed her, then something significant must have truly happened. Roen greeted his dejected younger brother with a somber expression.
The troublemaker of House Everett bowed towards the crown prince with impeccable manners, then he turned to Roen.
* * *
Stepping out of the tent and cooling her head under a tree, Violet pondered.
If both the Duke of Everett and Roen were unaware of the situation with Aileen, it meant she had acted on her own.
Violet knew Aileen’s nature was to feign innocence to get what she wanted, but it’s different if Aileen acted without the Everett name.
But, how exactly?
The ‘why’ wasn’t important. The reason was clear enough from their conversation under the moonlight.
It was the ‘how’ that needed figuring out to devise a response.
Even if Aileen were to use the Everett name to enter the family’s capital townhouse, it would have been difficult for her to do as she wanted. It was clear how that would have gone down.
Violet felt a headache coming on amidst these complex considerations.
“Haha, um, I seem to have lost my way. Could you perhaps guide me, beautiful lady?”
A handsome man with silver-violet hair greeted Violet.
* * *
Cairn couldn’t deliver his message to Roen. Other urgent news had reached the crown prince first.
Rajaden, having dismissed all the servants, frowned as if troubled. Cairn, not dismissed, watched the two cautiously.
“This is crazy.”
“…I agree.”
The message was about the prince of the Liran Kingdom arriving in the empire.
It was odd. If a prince from another country had arrived, the news should have come earlier. Liran had assuredly sent a telegram, however.
“It was lost on the way, it seems. Handling it this way could escalate into a diplomatic issue.”
“It’s surprising there hasn’t been any complaint from them yet.”
Roen sighed in agreement with Rajaden’s exasperation.
Liran was just a small kingdom, and it would have been conquered long ago if it hadn’t been declared a neutral zone, especially given its popularity as a springtime retreat.
Declared a neutral territory two centuries ago to prevent its ruin by war, Liran naturally had a different class structure than the empire.
Even so, sending an envoy, especially a prince, should not have been handled as carelessly as this.
Massaging his temples, Rajaden added,
“And here’s something you’ll find surprising.”
“Is there anything more shocking here?”
“The lady-in-waiting who reportedly attends to all of the prince’s business has pink hair.”
“Pink hair?”
“Yes. A young lady with pink hair and green eyes, as bright as spring.”
