A Word From Violet

Sunlight shone brightly through the academy’s hallway.

The youngest sword master in the empire’s history and the only one among the academy’s students, Ash, leaned lazily against the corridor wall.

The sunlight made his silver hair glisten brilliantly.

Soon, a small girl approached Ash as the door opened. She had large eyes and orange, voluminous hair tied into pigtails.

“Ash! I just checked in the faculty office, and that scumbag Colvera is coming in today. I snuck a peek at the training room reservation schedule.”

“You’ll burst my eardrums. No matter how many times I tell you, you and your loud voice never learns.”

Ash started to walk slowly. Marin, keeping pace with quick steps, chattered on.

“Ugh, how can I not be agitated? Just thinking about what that lowly professor tried to do to me still gives me chills! You remember, right, Ash?”

“I’ve heard you rant about Colvera more than enough.”

“So, I only saw him a few times because I was running errands for my supervising professor. But he smugly said, ‘You must be interested in me too,’ and called me out any way he could! Then, he had the nerve to ask, ‘You’re not one of those gold-diggers like that pretty girl, are you?’ while forcing me to sit in a tearoom with him! It’s infuriating!”

“Is it the leering that bothers you most?”

“Everything about it! That girl he insulted must be living a very proper life, which is why she’s getting bashed by trash like Colvera.”

“A remarkable analysis.”

“Thank you.”

“You should know I’m being sarcastic. You can stop talking now.”

Marin winced at his words.

“But…”

“I will hang, beat, and humiliate anyone who insults my subordinate. If you keep chattering, I’ll consider it an insult to your master.”

“Yes, thank you. I’m not good at knowing when to shut up.”

“Ugh, you’ve learned nothing from following me around this academy despite begging me to bring you along.”

“Well, at least I’m learning fashion history well. The academy might be a cesspool of corruption, but it’s the only place in the world where I can major in costume history. If you had left me behind, I would have been heartbroken.”

“Lucky you’re still alive then.”

“But there’s a rumor that Colvera is a distant relative of the headmaster. He got in through connections.”

“Really? He looked quite poor.”

“He must be a poor relative. And I’ve heard his skills are the worst. If he gets beaten by you, he might faint from embarrassment.”

Ash opened the door to the training ground. After glancing down briefly, he spoke again.

“It looks like someone already knocked him out.”

Ash’s handsome face faintly frowned at the sight before him.

The academy’s grand training hall had a very high ceiling. It was designed with two open floors so that duels and training could be observed from the upper balconies.

Ash stood quietly on the balcony, looking down.

“Pfft, what’s that?”

Colvera lying on the floor was a mess.

His hair was partially bald, looking as if a road had been carved through the middle of his head. Seeing Marin struggle to contain her laughter, Ash put a finger to his lips and shushed her.

“Didn’t you call her troublesome earlier?” Ash whispered.

“Yes… the girl Colvera insulted.”

“I wouldn’t call her troublesome, but she does seem quite proper.”

“Do you know who she is?”

“She’s one of the few interesting elements in this otherwise worthless academy.”

“I think I’ve seen her somewhere. Her name is…”

“Her name is as proper as she looks. Violet, with the surname Everdeen.”

Fortunately, they were used to conversing with lip movements and whispers, so Violet and Colvera hadn’t noticed them yet.

Violet was looking down at the fainted Colvera, nudging him with her toe. She looked at him disdainfully, then pulled something out from her coat.

Violet tossed a white envelope onto Colvera’s face with a loud smack.

“Considering you taught me so little as my mentor, this resignation letter is all I have to offer as thanks.”

Of course, there was no response from Colvera.

“Though I suppose you won’t hear me since you’re unconscious. I hope we never meet again.”

Violet straightened her collar and walked out of the training ground with a confident clack of her heels.

“Wow, she’s like Lady Roseneath, the bold heroine who punishes bad guys. It’s thrilling,” Marin said in a daze.

“Lady Roseneath? Couldn’t you think of a better comparison than a mediocre story’s protagonist?”

“Oh, come on, you like it. That novel has special meaning for us.”

“Shh, enough,” Ash said.

As Violet turned to leave, she sensed someone and looked up at Ash. When their eyes met, Violet blushed and lowered her head.

“Hey, I remember who she is now. Isn’t she the unattractive Everdeen sister?”

“Who said that?” Ash moved away from the railing.

“The younger sister is so beautiful she’s called the academy goddess, but the older one is gloomy and always wears the same clothes. How can anyone live like that?”

“Your tongue is too loose.”

“But still—”

“I find the older sister far more appealing than the younger one.”

“It’s the first time I’ve heard you say something like that. Where are you going, Ash?”

“If you make eye contact with someone, you should greet them.”

A faint smile formed on Ash’s lips. He turned and began heading toward the garden, where Violet was likely walking.

***

Violet left the training ground and walked through the academy garden.

‘My whole body feels tingly.’

Today, for the first time, she used the skill to control aura. Perhaps because of that, she felt weak and sank onto a bench near the fountain.

‘That was definitely Ash Davendale watching me from the second floor of the training ground.’

In a place overflowing with high-ranking noble heirs, Ash was a commoner. But at just 19 years old, he was a genius who had achieved the dream of all swordsmen—the rank of sword master.

‘He’s only famous here now because he’s still a student, but once he graduates, Ash will become even more well-known…’

Ash could join the empire’s top knight order, the Imperial Knights, if he wanted.

There were many rumors about why he remained at the academy.

The most popular one was that the academy begged him to stay so they could record his graduation, and he reluctantly agreed to keep his name on the roll.

‘Why was Ash there?’

The Ash that Violet knew was always aloof and quiet, as if saying, ‘I’m different from the likes of you.’

Despite this, many female students secretly liked him.

In addition to his swordsmanship, Ash possessed another extraordinary talent…

“What are you doing?”

“Ah!”

Violet jumped in surprise.

Someone had spoken to her from behind. When she turned, she saw that Ash had approached her without her noticing.

‘Gosh, he startled me. Even though I’ve seen him before, I can’t get used to it…’

Ash’s talent beyond his swordsmanship was his appearance. His silver hair looked like pure silver alloyed with steel, and his deep, dark ruby-like eyes were mesmerizing.

‘Isn’t being that handsome rather dangerous?’

Anyone who saw Ash would momentarily stop thinking and simply think, ‘He’s so handsome.’ It was a short-term mind-numbing ability, a somewhat menacing talent.

“Do you need something from me?” Violet asked, calming her startled heart.

“I have a question for you,” Ash said quietly.

Violet’s heart tightened.

‘Is Ash here to reprimand me for attacking and insulting a professor? Is he acting out of his duty as a sword master…?’

What if he questioned her about her sudden surge of power? How could she explain that?

‘I can’t just tell him that I might become the infamous villainess who’s suspected of killing over 700 people in the future…’

Cautiously, Violet spoke.

“…What do you want to ask?”

“Do you plan on committing murder?”

Violet almost choked.

‘Can he read my mind?’