A Word From Violet

Reading minds? That was impossible.

“No, I have no plans, now or ever.”

“That’s unfortunate, but I understand.”

Talking to Ash directly was a bit stranger than Violet had anticipated.

“Suddenly talking about murder, why bring that up?”

“Colvera, that guy fainted, didn’t he?”

“I guess so?”

“Aura clash phenomenon.”

The aura clash phenomenon referred to a condition where a lower-ranked swordsman was exposed to a higher-ranked aura, causing their whole body to temporarily stiffen. It could be treated quickly, but in the worst case, the body might remain stiff for up to two weeks.

‘So, it’s vacation now, and if Colvera, who experienced the aura clash, is unlucky, he might remain in that state for a long time.’

Could he die from this?

“There’s a slim chance, but if no one finds Colvera while he’s immobilized, he could indeed die, right?”

“That’s right. Are you hoping I’ll become an indirect accomplice to this murder, Violet Everdeen?”

Ash spoke so kindly that Violet wondered if she had misunderstood.

“No, I really dislike Colvera, but I don’t want to kill him.”

Violet replied belatedly.

“Then I’ll take care of Colvera.”

“Are you going to call a doctor?”

“Something like that.”

Ash smiled, his eyes narrowing.

‘Throughout history, pretty boys have always been a bit strange. That’s what they say.’

Violet recalled a line from her favorite novel, . It suddenly came to mind.

“I appreciate your kindness. I’ll repay it someday if fate allows.”

“Pay it back when school resumes.”

Violet looked at Ash and spoke impulsively.

“That might be difficult. As you can see, I just handed Colvera my withdrawal form. Whether he accepts it or not, I might get expelled for what happened just now.”

“Unfortunately, in his current state, Colvera doesn’t have the authority to accept your withdrawal or expel you.”

“But just now I—”

“Moreover, I don’t think Colvera would go around announcing he was beaten by a student without being able to properly fight back. Don’t you agree?”

Listening to Ash, Violet realized he was right.

‘Why has he been pretending to be so reserved all this time if he could speak this well?’

Violet’s curiosity only grew.

“Withdraw officially at the start of the new semester.”

“Well, it is proper to submit a formal withdrawal.”

Ash nodded lightly and turned his back.

‘I should have said goodbye more naturally.’

Violet realized she was too clumsy in such matters.

“Ash.”

Ash turned his head when Violet called.

‘What do normal friends say in such situations? We’re not friends, but… still.’

Sunlight poured over Ash’s brilliant silver hair. Today was unusually warm, and the sunlight made Violet’s cheeks grow redder.

Talking about the weather. People often did that.

“The weather is nice today.”

“Pardon?”

“So, see you later.”

Ash glanced back at her, then smirked as if he found it amusing.

“I saw something unseemly earlier, Violet Everdeen.”

“Indeed, Colvera lying limp like a frog was quite a sight.”

“Right, so today, see and eat something beautiful.”

Ash turned and walked away.

***

What was that conversation with Ash about?

Suddenly, as Violet straightened her back and looked around, the day was so bright and sunny.

‘It would be nice to have a friend to share a cup of tea with on a day like this.’

At that moment, Violet thought of something. She hurried back into the house.

She grabbed what little allowance she had and a book, then headed to a café on the main street.

A bit nervous, she followed the waitress’s guidance and took a seat by the window.

‘My family always said that as an illegitimate child, I had no right to spend money or be happy…’

It didn’t matter anymore. She might become a notorious villainess in the future. Her family felt meaningless.

Having a cup of tea in a pretty place and reading her favorite book.

Most of Violet’s dreams were modest. She opened the book she brought from home.

And she began turning the pages very carefully so as not to damage the book.

It was Violet’s favorite romance novel.

The story was about a lady named Roseneath who was harshly mistreated by her family but then became the greatest knight and fell in love with a peerless beauty.

While the romance part was nice, Violet’s favorite part was Lady Roseneath’s eloquence.

Lady Roseneath didn’t just use her fists for revenge.

First, she would skillfully handle her opponents with her tongue, and then she would resort to physical retribution.

‘It’s not a very famous novel, but this book was like my only friend.’

Occasionally, her younger sister Marigold would give her toys she was tired of as ‘gifts.’

One of those gifts was this book. Violet read it over and over until it was worn out.

She also learned about the talents of a genius from this book.

‘Now that I think about it, I’ve become a notorious villainess, so why shouldn’t I live like Lady Roseneath?’

If she had lived the worst life, she could also live the opposite.

When Lady Roseneath first left home, what did she do?

‘She boldly went to a distant relative and asked to be trained, promising to repay the kindness.’

Violet suddenly felt her neck was bare.

She had given the only keepsake from her mother, a ring, to a begging old woman.

When she had the ring, she used to secretly hang it on a necklace.

‘The person who gave me that ring was Uncle Cyril.’

Cyril was Violet’s father’s, Zephried’s, younger brother.

But they had been estranged for a long time. Moreover, Zephried despised Cyril.

Zephried called Cyril a scoundrel who would do anything for money, including fighting.

‘Uncle Cyril was a mercenary. I heard he was a bit eccentric.’

Was she around twelve years old?

It was a long time ago, but she remembered it clearly.

One day, Cyril came to the house without a word and gave her a ring, saying,

And he said something she couldn’t understand.

Before she could ask, Zephried came in and yelled at Cyril to get out, threatening to report him to the imperial guards.

Luckily, she had hidden the ring tightly in her pocket.

When she was fifteen, Cyril came back once more.

Violet ignored Cyril.

Since then, until she turned eighteen, Violet had never met Cyril again.

‘Looking back now, why did I listen to my father?’

It would be right to express gratitude for the keepsake even now.

‘I remember my father cursing about where Uncle Cyril lived. He said it was a place where courtesans and swindlers lived and that he shamelessly put “Everdeen” on the nameplate.’

Uncle Cyril’s place on Vicolyn Street was about a 25-minute walk from here.

Without hesitation, Violet left the café and started walking toward Cyril’s house.