Violets works, unfinished, had just been strewn out all over her studio, but they were soon collected and hung in the walls of the gallery. Despite being unfinished, they matched and harmonized with Violets art style, giving off a strange atmosphere, so they were still placed in the gallery.

Roen continued to be terribly busy, but he always made sure to make time for dinner. He was not technically the dukes representative, but he was already being treated as such. His life was as hectic as the dukes, but he always made time.

Roen finally realized. He came to understand why their father persistently continued having their desolate family dinners, and the reason behind why a family should gather and eat meals together.

Faint sympathy was formed within him for the duke, who remained at the duchy right now.

Brother, you know youre acting like an old geezer right now, yeah? You resemble Father like that.

Just sit down, will you.

Ohh~ So you wanna be the next duke, huh?

Haa.

Dinner usually never ended amicably. There was always something the brothers would squabble about, but Violet herself did not care about the brothers who were arguing half-heartedly.

She wondered why she was always being called here. However, the question would soon dissipate into the air because the next question after that would be, Even if Im being called here, why did I come?

It was a peaceful time.

* * *

The crown prince had sent a formal request, asking Violet to be his partner.

The imperial family and a ducal household. It was an established fact that these two families had limitless power. If members from those families would appear at the crown princes birthday banquet as partners, it might cause a bigger stir than one could expect.

Violet ruminated over whether this move was politically motivated, but she soon banished the train of thought. Shed leave this matter to Roen.

In any case, the crown prince had already been turned down.

The formal request had been rejected from Roens side.

Looks like they want to use you as a decoy.

Decoy?

Violet wasnt particularly curious, but Roen took the time to give her an answer.

Everyones attention would be on you. What do you think would happen if Violet S. Everett would become the Crown Princes partner in that ball?

Ill be branded as the Crown Princess.

Exactly. And in high society, theyll talk only about you. You know this too, dont you?

How annoying.

Theyll go and say, Youll become the Crown Princes consort, so be a decoy this time. Thats what that guys up to. But well, I cant possibly know everything thats going on in that crafty punks head.

The snake was talking smack behind the back of his fellow snake. Violet thought languidly, Is this kind of like how politicians cover up their corruption with celebrity scandals?

So, why dont you be my partner instead? Thatll temper the gossip.

Should I even care about such gossip?

No.

Just because Violet would instead be accompanied by Roen wouldnt mean that those people would stop talking about the matter.

On the bright side, there would be new rumors about how the wicked woman had become much closer to her family.

But when considering it negatively, people would say that she must have signed a contract with the devil and succeeded in bewitching her family.

Thats just how dirty rumors were.

In the end, the fact that Roen was only looking out for Violets best interest had not changed.

Then, who are you going with?

Sir Aldin. He already agreed.

What?

The newspaper crumpled sharply in Roens hands. Sure, he thought of Aldin positively, but outside of his individual self, there were many problems with his background.

One might wonder whats wrong with being an illegitimate child, but theres a big problem when the other half of the childs lineage was of blue blood.

The wicked woman and the bastard son, both of them known as the disgrace of their respective ducal households.

Where in the world did they meet? Why did they have to become partners? Theres no need to doubt, because it was quite certain that all the busybodies buzzing around would flap their mouths nonstop.

Does it have to be him?

Is there a reason why it cant be him?

The reason for that is

But Roen stopped himself from continuing that sentence. Even if those busybodies would break their mouths from relentlessly talking about House Everett and House Aesir, they could do nothing to those great households. No, rather, they should be the ones whod be more careful about catching the duchies attention.

This was what power was all about.

Determined to protect his younger sister, Roen no longer opposed.

Violet.

Yees.

The celebration will last for seven days.

I know.

Then, I dont believe you should be with the same partner for all seven days, yes?

Roen was whining.

At this, Violet narrowed her eyes. What did he mean by that.

In return, Roen smiled when Violet looked at him like that instead of answering.

Wont you allow me to accompany you for even just one day?

No thanks.

Just one day.

No.

Even if I just accompany you until the entrance

I refuse.

I cant?

Yes. You cant.

Are you sure?

His humble request was, naturally, shot down.

Anyway, Violet had no intention of participating in all seven days of the celebration. Shed have to put on different ball gowns on each day while dolling herself up to the point of perfection. Just thinking about it made her terribly annoyed.

If shed have to go, her pride wouldnt allow herself to show a less than stellar appearance. Thats why its best not to go each day.

Okay, I understand.

Young Lord, you must be very popular anyway.

No one in particular has shown such attention towards me though.

My, my.

Roen was saying a lot of things that would make the young noble ladies cry. Roen, too, was quite dashing as he had inherited their mothers beauty, so all the ladies were swooning over him.

And, apparently, theyre crushing on him because he seemed to be a very kind man.

With absolutely no intention of intervening in her older brothers love life, Violet had no other comments.