Welcome.

Good morning!

The knights, who arrived here first to train, greeted Violet with fervor.

The young knightthough not yet formally ordainedwas a newcomer just like Mary. Violet waved helplessly at him.

Young MissI mean, no, Your Ladyship! Well be in your care again today!

Burdened by the boys eyes, which sparkled with kindness, Violet turned her head slightly.

As long as someone was from inside the ducal residence, theres no way they wouldnt have heard the rumors about her.

However, as the days went by, it became more apparent just how strangely theyre treating her now.

It would have been normal to see this behavior from the people in the annex, but it was completely strange coming from people whose faces she wasnt even familiar with yet.

The way people are treating me has become strange. Do you know anything?

Ah, you mean that?

Zylo answered calmly as he watched Violet wielding a wooden sword.

The answer is what you told us.

What?

About what happened when Your Ladyship was summoned to the main mansion.

What are you talking about?

I mean to say, its the story that you told that day, Your Ladyship.

Next to Violet, Mary slapped a hand over her forehead.

Violet had barely been able to tell Mary her story, and Mary responded by saying that she was on the ladys side. However, it seemed like that story was spread around in the meantime.

Violet was stunned.

That day, when others had asked Zylo what had happened, he just answered calmly and told them about it.

He didnt look like it, but this knight was quite loose-lipped.

I-Its just what I heard. After knowing about Your Ladyships circumstances, I

Rumors had no bounds.

Its unknown just how twisted and misinterpreted the same words could become when passed around from one person to another.

Wasnt she the very epitome of a victim of rumors?

Seeing Violets incredulous expression, Zylo asked back.

Should I not have said that?

Yet again, a tactless question.

Violet despondently answered no.

You already told them, so it couldnt be helped

Who in the world would be happy to know that ones own misfortunes had degenerated into a fun story for others? A rumor based on goodwill might be alright, but Violet was not happy with it.

I just hate tiresome things.

Im Im sorry, Milady.

After what Violet said, even Mary started apologizing. At this, Violets eyes filled with despondency were turned to Mary.

They also kept asking me, and I didnt know how else to make them stop

It roughly went this way.

When Zylo was asked by others about what had happened at the main mansion, Zylo briefly told the whole story of that incident.

As a consequential reaction, the members of the annex also hounded Mary about the details.

Rumors traveled quickly. Public sympathy for Violet arose.

No, just forget it, seriously

The rumors, which formerly pulled her back and dragged her down the abyss, had changed its form.

Did it spread to the main mansion as well?

Um, a little.

Im going crazy.

Huk! Milady, please dont go crazy!

Trifling chatter ensued.

Hearing that her story had reached the main mansion, Violet schooled her features into a stern expression.

It was already unpleasant to know that her story had been laid bare to the people who felt amicably towards her and to people she knew, but it was doubly unpleasant to know that the same thing was spread to strangers.

Even more so because its impossible to know just how much those rumors would twist and change in the meantime.

Violet predicted that there would later come a story about how its a malicious story thats been spread by the villainess so as to frame Lady Aileen.

And her prediction hit the nail on the head.

There werent many people in the main mansion who sided with her because of her notoriety.

Well, it doesnt matter because I wont need to see those people again. Lets just focus on exercising.

Y-Yes!

Zylo let out a few dry coughs before returning to the swordsmanship training that eventually became a regular morning exercise.

The newcomer knight, who was even more tactless than Zylo, shouted next to Mary with such passion, I shall clarify the situation!

Actually, there was one fact that Violet was unaware of.

Her reputation had apparently changed ever so slightly ever since the poisoning incident.

The duke and Roen had put a lid on the incident and concluded that it was not the work of Violet.

Still, all that did was divide public opinion.

For many days, the duchys servants chattered on about whether or not Violet really instigated the poisoning. Half of them thought Violet did it, while the other half kept saying that the allegations were false.

Above all, Violets image had changed rapidly, perhaps because she had never gotten herself involved with the main mansions affairs ever since she was confined to the annex.

Marys defense was working little by little as well, to the point that even some of the servants who only stayed at the main mansion sided with Violet.

Amongst the rumors, one particular rumor was floating around about how Aileen orchestrated a self-written play and drank the poison herself. However, this was the opinion of a small minority.

Of course, there was no way for Violet to know this. All she hoped for was that the troublesome rumors wouldnt spread too much.

But then.

Hello, Violet.

Roen, as authorized by the duke, had come to visit the annex.

It was about two weeks after the poisoning incident.

* * *

Roens visit was sudden.

Furthermore, he entered the annex with the dukes permission this time.

Put in a difficult situation, Violet inevitably frowned.

Was this guy here to provoke her like last time?

Seeing her expression, Roen smiled lightly at her.

Ill show you to the studio then. Although its a shabby place.

Shabby, you say Right.

Calling back to what she said the last time they met, Violet spoke sarcastically at her older brother, but Roen only laughed despondently in response.

What business do you have here.

Do I need a reason to see you?

We dont exactly have an amicable relationship, do we.

Right. We

dont.

At the end, Roens voice carried a hint of bitterness.

Violets eyes narrowed as she looked at Roen. With how hes acting right now, it seemed like he had eaten something wrong.