Its impossible for deep-seated resentment to easily disappear.

She wanted them to experience the same despair she went through. Collapse to the ground why cryingcrying endlessly. Live while being tormented, live while being miserable.

However, she also had no intention of wielding the axe of retribution. It was truly contradictory.

And she couldnt say, Just drown yourself to death with your nose poking into a bowl of water, towards someone who came to apologize.

Above all

I feel wronged.

Throughout all the years, her desire to be acknowledged could not be fulfilled, and merely remained as flickering ashes after the fire had been put out.

However, the problem was this: that abyss-like desire had not completely disappeared.

Would it make any difference if she told him the whole story?

As she munched on a cookie, Violet agonized over her thoughts.

If it were me

The knight, who was standing watch quietly, opened his lips to speak. Two pairs of eyes turned to him at the same time.

Zylo coughed lightly.

Ill start with a punch.

Im weak.

Would you like me to hit him in your stead?

No, its not that You dont need to.

If a knight were to hit a dukes son, hed be charged with blasphemy. Its only obvious that Violet was dissuading him from doing so.

But at the same time, she inwardly agreed. Lets start with a punch. That didnt sound bad. Perhaps, could she sock him in the kisser?

Violet smirked, imagining the scenario over and over again until she got tired of it.

In the end, she couldnt come to a conclusion right now, even if she mulled over it as much as she could.

All the emotions and resentment she had endured beforeall that she was enduring even nowwere all screaming so, so desperately.

She was emotional right now, and she knew that she wasnt in the right headspace to make a decision in her condition.

Give me more cookies.

Milady, you already emptied a whole plate.

Still

You havent worked out today yet, right?

Sighing, Violet rose from her seat.

When the minds plagued with many thoughts, the best course of action was to move the body.

* * *

Its been a week since Roen apologized.

And for the entire past week, the second young master of the ducal household sent many gifts to the annex.

Flowers, food, clothes, paint, a lightweight rapier, and more. There was a great variety to the gifts.

One time, after receiving the gifts for the day, Violet pressed her fingertips against a throbbing temple.

Most of the clothes that she received had simple designs. Perhaps he realized that she had no need for ostentatious dresses. Instead, the fabric of all the sent clothes was very soft.

How very sincere

How very sincerely and crazily wasteful.

What did the Young Master say today?

Nothing much, just asking if my day is going well, I guess?

The Second Young Master is a very different person from what I had imagined.

Dont fraternize with him. A guy like him is the most dangerous type.

Along with the gifts born out of Roens crazy spending spree, he sent one card everyday as well.

Most of them contained only simple greetings.

Um, Milady

What?

Ive been hearing strange rumors lately. Im not sure, but Maybe the Second Young Master isnt such a bad guy.

Hearing the words Mary said with hesitation, Violet sighed.

A situation like this was one that she hated like hell.

Such a situation was bound to change peoples minds, to make them be inevitably swayed as if they couldnt help it.

If she were to continue avoiding Roen, in the end, shed become the bad person yet again.

Was this what Roen was aiming for from the beginning?

Barely pressing down the simmering urge to scream in frustration, Violet gestured to Mary.

In turn, Mary immediately stopped talking. She was constantly attuned to Violets mood.

Now that Violet thought about it, Mikhail was being too calm despite Roens recent remarkable track record. Mikhail should have stormed the annex and hurled his fury at her by now.

Recalling that unpleasant guy, Violet frowned and set down her paintbrush.

* * *

Sir Knight.

Ah, are you done with your activity, Milady?

No, Im just feeling a bit sore.

Then are you here to exercise?

No, just here to look around.

Zylo perked up for a moment, but he soon deflated again. The newcomer knight, whos being practically beat up by Zylo, shouted briefly, Please save me, Your Ladyship!

Do you know what that guys doing these days?

That guy?

Young Duke Mikhail.

Arent you family?

We dont exactly have the type of relationship where Id normally call him Dear Brother.

Ah.

While still sparring with the young knight, Zylo contemplated shortly and soon answered.

Im not quite sure, Milady, but theres a rumor going around that Young Duke Mikhails status as the Dukes heir might get revoked. I hear its due to his arrogant and condescending behavior, but I honestly cant say for sure.

Violet wasnt expecting to hear this.

Besides that, theres a large-scale lay-off in progress Anyway, theres many things going on. And I also heard that the rumors about you are also spreading.

What Zylo heard could be summarized in this manner:

First, Mikhails status as the dukes heir was on the verge of being revoked.

Second, the employees of the main mansion were being fired on a large-scale.

Third, favorable rumors about Violet were spreading.

Even though all of these were somehow or the other connected to her, Violet had no idea at all that this was going on. She cradled her forehead with one hand.

She was completely blindsided by these developments. She could feel a migraine coming on.

Everything was changing to her favor, and it felt so unfamiliar. To the point that she was getting rather frightened.