It seems like Father has already told His Majesty the Emperor about your paintings.

Youve met the crown prince once before, right? Actually, hes been urging me to become his aide, and he sends a letter to remind me every day Im pretty sure he just wants to saddle me with all his tiresome work.

Okaay

He says he wants to meet you soon, but honestly, I cant get a handle on what goes on in his mind. Hes a snake-like guy, so if you meet him later, try to keep your distance.

One snake-like guy was warning her about another snake-like guy. Violet pressed down the urge to say what she wanted to say.

The imperial crown princes image was not good in Violets eyes. After all, their first meeting ended up as a total failure.

Besides that, what reason did an exiled ducal lady have to meet the empires heir to the throne?

Violets eyes narrowed. Regardless, however, Roen chattered on as he was.

Its obviously just an excuse. The imperial familys elders have been hounding him about welcoming a crown princess consort. Honestly, if he had a little bit more of an agreeable personality, he would have already sent a letter of proposal to you long before.

But for him to send a letter of proposal to someone whos at the center of many disturbing rumors, the imperial family must be a mess

How youre perceived in the capital and within Everett is different. And if you think about Rajadens personality, he might just send letters of proposal to both you and Aileen while declaring that you should compete for the position of his consort.

Violet had no will to converse, whereas Roen was overflowing with the energy to chatter.

When Violet watched the corners of Roens lips tugging up as he mentioned Aileens name, she tried to calm down her boiling resentment.

Just in time, Mary stepped in to change the brother and sisters tea. And, once again, Violet had to press down on the urge to throw scalding hot tea into Roens face with greater difficulty.

Thats very good news

Would it not bother you if Aileen becomes the crown princes consort?

What would that have to do with me?

I believe it would matter a lot. Do you think shell leave you alone once she becomes the crown princess, and later the empress?

So, again, what does that have to do with me

A lot, really. But dont worry, Ill be here to protect you.

Roen spoke such sweet words as if he was a caring older brother. Blargh. Violet suddenly had the urge to puke. Whats this guy talking about now.

Itll be alright. Or, perhaps, you wont allow me to protect you?

Violet was relentlessly appalled by the nonsense that Roen kept spouting. On the other hand, Roen just grinned.

And why in the world must you protect me?

Because youre my younger sister.

Exactly, why in the world

Violet was fed up. As if he was unaware of that fact, Roen smiled again.

Anyway, have you thought about holding an exhibition for your art?

I cant keep up with the flow of this conversation, Young Lord.

Its a waste to keep your paintings here in the annex. An opportunity will surely come in due time.

Violet decided to give up on responding to Roen at all.

* * *

While Violet was truly quite fed up, the situation in the main mansion was slowly changing. Even so, things couldnt possibly change that much overnight.

Many things did not change in an instant because of the firmly established impressions that have remained in place until now.

This was especially true for the angelic image that Aileen had manufactured for herself.

Duke Everett was just the kind of man whos impossible to read. It was like that even for his own children.

What kind of emotions he harbored, what kind of thoughts he had, and what kind of attitude hed conveyeverything was a mystery. Nevertheless, he was a prominent duke brimming with respectability.

After what had happened during their dinner together the other day, Roen had given up all hope that their father would resolve the situation.

Mikhail kept insisting that the duke was playing favorites and that his favorite was Violet, but in Roens eyes, this was not the case.

The further he investigated, the more it was revealed just how much of a spectacle the truth was.

Since the duchesss passing, there had been no one managing House Everetts internal affairs.

This had been going on for more than a decade.

Amidst this mess, the fox proclaimed herself to be king, but the biggest problem was actually the head maid, who had been reigning over the residence as though she were king.

That person had originally been Aileens nanny, and she was an outsider who followed Aileen into the duchy when the girl had been adopted. Throughout the years, she helped Aileen, then she finally took the position of head maid for herself.

In the end, no matter how much the weak Aileen acted like a fox, she was just a kid. Theres a limit to the number of tricks that a child could think of.

Its a wonder how all this came to be, but there was apparently someone pulling the strings from behind.

What a spectacle it wastruly a spectaclejust how much the head maid so thoroughly schemed to ostracize one single child.

There was once a time when Violet had cried and asked Roen for help. As he recalled that time, Roen couldnt help but ruffle his hair haphazardly.

Sometimes, oftentimes such memories resurfaced and caused him pain.

He thought about how he should slowly cut off the head maid But the people who served as her hands and feet were a problem, too.

Clicking his tongue, Roen soon sighed. Theres already been a change of hands in the personnel, but theres still quite a few filthy rats left.

If those people had been affiliated with the familys enemies, House Everett would have already fallen to ruin.

Father, have you always been so terribly incompetent?

Lost in thought as he was gauging the situation, Roen eventually stood up from his seat.

Since he had already made up his mind, it was best to finish it right away.