I dont know what you might be talking about.

So youre making a fool of me now?!

Mikhail had been three steps away from her until now, and he prowled closer to her. At the sidelines of the brother and sister, the maids squeezed their eyes shut because of the precarious situation.

If Father really had the intention to lock you up like this, then he would have done so long before. Yeah, right. What kind of scheme are you concocting this time for the sake of harassing that child, huh?

Fine, let me repeat myself. Ive changed. Perhaps you should change a little as well, Brother?

Change? You? If thats really it, then before!

Grit

Mikhail clenched his molars.

At this, Violet was relieved that she was wearing a nightgown right now, lest he would have already grabbed her by the collar.

You should have apologized to Aileen before anything else!

A loud, furious snarl reverberated all throughout.

And Violet calmly took a step back from Mikhail.

The one who never changes is you, Brother. Dont you know? About seventy percent of the reason that I harassed that child was you.

Violet smirked, thinking of the words that would never be delivered to the person in front of her now.

Apologize for her misdeeds, he said. And hes right.

Violet had tormented her younger cousin so many, many times. Because she hated Aileen.

Like a hedgehog that would point its spikes, she had struggled with everyone around her. Always angry, always acting however she wanted.

Since its like that.

Why dont you apologize to me?

Violet laughed inwardly, once again swallowing the words that would never be conveyed.

Yeon Ha-yoon did not deny that Violet had been a villainess, but at the same time, she also did not deny the way Violet had lived her life.

Its not that she didnt feel apologetic, but in all earnestness, she also really didnt harbor any feelings of remorse.

Its not that she didnt feel remorseful. However, at the same time, she also truly didnt feel apologetic.

Human beings were, by nature, selfish. Therefore, they tend to justify their situations according to their own sidetheir self-interest.

Youre worried that Ill bother her, or that Im pretending to elicit sympathy.

You dont have to worry. Ive decided to change. So, Im only going to stay here, quietly, without bothering or touching Aileen any longer.

You, how dare you

What exactly have I done that the phrase how dare is directed at me?

How dare you say that name with your mouth so easily!

You

You have no intention to reflect on yourself. You have no humanity in you.

Hearing his enraged tone, Violet laughed. For slapping someone a few times and pouring tea on that other person, perhaps she needed to be rebuked this much.

Publicly humiliating her in front of other nobles, denouncing her, blaming everything on her, throwing hot tea at her, tearing her clothes apart, ordering her to be lashed, slapping her across the cheek

All the typical actions of a typical villainess constantly flashed through her mind.

Yeon Ha-yoon looked back on Violets offenses, but she soon stopped.

A witch with a frozen heart. Thats what she was called. Against such a woman, Mikhail turned his back.

You will be kicked out of this household. No matter what.

Those were Mikhails last words before he left. You will be kicked out from this household. From Everett.

At the ending of those novels out there, the villainess would normally be executed. Rather, its quite good that all she had to face was getting kicked out.

She wondered what shed do if she really did get expelled from the household. Her skillset wasnt all that wide.

Violet tried to guess how much she could earn as a painter in this era. Really, any unknown artist was only bound to starve.

After finishing that quick calculation in her mind, she chuckled.

Violet did not see off her older brother, who was now marching away in the distance.

P-Pardon me

Ah, I guess youve been watching until now. Sorry, but can you let the others know that I wont be having lunch today? I dont have an appetite.

Y-Yes! the maid answered quickly.

Shes Mary, the new maid who had been watching the young duke and the ducal lady for a while now.

The other employees had, likewise, silently watched the conversation between the siblings from afar. They all quickly went back to their stations.

It wasnt very pleasant to be a spectacle, was it.

Since her day was already ruined anyway, Violet thought about whether she should sleep in more. However, in the middle of her contemplation, she called out to Mary before she left.

Ah, one more thing.

Y-Yes?!

Would you kindly relay a message to His Grace for me? Tell him, from now on, please ban Mikhail, Roen, Aileen And Cairn, too Ah, no, wait. Please just ban anyone and everyone from entering the annex.

Huh?

Once he knows that Im the one who sent you, hell just roughly let you in. Then, bye.

Staring back at the ducal lady, who had a much higher post compared to herself, the maid just gaped blankly.

She couldnt comprehend Violets words. How could a maid seek an audience with a duke?

Mary was exceedingly restless, but she eventually lowered her head.

Her superior had given her an order, so did she have a choice?

The other servants briefly sympathized with Mary.

And thats how bad rumors would start to circulate. They would say, I didnt know that she would bully a new maid like this.

Then, those gossiping women would also say that they hoped this little girl wouldnt succumb to this harassment.