An innocent gaze was directed at Violet. Looking into his pale lavender eyes, not unlike her own purple eyes, Violet asked.

Where did we meet?

Once Violet asked this, he fell silent, and his expression changed more and more by the second.

He now looked so forlorn that Violet was almost about to apologize for not remembering him.

No, if you dont remember, it doesnt matter.

You seem to be lost, but if you dont mind, may I escort you?

Escort?

Ah, I-I mean. Im not a suspicious person.

The embarrassed knight scrambled to get something out of his inner coat pocket. Violet just said that she already knew he was a knight.

Feeling awkward, he coughed briefly. He showed her his identification card, and it said there that his name was Aldin and he belonged to the First Imperial Order of the Black Wolf.

Violet wondered where she might have met him before. She rummaged through her memories.

He was tall and had a robust physique, but his face was still young. His dark hair was reflecting the sunsets red hue, and, somehow, his lavender eyes contained within them the rain[1].

I think I can remember him.

Lavender eyes, not unlike Violets purple eyes. Somewhere in her memories, she could remember them vaguely.

However, she couldnt pull out the exact memory.

If its alright with you, then please. Im in your care.

She knew the look in his eyes.

Those eyes, like serene lakeshorribly subdued.

Not knowing why, Violet suddenly felt awkward about staring at him. Her gaze slipped down.

Please speak comfortably, Ducal Lady.

Do you know me?

Everyone knows that the esteemed daughter of House Everett has come to the capital.

No, Im asking if you know me personally. And I wish to ask as well about what you meant when you asked me if I dont remember you.

If you dont remember, you dont have to force yourself to remember. It was just a passing encounter.

Though Violet asked him straightforwardly, Aldin replied boldly as well.

Surely if he was someone who was in Violets memories, Aldins standing couldnt be ordinary.

Sir Aldin, you

Youre very tall.

As Violet spoke first, she eventually trailed off and avoided looking at him. It was awkward.

When Violet was silent for a moment, Aldin felt a bit nervous because he didnt know what she was about to say. But when she finally spoke again, he relaxed for a moment.

His is a face that Id definitely remember.

Violet was once again left to her own thoughts as they continued walking forward, and she could only wonder if her memory was this bad.

The man seemed to be accustomed to guarding people. Violet had a hunch that this fellow might have a high position, too.

While their surroundings gradually changed as they walked down the streets, the two of them couldnt easily open their lips to speak again.

Is he just curt? Violet thought. Trying to gauge the man in front of her with narrowed eyes, Violet caught sight of her long-lost escort knights running straight to her. They looked frightened out of their wits.

You Who are you!

Then, they pointed their swords at Aldin.

Violet was rendered speechless by the dumbfounding situation. Its as if Aldin had saved the escort knights from drowning, but here they were, asking where their lost bags were.

But regardless of her reaction, the confrontation between the escort knights and the imperial knight continued.

Your name, I asked! And state your affiliation!

Was his mouth glued or something?

Glancing once at the man who wouldnt say anything even as several swords were mere inches away from his throat.

He is a knight of the imperial guard and hes the one who helped me when I was in trouble. Even if you dont have any manners, can you please refrain from being rude?

It was not until Violet said this that the knights fell back and returned sheathed their swords once again. What a funny turn of events.

It could be said that this was Violets fault for going around so freely, but it also made no sense for escort knights to lose track of the person theyre supposed to be guarding.

Regardless of how crowded it had been back then, it was their job to stay by her side no matter what.

And yet, far from admitting their mistakes, its laughable to see them pointing their swords at the person who saved their butts.

These knights should undoubtedly be given more rigorous training the moment theyd return to the townhouse.

Still, Violet didnt want to add more to her notoriety. She would be handing over the task of scolding these knights to Roen.

Anyway, it seemed like the knights still hadnt noticed the mark of the imperial family.

Violet felt troubled by the apparent level of skill of her households knights. Well, of course the imperial mark was on the cloak, which was on his back, and they were standing in front of Aldin. They wouldnt have seen it.

Ahem, ahem. Pardon me. If you dont mind, may I ask about your affiliation?

The Black Wolf.

Black Wolf? You mean, the first chivalric order?

I couldnt quite capture the whole meaning of this word right here. Violet used the term , which could mean rain(fall), melancholy or excellence. The first meaning parallels how Violets eyes are compared to lakes, so it somehow makes sense if Aldins eyes are compared to the rain.

Still, Im not sure which one of the three meanings Violet wanted to say. Or, perhaps she meant all of them.