A Painting of the Villainess as a Young Lady

“Hey, you’re not lying, are you?”

“I don’t know how many times I have to repeat the same thing. I told you already—whether you believe it or not, the decision is up to you.”

“Ha, hahaha! And I don’t know how many times I have to repeat the same question until you answer me properly! Anyway, if you’re telling the truth, you’re saying that you’re the good person here, right? Since you’re the victim.”

Yet again, another leap of logic. Good versus evil, as if they could be separated neatly with a single slash of a blade.

“Why didn’t you tell me all this time?”

“What?”

“If everything you said is all true, why didn’t you tell me, huh?! If I’d have at least heard, ‘That girl’s evil,’ then I would have at least listened. You should have said something about it!”

“……”

Hearing Cairn’s outburst, Violet couldn’t say anything for a moment. Instead, she sighed quietly as she pressed down on the emotions rising within her.

We wouldn’t have been able to communicate anyway, so not bringing it up was one way of dealing with it.

“What did you say? Did you just laugh at me? Answer me, why didn’t you say anything?!”

“…If I did.”

“If something like that happened, you should have told me earlier. All you did was get angry recklessly, so you…!”

“If I said anything, would you have believed me?”

“What?”

“If I had told you about it before, would you have believed me?”

“What are you even—”

“Cairn Paris Everett.”

“……”

Cairn fell silent as he was called by his full name. Realizing that Violet’s mood had turned unusual, he glanced around.

Mary was staring at him with great intensity, and Aldin, who was listening as well, shook his head.

“No, I mean. Shi—! What I mean to say is, um…”

“If I had spoken up, do you think that anything would have changed if someone believed me?”

“What, did you say.”

“No matter how simple you are, Cairn, there’s no way that you don’t know. Mikhail, or Lord Roen, and most certainly you. Let me ask you this—would you have believed me?”

“……”

As Cairn could say nothing in response, Violet laughed at him.

This younger brother of hers, as simple as he was, always believed everything would be as easy as one, two, and three. However, there were times when things wouldn’t work no matter how hard he would try.

“Right. I’ve already said my piece today, but you still can’t find it in you to believe me. But even if you don’t believe a word I say, Cairn, the fact of the matter is this—Mikhail has already been stripped of his title as the Duke’s heir, and Aileen is no longer in Everett.”

Then, Violet coldly uttered,

“So, you too. Leave.”

“Ah, damn it, I just…”

“Let’s pretend today never happened and go our separate ways. And I’ll say this again: leave.”

“…I, just. I’m sorry.”

“……”

“I said I’m sorry! So, um. What. You’re Father’s favorite after all, and in the end, I also, with you… No, I mean, Sister! I’m not saying that’s the reason I’ve been misunderstanding you, Sister. I just, um, no, I’m not trying to blame you…”

“……”

“Ugh, shit, I mean. I was just hoping that you’d behave better! No, I mean… Haa. Anyway, I just want to apologize, too. I was terrible to you. I’m sorry.”

The tension in the air further disintegrated. Violet was hoping that what she’s hearing was merely an auditory hallucination. But unfortunately, the situation she was now faced with was neither an illusion nor was it welcome to her.

“Haa. I never said I didn’t believe you. I, uh… I mean, if you just acted properly, then I would have…”

Cairn was a simpleton. As simple as he was, he was quick on the uptake when it came to these things. No, it would be right to say that he was quick to understand this particular situation.

“But, well, anyway. If everything you said is true! …I’m sorry.”

With genuine anger lacing her words, Violet answered.

“Get out.”

“What?”

“Get out of my sight right now, Cairn P. Everett.”

“H-Huh?”

Therein lies the problem.

There was no way that long-standing resentment could be solved with a simple apology.

“There are times when I even envy your simplicity,” Aldin bluntly murmured.

It had come to a point that he had to say it, even when he’d just been watching things unfold quietly at the sidelines until now.

Still not understanding what the problem was, Cairn raised his voice as though he was completely innocent.

“No. Wait. Why? I already apologized. But why? Why are you mad at me now—”

“If you don’t want to leave, then I will. Don’t ever show yourself in front of me again.”

Whether Cairn was flustered or not, Violet’s response was as cold as ever.

As Violet rose to her feet, Mary sprang up as well, glancing at Cairn.

“You are at fault, Cairn.”

“Then why? I did something wrong, that’s why I apologized, isn’t it?”

“……”

Watching as the situation got sorted out, Aldin let out a slow sigh.

While ignoring Cairn, Violet walked forward and approached Aldin.

“It was my intention to treat you today, but I sincerely apologize that you’ve been met with such a commotion instead. If you don’t mind, would it be alright if you pretend that today never happened?”

“Of course. As you please, Your Ladyship.”

“You can just call me by my name comfortably. Is there anything else you’d like to ask of me?”

“I can’t call you by your name yet… No, never mind. I have also unsheathed my sword today, so I’m not in the position to receive any apologies from you.”

Even when it was his friend and his older sister who were talking, Cairn had been effectively excluded from the conversation. He protested as though he felt wronged.

Nevertheless, both Violet and Aldin continued as though he wasn’t there.

“Then, if you don’t mind me asking… May I humbly ask to be your partner in the next imperial ball?”