A Painting of the Villainess as a Young Lady

“Thank you for allowing me to hear such a pleasant story. I rarely ever get to hear about my mother and my extended family on her side.”

“Oh, am I the only one who mentioned them? What to do. The older I get, the more I become a chatterbox.”

“No, really, I appreciate it because I don’t hear much about her in Everett. If you don’t mind, may I hear more about my mother?”

“Of course! I’m sure that you’ll be surprised to hear what Lily was like when she was young.”

Their teatime continued amidst this friendly mood.

The marchioness mainly told stories of the late duchess, who was her close friend. The Lady of Blaise had a weak constitution, but she was very active. And, as she was also more confident than anyone else, people thought of her as a very unusual person.

The marchioness had exchanged letters with the late duchess up until just before her demise. As she spoke of these stories, her eyes moistened.

“I remember getting a letter from her once that said, ‘I didn’t know that I’d have so many worries as a mother now. My own mom told me before how she thinks I should have a daughter who resembles you, but really— little does she know, my daughter turned out to be more like me!”

Feeling a bit embarrassed for no reason, Violet only sipped her tea and said nothing.

“She really was a good friend. She was such a good person who cared about many people, even though she had been clearly ill. Even now, I still miss her a lot.”

Because the marchioness told many stories of her mother before marriage, Violet happened to hear the love story between her mother and father.

As she listened, she busily munched on the refreshments.

In Violet’s memories, the duchess was always sick.

She couldn’t remember much of her mother, but she remembered feeling warm and cozy around her.

As Violet was now the version of herself who could recall her past life’s memories, even that of Yeon Ha-yoon’s mother, she raised her head as the marchioness uttered the next words.

“That’s why I was so worried. When I was your chaperone three years ago, I heard a lot of rumors.”

“Ah. I was immature back then, so it’s natural.”

“You heard about them too?”

“……”

“Ohoho. I’m not saying it’s bad. You were as prickly as a thorn three years ago, but you had behaved very well. I couldn’t tell you this before because the thorns around you were much too sharp.”

Embarrassed again, Violet sipped her tea.

Marchioness Leshan smiled gracefully.

“So, I do feel that it’s really nice to meet you again now. I’m not just saying that. You know that, yes?”

“…Of course.”

Feeling all choked up for no reason, Violet slowly answered with a smile.

And the marchioness smiled back warmly.

* * *

Violet had no trust in people.

She had been hurt by those people, and she always put up thorn-like walls around her because she did not want to get hurt. After having been betrayed over and over again, her heart barely managed to heal, yet she still remained to be closed off to others.

Truthfully, it’s not as if there had been no one at her side at all. It’s just that— Violet S. Everett did not trust anyone.

There were many people around Violet who wanted to talk to her, but she never noticed.

Recalling this, Violet quickly sorted through her feelings and put on a smile. It’s impossible for the marchioness not to know of her inner thoughts. With her hands clasped together, she placed her elbows on the table and set her chin upon the back of her fingers.

“It’s very, very nice to see you again, really. Lily must also be feeling relieved of her worries now.”

“Thank you.”

“I heard that you’re getting along with your family these days? And, oh! Is it true that the Third Young Master was sitting like a homeless man in front of Everett’s townhouse recently?”

“……”

“Hohoho. It must be true, but it’s alright. Growing children naturally get into fights.”

But if I get into a fight twice, I’ll surely die. Violet did not add that thought. Marchioness Leshan looked really happy.

The marchioness’s merry chatter continued. Violet listened to her stories with a smile.

While they talked for a long time, the marchioness suddenly asked a question.

“By the way, is there a reason you started painting?”

“A reason?”

“Yes, I heard that you’ve taken to creating art these days. I can’t help but feel that you’re much brighter now due to your new hobby.”

When asked by the marchioness, Violet felt her pupils starting to quiver, but she soon smiled.

The marchioness was truly quick on the uptake. Except, Violet was in a terrible slump right now.

Contemplating what to answer for a long while, Violet replied.

“Because I want to run away.”

“To run away?”

“I needed something that I could do freely. Something that I could do, where I can be myself without being intruded upon by others.”

“And that’s why you turned to painting.”

The moment she answered the marchioness’s question, it’s as if Violet was given the solution to a problem that’s been bothering her for a long time.

Now that she didn’t have to run away, it’s only natural that she now felt at ease. In both her past life and present life, there were still countless reasons why she started painting, but that one particular reason had served to be the most important.