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Violet's First Words - Episode 12 "I don't ‌‌‌know what you mean by accomplice, but it seems this person is from the Academy? ‌‌The only person I know named Ash is one specific individual. Could it be... a letter from Ash Defendale?" Marigold's expression shifted once more ‌‌‌as she examined the sender's ‌name on the envelope. "...I ‌‌‌‌don't think this is something you need to concern yourself with, Marigold." "Then who should? It seems my suspicion was right?" Marigold swiftly snatched the letter away. "Give the letter back, Marigold." "Why? It's not like it's a letter with contents you can't show others. Right, sister?" Marigold ignored my protest and tore open the letter in ‌an instant. 【In hopes of becoming friends, I ‌‌wish to take a walk together at the festival celebrating the Lord's birthday in two days. If you do not send a response of refusal, I will come to pick you up at the front gate of Everdin at three o'clock.】 Marigold's expression became peculiar after reading the letter. ‌‌‌"Did Ash Defendale just ask you on a date?" "A date? That's absurd." Marigold fell silent for a moment. Then she suddenly broke into a wide smile. "This works out perfectly! Sister, Ash Defendale needs someone like ‌us." I furrowed my brow slightly. "What do you mean by that?" "Ash possesses outstanding talent, but he's ‌‌‌just a pitiful commoner." "..." "So we nobles should naturally treat him with kindness. Don't you agree?" I was utterly dumbfounded. "Ash is a Sword Master. But he's a commoner. I've sent him letters multiple times ‌‌‌trying to ‌introduce him to people and build connections, yet he never replied." "..." "So it was you after all, sister. You were trying to create an opportunity for ‌‌‌‌me to become close with Ash? You're both in the Knight Division, aren't ‌you?" Marigold's eyes gleamed with desire. I found this version of Marigold unfamiliar. "I don't think Ash would ‌‌‌want that kind ‌‌of attention." "That can't be true! Everyone is the same. When you show kindness and treat them warmly, they open their hearts." Marigold now wore an expression of rapture. "So ‌‌what are you trying to do?" "You're engaged to Bludin, aren't you? And someday the two of you will marry and build a beautiful home together. But if rumors spread that you went to the festival with Ash..." "So? Are you saying you want to ‌‌go to the festival with Ash ‌‌‌instead?" "If that's what you want, then yes. What does it mean to have a good sister? We should always help each other, shouldn't we?" Violet no longer even felt the urge to scoff. 'With all that in ‌your possession, you still find it insufficient? Now you covet Ash's attention as well?' Only now did she truly see the real Marigold. 'I suppose there's no need to take such nonsense seriously anymore.' Violet snatched the letter from Marigold's ‌‌‌hands. "I'll handle my own affairs. The same goes for ‌‌‌my relationships. I appreciate your concern, ‌‌‌but Ash didn't send that letter to you." Marigold's expression suggested she had no idea what was happening to her. "Right now... you do understand what I'm saying, don't you?" "I understand perfectly." "What Bludin might think about this..." "I already know Bludin ‌‌‌‌dislikes everything I do. Pretending ignorance won't change that." "Why are you suddenly saying such things? You never used to be like this..." Marigold's shoulders shrank as if wounded. In the past, Violet would have crumbled at such a display, but not anymore. "That's not the point of this conversation, Marigold. You and Bludin are quite close, aren't you? What has Bludin ‌‌been saying about me lately?" Violet was well aware that Bludin was also one of Marigold's devoted followers. For the first time, Violet ‌‌‌found herself curious about what Marigold would say. Marigold's mouth fell open. Then her lips moved like a fish gasping for air... "Oh, how mischievous! Why would you ask me such a thing? You should go hear ‌‌‌your fiancé's thoughts directly. Really, you're something else." She responded with a bright smile, feigning complete ignorance. 'Impressive, truly.' Violet felt a pang of sadness. There was once a time when she had loved her younger sister, even if only a ‌little. That lingering affection now cut through her like a phantom blade. Perhaps her own misfortune meant nothing whatsoever ‌‌to Marigold. "Fine, I get it! I'll pretend I know nothing about Ash. But Bludin is my friend as well as your fiancé. Don't keep ‌‌‌creating these awful secrets between us. Understood?" Marigold spoke with a light, carefree laugh. Violet shook her head slightly. "Get to the point." "Huh? Oh...?" "You have something you came here to say. Stop ‌‌dancing around it and just tell me what you want." At ‌‌‌Violet's cold words, Marigold's brows twitched. But soon, glancing about nervously, she opened her ‌‌mouth. "Sister, you know... that thing I gave ‌‌‌you ‌‌for your birthday last year—it's still in your room, right?" Without waiting for an answer, Marigold began rummaging through Violet's room without permission. The room contained barely any furniture—not even a proper bookshelf. Only a worn-out small wardrobe that even the servants refused to use. From that wardrobe, Marigold carelessly withdrew a thin silver plate. "Why are you taking out ‌‌‌‌a practice mana circuit board? Those are ‌‌‌only used in the Knight Division during the first and ‌second years." Violet spoke up. A mana circuit board was a thin plate made from iron ‌‌mixed with mana stones. ‌‌‌Within it ran intricate mana circuits. When a mana user channeled their power into it, the circuits would glow in specific colors or form particular shapes. And with more refined mana control, one could even ‌‌‌‌make the patterns resemble drawings. ‌‌‌‌‌In simple terms, it was like embroidery worked with mana. Knights who trained aura, as well as spirit summoners, healers, and mages. They all needed to know how to control their mana with precision. That's why they trained to create intricate designs through mana circuits. ‌‌‌‌‌‌"Well, people like me who attend the Special Magic Department ‌do this as an assignment until graduation, so that's why." Marigold's expression shifted dramatically as she adopted an endearing look. "I just had ‌‌a great idea, Sister. Drawing pictures through mana circuits is your specialty, right?" Everyone in the world ‌‌‌‌said that Violet, a talentless commoner, had gotten into the Academy through Father's backing. But that wasn't actually the case. During the entrance exam, aside from the swordsmanship test, Violet had showcased an artistic masterpiece on the spot through her mana circuit during the talent evaluation. Because of that, the admissions officers at the time had lavished praise on Violet, saying she would become a talented knight. So when I discovered I had a talentless constitution, ‌‌‌‌it came as a tremendous shock. "...I'm pretty sure ‌‌‌I did ‌‌‌your assignment for you last year too. This mana circuit assignment—both a holiday ‌‌‌‍homework and the first assignment of the semester—is heavily reflected in your test scores, as far as I know." "Right, you remember that. Hehe, that rose-shaped mana circuit you helped me create got a really good grade." "...." "So anyway. You'll ‌‌‌help me again this time, right, Sister?" I had forgotten—that every year, Marigold 'demands' that I do her assignments for her. Violet let out a hollow laugh. "If that's the case, I'll help you as the word suggests—you do what you can and bring it to me. It doesn't seem right for me to do it from the start." "...." "Isn't that grade manipulation?" At that, Marigold's expression completely crumbled. "Why are you like this today? If Father saw you acting this way toward me, what would he say? He's always ‌‌‌‌been so affectionate in teaching you!" In that moment, pure fury toward Marigold surged up within me. At the same time, a strange thought occurred to me. What if Ash were ‌‌in this absurd situation—how would he handle it? Then one idea came to mind.

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