Chapter 11
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Violet's First Words - Episode 11
With Paula standing before me, I felt anger rising to a boil. 'How should I express this emotion?' It was the same as with Bludin. 'Should I tell her I know her true identity? Or should I confront her about how she's treated me all this time? Or perhaps I should threaten her with revenge?' I had so much to say that I didn't know where to begin.
"Sister!"
At that moment, I heard someone calling out. It was Marigold's voice. The moment she spotted me from the top of the stairs, she came hurrying down with quick, eager steps.
"How have you been? Why didn't you come to my room first! I brought you a gift."
Marigold approached with a bright smile and linked her arm through mine.
"You call yourself a sister, but you didn't even bother to visit when your younger sister missed you so desperately."
Paula turned away with a displeased expression, clicking her tongue, and headed toward the study. When Marigold touched me, I felt a chill run down my spine. Without a word, I withdrew my hand.
"I'm going to my room."
"I'll come with you. The weather at the resort was absolutely beautiful. It seems all the Academy's noble families gathered there! There were so many familiar faces—I had such a wonderful time! If it weren't for the supplementary classes, you would have come with us!"
I didn't respond to her and quickened my pace in silence. 'Marigold, my younger sister who always reached out to me first...' Cyril had told me to give each family member 'a piece of my mind,' and I wondered if I should do the same with Marigold. After all, my relationship with Marigold had been relatively good. But thinking about it now, something felt off. Marigold had never once mentioned the discrimination I was receiving. I entered my room. Marigold, who had followed me in uninvited, opened the small envelope she was holding.
"Look at this—it's a gift."
I reluctantly accepted the envelope. Inside was a cheap bracelet made from seashells. A cold, bitter smile crossed my face. A gift worth less than a single coin. This was the value Marigold had assigned to me after enjoying a luxurious vacation. At the same time, I recalled the expensive items Marigold had purchased from the boutiques at the resort, now piled throughout the house.
"You chose the gift well. It's quintessentially you."
I spoke in a flat, emotionless tone.
"Right? I thought you'd like it."
"So that's all you have to say? Nothing more?"
Only then did Marigold seem to notice that I was different from usual. Marigold stared at me with piercing intensity. I could read her thoughts with perfect clarity. It was the expression of someone thinking, "Why is this the way it is?"
"Sister, could it be...."
I cut myself off and asked instead.
"What about Father?"
"Oh, Father returned to the Capital and went straight to the Office. Can you believe what he said as a joke? 'My dear Marigold, if this father is to pay for your dresses and jewels, he must work hard even today.' He actually calls that a joke. Anyway, he's working through the night and sleeping in the room attached to the Office before coming home."
"...."
I fell silent. Marigold cautiously opened her mouth, gauging my reaction. Her lips were smiling, but her eyes had stopped smiling long ago.
"What's wrong, Sister? Are you angry with me?"
"I just find it strange. Bludin mentioned to me that whenever I attend the ball, I always look shabby. As if I don't have a single proper dress."
"Hehe, Sister, you really don't put in any effort with your appearance. Right?"
"I wonder. Why don't I have a dress, Marigold? I'm genuinely curious."
"Well.... You could just ask Father to buy you one. Sister, you're so lacking in resourcefulness!"
Marigold spoke with innocent cheerfulness. We had never discussed such matters before. 'Why is it that every time you speak as if you know nothing, I become more certain that you know everything? Or have you gone beyond knowing and begun to enjoy this differential treatment?' The truth was, I already knew. That Marigold treated me like a fool. In this desolate household, my Younger Sister was the only one who had extended her hand to me, and her presence had become so desperately precious. That's why I chose to turn away from the truth.
"Anyway, forget such talk. Let's discuss something fun instead. Have you heard the news about Colbera?"
"...Colbera?"
"He caused quite a scandal. At a banquet where the Dean and other high-ranking Academy officials were gathered."
"Why was Colbera even there?"
"I heard about it from classmates I happened to meet while riding the Gate. Apparently, Colbera was dead drunk with half his head shaved, sleeping in nothing but his undergarments in the Dean's House Garden, snoring loudly. And this was three days ago, no less! Since the Academy Board of Directors happened to be visiting for tea at the time, everyone witnessed it."
Three days ago was the very day I had thrown my resignation letter at Colbera. 'That day, Ash definitely said he would save Colbera.' No, Ash had said he would 'handle' Colbera, whose entire body was paralyzed. 'But did that mean he was going to dump Colbera in the Dean's House Garden?' Whether it was Colbera's fault or not didn't matter. Either way, having displayed such disgrace before the Academy's Dean, Colbera was finished.
"How could such a thing have happened," I murmured. I spoke quietly.
"Who knows. The rumors say Colbera frequents some shady establishments. You know, those illegal places. Where strange drugs are sold and women are available."
"...Is that so?"
"Yeah, everyone was saying he must have gotten completely drunk at one of those places and crawled into the Dean's House."
"...."
"You know what's really funny? Colbera himself can't remember any of it."
Even if the entire world laughed at that story, I could not. How was I supposed to accept a classmate like Ash, who had committed such a grave act?
"Something's really off about you today, Sister. What's actually going on?"
I gazed quietly at Marigold.
"There's something I need to tell you, Marigold."
"Why that expression? You're not trying to scare me, are you?"
Marigold spoke with a gentle smile.
"Marigold, I—" Knock, knock. At that moment, someone rapped on the door. 'Who could possibly be coming to my room?' I wondered. None of the servants even bothered to clean my room, so I handled everything myself. As for family, no one visited my room except Marigold. Unable to discern who it was, I opened the door myself. A servant I recognized only by sight bowed respectfully.
"A letter has arrived for you, Miss Violet."
The servant presented the letter on a tray with utmost courtesy. ...Was this some kind of trap? Servants' behavior invariably mirrored that of their masters. Judging by how the servants typically acted toward me, I'd consider myself fortunate if they didn't simply discard any letter addressed to me. Marigold looked equally astonished.
"Thank you."
I accepted the letter.
"Who's it from?"
Marigold leaned in curiously. 'Could it be from Uncle Cyril?' My heart quickened with anticipation. But the handwriting on the envelope dashed those hopes.
【Your prospective accomplice, Ash.】
'...Why on earth are you sending me a letter?' I thought to myself. In the midst of my confusion, I noticed that Ash possessed remarkably fine penmanship. 'And what sort of sorcery did he employ to make our household servant deliver this letter to me with such deference?' I was beginning to feel genuinely unnerved by Ash.
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org