Chapter 17
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Violet's First Words - Episode 17
Marin found herself in complete agreement.
'In any case, this works out well. Ash wants to win over talented people, and that talented person is only asking Ash for tutoring in cutting remarks.'
Their needs aligned perfectly.
Looking at her, those eyes reminded me of a puppy caught in the rain—if Ash helped, she'd surely give her heart away in no time.
Marin watched him, waiting for Ash's acceptance.
"Marin."
"Oh, yes?"
"The refreshments are running low."
"Oh, yes. I'll go to the kitchen right away."
Marin sprang to her feet.
Only Violet and Ash remained at the table.
* * *
Violet waited for Ash's response, watching him quietly.
"Let me ask first—you don't just want simple curses, but to deliver words laced with poison, don't you? Words that could drive someone to despair."
"That's right."
"Why are you working so hard at it? Is it because Uncle told you to?"
"At first, that was my motivation. But now I want it purely for myself. Because that's the only way... the pain of all these years I've been deceived might ease a little."
Ash remained silent. Violet felt a flutter of tension.
'Did I just burden Ash by suddenly pouring out my own misfortune?'
Violet's expression grew composed again.
"Ash?"
"...Go on."
"Actually, thinking about it again, I think I made an unreasonable request. Thank you for the tea. The rain seems to be stopping now, so I should be going."
Violet rose abruptly from her seat.
"Well then, goodbye..."
In that moment, Ash grabbed Violet's sleeve. She turned in surprise.
"What about our promise?"
"...What?"
"Weren't we supposed to go to the Festival together today?"
"Actually, I came here to decline that invitation."
Ash nodded readily.
"I understand."
"Aren't you upset?"
"Why would I be? I could dislike it."
"Well... that's true."
I nodded in agreement. That was the moment it happened.
A rumbling sound emanated from my stomach. Now that I thought about it, I hadn't eaten breakfast this morning. Not only that—I'd gone hungry all day.
"Though you might refuse the Festival itself, I doubt you'd turn down a simple meal. Right?"
Ash chuckled softly.
"It's nearly evening anyway, so we were about to serve dinner. Don't worry! The servants have prepared everything already. Come, let me bring out the first course!"
I encountered Marin carrying a tray laden with food.
Before I knew it, I found myself being treated to a delicious meal.
Once dinner was finished, Ash insisted on walking me home and headed outside.
Until then, Ash had given no answer to my request to teach me sharp-tongued wit.
But the route he was taking seemed odd. This wasn't the way I'd come.
'Something feels strange. Am I really browsing the Night Market Festival with Ash right now?'
The two of us had somehow ended up in the heart of the Night Market Festival.
As the rain cleared completely, the Night Market Festival began to bustle with people.
The last rays of the fading sun illuminated the Night Market Festival's spectacle.
"Handsome young man, buy a postcard! A postcard perfectly suited for a beautiful man like you to write love letters on."
"Sweet cookies for sale. We have pies too! Delicious pies that even handsome men can't resist~"
Even I, who had been lost in thought, felt my spirits lift, and the events of the day seemed to fade away.
'Living as a handsome man seems annoying yet entertaining.'
It felt as though the entire world's focus had been adjusted to center on Ash.
All the merchants enthusiastically called out to him, and every woman passing by stopped in her tracks to glance at us.
Some young girls even looked at me with envious eyes.
"Should I buy you flowers?"
"...More importantly, are we actually sightseeing at the Festival right now?"
The words burst from both Ash's and my lips simultaneously.
"Well, it just so happened to work out the way I wanted."
Ash spoke in a languid tone.
'I should have refused his offer to walk me home.'
I thought to myself. But having already accepted a meal from him, it was difficult to coldly reject his kindness.
The Festival grounds overflowed with girls holding flowers. Some wore flower crowns, but the most common were flower bracelets.
Girls carrying flower baskets were selling flowers at various points along the path. Ash purchased a flower bracelet from the nearest girl's basket and held it out to me.
"Here, Violet Everdin."
Ash's hair gleamed brilliantly. He looked just like an angel.
I observed him for a moment before accepting the bracelet. Strangely, my fingertips tingled.
I gazed at the violet that adorned the bracelet's center for a long while.
"But why do you call me Violet Everdin?"
"So people won't mistake you for my younger sister Everdin."
My pace slowed.
It was true. People regarded me as little more than Marigold's shadow.
"I don't particularly care for the surname Everdin. It would be better if you simply called me Violet."
"Then I'll call you often. Violet, Violet."
In that moment, I felt something peculiar stir within me.
It was rare for anyone to call me by my name.
When my family did use my name, it was invariably in anger.
They would shriek it like demons possessed—"Violet!"
Perhaps that was why hearing my name spoken with such tenderness made my stomach flutter with an unfamiliar warmth.
'What's the significance of permitting him to use my name?'
Any friend could call someone by their name, after all.
'Are we truly friends?'
I pondered this.
We had wandered past the crowded districts and emerged into a quiet plaza.
The Capital's center was structured as a series of interconnected plazas, and this relatively smaller one bore no Festival booths.
I stopped walking.
"Ash, why do you treat me so kindly?"
I opened my mouth to ask.
"I like you."
Ash answered with perfect composure.
"What, me, me?"
I nearly choked on my own breath.
"Yes. The color of your aura."
Ash spoke gently.
"What does that mean?"
"Lowest tier, worst talent in history, useless trash."
....
"Despite being surrounded by such grandiose titles, the magical essence flowing through your body is quite exceptional."
"You've thought this way all along?"
"Things that catch my attention usually have meaning."
In that instant, everything became crystalline!
'Ash truly is different. He's the only one at the Academy who has sensed my true talent!'
Not just anyone became a Sword Master, after all. Ash's perceptiveness was remarkably acute.
Of course. My heart settled with relief.
"You're already strong enough, yet you possess the capacity to take genuine interest in another's talent. I find that admirable, Ash."
"...genuine?"
"Yes, you're interested in my swordsmanship, aren't you?"
Ash gazed at me for a long moment, then curved his lips into a smile.
"You're not entirely wrong. Except for the 'genuine' part."
I found Ash as intriguing as he was somewhat difficult to understand.
"Your request for me to teach you how to speak harshly—why did you ask me of all people?"
I couldn't bring myself to say to Ash's face, 'You're a master of cutting words.'
"Do I seem like someone particularly skilled at harsh speech?"
Ash let out a soft laugh, his expression knowing.
"Well, yes. You're a strong swordsman, you possess a strong spirit, and because of that strong spirit, you have a tongue as sharp as three inches of steel...."
"You really can't lie and can't speak empty words, can you?"
I fell silent for a moment before speaking quietly.
"Still, I keep secrets well. I know how to hold back words I shouldn't say."
Ash nodded slightly.
"I believe that."
"Anyway, I'm curious what you would say if you were in my position, what you would think. Bludin always gets angry the moment I open my mouth.... But your words are different somehow. You're elegant."
I spoke with composure.
Strange as it was, I felt that Ash resembled a certain character from the novel Rosenis.
A powerful being who lived at leisure, who had no need to ask anything of anyone.
"If I were in your situation, this is what I would tell Bludin."
Ash pulled me close and whispered a few words into my ear.
My ears flushed unbidden from his proximity.
My expression stiffened for a moment before I found my voice.
"There wasn't even a curse mixed in—you spoke only truth, yet how could it sound so...."
"Unpleasant?"
"...Somewhat. Bludin might actually die from anger."
I said.
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