Chapter 42
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Violet's First Words - Episode 42
* * *
"Damn it, seriously! I'm going to kill them all! What do I do, what am I supposed to do?!"
The room was in complete disarray. Marigold, unable to contain her fury, had thrown cosmetics about and now had begun to weep.
Paula stood beside Marigold, wringing her hands helplessly.
"Stop this. Does crying solve anything?"
"Then you solve it, Mother. Do you know what that idiot Violet is doing at school? Suddenly Winter Queen, no less—she's clearly trying to humiliate me!"
It was true that Violet had been completing Marigold's assignments for her. Marigold didn't even know how to properly handle her mana circuits.
Of course, the only reason Herbert and Sierra protected her was because of her backing.
Still, she couldn't ignore the eyes of others. Marigold had been summoned to the Academy early today as well.
[Until this matter settles down, Miss Marigold should refrain from attending under the pretense of emotional distress for the time being.]
That was the polite suggestion Marigold had received from Herbert.
'If Edgar finds out about this, what will become of me!'
She and the Crown Prince Edgar were not yet officially together.
If Marigold's reputation worsened, the Crown Prince might flip his feelings as easily as turning over his palm.
"But still! What happens when you grab a girl's hair in front of everyone like that?"
Paula spoke with exasperation.
On her way out of the Dean's Office, Marigold had seen a girl with twin braids making a poster of Violet's face and putting it up everywhere.
Marigold lost her composure and shouted at the girl to stop.
[What grudge do you have against me to do this!]
[My name isn't "you"—it's Marin. Grudge? Look at your own conduct.]
The girl, who introduced herself as Marin, smirked and finished what she was doing.
In the end, Marigold couldn't restrain herself and grabbed Marin's shoulder, but when Marin shook her off, it escalated into a brief scuffle.
The result was defeat. Marigold had shown herself to everyone with disheveled hair and a vacant expression.
"Sob, I'm really, truly angry. How dare Violet do this to me. And she doesn't even appreciate it! Mother and Father raised her from the orphanage all these years. How could she do this? Sob—wahhh!"
Marigold was behaving like a five-year-old child, making all of Paula's efforts in hiring tutors for etiquette lessons utterly worthless.
Paula felt a headache coming on.
"That girl is nothing special. Right now she's just running wild with those low-quality commoners from the Academy, but they're all jealous of you. Once you become the Crown Princess, who will dare say anything?"
"I suppose that's true, but...."
"We should call them."
At those words, Marigold's eyes flew wide open.
"The Sisters?"
"Yes, the Sisters from our Religious Sect who baptized you. They're skilled in curse magic, so they'll surely find a way to help you. Do you remember? They made you a spirit summoner."
"That's right, if the Sisters come, that will be enough...."
Marigold smiled.
"But are you really going to leave Violet alone like that? Father Marlon said she'd sneak back in if you did. But look at what she's doing!"
"Don't worry. Father has located her whereabouts. Surprisingly, she's sneaked into Cyril's House."
"That eccentric Cyril Uncle? You said he'd never accept her—he might throw her a bit of sympathy out of curiosity, but he'd never actually take her in, right?"
"So when your father goes and pressures him a few times, he'll chase Violet out. Once she's dragged back home this time, we'll show her what real hell looks like."
"Punish her thoroughly and make her grovel. Understood? That's the only way these damned rumors will disappear."
Marigold spoke, but her anger wouldn't subside, and she eventually broke down in tears.
* * *
"Well, you certainly are making quite a spectacle of yourself."
The next morning, when I went down for breakfast, Cyril lowered his newspaper with a bewildered expression.
He had already finished his meal and was sipping tea.
"You've seen it, Uncle?"
"Your name's been in the papers for days now—how could I not notice?"
"I'm quite embarrassed by it. I did warn you beforehand, but I was still worried it might cause you trouble."
Cyril studied me for a moment.
"You seem full of vitality, niece."
"...I suppose I do."
I spoke softly. To be honest, there was something exhilarating and refreshing about it all. It wasn't so bad.
"Then that settles it. Why ask again? Just keep doing what you're doing."
Cyril folded the newspaper. I smiled.
"An uninvited guest has arrived."
Just then, Olive approached quietly and spoke.
Not a guest, but an uninvited guest. I frowned. Something felt wrong.
Cyril elegantly wiped his mouth with a napkin.
"I think I know who it is. You wait here and don't come out."
Cyril said.
I nodded. Cyril left the Dining Room.
I quietly followed him and decided to eavesdrop on their conversation.
"You bastard, how dare you stab me in the back? Come out, Cyril!"
The one bellowing was none other than my father, Geoffrey. I squeezed my eyes shut.
"Why are you making such a racket? I can hear you just fine if you speak normally."
"You insolent brat! Hand over that girl at once."
"That girl, who?"
Cyril replied calmly.
"My daughter! Violet!"
"She's an adult and decided of her own will to live in this house. What kind of man are you—she even filed an abuse lawsuit against you. Please, try to be objective about yourself."
"Words won't work, then."
Geoffrey said.
The sound of footsteps thundered through the space. Unable to restrain herself, Violet peeked her head out cautiously.
'Father, this terrible man brought bodyguards with him!'
With enough money, hiring mercenaries would be child's play.
That's when Geoffrey spotted Violet.
"Violet, come home this instant. What? A lawsuit? I've been lenient, thinking it would blow over on its own. But you're pulling this stunt while riding on Cyril's coattails?"
"It's not a stunt—I'm doing this because it's worth doing."
Violet suppressed her fury and answered coldly.
"How dare you obstruct Marigold's path forward. Just how jealous are you, child?"
Jealousy. The notion that she'd orchestrated all this because of some petty emotion toward Marigold was absurd.
'Talking won't help—I'll just get dragged into his schemes.'
Violet concentrated her aura at her fingertips.
'If necessary, I'll have to take down all of these people myself.'
I could do it. No—I had to.
But then....
"You'd challenge me in my own house?"
Cyril laughed as though amused.
And the house began to tremble slowly.
'What's with the dust falling from the ceiling?'
Violet stared blankly into the empty air.
"I'm too busy to explain my profession in detail, but let me tell you one thing: I'm a first-rate barrier mage. Do you really think my house has no barriers?"
"Ugh, ugghhhhh!"
The men began to shriek. Blue and red light streamed down from the ceiling.
Some of the men had their necks and legs ensnared by tentacle-like appendages extending from all directions.
Their faces turned deathly pale as they gasped and screamed in agony.
'Mana circuits... right? No, wait, this is different... The mana circuits I know are rectangular, but these are circular.'
It was a magic circle from ancient times. Such circles were inscribed across the ceiling and floor of Cyril's house.
Looking closer, the patterns were fascinating. The colors shifted, and between the lines, symbols resembling characters were visible....
'Uncle, you're incredible....'
The only one standing unscathed near Cyril was Geoffrey.
But Geoffrey couldn't move either.
Olive, who had appeared from behind, was pressing a blade against his throat.
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org