Chapter 6
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Violet's First Words - Episode 6
"Deborah was quite audacious. I was only fifteen at the time, and she left behind a pittance from her belongings, instructing me to seek you out once you turned ten and give you the ring she wore."
It made sense that Cyril was such a young uncle.
Since I was now eighteen, he was barely in his early thirties.
'But at that age, he eventually found Father, entrusted me to him, and kept his promise even after ten years had passed.'
Simultaneously, so much became clear.
A talent found in one among ten thousand. This too was an inheritance from someone.
'The Reinhardt Family. My maternal lineage....'
I turned the name over in my mind.
They said it was a prestigious family in the provinces. Yet for someone like me, ignorant of Capital nobility, it was a name I'd never heard before.
At the same time, a dark question arose.
'Did Father know about my constitution then? But why did I live as a failure?'
Geoffrey was a man whose inner thoughts were difficult to discern. But one thing was certain—he was absolutely not someone who would help me.
But I had no time to dwell on that now.
Simply accepting that I wasn't illegitimate was overwhelming enough.
In this moment, I was liberated from the inferiority complex that had tormented me my entire life.
"The ring you gave me was truly a precious thing. Mother left it behind, and you kept it for so long before giving it to me."
"And it's expensive too. They said it was one of the heirlooms for the Reinhardt Family's training. That ring was made from ancient flame stone worth dozens of times the value of gold."
To give such a thing to someone else. I felt a great sense of loss. But there was no point in regretting what had already passed.
"Did that flame stone... help me form my mana circle?"
"Exactly."
"Then will I need the flame stone to make progress in my training going forward?"
"Hmm, you've definitely formed your first circle, haven't you?"
"Yes."
"Then you won't need it. After all, the flame stone is only for basic training. I was curious about it afterward, so I looked into your constitution."
"I see...."
"Though there's barely any documentation, so that's all I know."
He spoke humbly, but I was certain Cyril was an extraordinary person. To know such advanced information.
'If I hadn't followed Ash's advice and avoided reading at the Cafe today, if I hadn't been inspired and found the courage, what would have become of me?'
These were truths I needed to know. Kindness I had to remember.
"Thank you so much for telling me I'm not illegitimate, Uncle. I don't know how to repay you for watching over my mother's final moments."
I spoke.
"Don't you usually resent it?"
"Resent... it?"
"The fact that you alone have known until now that you aren't illegitimate. Resentment over such things."
Violet's eyes widened in surprise.
"Why would you say such a thing? I cannot help everyone who suffers injustice or unreasonableness in this world. When I think of the hardships my uncle endured bringing me to the Capital, I feel I could kneel a thousand times and still not repay my gratitude sufficiently."
"...."
This time, Cyril fell silent.
Violet spoke from the heart.
My younger sister Marigold was a peerless beauty renowned throughout the Capital.
Her admirers circled around her, vying desperately for her favor.
Among them were members of the imperial family and sons of great noble houses.
Those wielding power committed countless injustices both within the Academy and on the streets.
For instance, when they initiated quarrels with commoners and fights broke out, only the commoners faced punishment.
Standing beside Marigold, I could never bring myself to intervene.
Rather... I turned a blind eye far more often than not.
Given that, I had no right to resent Cyril for not informing me sooner.
'I had hoped to ask if he might help me somewhat once I left home. But I cannot continue burdening my uncle.'
Violet felt a twinge of shame at her own former thoughts.
"You don't resemble your father at all, Violet."
"Father says the same thing. That as a bastard, I inherited nothing from him. But now I see it was all a lie."
At the same time, Violet reflected.
'If only I had known sooner, I would have suffered less.'
The days I envied Marigold's new shoes and clothes, mending and patching my worn garments over and over.
The day I fell so gravely ill with fever I thought I might die, and when I gathered courage to reach out my hand for comfort, my stepmother pushed me away.
'I should have understood then that it wasn't because I was a bastard that such treatment was natural—it was simply that those people were cruel. How I wish I had known that then.'
Still, it was a mercy to know it now.
"I will engrave this lesson upon my heart and live well going forward. Thank you truly."
Violet smiled at Cyril, though her nose stung and she fought back tears.
"...Even if I had spread word, no one would have believed me. That you are not a bastard, that your stepmother came from a tavern serving girl—no one would have believed it."
"...."
"It was long ago with no evidence, and even if there were, the dead leave no testimony. There would have been no way unless I exposed it before a grand gathering of nobles."
Violet nodded. It was entirely understandable.
"Uncle, I apologize for arriving unannounced and taking your time."
Cyril's handsome face grew thoughtful for a moment before he nodded.
"Do not visit me like this again. I say it once more—I wish no entanglement with your family. I have been removed from the registry for a long time now."
"Yes... But there is just one more thing I wish to ask. Truly, just this last question."
"...Go ahead."
"Was my mother a good person?"
Cyril lowered his gaze.
"She had a good reputation among the villagers. Even after Geoffrey abandoned Deborah and left, they all helped her in their own small ways. I heard she was a kind woman, one who helped others well."
"...I see. That answer is more than sufficient—truly, more than I deserve."
Violet rose and bowed respectfully.
"I will see you out."
"I'll leave quietly without causing any trouble."
I walked down the corridor.
'I'll remove myself from the family registry.'
Now only one path remained—running away... no, leaving home for good.
Now that I knew the truth, I couldn't live with them anymore. I despised them, hated them.
'Unlike Rosenis, I won't have relatives to help me. Perhaps in this life, I'll have no family at all.'
But I had learned that my mother loved me.
'Regardless, I should leave and find work. I'd prefer mercenary work, but I've heard there are positions that provide lodging too.'
I placed my hand on the door handle.
'I should have said I wanted to send letters later.'
It would be nice to have family I could contact occasionally.
That was the moment I thought this.
'Huh?'
Ding-dong, ding-dong.
Chime.
A crystalline sound rang in my ears.
Another premonition of the future was beginning.
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