Chapter 70
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Violet's First Words - Episode 70
Two days later, I sat at the breakfast table reading the newspaper.
The headline was the news of Dean Herbert's dismissal. Below it was the Academy's official statement regarding the proxy assignment incident involving me and Marigold.
They apologized for failing to detect the misconduct beforehand and promised such incidents would never occur again.
Professor Sierra Muen, the instigator, was permanently dismissed and, exceptionally, placed on the Academy's blacklist herself.
"The very professor who tried to frame you ends up on the Academy's blacklist. A fitting conclusion. She'll never set foot in academia again."
Cyril seemed quite satisfied.
"She's reaping what she sowed."
"The next part is rather amusing too. The dismissed Dean Herbert Gallerville was attacked by angry student protesters on his final day leaving the Academy, pelted with rotten tomatoes until he was covered in filth, and left the Academy looking like a beggar. Truly a pathetic end...."
That part was something I had already read.
And apparently, Herbert would face investigation for the Academy's unfair grading practices over the years.
"Should I clip this article?"
I said.
"Framing it and hanging it on the wall wouldn't be excessive."
Cyril replied. We both chuckled simultaneously.
"It seems many people were enduring the Academy's unfair practices."
I said.
"When you said you'd go confront them directly, I wondered what you were thinking. You handled it well. At least you won't be someone who just takes mistreatment lying down."
Cyril seemed satisfied above all that I had grown into someone who speaks her mind. He folded the newspaper and crossed his legs.
"Our Academy will henceforth encourage transparent competition befitting our role as an excellent educational institution—this statement is also good. The new board seems inclined toward reasonably fair management, unlike before."
I read the rest of the newspaper and smiled slightly.
"Speaking of the board, that fellow Ash has apparently secured a seat on the Academy Board of Directors this time."
I regretted mentioning it immediately.
Cyril still didn't particularly like Ash.
"...Yes."
"I'm somewhat suspicious. You didn't have anything to do with that, did you?"
"Of course not. Besides, I heard that Ash's father held that Board of Directors seat. I didn't know board positions were hereditary, though."
Cyril furrowed his brow.
"Be careful. He's no ordinary person. Once you get entangled with that type, you won't easily escape."
I quietly sipped my tea.
"Cyril, the carriage has arrived."
Cyril nodded.
"This job is brief. About two days."
"Yes, Uncle."
"Don't cause trouble. Don't associate with Ash without my permission."
"Yes."
I nodded.
I spent that day in quiet solitude.
As the morning drew to a close, someone rang the doorbell.
"I'll get it, Olive."
When I opened the front door, there stood Marin with an irritated expression on her face.
"Violet, how could you do this to me?"
Marin was carrying an armful of clothes, and behind her stood a man who appeared to be a coachman, holding a large box that seemed to contain more garments.
"Marin? It's been so long. I'm sorry I haven't been in touch, but what are you carrying?"
The coachman helped Marin transfer the clothes and then quietly disappeared.
Marin then crossed her arms and looked at me.
"I thought you understood our implicit agreement. I make you beautiful, and you maintain that beauty."
"There was such an agreement?"
"There was! You agreed to it too, didn't you?"
"So these details need to be negotiated to become friends with Marin? I didn't know that."
Having never had a friend before, I found that making friends was surprisingly difficult.
I also felt sorry for troubling Marin through my ignorance.
But thinking about it, receiving clothes from Marin had been beneficial to me as well. Everything she gave me was either cute or beautiful.
"I'll respect that now, Marin. Because we're friends."
Marin fell silent for a moment. Then she spoke hesitantly.
"So we are friends, right?"
"Weren't we?"
"No! We are friends! Though who knows what might change later."
"What could change later?"
"You never know. Your title might change. Anyone's status can change through marriage."
"For whatever reason, I have no marriage plans."
Marin looked both disappointed and pleased.
"Fine, good. I understand for now."
"Marin, do you perhaps have no friends?"
"...I don't, but I don't need them. I don't waste time on unnecessary things."
It was certainly a statement that suggested she had no friends whatsoever.
"I have plenty of time but no friends."
At my words, Marin seemed terribly embarrassed for a moment, then blurted out.
"Tell me one secret."
"Huh?"
"If we're friends, you can confide in me. I won't tell Ash. Let's exchange secrets."
I fell into deep thought for a moment. I had lived such a transparent life. In fact, I had already confessed my entire past to Marin before.
The only recent matter was something concerning Ash.
"I confessed to Ash not long ago that I had feelings for him. But I decided to sort things out, and I suggested we remain friends until I can organize my emotions."
"Really? Wow, unbelievable. So that's why Ash has been acting strange lately. I knew it...."
Marin began to murmur to herself.
"Ash? What's strange about him?"
"He seems oddly energetic, but also kind of angry about something. More than anything—"
Marin covered her own mouth. I looked at her.
"Didn't we agree to exchange secrets, Marin?"
"My secrets! I need to exchange my own secrets. Anything about Ash is off the table."
"Ah."
She had a point. There was no benefit in discussing someone who wasn't present.
"Anyway, where's your room? Do you have a dressing room?"
"I do, though I haven't been using it. My room is on the second floor."
The room Cyril Uncle had prepared for me was spacious and came with a small powder room and dressing room attached.
Since I didn't have many possessions, using the wardrobe in one corner of the room was sufficient.
"Come on in. We need to move these."
Marin carried the clothes she'd brought in her arms, struggling as she transferred them one by one.
I found myself picking up clothes alongside Marin before I knew it.
Then Marin entered the dressing room and began hanging the clothes up skillfully.
"I went along with it since Marin was moving them, but what exactly is all this?"
"That's my question! I worked so hard to polish you up and make you into a beautiful swan! And now you're going back to your old style of dress!"
"Did you... follow me around?"
"No, your every move gets printed in the newspapers! With portraits sketched on the spot and cameras everywhere. That shirt and skirt outfit! And you even sent back the clothes I gave you!"
"When I asked Cyril Uncle, he said you and Ash didn't use the checks. So how could you just accept them for free?"
"It's not free! Every designer has a muse, you know. A living goddess to promote my clothes. You're becoming quite famous, and you're the muse I've captured."
Now that I thought about it, Marigold had been the same when she appeared in magazines.
She'd loudly praised the designer who made her clothes. So that's what it was.
'So our agreement was actually a designer and muse contract?'
I was flustered.
"But now I'm with Ash...."
"I know you'd even pretend to die if Ash asked you to. But that's about loyalty between lord and servant, not my dreams. I have the right to dress the person I want in my clothes."
"...What exactly does being a muse entail?"
"How have you been listening to me this whole time? Just look beautiful and walk around wherever I tell you to. Then when people ask who made the dress—"
"You say it's me, right? Then I have one question: I don't even know your last name, Marin."
Marin nodded at my words.
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org