Chapter 84
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Violet's First Words - Episode 84
The next day, I reported for duty at the Shatra Holy Knight Order.
The moment I arrived, Rota came to eagerly show me around the spaces I could use. She mentioned that my uniform would arrive soon.
"Ah, I'll have someone I know make the uniform. Just send me the specifications. They're a skilled tailor and can replicate it perfectly."
"That's fine, but why go through the trouble?"
Rota asked.
"I've decided that only one person will make the clothes I wear publicly. Will that be a problem?"
"Not at all! Please do whatever you wish."
Rota smiled good-naturedly and continued speaking.
"Since it's your first day, there shouldn't be much work for you. Oh, and the press will be making a major announcement about you joining the Order. Is that alright with you?"
"Of course it is."
I replied. Then I stopped in my tracks.
At the far end of the garden, beneath the shade of a large tree.
Ash and Bella stood beneath that towering tree.
The two of them whispered to each other while gazing intently. Ash's hand rested on Bella's shoulder, and she feigned accident as she raised her hand, her fingertips brushing against his.
Those fingertips felt so tender that I swallowed dryly.
"Since both are unmarried, the atmosphere could naturally drift that way. But that doesn't necessarily mean they're in any particular relationship."
Though it wasn't a hot day, beads of sweat had formed on Rota's brow.
She wiped her forehead with a handkerchief while nervously gauging my reaction.
"Let's head back inside. The atmosphere doesn't seem like we should intrude."
I answered quietly. Rota quickly guided me into the building.
"Today's schedule consists only of free practice. Otherwise, feel free to make yourself comfortable here. There's a masseuse waiting upstairs, and if you need anything, just ask the servants."
"The facilities and benefits are incredible. Is there another job in the world this good?"
I gazed at Rota intently, probing her with the question.
"Only the chosen few can enter this place. Since they are knights worthy of respect, this level of treatment is only natural."
Rota spoke very respectfully.
Soon a young girl approached me, holding a beverage respectfully in her hands.
"Who is this child?"
I asked, looking at the girl. She was far too young to be working.
"Ah, this child's name is Asil."
According to Rota, Asil was a child abandoned in front of the Order's main gate several years ago.
People apparently thought it would be easy to take the child to the Temple Orphanage, since it was a Holy Knight Order.
"However, the Temple Orphanage that had taken Asil in closed down less than two years later. Asil returned here and now handles small tasks around the Order. We're aware she's not of working age. But we thought it better for her to work and study here than to go to another orphanage. The former Knight Commander decided to have her trained to become a priestess eventually."
I examined Asil carefully.
'Her complexion is healthy, so her nutrition is good. Her nails are clean too. She's shy but doesn't seem afraid of people.'
Overall, Asil was receiving decent treatment.
"Thank you, Asil. You're a good girl."
Violet said.
"You're welcome. I... and thank you for saving the Capital!"
Asil spoke softly.
Rota carefully studied Violet's expression, worried that she might find Asil bothersome.
"I'm glad to hear you say that."
When Violet responded, Rota felt relieved.
"Asil does work like washing and ironing the knights' shirts and serving beverages. She's such a sincere child that many of the knights have grown fond of her."
"I see."
"It's a busy season now, so most of the knights are away on assignments... but when word spread that you were joining us, Asil had high hopes. After all, you're already quite famous throughout the Capital."
Looking at the situation alone, the Shatra Holy Knight Order seemed like a gathering of truly admirable people.
Enough to overlook the behavior of Juran and Kyle from yesterday.
"Asil, if you ever have any difficulties, tell me anytime."
Violet met Asil's eyes and spoke gently.
"Yes, Lady Violet."
Asil nodded happily.
* * *
"Did I make a mistake?"
Bludin muttered to himself while lounging in his room in broad daylight.
There had been all manner of incidents at the Camelaine House lately. Father, who had been under investigation at the Imperial Palace, had been pardoned.
The reason was simple: the existence of the Ravens Grand Duke.
The Imperial Family, which had wielded absolute power, now had to contend with the Ravens Grand Duke, Ash.
So they quickly cleared Marlon's suspicions.
Marlon was a relative of Anne, the Empress. Therefore, he was classified as a member of the Emperor's faction.
Of course, since it was a pardon in name only, public opinion was harsh. Everyone cursed the Camelaine House.
But what mattered to Bludin now was something else entirely.
For days, Bludin had read and reread the letter of engagement dissolution that Violet had sent.
"Bludin."
"Ah, Father."
Bludin jumped to his feet. Father had entered the room without him noticing.
"What are you looking at? Don't tell me you're reading articles about Violet again, that wretched girl?"
"Father, I never thought... that Violet..."
"That she was a genius?"
"It's just... Violet has changed so much from what I imagined..."
Honestly, I never thought Violet would become this beautiful.
The day of the Crown Prince's ball.
Violet, dressed elegantly, appeared at the ball.
That day, Bludin could only stare at Violet in bewilderment.
She shimmered among the crowd, her beauty absolutely radiant.
To be honest, I couldn't even understand why my past self had been drawn to Marigold.
Marigold was now admitted to a shabby mental hospital on the outskirts of the Capital.
Since her body showed no improvement despite treatment, Geoffrey had sent her there to at least treat her mind.
Marigold had pleaded so desperately through letters that I'd visited her once to pay my respects.
But that grotesque, monstrous appearance! I was utterly repulsed.
After that day, Bludin could think of nothing but Violet.
'I almost had an extraordinary woman like Violet in my grasp, yet I let her slip away.'
The thought that Ash had stolen her from me drove him to distraction.
"You really are a foolish boy. Don't you understand yet? Why I tried to arrange your marriage to someone as trivial as Violet?"
"Well, it was because Violet's father is wealthy, wasn't it? But there are many rich people in the Capital, so I've always wondered why you specifically arranged an engagement with Violet, who is a bastard."
"I already knew—that girl possessed extraordinary talent."
"...You knew?"
"Geoffrey told me that special bloodline flows through her maternal side. The bloodline of warriors, those who command mana freely."
The talent to command mana.
A constitution capable of becoming a Barrier Master or a Sword Expert of the highest caliber.
Such qualities weren't necessarily inherited through bloodline alone.
But if an ancestor possessed exceptional talent, the probability of descendants manifesting the same talent was extraordinarily high.
Even Marlon hadn't believed it at first.
But when he witnessed Violet constructing mana circuits at such a young age, he changed his mind.
"Moreover, the Everdin Family was originally a Barrier Master family, or so I've heard. So Violet's bloodline is certainly distinguished."
"Then why not Marigold instead?"
"Marigold is a Spirit Mage, isn't she? I desired the bloodline of a knight family."
"But...Violet was trash-tier throughout her entire time at the Academy."
"Geoffrey and I believed the talent existed but simply hadn't manifested. It's not strange for a girl's knight abilities not to awaken. But Violet was different from other children from her earliest years."
Violet had passed the notoriously difficult Academy Knight Department entrance examination on her first attempt. With the mana circuit construction ability that even Marlon had admired.
In any case, she did possess talent.
"So I thought if you married Violet and had children, surely a child with knight talent would be born."
It didn't matter that Violet was trash-tier. That bloodline contained extraordinary talent within it.
Marlon Camelaine had been a fairly competent swordsman in his youth.
But he lacked the talent to command mana. The quantity of mana inherent in his body was insufficient. Because of this, he could never rise beyond an intermediate Sword Expert.
Marlon's rise to his current position was purely due to his skill at power struggles—his ability to navigate political connections—rather than his swordsmanship.
Yet his inferiority complex never faded, even as he climbed higher.
So he tried to fulfill that complex through his son Bludin, but unfortunately, Bludin's talent was abysmal. It was far inferior even to Marlon's own abilities in his youth.
If his son wouldn't suffice, Marlon was determined to achieve his dream through his grandson.
"Father...hearing this now, Violet is perfect for me and for our house! Did I really let such a woman slip away?"
Bludin spoke in excitement.
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