A Painting of the Villainess as a Young Lady

“Talking it out, huh.”

“It seems better than just being angry.”

Alesia Leshan never intended to meddle in others’ family matters.

Well, that was what she intended. But whether it was the shock of what she saw or the awkwardness, Alesia’s mouth spoke on its own.

“I don’t know how to explain. I just… dislike Cairn. There was a time I disliked everyone. Trying to talk it out now…”

Violet laughed, a self-deprecating laugh.

Of course, it’s possible to resolve it through conversation. You can’t bury it forever.

But she was human, and so were the people she needed to talk to.

What if she did decide to be open about her feelings, to lay down her heart—what if all that would be denied? What if they’d even go as far as to continue blaming Violet for everything? Or, what if they’d start complaining about their own hardships?

Violet wasn’t ready to handle such possibilities.

Just like earlier, Roen had the decency not to cross a line, but Cairn had no such boundaries.

Right now, Violet’s discomfort with Cairn wasn’t because he wasn’t showing hostility, but because she hadn’t warmed up to him.

“It’s just… It’s difficult.”

How could years of resentment and sorrow be resolved in a short time?

Alesia, unaware of the details, could only stay silent.

Then, suddenly, a small, thin dagger came flying.

“?!”

Harming someone during the hunting competition was a serious crime, even if the wielder of the flying weapon had mistaken a person for an animal.

“Who goes there!”

Alesia was skilled. She deflected the weapon and took a defensive stance, as—shiiiing—the blade sharply whistled throughthe leaves.

The attack was too intense to be a mistake, but the owner of that killing intent didn’t seem to want to reveal themselves.

“Reveal yourself now or…!”

But before Alesia could finish her warning, something attacked Violet.

Alesia had keen senses, but as they were surrounded by an onslaught of murderous intent, she spun around too late to intervene.

“Ducal Lady…!”

A masked figure wielding a short dagger made a swift move, leaving a trail in the air.

And, at the same time as it hit its mark, Violet fell.

In her previous spot now stood Cairn.

“Ducal Lord?”

“Why are you here…”

“This is no time for questions, you idiot! There are at least seven of them. Get up quickly!”

Drawing his sword from the sheath, the wounded third son of House Everett took up his stance.

* * *

Cairn P. Everett is human.

Many saw his straightforward nature and thought he was as tough as iron, but he was human, capable of feeling pain and suffering.

In his view, Violet was always so difficult, always making a fuss.

He made mistakes and had his moments of misunderstanding—because he’s human. However, even when he’d apologize, she wouldn’t accept it.

He didn’t believe that everything was Violet’s fault. He just thought if his sister had acted properly, none of this would have escalated.

Problems were problems, and what’s wrong was wrong. He knew it was wrong to draw his sword against his sister so often, which was why he apologized… Only to be rejected outright.

Violet, Roen, and Aldin all told him he was wrong. Such an apology might as well not be given at all.

But what exactly was the problem?

Should he just pretend that nothing happened?

Disregarding their advice, Cairn, true to his impulsive nature, acted as he pleased.

He asked Aldin, who said his apologies lacked consideration. But Cairn didn’t care if his seemingly thoughtless apologies were perceived as violence.

Yet deep down, he resented being constantly pushed away, rejected, and ignored.

‘I’m trying so hard. Why am I the only one being ignored?’

It was a childish thought, but it was one that he didn’t express, knowing it would only invite scorn.

Still, he hoped things would change someday. Just as the relationship between Violet and Roen wasn’t completely indifferent, he thought perhaps his relationship with Violet might also improve.

But then…

“So, you also get hurt over something like this. You.”

Violet’s expression earlier was nothing but icy.

He vaguely sensed something was amiss but couldn’t pinpoint what exactly it was—until that moment.

Cairn, frozen solid from the realization, felt ridiculous.

For the first time, he somewhat understood his sister.

He wanted to cry out in frustration, wanted to ask why she was so sensitive. But at the same time, he understood precisely the anger she harbored.

If an apology could have solved it, it would have been resolved long ago.

Perhaps he had been as dismissive to Violet as she was now to him.

With this faint understanding, Cairn realized why even Roen hadn’t been fully accepted either.

Even when he was told to leave, he just stood there, unable to act.

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