A Painting of the Villainess as a Young Lady

“What are you doing here?”

“Oh, huh?”

The unexpected visitor was startled when Violet spoke. Looking around, he soon bowed his head and greeted her as usual.

“I was just looking around.”

The clear moonlight shattered on his jet-black hair.

Aldin, who was invited to the Blaise estate solely because he was the only one who had defeated the prodigy, was impeccably dressed even though it was nighttime.

Violet’s gaze followed Aldin’s into the garden.

The garden, with its neatly trimmed grass and trees, looked pleasing.

“Congratulations on your engagement.”

“…Cough.”

Violet, who had been aimlessly looking around the garden, choked and coughed at Aldin’s sudden remark.

Seeing her coughing breathlessly, Aldin hurried over, panicked, and flailed his hands in confusion.

Once Violet managed to calm down, she spoke with a mix of embarrassment and annoyance.

“Engagement? What engagement?”

“I heard you were… engaged to His Highness the Crown Prince.”

“Do you seriously believe that nonsense?”

“Huh?”

When Violet expressed her shock at the news of her engagement spreading without her knowledge, Aldin was the one who looked surprised this time.

“Is it a rumor…?”

“Of course! If it were truly an engagement with His Highness, it would have been officially announced rather than spread as a rumor!”

“Oh…”

After a short sigh, Violet finally calmed down and let out a deep breath.

“His Highness has summoned me a few times. It seems those encounters were misconstrued and spread around.”

“I see…”

Of course, she had received a confession, but Violet left that part out and maintained a composed expression.

“Could it be that you’ve been avoiding me because of this?”

“…I thought it might be unpleasant for you.”

“Even if I were actually engaged, there’s no reason for me to be unpleasant towards you.”

“……”

Aldin remained silent, avoiding her probing question.

Violet, narrowing her eyes and observing him, suddenly asked,

“Do you like me?”

It was a question thrown into the atmosphere, half-joking and impulsive, but the answer didn’t come for a long time.

Sensing something odd, Violet looked up at Aldin. Even in the dark night, she could see his face turning bright red.

“Well, I… I mean…”

He was excessively flustered. Violet, in turn, started to feel embarrassed.

Aldin opened and closed his mouth several times, choosing his words carefully. Violet felt a bead of cold sweat trickling down her back.

“…Yes.”

The eventual answer was plain. Although his face had returned to its usual color, his ears remained red.

His purple eyes, which resembled Violet’s, still couldn’t meet hers, but his reaction was enough to confirm it.

Hearing his clear answer, Violet was stunned. Seeing her reaction, Aldin spoke slowly.

“Even so, I always strive to ensure this feeling doesn’t become a burden to you. …I don’t wish for anything else. I just want you to be happy…”

“Why do you like me?”

“Excuse me?”

“Do you have any reason to like me?”

“……”

Aldin was silent for a moment in response to Violet’s bewildered question. The sound of nighttime insects blended with the still moonlight.

The cold night air carried a pleasant grassy scent, but Violet had no time to notice such things.

Aldin’s purple eyes slowly turned towards her. Looking directly into her eyes, he smiled brightly.

“I’m not sure if you remember, but… your words saved my life.”

“……”

Violet had thought it unlikely that his admiration was based on her appearance, but his answer was unexpected.

And that clear smile was one he had never shown before.

Had they met before? What had she said to him? Violet’s mind raced, aware that her past personality wasn’t always pleasant.

As she pondered whether she had made a mistake, Aldin knelt on one knee.

“Sir?”

Violet was startled and called out to Aldin, but he remained still.

“I understand that this sudden confession might be disconcerting for you. I also have no intention of forcing my feelings upon you.”

Though Violet was the one who asked, Aldin ended up apologizing. Unable to predict his actions, Violet called out to him a few more times, but instead of answering, he spoke in a calm voice.

“Instead, would you accept my pledge as a knight?”

“…Ah.”

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Placing his sword on the ground, his words were succinct.

Only then did Violet understand what he wanted to do, and she sighed briefly.

A pledge of loyalty to a lord or lady.

A declaration of honor to protect her for life.

If she accepted this vow, Aldin would forever strive to protect Violet.

As if he hadn’t already.

“……”

“……”

A short bout of silence followed. The steadfast knight showed no signs of anxiety, quietly bowing his head.

Violet looked down at him.

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