A Painting of the Villainess as a Young Lady

Regardless of whether this or that happened though, the annex was peaceful. Since it was physically far from the main mansion, so too was the annex far from the problem of successors and complicated political issues between households.

It’s quite ironic, really. Everett’s wicked woman, who was always at the center of each and every mishap, had found rest and tranquility while isolated all alone.

“I’m bored.”

“Milady? Despite everything, you do know that you mustn’t do the laundry or the dishes, yes?”

Mary put on a stern expression the moment she heard Violet’s languid murmur.

These days, Violet was feeling especially bored.

All the more so because her hand wouldn’t follow what kind of image she had in her mind as she was painting.

Well, it’s right to say that she’d been painting recently, though she had only ever used black paint on the canvas a few times. She began to look for other things to do besides working on the painting.

And those other things included doing the laundry and washing the dishes. Naturally, the employees of the annex became frantic when they saw her doing that.

“I already said I won’t do it, so don’t worry. Eshika made so much fuss about it, and now you’re doing it too.”

“…You really can’t.”

“…I already said I won’t.”

After that, Violet snooped around the annex for a long time, looking for something—anything—else to do besides painting.

In the end, she couldn’t overcome her boredom and thus dropped a bomb.

“Shall we go out?”

“Pardon?”

“Outside. To the nearby town. You know, the town outside the gates.”

“Pardon?”

For a moment, Mary doubted her ears completely, and so she asked back twice. Carrying out his escort knight duties in the background, Zylo and Ozen—the new escort knight—were also surprised.

“Isn’t it okay for me to just go for a little stroll? And the town near the ducal residence isn’t a bad place for that.”

“S-Still…”

Mary weakly tried to reason with Violet. Then, Zylo let out an outburst.

“You cannot!”

“I can’t?”

“Has Your Ladyship forgotten why you are here now?”

“Ah, right.”

“Even if you are allowed to go out for a while, it’s not possible for you to do so with just two accompanying knights!”

What kind of fool would let a detained individual wander freely? These two guards here, who were sent to enforce the probation, still had to do as they’re ordered obediently.

Even if this was really just confinement in name only.

Growing a little sullen, Violet murmured to herself in a melancholy voice.

“…I really can’t?”

“Never, no matter what, by no means at all. But if you truly wish it, Your Ladyship will directly have to ask His Grace the Duke for permission.”

“…Don’t wanna do that though.”

On the other hand, Zylo sincerely answered inwardly.

If Your Ladyship personally tells His Grace about it, His Grace would go ahead and tell you to just come back to the main mansion altogether.

In any case, the outing that Violet—or Yeon Ha-yoon—wanted to go on was an ordinary outing. She didn’t want to go around the streets being lauded as a ducal lady. Even if she was given permission, the places she could go to would still be limited.

She just wanted to go out freely, but she’d be met with only sad news either or.

“…Hmm.”

“No matter the case, Your Ladyship cannot go out. For as long as I keep my eyes open, it will never happen.”

“I got it, I got it.”

When Violet hinted at giving up, it’s only then that Zylo felt relieved.

He escorted her back to her room and didn’t train for the day.

“…I can’t, huh.”

Of course, humans were such virulent creatures whose desires burned deeper when they’re told that they’re not allowed to do what they wanted to do.

* * *

Two days had passed ever since Violet mentioned that she wanted to go out.

In the meantime, the upright knights watched ever so vigilantly with dark shadows under his eyes.

As the annex had turned into a makeshift family, everyone there regarded Violet as a niece, and they all defended her in her wish to go on an outing.

The simple reason behind this was this: people turn strange if they just stay at home all the time.

“Even so, Your Ladyship really cannot.”

“…Your Ladyship does not even have to consider it.”

In response to the knights, Violet merely shrugged.

Then, wouldn’t it be alright to go around the forest that’s surrounding the annex?

But Zylo dutifully replied that the forest was very wide, and so it’s more likely than not for her to encounter dangerous monsters in there.

If it’s so dangerous being close to those monsters, wasn’t it also true that it’s dangerous to stay at the annex since it’s surrounded by the forest? So what’s new?

Violet wanted to ask this, but she just pressed down the urge to do so. The knight in front of her was so fiercely opposed to letting her go out.

After four days of this war of nerves, Violet disappeared from the annex.

“Where is Her Ladyship? Is she not awake yet?” a knight asked.

“Yes, of course, it’s, normal,” the maid answered awkwardly.

“Ah, Sir Knight, would it be alright if you chop some firewood since you’re here? It’ll be good to do it in advance,” another maid suggested.

“…But isn’t it strange that Mary’s nowhere to be seen even though Her Ladyship has overslept?”

“Oh, right! Where has my mind flown off to. I forgot to turn up the fire, so…”

“Sir! Wait a second!”

In short, Violet went out with the help of the employees of the annex.

She escaped right out of the gates while disguised as a maid. The coachman, Georges, was her accomplice.

Zylo interrogated the maids and soon found out how the lady escaped. His heart pounded heavily at the thought of what kind of admonishment he’d be receiving once the duke would find out about this.

In this whole world, what kind of maid has silver hair, purple eyes and such smooth hands?

It couldn’t be helped since she already escaped. He had to secretly bring her back as soon as possible.

If he couldn’t find her, then he would have to confess the truth to the duke so that the chivalric order could lead a search party.

Did the lady even know what kind of trouble she’s stirring up right now!

Well, regardless of all that, Violet was now wearing some borrowed clothes from the kitchen maid Rosie, and thus set off for a trip to town. She was just happy that she had something new to do today.