A Painting of the Villainess as a Young Lady

Chapter 251

“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...”

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.”

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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