A Painting of the Villainess as a Young Lady

“You’re quite the natural at pretending to be close to me,” Violet commented.

“It’s one step towards truly becoming close to one another. Besides, I really am worried about you.”

“Ah, sure…”

Roen’s endeavor at pretending to be close was a great burden.

How could she possibly accept this easily? It hadn’t been long since he had constantly ignored her and deceived her, yet now, all of a sudden, he was showing her such affection through these acts.

Memories of the past were deeply engraved on her skin. Despite Roen’s attempts at being close to her, Violet only felt more awkward with him because of how unfamiliar it all was.

As the air in the drawing room was rid of its previous tension, the maids could finally breathe freely.

Violet clicked her tongue once again.

“By the way, Violet. What do you think of Rajaden, His Highness the Crown Prince?”

“……?”

The question Roen had for Violet was so left field. Looking at Roen, Violet tried to guess what kind of intentions he had behind that query.

However, Roen’s expression was so serious that Violet found herself answering him without realizing it.

“He is the man who will shape the empire’s future.”

“Oh? Then, are you interested in him in any way?”

“What a dreadful thing to say.”

“I knew it, you’re not, right? That’s a relief.”

Once again, Violet started doubting Roen as she heard his somewhat vague answer.

Facing each other calmly, this pair of brother and sister were blatantly casting aside the future sun of the empire who would lead the land into tomorrow.

“Why do you ask all of a sudden?”

“Ah. I heard that the imperial family would like to send a formal proposal to you. I’m not quite sure whether it’s the imperial family as a whole who wants to take you in, or if it’s just the personal wish of the crown prince.”

“Excuse me?”

“Of course, I turned the proposal down, but—”

“Excuse me?”

Starting from when he mentioned that it might either be the imperial family or the crown prince who wanted her, the smile on Roen’s lips became sharper.

Violet, on the other hand, was still processing the bomb that he had just unleashed. She cut him off mid-sentence.

“So you’re saying, the imperial family… No, the crown prince wants me to be his consort?”

“I think so? Just considering the fact that he summoned me there separately, it seems like you’ve already been considered as a candidate for his bride.”

“…Why?”

“What about?”

“No, I just don’t understand. What’s there to gain from taking me in as the crown prince’s consort?”

Violet’s question was reasonable. But at the same time, there was an obvious answer to that.

Roen smiled at Violet.

“Sometimes, I get sad whenever I see just how much you’ve changed. For you to ask such a question, what exactly are you lacking?”

“…Young Lord.”

“Right, to put it simply, it’s a matter of politics. It’s almost certain that the current crown prince will be ascending the throne.”

“……”

“However, he has many enemies. No, to be more precise, those in the aristocratic faction will constantly keep him in check, and they might somehow try to undermine him. And it’s enough that the temple keeps him in check as well, so—”

“And what does that have to do with proposing to me?”

“Because you’re an Everett, Violet S. Everett. And from two generations ago, our line of descent received the blood of the imperial family. Besides that, the power and influence of our household cannot be looked down upon. Even the household from which our mother came from—”

“Cut it short and explain it directly. I’m not asking you because I’m completely blind of my own circumstances. I’m just asking, why me.”

Roen gave completely political reasons.

However, Violet was asking why the crown prince wanted to marry the ‘villainess’ who was not well-received by the public.

No matter how powerful House Everett was, the rumors would continue to follow her for as long as she’s still stigmatized as a villainess.

“…Well, the reason.”

“I don’t understand.”

“I’m honestly not sure, but perhaps it’s because he’s expecting that people won’t be able to touch you because of the rumors of how vicious you are. If not that, maybe he’s thinking that you’ve created this façade of a villainess and that you’re not actually one.”

“……”

“That aside, both the duke’s heir and the duke himself are on your side. And you’ve sufficiently learned everything about Everett, to the extent that there would be no problem if you’re to be named as the duke’s heir instead of me.”

Even as there was not a single person on her side, Violet had proven that she could rise to the top with her skill alone.

The crown prince wanted a consort who had both power and skill.

Aileen was lovely, but unbearably weak. The throne of an empress could not be kept by someone who had merely ‘goodness’.

“Can’t you just refuse?”

“I can’t do anything that you don’t agree with.”

“If that’s the case, then just refuse, even if they send a formal proposal letter. I don’t want it.”

As if what popped out of Violet’s lips was the answer he’d been wanting to hear all this time, Roen beamed.

“Haha. As expected, you don’t like that snake, right?”

“……?”

“Disgusting scoundrel, that guy. He’s the reason I don’t like people whose intentions can’t easily be read.”

“……”

One snake was speaking ill of another snake.

Violet’s eyes narrowed further. However, Roen didn’t notice this.

“Listen, Violet. You won’t believe what I heard from that guy today!”

Regardless of her reaction though, Roen was obviously in high spirits as he told his younger sister about the conversation he had with the crown prince earlier today in detail.

There was a trace of sadness in his expression as he told the story.

But Violet wasn’t fooled.

As a human being who was good at hiding his true emotions like a snake, Roen’s tone of voice and facial expression must be intentional.

So, she smiled kindly.

“Young Lord, you’re disgusting.”