A Painting of the Villainess as a Young Lady

Since Cairn had acted without any hesitation, that only meant that he didn’t believe Violet at all.

Roen had already been informed by an attendant of what went on in the townhouse while he was gone. He held back a sigh that was about to slip through his lips.

It wasn’t for no reason that Cairn wasn’t aiming for the position of the duke’s heir.

“Fine. I’m sure things have already been explained to you, but I have a feeling you need an additional explanation.”

“Ah, sure, yeah. I do need an explanation. Father only gave me a pile of documents that were too difficult to read, and while Sister is the person directly involved, she explained it like dogshit.”

“Language.”

“There’s no one else besides us anyway?”

Cairn, the source of Roen’s stress at this moment, laughed out loud. Roen had a hunch that Cairn would never be accepted by Violet.

* * *

Since then, as Roen explained things thoroughly, Cairn’s simmering anger slowly grew and grew.

Roen’s explanation was strongly self-reflective. He spoke calmly, but his eyes were filled with shame.

“You did that, yet you’re still the older brother here? Hah. Seriously, this family…”

“According to the report, you drew your sword and pointed it at Violet on several occasions. You even shoved her… You don’t have the right to say anything.”

“That’s because she hit Aileen first!”

“……”

Cairn’s excuse once again made Roen narrow his eyes. Still, Cairn wasn’t blind to his own wrongdoings. He sat down calmly.

Then, as Roen’s explanation was complete, Cairn ground his teeth audibly.

“For the empire’s Everett Duchy to have been played in the hands of that damn head maid, seriously…”

“It’s difficult to say that it’s surprising. The signs were all there. Anyway, Cairn, if you really want to apologize, you’d better straighten up your attitude.”

“Hah. Even if you’re not cursing me out, just shut it! So, did you slash open that head maid’s throat?”

“Language.”

In any case, Roen had already dealt with the head maid. He sneered.

The brothers chatted all night.

* * *

“Didn’t I tell you to piss off?”

“Father gave me permission to be here though, so what say do you have about it, Sister?”

“……”

The morning after their fateful meal yesterday was filled to the brim with tension. Having no choice but to take upon the guilty conscience of a sinner, Roen killed his presence as much as possible.

“Ha. No, wait, that’s not what I wanted to say.”

“……”

“But yeah, I’m sorry! My words are completely sincere, so what gives! Brother’s also bending over backwards to get your forgiveness, so why can’t I do it too?”

“……”

As her younger brother continued to spout nonsense, Violet remained silent. Cairn scratched his head a few times and picked up the gauntlet in front of him to moisten his throat.

“…I’ve realized that I was wrong. I mean, um… At least give me a chance. Isn’t it too much to say that I can never appear in front of you again?”

Clatter. As Violet had only been eating quietly while ignoring Cairn’s pleas, she set down her fork. Hearing the stark sound, Roen flinched.

“Cairn.”

“…Y-Yeah?”

“Didn’t you say the same thing before? ‘Don’t ever show yourself in front of me again. Not in front of Aileen either. Unless you’re a brainless schmuck, you’ll understand, won’t you?’ That’s what you told me.”

“Did I?”

“Let me give you another example then. The first time you pulled out a sword and pointed it at my neck, it was because I poured cold water at Aileen and left her outside for two hours in the middle of winter.”

“Yeah, I guess so.”

“It’s not as if I’m making excuses for my actions, but yes, I had slapped Aileen across the face because she was breaching proper etiquette, but you pulled out your sword and pointed it at me once again. I clearly said that it was Aileen who crossed me first, but you were utterly unyielding.”

“……”

Cairn fell silent.

Wearing a thin smile, Roen scooted away from Cairn as far as he could. On the other hand, the employees carried on with their duties, expressionless as always.

“Tell me, what did you say each and every time?”

“Um, I…”

As Violet’s interrogation continued, Cairn’s voice became smaller and smaller.

“’I don’t want to look at your face. At the very least, let me be comfortable, will you?’”

“…I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“……”

“You keep apologizing, but you don’t seem to have a clue as to why you’re spouting such a thing. You don’t even know what you’re sorry about.”

“……”

“Let me ask you again. What exactly are you apologizing to me about?”

“……”

“Even if you come to realize what your wrongdoings are, will the past change?”

As Violet asked, Cairn could not answer.

“Sure, like you said, I can at least give you a chance. But if I don’t, people will look at me and deem me to be ‘a villainess who can’t even accept someone’s sincere apologies’.”

“Sister, I—”

“Do as you please. You won’t listen to whatever I have to say anyway.”

Violet rose from her seat. Despite having dropped truth bombs one after another, she left without regard to those who remained, and she walked out of the dining hall with only Mary.

“Cairn.”

“…Uuurgh.”