A Painting of the Villainess as a Young Lady

Not unaware of this fact, Alesia spoke up.

“…Isn’t it the people who don’t act that are the problem?”

“In the end, it’s all in ruins anyway. I can understand what you’re trying to say. However…”

Violet, with her hands now away from her face, smiled arrogantly.

“Lady Leshan, can you say that everything that you do is ‘right’?”

She asked with her eyes.

Even if it’s in the name of justice and fairness, is it right to resort to violence?

Right now, Violet wasn’t discussing the current situation.

Alesia must have experienced similar situations several times, and each time, she acted recklessly.

Did all those problems get resolved just because she acted as she saw fit?

Were the things she deemed right at that time truly right?

Even Violet herself, in the heat of the moment, had been subjected to Alesia’s erratic actions and misunderstandings.

Violet asked Alesia if she was intoxicated with her own version of ‘justice.’

Perhaps it was because of the atmosphere. Alesia didn’t even notice that Violet was talking down to her right now. The atmosphere had become sharp, and Cairn could do nothing but look alternately between the two women.

“Is it so severe that you have to say that…?”

“It applies to you, too, Cairn. Listen carefully. Whatever I do might not be a big deal, but your actions can cause significant problems.”

“What? That’s not fair…!”

“Well, why exactly do you think that?”

The conversation had inadvertently shifted back to the siblings. Cairn furrowed his brow, and Violet just smiled.

Violet knew her place well.

As Violet herself was out of the marriage business, while Cairn would remain within the household as a knight of the family, they were in very different positions.

Responsibility was not so straightforward.

“Um, excuse me.”

Just as Alesia was about to speak again, someone knocked on the door. The maid who had guided Violet earlier approached, looking cautious. Violet smiled and gestured.

“You. Get out.”

“No, why me again…”

“If I tell you to leave, leave.”

“……?”

Cairn was promptly kicked out.contemporary romance

What the maid brought was a separate set of clothing. Violet compared her physique with Alesia’s and shrugged.

“Just in case, I prepared some extra clothes. You seemed uncomfortable in that skirt.”

“……Why.”

“Why— There’s really no need to ask. It’s just a simple gesture of goodwill. If you want to refuse, feel free to do so.”

“……”

Alesia accepted the clothing. Violet, too, left the room, signaling that Alesia should take her time. The maid who had brought the clothes remained inside and assisted Alesia with her attire.

Their heights were similar, so it should be fine. She had also ordered a generous fit around the waist, so it should work out.

Outside the lounge, Cairn was looking down at the floor with a long frown on his face for a while. Was he thinking of something with that head of his? Violet soon averted her gaze from Cairn.

“…It doesn’t matter what you do, apart from what you did to Aileen. But the others… Are you saying that you don’t regret any of what you did at Everett before?”

Cairn suddenly asked. Without shifting her gaze to him, Violet replied.

“Because back then, I had no other choice. There’s nothing for me to regret.”

“No other choice… Why…!”

Cairn began to raise his voice as he looked at Violet, but he quickly swallowed his words. As usual, Violet’s expression remained calm.

“Cairn, you were hailed as a genius from the moment you were born. Whether it was because you were the youngest or because you possessed exceptional talents. However, as the third son, you didn’t receive as much pressure or expectations. As the youngest son with less responsibilities weighing down on you, you’ve been living, basking in praise after showcasing your talents.”

“……”

“So, you will never understand me.”

“……”

“No matter how much I try to explain.”

Cairn asked this question. Violet’s actions were already problematic themselves, tarnishing her reputation and throwing her into the abyss.

Her position had been cast down to the floor and submerged in the depths of that deep lake.

But if one were to dissect it piece by piece, she had not spoken falsely. Half were false accusations, and half were actions she had taken herself. Considering the false accusations she had turned around, it wasn’t impossible to understand why Violet reacted the way she did.

Violet told Cairn that he would never understand her. Just like those words, at that moment, Cairn found it difficult to grasp Violet’s intentions. And, he traced back to when he had become unable to understand her.

Still somewhat stuck in the mindset of a child, Cairn asked one more question.

“…Was it because Mikhail crossed the line?”

Violet did not answer. That was the only question he could ask, even if it was good to a certain extent.

Was it because the line was crossed to the point of no return that she had become impossible to understand?

Then…

“Brother, he… Is it because Brother crossed the line that this all happened?”

If it’s what Mikhail did, Cairn asked.

For some reason, his voice was almost desperate. Cairn loved his family, and Mikhail was a part of that family. It was only understandable for him to feel that way.

Violet closed her eyes in silence.

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