* * *

Confined to the annex wasn’t just Violet alone.

Even if it was a small, old building, there was still a need for caretakers to be there, especially since she was a ducal lady who would need professional attendants, and so there was bound to be about eleven other people staying at the annex along with her. The duke was adamant about this.

As a matter of fact, those people shuddered at the thought of serving the depraved, wicked noble lady. And the annex itself was quite far from the main mansion, so in a way, it was as if they had been demoted.

Violet briefly sympathized with the people who were forced to work in the old annex building because of her.

“…It’s wider than I thought though.”

The building where Violet would be living from now on was an old structure with a simple design, if you compared it to the duke’s magnificent fortress. Even so, in Yeon Ha-yoon’s eyes, this was quite nice.

She liked how quiet this old annex was compared to the main mansion, to the point that she could even hear the flowing breaths of other people behind her.

The composition of those eleven other people were as follows:

A general custodian, who would be managing the whole building.

Four maids, who would be in charge of cleaning and general upkeep.

One cook, who’d be making meals in the kitchen, along with two kitchen maids.

One stableman, who’d oversee the stable’s supplies and manage the horses and carriages.

One gardener for the garden.

And, one regular maid, who would be serving Violet directly at her side.

A total of twelve people, counting Violet as well, would now be living at this small annex for the foreseeable future. Of course, the space inside the building couldn’t be small enough that cleaning wouldn’t be a chore, so Violet was actually perfectly satisfied.

She was given no high-ranking handmaids or attendants. The duke had been disinclined about this, as it was the bare minimum that Violet should have been given, but in the end, confinement was confinement. Therefore, all the employees she had been given were all made up of commoners.

In a way, this could be considered as one’s aristocratic life coming to an end.

Considering how she had been living a life in noble splendor until now, all the while complaining of the smallest of discomforts whenever she had been attended to by ‘idiotic commoners’, this measure—to give her commoner servants instead—was somewhat to provoke her into changing her mind about her self-imprisonment.

Of course, however, Violet had no intention at all of returning to her status as a ducal lady. Entering the narrow room that had been assigned to her, she uttered no complaints and even stretched out, relaxed.

She asked for art supplies from the duke, and it took a little while until they’d arrive. While waiting, she could think of this time as a break for her, so she should rest well enough.

It’s only obvious that she had no plans of living the same ferocious life that she had before.

It’s true that Yeon Ha-yoon sympathized with Violet, but she would not deny that Violet had done many misdeeds.

She could go ahead and say that Violet had been foolish to have done all that, but Ha-yoon also understood why Violet had to live like that.

Because her life had driven her into a corner and made her act the way she did.

Still.

In the end, evil was evil.

Rolling over the hard, stiff bed, Violet laughed as though she had gone mad.

Ah, as long as she wouldn’t see those people, then she wouldn’t get tired of living like this!

* * *

Unfortunately, the peace that Violet achieved through her self-imprisonment did not last long. Not even twenty-four hours had passed since the first day.

“Eldest Young Master! Eldest Young Master!”

It was due to the ruckus that woke her up the next morning.

“Call Violet out right now.”

“A notice of your arrival hadn’t been sent beforehand… Milady hasn’t woken up ye—”

“Is there a place in my own home that I can’t enter? Don’t make me laugh. I won’t leave until she comes out. Say that to her.”

At Mikhail’s abrupt attack, Violet couldn’t help but tousle her hair impatiently.

Though it had been a long time since the sun rose from the horizon, Violet had just been sleeping this entire time. Even the maid, who was supposed to be attending to her, couldn’t enter the room.

It’s only natural that she wouldn’t be happy to see an uninvited visitor.

“First thing in the morning, seriously…”

Well, it’s going to be lunch time soon, so what she said wasn’t actually very accurate.

Inevitably, however, Violet was set into motion. She only did the bare minimum—put a robe over her nightgown, minimally patted her hair down.

Violet’s newcomer maid was at a loss on what to do in front of the door. Antsy as she stomped her feet, she quickly followed her when Violet went out.

“I didn’t know that you liked me this much. You’ve even come to visit me so early in the morning.”

“Ha, so is this still an early hour to the likes of you?”

“Yeees. I just got out of bed, so of course it’s early for me. Anyway, there doesn’t seem to be smoke coming out of anywhere, but what’s going on that you’ve come here?”

“Are you asking me because you really don’t know?”

When Mikhail snapped back, Violet fiddled with her fingertips. The texture of the robe over the nightgown felt nice.

“…I’m already at this age, too. It is rude to come for a visit without sending prior notice. I would be much obliged if you could refrain from doing so again, Eldest Brother.”

“What the hell are you up to! What are you going to do to Aileen this time?”

How could a person be so consistent? Violet didn’t know whether to call him thickheaded or just simply honest to a fault.

There was a time that she had looked up to him.

Violet smiled nonchalantly at Mikhail, who had suddenly raised his voice.

If she gave the wrong answer here, she might very well get slapped across the cheek.