It was a sketchbook filled with drawings that gave off a stiff, amateur impression.

It’s impossible for Violet to consider them good. Like how it would be if you don’t like someone— just hearing their voice was bound to grate on your nerves.

Violet could grasp Aileen’s true intentions. As soon as she received the sketchbook, a smirk found its way on her lips.

For as long as Aileen had been using the same old tactics—ever since they were children, in fact—it’s unlikely that Aileen would stray that far from the same pattern now.

‘I wonder. Will she finally leave if I throw tea on that face?’

Violet had already done so dozens of times before, but Aileen never gave in. In the past, for the express purpose of kicking Aileen out, Violet impatiently thought to do various things.

“I’m quite certain that you’ve been barred access to this area. But maybe that’s exactly what made you come here?”

“Not at all! I, I came to visit because I missed you so much, Sister.”

“That mouth of yours is good at yammering about, as always.”

While saying, I missed you, Sister, Aileen’s eyes were drawn up to narrow, crescent moons. Soon after, however, her expression promptly crumbled.

Look at how quickly this girl’s face changes.

Despite getting slapped and thrown tea at so many times before, she still willingly appeared in front of Violet without fail. She did all that, and yet why was she making such an expression now after just one rebuttal?

Violet’s attention was directed back at the sketchbook that Aileen handed to her.

“Right, and you drew this.”

“Yes! I just want to find something we could have in common, Sister… I’m still quite bad at it, right?”

Aileen smiled innocently.

In turn, Violet took another sip of tea as she flipped through the pages of the sketchbook.

Objectively speaking, Aileen’s drawings were well done. It seemed like the kind of artwork she put in days of effort into drawing, and of course, under the tutelage of a professional.

—But that was all.

‘Drawings that give off the feeling of an entrance examination.’

Violet unhesitatingly critiqued it. Aileen’s paintings looked good, yes, but they were stiff.

“Umm, if you don’t mind, can I see Sister’s artwork, too?”

“I don’t want to.”

“Huh?”

“I said no.”

“B-But you looked at my art, Sister, so…”

When Violet refused her request, then ensued Aileen’s waterworks. Tears welled up in the corners of her eyes.

Violet’s expression hardened.

‘You’re the one who forced this thing on me and made me look first.’

Violet answered inwardly. She had a headache now, and so she gently pressed her temples.

This girl showed her artwork first then asked reciprocity, but when Violet refused, now she’s about to cry.

In the end, Violet was the only bad guy here.

Seeing through the girl’s obvious schemes, Violet put down the sketchbook.

“I just… I just wish to see Sister’s art… But for you to refuse so coldly, hiic. It should be enough…”

“That’s what you say, but it is not reason enough for me to show you my art.”

“Hiic…”

In spite of the firm refusal she was faced with, Aileen still refused to back down.

There were so many things in this life that were impossible to solve with tears alone. But, oh, House Everett’s dear angel was a miracle worker. She made it possible to solve so many things with her tears.

Violet felt a bitter taste in her mouth. The only one who looked restless was Mary, who was standing nearby. Aileen sobbed even harder.

“So you’re telling me that you’ve forced yourself into a place that’s supposed to be off limits to you, just because you want to see my art. What a mess.”

“Sister…”

“You seem to consider the words of His Grace the Duke to be merely a joke. You were given an order. Shouldn’t you make sure to follow it?”

“You’re so mean. How can you dismiss my feelings like this?”

It was good to be flexible depending on the situation, but certainly not when there were non-negotiable rules in place.

Violet clicked her tongue as she considered Aileen’s actions. She insisted on doing whatever she wanted and kept ignoring the rules.

Her eyes then turned towards Mary, who was at the side.

Although it wasn’t her intention, the fact that Violet had made Aileen wait outside for four hours would surely be spread all across the ducal residence by tomorrow.

“…Still as ever, you really just keep doing things without any regard to your behavior.”

Violet gestured to Mary.

Soon, the maid rushed in with the sketchbook that Violet had been drawing in until now.

Mary opened it in front of Aileen.

Go ahead and take a look, then kindly piss off.

Violet hoped that Aileen would just quickly disappear from her paradise.

“Wow, your art is…”

Now that she had finally achieved her purpose, Aileen smiled and returned Violet’s sketchbook.

It was full of measly doodles anyway. It didn’t matter if they’re shown to someone else.

“How fascinating. I would never have drawn something like this.”

“……”

“The way you express things through these lines are especially distinctive. I wonder how you made your drawings look like this… Sure enough, you purposely drew in a way that’s quite different from the art style that’s popular nowadays, right? As expected, Sister is truly unique.”

Then, Aileen side-eyed Violet’s clothes.

At this, Violet grinned sardonically.

“If you think I can’t draw well, then just say it outright. Why must you resort to sophistry?”