It all boiled down to one thing.

Everything was the duke’s fault.

The duke had always kept an unchanging attitude. This was true to both before and after the death of his beloved wife.

He pressured his eldest son, Mikhail, while he was indifferent to his second and third sons. Some might say that his favorite was Violet, but even the favor he held for her was mired with indifference.

Human beings did not change easily.

“Do you really not want to go to the capital with me?”

“…You’ve been talking circles for a while now.”

“I believe I’ve explained my cause well enough.”

“……”

As Roen said this, Violet paused.

The duke was not a good father. His negligence, under the pretense of love, was what ruined this family.

A man who was regarded as ‘His Grace’ by his own children could not be a loving father.

He could never be a good father.

“……”

Honesty was a virtue that could sometimes be so frustrating.

Even though the duke had realized his mistakes and was trying to change, both the past and the duke’s nature could not be changed.

As for Violet, all she wished for was to be able to live quietly while painting, then she would die.

But right now, because of Duke Everett—who was only a ‘duke’ to her—she couldn’t fulfill that wish.

“…I’ll think about it.”

“Then, I’ll be hoping for a positive answer.”

How could a person change.

After finally receiving the answer he wanted to hear, Roen grinned broadly.

* * *

Violet’s trip to the capital was quickly decided.

After days and days of contemplation, she gave her reply to Roen. Cairn would be returning from the academy soon, and as soon as she heard about this, she acquiesced and said that she would be heading to the duchy’s townhouse in the capital.

Mikhail was a miscreant, but at the very least, he was mindful about losing face. Of course, he’d been hellbent on criticizing Violet as of late, to the point that it didn’t look like he cared about the household’s dignity anymore, but that was beside the point.

Compared to Mikhail, Cairn didn’t care about the consequences of his actions at all.

The abuse that Violet had received all these years was mostly psychological, but physical violence was also thrown into the mix sometimes.

Mikhail accounted for thirty percent of said physical abuse, while Cairn accounted for seventy percent. The times that Cairn had attacked Violet, without any self-restraint, was more than ten times in total.

Once Cairn was home, how would he react the moment he’d take a look at the current situation?

Roen gazed at Violet with an elated—though slightly mixed—gaze.

He was well aware of Cairn’s actions towards Violet as well. He knew about it all, but he had turned a blind eye.

“…Violet.”

“If you’re done with your business here, I suggest that you please go back.”

“Um, this much can perhaps be called teatime between a brother and sister, so…”

However, as he was subjected to Violet’s contemptuous gaze, Roen wilted.

Though he hadn’t been formally appointed yet, House Everett’s second son was now the duke’s heir.

Even so, he asked Violet carefully.

“Don’t you want to be the next head of the household?”

“…Is that supposed to be a joke?”

“No, I’m serious here.”

You’re capable enough. Why aren’t you aiming for the position?

Roen asked the question. In response, Violet glared at him ever deplorably.

A sullen, puppy-like gaze met with Violet’s glare. It truly seemed like she was absolutely disgusted by him.

Just as Roen said, Violet was also qualified enough to be the next duke. Of course, with the exception of her reputation.

Throughout the years, she did everything she could just so she could receive her family’s recognition, and in doing so, she had accumulated countless qualities and capabilities.

The duke gave his four children equal education. The young siblings thought that the matter of succession would follow primogeniture, thus naturally surmising that Mikhail would be the next duke. Even so, they all received the same education that the heir required.

Aileen, however, did not receive this equal education. She had been given the opportunity to take it, but she had not been able to keep up with the rigorous lessons. And so, the duke took the initiative to make the order of changing Aileen’s curriculum.

On the other hand, Cairn declared that he wasn’t suited to just sitting around at a table while studying all day, so he went on the skip class.

Thanks to this, only Mikhail, Roen and Violet had received an heir’s education.

And now that Mikhail had been deprived of his right to inherit the duchy, only two candidates were left.

If Violet were to have both Roen and the duke’s support, she could very well be the next head of the household. In this era, while it’s certainly rare for women to take up leadership positions in the government, it was not unheard of.

Besides that, becoming the next duke was her surest path to revenge.

The utter sweetness that power could bring was beyond imagination.

However, even during the time that Violet had been acting as a wicked woman, she had never once tried to covet the position of ‘heir’.

A glacial air settled upon Violet’s demeanor.

She had wondered the same thing long ago, but Roen’s question now was nothing but thoughtless.

“Young Lord, do you want me to be the next head of House Everett?”

“…A little.”

“That’s quite the statement from the very person who asked His Grace the Duke that he be given the position of heir.”

“It’s just, to protect you—”

“Please. Refrain from uttering such nauseating things.”

“Okay…”

Roen’s heart sank.

And Violet didn’t care.

“Sure, if I take up the position of the next duke, I will most certainly be able to enact my revenge. With only the Imperial Family above me in terms of power, I can do whatever I please.”

“……”

“But then, what’s the point?”

“The point?”

“Once upon a time, I wished for revenge. I wanted you all to kneel before me, to apologize and beg me for all the wrongs you’ve done unto me. In my head, I’ve already executed every single one of you over and over and over again.”

“……”

Even if Roen had a hundred mouths, he would not be able to say anything back.