“……”

As the misunderstanding that the escort knights had with the imperial knight got cleared, they started chatting with him warmly.

Is he always this quiet? Violet wondered. She furtively gauged Aldin’s reactions as she corrected her first impression of him.

Just by the way he looked, he’s clearly uncomfortable. That is, uncomfortable because of the situation itself.

As Violet observed the man’s cold expression, which she was seeing for the first time, she had more small doubts yet again.

“In any case, thank you very much for aiding Her Ladyship. You’ll be given a handsome reward.”

“……”

However, the man did not care about the escort knight’s words. Yet again, Violet had the same thought. It really was like some kind of skit—both now and then, when they had faced the hoodlums.

“You’re Sir Aldin of the Black Wolf, so of course. If there’s anything you want, we’ll get it for you.”

“No thank you.”

The man continued interacting with the knights as though he was a rock, but back when he was talking to Violet, he had been so cautious about opening the conversation. He had even looked quite resolute, too.

Or perhaps it’s just a case of being overly nervous? Violet mulled over that one relevant factor, being her notoriety. Knowledge of her misdeeds had become widespread enough that a person who she had barely met would most likely get nervous.

“If it’s alright with you, can we meet again later?” Aldin asked.

“Meet again?”

“If it’s too much—”

“Ah. No, I was just surprised for a moment because you’re not asking to be compensated right away. Is that really enough?”

“Yes, that’s enough.”

In other words, Violet was asking if that was truly all he wanted from House Everett, yet his answer remained the same—yes, it’s enough to him.

Hearing the man’s answer, Violet thought to herself for a brief moment. She nodded.

“Then, I give you my word. Come and see me any time you want. I’ll present to you any reward you wish to have at that time.”

“……”

Thoroughly, Violet had misunderstood the man’s intentions.

At the conclusion that Violet reached, a hint of despair momentarily passed through the man’s gaze. Looking at the man’s subdued gaze, which so very resembled her own, Violet couldn’t understand why the light in his eyes would waver like that whenever he gazed upon her.

“Well, I’ll see you then. I’ll be off now.”

This meeting between Violet and Aldin, the black-haired knight who’s affiliated with the Order of the Black Wolf, was short.

Afterwards, as they returned to the townhouse, it became an open secret that Violet was welcomed with Roen’s persistent nagging, while the knights who had accompanied her not only had a salary cut, but also received punishment under the guise of ‘extra training’.

* * *

“……”

“……”

It’s awkward.

Inside the drawing room, no one at all spoke.

Though Violet herself was somewhat aware of her own misgivings today, she didn’t try to fill the silence with asinine pleasantries or useless excuses.

“Right, I heard that you went somewhere alone and got lost…”

“……”

Roen opened the discussion with a calm smile pasted on his lips.

This was the news that he received as soon as he got home. Before this, he had been looking forward to talking behind the crown prince’s back with his younger sister.

It’s fortunate that Violet had returned home safely though, lest the entire capital would have been overturned.

Either way, Violet felt wronged.

“I’ve just been staying at home all this time, so I wanted to go outside and sightsee a little.”

“Then you got lost. And even got separated with your escort knights.”

“……”

Violet continued to look Roen dead in the eye. Clearly, it was a gaze containing her protests, wordlessly insisting that it was all the escort knights’ fault for not following her properly.

But Roen dismissed her silent protests with a casual smile.

“If you wanted to go out, why didn’t you tell me? I would have gone with you.”

“I’m not your doll, Young Lord.”

“That’s not what I mean, Violet.”

Roen sighed.

Amongst everyone who was inside this drawing room, the only ones who were feeling suffocated by the tension of the two siblings’ conversation were the maids waiting on them.

“Didn’t we agree to go out to get you some clothes? I was expecting that we’re going together.”

“By any chance, Young Lord.”

There was a questioning look in Violet’s eyes as she stared at Roen.

“Are you upset?”

Cough.

“Isn’t ‘upset’ too strong a word?”

“……”

Violet was incredulous.

Roen wasn’t upset that she nearly got in danger, just that she left him behind and did something on her own.

“I just went out to the streets for a little while. I didn’t even stop by any boutiques.”

“I heard you also ate street food without doubting the ingredients.”

“…Well.”

“And you even fed your escort knights?”

“……”

As the conversation progressed, Violet got increasingly speechless. He’s seriously off the mark here.

For a moment, she wondered whether or not she should point out that she only shoved the food into the escort knights’ mouths, not necessarily feeding them.

“Fine. Could you go with me when I buy some clothes later?”

“Of course. If it’s what my younger sister wishes.”

Violet clicked her tongue as Roen gave her a refreshing smile.

In any case, after Violet ‘offered’ to go to the boutique with Roen for her clothes fitting, she just sighed openly. Roen paid her despondency no mind.