Violet, flustered by her own words, mumbled and closed her mouth.

“I know it’s not. I just said it because I thought I saw someone who looked similar and found it interesting.”

Even with the added explanation, her darkened face showed no signs of brightening.

Rather than being surprised by the sudden situation, I felt worried.

“Did my words offend you?”

“Offended? No, not at all.”

Yeah, right.

Violet is also quite expressive with her emotions.

How could I not notice when her bright smile just now disappeared in an instant?

“I’m sorry if it seemed that way.”

She tried to smile. She also coughed after hurriedly taking a sip of tea. I averted my gaze in case it made her uncomfortable.

“There’s nothing to be sorry about.”

“What reason would I have to go out? I haven’t been going out much lately, so I was just surprised when you said you saw me.”

Her tone was gentle but drew a line.

“What do you mean, what reason? If you want to go out, Lady, you should go out.”

“I’m not as free as you think, Your Highness.”

She lowered her eyes and continued.

“It’s been a long time since I went outside.”

I closed my mouth, unable to ask for the reason.

Her expression, as if drenched, looked so sad.

A long silence fell. Since this had never happened since meeting Violet, I kept worrying about her in my heart.

A moment later.

After finishing her tea, she began to speak.

“I don’t know if it’s okay to say this suddenly.”

In a cautious tone, as if handling a young animal.

“Any words are fine. If you want me to listen and then forget, I will. I’m just here as your friend, Lady.”

“Friend?”

“We’ve been friends since I first came to this mansion. Back then, I couldn’t speak first because of the difference in status, but now I can speak first, right?”

I joked as I gently took her hand first.

Her trembling fingertips were cold. The room was so warm, what could be making her hands so cold?

‘Could it be because of what I know?’

I might know better than anyone in this world why Violet is struggling.

Family, loved ones, people around her.

Not a single one of them took Violet’s side.

Because she was an illegitimate child.

“Sometimes I think.”

Teary eyes looked at me.

“Why don’t you see me like others do? What am I that you care for and welcome me every time?”

The answer was simple.

Because you’re the female lead.

That was my initial thought.

But not anymore.

“Honestly, at first, I didn’t think we’d become this close. Remember? When we first met.”

Boldly undressing Violet and putting my dress on her, she became Serdis’s first dance partner and was positively talked about among the nobles.

Of course, contrary to expectations, I had a hard time meeting Serdis.

“As I told you then, I approached you to survive. You accepted me even in a rude and suspicious situation. At first, I thought you were stiff, but when I got to know you, you were cute too. I care for you more than you think, you know?”

I revealed my feelings to her without holding back. I felt sorry for knowing so much about Violet alone. There was no reason to hide it either.

Violet’s large eyes became moist.

“I didn’t know you thought of me that way. You’re so popular, I wondered why you’d be friends with someone gloomy like me…”

“I’m popular?”

She nodded vigorously. It was a definite expression, different from just before.

“I only have two friends, you know? You, Lady Violet, and a friend I’ve been exchanging letters with since childhood.”

“But you could make friends anytime if you wanted to. It’s different with me. No matter how hard I try, no one lets me in.”

“They’ll all regret it later.”

I said confidently.

“Later, they’ll be lining up in front of Lady Violet, crying tears of blood and pretending they never did anything. So don’t shrink back too much!”

I said energetically, grabbing her small, hunched shoulders.

It’s all true.

All those who now uniformly dismiss and insult Violet as an illegitimate child.

The family members who don’t accept Violet as a real family.

The beloved Serdis.

‘I’m telling you, they’ll all be crying and clinging to Violet’s skirts.’

“Pfft!”

She finally broke her stiff expression. A clear laughter gently echoed.

I followed with a pretty smile.

The laughter of the two filled this place for a while.

“I’m sorry for dampening the mood earlier. Actually, I haven’t wanted to go out lately and wanted to be alone, but being confined to my room felt like being trapped in a cave and it was so hard. Sometimes I even cry.”

It was a sickness of the heart she was suffering from.

The kind of sickness that’s difficult to treat alone.

A lingering sickness where scars don’t disappear even if wounds heal.

Even I feel a pang in my heart when I think about the time before meeting my current family.

“It’s silly, right? I could just go out, but I’m living while unnecessarily minding others.”

“How is that your fault, Lady? It’s the fault of those people who don’t recognize you and just play among themselves.”

Knowing how hard it must be, I burst out.

It was absolutely not Violet’s fault.

“Prince Serdis seems to be very busy too. Especially after returning from the North, he’s just working hard inside the palace. Sometimes when I go to the palace, I only hear that he’s busy, and I felt like I was just a nuisance wherever I went.”

It was heartbreaking that she blamed herself.

Come to think of it, her face had become much thinner than when I last saw her.

Suddenly, Habel’s words came to mind.

‘What is she doing locked up in her room every day? It’s hard to see her face even when I go in at mealtimes.’

She hadn’t been eating properly.

If Habel knew, he should have taken better care of her!

Frustration welled up at her haggard face. I don’t know when this sweet potato family will come to their senses.

I should scold Habel next time I see him.

“You’re definitely not a nuisance, so don’t think that way.”

“Yes. As you say, I won’t think unnecessary thoughts. I didn’t expect to be understood from the beginning, but I’ve been seeing His Highness’s face out of my own stubbornness, and now that I can’t even do that, I guess I was just upset.”

“That’s understandable. Not being able to see the person you love is painful, isn’t it?”

Violet stared at me intently.

I tilted my head and scratched my chin.

“But you see the person you love every day, don’t you?”

“Ah, I meant my parents. Not being able to see my parents every day!”

I hurriedly covered up. She seemed to be in a better mood, her face more relaxed than before.

“Now tell me about you. I was so disappointed that I couldn’t hear about you in the North last time. I didn’t expect you to come to the capital so quickly either.”

Her deep pink eyes narrowed slightly.

She seemed to be subtly expecting me to say I came to see her.

Of course, I had planned to meet Violet without fail when I came to the capital.

But this trip to the capital was largely forced.

Just thinking about it makes me sigh involuntarily.

“Nothing’s wrong at the Count’s house, is it? I don’t know any news…”

Of course, she wouldn’t know.

If there had been someone to give her news, she wouldn’t have been locked up in her room.

“It’s a long story.”

“What kind of story is it?”

Her eyes sparkled subtly.

“Can I have another cup of tea before I tell you?”

“Of course.”

When Violet called the maid outside the door, two waiting maids came in.

“Could you bring tea and refreshments for Her Highness again?”

“Yes, understood.”

As the maid left, I began to tell the story in earnest.

“The Grand Duke has been listed for participation in the Turan War.”

“Why the Grand Duke? Isn’t Turan the place where small battles break out periodically over supplies?”

The intelligent Violet understood immediately.

“It seemed strange that they would still make the Grand Duke, who’s just settled in his territory, participate. So when I said I wouldn’t participate in this war without a valid reason, we got a message from the Imperial Palace saying they wouldn’t allow it.”

“What happened?”

She asked worriedly.

“Prince Serdis helped us.”

“Prince Serdis helped?”

It’s understandable that she’s surprised.

I was surprised too that Serdis prevented Hertian’s participation.

Of course, if it’s related to the Empress, it’s a different story.

If they were planning to lure him to the capital with participation as bait to kill or severely injure him, that would be different.

“I don’t know the reason either, but I received help when I went in to try to persuade the Emperor.”

“Whatever the reason, it’s a good thing. So that’s why he was busy. He must have had a lot to do to prevent the Grand Duke’s war.”

“…That could be the case.”

I made a sour expression.

I hope Serdis doesn’t side with the Empress to attack Hertian, but I can’t be sure. There was only circumstantial evidence, no concrete proof.

She stared at me intently and grabbed my hand.

“Nothing is as unpredictable as people’s hearts. I hope you won’t hate Prince Serdis.”

It was an earnest request.

‘Did I hate Serdis?’

Wasn’t it not hate, but disgust?

If Hertian hadn’t been there that day, I would be living the same life as in the original story, by his side, not knowing when I’d be discarded.

“I won’t hate him.”

“Promise me.”

She held out her thin, white pinky finger.

It was the same gesture Habel made last time.

Even if they have different mothers, family is family, it seems.

I quickly hooked my pinky finger with hers.

“I promise.”

While inwardly cursing Habel for ignoring his younger sister.

Just then, the maid came in with the tea.

Now, I thought about asking Violet how she persuaded Hertian while having a cup of tea.

Hoping that if only Serdis wasn’t behind this incident siding with the Empress, there might be a good path for them to take, like in the original story.

“This scent always fills the air when I come to the Duke’s mansion. The tea fragrance seems so nice.”

Purple flowers floated in the teacup.

A deep aroma permeated strongly.

“They say it’s a flower that only grows in the Duke’s territory. The first Duchess dried it and enjoyed it as tea because of its good fragrance, and it’s been continued since then. Ouch.”

She took a sip of tea and quickly pulled her lips away from the cup.

“It’s too hot.”

She smiled broadly.

“Drink slowly. I have quite some time today.”

When I spoke leisurely, she happily crinkled her eyes.

But, something’s strange.

“Lady, aren’t you going to drink more?”

After taking the first sip, she pushed the teacup far away.

As if there was something in it.