Chapter 54

"It's not that I stand in support of them, but I shall report you for contempt against nobility. You'd better not have lied right here. I don't remember seeing you anywhere in the ducal residence."

"W-What?!"

The stationed guards were called.

When Violet stood up, Mary swooped in and hurled one insult after another at the man.

Hearing the delicate Mary's cusses made Violet chuckle.

"I mean, she's obviously very elegant, but is she really a noble?"

"Good gracious, why is a noble drawing in a place like this? Not only that, but even taking portrait commissions."

Violet's words just now caused a brief stir among the crowd. One of them looked intently at Violet's silver hair and said, "By any chance..." And soon after, the others followed.

.

.

.

In any case, her usual outings were peaceful.

That was, until she met Mikhail.

"...What are you doing here?"

"Ha, haha. I am the Everett Duchy's successor—the Young Duke himself. There's no way I'm not allowed to go anywhere."

"Yeess. I see."

She sent Roen back the other day when he had troubled her. Today was a good day for her though, since it started out with a nice meat pie for breakfast, and it put her in a pleasant mood.

After she had finished her morning exercise, she went out to town and was just walking around the streets while carrying her materials in a bag.

It was a few days ago that rumors started circulating amongst the townsfolk that she's a noble, and the looks they gave her shifted strangely. Violet did not mind this though.

Anyone who treated Violet awkwardly just received a refreshing smile from her, and she'd tell them that they didn't have to care about her standing.

So, as they realized that Violet was more easy-going than she looked, people tried to treat her as they usually did again.

However.

"And where are you going?"

"...I'm just going on my way."

Mikhail was now blocking her path, so it's only natural that her good mood quickly went down the drain.

"I asked you where! Are you really going to act recklessly in front of me?"

"...It hurts. Please let me go."

At the sidelines, Zylo watched restlessly as his old friend showed such an ugly side of him.

Instead of Zylo, it was the young knight, Leon, who zealously reached for the hilt of his sword. However, Mary hit his hand.

"Why are you stopping me!"

"...For now, just leave it to Milady."

As Violet heard what the others behind her were saying, she grimaced. Mikhail had served both as a military officer and a civil official, so it was only natural that he was strong.

"Think of your reputation, Sir."

"Ha, haha. Reputation, you say... You're Everett's wicked woman, but it's possible for you to be conscious of such a thing too, huh?"

Mikhail's words incurred waves of murmurs from the people around them. Even those who had already guessed her identity were shocked enough to stare blankly at Violet's silver hair.

"Did he really just say that Miss Ella is the wicked woman?"

"Yeah that's what he said, but maybe the rumors are wrong?"

Hearing their rising clamor, Violet bit her lower lip lightly. She didn't want her identity to be revealed like this.

"...Is there anything you have to say to me?"

Nervously shaking off Mikhail's hand from her wrist, Violet asked this question.

However, Mikhail's eyebrows furrowed at this.

"Ha, haha. Do I have anything to say, you ask. Are you not aware of just how you are acting in front of me now...!"

As he growled in anger, Violet took a step back. Zylo grabbed the hilt of his sword. This time, Mary did not stop Leon.

"YOU!"

Violet took a step back, but Mikhail took one step forward. Because he was tall and had a huge physique, he was entirely intimidating.

Every time Violet tried to step back, Mikhail would prowl forward again.

"You're not even aware of what you're doing now!"

SLAP!

A deafening sound rang out.

For a moment, Violet could not grasp what just happened. She stared blankly.

Then, Mary collapsed in front of her.

"Mary...!"

"M-Milady."

With how forcefully she had been hit, red blood started flowing down Mary's nose.

Right here and now, Mikhail so easily tried to slap his younger sister. However, he started shaking in rage once again. The loyal maid caused him to miss his target.

"What have you done!"

"...Changed, my ass. Now isn't this a show."

"Keep your reputation in mind. Do you have any idea just how much your actions right now are undermining the prestige of the household?!"

"In the end, it's still that damn household's prestige with you. That's all you know how to say. Do you know who I am?! I'm Mikhail U. Everett! You can't tell me what or what not to do!"

"......"

It's impossible to communicate with him.

Violet bit her lower lip again. Since Mikhail revealed his identity, there was no one here who could stop him.

"...I heard you were deprived of your status as the Duke's heir. So that's why. Now I get it."

"What the hell do you know about me."

"What do I know? As a matter of fact, I know very well just what kind of personality you have, Sir Mikhail. You were deprived of your status, yet there was nothing you could do about it, and now you think you can act however you want."

After her beloved Mary had been slapped across the cheek, Violet decided to throw away any attempt at civility.

If she herself had been the one who'd been slapped, she would have just let Mikhail be. After all, it had happened many, many times before.

However, she could not bear to see that her person had been assaulted.

It was someone else who had cornered Mikhail. But, of course, he was here before Violet to vent his anger.

As soon as he heard the rumors that the wicked woman was drawing portraits at the town square, he came all the way here.

"You! Everyone in the world knows what kind of false rumors you're intentionally spreading! Everyone knows exactly what kind of nonsense you're up to right now! Rather than changing, you've just become more vicious! You think people won't know how much you're harassing that child?!"

"......"

"You're doing all sorts of things now, huh? You're really... Fine. I lost my position as the Duke's heir—but it must have been you're doing, I'm sure of it. You must have whispered something to Father."

"You—"

Violet was about to say something, but at that moment...

Zylo pointed his sword at Mikhail.