âThank you for allowing me to hear such a pleasant story. I rarely ever get to hear about my mother and my extended family on her side.â
âOh, am I the only one who mentioned them? What to do. The older I get, the more I become a chatterbox.â
âNo, really, I appreciate it because I donât hear much about her in Everett. If you donât mind, may I hear more about my mother?â
âOf course! Iâm sure that youâll be surprised to hear what Lily was like when she was young.â
Their teatime continued amidst this friendly mood.
The marchioness mainly told stories of the late duchess, who was her close friend. The Lady of Blaise had a weak constitution, but she was very active. And, as she was also more confident than anyone else, people thought of her as a very unusual person.
The marchioness had exchanged letters with the late duchess up until just before her demise. As she spoke of these stories, her eyes moistened.
âI remember getting a letter from her once that said, âI didnât know that Iâd have so many worries as a mother now. My own mom told me before how she thinks I should have a daughter who resembles you, but reallyâ little does she know, my daughter turned out to be more like me!â
Feeling a bit embarrassed for no reason, Violet only sipped her tea and said nothing.
âShe really was a good friend. She was such a good person who cared about many people, even though she had been clearly ill. Even now, I still miss her a lot.â
Because the marchioness told many stories of her mother before marriage, Violet happened to hear the love story between her mother and father.
As she listened, she busily munched on the refreshments.
In Violetâs memories, the duchess was always sick.
She couldnât remember much of her mother, but she remembered feeling warm and cozy around her.
As Violet was now the version of herself who could recall her past lifeâs memories, even that of Yeon Ha-yoonâs mother, she raised her head as the marchioness uttered the next words.
âThatâs why I was so worried. When I was your chaperone three years ago, I heard a lot of rumors.â
âAh. I was immature back then, so itâs natural.â
âYou heard about them too?â
ââŠâŠâ
âOhoho. Iâm not saying itâs bad. You were as prickly as a thorn three years ago, but you had behaved very well. I couldnât tell you this before because the thorns around you were much too sharp.â
Embarrassed again, Violet sipped her tea.
Marchioness Leshan smiled gracefully.
âSo, I do feel that itâs really nice to meet you again now. Iâm not just saying that. You know that, yes?â
ââŠOf course.â
Feeling all choked up for no reason, Violet slowly answered with a smile.
And the marchioness smiled back warmly.
* * *
Violet had no trust in people.
She had been hurt by those people, and she always put up thorn-like walls around her because she did not want to get hurt. After having been betrayed over and over again, her heart barely managed to heal, yet she still remained to be closed off to others.
Truthfully, itâs not as if there had been no one at her side at all. Itâs just thatâ Violet S. Everett did not trust anyone.
There were many people around Violet who wanted to talk to her, but she never noticed.
Recalling this, Violet quickly sorted through her feelings and put on a smile. Itâs impossible for the marchioness not to know of her inner thoughts. With her hands clasped together, she placed her elbows on the table and set her chin upon the back of her fingers.
âItâs very, very nice to see you again, really. Lily must also be feeling relieved of her worries now.â
âThank you.â
âI heard that youâre getting along with your family these days? And, oh! Is it true that the Third Young Master was sitting like a homeless man in front of Everettâs townhouse recently?â
ââŠâŠâ
âHohoho. It must be true, but itâs alright. Growing children naturally get into fights.â
But if I get into a fight twice, Iâll surely die. Violet did not add that thought. Marchioness Leshan looked really happy.
The marchionessâs merry chatter continued. Violet listened to her stories with a smile.
While they talked for a long time, the marchioness suddenly asked a question.
âBy the way, is there a reason you started painting?â
âA reason?â
âYes, I heard that youâve taken to creating art these days. I canât help but feel that youâre much brighter now due to your new hobby.â
When asked by the marchioness, Violet felt her pupils starting to quiver, but she soon smiled.
The marchioness was truly quick on the uptake. Except, Violet was in a terrible slump right now.
Contemplating what to answer for a long while, Violet replied.
âBecause I want to run away.â
âTo run away?â
âI needed something that I could do freely. Something that I could do, where I can be myself without being intruded upon by others.â
âAnd thatâs why you turned to painting.â
The moment she answered the marchionessâs question, itâs as if Violet was given the solution to a problem thatâs been bothering her for a long time.
Now that she didnât have to run away, itâs only natural that she now felt at ease. In both her past life and present life, there were still countless reasons why she started painting, but that one particular reason had served to be the most important.