Violet Blooming in Patronage

Violet sighed. The Countess always praised her to the point of burdensome about how beautiful and elegant Violet was. Violet quietly relaxed, as she thanked the Countess. She had not yet fully believed in the Countess, but she now understood to some degree that she would not be scolded by the Countess. To some extent she understood the fact that the Viscountess no longer came here was because she was whipped by her.

Violet was now accustomed to this life too. The season has changed twice since she came, and winter has come. She was always shivering from the cold, and she slept on the cold wooden floor with a thin blanket wrapped around her body. Violet sighed as she always worried about the cold coming. But the people here didn't seem to be too concerned about the cold. According to Rose and Lina, the land where she lived was close to the capital, so it was strange that the climate would not be much different.

"It's getting chilly and it looks like it's going to snow soon."

"I know."

As she answered the Countess' words, she looked at the sky. She looked at the grey sky and saw today's date. And now she realized by looking at the calendar that she could read.

"...uh."

"What's wrong, the Saintess?"

The Countess asked, looking at the calendar and shedding unusual sounds.

"It's my birthday in a week."

"...What?!"

"Whaaat?!"

Anne, who was serving the tea on time at the end of training, also shouted in surprise. Why are you reacting like that? Wouldn't Anne get in trouble for behaving so recklessly once in a while? But Anne didn't even shut her mouth. So did the Countess. She, too, was covering her mouth with a fan. When Violet tilted her head and watched the reaction of the two women, Anne forgot her manners and spoke.

"Why, why are you telling me such a story now? My young lady, say something, will you?!"

Violet felt dizzy when Anne shook her shoulders. The Countess was watching the maid waving her lady's shoulder without stopping her. It was difficult to convince her that she was a high-ranking person as high as the King. But for the Countess and Anne, especially for Anne, it was embarrassing, and the Countess sympathized with her feelings.

"Did I have to tell you my birthday?"

The answer was more spectacular. Both of them looked at her with a dejected expression on their face, and Violet wondered what else she had done wrong.

**

Violet was thinking something was wrong. It was because the mansion suddenly became bustling. Something was off. Looking at the people who seemed somehow anxious, Violet could not even ask what was going on, she just looked around. Everyone seemed nervous somewhere and Jack, the cook, seemed to be nervous somewhere too. And it was the next day when that strange anxiety peaked.

"Young lady, would you like to try on this dress?"

Anne took out a soft purple dress. Violet looked at Anne's face when she saw it. Anne was smiling brightly. Violet shook her head too easily.

"No."

It was Violet who spoke informally only when she was somehow stubborn. Anne had a sad expression on her face.

"I know it won't suit me anyway."

No one in this mansion would ever say she looked good in a dress.

"Who said that?"

"The first young master, and brother Aiden."

Anne's face visibly hardened at those words.

"Eh, no way. Did young master Ed say that?"

Violet nodded her head. She still remembered. She didn't know if her memory was distorted, but there was a man frowned and said the dress didn't suit her.

"He's so indifferent. Why did he say that?"

Anne grumbled like that and held out the dress.

"Young master Ed is not such a bad person. Maybe there was something going on."

"But what's the reason behind that it doesn't suit me?"

Anne giggled as Violet grunted stubbornly.

"You are so cute, my young lady. I love seeing you when you have everything you have to say."

"......"

Rather, Anne said kindly to Violet, who spoke and looked on Anne's countenance. Anne is so weird. Even though Violet said such a bad thing, Anne didn't even report it to the Marquis, she just responded to her. And she praised her for doing well. No matter how you look at it, it was not something to be commended.

"By the way. My young lady."

"Huh?"

Violet replied innocently and embarrassed as Anne spoke with the most pitiful expression on her face.

"If the young lady doesn't wear this, I will be scolded by the Marquis, what should I do?"

Anne accepted everything Violet disliked, but Violet always had to lose when Anne said such invincible words.

**

Violet wore the dress as she walked quietly. Fortunately, although the dresses used to be very annoying, since she learned manners from the Countess, she hasn't been so uncomfortable walking. Furthermore, her calves were neither bruised nor bursting from being beaten, so it was only natural that her gait was more stable than before.

She cared about Anne's expression in case she got offended, but the dress was cumbersome. And it didn't suit her. The dress worn by the aristocratic ladies was not meant to suit her as a poor woman.

She was a noble saint, a representative of God with the same status as King and Pope. No matter how it was said, it didn't change her origin. Violet wasn't stupid enough that she couldn't figure out her own reality. She knew the maids were gossiping. It might not matter if she was a 'lowly commoner'. The fact that she was from the 'Flower Street' was one reason enough to make many people despise her. The problem lies in Violet's conviction that such a response was deserved as well. She lost her parents at the age of seven and lived at Flower Street for three years, a life stained with contempt and disregard.

In fact, she was now was also feeling insecure. It was like imitating a stranger, not herself. Neither a graceful, butterfly-like gait nor an upright, but the looking down posture suited her more. She has always been hiding from other people's eyes, and it was been a daily routine to please them. Walking down the hallway, she looked around constantly. She didn't even know why she should be here. Her eyes that looked around anxiously, reached the large door. Looking at the ornately embossed pattern on the door, Violet even wondered if she was going to heaven right now. That door seemed unrealistic.

"My young lady."

"Huh?"

"Happy birthday."

At the same time, the door opened. The chandelier with golden candles reflected the light, dazzling as if it was midday. People were gathering. However, contrary to her tension that there would be a lot of people, there were only very few people there. Nevertheless, she could feel people in fancy clothes staring at her. On a large platform in the hall was placed something large that was evidently Jack's effort. It smelled sweet.

She could hear beautiful music. The musicians were playing music. In the unfamiliar scenery, she felt isolated. As she stood, rolling her eyes anxiously, a familiar figure approached her. It was Countess Lysell.

"The Saintess, happy birthday."

As she approached, several people approached her and snooping at her. She wanted to cringe at that gaze. But there was the Countess who taught her manners, so she couldn't do it carelessly.

"Oh, the Saintess. Happy birthday."

"I wanted to see you once."

"Happy birthday, the Saintess."

At their unyielding gaze, she thanked them. The hem of her skirt she clenched seemed to wrinkle, but she couldn't care. Everyone's attention was turned to her. Today was her birthday. But all of these were too burdensome for her. Congrats from people she didn't know.

"Thank you."

As Violet received the congratulations, she glanced at the Countess Lysell. As she saw her smiling broadly, it seemed that she had not done anything disrespectful, fortunately.

"Anne."

The first thing Violet did was call Anne next to her.

"Why are people gathering like this?"

"Of course it's to celebrate your birthday."

"...Why is my birthday?"

"That's because it's the Saintess birthday."

At those words, Violet was stunned. That's why people were so busy. To celebrate my birthday. But why did they come to celebrate a stranger? Still, rather than questioning its authenticity, she smiled, thinking they really came to celebrate her birthday.

"Naturally, the feast of the Saintess has been celebrated nationally from the age of sixteen. Then the whole nation will celebrate her birthday."

"......"

Do you mean the people will congratulating me like this? As she imagined such a scene, she felt dizzy.

"But this is the Marquis' consideration. Still, the Saintess' birthday should be celebrated. But the Marquis is so... He did a great job, right?"

Violet nodded her head. No matter how many people congratulated her on her birthday, it wasn't the celebration to her. Just wearing this dress bothered her. Having to act according to manners she had learned from the Countess that did not fit her body was like being tested. No, actually, the Marquis might want it. Her face became blurred.

"Violet!"

Daniel found her right away and ran to her. Daniel was wearing a light green suit, which went very well with his yellow blonde hair. His blond hair glistened in the light of the chandelier.

"Happy birthday, Violet."

"Thank you."

She smiled brightly. No one else knew, but she believed only Daniel. He patted her head with a big smile.

"You look so pretty today."

She somehow gained confidence in those words.

"It's the same purple(violet) color as your name. It looks good on you."

"Thank you."

Violet was still unfamiliar with her changed silver hair and eye color. The purple eyes that she was proud of disappeared, leaving only the transparent ones. If my eyes were still purple, would this outfit look better on me? She couldn't tell. Nevertheless, she could only smile without hesitation. But it was good that her brother said it looked good on her.

"And you've become very good at manners. Now you're not just a lady, you're a real lady."

"Really?"

"Really."

Daniel smiled softly, saying so. His gentle smile made her feel more at ease.

"Hey!"

Violet looked back in surprise. Then she saw a boy frowned at her. He was wearing a light blue suit, and he suddenly threw a tantrum.

"Hey, you idiot."

Aiden has always been like that. He was grumpy all the time.

"Because of you, I can't even practice swordsmanship right now, and I'm doing this here. I really hate this outfit."

He said as he unbuttoned the clothes that were fastening his neck.

"Aiden."

He stopped at Daniel's harsh voice.

"Why am I celebrating your birthday? Have you ever celebrated my birthday?"

Come to think of it, it was Aiden's birthday in the autumn, and she didn't go there. In fact, she had no intention of celebrating his birthday either. In that sense, Aiden's words were reasonable. Violet had nothing to say. And she talked.

"Then go to swordsmanship training."

"What?"

"You don't have to come here to celebrate my birthday."

At those words, Aiden looked at her with a dumbface and soon began to turn red and blue. He pouted his mouth trying to saysomething, Huff! He frowned and strode away. Daniel's giggling andlaughing voice, was heard. Anne, who was next to her, also held back herlaughter. Eventually, Violet giggled.