Violet Blooming in Patronage

"Oh my, the Marquis is here."

At Anne's words, Violet turned around and the Marquis was coming in. Her body stiffened with tension again. The Marquis seemed to accept other people's greetings and came straight here.

"Happy birthday. Saintess."

She said thank you and bowed her back gently. In fact, what she hated more than Aiden's congratulations was the Marquis' congratulations. She didn't like the Marquis who made this situation. It was her birthday that she just left comfortably in her room, but she couldn't understand why she had to do this. Shouldn't you just eat something a little delicious on that day? But why are you making it such a big deal? Besides, she actually had a lot of things to pay attention to as it was her first time in a place like this. Of course, it wasn't a bad feeling for pretty and cool-looking people to say happy birthday to her, but it was. She thought that the Marquis would go for others. But he continued to stand next to her. As a result, she became more and more burdened.

"May I ask how you celebrated your birthday in the past?"

At the words of the Marquis, she hesitated.

"It was just ham on the table."

Saying so, she bowed her head. After that, the Marquis didn't say anything. Nevertheless, the ham was actually very tasty. Once upon a time, her father said that it was also a precious ham made only from the parts that nobles eat. And her mother and father laughed. It was her birthday that day, from which she could no longer return, and Daniel and the Marquis looked at each other as her face clouded. After a moment of silence, a group of nobles approached them.

"Oh, oh, oh!"

A man with a reddish brown mustache made a strange sound. He was a little bald, but his eyebrows were thick, and at first glance, he was a slender man who felt as if his eyebrows were buried in his eyes.

"Saintess, happy birthday."

In response to the man's overly polite greeting, she responded according to the etiquette.

"Saintess, he's my husband."

Countess Lysell next to him laughed. Then that person must be the Count Lysell. He was observing Violet with interesting eyes, which was burdensome. Then the Marquis strode forward and blocked her from his sight. The Marquise's face was somehow sharper, and for a moment she was terrified that she might have offended the Marquis.

"What's wrong with you? Can't you get rid of your distracting body? I want to see the Saintess more."

"......"

The Marquis must be looking at him, but he doesn't say anything. All Violet could see was the Marquis' broad back and broad shoulders. Only Count Lysell knows what expression he was making, but he was definitely liking it.

"That's right. Really."

"......"

The Marquis was silent. He was just standing like a rock.

"Don't you see her every day?"

"I don't see her every day."

At that, Count Lysell clicked his tongue and said.

"Tsk tsk. It was too early for me, Saintess. The Marquis is really tough. Isn't it?"

"......"

When she peeked out of the Marquis' sight and looked at him as if observing him, he let out a low exclamation of ho-oh, and finally chuckled and burst into laughter.

"It's so cute, though. It's very unfortunate. I wish I could bring her as my daughter. It's not too late, Saintess!"

"......"

The Countess laughed. The Marquis was silent. It was not known what kind of face the Marquis, which showed only his wide back, had. Perhaps he agrees with that? Maybe he's forcing himself to hold back what he wants to tell him to take me. She now understood her position. On the surface, she is a high person, so he can't even let her go.

"Don't talk nonsense."

As proof, the Marquis' voice was the most irritated she had ever heard. Hearing that, the Count was grinning at what was good. Then he clapped his hands a few times and called the servant.

"......"

A bright red ribbon was neatly knotted in a flashing pink box. It was a rather large box up to her waist.

"Now, if it's your birthday, you must have a present, right? Originally, it was right to give it to you separately. I want to give it directly to the Saintess."

The Count handed over the beautifully packaged box. The big box was lighter than she thought. It's a gift. It had been a long time since she received a gift. The sisters on Flower Street took good care of her, but they couldn't afford to take care of her until her birthday. Celebrating her birthday? It was fortunate that they didn't curse the day she was born. But she got a present now.

No matter how uncomfortable this place was, the little girl couldn't dislike the huge gift she received for the first time in her life. Her cheeks turned red. She hesitated over and over again whether she could say this or not. She felt that their gaze was all on her.

"Saintess, I know it is right to say thank you to the Count."

The Marquis said sharply. At the cold rebuke, she suddenly came to her senses. It was natural for her to say thank you when she received something. The Marquis might think she is still a person who doesn't even know basic manners. She spoke in a hurry.

"Th- thank you, Count."

At that, the Count smiled brightly. What should I do, I lost myself again.

"Wow, Violet. I'm really curious what's inside. right?"

If Daniel hadn't spoken to her by her side, she would have been staring at the gift box without even having the courage to speak. The Count was looking at her with a generous smile. Seeing the Countess smiling too, it seems that she hasn't made a big mistake yet.

"Yes."

She was relieved by that and smiled at her. And looking at the gift with a very serious face, they wondered if the Saintess was doing clairvoyance by even using her divine powers. With a very serious face, she said this after a while.

"May I open it?"

"Of course!"

The Count spoke with delight. The word cute sounded small, but she thought she must have heard it wrong, and she pulled one end of the ribbon. It was a pity that the pretty knot was untied, but she was more curious about what the gift was inside.

"Wow."

For the first time in her life, she screamed with exclamations. It contained a teddy bear with impressive fluffy fur. When she held it in her hand, the feel of the fur was soft. A light green ribbon was tied around the neck of the brown teddy bear. She hugged it and buried her face. It was fluffy and smelled good. A smile was filled on Violet's face.

"Thank you so much, Count Lyssel."

When she said with a big smile, Count Lyssel said.

"I am glad that you like it."

She nodded her head. When she lived in the village, there was a girl named Sera, who had the best money, and she was proud of her cute bear-shaped doll made of cloth. Violet wanted to touch the doll. But how could a filthy butcher's child touch her doll, so she slapped Violet's hand, and she couldn't even say she wanted the doll. Violet begged her mother and father for a doll, but they looked awkward, so she never asked for it again. But she really wanted Sera's doll.

But this doll was much bigger and cuter than that doll. It was probably more fluffy and softer than that. She smiled warmly while hugging the doll. She wanted to play with it quickly. Then she turned her head and looked at them, and everyone was looking at her face. She was scared again to find out what else she had done wrong. At that time, suddenly, a thick flower scent came out. Maybe she wasn't the only one who smelled the flower, but everyone was looking around with puzzled faces.

"It's strange, what kind of flower did you decorate? It smells good."

At the words of the Countess, the Marquis made a subtle face. Anne said.

"I decorated it with white cera flowers. Ordinary cera flowers do not have this strong scent."

The scent of flowers was thick but not strong. People enjoyed its comfortable scent. Then the Countess turned to Violet and said.

"Oh my god. It seems that the Saintess used her divine power!"

"Right!"

Violet was surprised by the sight of people gathering again. People far away were also looking at Violet to see if they had similar thoughts. She didn't do anything. Actually, she don't know what she did. Her divine powers were unknown to the Countess Lysell, and she could not learn about it. Come to think of it, all the decorated bud flowers were in full bloom. Violet and for the first time it felt like those cut flowers were saying Happy Birthday to her.

*

"Why don't you bring the doll to her room?"

As the Marquis hinted at how much she was hugging the doll, she became pale. When Anne took the doll, her hands felt empty. She hesitated and went outside, saying she would get some fresh air. Fortunately, the Marquis did not hold her.

Now that the winter has come, the marquis was cold. It was not cold yet, and the marquis was well heated and warm, so she was able to take a look around leisurely. In fact, it was still uncomfortable because it was her first time in such a position, and she wanted to rest a little. She should have gone to her room with Anne earlier, but it didn't seem like she was leaving her banquet hall, so she was looking for a place for her to rest. Then a voice came from one of the open doors.

"Oh, the Marquis is really generous, too."

"That's right. Oh my god. No matter how much a saint she is, he even holds a birthday party for the lowly commoner girl like this in person."

"Actually, he has no reason to take care of her until she turns 14 and it's organized by the state."

"I was curious to see what kind of girl she was. She looks so stupid."

Giggling voice was heard. Violet shrugged her body. She definitely thought it wasn't very cold, but it was very cold. As expected, was it still look like this? No matter how tired she was, she was actually excited. When the nobles came here to celebrate her own birthday, she really felt like she was a great person. Of course, this heart was a secret that she did not tell anyone. Violet's excited heart collapsed in an instant.

"After all, the Marquis must be trying to keep the Popes in check."

"Nevertheless, that lowly commoner... No, what was the intention of the Marquis to send the invitation here to celebrate the Saintess's birthday?"

"Did you see people? They rarely came."

"In fact, getting an invitation from her would be an insult."

"Right, but you don't know what's going to happen in the future, do you? Except for Count Lysell and his close friends, everyone would have come under that calculation."

"That's right. Otherwise, who would come here?"

The creaking voice echoed through the cool hallway. Violet was cold. But it was not cold in the hallway, but it seemed to be frozen by the coldness of those words. The word 'despair' was not known yet, but such words were eating her up. Obviously, those people were smiling and congratulating her on her birthday. But why are they saying that?

Why are these people laughing at me? Is it because I'm a lowly commoner? She grimaced. In fact, even with her thoughts, people noted more than she thought. Why should I hear this on my birthday?

She came out with her face distorted while holding back her tears. It looks like her tears will come out. Looking at the desolate garden, the flowers withered, she thought it was like her heart. Her tears were dripping down. With every drop of her tears she shed, the silvery color of her hair shone into the ground. The roses that had withered in winter began to bloom rapidly. But she didn't stop crying. With every step she took, the rose bloomed again. Where should I cry? Chapel? Or where would be good? I don't want anyone to find me. Is there a place like that? When she shed tears thinking that way, this time the daffodils that had to bloom in spring bloomed in advance. Even though it had a thick scent, her nose was blocked from crying. Somehow, her head was spinning. Going toward the deserted place, she took a heavy step.