Violet Blooming in Patronage

Note: The Author said that Esselmond was originally going to be named Edmund. All the names here are taken from the game of Crusader Kings. But I don't play the game, so I have no idea.

The Viscountess Iskinder really came after lunch. By that time, Violet could not eat anything, so she greeted the Viscountess with a groan of discomfort. Seemingly strict at first glance, the Viscountess looked at Violet with cold eyes. The Viscountess said proudly, raising her chin.

"I see the God's representative, the Saintess. My name is Adela Iskinder."

The Viscountess took an example by kneeling slightly in front of her, and Violet was watching it without realism, as if it was a scene in a play. The flowing natural motion was so graceful. The Viscountess spoke with her knees down.

"Saintess, I must kneel before you. So, what should you say?"

"Y- Yes?"

Violet opened her eyes wide.

"If you don't tell me to get up, I'll be on my knees for the rest of my life. It is disrespectful to get up without saying to rise."

"......"

"Have you ever made the people of the Marquis of Ermengart disrespectful you without saying such a thing?"

At the Viscountess' remarks, Violet bowed her head and said, "I'm sorry." quietly. The Viscountess' brown eyes lit up with anger. It seemed that Violet, who was simpleton, has offended the feelings of others.

"Pardon. If to say, you just look submissive. How many times have you said sorry now? If you show that you are from a humble origin, it becomes even more of a weakness."

At the Viscountess' rant, she bit her lip tightly. Having given Violet no time to prepare, she pointed out every single one of Violet's manners. The Viscountess also pointed out Violet's shrinking body and made her straighten her waist. Listening to the Viscountess Iskinder speak, Violet felt like she was the most pathetic and ugliest person in the world. It was not known whether the Viscountess hated her, or if she really was pathetic.

"How did you hurt your hand?"

"I- I broke the bowl and got hurt trying to clean it up."

At her words, the Viscountess frowned at her. It was clear that the Viscounts did not think the situation was very reasonable. She gave Violet a pathetic look with stern eyes and a twisted smile.

"Is that hand not being treated on purpose? To be seen by everyone?"

"What?"

When Violet asked, the Viscountess said.

"You should say 'Excuse me, can you say that again?'. And why don't you treat your wound when you have the ability to heal? Do you want attention?"

Her mouth was shut at the words of the Viscountess.

"I don't know how to heal......"

A faint sigh reached Violet's ears. The Viscountess seemed to think that she had done nothing on purpose to win the sympathy of the people of the Marquis.

*

After the hard class, the Viscountess Iskinder went home, trying to calm her anger. Violet had to pay attention to every step she took, her facial expression and everything. The sun was already setting. She looked at her sore hand. She frowned, nodded, and gave strength to her hand, but the wound on her hand did not go away. What kind of ability do I really have? It didn't really work out the way she wanted it to. According to Finn's words, there was no need to doubt that she had shown some incredible ability, but Violet did doubt her abilities.

Finn brought the snacks just in time. When the cream cake mixed with fresh fruit and sweet fruit juice came out, she smiled broadly, but soon hardened her expression. Oh, now she couldn't even eat what she wanted. And she began to eat, clumsily, as the Viscountess said. The cake was fantastically sweet. She wanted to eat as much as she could right away, but she had to eat slowly and carefully with a small fork.

"Finn."

"Tell me, Saintess."

Finn's warm brown eyes looked at her.

"If I learn proper manners, will I be able to dine with the other young masters and the Marquis?"

Finn laughed at her words.

"Yes, of course."

Saying that, Violet didn't look happy at all.

"But I have to fix everything. The way I walk, the way I eat, the way I talk, and even the way I think."

"Yes, it is."

"But am I Violet after that change?"

It was Violet's most unspoken word when she came here. Clear sky-blue eyes cast doubt. She envied their dignity, but on the other hand, she was afraid. Came to another world. It had to be different. Would she be the Violet if she changed like that? Violet, whom her parents knew, was not a young Lady. It was the same with Violet, whom Lina and Rose knew. Change her behavior and change the way she thinks. She went from a lowly girl to a noble saintess who shuddered at the nobles. But if it really turned out that way, could she be called Violet? She was afraid of change.

"You can't say things like that, Saintess."

"......"

Hearing the reproach of those words, Violet bit her mouth again. For the first time it was a doubt about her own situation, and it was all too easily buried. Although not together yet, Finn was just a convenience to her, essentially keeping a distance from her. The two tired eyes, the Viscountess and Finn looked at her the same way. Even if she changed, they do not change their attitude. Young Violet wanted to point out that. But still young, she has not developed her thoughts and speech enough to explain it in words.

*

The Marquis' mansion was as spacious as a palace for her. Of course, the palace had an enormous size as if several of these mansions were put together, but first of all, this mansion alone had a huge main building, followed by a chapel, and behind it, a training ground, so it was the same as a castle. Violet quietly finished her meal and went outside. It was Finn's consideration not to be confined to a room all the time. Contrary to Finn's expectations, Violet's daily routine consisted of staying in her room all the time and learning manners and other necessary knowledge when the Viscountess came. In these days, the Viscountess pressed her even more when she found out that Violet couldn't read letters. When she was done with all her classes, she looked out of the window all the time with her face sunken as she sank, and she said it to Finn that she had to. Can I go outside? In response to the naive question, Finn nodded her head with a strange look and said that Violet could walk around as much as she wanted. Do you want me to follow you? At the question, Violet shook her head. But that was an absolute mistake. The disapproving blue eyes were staring at her now.

"Hey, aren't you deliberately not treating that hand?"

At the boy, she bowed and shook her head at Aiden's pointy question. Aiden approached and looked around as if to observe her. It was a watchful expression, like what a dog would do when it sees something new. He lowered his head and silently looked at her and said.

"It's amazing."

"......"

"I thought you'd be different from us, but there's nothing different about it, right?"

Violet's heart throbbed at his words, but she did not reveal it as she had learned from the Viscountess. Aiden suddenly reached out and took her hand. Then he glanced back and forth through the bandages that were wrapped around her hands.

"You're not really hurt, are you?"

"No, it's not."

Violet spoke quietly. Aiden said, "Oh, she can talk." He teased her by saying so. He was like Paul, who lived in the old village, with a naughty-like appearance.

"Hey, why aren't you coming to eat together these days?"

Violet's body stiffened at that question. His face as he scanned her hand came close to her. He held her hand tightly as she panicked and tried to pull back. Her hand hurt, but she bit her lip tightly.

"You're not starving, are you?"

"......"

"Why aren't you talking, it's not funny."

Aiden got annoyed and shook off her hand. He glared at her with a huff. It was difficult for Violet to understand how this emotion jumped from what cause. It was just the time to be frightened by the nobles, thinking that this must be the case.

"A.i.d.e.n?"

In a familiar voice, Aiden raised his head, and a blond-haired boy stood there. The boy grinned and called Aiden's name off, but it was scary to see him smiling brightly. Aiden hid behind Violet, frightened like a mandible cat.

"I see the God's representative."

"Get up."

The boy got up at her words.

"Excuse me for a moment."

The second young master Daniel approached Aiden hiding behind her.

"Aiden, this time I've got some centipedes loose on my clothes. Did you want to be the youngest kin killer, huh?"

"Well, thankful that it's not a scorpion!"

Aiden shouted. Centipede? A kin killer? It sounded like something cruel had been said.

"Where did you run away from, and were you bully the Saintess?"

"What a bully?! It's not like that!"

Aiden shouted desperately. "It's not true, it's not!" Violet wanted to cover her ears with Aiden's whining, shouting voice.

"I'm gonna tell our father or our eldest brother about this. You'll get a very nice punishment, right?"

"Ugh, save me, I was wrong bro!"

"Come on, you better do your homework tomorrow. Go back to your room right now."

At those firm words, Aiden ran. When she saw his scurrying back and thought that he had run away from his assignment, she heard a voice.

"You've improved a lot."

Turning her head to the soft voice, Daniel was seen smiling. He always speaking in honorific, but now he was speaking comfortably.

"Oh, didn't you want to make it easier to talk? If the Saintess is uncomfortable, you can speak as you are."

Violet shook her head desperately as his tone changed again. In fact, the most uncomfortable thing about this respect was Violet. Violet had never been honored in her life.

"Ah, no, to speak informally to the young master is...."

Pooh. Violet heard a laugh. There was a mischievous smile on his softly smiling face. Violet dared not know where to look. He didn't laugh lightly, but neither did he laugh out loud, but he was giving a good example of the laughter that the Viscountess said.

"I didn't know that I would hear from the Saintess that I am a young master."

"......"

She bowed her head in shame, and he said affectionately.

"Now, you're my sister. Do you call your brother a young master? Then should I call you a young lady?"

Young lady?! What kind of name is that? Daniel smiled as Violet shook her head desperately.

"Look, you're ashamed, aren't you? So, you shouldn't call me by that name."

She nodded at the words. Then what should she call him, she was going to ask.

"Call me big brother."

"Big brother?"

"Yes, you're my sister."

"......"

Violet was surprised. Is it okay to say it like that? Is it okay to approach a poor girl like this without hesitation? But the boy smiled affectionately and talked.

"Violet, right?"

"Yes."

He also remembered her name. She has never told him. She knew the gaze when poeple said the name Violet. But he was calling that name without hesitation. She felt something resting on her head. She felt a gentle caressing hand. Daniel was stroking her hair.

"You're having a hard time, aren't you?"

Suddenly, her tears began to drip as if the words had signaled something. As tears welled up, he seemed a little confused.

"I- I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you cry. Are you okay, Violet?"

Daniel was asking if she was okay. Violet shed tears quietly, she had no idea what those tears meant. Just saying it was okay, everything she had built up over the years melted like snow.

"I'm sorry, I should have found you sooner, it's been hard."

The friendly words resonated in her heart. Sheshook her head. Daniel was a kind and nice boy. She was relieved for the firsttime. There was a person who says that a lowly commoner is a younger sister. For thefirst time she felt accepted here.