“What are you talking about?”

“Are you pretending not to know?”

Violet slowly closed her eyes. But as she opened them, once again, their eyes met.

“This is something that Lord Roen enjoys talking about. Still, I don’t understand why Your Highness is doing this to me.”

“Hmm.”

“Let me be straight with you, then. Why me?”

Violet completely lowered her pencil. Facing her unwavering purple eyes, Rajaden met her gaze, and he responded with a courteous smile.

“Then let me ask in return. Why not me?”

“......”

“Even if I had shown your drawing to that painter, he wouldn’t have been able to say anything. That’s the nature of power.”

“......”

“Lies can become truths, and even amidst nothingness, something can be created. With power, I can make you invulnerable, untouchable. Lady Violet, if you wish, I can give you anything you want.”

These words, spoken with a calm cadence, bordered on a confession, yet sounded dry. Violet understood the true meaning behind those words.

Thus, her expression remained as calm as a still lake without a ripple.

“Even if what I wish is for no one to surpass or harm me?”

“If it is your wish.”

“If it’s a reason as simple as that, aren’t I, a woman born as the daughter of a duke, already inherently untouchable?”

“......”

“You must be aware of the countless rumors about me. Since you speak as if you intend to be a shield.”

“......”

“Is power truly such a simple thing?” for new novels

Violet smiled.

So, Rajaden’s words about political calculations now were not accurate.

His tone remained high and mighty, but he sensed the emotion behind Violet’s words and wiped away his expression.

“Are you talking about Aileen Everett?”

“Unlike me, who carries the stigma of being a wicked woman, she has been known as a good child. She knows how to manipulate the public in a different sense than I do. And with the name of Everett, there should be no problem with her lineage.”

There were issues with the girl’s maternal lineage, but Violet didn’t point that out.

Rajaden tilted his head when he looked at Violet.

“A good child. But that in itself is a shackle. Once you put it on, you can’t get out.”

There’s no way that ‘Violet’ could sincerely wish for the best for Aileen. Knowing this fact, Rajaden asked in a somewhat lowered voice.

“Do you hope that your younger sister will become the empress?”

“......”

“Don’t you hate her? No, let me correct myself. I’m sure that you’re not on good terms with each other, so if Aileen Everett were to become empress, you wouldn’t be safe either.”

Violet didn’t respond. Seeing her cold, frozen expression, Rajaden furrowed his brow.

Even though the people of House Everett may have disputes with the imperial family, they still maintained a minimum level of courtesy.

But what’s with that expression?

Rajaden, who didn’t hide his discomfort, continued.

“And she doesn’t fit my ideal of talent. I don’t mind flaws in a person’s character, but it’s troublesome if they can’t be controlled.”

“...Is that so?”

Violet closed her eyes. Since Rajaden was truthfully revealing his discomfort, she also had to take a step back.

That’s how power works.

She laughed. She showed a smile that’s usually only visible to her family.

“If you need the name and support of House Everett, there could be other ways,” Violet said.

Rajaden fell silent for a moment at Violet’s face, which seemed to prefer an expressionless one.

“...What if I say that I’ve fallen for you?”