A few years ago, there was an incident where House Everett’s daughter and youngest son both disappeared.
At the time, very few people knew the circumstances behind her sudden departure. However, those in the know were also aware that the youngest son of the Everett family, Cairn, had disappeared from the academy around the same time.
The relationship between Cairn and Violet was far from that of typical siblings. They weren’t close enough to be called family, yet they didn’t harbor enough hatred to be enemies. Nor were they so distant as to be considered strangers.
The remnants of past emotions still lingered between them, as some things couldn’t be cleared away with just a few words.
So, who would have thought that the two would run away together and travel?
Despite their complicated relationship, it was Violet who sought Cairn out first. She made a request—she wanted to see how Mikhail was doing.
Cairn had heard bits and pieces about what had happened with Mikhail, but he couldn’t erase his fond memories of their eldest brother. After days of deliberation, Cairn accepted Violet’s proposal of a trip.
Although Violet had suggested they go together once the school holidays started, Cairn packed his things that very day. His decisiveness was remarkable.
From the beginning, Violet hadn’t intended for it to be a ‘runaway’. She had framed it as a ‘trip’, but their family opposed the idea.
It was too dangerous to travel during the ongoing war, they said. If she waited a few more years, they would assemble an elite knight guard for her, they promised. The reasons for refusal were varied.
But nothing was going according to her will, and Violet couldn’t resist the impulse any longer. She felt that if she didn’t leave now, she’d never have the chance again.
And so, the ‘trip’ became a ‘runaway’.
Throughout their journey, Violet and Cairn fought frequently. Most of their arguments were over trivial matters, but in those moments, they shed their status as high nobles and bickered like ordinary siblings.
Usually, Violet would have been in the right, but surprisingly, many things turned out the way Cairn had predicted.
As Violet had been trapped in the memories of her previous life and considered herself ordinary, she realized that this was a misconception.
They disguised themselves as a pair of commoner siblings on a journey, with Violet cutting her hair and dyeing it blonde. But neither of them had a ‘normal’ appearance, so they encountered many challenges along the way.
Violet couldn’t understand why, after their eyes met, Mikhail pretended not to see her and continued to silently sip his drink.
Whatever inner turmoil he may have been experiencing, and whatever Cairn may have thought upon seeing him, it was simply the end of their emotions and the conclusion of their connection.
With that, Violet had quietly completed her personal revenge.
.
.
Though her goal had been achieved, Violet did not return to where she was supposed to be.
There were many reasons she could have used as an excuse, but in the end, it was because her heart didn’t want to go back.
Cairn, now thoroughly deflated, still followed Violet’s wishes.
The place where they had stayed after visiting Mikhail was a small village nestled between the mountains and the sea.
There, she not only observed Mikhail but also witnessed the lives of ordinary people.
Naturally, her attention shifted elsewhere.
To the war.
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