Marin completely agreed.
It's good that you found each other.
Ash wants to win the heart of a talent, and that talent only asks Ash for sarcasm lessons.
They both needed something from each other.
Plus, Violet's eyes looked like a puppy's in the rain, so if Ash helped her, she would grow attached to him.
Marin waited for Ash's acceptance as she looked at him.
—Marin.
—Oh, yes?
—There is no food.
—Oh, yes.
"I'll be right back." Marin jumped up.
Violet and Ash were left alone at the table.
──── ∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗ ────
Violet waited for Ash's response, looking at him silently.
—First, do you want me to teach you how to say things that not only insult, but leave a mark?
Let them leave the other in despair.
-Yeah.
—Why do you put so much effort?
Is it because it's your uncle's task?
—At first, that was my motivation.
But now, it's something I really want.
I feel like it's the only way to vent...
about all the time they lied to me.
Ash remained silent.
Violet felt a little nervous.
Have I put him in a difficult situation by telling him about my misfortunes?
Violet's face suddenly became serious.
"Ash?"
-…Tell me.
—On second thought, I think I asked for too much.
Thanks for the tea.
It looks like the rain has stopped, so I'm leaving.
—Violet stood up suddenly.
—Goodbye…
At that moment, Ash grabbed her sleeve.
Violet looked at him, surprised.
—And our date?
-…That?
—Weren't we going to go see the festival today?
—Actually, I came to reject the invitation.
Ash nodded willingly.
-Alright.
—Doesn't it bother you?
"Why would I bother?" It's your decision.
—Sure… I guess so —Violet nodded.
At that moment, his stomach growled.
Now that I thought about it, I hadn't had breakfast.
In fact, he hadn't eaten all day.
—Even if you're not going to the festival, it seems like you wouldn't turn down a simple meal, right?
—Ash smiled.
—Anyway, it was time for dinner.
Don't worry!
The employees left the food ready.
Here is the first tray!
—Violet met Marin, who came with a tray full of food.
Violet ended up getting a delicious meal.
After eating, Ash walked her outside.
Until that moment, Ash had not responded to Violet's request to teach him how to say hurtful things.
But the path they took was strange.
It was not the same one they had taken to arrive.
Something is strange.
Aren't we walking through the market?
The two were already in the middle of the night market.
The rain had stopped completely and the market was full of people.
The last ray of sun illuminated the scene.
—Young man, buy postcards!
They are perfect for a man as handsome as you to write a love letter.
—Buy sweet cookies!
We also have cakes!
They are so rich that even a handsome man craves them.
Even Violet, who was thinking about nothing, perked up and forgot about what had happened during the day.
It must be fun and annoying to be handsome.
It felt like everyone was focused on Ash.
The vendors talked to him enthusiastically, and the women passing by stopped to look at them.
Some girls even looked at Violet with envy.
—Do you want me to buy you a flower?
—...Aren't we supposed to see the festival?
The words came out of Violet and Ash's mouths at the same time.
—Yes, what a coincidence.
"It happened the way I wanted," Ash said lazily.
I should have declined the offer to have him come with me.
Violet thought.
But after we had eaten, it was difficult to refuse his kindness.
The festival was full of girls with flowers.
Some wore crowns and the most common were flower bracelets.
Therefore, in the streets there were girls with baskets selling flowers.
Ash bought a flower bracelet for the nearest girl and offered it to her.
"Here you are, Violet Everdeen."
Ash's hair was shining.
He looked like an angel.
Violet looked at him for a moment and took the bracelet.
His skin crawled.
Violet looked at the violet flower adorning the bracelet.
—By the way, why do you call me Violet Everdeen?
—So that they don't confuse you with your sister.
Violet stopped.
It was true.
People saw her as a shadow of Marigold.
—I don't like the last name Everdeen.
So you better just call me Violet.
—Then I will call you that often.
Violet, Violet.
At this moment, Violet felt a little strange.
There were hardly any occasions when anyone called her by her name.
When his family did it, it was always because they were angry.
They shouted her name with the voice of a demon: 'Violet!'
Perhaps that's why the sound of his name spoken sweetly tickled his stomach.
What nonsense.
He only allowed me to call him by his name.
Anyone can call a friend by name.
Are we friends?
Violet thought.
Without realizing it, they passed through a busy area and arrived at a quiet square.
The center of the capital was made up of several large squares, but in this one, which was relatively small, there were no festival stalls.
Violet stopped.
"Ash, why are you so nice to me?" —Violet said.
"I like you," Ash replied calmly.
—Wh-what, me?
—Violet almost choked.
"Yes, the color of your aura," Ash said softly.
—And what does that mean?
—Useless, the worst talent in history, worthless trash.
—…
—Despite those titles, the magical energy flowing from your body is very good.
—Did you always think that?
—There is almost always a reason for the things that catch our attention.
In that moment, everything became clear.
Ash is different.
He's the only one in the academy who noticed my talent!
Of course, not everyone becomes a Sword Master.
Ash had very keen intuition.
That's it, Violet felt relieved.
—You're amazing, Ash.
Even though you are already strong, you take a genuine interest in other people's talents.
—…Genuine?
—Yes, you are interested in my sword, right?
Ash looked at her for a moment, then smiled.
—You're not wrong, except for the genuine part.
Violet thought Ash was interesting, but also a little difficult to understand.
—About your request that I teach you how to be hurtful.
Why did you ask me?
Violet couldn't tell Ash to his face, 'Because you're an expert at being hurtful.'
"Do you think I'm that good at that?" —Ash smiled as if he already knew.
—Well, ah.
You are a great swordsman, you have a strong mind, and therefore, you have a tongue as brilliant as your mind...
—You don't know how to lie or be false, right?
Violet was silent for a moment and then said in a low voice.
—But I'm good at keeping secrets.
And I'm good at keeping things I shouldn't say.
Ash nodded slightly.
—It seems so.
"Anyway, I was wondering what you would say or think if you were in my place." Bluideen always gets angry when I open my mouth, but...
what you say is different.
You are elegant.
Violet said it naturally.
Although it was strange, Violet felt that Ash was like a character in Lady Roseanne's novel.
A strong man who lives without worries and without having to ask anyone for anything.
—If I were in your place, I would tell Bluideen this:
Ash grabbed her and whispered a few words in her ear.
Ash's closeness made Violet's cheeks turn red.
Violet's face hardened for a moment and then she opened her mouth.
—You didn't use any bad words and you just told the truth, but it sounds so…
—Uncomfortable?
-…A bit.
"If I were Bluideen, I'd die of anger," Violet said.
…To be continued