Ash shrugged.
—I wanted to remove the paralysis, but he resisted.
—Did he resist?
—We had a little fight.
He was out of it, so he thought he was hurting her.
—Hmm, maybe it would have been better to leave it alone.
—They would have left it lying around for a few days, right?
I heard it's okay now.
—…Then, you did well.
-Maybe.
—Yes, you're right —Violet thought for a moment.
No matter how he thought about it, a human like Colbert didn't deserve to be a teacher.
Besides, in the future he would try to do something to her that she wouldn't even like to mention.
If he stays at the academy, there will be more victims besides me.
Violet thought silently.
—Will they fire Colbert?
—I guess so.
“Then that's good too,” Violet said firmly.
Ash looked at her with a bit of surprise.
"Ash?"
—No, it's just that you seem a little difficult to me.
—…People say I'm easy to understand.
It's the first time they've said something like that to me.
Marigold had told him that her thoughts were transparent.
And that's why men would see her as someone easy.
-I have a question.
Why do you need my help?
You did very well with Colbert.
Violet thought for a moment.
-Don't know.
With Colbert, I don't feel like my throat is closing.
—…
—…But when I try to say something to my family, I feel like this.
I feel frustrated and angry.
And I don't know how to deal with that.
"Uh-huh," Ash murmured softly.
It seemed to Violet that Ash was the kind of person who understood and solved everything with a single 'aha'.
—Now I know the help you need, Violet.
—Do you really know?
—Violet said surprised.
—What do you think of Colbert?
—A pile of disgusting, vile, detestable garbage.
—I agree, and then what?
—If it were possible, I would like to flatten him and exile him from the continent.
-What else?
—What else should I do?
—Violet tilted her head.
—Let's take your sister as an example.
What do you think when you remember the famous goddess of the academy, the noble Marigold?
—Violet's chest tightened again.
—I hate her, but it's not just that.
But it's not love either.
I have a dislike, but it is different than the one I feel for Colbert.
I want to hurt her, but I don't know how.
And I don't know if that would be correct.
Could Ash understand what he felt?
Violet's eyes were confused.
—There it is.
You dislike Colbert, but nothing more.
That's not hate.
But you do hate your family.
Therefore, your feeling will not end by just telling them something or hitting them.
Am I such a bad person?
Violet felt shocked.
But the most surprising thing is that he couldn't deny a single one of his words.
—So, do I have to beat them almost to death?
—The Violet of now had the strength to do it, unlike the one before.
-Don't know.
Let's talk about your father.
When you fought with him, you said some pretty hurtful things to him.
-…Really?
—And you could cut ties with him.
And how would he live?
—Sometimes he would insult me, like he does with my uncle Cyril.
But after a while, he would forget about me.
And then...
he, my mother and Marigold would live happily and contentedly.
They would probably be a loving family.
—What a shame, Violet.
"Ash, what…what do you mean?"
—The family that turned your childhood into hell would continue living happily, and your life would not change at all.
And you would have to live with those childhood memories forever.
—…
—And maybe you would be unhappy forever.
Violet clenched her fists.
His eyes became fierce.
Ash's words were not wrong.
And they hurt him a lot.
"What are you trying to tell me, Ash?"
—Now I understand why you were obsessed with your uncle's homework.
You don't want to kill your old feelings with just one outburst.
—…
"So you want them to be unhappy?" Do you want revenge?
—Violet's body temperature gradually increased.
-No.
It's not like that.
-Because?
Maybe they already ruined the person you are now.
So do you wish your enemies happiness?
—They haven't ruined me.
Although the past torments me, spending my life on revenge is something only a broken person does.
—was a phrase that Lady Roseanne had repeated three times in the novel.
But above all, it was a phrase that represented what Violet felt.
-Alright.
"I already decided." Ash smiled slowly.
-That?
What did you decide?
—The answer is in the conversation we just had.
You are not a fool who would waste her time on revenge.
I know what you have to do.
—…
—People often trample on those they believe are inferior.
And you are exactly that to them.
-I know.
My family and the rest see me as a simple stone under their feet.
And those shameless people don't know what guilt is.
It was the most painful truth Violet had ever spoken.
But his father and stepmother…laughed.
As if Violet's desperation was ridiculous.
His behavior was more chilling and disgusting than any criticism.
—So for them, even if you hit them, it would just be an 'unfortunate incident'.
An unfortunate little accident that could hardly turn into a nightmare.
—…Unfortunately, you are right.
Everything Ash said was true.
Ash leaned towards Violet.
—What you need is to make a terrible scene.
You have to create a situation where they can only feel anger and despair.
—…
—From now on, we will be your nightmare.
A nightmare they will never forget, a pain and a wound that will torment them for life.
-And then?
—Violet's eyes widened.
—At that moment, you will finally tell them something.
The hurtful phrase that they will never forget.
Violet understood Ash's words without difficulty.
So what Ash was proposing to him was not a simple insult.
He was proposing that he create a perfect scene to say those words, leaving an unforgettable mark in their minds.
Violet finally felt like she had found the answer.
He clenched and unclenched his fists several times.
—But that wouldn't be right.
Violet said.
—So, was it correct how they treated you?
Ash was right.
That was what Violet really wanted.
Just one sentence was not enough.
And at the same time, he realized that there were different types of powerful words.
Ash's words were seducing her as if they were sweet.
…To be continued