Ash had told Violet to do only two things today.
The first was to greet Bluideen with a confident attitude.
Bluideen gaped at her, only moving his lips.
And, belatedly, he said:
—What is that aspect, for God's sake?
At that moment, Ash put his arm around Violet's shoulder and gently pulled her towards him.
—What urgency makes you walk around looking so miserable?
If you knew what courtesy was, it would be more useful to the world if you took your own life.
How pathetic.
Ash said.
Bluideen's head turned towards Ash.
He ground his teeth.
—What the hell are you doing with my fiancée?
-Fiancee?
Oh please.
A mocking smile escaped Violet's face.
—I understand that Violet has already informed your father of her intention to break off the engagement.
Ash's voice grew deeper.
—T-That's…
—Me putting my arm on my girlfriend's shoulder and beautifying her is none of your business.
This was Ash's second request: to tell Bluideen that they were dating.
Will this strategy work?
Violet thought, but a similar plot had appeared in the novel 'Lady Roseanne'.
Violet thought she had nothing to lose.
And… is it working?
Bluideen's face turned red as a tomato and said to Violet:
"Say it with your own mouth, Violet." Is what this guy says true?
Violet looked at him pitifully and squeezed Ash's hand tightly.
—Bluideen, use common sense.
I am also a swordswoman.
How could I be attracted to a weakling like you?
It's natural to be attracted to someone special and strong like Ash.
-…You….
"You always despised me, so isn't it good for both of us that I met Ash?" People should meet and live with someone of the same level.
Bluideen still had his mouth open, as if he had turned to stone.
—It's natural to choose Ash instead of a man as boring, weak and stupid as you.
You could say that it is a perfect decision, the product of instinct and reason.
You would have done the same in my place.
He had achieved it.
Right now, I feel like Lady Roseanne.
A surge of relief, like a wave, washed over my heart.
For a moment, I felt a sense of release.
The satisfaction of having achieved something was a bonus.
I'm not the insignificant fool Bluideen always talked about.
He couldn't believe that he had said this to Bluideen to his face, to him who had always undermined his self-esteem.
Bluideen was nothing.
In fact, Ash and herself could have knocked him out whenever they wanted.
The proof was that Bluideen couldn't say anything at that moment.
—You tell me that and still...
No, it was more than that.
Bluideen seemed to have melted, dripping like a liquid.
—I'll live well, don't worry.
Now go to your father and tell him, crying, the news of our broken engagement.
Violet said softly.
This time, the words came out naturally, like flowing water.
"Shall we go, Violet?"
Ash said.
Violet lightly placed her hand on Ash's arm.
—Violet, you are making a big mistake.
Do you understand?
Bluideen belatedly shouted.
Honestly, it wasn't threatening at all.
If anything, it sounded like a loser's cry of agony.
—Stay here.
Ash let go of Violet's hand.
And he walked quickly towards Bluideen.
—Ah, I heard that you insulted her a lot.
This is a reward for the debt you have accumulated.
Ash smiled softly and punched Bluideen in the nose again.
Bang!
With a 'crack' sound, Bluideen fell face-first to the ground.
Ash is the kind of person who hits someone he's already hit again...
How cool.
Violet was amazed.
Bluideen was foaming at the mouth.
—Bluideen, it's not over.
Wait for my last word.
Payment in installments.
Violet decided to give Bluideen, who had provoked particularly endless anger, a carefully made gift.
—Oh, and by the way, idiot.
Ash leaned towards Bluideen.
—Before you go crying to your father, read this.
I found it interesting.
Don't you think?
Ash smiled and handed something to Bluideen.
Then, he turned around slowly, still holding onto Violet's hand.
The two walked in silence for a while.
The academy had large and small libraries everywhere, but most of the time there was not a single person.
—Violet, are you okay?
Do you call that a question?
Violet's heart was pure euphoria at that moment.
—Ash, thank you very much!
Violet turned, looked at Ash, and smiled.
She couldn't contain her joy and hugged him lightly by the shoulders.
Ash's body stiffened.
He looked at her without moving and then took her by both arms.
—A-sh?
—No, I'm glad you're happy.
Ash stared at Violet's eyelashes for a moment and then pulled away from her.
—I'm sorry, I crossed the line.
But I couldn't contain my excitement...
The strategy you came up with, Ash, fit perfectly.
I can't believe it was so easy.
Ash reacted a few seconds later than usual today.
"I told you it wasn't a big deal."
—But are you really okay, Ash?
I'm worried that you'll fall out with Bluideen's family.
What will happen if your future is ruined because of that?
-Don't worry.
I enjoy ruining my life.
-Me too.
But...
couldn't rumors start that we're dating?
Even if Violet was no longer 'useless', the bad reputation she had accumulated would not disappear.
But Ash was different.
He has and will have a bright future.
—We both enjoy ruining our lives and, according to Marin, when we're together, we look like a picture.
—….
—That being the case, we're a pretty good fake couple, don't you think?
"Ash, be careful what you say..." Violet thought desperately.
—My heart almost jumped out of my chest.
Don't forget: the terrifying side effect of a handsome man.
Come to think of it, it was said that heroes should stay away from beauties.
If a knight could see a beauty like him standing by his side as if she were a stone, it would be excellent mental training.
—But that Bluideen, it turns out that he likes any woman who wears a skirt?
The truth is that Bluideen had been in love with Marigold for a long time.
That's why when he got engaged to Violet instead of Marigold, he was furious.
But what was your reaction to seeing her with that dazed expression today?
—People with low self-esteem often become obsessed with spouses who are socially valuable.
Ash said.
—So you reacted like that just because I put on new clothes?
Isn't he an idiot?
—You already said it yourself.
Yes he is an idiot.
—I don't know why I felt before that everything Bluideen said was true.
—That's the power of words.
The power of words.
That phrase made me remember something.
—Tell me everything you think about that guy.
The words you keep in your heart.
I'll tell you how to polish them in a sophisticated way.
If Marin had fixed Violet's exterior in the last few days, Ash had helped her store a sword inside her.
A sword that Violet could polish and protect herself with.
Fortunately, he had had a 'prior apprenticeship' with Lady Roseanne, so it wasn't as difficult as he thought.
—In that sense, Ash's sarcasm lessons were also very appropriate.
It was as if…
Violet stopped when she was about to talk about Lady Roseanne.
-As if…?
Ash said.
—It's going to seem strange to you.
But I have someone I admire a lot.
It was like I had become that person.
-Who is it?
"Maybe you think I'm stupid."
-It doesn't matter.
Tell me.
—It's a novel called The Story of Lady Roseanne.
It's light on the plot, but...
it means a lot to me.
This time, Ash stayed silent for a bit longer.
What's wrong with him?
—The thing is that Lady Roseanne in the novel is special, you know?
She is very self-confident, intelligent and good with sarcasm.
Just when it's necessary.
Ash's face slowly started to turn red.
He turned his head.
Even his ears were red.
—I think the author of that novel is definitely a genius.
I think only a thoughtful and kind-hearted person could write something like that.
Of course, it's not a very sophisticated novel, so it might seem pathetic.
Ash took Violet by the shoulders.
—You can stop talking about the novel.
—Oh, yes.
—And she's not pathetic.
-…Oh really?
Violet's expression brightened.
—Having something you like so much is not a bad thing.
I'm serious.
-Yeah.
Violet responded without thinking.
So, he found it strange that Ash seemed to avoid his gaze.
What's happening?
Has Ash read the Lady Roseanne novel?
No, it can't be.
Violet erased the suspicion.
It wasn't even that famous of a novel to begin with.
…To be continued