The capital of the kingdom, Istraget, was divided into nine districts.
Districts 1 to 3 were the areas where the nobles and the rich lived.
Violet arrived in District 7, inhabited mainly by the middle class.
—Bycolin Street, number 12.
He found it easier than he thought.
A sign at the entrance to Cyril's house read 'Cyril Cole Everdeen'.
Is this my uncle's house?'
Violet knocked on the door carefully.
Isn't there anyone?
At this moment, the door burst open.
Violet almost fell forward.
Luckily, he regained his balance and recognized Cyril instantly.
Cyril, with dark blue hair and dark blue eyes, was younger and more handsome than she had imagined.
She was wearing a long leather coat that highlighted her waist and riding boots.
I didn't know if her outfit was elegant or just sloppy.
When he saw her, he frowned, but a crooked smile appeared on his lips.
—It doesn't look like you're lost.
What is my brother's daughter, who I don't speak to, doing here?
—It's been a long time.
I'm sorry to come suddenly, but I have something to tell you.
Cyril turned around without saying anything and started walking down the hallway.
Violet, taking it as a sign of permission, quickly followed him.
I thought he was staying in a boarding house...
Is this entire building my uncle's?
Violet's father, Godfrey, had always said with contempt that Cyril was poor.
When they reached the living room, Cyril sat on the couch, putting his feet up on the table.
-Speaks.
I'm in a hurry, so keep it brief.
—I wanted to ask you about my mother's ring.
When I was ten years old, he came to the mansion and gave it to me.
I was wondering how he got it.
—And where is the ring now?
Violet's cheeks flushed slightly.
—…I gave it to an old woman who was begging in front of the temple.
—Why did you throw away such a valuable ring, you scoundrel?
—Cyril's voice became deeper.
—My father discovered the ring.
-…AND?
—He told me that if I didn't throw it away immediately, things would be very bad for me, so I couldn't disobey him.
Donating it was the best thing I could do.
Cyril frowned.
Violet felt a little nervous.
—And if you didn't obey you, what was that bastard going to do?
Violet looked at him stunned.
That day, Godfrey had slapped him.
But it wasn't the first time it happened and it wasn't that big of a deal.
—My father yells when he gets angry.
But it has never hit me seriously.
I never had to go to the hospital or anything like that,” Violet answered honestly.
Cyril's brow furrowed even more.
Violet hastened to add.
—At least if I donated it, it would be used to buy clothes or food for the poor, right?
So it would also serve as a prayer for my mother's repose, and...
—I don't need unnecessary explanations.
Did you keep your promise?
-Promise…?
What promise?
Cyril looked at her in silence.
It's true!
That I would carry the ring with me every day!
Violet suddenly remembered that fact.
—To be honest, I couldn't wear it every day.
But he always wore it on a chain around his neck when he went to the academy.
When he went to the academy, he wore shirts with high collars, which allowed him to hide the necklace.
-Excellent.
How far have you come with magic circles?
Cyril's words almost made Violet faint.
A talent that no one had noticed, one in ten thousand.
How did Cyril know?
—How do you know?
—How would I know?
Your biological mother told me.
—…And what else did he say?
Do you know his name?
—The talent of one in ten thousand.
Violet almost stopped breathing.
—If the first genius had lived and died alone, do you think he would not have a partner and children?
The lucky descendants would have inherited that talent.
—…
—She told me that in your mother's family, from time to time, people were born with a special constitution who could not accumulate magic in their bodies, but could surround themselves with circles of magic.
That was you.
Your mother knew the moment you were born.
—But how…?
"Wait, I'll tell you calmly." Violet took a deep breath patiently.
—First, when you have the answer you want, you leave without hesitation.
It's a promise.
—Yes, I will.
-Good.
First, don't ask me how your mother knew about your constitution.
I don't even know, and I didn't see her much either.
Her name is Deborah.
Deborah.
It was a nobler name than I thought.
It was a very pretty and adorable name.
Violet uttered it several times in her mouth.
—My father told me that my biological mother was a low-born woman who had no family or profession, and who depended on other people.
—What stupid things are you talking about?
The one who comes from a noble family in name only, a trash bastard, is your father, Godfrey.
Your mother is from the prestigious Reinhardt family in the suburbs.
—Descendant of a noble family?
My father said that...
"Don't believe what that liar Godfrey says." That bastard who abandoned his own girlfriend dares to say anything.
-…That?
The greatest source of inferiority and guilt in Violet's life was the fact that she was an illegitimate daughter.
—My father sincerely loved my stepmother.
But the wedding was almost ruined because my biological mother conceived me...
'So my existence was a sin, they told me that every day.'
Cyril said it without flinching.
"You're not a bastard." If anything, your stepsister Marigold is.
Violet's world cracked slightly.
—We were an impoverished noble family from a province, in name only.
But Godfrey, who went away to study, brought a woman from a powerful family with a large dowry.
I heard that the bride's family objected, so he stole the woman's inheritance and they ran away together.
—…
An escape for love.
That was the story of his biological mother and Godfrey.
"Then Godfrey and your mother lived together for a few months, and then he stole all her fortune and ran away again." This time with a waitress from the town bar.
And by then, you were already in your mother's womb.
Violet no longer had the strength to be surprised.
—So, that waitress is…
—Yes, your stepmother, Paula.
"And she lied that I was the bastard?"
"That's why I tell you that bastard Godfrey is a compulsive liar." He scammed several people in his hometown under the pretext that he was going to invest their money in the capital.
Violet turned pale.
Cyril continued his explanation calmly.
Godfrey's escape caused his mother to become ill and not live long.
At that time, Cyril was young and already had plans to leave home.
When his mother died, he gathered the little money he had and prepared to go to the capital.
But just that day, Deborah gave birth to a baby girl.
Cyril and Deborah were virtual strangers.
At that time, Cyril and Godfrey got along very badly.
Although they were brothers with a good age difference, they were worse than strangers.
That's when the townspeople made a fuss and went to look for Cyril.
They told him that Deborah had given birth, that she was about to die, and that she was desperately searching for him, although they didn't know why.
Deborah was dying.
When Cyril arrived, she smiled weakly at him.
(Cyril, I heard you were going to the city.
Godfrey is probably in the capital.
I'm not going to make it through tonight.
Please take this girl to Godfrey.)
(Are you crazy?
Do you think the man who abandoned you will accept this girl?)
(My father is the head of the Reinhardt family, a line of warriors with a powerful lineage.
People of the Reinhardt family are born with a special constitution called a circle of magic.
If you tell him that this power also manifested in my daughter, Godfrey will probably take her in and raise her.)
(Why don't you send her to your family?)
(My father is a very strict man.
He could kill the girl in a fit of anger.)
(…)
(Sorry, I don't have anyone else to ask.
Since her biological father is like him, at least he'll raise her.
I'm such a horrible mother that this is all I can do.)
(I'll look for that bastard and leave the girl at his doorstep, or whatever, but I'll just do that.
I won't give any more help.)
Cyril finished speaking.
Violet clenched her fists on her knees.
(So, that's why he had my mother's relics.
He received them the day she died.)
…To be continued