Violet’s answer left Cairn’s eyes wide open, and he couldn’t hide his surprise. Unlike his siblings, Cairn couldn’t quite conceal his emotions.
“Is that the reason?”
Aldin understood, yet Cairn, unable to hide his expression, yelled,
“Why me?!”
In response to his indignant protest, both Aldin and Violet turned their gaze to Cairn. Their eyes contained a reprimand: ‘Are you really asking because you don’t know?;
He clenched his teeth and chewed the innocent cookies with a combative spirit.
‘The academy, huh.’
As Violet’s thoughts wandered to the academy, she realized that the level of education provided by the teachers at the ducal estate was excellent but not as specialized and outstanding as the academy’s professors.
Even though the options for a noblewoman’s education in the empire were limited, she could have received a more thorough education than what she had at home.
Well, if she were to be more honest, even if the ducal residence itself was akin to living well to her as well, it’s not just because of Cairn that she opted not to attend the academy.
“I’m sure that a lot of people will like Sister because you’re so much better than me, right? Compared to you, I lack the confidence to be as good as you.”
It’s because Violet didn’t want to have to deal with that detestable relationship even at the academy.
Aileen had entered the academy the same year as Cairn, but she eventually decided to cancel her enrollment when Violet had opted to stay at the ducal residence.
It was during the time when Aileen constantly mimicked Violet, and Violet had become highly sensitive to the girl’s actions.
This unpleasant memory brought a frown to Violet’s face.
When Violet told the duke that she would not be attending the academy, he had responded as such.
“Alright. You don’t have to study abroad either, since you’re going to marry and leave the house eventually.”
Violet smiled bitterly, recalling the moment she became certain that the duke truly regarded her only as a tool to be used and discarded.
If she had gone to the academy, perhaps the relationships she had would be different.
It’s impossible to say which might be better.
Shedding her unpleasant memories and negative possibilities, Violet laughed lightly.
“Well, there were various reasons. So why did you end up enrolling in the academy?”
“Ah. It was at the behest of my older sister.”
“Your older sister?”
“I still don’t know what she had in mind,” Aldin replied calmly.
Aldin smiled gently in response to Violet’s question.
As Duke Aesir was in his forties, he had sired a daughter who was about three or four years older than Aldin. She was the one who had sent her younger brother ahead to the academy.
Whether it was an intention to drive away the troublesome illegitimate child or a way to ensure he wouldn’t be discriminated against, the result was a good one. Aldin was recognized for his abilities.
“I think I’ve established a lot of good relationships.”
Aldin’s gentle smile concealed a mix of emotions. One of those good connections was Cairn, and knowing this fact made Violet feel uncomfortable.
“Still, it must have been hard to meet someone like that as a classmate.”
Violet added with a spiteful comment.
In turn, Aldin responded,
“He’s quite a noisy fellow, after all.”
To him, Cairn was a good friend. He had treated Aldin as a person, not discriminating against him for being an illegitimate child.
In terms of ability and conversation, Cairn wasn’t a bad friend.
Violet didn’t like that fact. She didn’t like the idea that someone she disliked could be a good person to someone else.
People couldn’t always be good to everyone. She knew that.
People who were good in Violet’s eyes could be the arch-nemesis of someone else, and the opposite could be true as well.
In her case, this was no different.
But how could she forget those horrific memories? Violet thought of the cold sensation of a sharp blade against her throat. Her fingers instinctively touched the base of her neck.
“What’s wrong?
“No. It’s nothing.”
Aldin raised an eyebrow in response to Violet’s actions, but her gaze naturally shifted toward Cairn.
The third son of the Everett Duchy, who did quite a lot of nothing today, had a look on his face that said he’d been unjustly treated.
The relationship between Violet and Cairn at the moment was delicate.
She had not forgiven her younger brother.
And, forgiven or not, no progress had been made thus far.
Because Cairn had just been living as he pleased until now, he didn’t know how to be considerate of others.
He was awkward in understanding people’s emotions and in maintaining relationships. Part of it was due to his innate personality, but it was also because he had never truly faced real adversity.
Without experiencing it, one couldn’t easily grasp and sympathize with the pain of others.
Simply put, Cairn could not comprehend the thorns that still plague Violet.
The reason he apologized was because he simply recognized his own actions as ‘inappropriate’, yet without fully understanding what exactly he did that had hurt her.
So, most of the time, Cairn was better off refraining from uttering the words that were right on the tip of his tongue.
What should this relationship be defined as?
Violet didn’t consider it to be as uncomfortable and repulsive as it used to be, but she still disliked Cairn.
This feeling was different from what she felt for Roen, and much more complicated.
That cold, icy sensation resting precariously upon her throat. The expression that carried such palpable fury.
It was all still so vivid.
Even though she could maintain a comfortable conversation with the changed Cairn… Just the same, the fear she harbored remained on the forefront of her being.
Like an ever-present specter, she would still find herself perpetually afflicted by this lingering fear, flinching at even the slightest hint of a raised hand.