Chapter 98: Absence of parties.
“……Ha……?”
A dry, cracked sound rolled between them as she failed to grasp the meaning of the question.
What else could it be but coincidence?
Even if it weren’t, Violet was no child.
She had the experience of a noble lady born into her position.
Even if Rosette had approached her with some scheme, Violet would never be so oblivious as to be danced in the palm of her hand.
In any case, there was no reason for Yulan to be this wary.
Wasn’t this overprotection; no, outright interference?
“You must know that she was infatuated with Prince Claudia.”
Everyone in the academy knew of Violet’s twisted love.
They knew how disgusted Claudia had been… and how suddenly Violet’s attitude had changed.
No one had asked her directly; guessing that family matters had left her no room for it; but there was no need to explain what the old Violet had been like.
To Violet, Rosette should by rights be a romantic rival.
Of course, nothing had been officially announced, so Violet had no way of knowing.
Rosette, however, knew everything and still stood here; talking with Violet, laughing with her, gradually securing the position of friend.
Yulan’s vigilance was not so thin that he could believe there was no ulterior motive.
Especially where Violet was concerned; his guard became ironclad, abnormal, excessive.
“I’m not sure what you’re trying to say.”
“The very fact that you answer that way is proof you understand.”
“…”
“It’s admirable to be cautious, but don’t you think resistance is pointless once I’ve already reached you?”
It was creepy, she thought frankly.
He watched her every move and struck precisely at the most unpleasant spots.
She felt slowly but surely being driven toward the edge of a cliff.
The gentle, soft voice and smiling mouth were the only gentle things; the eyes and words rained down like thorns, infuriating her beyond endurance.
The blatant wariness and distrust, the way he trampled in with no regard or restraint;
she understood that it all stemmed from deep emotion, from love for someone.
Yet the method was so utterly selfish, so self-contained.
It looked as though he were dragging Violet along in his one-man rampage.
“Let me rephrase: I have nothing to say to you.”
“…”
“This is between Vio-sama and me.
Whatever we feel, whatever we talk about, whatever relationship we weave; it belongs only to us.
It is none of your business.”
If meddling in romance is vulgar, the same applies to friendship.
Worry and anxiety grow larger the more precious the person is, but that gives no justification for standing in the way.
Many consider mind-reading a virtue, but no matter how much one guesses, without the parties’ own voices it remains mere self-interpretation.
“For your sake” only gains value when coincidence and luck side with it.
Danger, distrust, incompatibility…
any reason offered by a third party is nothing more than speculation and imagination; there is no truth in it.
“Do whatever you like, think whatever you like; that is your freedom and I have no interest.
But please…
don’t drag Vio-sama into your possessive desires.”