A Painting of the Villainess as a Young Lady

Chapter 3

The evil older sister who would harass her little sister, who lost her birth parents. The wicked woman who did all the worst bullying, framing and manipulating towards an innocent girl.

These weren’t lies. When Yeon Ha-yoon looked back on the past, it’s true that Violet had done many misdeeds.

She hated Aileen.

So, she tormented her.

She’d been associated with such unruly behavior ever since she was young, so it was thanks to this that the prejudices people had over her were impossible to alleviate. Rather than their own younger sister, Violet’s older brothers took care of Aileen, who was their cousin.

‘Nanny said something to me. The previous duchess is a gorgeous woman who has beautiful golden blonde hair, but why is Sister’s hair silver?’

Recalling what Aileen had said when they were children, both Violet and Yeon Ha-yoon had the same reaction. They just pressed down the urge to smile helplessly. 

It’s all meaningless now. It’s become meaningless.

That she tried to be recognized by her family, that she tried to be loved, that she tried to survive in this hellish ducal household and live.

As the memories of her previous life came back to her, the two personalities blended together.

The person she was now was Violet but not Violet, was Yeon Ha-yoon but not Yeon Ha-yoon. So, she decided to redraw her life.

—To leave everything in this reality behind. To confine myself, alone.

* * *

The first thing Violet did was to visit her father, even as she was still wearing her nightgown. 

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Her body had yet to recover, so she obviously looked gaunt no matter who saw her.

Despite his daughter’s sudden visit, the duke did not show any indication of unrest.

The nineteen continuous years of trying to instill her with the values of a ducal lady was no more. Only silence, as sharp as a knife, loomed inside the duke’s office.

Duke Everett neatly swept back his black hair and looked at Violet with a calm gaze. Those eyes gave off the same impression as a lake in the middle of a snowy winter.

For all her life— for all her life, she just wished that he would look her way, even with those cold eyes.

The girl took a brief moment to sympathize with herself during this life. She lost her mother at a young age and her father was an indifferent man, so how could it have been possible to receive the love and affection she needed?

While she yearned for the attention of the people who wouldn’t even look at her, she lived persistently.

For a few days, the servants discussed amongst themselves whether the ducal lady had finally gone crazy because of her behavior. Violet snorted at them and ignored their chattering.

Did you also want me to die?

Since my life is worthless and has no use at all, why did you spend such an astronomical amount of money to save me?

Yeon Ha-yoon, Violet smiled at the duke, who did not even give her a single grain of attention.

“I would like to ask one question, Your Grace. To you, what am I? A daughter or a tool to be used?”

She took on an elegant posture as she asked with a voice that was entirely graceful.

Violet’s question was both blunt and disrespectful. Even if Duke Everett were to yell at her here, it was very much warranted.

But instead of condemning her for her insolence, the duke responded to the question by raising his head and looking straight into Violet’s eyes.

The two gazes intertwined in the air.

Deep purple eyes that were like bottomless lakes, and green eyes that were good at concealing one’s innermost thoughts from the experience of being a duke for a long time.

The time they sized each other up was but a moment. Without any hesitation, Violet asked once more.

“Let me ask you again. Your Grace, to you, am I a daughter or a tool?”

“…What kind of ruckus is this now.”

“Ever since my close brush with death, my feelings have changed. There’s something that I wish to do.”

The ducal lady’s tone was remarkably tranquil.

If it was this easy to let go of one’s expectations, why couldn’t she let go of such expectations to be acknowledged by this household. Even if she was considered to be merely a tool, she was still being valued, to a certain extent.

Of course, considering who Violet was right now, she did not need this acknowledgement.

The duke opened his heavy lips.

“What is it that you want to do?”

“First, I would like to renounce every single marriage proposal.”

“…You may do so.”

When Violet mentioned the marriage proposals, the duke answered quickly. At this, Violet was momentarily shaken.

She couldn’t throw away the value placed on her as a tool so easily. Although her reputation had already hit the floor, Violet’s outward appearance was still objectively pleasant.

Even though the duke could have still used her as a tool when sending her off to a political marriage, there was no hesitation in his answer.

She wondered if he had another use in mind for her. Even so, Violet immediately regained her composure and continued.

“And, I wish to paint.”

“…If that is what you wish, then I can also call for a teacher.”