"The Kanik Hotel. There is one of the most famous hotel chains. They said the company bought the entire hill behind the castle wall. All the way to the sea."
Surprised by her words, Violet looked towards the castle wall.
Violet suddenly felt like her mind was going blank.
"Why is Kanik Hotel here...?"
"A lot of people from out of town came in, wondering if they were going to build it so big. Our town will be crowded for a while too. I wonder if business is going well."
Did Winter notice that she was here?
Violet thought for a moment. But Winter was not so pathetic that he boasted about his wife's loss by building a hotel nearby just to show her off.
In the first place, she didn't think he would still be that interested in her.
What a coincidence. As Violet thought about this and concentrated on doing laundry to forget, Pim pointed to the wooden board placed in front of the door to prevent her from stepping on the mud.
"With all the neighborhood kids coming and going, that thing is on the verge of being destroyed."
"I guess I'll have to change it..."
As Violet trailed off with a smile, Pim frowned and asked.
"What on earth is Violet spending the money she earns? The Yefimchuk family won't pay you much, so how can you live without it?"
"Oh, didn't I tell you? I'm using it to pay off my debt."
"... Did you? How much do you owe?"
"Even if I repay it for the rest of my life, I won't even be able to pay the interest."
Violet spoke so calmly that Pom made a bitter expression. After a while, Violet got down from the wooden barrel. Her feet were wet and she stepped on the dirt, and she felt so good that the shock she had received was gone for a moment.
After washing the clothes as she was taught, she hung them on the clothesline again. Just as Pim had said, the bedding was completely white, as if the laundry hadn't even been done before.
How good would it feel to lie down on it after it dries so softly?
Those happy thoughts covered Violet's complicated feelings about the Kanik Hotel. If she didn't encounter him, it wouldn't have much to do with me.
***
A few days later, Violet boarded a wagon sent by the family to prepare for the Yefimchuks' garden party.
The wagon was filled with flowers prepared by Violet.
She departed from her house and soon reached the border of Corsica. The border was meaningless and there was already an agreement between the two countries, so there were no restrictions on travel.
After riding a carriage for about an hour, she came to the Yefimchuk family with a nice wall.
Since Yefimchuk was inside the walls when she got down in front of the mansion, she could clearly see the Kanik Hotel being built on the hill.
'Winter will come too.'
He traveled frequently for three years. It was difficult to see his face, so it was clear that he would come here to see with his own eyes the new hotel being built.
Anyway, once he left, there were many times when he wouldn't come home for three months. But since they started living separately, Violet sometimes misses him terribly.
Still, after about a year, that longing has become bearable. Why does she feel so sorry for that man, the man who was so Indifferent and abusive?
Violet always wondered about that.
As Violet was looking towards the hill without thinking, Lizzy, the famous daughter of the family, interfered.
"What are you doing here?"
"Oh, I'm sorry."
Violet apologized and hurriedly took down the flowers she had brought.
Even though Lizzy had absolutely nothing to do here, she didn't seem to have any intention of going. She asked, continuing to wander next to Violet.
"Where did you get your hair done?"
"My head?"
It hasn't been trimmed since the maid last cut it. When Violet hesitated to answer, Lizzy asked interrogatively.
"In the morning? How did you manage it?"
"I just wrapped it and let it dry."
"Don't lie. I just stopped you and this is what happened?"
"I did brush my hair."
Nineteen-year-old Lizzy was still following along, asking questions, and Violet sighed in annoyance.
"Young lady, prepare for the party too. Don't follow me around like this."
"What does it matter where I go? Just mind your own business."
Lizzy looked irritated and lifted the vase and placed it in Violet's position.
While she was helping her with her work, Lizzy looked at Violet and saw that she had gathered her long hair and tied it up with a pin, as if she was about to start working in earnest.
Lizzy was chewing and swallowing Violet's every movement with her eyes as if it were important nutrients. She must have been a great housegirl.
Lizzy was sure. Although her desire for central social circles was great, she had no mentor to look up to and learn.
Then, when Violet came to her looking for a job, she was sure it was this person. Even though the situation didn't seem to be good, all she wanted to do was steal everything, including the way Violet spoke, her hand gestures, and even her facial expressions, and make them her own.
It was clear that the same was true for Lizzy's parents. Even though the maids originally had a reasonable amount of flower decorations, they spent extra money to hire Violet.
Violet hung the net bag she made last night on the tree. It contained a glass bead, and the magic stone inside the bead gave off a bright light and served as a light.
Hanging beads of various colors on the trees created a wonderful atmosphere in the garden..
Lizzy said to Violet, who was standing under the ladder and going up and turning on the lights.
"There will be an opening party when the hotel opens."
"Ah."
"Lord Winter Bloom Is coming..."
When Violet lost her strength and stumbled Lizzy was so scared that she hugged her legs and cursed without even realizing it.
Violet, who came to her senses after hearing Lizzy's swear words, said.
"Thank you for your help, but I'm not saying that harshly."
"When did I say something so harsh? Isn't that because we almost got in big trouble, now!"
Maybe she likes this young lady.
Violet came down from the ladder with a worried face. And she opened her mouth with determination in her eyes.
"Lizzy."
"Yes, yes?"
Lizzy flinched.
Even now, she was aware that Violet's behavior and attitude were different from everyone she had ever seen, but now that she had decided to say something, thr intimidation had become several times stronger.
"Didn't you want to enter the central social world?"
"Yes, that's right."
"Then this opening party is going to be a really, really important party. With the connections you made there, you may be able to expand into the capital city of Corsica."
"Who doesn't know that?"
"If you want to do that, you shouldn't use such a tomboyish tone."
"Brother is!"
"Master Jordi has no Intention of entering the central social circle, so it's okay for you to continue to be a tomboy."
As the two were talking, Mrs. Yefimchuk, who was approaching, stopped when she realized that Lizzy was being scolded. She pretended to speak to her maid who was near her, but only her ears were open to them.
Violet Immediately straightened Lizzy's shoulders, who were pouting.
"And don't stand with your shoulders like that."
"They make fun of me because I'm tall."
"Why is that? It's just cool."
"...Yes?"
"Holding your shoulders like this doesn't mean you'll lose height. It's an unnecessary action."
"Violet, how is your posture so straight? Your neck is long and pretty."
"I've been doing ballet since I was young."
"Ah."
Lizzy nodded and stood with her shoulders straight. Mrs. Yefimchuk sighed heavily. Lizzy didn't listen when she said that, but she did listen to Violet, who was following her around.
Even though she was her daughter, she immediately felt disgusted with her.
Still, Mrs. Yefimchuk felt grateful to Violet.
After Mrs. Yefimchuk left safely, the party guests, women of Lizzy's age, entered. Violet had not even finished her work, but the early guests were seated at the table.
They were the daughters of a fairly famous family in eastern Corsica. They had a debutante ball around the same time, and as soon as they entered, they were busy talking about the opening party at the Kanik Hotel.
Among them, Yefimchuk was the least powerful in all respects. Lizzy, who was a tomboy, sat in front of the table and just smiled and agreed with an awkward expression.
"Oh my, it looks like Miss Lizzy has grown taller?"
"Oh my God! If this continues, you will turn 180 degrees!"
It seemed like the fact that she was intimidated by her height wasn't a big deal.
As Violet was sorting out what was left in her luggage, Elsa Aiden of the Aiden family, the most influential family in the gathering, asked Lizzy as if she could hear her.
"Miss Lizzy, I think the woman taking care of those flowers was a noblewoman?"
"Well, maybe..."
"No matter how much of a fallen nobleman she is, she would do something like that. I guess she has no pride."
Lizzy paused. But she was too timid to take Violet's side right now. She was Intimidated because there were girls from much better families than her.
Violet, who was looking in that direction, made eye contact with Lizzy and slightly motioned for her to come towards her.
Fortunately, Lizzy understood and called to Violet, and she whispered.
"It is rude to come earlier than the scheduled time."
"I thought so, but it's a bit hard to say. And I've been wanting to tell you for a while."
Violet spread her little finger, pretending to delicately hold a teacup with her linger.
"You can't open your arms."
"Yeah? It unfolds on its own?"
"No."
"Why?"
"It's etiquette."
"Miss Elsa, are you unfolding your hands?"
"I see. You're still young, so you can learn."
Lizzy's expression brightened at Violet's words and she was excitedly about to return to the table when Violet placed a glass vase in her arms.
"I feel like I called you for no reason, so please take this. Just put it in front."
"An empty vase?"
"Yes. In the social circles of Rockround Central, a vase with a narrow opening like this is often placed in front of the host during tea parties. And whether it's a leaf or a flower petal, if you're lucky enough to enter this narrow entrance, you'll make a wish. They say all your wishes will come true."
"Oh my, this is fun."
Lizzy answered as if she were fascinated and asked while holding the glass vase.
"Has Violet ever made a wish?"
"Ah. Once."
"How was it? Did it come true?"
"Not yet. But I believe it will come true."
Violet remembers the spring when she was sixteen.
A small light pink cherry blossom fell through the narrow entrance. Violet put her hands together and made a sincere wish.
'Please help me build a happy family.'
Violet's wish was always the same.
She saw Lizzy running over and showing Elsa how to spread her fingers. And when she placed the vase in front of her, everyone looked at it with curiosity.
Rockround was a country with a very developed social scene, so learning about its culture was of great interest.
As Violet was getting into the wagon to go home, she looked back toward the hotel one more time.
It's been a year since she broke up with him. How was he doing?
Violet was a little curious.
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