Violet looked at the fireworks with a hesitant expression. When the last spark exploded and she fell silent, she heard a voice calling to her from afar.
"Violet."
When Violet heard a familiar voice and turned around, the young man who called her came closer.
It was Peren Doss, the successor to the Duchy of Doss. He was dressed in a white uniform and wearing a Jeweled sword, traditional to the Duchy of Doss. He was a refreshing young man who made you feel bright even on a dark night.
Violet quickly stood up.
"Peren, what's going on?"
"Watching the festival."
Peren answered in his typical adult and friendly voice and looked toward Winter. He was still lying down and didn't seem to have any intention of greeting him.
Violet tugged on Winter's arm.
"Let me introduce you."
Winter's expression wrinkled in disapproval, but he had no choice but to stand up.
He looked at Peren very displeased. Peren seemed to embody the Prince from a traditional fairy tale. He had eyes that seemed to contain deep truth, a sweet voice, and a stable and confident expression as if he would never get excited or say harsh words under any circumstances.
Violet said, looking a little puzzled at Winter, who expressed raw alertness like an animal fighting for territory.
"This way. This is my friend's older brother who played house with me which I just mentioned. This is Peren, the heir to the Duchy of Dsos. Peren, this is my husband."
It didn't seem like Winter would greet him first, so Peren held out his hand with a soft smile. Winter opened his mouth, accepting his handshake firmly.
"It's Winter Blooming."
"Yes, I have heard about you. I hope you can visit the Duchy of Doss sometime."
"That won't happen."
Violet, startled by Winter's rude response, turned to him. However, Peren responded calmly, as if he wasn't really worried.
"Then Violet will have no choice but to come play alone."
"..."
Winter, struck by his answer, clicked his tongue. As soon as the two met, they started fighting like old enemies, and Violet asked with an embarrassed expression.
"Peren, what about Sharon?"
"She's in the carriage. We were just about to go see the fireworks."
"Oh, I have to say hello."
Violet pretended to go to the carriage and turned to look at the two people. Of course, she thought they would go together to say hello to Sharon, but they both stood in their seats.
When Violet was confused, Peren said with a smile.
"I want to talk business."
Violet was puzzled, but for now, she walked toward the carriage to meet Sharon.
***
As Violet got on the carriage, Sharon excitedly began to show her one by one the things she had bought at today's festival.
Violet took out a doll and played with her. Then, Violet suddenly remembered that the two men hadn't returned yet, so when Violet looked out, Sharon asked.
"What are you two talking about? The atmosphere is very scary."
"I do not know either."
"Well, I guess it means we shouldn't approach them."
When Sharon said it as if it was obvious, Violet smiled faintly.
"Peren, that may be true, but my husband has no reason to say such a thing. We decided to divorce in three months. We even wrote a contract."
"Really? I'm glad."
"Yes."
When Violet answered bitterly, Sharon burst into laughter and asked.
"Are you really scared when you think about divorce?"
"A little. When I was young, I didn't expect that I would grow up and get divorced."
Violet continued, wrapping her hands around the paper clothes.
"Honestly, I still have regrets."
"Then don't you plan on doing well again?"
Sharon asked and Violet smiled and shook her head.
"It doesn't affect me much because I'm far away from Rockkround now, but marriage isn't something that two people do together. Because two families meet... Marriage is difficult even if two people die and can't survive, but that's not the case with us."
"Hmm. It's difficult."
Sharon crossed her arms and looked worried. Then she asked Violet.
"Do you still like your husband?"
"For now, the only man in my heart is my husband. But I don't like him."
After being apart for about a year, the hatred, regret, and pain she felt toward him gradually faded a little.
Nevertheless, because the three years she spent by her husband's side were so painful, even If she developed even the slightest interest in him during their last few encounters, her entire body activated a defense mechanism.
Those defense mechanisms stabbed her as if to let her know that even if she loved him, the only thing that would come back was hurt.
'Furthermore..."
"Furthermore?"
When Sharon urged, Violet smiled and answered.
"It is a secret."
"What, where is my secret?"
"Should I tell you while I'm drinking or drinking too much?"
"Shall we go for a drink now?"
It was nice to have good friends. When Sharon pretended to drink with her hands, Violet covered her mouth with both her hands and she laughed. She then grabbed Sharon's hand and pulled it down as if to tell her not to do it.
There was an inevitable bitterness In Violet's smiling eyes. Plus, she couldn't tell Sharon that she felt it was a huge problem that her husband couldn't have children with her.
If it wasn't for her, her husband would be able to have a child, and that was the same for her.
Even though her husband seemed fierce and selfish on the outside, he was a man devoted to his family. It wasn't just a sarcastic comment when she heard that she was having a child and said it was a good thing so she should have the baby and raise it.
He wanted a child, and she herself wanted a child.
In the first place, all these worries were meaningless. She pretended to try to please her parents for three months anyway, and then when she divorced, her relationship with him was over. By now, Violet thought, Winter would have accepted the end of their relationship as a couple as much as she had.
***
Perhaps because he was being polite when Violet was around, Winter immediately stuffed his hands into his pockets as soon as she was left.
Peren said calmly.
"I'm telling you in advance because you seem to be wary of me. I've never thought of Violet as the opposite sex, so don't worry."
"When did I ask that?"
Thanks to Winter speaking threateningly, Peren was unable to hide his bewilderment.
"I'm just saying this in case you're curious. I always represent Violet's real brother. I think men would definitely understand. That your friend's younger sister should never be considered the opposite sex. It was just my job to protect Violet. Same time she runs away from the Lord."
Then Winter snorted.
"How can you be her biological brother if you are not related by blood? Don't talk nonsense."
Peren had never heard the term 'bullshit' from anyone outside the Navy. He felt that Winter's words, which he couldn't tell whether they were informal or polite, were barely acceptable to him because he was the heir to the principality.
Peren spoke in a soft voice.
"Regardless of Wayne, Violet and I have never felt like opposites."
"I don't believe that. It doesn't matter."
Peren noticed that no matter what he said, Winter was always on guard and was planning to kick him out.
Violet thought that her husband thought of her as something he could lose and never remember, but even for a moment, Peren knew that was definitely not the case.
However, for that reason, his aversion to Winter did not disappear. No matter how much Peren had been taught not to discriminate, he had a faint aversion to Winter, who had mixed blood from the Kanik clan, as he had rarely met strangers in his life. He felt guilty about that, but it was no use.
Peren thought Winter would know this too. He probably knew better than anyone else that Violet, who lived surrounded by people of a better pedigree than Peren, accepted him without the slightest resistance, showing her humanity.
Of course, Winter Blooming has a look that makes men mesmerized, so he may have played a role in that as well. Winter said as if he was going to argue as he walked to the carriage.
"I understand that the Duchy of Doss makes a living from the navy and tourism. Even if I don't know about the Navy, it would be good if you became familiar with me in the tourism field."
"You don't seem to have any intention of doing that at all."
"I get misunderstood because I basically hate everyone."
Doss Island, where the Principality of Doss is located, was not a very large island and was unsuitable for farming, so tourism accounted for more than half of its income.
As Winter said, there was no harm in becoming friends with him, but the problem was that after becoming friends he would ask for help in receiving Violet's forgiveness.
However, Peren truly loved the Duchy of Doss, and could not miss an opportunity that would bring great profits to the Duchy. Conversely, if Winter had his way, he could have dealt a huge blow to the economy of the Duchy of Doss.
In many ways, he was someone who could not be treated carelessly.
When Peren didn't say anything, Winter said sarcastically.
"I can hear the sound of your head rolling from here."
"Don't be rude."
Winter laughed unconsciously at Peren's words.
Winter had planned to give Violet everything he had and leave, but he had no intention of seeing her meet another man in the three months he had been alive. Proposing the business now seemed like it would really help the business, and it was also intended to tie up Peren financially and prevent him from approaching Violet.
Peren said, looking at Winter blankly.
"Are there any conditions?"
"As long as I'm alive, I hope you don't act like that damn brother to my wife."
He was also jealous. Peren smiled involuntarily and answered.
"I repeat. I am selfless. Are you saying I can't even be your real brother?"
"Hey, Master. Even Violet's real brother is difficult to deal with. Even if you don't take care of it in the first place, I can give my wife anything she wants. So she just needs to sit back and take advantage of that. What's difficult?"
Winter was a man who was both servile and oppressive. Peren, who grew upright, found it difficult to respond to Winter, who bounced around like a rubber ball. He felt like he was being scammed, so he took a step back.
"Let's talk formally again."
"Of course, Master."
"Don't call me master. You have no reason to call me that."
Winter laughed at Peren's words as if he had seen a child complaining.
He walked towards Violet, who got out of the carriage without saying goodbye as if he had no intention of talking further. Peren shook his head as Winter looked at his wife with a relaxed expression as if Winter had become a different person than when he spoke to him. Even though he had seen so many rough sailors, this was the first time he felt this much strain on his body.
Winter was good at cajoling and threatening him into doing whatever he wanted. The Winter Blooming he heard about through Violet so far may be hot-tempered, but he was not a vicious man for a moment.
Just by looking at that relaxed face, it was clear that Violet had no idea how soft Winter was on her.
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