A Painting of the Villainess as a Young Lady

For a while, they exchanged various bits of small talk.

Given their high social standings, they should have been careful about their conversation topics, yet Vaughn treaded recklessly despite this situation being no different to a minefield.

He innocently asked with his clear and bright voice,

“So, you two, when is your engagement ceremony going to be held?”

And at that…

Snap!

Violet broke her pencil’s lead a second time. Rajaden choked as if caught off guard, coughing for a long time.

Violet clarified that it was just a rumor, and only after Rajaden appeared crestfallen did the conversation topic change.

“What do you think about the existence of witches?”

Rather than avoiding the volatile mines, it seemed as if the prince was actively and deliberately stepping on them one after another.

Violet wondered if he knew her nickname was ‘The Witch of Everett’ and was mocking her in a roundabout manner.

“The term ‘witch’ is usually in reference to a woman who has made a pact with a devil. However, from what I know, actual cases of devil’s pacts during the witch hunts were very few.”

“That’s a very formal answer. To add another perspective, most of those who were unjustly killed were actually considered to be loved by God. People took their lives out of envy for God’s love.”

“I see…”

“Hmm, I’m not entirely uninterested in that viewpoint. It’s usually considered a heretical theory, but most women called witches were said to have special powers. If those powers were divine blessings, that would be plausible.”

“Your Highness, please don’t move.”

Violet said, not wanting to delve deeper into the topic of witches.

Feeling slighted that Violet didn’t criticize the foreign prince and scolded him instead, Rajaden expressed his feelings of injustice through his expression.

Violet captured that expression directly into her sketch.

The sketching session ended albeit sluggishly.

With continuous interruptions, it was distracting.

Violet could multitask, but it was mentally exhausting.

As the atmosphere seemed to disperse, Vaughn approached Violet and, with a suave smile, kissed the back of her hand.

“Today was a fruitful time. I hope we can have even more conversations next time. Perhaps with others too? Haha.”

Seeing this, Rajaden straightened his clothes and walked over aggressively, his eyes blazing.

His grab at Vaughn’s wrist was filled with urgency.

“Do not be rude.”

“Hm? But isn’t kissing the back of a lady’s hand part of the empire’s etiquette? Did I make some mistake?”

“……”

Rajaden gritted his teeth but did not take any further action.

Vaughn knew that the crown prince could not act rashly and was provoking him.

Violet sighed in dismay at the behavior of the two men.

“Well then, I’ll be going.”

As she quickly declared her exit, Vaughn called out to Violet.

He still wore that same inscrutable smile.

“Wait, I have something to tell both of you.”

“……”

“Have you not forgotten what I just said? Those who crave divine love are often jealous of those who receive it.”

His voice was so low it almost sounded like a whisper.

Rajaden’s expression darkened.

Was there a need to speak so cryptically about being cautious because something strange was happening at the temple?

Still showing his discomfort openly, Rajaden growled.

“Are you going to keep talking?”

“Haha, seeing both of you reminded me of another story. I’ll tell it to you first, and then I’ll leave.”

Vaughn laughed lightly, taking the crown prince’s jealousy as nothing more than a child’s tantrum.

“It is commonly known that the Sun God and the Moon Goddess are lovers. But do you know why day and night were separated?”

Vaughn spoke smoothly, smiling. Another theological story.

One not written in the scriptures.

Violet, knowing where Vaughn was headed with his story, slightly furrowed her brow, and Rajaden scowled.

The tale that the Sun God and the Moon Goddess were lovers is a legend.

In that story, the love between the two deities ended in tragedy.

Thus, day and night were forever separated, and while the moon was left with stars, the sun rises alone in its majesty.

What was the purpose of him telling this story? Violet rolled her eyes.

“Then, I’ll be leaving now, so please let go of my hand.”

Rajaden was still holding onto Vaughn’s wrist.

“How can I leave if you keep holding on to my hand? Unless, Your Highness, you have feelings for me…”

He spoke boldly.

A new kind of madman, this guy.

Startled, Rajaden released his hand.

Violet had already left the scene without even saying goodbye to the crown prince.

He had said there was no need for farewells, so he had no grounds to complain.

And if he were to speak up about this, it would only drive a wedge thousands of miles deep between him and Violet.

“Anyway, you would do well to remember my words.”

Having failed in all his plans for Violet to notice him more, Rajaden watched Violet’s retreating figure in dismay.

Beside him, Vaughn chuckled softly.

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