Volume 5 Chapter 195, The Middle Siblings’ Assessments and Past Stories_4 (: Lavender)

Translator: Nonon

Proofreader: Silavin

 

POV: Violet

 

“I’m sorry, this should have been a time for us to spend time as family, but it seems that some trouble has happened.”

 

I don’t know the details, but Lord Clo said that there was some trouble in Shiki involving Apricot and left. Gray brought tea shortly afterwards, and I apologized for the current situation while we all drank it.

They might be Lord Clo’s siblings, but they are still guests, so maybe it would be better if I let somebody else deal with them, but…

 

“No, I understand that the work of the lord of Shiki is difficult in a way that’s different from the work in my land, so it’s okay. I wouldn’t mind even if you went after him.

 

Thanks to that courtesy, Lord Clo thought about it a bit, turned to me and asked ‘would that be okay?’. When I answered that it would be fine, he closed his eyes for a bit, thought about it and decided to go out for a while. It would be helpful if Burnt and Amber were here at times like this, but… there’s no point in wishing for something impossible.

Then, as Lord Clo was leaving,

 

“…Facts aside, I’ll really give away the contents of that poem and the novel if you lie and try to make things up.”

 

He made a threatening remark like this, and left to deal with the situation. I’m a little jealous that he can talk with them like that without putting up any fronts. My Older Brothers didn’t talk with me much…Still, I didn’t expect my in-laws to be so interesting, fond of poetry and writing. I’m not an expert in that area so maybe I could ask them for some pointers if the opportunity arises. It should be a good way to get closer with them.

 

“That’s true, and I would also like to talk more with my Sister-in-law when Clo isn’t around.”

“Without Lord Clo around?”

“Exactly.”

 

Still sipping her tea, Lady Sumi nodded in response to my question and smiled.

… I don’t know the details, but this is a wary expression. Wariness with the main purpose to observe, containing only a hint of malice or hostility. I discreetly glanced at Lord Gen’s expression for a moment, and the earlier panic had faded from his face, changed by the same expression of wariness.

 

“Well, it’s been a while since I’ve been looked at like this.”

 

They were trying to act normal so as to not appear rude, but surely they also didn’t expect that I wouldn’t notice anything.

Most likely, they also did not think they could hide their true feelings, and were waiting for my reaction when I did notice.

I don’t really mind being observed. After all, I am a woman with all sorts of bad rumors about me, who became the life partner of Lord Clo, somebody they care so deeply about that they would come all the way to Shiki because they were worried about him. It’s understandable that they would want to observe me and be wary of me.

I’m used to people looking at me like this. I’ve experienced these kinds of stares and the atmosphere many times in the past.

Besides, it wasn’t the scornful gaze like I used to get at the academy so something at this level wasn’t a problem. I’m not as sensitive to the subtleties like Cyan, but even I can make some judgments.

 

“Still, I’m relieved that my Brother managed to marry such a beautiful woman. He’s a lucky fellow.”

“Thank you very much.”

“I haven’t heard stories of Clo being involved with women, so I was worried.”

“Really?”

 

That’s a little surprising.

Lord Clo treats women equally, regardless of race (otherwise he would have issues communicating in Shiki), so if he had that kind of personality even as a student, I would think there would be a few rumors about his romantic relationships. It doesn’t seem like he even had a fiancée to begin with.

 

“Yes, Clo was always unusual, or more like, he wasn’t so different from the way he is now…”

 

He hasn’t changed since back then… I wonder just how far in the past he’s talking about.

Judging from his words, it can be assumed that he had the same personality even when he was Gray’s age… but I feel like when Lord Gen says ‘back then’, he’s referring to their childhood.

… Lord Clo as a child. I’d like to hear what he was like someday.

 

“Miss Violet, forgive my rudeness, but I would like to ask you something frankly.”

“Please go ahead.”

 

After looking in distance as if he was looking at the time that had passed, Lord Gen looked at me again and asked me with a serious tone.

 

“What do you think of Clo?”

“He’s my precious Husband, whom I cherish and love.”

 

I braced myself for what kind of question he would ask me, but his question was very different from what I expected, so I answered honestly.

I thought he would ask me about the bad reputation I received due to my past failures (the duel), and the Valentine Family being involved with the letter being destroyed after inspection.

 

“Um…”

“… May I ask something too, Lady Violet?”

“Yes, please go ahead, Lady Sumi.”

 

While Lord Gen was at a loss for words for some reason, Lady Sumi questioned me next.

Her blue eyes, just like Lord Clo’s, were looking at me, observing my reaction.

 

“Lady Violet, since you married Clo, you must also know about various bad rumors about him.”

“I know about them. However, I have also heard that those rumors were intentionally spread.”

“Yes, but you must also know the reason why they were spread… the details of the incident that led to Clo leaving the academy.”

 

The reason why Lord Clo left the academy… if I remember right, Prince Vermillion said something about him ‘having tried to kill Prince Carmine’. As a result, Lord Clo and Price Carmine ended up hating each other, and the latter ended up spreading bad rumors about him.

… However, if I think about it carefully—

 

“No, I don’t know that much. I know that Lord Clo did something to Prince Carmine, but I don’t know the details.”

“Eh?”

I don’t know what kind of incident Lord Clo caused.

Judging from the fact it was related to the school festival, and the big incident like attempted murder not being made public, I assume it’s related to the tournament, but… I haven’t heard anything from Lord Clo and I haven’t heard anything from Gray, Apricot and anybody else who knows the details either.

 

“… Are you not interested?”

“I’m curious, but I will wait for the time when Lord Clo tells me himself. I don’t have a clean past myself, so I wouldn’t be so shameless to forcefully expose something from his past that he doesn’t want to talk about.”

 

Now I’ve calmed down enough to answer questions about academy-related matters if asked, but it’s not like I like talking about them.

If I ask, I might be able to learn more about Lord Clo… I guess I could also ask him instead of just waiting. There’s also a chance that this attitude might be causing him pain instead…

But someday I want to be able to talk about the past with him. I want to be able to talk about happiness and unhappiness with him. To achieve that, I would need to spend many years in Shiki—

 

“Then, are you also not interested in Lord Clo’s childhood, Lady Violet? Would you not like to ask Lord Gen and Lady Sumi?”

“Of course I would like to ask them. I would love to hear stories about the young Lord Clo—-mnn, it’s nothing. Please don’t worry about it.”

 

Oh no, I accidentally blurted out my true feelings at Gray’s question.

It’s only natural that I would want to hear about it. Can I resist asking about the adorable Lord Clo as a child? No, I cannot!

 

“… So it’s not like she’s uninterested.”

“… Looks like there’s nothing to worry about it being a facade.”