A Painting of the Villainess as a Young Lady
chapter-197

When Rajaden saw the sight of the ducal lady so bloodied, though now the bleeding had stopped, he felt his stomach turn for the first time in his life.

It was an emotion he had never experienced, even in his most furious moments.

Violet, bloodied in Aldin’s arms, maintained a composed demeanor, but her eyes were like those of a fierce wild animal. The crown prince, who had never failed to obtain what he desired, finally understood what ‘jealousy’ was.

He wanted to snatch her from that man’s embrace immediately. To earn the right to be hurt and feel anguish over those wounds.

But there were too many eyes watching for him to act.

“It’s good that you chose to move to a secluded place. I will call the imperial physician immediately for treatment.”

“…And the Lady?”

“She’ll be fine. Even if she’s not, I’ll make sure that she will be, so don’t worry.”

“…Yes.”

The knight’s response seemed reluctant but accepting.

Aldin’s gaze on Violet was profoundly deep. Rajaden had been aware of this fact from before but hadn’t paid it any mind. He hadn’t found it bothersome.

No, he had thought so.

“I will stay until she has received treatment.”

Despite being ordered to return to the hunting competition to avoid confusion amidst the other nobles, Aldin was adamant about staying.

His gaze on Violet’s peacefully closed purple eyes was filled with complex emotions, the largest being unrelenting anger and concern.

Rajaden dismissed him with an order, forcefully sending Aldin back to the competition.

The knight’s sword was adorned with a handkerchief painted with special pigments. Rajaden immediately recognized who had given it to him.

When he first saw it, amidst the attention of many, the only thing the crown prince could do without drawing any eyes was to clench his fist.

To calm a hysterical Roen. To control the situation. To summarize necessary information for his father, the emperor. To ensure that the hunting competition would end without any issues.

There was much to be done.

Despite the chaos in his mind, his body moved efficiently, commanding and directing his subordinates.

After handling urgent matters and going to check on Violet, who resembled the night and moon, all she said was that she wanted to go home as if nothing was wrong.

She must have been shocked mentally, but she said she couldn’t rest comfortably in the tense atmosphere of the palace.

“…Do you truly believe it’s all an act?”

“Forgive my frankness, Your Highness, but I don’t understand what you mean.”

Violet’s response was sincere and so calm it was unsettling, pricking him like a thorn. Rajaden knew this but couldn’t speak further. This was the product of his own actions.

But the man born to be the sun was proud and had never failed to obtain what he wanted.

A crooked smile formed on his lips.

“Is there really no chance for me?”

Violet still didn’t grasp the intention behind his question.

She assumed that the crown prince couldn’t possibly be fond of her—or anyone, for that matter. Normally, her judgment would have been sound.

“I don’t understand what chance you are referring to.”

“Ducal Lady, since I was born, I have never failed to obtain what I desired since.”

“……”

Of course, you haven’t.

But the sarcastic response never left the tip of Violet’s tongue.

The crown prince’s smile deepened. He was now wearing his usual dazzling expression.

From Violet’s perspective, it meant she was very unlucky.

“If there’s no chance, I’ll make one.”

“Your Highness, are you perhaps…”

But, no. Violet stopped herself from asking a certain disrespectful question.

As if regaining his usual unpleasantness, Rajaden approached Violet, lifted Violet’s hand.

Well, her glare certainly turned disrespectful.

When the crown prince kissed the back of her hand, the question she refrained from voicing could be read clearly from her expression alone.

‘Are you insane?’

However, the crown prince paid no heed and pressed his lips to the back of her hand.

“You must be tired, so rest. If you need anything, just ring the bell.”

Violet looked at him with a blank expression, as if unable to comprehend what had just happened.

The crown prince then left, the single word, “Rest,” lingering behind him. and left the room, leaving Violet still staring into space with a dazed expression.

A gentleman kissing a lady’s hand is a perfectly acceptable act, even if it is the crown prince and the lady in question was Violet.

It wasn’t the first time, but she was still taken aback. The way the crown prince looked at her seemed different than before.

Violet had seen a similar look before.

From Aldin.

It was strange that two completely opposite people had the same look in their eyes.

She entertained one possibility. ‘Maybe…’ However, she quickly dismissed it, finding just the thought of it unpleasant.

She didn’t want to deal with the implications if that feeling turned out to be true.

So, she decided to just rest. She was tired.