***

“That wasn’t a compliment. You have a long way to go.”

“…….”

Kaiden, who had been escorting Olivia with practiced ease, suddenly stopped and looked down at her.

“Come to think of it, we haven’t decided on a name yet.”

“Ah…”

“Is there a particular name you want?”

Olivia stood there for a moment, thinking, and soon remembered a fairy tale she had read as a child.

It was not the usual fairy tale where a prince comes to rescue the princess – in this one, the princess set out to rescue the prince.

She didn’t know why that story came to mind at that moment, but Olivia quietly whispered the name of the princess from that story.

“Violet.”

“Violet.”

Kaiden repeated the name quietly, then nodded.

“Fitting, since your eyes are the color of violet. Let’s go, then.”

“Wait.”

Olivia – no, the woman who had now become Violet – spoke quickly to Kaiden as he turned to leave.

“Is that it?”

“That’s it?”

“No, I mean…”

Violet began to ramble, unable to accept the situation as it was.

“I understand that we’ve agreed to join forces for a common goal. But I need something more concrete.”

Kaiden murmured, as if he understood what she was getting at.

“Are you saying that we should make a contract?”

“Yes.”

Violet looked him straight in the eye as she spoke.

“I know you probably don’t trust me, but to be honest, it’s hard for me to trust you either.”

Kaiden listened quietly, then let out a small chuckle.

“Are you saying I could hurt you?”

“They say a hound that can no longer hunt is killed without mercy.”

“Are you saying you are my hunting dog?”

Kaiden’s tone as he asked this question was almost mocking, as if to say, “Are you really worth that much?”

“Didn’t you reach out to me because you needed me, Your Grace?”

“…….”

From the expression on his face as he looked at her in silence, Violet felt certain.

‘He must have had his own reasons for choosing me.’

The last time, after Violet had told him about Eric and Scarlett’s affair, he must have done his own research.

The Ducal House of Arendt had strong intelligence capabilities, so he probably confirmed their relationship to some degree.

But it was clear that he hadn’t uncovered the circumstances of how they had killed Olivia Grosvenor.

‘That was only natural. There was no one around to witness it.’

Eric had deliberately kept people away from the mansion, both inside and out, to avoid being caught in his affair.

The only people around the mansion were Olivia, Eric, Scarlett, and – although no one knew how she got there – Sarah, who had been in the woods at the time.

Even then, Sarah had only her suspicions; she hadn’t directly witnessed Olivia’s death.

Which meant that in this situation, Scarlett’s testimony was essential.

But putting a woman who didn’t know the whole story on Scarlett’s side, hoping to convince her – that was not an option.

To the conflicted Kaiden, Sarah must have seemed like the perfect bait.

He spoke as if the decision to disguise her as a noblewoman had been made today, but in truth it was clear that he had planned everything from the moment he came to retrieve her.

‘Even so, the Duke of Arendt still held my leash.’

If the plan went wrong, or if he simply changed his mind, he could dispose of Violet without hesitation.

‘I don’t care if I die. But I refuse to die without taking revenge on Eric Anderson.’

Clenching both fists tightly, Violet spoke:

“It would be nice if we could trust each other. But if we can’t, wouldn’t it be better to bind ourselves with a contract?”

Clenching both fists tightly, Violet said:

“It would be nice if we could trust each other. But if we can’t, wouldn’t it be better to bind ourselves with a contract?”

“What is it that you want?”

“To protect me until my revenge is complete.”

“Until your revenge is complete?”

He repeated her words, sounding a bit confused.

“Are you saying you don’t care what happens to you after that?”

Violet paused to think.

***

‘It would seem strange if I said yes here.’

If she were really Sarah, she wouldn’t go that far.

To avoid suspicion, she made something up on the spot.

“Honestly, I was going to ask you to guarantee my safety even after this… but I thought you’d say that was too much to ask.”

Fortunately, Kaiden withdrew his suspicious look.

“Do I look like someone who can’t protect a single person?”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“Then let’s do this.”

When he clapped his hands once, Henry opened another bag on the table between them – not the one he had brought earlier.

Kaiden took out some paper and a quill from inside.

“From now on, I will be responsible for your safety. In return, you must cooperate with me until your revenge is complete.”

Kaiden began to write slowly on the paper.

It wasn’t very long – he only included what was necessary.

Then he handed it to Violet.

“Take a look.”

Violet read the document slowly.

It contained exactly what he had said, written in formal language.

“Alright.”

When Violet handed the document back, he signed at the bottom.

After she added her own signature, a bright light appeared briefly on the back of her hand, forming a mysterious symbol – then it disappeared.

“W-What was that?”

“A magical pact. Whoever breaks the contract will suffer physical pain.”

Violet wanted to scold him for telling her this now, but she let it go.

It was a deal she had no reason to refuse.

When Violet showed a look of understanding, Kaiden stood up.

“Let’s go. Judging by your expression, you should go to the manor and get some rest first.”

“Alright.”

Violet followed him.

* * *

And so Olivia Grosvenor became Violet Amber.

She borrowed the name of a modest noble family from the southern part of the Empire.

Kaiden made up a story that he had once taken refuge with the Ambers to avoid his uncle’s eyes, and that he was now sponsoring Violet to repay that debt.

He also made it up that Kaiden and Violet had known each other briefly as children and had gotten along well.

Kaiden and Violet went straight to the Arendt mansion.

“Classes start in a week, so use this time to rest and get used to things.”

With that, Kaiden said he had to take care of something and left the mansion.

Thanks to that, Violet was left alone in the mansion.

“Allow me to properly introduce myself, my lady. I am Henry, the Duke’s advisor.”

“I look forward to working with you. I’m Am…”

Violet instinctively started to greet him in the refined manner of a noblewoman, but quickly caught herself and changed her words.

“I’m Violet Amber.”

Fortunately, Henry didn’t seem to catch her earlier slip, for he corrected her words without a hint of suspicion.

“From now on, just introduce yourself as Violet of House Amber.”

Violet calmly lifted one side of her skirt in a graceful gesture.

“I am Violet of House Amber.”

“Well done.”

With a light compliment, Henry took the lead and began to walk.

“Let me show you to your room.”

As they walked, Violet asked in a hushed voice:

“How many people know about me?”

Though she had phrased it indirectly, he understood at once.

“Just the Duke, you, and me.”

“Not even the butler or the head maid?”

“That is correct. Well, we’ve arrived. Please go in. As the Duke is away, you must dine alone – would you prefer to be shown to the dining room, or…?”

“I would like to dine alone in my room.”

“Understood. I’ll have it brought to your room.”

After watching Violet enter the room, Henry closed the door and left.

What followed was a whirlwind.

She was introduced to the maids who would be taking care of her temporarily, took a bath and changed into fresh clothes.

It was not until she had finished her dinner alone in her room that Violet was able to think clearly.

She stood in front of her mirror.