‘There’s really nothing… Should I just give up?’

Violet let out a deep sigh as she slumped onto a sofa tucked away in a corner of the library.

‘If only I had Sarah’s memories… then I might know what she did. Wait—hold on.’

A sudden thought made her jump. Back at the orphanage, she hadn’t paid much attention, but Sarah’s room had contained various books and notebooks.

If Sarah had done something in her room before she died, there might be a clue hidden in those books.

So Violet asked Kaiden if he could have her belongings from the orphanage, including her books, brought to the mansion. Kaiden commented.“I thought you said there was nothing to bring?” But eventually he had the items delivered.

Overjoyed, Violet opened one of the old notebooks – only to be met with confusion.

‘What kind of writing is this?’

Sarah’s notebook was filled with characters Violet had never seen before. It wasn’t the common language of the Empire, nor was it the script commonly taught in the neighboring kingdom.

However, the most recently written pages were worn from frequent use and marked with different colored pens, suggesting they contained some sort of clue.

To identify the script, Violet returned to the library and searched again. Eventually, she discovered that the writing was an ancient language once used in the now-extinct Holy Kingdom.

‘This is going to take a while to decipher…’

But since there was still time, she decided not to rush. Once formal classes started, she would have even less time to spend in the library, so it was better not to rush.

That didn’t mean that Violet spent all her time in the library. She also made an effort to get to know the people on the Arendt Estate whenever she had the chance.

‘If you want to live comfortably in a mansion, you must first win over the staff.’

Following this logic, she first met the maids through Lucy. Then came the footmen, and then she met the kitchen staff.

Talking to people wasn’t that difficult. Even back when she was Olivia, Violet had been known for her gentle and pleasant manner, which naturally drew others to her.

It was no different here. The staff gradually opened up to her, enchanted by the ease and warmth with which she treated everyone.

At first they had been formal with her, treating her as just another guest of the estate, but in time they began to speak to her more familiarly and kindly.

Her new life as Violet Amber was off to a smoother start than she had expected.

***

“How is Violet?”

Kaiden asked, his eyes still fixed on the documents in front of him.

Standing a few steps away from the desk, his assistant Henry replied calmly.

“She’s adjusting quite well, sir.”

Only then did Kaiden put down his quill and look up at Henry.

“Adapting well? Be more specific.”

Henry began to elaborate.

“On her first day at the manor, she seemed a bit out of place, but by the next day, she was talking comfortably with the staff and getting along with them. In fact, the staff speaks very highly of her.”

“I see.”

Kaiden tapped his fingers lightly on the desk, deep in thought.

“That is strange. Is it really possible to adapt so quickly?”

“I found it a bit strange myself, so I did some research. Turns out it’s just the way the young lady is by nature.”

“By nature?”

“According to people from where she used to live, she has always been good at getting along with others. They say she has a gentle and caring personality, even with children.”

“……”

Kaiden remembered the first time he met Violet – how she had suddenly burst into the funeral and shouted at Eric Anderson, calling him a murderer.

And what about when they were alone together in the carriage?

Although she had seemed intimidated by his presence, she had spoken her mind clearly and firmly. At that moment, the way her eyes had met his – there had been a dignity in them, more noble than that of any aristocrat.

The reason Kaiden couldn’t fully trust Violet was because of those eyes.

Kaiden Arendt wasn’t the kind of man who looked down on commoners just because of their status. However, he did believe that commoners generally shared certain traits.

Most of them couldn’t even meet a noble’s gaze properly-they trembled, avoided eye contact, and struggled to speak coherently in the presence of nobility.

But Violet Amber-no, Sarah-had been different. Even when she’d learned that Kaiden was a noble, and not just any noble, but one of the highest ranking aristocrats in the Empire, she hadn’t flinched. When he unleashed his killing intent, she had cried and seemed distraught – but that was a natural human reaction.

And yet, after that, she had quickly regained her composure, looked him straight in the eye, and said everything she wanted to say.

Could this really be the reaction of a commoner who was not used to dealing with nobles?

And now she had quickly adapted to life in the mansion. In every way, she was a woman full of secrets.

But the reason why Kaiden had decided to trust her and join forces with her was that there was nothing suspicious about her.

It was true that she had known about Eric Anderson’s crimes and had tried to expose them. It was also true that Eric had targeted her because of that.

Besides, Kaiden had been the one who had approached her first. There was no reason to suspect that she had approached him with ulterior motives.

Still, he couldn’t bring himself to trust her completely.

“Come to think of it, she spent a lot of time in the library, didn’t she? Do you know what kind of books she was reading?”

“It seems she was looking at books about magic.”

“Magic?”

“Yes. She might be interested in that.”

“Hm. I see. You may go. And continue to report anything unusual immediately.”

“Yes, understood.”

After Henry left, Kaiden put his paperwork aside and fell into deep thought.

‘Interested in magic, huh…’

When Violet had first asked to use the library, Kaiden had assumed that she would be looking for books on etiquette – at most. Or maybe novels that girls her age typically enjoyed.

Books about magic hadn’t even crossed his mind.

And yet, as soon as she arrived at the manor, she immediately sought out books on magic, as if she had been waiting for the opportunity. On top of that, she had initially said she had nothing to bring, but not long ago she suddenly claimed she needed some of her things and books from the orphanage.

‘This is a bit suspicious.’

Of course, if she had always been interested in magic, this behavior might make sense. Commoners rarely had access to magical texts, so she might have jumped at the chance to explore them the moment she arrived.

But this was Violet Amber – mysterious and suspicious in more ways than one. So even her interest in magic didn’t sit well with him.

‘I should look into it.’

He rose from his seat and made his way to the annex.

“Lindberg.”

“Oh, Your Grace—what brings you here?”

The Arendt family’s resident magician, Elly Lindberg, greeted him.

“Would you like some tea?”

“No, that’s all right. I won’t be staying long.”

“Hm.”

Elly approached him with a curious expression.

“It is not often that you grace my laboratory with your presence. If you had summoned me, I would have come to your office.”

“There is something I must discuss with you.”

“What is it?”

“There is a girl named Violet Amber. I recently decided to sponsor her.”

Elly nodded knowingly.

“Ah, I’ve heard. The atmosphere in the manor has changed since the young lady arrived. But what about her?”

“She seems interested in magic.”

Elly’s eyes lit up.

“Then you are entrusting me with the young lady’s lessons?”

“That’s the plan, for now.”

“For now?”

“I want you to teach her – but also report back to me regularly. Tell me what she shows interest in and what she asks about.

“Isn’t that a bit overprotective? I heard she’s supposed to make her debut in a few months. Do you really have to watch her so closely?”

But when she saw Kaiden’s expression, she quickly added.

“Well, you’re the one who hired me, so I’ll do what you say. Understood.”

“And of course Violet must not know about this.”

“Of course. I’m not that clueless.”

“Then I’ll go.”

Kaiden got up and left the lab. Watching his retreating figure, Elly shrugged and returned to her research.