The Bloom of Violet

It was the morning of the third day. Lennox watched his maidservants hurriedly packing his belongings. To be precise, he was dumbly watching the servants pack his things.

His brow furrowed uncontrollably. At the sight of Lennox, the maids who had been packing immediately stopped moving. He ignored the maids, who were greeting him with their hands neatly folded, and looked directly at Ann.

“What are you doing?”

His unrefined voice was cold to the point of being terrifying. Ann slowly turned her head. Her pale face still looked sickly. Lennox clenched his fist, glaring at her exhausted expression. Ann had no expression. Her calm face seemed like it was made of wax.

“Ann.”

“You said it would be a good time to go for a summer retreat, didn’t you?”

“Didn’t you say you didn’t want to go?”

“I’ve changed my mind.”

Ann shrugged her shoulders. Lennox tried to calm his rising anger. However, seeing this defiant woman made him feel like all of his efforts were in vain.

“Even so, you can’t go alone.”

“Why not?”

Ann asked. Lennox stared at her, then suddenly burst out laughing. Ann bit her lip. Lennox reached out and grabbed her delicate chin.

“What are you planning to do without me?”

“I have free will too.”

“You’re my servant. Have you forgotten your duty?”

He growled lowly. Ann dropped her gaze. It was hard to face him. Every time Lennox showed his emotions like this, she felt like her blood ran cold. She tried to think of something to say, but Lennox spoke first.

“…I was going for a retreat.”

“Even so, getting my permission is the priority!”

Her ears rang. Ann looked at him with a face that seemed as if it would break. Lennox was startled by his own harsh tone and froze.

Ann’s face contorted as though she were about to cry. He withdrew his hand from her and stepped back two paces. His heart was pounding rapidly, and his mouth felt dry. Lennox turned his gaze sideways and finally spoke, his lips trembling.

“I’m sorry.”

But Ann didn’t answer. Lennox washed his face quickly, swallowing down the mess of emotions inside him. He raised his head. Ann, frozen like a statue, was staring at him.

“I know you’re unwell. You need someone by your side to take care of you. I’m not saying I want to hover around you every day… but you need someone who can watch over you.”

“…”

“So, you can’t go alone.”

It was a foolish excuse, even as he said it. Or maybe, with a little bit of sincerity, it wasn’t entirely an excuse. However, one thing was certain: he didn’t want to leave Ann alone in a place without him. She had to be by his side at all times. The fact that she was sick made it even more unacceptable.

If she was sick, Ann should be even more by his side. He knew that there was no one else for her to rely on but him. Lennox knew that she had no one else. So there was no place for her to hide. What was she planning to run off to now?

What was she going to do without him? A woman so fragile that she might lose consciousness — what could she possibly do alone in a secluded villa?

“I won’t be alone. The maids…”

“Ann.”

“The villa is very close to Countess Ilba’s summer residence. She’ll take care of me.”

“Countess Ilba?”

“Yes. I met her at Lord Alpheus’s wedding last year. She’s very sociable and…”

“You’re going to rely on a woman you’ve met only once last year?”

“Your Majesty.”

“…I don’t understand you.”

Lennox’s face twisted in frustration. Ann bit her lip. She carefully chose her words as if taking a breath. She wanted to say that she never expected him to understand her. But, as always, when she faced him, her mind went blank.

“Your Majesty, there are more important matters for you than looking after me.”

“Even so, I won’t leave you alone.”

“No, Your Majesty. I no longer need you. I…”

As she whispered, the words felt excessively cold. But now, it was necessary to be cold. Ann knew there was no other option for her. As always, the future she could choose was limited. And in that future, there was no place for Lennox.

“After Your Majesty’s royal marriage, I will truly be alone.”

Her voice trembled with the weight of her words, and tears rolled down her cheeks. Ann crossed her arms and hugged herself, quickly blinking away her tears.

Lennox would marry Charlotte. He had never once mentioned calling off the engagement, even though he kept Charlotte at a distance. He would likely marry her as Queen Ingrid had suggested.

“I’m afraid of the winter when I’ll be left alone. Winter often takes away the things I hold dear.”

This winter, it would take Lennox from her. Ann lifted her head. Through the blurred vision, Lennox’s image spread before her. She didn’t want to cry in front of him, so she turned and walked away. Lennox did not stop her as she left the room.

The next morning, Ann got into the carriage with two of her maidservants. Even though she had packed little by little, her luggage was always full, and because of that, the maidservants were short-handed, so Ann had to carry a bag herself. One of the maidservants suggested hiring an additional attendant, but Ann didn’t want to increase the number of people. After all, there would be servants at Belvirund as well.

It was practically as if she was being thrown out, so why make a fuss about it? Ann thought of Lennox. Now, just thinking of him hurt, like bruises forming in her mind.

Would it be better if Lennox just married quickly? After marrying Charlotte and having children, would it be better if he returned to the palace?

‘No, the best thing would be never returning to the palace at all.’

Ann pressed her lips together. Yes, the best thing would be never returning to the palace. If she were to settle in Saforas permanently, that would be the best thing.

“Miss, is your head hurting again?”

The maid sitting next to her asked carefully. Having served Ann for a long time, the maid noticed even the slightest paleness in her face and became anxious.

Ann, resting her head against the glass window, looked at the maid. The maid, named Monica, was smaller than Ann, a frail woman with a thin, slender body. She had brown hair, fine and straight, and dark brown eyes.

Her nose was slightly upturned, but her large, beautiful eyes made her quite popular, or so Ann had heard. Ann recalled the day Monica was introduced to her, several years ago.

“Really, are you from Bluebilt?”

Monica, who was also from Bluebilt village, had asked Ann with wide eyes. There was no judgment or condescension in her gaze—she seemed genuinely surprised.

Ann thought about how different her life had been from Monica’s, even though they both came from Bluebilt. Monica had been lucky enough to become a maid in the palace.

“I’m really lucky. Becoming a maid in the palace is so difficult. In the palace and noble houses, they don’t hire children from Bluebilt village as servants.”

“So how did you become a palace maid?”

“Lady Rosalia… Oh, no, the lady from the house I worked at before, she recognized my hard work. I’m really grateful. Because of that, I can earn more and do more for my younger siblings.”

Monica smiled brightly as she spoke. Ann looked at her with a blank expression. Monica, who had five younger siblings, worked hard every day to take care of them.

“I thought I was the luckiest person in the world, but now that I see you, I think you’re the luckiest, Miss!”

“What?”

“You get to wear beautiful dresses and serve Queen Mother’s tea every day.”

Monica said with an expression of envy. It was only then that Ann realized how different her appearance was from Monica’s.