I Awoke as an Imprisoned Villainess-Chapter 51 - His Majesty the King and the Wicked Ladys tea party

-Johannes and Violet’s pov

It had been a long time since I visited Violet’s room.

Inside the room after Claude and Sophia left.

Sitting opposite Violet, Johannes sipped a cup of tea made by an attendant, reminiscing about the last time he had visited this room.

On the day he brought the honey he had chosen so earnestly, thinking it would cure her cold without knowing anything, he was told off harshly and the honey was thrown away.

Johannes will probably always regret the time he yelled at Violet for the first time in his life without trying to understand anything.

Nonetheless.

This is not the same thing.

“So?”

I turned my eyes to Violet who had a calm expression, sipping her tea in an elegant way.

“I’m not sure why you’ve been refusing my summons again and again, Violet”

Normally, people would have gone pale and apologized, but Violet was having none of it.

“I mean, I had nothing to discuss. So, I wasn’t feeling inclined to meet you”

“Do you think it’s okay if you don’t go because you don’t feel like it after being summoned by the king?”

I was quite annoyed at the reason she gave with no intention to repent, but it was pointless to be angry with Violet.

After all, 80% of this cousin’s psyche is made up of pride and the other 10% is made up of arrogance. If I got angry at every single thing, I wouldn’t fit to be Violet’s cousin.

“There won’t be next time, you know”

I told her that, knowing in my heart there would be a next time.

There is not a single response, but I guess there’s no point in worrying about it now.

(Well... it’s good to know she’s doing better than I thought)

However, my cousin, who doesn’t show any weakness or plans, may just be hiding it well.

I turn to Violet to get right down to business and give a small cough.

Then, carefully observing Violet so as not to be noticed—I asked in a light tone of voice, pretending to be casual.

“—You went to visit uncle the other day, didn’t you? How did it go?”

“Nothing special”

Is that really so? As I raised my eyebrow, Violet shrugged her shoulders saying, “There wasn’t anything unexpected”.

I can’t see any lies from Violet, judging from her answer.

(……Was it an unfounded worry?)

I let out a sigh of relief.

I had been quite worried, but it seems the meeting with her uncle ended well for her.

It was only a few days ago that Violet told me she wanted to have a meeting with her uncle, who was imprisoned in the tower of confinement.

As soon as she told me this, I refused the request.

Normally, a criminal imprisoned in the tower of confinement is not allowed any visitor.

In Violet’s case, it was more or less relaxed because it was more like a house arrest, but the real criminals—especially those who have killed or attempted to kill royalty are more strictly controlled.

For this reason, making the sole visits of the priest to her uncle for religious purposes as many as possible was already the best one could do.

However, Violet was a genius at getting things to go her way.

And worst of all, Johannes was saved by her after imprisoning her and calling her an evil woman.

Incidentally, it was only after he nodded his head with feelings of guilt in response to “At least give me a reward” that Johannes remembered that the woman he had imprisoned and called an evil woman was Sophia Alcott.

After I nodded, it was already too late.

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Violet was to be given visitation rights as ‘a reward for preventing the murder of Johannes and capturing the duke’.

The difficulty of dealing with the aftermath is an event I do not wish to recall.

All the great nobles and authorities—for example, the Duke of Dinskale, who is called the twin peaks along with the Duke of Elford, the cathedral, which is closely associated with the Duke of Dinskale, and several other influential nobles harshly admonished Johannes, who had just sat down on the throne full of scandals, and correspondingly, he was left racking his brains to a great extent. To be honest, I almost cried and I had been suffering from stomach pain as an after-effect.

However, even if there wasn’t such an aftermath, I didn’t want to let her visit her uncle.

(…Because Violet adored both her own mother and her uncle)

That series of events was so unfortunate.

Of course, Johannes has a strong anger towards his uncle.

There was also the attempt on his life, but most of all, Johannes would never forgive him for using and tormenting the girl who had asked his help to save her people.

(And...)

I recall the dim memory of my aunt—Violet’s mother.

She was so intelligent, beautiful, and so gentle that I could hardly believe she was Violet’s mother.

That made it all the more heartbreaking. Johannes also loved his aunt very much.

Even my aunt, who was so wise, did not realize the true meaning of the tea, which was filled with malicious intent. She must have trusted her own father that much.

And when I think that my uncle was the only one who couldn’t foster that trust and the only one who was constantly deprived of everything—I can’t help but feel that I cannot hate him.

I’m sure Violet feels the same—no, perhaps even more complicated.

I was a little worried about Violet’s feelings after meeting her uncle.

She didn’t show up no matter how many times I called her. It might have been unnecessary.

“…Maybe it’s thanks to Sophia Alcott”

“—Sophia?”

Violet frowned suspiciously at the words that came out of my mouth without thinking.

“No, it’s nothing”

Johannes drinks his tea to hide his arched lips.

If I ever say to Violet, ‘I’m glad you were able to make a friend!’ or something like that, I feel like she’s going to never meet Sophia again.

“I’m just glad you’re doing well”

Johannes says and Violet lets out a small sigh.

After pausing a few seconds, she muttered dismissively, “You’re indeed a fool”.

~~~~~

(—Good grief, that man. I wonder if he can be the king like that)

After Johannes returned home.

Violet sat down in her favorite chair and let out a small sigh of exasperation.

(Apparently, that man thinks I feel friendship for the little girl)

I sigh again, thinking this is ridiculous.

Violet isn’t training Sophia for friendship, not in the least.

Sophia Alcott.

That weak-minded little girl, who has a great talent as an apothecary, is very useful for me.

(—In order to fulfill my purpose, I’ll definitely need her help)

To that end, I’m merely furthering the use value of a person who is useful, and at the same time, letting it be known that the little girl is under the protection of Violet Elford.

(How could that knucklehead not know that even though we’ve known each other since childhood)

Good grief, I’m so dumbfounded by Johannes that I can’t even say anything.

I’ve long thought he has the mistaken belief that humans are inherently good, which is unbecoming of royalty. Whoever gave him moral education should be punished immediately.

(I know the visit today is to make sure I’m not depressed after seeing my uncle—but does he think I’ll let him notice such a thing? It is customary to avoid showing your weakness to your relatives as much as possible)

Nonetheless, it doesn’t mean that I’m depressed.

I don’t have time to be depressed.

“…..Well, it might have been a good way to kill the boredom”

Remembering Sophia’s appearance, Violet let out a small sigh.

The next time we meet, I’m going to be a lot more strict with her training.