Chapter 9
Chapter 9: Shut Up, Young Lady
Filin wanted to continue speaking, but Violetti interrupted him.
“It’s getting late. Let’s eat.”
Without waiting for Filin’s response, several male servants wheeled in dining carts.
A luxurious dinner for the young lady.
The dining carts were filled with high-end ingredients Filin had only seen in magazines.
Speaking of which, this was his first time eating with Violetti.
Violetti sat at the other end of the dining table, elegantly unfolding her napkin.
But Filin noticed her movements seemed somewhat stiff.
The usually composed young lady now seemed to be forcing herself to stay calm.
The bedroom was somewhat quiet, with only the sounds of knives, forks, and plates clinking.
“This is really delicious.”
Filin cut a piece of steak with his knife and fork, putting it in his mouth and feeling it melt instantly.
Violetti gave no response, still mechanically completing her dining routine like a precise machine.
This was her first time dining alone with a male.
Her mind was completely blank, unable to understand any language.
“Is Lord Seraphiel here tonight?”
Filin asked casually.
Actually, he was extremely nervous inside.
If that old man knew he’d run to the estate to eat dinner with his daughter, he’d definitely skin him alive.
Hearing the familiar name, light finally appeared in Violetti’s eyes.
“He’s not here. He went to the royal capital.”
Saved.
“Thank you for the hospitality.”
Filin wiped his mouth with the napkin, watching the male servants clear his dishes.
Then, nothing happened.
Violetti and Filin just sat at the dining table for a full hour without any communication.
Conflicted, so conflicted.
How should she start a conversation?
Under the table where Filin couldn’t see, Violetti was about to tear the tablecloth.
Since childhood, she’d always been surrounded by annoying boys—she never needed to actively find topics.
Filin usually initiated conversations with her. Why wasn’t he talking today?
Filin looked at Violetti’s increasingly gloomy face and didn’t dare speak.
With that murderous expression, he definitely needed to carefully analyze what should and shouldn’t be said.
Before dinner, he’d given Violetti a hint, letting her admit along with his suggestion that everything she did was purely out of sympathy.
But she seemed very unhappy.
What should he say?
Damn, from noon until now he hadn’t used the bathroom once. He really couldn’t hold it anymore.
“Um, Miss Violetti, I need to use the restroom.”
“Thank you.”
The air felt somewhat frozen.
Filin wondered if Violetti had misspoken, but seeing her show no sign of realizing her mistake, he began wondering if this was the Seraphiel family’s special way of responding.
Of course, Filin couldn’t see that Violetti’s ears hidden under her pink hair were already burning.
Beneath Violetti’s calm expression was a very unsettled heart.
What am I saying?!
Help!
Why did I say thank you?
She thought Filin was going to politely praise something in her house again and instinctively said thank you.
“Speaking of which, Miss Violetti’s home is really beautiful. Haha, it’s truly enviable.”
For the sake of his lower body, Filin had to try talking to Violetti more to learn the Seraphiel family’s language.
He didn’t know if “thank you” meant agreement or disagreement.
Violetti shook her head gently. “It’s not as good as you might imagine.”
“Speaking of which, I haven’t formally congratulated Miss Violetti on getting into the Royal Capital Academy. Unfortunately, I don’t have any suitable gifts.”
Filin looked into Violetti’s eyes, showing a gentle smile.
Her cold yet exquisite face was reflected in Filin’s eyes.
Violetti’s fingers trembled slightly as she lowered her head.
“Thank you. No gift is necessary.”
“Getting into the Royal Capital Academy is wonderful. You’ll become a real clergy member, right? With Miss Violetti’s talent, you’ll definitely achieve things I can’t imagine.”
Violetti nodded, looking thoughtful.
“I feel super lucky right now, like being classmates with a future superstar before they become famous. Having this time together is enough for me.”
Hearing Filin say this, Violetti unconsciously fell into memories of this time.
To let her eat limited edition sweets, Filin slept at the shop entrance the night before.
To deliver her headband she’d left in the classroom, Filin stood waiting for her in heavy rain for two hours.
To cover for her being late, Filin told the teacher in front of everyone that he’d delayed her by pestering her.
Wait, why were all her memories about Filin?
Violetti tried to search for memories of other people, but unfortunately she had no friends. Besides Filin, she really couldn’t think of anyone else.
“After graduation, I plan to use the money I’ve saved from part-time work these past few years to open a small shop. That’s my current dream. When Miss Violetti becomes famous, if you have time, you can come visit me. By then I might have several children, haha.”
Filin kept talking, not giving Violetti any chance to object.
Contrasting his future with Violetti’s future, she would realize their future lives had no intersection whatsoever.
Though he didn’t know what Violetti was thinking, Filin wanted to kill all possibilities.
Filin’s voice was very soft, like painting a picture.
Hearing these words, Violetti’s cold, exquisite mask finally showed a crack.
“So I’m too selfish. Someone like me wanting to have connections with Miss Violetti is rather ridiculous, isn’t it?”
Violetti bit her lip, turning her head slightly away.
How cunning.
Saying these things now was too cunning.
Since you know it’s like this, why did you approach me in the first place?
What was wrong with her?
Seeing Filin laughing and talking with Adelina, she instinctively wanted to blow them away—and she really couldn’t help doing just that.
Hearing Filin describe future days where he’d disappear from her world, why did her heart hurt so much?
Three years ago, the Seraphiel family wasn’t as glorious as now.
The destruction of the [Light of Saivah] Solstice family shocked the noble circles and let emerging nobles like the Seraphs see opportunity.
To compete for the vast markets and resources left by the Solstice family’s destruction, the Seraphiel family engaged in fierce competition with other nobles.
The limitless competition also affected Violetti.
Other families’ young ladies spread rumors at school, saying Violetti was actually an arrogant young lady who looked down on others.
They even bribed Violetti’s friends, tricking her into attending a party specifically targeting her.
After attending that hostile party, Violetti didn’t leave her room for half a year.
Even with her eyes closed, she could see those people’s disdainful looks at the party. She was afraid of going out and still being talked about behind her back.
It was Filin—Filin’s appearance made Violetti like a newborn kitten, slowly poking her head out to look at the world.
With him, Violetti could feel a trace of security.
He was like the sun—no matter what happened, he would always appear on time the next day.
Eventually, the Seraphiel family won the hyena feeding frenzy, becoming an undeniable major family in Saivah within a year.
Those who humiliated her at the party all disappeared silently from Saivah.
Filin’s appearance also drew everyone’s attention to him, making people somewhat sympathetic toward her instead.
Everything slowly began improving. Perhaps she was now excellent enough.
But the sun would never rise again.
“Miss Violetti, the clothes are ready.”
“Mm.”
The butler brought a bag and placed it on the nightstand.
“Miss Violetti, it’s getting late, so I won’t impose further. Thank you for doing so much for me today.”
Filin bowed his head in thanks, feeling nervous.
He was afraid Violetti was thinking strange things.
Terrifyingly, Filin had guessed correctly.
Hearing Filin wanted to leave, countless possibilities flashed through Violetti’s mind. Maybe the moment Filin stepped out the door, he’d be kidnapped by other bad women again.
The outside world was too dangerous. Why not just have him stay at the estate?
No worries about food or drink, with dedicated care every day, staying like this until old age.
She didn’t have the ability to keep the sun from setting, but she completely had the ability to keep this small fallen noble in the estate for life.
No, what was she thinking?
Violetti pinched her arm, pulling herself out of her fantasy.
“It’s nothing.”
A thousand thoughts converged into three light words.
Night fell.
Filin walked home on the street, with warm light from streetlamps.
He took a deep breath, as if unloading some burden.
He didn’t know if his meaning had been conveyed, but intuition told him if he didn’t leave now, he might never leave that estate.
Filin asked for his somewhat worn clothes back—they could still be worn after washing.
Violetti’s clothes for him were neatly placed in the bag he carried in his left hand.
Filin fumbled in his pocket for his communication spell seal, wanting to see if he had any unread client messages.
“Eh?”
Opening the seal, he found Adelina’s messages exploding toward him like confetti.
Filin swallowed and typed to Adelina.
“Lady Adelina, I’m fine. I’m heading home now. Are you injured? ❤”
Less than five seconds after sending, while Filin was still thinking about what to say next, Adelina’s message came.
[Thank goodness.]
[I was really worried about you.]
This message was immediately retracted.
[I was somewhat worried about you, since you got involved because of me.]
[I wasn’t hurt. Uncle Colletir saved me. But now my father won’t let me leave—I’m confined at home.]
The Seraphiel family’s young lady had thrown a seventh-order spell seal at the Claude family’s young lady.
These two families’ parents must be frantically busy now.
Adelina being grounded was reasonable—who knew what the Seraphiel family was thinking?
No one would guess such a strange reason.
Filin scratched his head. He’d actually caused conflict between two major families.
Men could be trouble too.
[How’s your formal wear selection going? At the banquet, I’m going to show that Violetti what for!]
[Don’t worry, Lady Adelina. I won’t disappoint you.]