Chapter 2

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The real me—Sophia Orcott—is apparently known as the "shameless one of the Orcott family."

The reason for this vague reputation is that, at sixteen, I have yet to make my debut in society and remain a recluse, with no opportunities to interact with other young ladies outside.

So, my stepmother and half-sister Julia inform me of what people are saying about me... and it's quite terrible.

I'm said to be so ugly that at sixteen, I haven't made my debut and remain secluded in the manor, where I'm subjected to unbearable insults from my stepmother, Julia, and the servants. I'm also said to be a wastrel, squandering the Orcott family's fortune, and to spend my days reading suspicious books about poisons from ancient and modern times, diligently concocting terrifying potions.

That was my reputation. I can't help but sigh, thinking that this is what they mean by "a mountain out of a molehill."

Indeed, I'm not as beautiful as Julia, and while I think my purple hair and eyes are not particularly pretty, my personality seems to make me appear gloomy. It's inevitable that I exude a reclusive aura that I can't hide.

However, the reason I haven't made my debut isn't because of my appearance but because my stepmother and Julia have prevented it, and I don't have a dress suitable for a countess's daughter.

Of course, I haven't been subjected to insults.

But my collection of books on poisons and my diligent work on concocting potions might look suspicious to others.

My attic room is filled with many books related to potion-making. Potions and poisons are two sides of the same coin, so there are many books on the creation and antidotes of poisons.

These are the legacy of my mother, who was an excellent pharmacist.

And while looking at these books, I use the herbs I cultivate in the garden to diligently make potions every day.

Despite being an excellent pharmacist, my mother couldn't fight off illness and passed away when I was three.

After the funeral, my pregnant stepmother arrived, and since then, I've been living quietly in the attic of the Orcott manor.

At first, my father still showed some concern for me, but after Julia was born, no one cared about me anymore.

It's lonely, but it can't be helped. No matter how much I resent it, my situation won't change.

My stepmother said she would arrange a marriage for me with a wealthy man who suits me, and I hoped that my future husband would allow me to continue making potions and provide me with meals every day.

Yes, I was a powerless recluse who had resigned myself to my life.

But to suddenly become a duchess's daughter who can make people tremble just by looking at them...

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"Violet. What are you up to now?"

In the morning light, his handsome face looked even more beautiful, but today it was twisted in disgust.

I must have overslept and was found lying on the floor by the knight.

As a maiden about to be married, it was embarrassing to be seen sleeping by a man, and my cheeks are still hot even now.

"N-nothing! I was just resting in a comfortable spot...!"

"Stop lying. Why would you lie on the floor? Are you trying to say that the bed in the cell is worse than the floor?"

The knight glared at me sharply. His gaze, like that of someone looking at a suspicious person, made me rush to defend myself.

"N-no! The bed was very soft and comfortable for my body. It's just that... I was mentally unsettled..."

The attic of the Orcott manor did have a bed, but it was damp and seemed ready to break at any moment, so I had no choice but to sleep on the floor.

So, the bed in my room at the Orcott manor is now used to store reagents and herbs in hydroponic cultivation.

Therefore, this soft, warm bed here—probably because this body is used to it—was so comfortable that it was almost scary.

Given the strange situation I find myself in, I wanted to create a familiar environment for my peace of mind.

"Ah, please don't worry! Of course, I used a clean rag and carefully cleaned the floor! And I used an old blanket, which I placed underneath..."

"The servants are terrified by your strange behavior. Stop it immediately."

"Terrified..."

Hearing the knight's complaint, I lowered my eyebrows.

"Um... No matter what I do, the servants are terrified. How can I stop them from being afraid?"

The knight looked at me with a genuinely disturbed expression and said firmly, "It's impossible." I bowed my head, recalling the servants' reactions from yesterday.

After the knight left yesterday, a few maids visited.

However, the maid who brought me food was trembling so much that she almost spilled the soup, and the maid I asked for a rag to clean the floor immediately prostrated herself. When I asked if there were any old rags or blankets, the maid turned pale with fear, teared up, and shook her head, saying, "I can't escape."

It was then that I realized I was in a high tower, a place where nobles who committed serious crimes were imprisoned.

"I don't know what you're planning... but I can't let innocent servants be subjected to unexplained fear. From now on, I will bring your meals. You won't have any contact with the servants."

With that, the knight placed the food on the table.

Fluffy bread, a soup with many vegetables, and well-roasted meat.

The same lavish meal I had yesterday was spread before me!

I couldn't help but light up with excitement, but then I came to my senses. This must be some kind of mistake.

"Um, Sir Knight. C-could this possibly be my meal...?"

"It's yours. It might not be what you call a meal, though."

"Indeed, it's more like a feast...!"

At my words, the knight looked shocked and once again regarded me with a disturbed expression. But I was too preoccupied. With a warm meal in front of me, I was internally struggling—deciding to swallow my tears.

"Um, I'm not hungry right now... Can I save it?"

"Do as you please. But there will be no other meals."

"I understand!"

I held back my sadness and carefully picked up the food.

"Thank you! I'll put it here..."

"Wait! Why are you so carefully putting it in the closet?"

"Ah... Is that not allowed? I can't eat now, and I'll be hungry until tomorrow, so I wanted to have this meal around noon..."

I couldn't help but droop my shoulders in disappointment.

I don't know how often I'll receive meals here, but as a criminal, I probably won't get them as frequently as I did at the Orcott manor.

I usually got one meal a day, so the next one would likely be tomorrow. I wanted to eat at noon to reduce my hunger, but...

The knight's eyes widened again at my words.

He pressed his temple and spoke.