Previously
Cecilia continues her "bell indoctrination" on Leoport, warning him that he must become a powerful heir to protect the woman he will eventually love.
“Just as the rumors say, she looks like a lovely fairy.”
“She’s like an angel….”
“It is true the entire Imperial Family is blessed with good looks, but to be so beautiful from such a young age, like the Fourth Princess… that is exceedingly rare.”
“And they say her intellect is beyond match as well. I heard she has already mastered the academy curriculum….”
“How can a child carry such grace and majesty?”
Oh dear, this is so embarrassing.
Holding Theodore’s hand as I walked toward the dais where the rest of the family waited, I almost flushed red at the nobles’ constant whispers about me.
‘Imperial authority really must be absolute, given that no one dares utter a single ill word.’
Hiding the nervous flutter that made my heart feel ready to burst, I climbed the steps toward the dais with strides that looked as polished as if I had practiced for this very day.
“Come here, my little Cecilia.”
Clad in his full imperial regalia, Father gestured to me from the front of the dais.
Theodore gave me a bright smile, ushered me toward him, and took a seat at one end of the dais.
Since the seat at the opposite end was vacant, it was clearly meant for me.
‘A place of my own…. Now it truly feels like the Imperial Family is my real family.’
My very first New Year’s Greeting Ceremony in formal attire, the warm and welcoming gazes of the nobility, the grand, imposing seat prepared just for me….
I drew a deep breath to steady the surge of emotion within me, then stepped up to Father's side. He placed me beside him before speaking to the hall.
“I extend my heartfelt gratitude to my people, who have journeyed here at the dawn of the new year.”
Every eye in the great hall was fixed squarely upon us.
Father swept his gaze across the gathering as if taking measure of their steadfast loyalty. Then, leaning down slightly, he extended a hand toward me. I took it and stepped forward.
“Today is a joyous occasion, for I present to you all the newest blessing granted to our Imperial Family: my youngest daughter, Cecilia.”
As Father took half a step back, I found myself standing alone at the center of the dais.
Every noble of the empire who filled the room stared straight at me. A sudden wave of dizziness washed over me… and I began repeating to myself the very mantra I had held onto when entering.
‘Spectator mindset! Just a spectator’s mindset!’
Even though I was the very center of attention, I repeated it desperately. After all, this was a reality I had to grow accustomed to as Cecilia.
“I trust that the loyalty you bear toward the Imperial Family will extend in full measure to my youngest daughter, who is so deeply indebted to grace.”
Hearing him declare before everyone that I was one who carried the family’s grace filled my chest with swelling pride.
‘Yes…. I really have become an imperial princess in The Violet of the Duchy!’
Riding that rush of excitement, I raised my hand and waved to the crowd without anyone prompting me.
“Long live Her Imperial Highness, the Fourth Princess!”
“Long live the Princess!”
“Glory to the Empire!”
“May her honor endure for eternity!”
Resounding cheers erupted from every corner of the hall.
Caught between a thrill that seemed ready to burst through my chest and the dizzying shiver of being the center of the world, I felt on the verge of fainting.
‘I really need to get used to this…!’
Before I could actually lose consciousness, my introduction drew to a close, and I was finally able to sit down in my seat.
Father then settled onto the throne at the center, and the formal New Year’s Greeting Ceremony began in earnest.
The grand chamberlain began calling forth each noble house in strict order of precedence.
“Duke Ornbach presents his greetings, Lord of the domains of Ornbach, Axen, Zabent, and Meissen!”
Naturally, the first family called was House Ornbach, the head of the Imperial Faction.
“May the new year bring divine blessings upon the Imperial Family.”
“May this new year be blessed for you as well.”
“Indeed, Duke. We wish you and your house a prosperous year.”
Duke Ornbach ascended the steps before the throne, dropped to one knee, and bowed his head.
I had met his wife on several occasions, but this was my first time seeing the Duke himself—Leoport’s grandfather.
‘As expected of the male lead’s grandfather…. Even at his age, he’s remarkably handsome!’
Having regained my composure, I turned my attention to observing the characters, which was my true objective.
In the original novel, he appeared as the “former duke,” the very first person in the family to open his heart to Emily.
‘He feels reminiscent of Laurie’s grandfather in Little Women, which explains why the title made that reference to violets.’
Behind him stood Leoport’s aunt—the one destined to play the role of the meddlesome in-law who opposed the match—alongside his parents.
‘I can’t do much to sway their thoughts…. Hang in there, Leo.’
Even family disapproval was nothing compared to the rest of the trials they would face in the story.
Blissfully unaware of what was running through my mind, Leoport smiled innocently, waiting for me to catch his eye.
What an endearing boy…. When I deliberately gave him a mock scowl, he chuckled softly and bowed his head.
‘He’s probably just excited to see me out in public for the first time…. If only I’d found him sooner, things would’ve been so much easier.’
Three years had passed since we became friends, and I had come to rely on him emotionally.
‘I have to nurture this boy into a proper hero.’
While fretting over things that not even his own family worried about, I eagerly awaited the appearance of the other characters.
Once the greetings from the ducal houses concluded, it was time for the marquisates.
‘Since Scarlett and Rosivius both belong to marquis families, the real show starts now.’
I smiled to myself.
What I looked forward to most was House Gibbels—the family of Scarlett, the original novel's villainess, and the leaders of the Noble Faction.
Beyond Scarlett's wicked schemes, House Gibbels was destined to openly defy the Imperial Family later on.
‘A truly quintessential villainous family…. But I can prepare for that later. They said Scarlett was a cold, striking beauty; I wonder if it shows already?’
As if reading my thoughts, House Gibbels was the very first to step forward among the marquisates.
“Marquis Gibbels, Lord of the domains of Gibbels, Anderson, and Everett, presents his greetings alongside his family!”
“May holy blessings be bestowed upon the Imperial Family in this new year.”
“May this new year be blessed for you as well.”
I cast a brief glance over the approaching marquis, then immediately shifted my focus to the family members trailing behind him.
Both the direct line and the collateral branches bowed, some resting hands against their chests, others curtsying with their hemlines.
As I swept my gaze over them, I spotted the one I was looking for right away.
‘There she is…!’
A young girl with radiant orange hair, parted cleanly down the middle and tucked with graceful elegance behind her ears.
Having completed her refined greeting, she lifted her head with smooth poise….
‘Scarlett!’
I was taken aback by the sheer grace of her movements, especially since she was only twelve years old.
‘As expected of the girl destined to dominate high society.’
Even someone like me, who barely knew many noble ladies, could immediately see that she stood apart from the rest.
Perhaps it stood out even more because of her brother, who was standing beside her with such an arrogant slouch….
‘Or maybe it’s simply because I already know what her future holds.’
Scarlett, who was two years older than Leoport and me, was supposed to reign supreme over high society for several years during the original timeline.
Her beauty went without saying, and with House Gibbels commanding immense wealth and authority, it was only natural.
Scarlett had openly declared her affection for House Ornbach’s heir, ensuring that no young noblewoman in high society dared approach Leoport.
The only obstacle had been the historic rivalry between their two houses, so she had been biding her time for a political settlement that would allow for an arranged marriage.
‘And all the while, innocent Leoport did nothing but chuckle innocently.’
Because of that, even when she reached the age of twenty-four—the typical marrying age in this world—she remained unbetrothed.
‘And then right into the middle of that walks Emily, a girl with neither notable lineage nor remarkable talent, capturing Leoport’s heart…. How infuriating that must have been for her!’
Thus, Scarlett was cast in the mold of the archetypal “woman against woman” trope—a classic villainess.
That was precisely one of the reasons I considered The Violet of the Duchy my guilty pleasure.
A woman’s worst enemy is another woman? What an outdated cliché.
‘Still, no matter the reasons, hurting others like that is unacceptable…. Even an elegant girl like her couldn't resist falling hopelessly in love, huh?’
Absorbed in thoughts of Scarlett, I couldn’t tear my eyes away from her striking figure.
‘I had only ever pictured her as a bitter character tormenting Leoport and Emily’s relationship….’
Yet the Scarlett standing before me today was the very embodiment of the refined young noblewoman I had so often imagined in the novels of my past life.
‘How could a girl like this ever fall for that naive Leoport…?’
While I was staring in sheer fascination, almost ready to fault the author of The Violet of the Duchy for writing it that way….
“Hm?”
Our eyes met without warning, catching me off guard.
Up until now, every noble offering greetings had looked at me with open admiration or gentle curiosity. But Scarlett….
‘Does she… hate me?’
This was the very first time I had ever been on the receiving end of such blatant hostility since becoming Cecilia.
Even across the distance, her furrowed brows and sharp, cold gaze left no room for doubt.
It sent an unsettling chill down my spine.
‘Could she have already developed feelings for Leoport?’
After all, it was well known throughout society that Leoport visited the palace frequently just to speak with me.
Until Father concluded his response and House Gibbels took their leave, the grim scowl never left Scarlett’s face.
Once the ceremony wound down and the attendees began filing out of the hall, I started watching them with meticulous care.
‘So that’s the one who later latches onto Scarlett to spread rumors about Emily. Ah, and that reddish-blonde young man over there… the son of House Greenwood, who falls for Emily and challenges Leoport.’
Everyone who would make Emily’s social life a living hell, those who would fall for her and contend with Leoport, and those who would scorn her for her humble background… they were all right here.
‘That one’s a fake. That one’s real. And that one… judgment pending.’
Having resolved to smooth the path for Leoport and Emily’s romance, my very first step was categorizing the villains.
If their actions served to deepen the bond between the two leads, they were true villains; if they were merely useless annoyances stirring up pointless trouble, they were fake villains.
‘And I fully intend to stop the fake villains before they even start.’
For instance, someone who isolates Emily so that Leoport can step in and comfort her is a true villain.
On the other hand, someone who intercepts their letters and sparks needless misunderstandings is just a fake villain.
‘Who has time for petty misunderstandings? Those two need to get together as quickly as possible!’
If I kept a close eye on the fake villains from now on and brought them over to my side, I could nip their interference in the bud.
‘Most of Scarlett’s antics fall under fake villainy, whereas the real villain is….’
As I pondered this, another child crossed my mind—someone else I had been eager to see today.
‘Why wasn’t he here earlier? Has he not turned ten yet?’