Translator: asuramaru
Chapter 3
Maybe it’s because I took too many pills, but there’s less pain than I expected.
Violet opened her eyes once again as she lay on a fluffy bed, feeling as if her whole body was melting. She smiled unconsciously and buried her head in the pillow.
The wind flowed through the window left slightly ajar, gently brushing the curtains and ruffling her hair.
If I’d known death was this peaceful, I would’ve chosen this path three years ago. I’ve never felt so refreshed and at peace in my entire life. Not only did the incessant headache that’d plagued me since I was born disappear completely for the first time, but also the feeling of blood unbearably pressing against my skin subsided.
“Happy…….”
Violet’s eyes flashed in shock at the sound of her voice. She stretched her upper body and felt her throat with her hands. Her eyes snapped again at the sight of her hands.
Neither the hands, or the neck, were hers. It’s my husband’s large hand which I held at our wedding ceremony… and his low, fierce voice. Violet could tell it was a healthy body, hardened by work and sports, and covered her mouth with her hands.
Violet’s eyes traced down towards the floor, and she was surprised again by the sensation of a tight leg muscle.
“What’s going on……….”
She stared blankly at the full body mirror in the bedroom. The man in the mirror was definitely Winter Blooming. A man over 190cm tall, with a threatening physique and wide shoulders, along with a savage yet handsome appearance. It was Winter Blooming, with his slightly curled hair and grey eyes, that stared back at her.
“I guess I’ve really gone crazy now.”
As Violet stood there talking to herself, the door opened wide and Winter’s secretary, Hael, came in.
“Mr Representative! Rowell’s already ready! Please get dressed quickly!”
Hael held a coffee in one hand, and his suit in the other. Already wearing formal attire, he was exuding sophistication, as expected of the Blooming family. Hael lined up a clean white shirt and suit pants on the bed.
“You can wear this. Please put on a tie today; it’s a public occasion.”
“Yes… Oh, no. I see.”
Violet’s polite answer seemed to impress Hael, but he nodded as if he knew the reason immediately.
“Oh, you practiced your polite speech for today’s meeting. Well, it was rough yesterday.”
Violet questioned his words, tilting her head,
“…….Why practice?”
“Why, you’re bad at manners.”
“I am?”
“You’re really asking that? You just slept in, so we don’t have time for this! Change your clothes quickly!”
Violet nodded in surprise and ran towards the bed.
Moments later, a maid left a hot cup of coffee on the table. As he spooned sugar into the coffee, Hael spoke.
“Regarding the beans in the Widellin Mountains, in Rowe the price per each gram is 30 rounds (1000 rounds per Lakne). He asked me to attain that, what a crazy bastard, right?”
“Hael. Would you please leave so I can change?”
The remark made Hael’s eyes widen slightly.
“What’s wrong with you this morning?”
Of course, everyone changed their clothes, but it was only natural for women to feel like this. Because she was too uncomfortable to change in front of Hael, Violet asked again.
“I’m feeling a little off today. I’d appreciate it if you could turn away.”
“Why are you speaking so elegantly all of a sudden… why aren’t you drinking your coffee?”
Hael turned around, and the difficulties began.
Violet took a sip of coffee and almost spat it out. It had such a thick, sugary consistency that her tongue hurt. Moreover, the temperature was so hot it felt as if it was still boiling in a fire.
She couldn’t drink any more than a sip of the coffee. After giving up on drinking the coffee, Violet felt flustered and dressed herself in a white shirt, black suit pants and threw on a grey tie around her neck. She looked back at Hael awkwardly.
“Hael, I’m sorry……….”
“Are you hungover again? Do you think you won’t be able to make it to the meeting?”
Winter would only apologise when he had a hangover. Violet looked at the tie.
“Tie it, please.”
“You’re punishing me, aren’t you? I don’t know what I’ve done wrong, but I’d rather you swear like usual.”
Hael walked towards her in disbelief and skillfully knotted her tie. Violet, who felt awkward due to the close proximity between them, turned her head away. She looked down at his brown shoes instead.
“So… the meeting?”
“Yes, Sir. Now, don’t get angry and flip the table upside down, even if he digs hard this time.”
Winter usually swears and turns the table over.
The image of her husband, who wouldn’t spill a drop of blood even if he was attacked, instantly faded. If I’m crazy, I must also be delusional.
“Come on, if you’re ready, let’s go!”
Hael pushed against Violet’s back. Violet took a step in amazement at Winter’s solid body, which remained steady regardless of Hael’s force.
With no time to adjust, Violet found herself sitting in front of a difficult contract.
Sitting in front of a table covered with documents and papers, it wasn’t like Violet didn’t know the reason why he was leaning back. The table height set for a young woman must’ve been ridiculously low for Winter.
‘What to do ….’
She couldn’t be entirely sure of her mental stability, but Violet knew she couldn’t afford to squander this contract. Blaming herself for her inability to cope, she carefully checked the papers.
As Violet had been staring at the contracts for a while, Rowell, the head of the Wildellin Mountains clan, opened his mouth to speak.
“You yelled like that yesterday, but today you’re silent?”
“I was rude yesterday. I apologise.”
After being briefed, Violet knew that Rowell was a man who upheld traditional ideals; he seemed to value courtesy highly.
He once again pointed out Violet’s unusual care for manners.
“I don’t understand you. You were so violent yesterday, yet today you’re going for a smoother approach?”
“Rather than that……….”
“These numbers here”
Rowell increased the number on the contract by 30.
“If you won’t buy it for this price, I can’t sell them – the beans of Wildellin.”
Wildellin coffee was famous for its quality; it was supposed to be the finest coffee on the market. She’d often drank this at the royal castle. She never knew that coffee beans were so expensive. Violet, who’d never set foot in front of a negotiating table before, said in embarrassment,
“It’s already written in the contract… if you raise it by 30 rounds each, our burden will be too much…”
Her cautious attitude irritated Rowell.
“Don’t be so stingy. Isn’t your hotel chain experiencing an unprecedented boom? To say it’d put you under a lot of pressure sounds like an excuse.”
She’d heard that her husband had become an accomplished person after their marriage. It seemed like he’d recovered his fortune to some extent.
‘Or I’m only listening to what I want to hear. Crazy,’ Violet thought.
She felt guilty for the problems she’d caused Winter. So, no matter how long he spent away, she would welcome him as if she was happy he returned home. As she was engrossed in thought, Rowell continued,
“Without selling these, the Wildellin children won’t make enough money.”
“The children work?”
“Of course.”
Oh my God, the children are doing the work!
Violet, who thought it was necessary to pay in exchange for the labour of children, looked at the documents and picked up Winter’s seal. She answered,
“Then, as you said…….”
As she showed signs of stamping the documents, a frightened Hael rushed over and grabbed her arm.
“Oh, no. You drank so much yesterday that you’re still intoxicated!”
After speaking, Hael grabbed her, squirming, and raised her from her seat. As Violet followed him and left the meeting, Hael spoke in a lowered voice,
“Are you sure you’re not drunk? Come on!”
“Ah, it’s because the children were working……….”
“You’re just acting on it because you were treated like a servant when you were a child. But you know better. Even if there is a child working there, you know none of that money will go back to that child, and instead it will end up in Rowell’s pockets…….. No, why did I have to explain such an obvious thing all of a sudden? How much did you drink?”
Hael seemed confident that the only reason his boss was being kind was because he was drunk. Violet, wearing a blank face, asked,
“If I was my usual self, how would I react? If… if I was sober enough.”
“You’re a weird drunk… well, the moment you heard ‘30 rounds’, you’d have flipped the table. And then I’d stop you… and then you’d have another meeting.”
I’d have to turn the tables upside down to act like the usual Winter……. By the way, it looks like it’s made of marble, so how on earth can it be lifted by normal human power?
Violet thought hard and walked up to the table and grasped it with her hand, attempting to move it. Then she heard the table creak and move, despite it seeming unlikely to budge. Violet, alarmed at Winter’s strength, looked up and saw Rowell; he seemed a little frightened and shrinked back.
After staring at him for a while, Violet gathered the scattered documents that’d fallen to the floor because of the tilting of the table.
Then she sat down and drew over the numbers Rowell had written with a pen.
“Let’s negotiate again. From the beginning.”
Rowell spoke in a trembling voice,
“What do you mean?”
“Let’s have a conversation. We can sit down and talk until we’re both satisfied.”
It was Winter Blooming’s method to flip the table and scare his opponent. But, sitting here was Violet Lawrence, doing what she was best at – standing steadfast. It was a routine for her to stand like a ghost and endure the parties, unable to avoid the stones they pelted her with.
Violet’s collection of paper was laid out neatly on the table.
“I’ll read it again from the beginning.”
“But that won’t change the content.”
“I’ll read it over and over again. I won’t stop until we come up with an answer, or one of us collapses from exhaustion.”
It didn’t matter if it was a dream or psychosis. Violet was a responsible person, so she decided to do her best with this contract.
Translator: asuramaru
Chapter 3
Maybe it’s because I took too many pills, but there’s less pain than I expected.
Violet opened her eyes once again as she lay on a fluffy bed, feeling as if her whole body was melting. She smiled unconsciously and buried her head in the pillow.
The wind flowed through the window left slightly ajar, gently brushing the curtains and ruffling her hair.
If I’d known death was this peaceful, I would’ve chosen this path three years ago. I’ve never felt so refreshed and at peace in my entire life. Not only did the incessant headache that’d plagued me since I was born disappear completely for the first time, but also the feeling of blood unbearably pressing against my skin subsided.
“Happy…….”
Violet’s eyes flashed in shock at the sound of her voice. She stretched her upper body and felt her throat with her hands. Her eyes snapped again at the sight of her hands.
Neither the hands, or the neck, were hers. It’s my husband’s large hand which I held at our wedding ceremony… and his low, fierce voice. Violet could tell it was a healthy body, hardened by work and sports, and covered her mouth with her hands.
Violet’s eyes traced down towards the floor, and she was surprised again by the sensation of a tight leg muscle.
“What’s going on……….”
She stared blankly at the full body mirror in the bedroom. The man in the mirror was definitely Winter Blooming. A man over 190cm tall, with a threatening physique and wide shoulders, along with a savage yet handsome appearance. It was Winter Blooming, with his slightly curled hair and grey eyes, that stared back at her.
“I guess I’ve really gone crazy now.”
As Violet stood there talking to herself, the door opened wide and Winter’s secretary, Hael, came in.
“Mr Representative! Rowell’s already ready! Please get dressed quickly!”
Hael held a coffee in one hand, and his suit in the other. Already wearing formal attire, he was exuding sophistication, as expected of the Blooming family. Hael lined up a clean white shirt and suit pants on the bed.
“You can wear this. Please put on a tie today; it’s a public occasion.”
“Yes… Oh, no. I see.”
Violet’s polite answer seemed to impress Hael, but he nodded as if he knew the reason immediately.
“Oh, you practiced your polite speech for today’s meeting. Well, it was rough yesterday.”
Violet questioned his words, tilting her head,
“…….Why practice?”
“Why, you’re bad at manners.”
“I am?”
“You’re really asking that? You just slept in, so we don’t have time for this! Change your clothes quickly!”
Violet nodded in surprise and ran towards the bed.
Moments later, a maid left a hot cup of coffee on the table. As he spooned sugar into the coffee, Hael spoke.
“Regarding the beans in the Widellin Mountains, in Rowe the price per each gram is 30 rounds (1000 rounds per Lakne). He asked me to attain that, what a crazy bastard, right?”
“Hael. Would you please leave so I can change?”
The remark made Hael’s eyes widen slightly.
“What’s wrong with you this morning?”
Of course, everyone changed their clothes, but it was only natural for women to feel like this. Because she was too uncomfortable to change in front of Hael, Violet asked again.
“I’m feeling a little off today. I’d appreciate it if you could turn away.”
“Why are you speaking so elegantly all of a sudden… why aren’t you drinking your coffee?”
Hael turned around, and the difficulties began.
Violet took a sip of coffee and almost spat it out. It had such a thick, sugary consistency that her tongue hurt. Moreover, the temperature was so hot it felt as if it was still boiling in a fire.
She couldn’t drink any more than a sip of the coffee. After giving up on drinking the coffee, Violet felt flustered and dressed herself in a white shirt, black suit pants and threw on a grey tie around her neck. She looked back at Hael awkwardly.
“Hael, I’m sorry……….”
“Are you hungover again? Do you think you won’t be able to make it to the meeting?”
Winter would only apologise when he had a hangover. Violet looked at the tie.
“Tie it, please.”
“You’re punishing me, aren’t you? I don’t know what I’ve done wrong, but I’d rather you swear like usual.”
Hael walked towards her in disbelief and skillfully knotted her tie. Violet, who felt awkward due to the close proximity between them, turned her head away. She looked down at his brown shoes instead.
“So… the meeting?”
“Yes, Sir. Now, don’t get angry and flip the table upside down, even if he digs hard this time.”
Winter usually swears and turns the table over.
The image of her husband, who wouldn’t spill a drop of blood even if he was attacked, instantly faded. If I’m crazy, I must also be delusional.
“Come on, if you’re ready, let’s go!”
Hael pushed against Violet’s back. Violet took a step in amazement at Winter’s solid body, which remained steady regardless of Hael’s force.
With no time to adjust, Violet found herself sitting in front of a difficult contract.
Sitting in front of a table covered with documents and papers, it wasn’t like Violet didn’t know the reason why he was leaning back. The table height set for a young woman must’ve been ridiculously low for Winter.
‘What to do ….’
She couldn’t be entirely sure of her mental stability, but Violet knew she couldn’t afford to squander this contract. Blaming herself for her inability to cope, she carefully checked the papers.
As Violet had been staring at the contracts for a while, Rowell, the head of the Wildellin Mountains clan, opened his mouth to speak.
“You yelled like that yesterday, but today you’re silent?”
“I was rude yesterday. I apologise.”
After being briefed, Violet knew that Rowell was a man who upheld traditional ideals; he seemed to value courtesy highly.
He once again pointed out Violet’s unusual care for manners.
“I don’t understand you. You were so violent yesterday, yet today you’re going for a smoother approach?”
“Rather than that……….”
“These numbers here”
Rowell increased the number on the contract by 30.
“If you won’t buy it for this price, I can’t sell them – the beans of Wildellin.”
Wildellin coffee was famous for its quality; it was supposed to be the finest coffee on the market. She’d often drank this at the royal castle. She never knew that coffee beans were so expensive. Violet, who’d never set foot in front of a negotiating table before, said in embarrassment,
“It’s already written in the contract… if you raise it by 30 rounds each, our burden will be too much…”
Her cautious attitude irritated Rowell.
“Don’t be so stingy. Isn’t your hotel chain experiencing an unprecedented boom? To say it’d put you under a lot of pressure sounds like an excuse.”
She’d heard that her husband had become an accomplished person after their marriage. It seemed like he’d recovered his fortune to some extent.
‘Or I’m only listening to what I want to hear. Crazy,’ Violet thought.
She felt guilty for the problems she’d caused Winter. So, no matter how long he spent away, she would welcome him as if she was happy he returned home. As she was engrossed in thought, Rowell continued,
“Without selling these, the Wildellin children won’t make enough money.”
“The children work?”
“Of course.”
Oh my God, the children are doing the work!
Violet, who thought it was necessary to pay in exchange for the labour of children, looked at the documents and picked up Winter’s seal. She answered,
“Then, as you said…….”
As she showed signs of stamping the documents, a frightened Hael rushed over and grabbed her arm.
“Oh, no. You drank so much yesterday that you’re still intoxicated!”
After speaking, Hael grabbed her, squirming, and raised her from her seat. As Violet followed him and left the meeting, Hael spoke in a lowered voice,
“Are you sure you’re not drunk? Come on!”
“Ah, it’s because the children were working……….”
“You’re just acting on it because you were treated like a servant when you were a child. But you know better. Even if there is a child working there, you know none of that money will go back to that child, and instead it will end up in Rowell’s pockets…….. No, why did I have to explain such an obvious thing all of a sudden? How much did you drink?”
Hael seemed confident that the only reason his boss was being kind was because he was drunk. Violet, wearing a blank face, asked,
“If I was my usual self, how would I react? If… if I was sober enough.”
“You’re a weird drunk… well, the moment you heard ‘30 rounds’, you’d have flipped the table. And then I’d stop you… and then you’d have another meeting.”
I’d have to turn the tables upside down to act like the usual Winter……. By the way, it looks like it’s made of marble, so how on earth can it be lifted by normal human power?
Violet thought hard and walked up to the table and grasped it with her hand, attempting to move it. Then she heard the table creak and move, despite it seeming unlikely to budge. Violet, alarmed at Winter’s strength, looked up and saw Rowell; he seemed a little frightened and shrinked back.
After staring at him for a while, Violet gathered the scattered documents that’d fallen to the floor because of the tilting of the table.
Then she sat down and drew over the numbers Rowell had written with a pen.
“Let’s negotiate again. From the beginning.”
Rowell spoke in a trembling voice,
“What do you mean?”
“Let’s have a conversation. We can sit down and talk until we’re both satisfied.”
It was Winter Blooming’s method to flip the table and scare his opponent. But, sitting here was Violet Lawrence, doing what she was best at – standing steadfast. It was a routine for her to stand like a ghost and endure the parties, unable to avoid the stones they pelted her with.
Violet’s collection of paper was laid out neatly on the table.
“I’ll read it again from the beginning.”
“But that won’t change the content.”
“I’ll read it over and over again. I won’t stop until we come up with an answer, or one of us collapses from exhaustion.”
It didn’t matter if it was a dream or psychosis. Violet was a responsible person, so she decided to do her best with this contract.
