Violet Zerotta’s Hasty Marriage - Chapter 45

When morning came, Violet encountered an unexpected stroke of luck.

As she was preparing to leave early at dawn. Hoping to stay ahead of any search Aldrick might begin. Her eyes landed on a familiar symbol.

〈 To Saint-Lour 〉

The letters painted on the side of the large freight wagon felt like fate itself.

Of course, she knew that was Aldrick’s hometown, and the first place he would search if he were to come looking for her.

But Violet, who had no connections anywhere, couldn’t think of a place to go. And so, she had decided to stop by Saint-Lour briefly to get her bearings before moving on again.

“If you’re too tired, you should rest, Violet. You look like you’re always on edge, as if someone might be chasing after you.”

Mrs. Margaret, unable to watch Violet struggle to focus on her work, spoke up with concern again. Violet wanted to forget everything, but she couldn’t help it when the memories of that day kept surfacing.

In the end, she didn’t refuse Mrs. Margaret’s suggestion and stepped out of the shop’s narrow workroom for a moment.

Mrs. Margaret didn’t know that Violet had run away from her husband. As always, she hadn’t pried into Violet’s personal circumstances.

She was someone who believed that by her age, one came to understand that life brought all kinds of situations, and she accepted everything with a kind, nonchalant understanding.

Moreover, Mrs. Margaret had set aside a portion of the profits from the estate left behind by Aldrick and Violet. Though part of it had gone toward the mansion’s maintenance and her own wages, most of several months’ worth of rent had been handed over to Violet.

Thanks to that money, Violet had been able to plan her departure from this place soon.

The phrase “as if someone might be chasing you” from Mrs. Margaret tugged sharply at Violet’s anxiety.

I have to leave this place as soon as possible.

In her head, she told herself that Aldrick had probably given up on her by now. But her heart remained endlessly uneasy. Just imagining him out there looking for her made her blood run cold.

What she had done to him was too grave.

She missed him terribly, but at the same time, she had no idea what she could possibly say if they were face-to-face again. That fear, that uncertainty, made her want to avoid him entirely.

He’s probably given up. We hadn’t even known each other that long. He’s young. He’ll find someone new soon enough.

That thought hurt in its own way, but it was the only comfort Violet had.

The day she saw with her own eyes that Baron Zerotta remained in the capital, she had returned to the Lambert manor and quietly prepared to leave.

Because she had behaved as usual, Aldrick had likely never imagined she was making such plans.

He didn’t know just how much Violet hated Baron Zerotta, nor how deeply she feared the damage he could cause.

Right before she left, Violet had taken advantage of a moment when Aldrick was away and written a short letter.

It was mostly filled with justifications for her departure, with a brief apology at the end. She also wrote that she hoped he could forget her and live a better life. She nearly cried while writing it, but barely held it in.

After the letter, she filled out another piece of paper—a document stating her agreement to divorce, with her handwritten signature.

If Aldrick wanted to proceed with divorce proceedings, that one sheet would be all he needed.

***

“Violet?”

Though she had stepped out for some fresh air, Violet found herself aimlessly wandering near the fabric shop, not sure where to go, when a deep voice calling her name startled her.

Of course, it wasn’t Aldrick.

The young man with straw-colored hair and gentle brown eyes was Joshua—the owner of the freight wagon who had transported Violet from Mallo to Saint-Lour.

“What are you doing here?”

He was a nineteen-year-old commoner who had taken on the family transport business after reaching adulthood. Had she not met him in Mallo, Violet would’ve had to walk to Saint-Lour—or trudge through other villages, enduring all manner of hardship.

“I wasn’t feeling well, so I stepped out to get some air.”

At her reply, Joshua’s face filled with concern.

“Are you feeling unwell? I have some herbs at home that help with stress and stomach trouble. Should I bring you some?”

Violet shook her head with a faint, tired smile.

Personally, she was very grateful to Joshua, but that didn’t mean she wanted to grow closer to him.

With his bright face and handsome features, Joshua clearly had feelings for Violet.

Whether it was because she had already experienced something like this once, or because Joshua wore his heart on his sleeve, his interest was painfully obvious to her.

But Violet no longer had any intention of forming relationships with any man, not with young men, not with older ones, not even with someone like Aldrick.

And so, Joshua’s concern was something Violet simply could not accept.

And whenever she looked at Joshua, Violet couldn’t help but think of Aldrick…