Episode 19
“Did you just say you?”
Marlon’s mustache started to twitch.
“Who else would I mean? One of the idiots behind you?”
Ash replied casually.
Marlon’s fake kind expression disappeared. He scowled and shouted.
“This is your last warning, Ash de Pendale. This isn’t your business.”
“Oh, but I think it is. Should I guess what’s really going on here?”
“…”
“There’s a Sword Master who refused your offer to join your order. On the same day, your son got punched by his fiancée—and that Sword Master happened to be there.”
Marlon stayed silent.
“You don’t believe your son got hit by Violet, do you? You probably think I did it. And then you started wondering why.”
Ash stepped closer to Violet.
Even in this tense moment, he still somehow smelled… nice.
“And then you thought: what if Violet and I are a thing? That’d make your pride hurt less, right? You’d be less embarrassed that your son got beat up by his fiancée. It would even explain why Violet wants to break off the engagement. Right?”
That’s it!
Violet almost understood—until she realized what he was saying.
Wait, they think I’m dating Ash?!
“Ash de Pendale, you’re young and arrogant. Right now, you think you can have it all. But Violet is a worthless, foolish girl. Still, she’s at least half a noble.”
Marlon continued.
“You’ll never be allowed to touch a girl like her. That’s the difference in status.”
The misunderstanding was piling up. Violet wanted to facepalm.
She stepped away from Ash.
“Ash, you should go.”
“…Now?”
“I don’t want to drag you into this. And besides, they’re clearly misunderstanding.”
“Misunderstanding what?”
“About us. That we’re… something.”
“But we are something.”
“…What?”
“Don’t you remember? By the fountain? We almost became partners in crime. That bond is deeper and hotter than murder, remember?”
“W-what are you even saying?!”
“Also, didn’t you ask for secret private lessons?”
Why wasn’t he mentioning that Marin was there too?!
Violet nearly shouted in protest.
And she wasn’t the only one shocked. Marlon’s face grew even darker.
“Are you seriously throwing away your future for this useless little girl?”
“That depends on you,” Ash answered.
“I’ve had enough! Ash de Pendale, if you’re so confident, try raising your sword against the royal knights.”
“…”
“I could ruin your future. Grab him. But don’t use your swords.”
Marlon was right about one thing—if Ash attacked royal knights, he’d make enemies of the entire nation’s knight orders.
“Ash, don’t fight them. Just ru—”
Before she could finish, Ash casually walked forward…
…and punched the front knight straight in the face.
CRACK.
Lately, Violet had heard a lot of noses breaking.
“See that? Your son’s face looked just like this after.”
Ash said with a sweet smile.
“Y-you…”
Marlon was shaking with rage. Ash spoke in a gentle tone:
“At least now he has an excuse for his ugly face. Every time he looks in the mirror, he can say he got it in a fight.”
“GET HIM!”
The knights drew their swords—still sheathed. They planned to beat him without “technically” attacking.
“Just remember—if you come near me, I’ll break at least one bone.”
Ash said this right before jumping on one of the knights and nearly pounding his face in.
What followed was a flurry of chaotic violence.
‘This guy… he really has nothing to lose…’
Violet realized.
He’s been like this from the beginning, hasn’t he?
As she watched in dazed amazement—
“Watch out!”
One of the knights, having lost his temper, unsheathed his sword.
Reacting on instinct, Violet created a small orb of aura and smacked it into the knight’s weapon.
“Urgh!”
The knight staggered, nearly falling on Ash—but Ash easily dodged and then stepped on the man’s head.
A silver aura flared around him.
“I really like you, Violet Everdeen.”
Ash beamed brightly.
And what happened next was something Violet would never forget.
Ash walked up to Marlon and punched him straight in the face.
“Who gave you the right to talk about someone else’s status, you pathetic excuse of a man?”
Just like his son, Marlon screamed like a pig and collapsed to the ground.
…And then, Ash and Violet were thrown in jail.
Violet clutched the cold bars, stunned.
Her goal yesterday had been simple—just learn how to make good comebacks.
“…How did things end up like this…”
“Right? Getting arrested? What a surprise.”
Ash leaned against the jail wall.
“Are you seriously asking?”
You punched the commander of the royal knight order. In the face. With your pretty little fist.
Violet almost screamed that at him.
“Come on. He should be thankful I only hit him once, not ten times.”
So he did understand that punching the commander was what landed them here.
“I appreciate it, but I could’ve handled this myself.”
Violet said calmly.
“Really?”
“…Maybe.”
She probably wouldn’t have had the guts to fight knights like Ash did.
Ash sat on the cell’s only wooden bed. Violet sighed and sat beside him.
“To be honest… it felt good seeing you punch him.”
She admitted.
“Is it a family trait to say things that make people want to punch you?”
Ash nodded.
Violet struggled to keep her face straight and not smile.
“But seriously… are you okay? The commander said he wouldn’t let this go.”
They’d been arrested by regular peacekeepers who heard the commotion.
Ash didn’t resist when they arrived—he knew fighting them would make things worse.
Marlon had already been treated and then came to the jail just to mock them.
[Violet, as soon as you’re released, I’ll make sure you’re punished. And Ash de Pendale, I’ll see to it that you’re recorded as a criminal. Your name will be in the papers. Your reputation will be ruined.]
Ash’s record being stained—because of her?
Violet panicked. She could deal with anything herself, but this…
“It’s fine.”
Ash said calmly.
“Marlon has power. We probably won’t get out of here easily.”
“Then we’ll just get out the hard way.”
“…What?”
“This evening didn’t go as planned. But let’s keep talking, shall we?”
Ash smiled.
‘What is he even…’
Then Violet suddenly remembered something.
Right! Why did I forget that?
She looked at Ash.
“Ash, have you heard about Kolbera? The day I fought at the training grounds… they said he was found unconscious in the dean’s garden.”
“Oh no. Poor guy. Must’ve lost his mind after being hit by that ‘terrible’ student he always bullied. Maybe he drank too much to forget the shame. Don’t you think?”
Ash said it like it was nothing.
Violet nearly agreed out loud—but bit her tongue.
“They say he has short-term memory loss now.”
“Wouldn’t be surprised. It was a shocking moment.”
“…Ash? That whole thing… did it have anything to do with you?”
Violet finally asked honestly.
