Chapter 8

She headed for the stable. Flip ran out, having belatedly heard from the servants that she'd been confined in her closet.

“Little Mistress! Where are you going!”

Violet saw him as she was bringing a horse out of the stable. She stood there like a phantom about to vanish into thin air, and gave a faint smile. “I want to see the ocean.”

“The ocean?”

“Yes. I heard there's a seaside villa at the outskirts of this land. I’ve never been there even though I’ve lived here three years. Couldn't work up the courage.”

“W-wait! I’ll bring some hot tea and join you, Little Mistress!”

At his words, a frail light returned to her dry eyes. “Thanks. You’re the first to ever worry about me around here.”

“Don't say that...”

“I’ll be back soon. I just want a look at the sea. It’s late. Go inside and rest.”

Flip looked troubled. He backed away.

Violet had learned to ride from a young age. She mounted the horse with perfect form. She paid no attention to her dress, which hiked up and revealed her white calves. Flip balked and turned his head away.

“You must return right afterwards, Little Mistress!”

“Yes. There's nothing else to occupy me anyway,” Violet said bitterly. She rode away.

The seaside villa was far away. It took her an hour before she came within sight of the sea.

“Gods...”

Violet got off her horse and marveled at the sight. The sun had nearly set upon a calm, beautiful sea. An old woman, the caretaker of the villa, appeared. She must have heard the horse. She seemed surprised.

“Little Mistress? What are you doing here at this hour?”

“I just came to see the ocean. You can go inside and rest.”

“But you just got here, Little Mistress... I think I’ll bring out some tea.”

“I'm really okay. I’ll be resting for only a few moments before I leave.”

Violet persuaded her to return to her room.

She walked to the storehouse of the villa, where the caretaker kept a gun to guard it from intruders. She took a small gun and stepped into a room which led out onto a path to the sea.

The sea breeze blew playfully around her shining hair. She felt as though a weight had been lifted off her shoulders.

“This is nice... I should have come earlier.”

She’d thought she’d be loved someday.

She’d clung like a fool, ignored the snubs, forced herself to smile. She'd never gotten a gift herself, but always prepared gifts and made a big fuss when someone’s birthday came around. It'd been three years.

Violet quietly stared at the sea from the villa.

Perhaps another body switch would happen. But what she really wanted was for her life to end right here.

Violet loaded the gun. She brought it up to her neck and pulled the trigger.

* * *

Winter couldn't get Violet out of his mind. He left the guests not long after.

His wife hated such large events. His mother had told him that Violet always tried to get out of such parties, and she herself had pleaded with him a few times to take her to the capital.

What scared him the most was the talk of divorce.

Winter glanced at the hand Violet had grabbed earlier, hoping she wasn't going to talk about divorce again. He sped up when he saw the blood on his hand.

“Shit.”

Had she been hurt? Was that why she'd come to him so vulnerable?

The thought made his stomach drop.

He ran to her bedroom.

The door was ajar. He raised his eyebrows and pushed it open, but the room was empty.

“Where has she gone? She's the one who asked to talk,” Winter mumbled. He noticed the rose in the vase. He directed a distracted look at it.

“...I guess she really does like flowers.”

He was grateful that he could share her love for flowers, at least.

He shook himself, realizing this wasn't the time to be lost in thought. He rushed over to a servant who'd been preparing the guest beds.

“Where is Violet?” he asked.

“What, sir? Isn't she in her room?”

“I wouldn’t be asking if she was, would I?” Winter barked back. The servant, scared, shook her head to indicate her ignorance and ran off.

He looked in other places too, without avail. She wasn't in the living room or the garden. He felt his breath becoming more rapid as he began to run about in his search for Violet.

She wasn't anywhere in the mansion.

Winter felt his mouth go dry with worry. He had to know what she was trying to tell him, or he might go insane.

He took a carriage and headed immediately to the Bloomings’ mansion.

Hayell had been waiting for his guests, as per Winter's instructions.

“What is it, sir?”

“Was Violet here?”

“What, sir? She never came here.”

“The capital. Did no carriage leave for the capital?”

“None so far... Take a moment to catch your breath, sir.”

“My wife is gone! I don’t have time to catch—” Winter was shouting when he suddenly swore. A sudden dizziness came over him, and he froze.

Hayell's eyes went wide.

“Are you alright?”

Winter soon regained his composure and spoke in a voice that was strangely calm. “It’s alright.”

“I’ll call the servants and have them look for the little mistress.”

“Ah... Actually, I remember she said she was going to the seaside villa.”

“Wh-what? Oh please, sir. Pay attention when she says such things! I was nearly worried out of my mind,” Hayell grumbled with relief.

Winter left him standing outside and entered the Blooming mansion.

He had something to say.

He stopped before Ash Lawrence.

Ash had a lot to gain from Winter. He gave an amiable greeting.

“It’s been a while, Winter.”

“You locked my wife in the closet. With my mother.”

Ash froze. He must have seen this coming, however, because his reply was relaxed. “It's a common form of light punishment among aristocrats,” he said. “Though you may not be familiar with it.”

“Sounds like you're the one who finds it light and common.”

Winter usually let things pass irritably when it had to do with aristocrats. Ash hesitated. Couples really must take after each other. Winter’s eyes and form of speech resembled Violet's.

A bit nervous, he began to pour out excuses.

“Do you know that Violet wants a divorce? She’s been acting up recently, and now she's demanding a divorce. Lady Catherine even shed tears.”

“That's none of your business. I’ll gloss over it this time, but if this happens again, you’ll regret it.”

“Are you going to just sit there and let her divorce you?”

“I told you. That's none of your business. Don’t meddle.” He spoke calmly, quite unlike the usual Winter. He turned away. He paused when he saw himself reflected in the glass wall.

Ash was pretty tall himself, but next to Winter, who was much taller and broad-shouldered than average, he looked small.

He turned to Ash.

“Anyhow, standing next to you makes me feel twice the man I am.”

“...What?”

Ash seemed confused. That look was soon replaced by a scowl. Winter was already leaving the premises by the time Ash understood what he meant.

Winter took one of the private carriages prepared for today’s guests and rode away.

* * *

Winter had been shouting at Hayell that his wife was gone when he felt dizzy. His surroundings changed. When he recovered his composure, he leaned his forehead against the table, feeling the headache return.

“Shit, why is this happening again?”

He could see the sea from this villa. Winter tried his best to stand despite the pain. He swore.

“So this is where she was. Of course I couldn't find her.”

Though the headache was terrible, he felt relieved to have discovered his wife’s location.

The villa keeper ran up to him. “Little Mistress! Did you hear the gunshot?”

“Gunshot?”

“Gods! What is this doing here!”

She quaked as she picked up a pistol from the floor.

It didn’t matter to Winter why the gun was on the floor next to him. What mattered was why Violet had come to this place, and what she’d wanted to tell him today.

Winter ran out of the villa, looking to return to the mansion. There was no carriage in sight, only a lone horse.

He stood there stymied; he didn't know how to ride one. He let loose a barrage of curses and called the villa keeper over. “Old woman! Call a carriage right away!”

“Y-yes, Little Mistress!”

Jumping when he shouted at her, the woman ran off to telegraph for a carriage. In the meantime, Winter collapsed on a sofa in the first-floor living room.

Regardless of whether Violet knew if he could ride, seeing how he’d ended up in her body in such a remote location, she must have taken his body.