The next morning, Violetta wakes up drowsily somehow oversleeping her usual wake up. Kate calls her up and dresses the curtains.
"Good morning, princess. Time to get up. We are returning to the castle today."
Violetta sits up and climbs out of bed.
'Her highness doesn't seem so weird today…' Kate thinks happily.
After getting dressed with her usual submissive-looking makeup, she heads down to her private breakfast. Doing what she did before, she takes out the opaque box and puts a spoonful of spicy powder in her mouth. Violetta realizes that the jar is almost empty and frowns. Fortunately, at this time, Delta and Chris walked in, carrying a big box.
"Your highness," Delta pauses and waits to gain her attention, "These are the peppers and seeds that you asked for yesterday from his supremacy."
Violetta smiles, "Great, please put them onto the carriage."
She then turns to Kate and the knights, "This is Delta and Chris. They will be accompanying me for a year, do be friendly with them."
Kate and the knights blush at the sight as Chris takes off his hood, a faint pink showing on his chubby cheeks.
"Nice to meet you everyone, I am Chris. I look forward to working with you to serve her highness," he bows cutely.
"I am Delta, a mage of the Demigod Society. I look forward to working with you all too."
The knights and servants warmly welcome them as Violetta scans for any animosity.
Kate walks out of the small group welcoming Delta and Chris, and escorts Violetta to the carriage.
Along the boring journey, Violetta inspects the high quality peppers, identifying them and sorting them.
Then, she glances outside at the familiar, yet unfamiliar place.
Her thin, delicate fingers pull at the silk curtains, and she gazes outside. The bright sun shines down, illuminating the heart-warming scenes of children playing outside and adults supervising.
Violetta sighs, as she remembers her past life and those carefree days of her childhood���
She shakes her head immediately, 'No! I should focus on what's next and not what's already happened…' suddenly mimicking another good friend of hers that brought joy in her miserable past life: Ke Aiwang, she slaps her cheeks and whispers, "Fighting! Meng Xia-... ah no, Violetta!"
Violetta's thoughts start to wander about her three friends, Xiaoxia, Ke Aiwang, and Shen Yisha.
'I really wonder how they're doing…'
Unbeknownst to her, things are not quite going well with her friends either as they are to join her soon…
Violetta's gaze suddenly lands on a couple of curious kids and scolding parents with disdain in their eyes as they look towards her carriage.
"Hmm? Why?" she mutters to herself.
Violetta stares intently at the crowd, so intently it was as if she could hear them. Unknowingly, a thin layer of purple fog surrounds her eyes like glasses. The parent pointing her finger at the children starts to scold, "Don't go mess with those people, they'd never care about us anyways, if you think they'd care would we be in this situation right now?"
"Wuwuwu, mom, I just wanted to look at the pretty carriage."
"Well fine look then look! Just know you'll never get it in your entire life!"
Violetta winces as if she's the one being scolded, 'Damn that's harsh! Why are you talking to a child like that, especially YOUR child!'
Her eyebrows suddenly furrow, '... something's wrong… how did I know their dialogue?'
"Delta, I'd like to stop and take a break," Violetta commands.
The carriage slows down to a swift stop and Violetta walks out of it. Putting on her innocent and calm demeanour, she strolls over to the crowd of wide eyed children.
An ignorant child immediately starts to shout, "Miss! Miss! Your clothes are so pretty!"
Violetta gives her a subtle and polite smile. A parent comes and coaxes the girl. She then turns to Violetta with cold sweat coming off her forehead.
"Please forgive my daughter's rudeness, your honour," the mother says as she tries to appease Violetta.
However, in contrast to her begging for forgiveness, Violetta hears another voice, yet not through her ears, but in her mind.
'... Ah this Charlotte! I need to scold her again! If she ever does this, she might be the death of our village! These damned aristocrats! Ah, ah! … I need to appease this aristocrat quickly…'
Violetta inwardly raises an eyebrow in surprise. 'What is this?? Mind reading? Dang that's so cool! But honestly, these negative comments… I really don't need to hear them spewed right at my face.'
Violetta gives herself a mischievous smirk and calls over Delta.
"Can you entertain these children for me?"
Delta gives her a questioning glance, "Ok?"
Delta puts her hand out in front of her and concentrates. A ball of clear blue water appears and grows. Suddenly, it levitates and floats up. Scattering into little droplets, a small rainbow appears, stunning everyone, even Violetta.
The children jump up and down, cheering. The parents look over at Delta with shock and respect.
However, Violetta could tell that this respect was for the Demigod Society. 'Now, now, let's see what you all think!'
Violetta gathers her focus, staring at the crowd of children and adults. The thin layer of purple fog condenses, then dissipates.
"Huh? How come?" Violetta murmurs in confusion.
"What's wrong, your highness?" Kate asks, perceptive to her mood change.
"Nothing…"
Violetta stands at the side, contemplating for a long time.
"Aaargh! Whatever! I'll figure it out somehow!" Violetta whisper shouts frustrated.
Delta gives her yet another questioning glance, as Violetta gives her a weak smile.
She coaxes herself down as she walks towards the carriage, '...the solution will come in due time… come on, it was the same when you were researching medicine with Xiaoxia…'
Violetta arrives back at her castle by lunch. Her mother, the Queen, gives her a benign smile and hugs her happily, "My dear daughter, how was your trip? I missed you!"
Violetta hugs back innocently, "It was amazing! There were so many new and different things!"
Just as Violetta is hugging her, she sizes her up. 'Mother played the role of 'worrying innocent mother' quite well… but she definitely is not so simple at all. For instance, how did she know about Concubine Lotus when she only met Damien once five years ago when Concubine Lotus wasn't there? As an innocent Queen act she puts up, she wouldn't receive this information at all... '
Violetta pulls out of the hug first and gestures to the maids. They bring a couple of nicely packaged items which were what she had chosen as the souvenirs she would bring back for them.
Taking them one by one, she brings a pastel color for her mother, "Mother, I thought this hairpin would suit you. I found it on my trip in the Demigod Society. I also have gifts for Brother and Father."
"Mm, ok honey, let's go inside."
"Also I'm a bit hungry from the journey," she adds sheepishly.
"Of course honey, let's have lunch now; it's lunch time anyways."
"Mm."
They walk through the palace door where Violetta is greeted , the King with a hug.
"Ah, I'm so glad you're safe, Violetta. Are you injured? Did they treat you badly?" he pesters while checking for injuries.
She shakes her head with a smile and passes a present for the King who almost bursts into happy tears.
Then, the happy family walks into the dining room where they find Leopold and sit down. Leopold perfunctorily greets Violetta and receives a gift. He made a somewhat surprised face and nodded with a friendly, but unfriendly smile.
Over the course of the meal, Violetta stares, analyzing Leopold. Naturally, Leopold notices and frowns, 'What's up with her today?'
They wipe their mouths after dinner and Violetta speaks up, surprising them.
"Father, about Maya, I want to give her a second chance. Please allow her to return to my side. I do not want cruel punishments to be upon her; I can't bear with it!"