Six Years as His Mistress

Chapter 4 I've Wanted That Violin

After giving them her location, Violet crouched down by the roadside, exhausted, gently rubbing her swollen ankle.

The wind cut sharply through the night. She blinked, and before she realized it, a tear slipped free and hit the ground.

'Six years. Thousands of days and nights. No one is made of stone!'

But Violet was Violet.

She was capable of loving with reckless intensity, throwing everything she had into it, simply to feel alive. And the moment she realized that love wasn't returned, she was just as capable of walking away without hesitation.

Obedience was only the surface she showed the world. Underneath it, she was unbreakable.

The sky was thinly scattered with stars when the distant thrum of rotors finally reached her ears. A helicopter appeared overhead, swaying slightly before settling smoothly onto the road.

"Ms. McCarthy, the Morvani branch has only been operational for two years, so we're a bit short-staffed. The pilot is a little green, please excuse the bumpy ride."

...

Violet asked him to drop her in a quiet suburb, then took a cab home.

Percival didn't come back that night.

When he returned the next day, Cynthia followed behind him, arms full of bags.

"Vivi." Percival slung an arm around Cynthia's shoulders, smiling. "Cynthia says she likes the night view here. She's moving in."

It was the exact look he always wore when he was thoroughly satiated.

"Alright," Violet said evenly.

"See? You're always so understanding." Percival looked pleased. "Didn't you say you liked that place in Sylphnack? I bought it for you. You can move there."

"You bought her a house too?" Cynthia pouted.

Percival leaned down and pecked her lips, coaxing her with a grin. "She was basically a street rat when I picked her up. She's been with me for six years. If she ends up back out there digging through trash after leaving me, what would that make me look like?"

Violet had no interest in watching them flirt. After soaking comfortably in a hot bath, she finally began packing her things.

She had already planned to leave anyway.

Percival had always been lavish when it came to spending money. The walk-in closet was filled with luxury jewelry and couture gowns he had gathered for her over the years.

She didn't look at any of them. Her gaze went straight to the violin resting in the center of the room.

It had been crafted by a world-famous Italian luthier, one of a kind in the world. Six years ago, Percival had won it at an auction and given it to her.

It was the only thing she intended to take.

When Violet stepped out of the closet holding the violin, she saw Cynthia feeding Percival fruit.

The fruit had already been cut into chunks and left sitting for too long. The pieces had turned yellow with oxidation, and a few were even starting to spoil. Percival ate them anyway, bite after bite, smiling like he was enjoying every mouthful.

No one understood how particular Percival's tastes were better than Violet did.

If the caviar didn't come from endangered wild Beluga sturgeon, he said the flavor lacked depth.

If the melon hadn't been flown in from Shizuoka, Japan, he said the taste wasn't refined enough.

If the truffles weren't Alba white truffles found within two hours after rainfall, he said they had no aroma.

Once, Violet had personally prepared a lunch for him according to his preferences. She spent five chaotic hours in the kitchen. Percival took one bite and immediately frowned.

"I only eat chicken from Bresse, France. They're raised on specific grains and milk."

Then he tossed the entire lunchbox straight into the trash.

And now he was happily eating spoiled fruit, one piece after another.

'Amazing,' Violet thought.

Dumbledore had been right.

Love really was the most powerful magic in the world.

"You're not taking any of the clothes or jewelry?" Percival looked surprised when he saw that the only thing she was holding was the violin. "Any one of those pieces could buy your life ten times over."

"Then again, six years with me must've raised your standards." He studied her expression. "Vivi, now that Cynthia's back, I won't be spending money on you anymore. After everything these past years, I've already done more than enough."

Violet's expression remained completely blank. Percival intentionally hardened his tone, assuming she was playing hard to get.

"Tch. You still have time to change your mind."

"I'm only taking the violin," Violet said firmly.

Cynthia's eyes immediately fixed on it. Then she grabbed Percival's arm, shaking it while pouting sweetly.

"Percy! I've wanted that violin forever too!"