Hands
“Even… like this?”
I couldn’t understand. Violet-san had suddenly pulled up a black hood, hiding her face, and begun speaking in a calm, low voice so different from before that it felt like I was facing someone else entirely. While I sat there, confused by her words, she continued in that same composed tone.
“Wearing this hood, I’ve carried out many things for the sake of this country. Chief among them… assassination.”
“A-Assassination…?”
“Yes. My hands are already stained beyond repair. No… perhaps not just my hands. My heart as well. From the moment I was born, I was taught that such actions were necessary for the nation. If needed, I could take a life without feeling anything. Not just lives… at this point, I do everything without emotion.”
Her words carried such weight. And yet, as she spoke now, Violet-san didn’t seem emotionless at all.
She continued speaking.
“Until just moments ago, I was hiding myself from you, Rodwell-sama. My appearance, my personality… none of it was real. Someone like that could never be called beautiful.”
Her voice trembled ever so slightly.
Then, barely above a whisper, she asked,
“May I ask you again, Rodwell-sama… Even like this, can you still call me beautiful?”
“…”
I rose from the sofa, stepped in front of her, and answered without hesitation.
“You are beautiful, Violet-san. Because…”
As I spoke, I gently lowered the black hood from her head, meeting her eyes.
“Someone without emotions wouldn’t cry like this.”
“Ah…!”
She blinked, confused, and wiped at her eyes. Staring down at her hand, she murmured,
“These are… tears? Why would someone like me have something like this…?”
“Because you’re a kind person, Violet-san. Isn’t it obvious?”
“I-I told you, I’m not like that. A truly kind person couldn’t take lives so easily, without feeling…”
“Maybe you did those things for the sake of this country. Or maybe for someone precious to you.”
“Ah…!”
Her eyes flew wide in surprise.
I kept going.
“Honestly, I don’t know much about assassination or underground dealings. I’ve only heard bits and pieces. But one thing I do know: your heart isn’t stained. Not even a little. I promise you that. And if your hands really are dirty… then I need to thank you, Violet-san.”
“You’re… thanking me?”
I bowed my head and said,
“I’m sure that because of everything you’ve done, Violet-san, this country, and by extension, even my own territory, has been protected time and again. So thank you.”
The moment I said it, Violet-san collapsed to her knees.
“V-Violet-san?!”
I rushed toward her, concerned. But just then, she spoke.
“For someone like me to be thanked… Why are you so kind, Rodwell-sama?”
Kind…?
“I don’t know. But isn’t it normal to thank someone who’s doing their best for others?”
“Rodwell-sama…”
She looked at me with eyes that were achingly clear.
“…You’re right.”
I took the black glove from her right hand and gently wrapped mine around hers.
“R-Rodwell-sama?! What are you—”
“Violet-san, you’ve done all of this for someone important to you. That’s why… not just your heart. Your hands aren’t stained either. They’re beautiful.”
“Ah…!”
“With these hands, you’ve protected this country, its people. Thank you, truly.”
As I spoke, Violet-san began to cry again. Her tears flowed freely for a long time.
Her hands were soft, pale, with long slender fingers, hands that were, beyond question, beautiful.