DYBAR - Chapter 11 < When The Grand Duke takes The Knight's Oath >
Do Your Best And Regret It
Nonsense. My lips parted slightly. The Emperor stretched out his arms to the knights. A man I knew showed courtesy towards the Emperor as if he were representing the knights.
"Salute to the sun of the Empire. Edwin Lowell Vikander, I see you, His Majesty the Emperor."
"My proud knights have finally arrived. It's a banquet for you guys, so why are you so late?"
The man, the Grand Duke, responded calmly to the Emperor's serious words.
"I'm sorry. I couldn't use a regular sword for the oath administered by His Majesty, so I brought the heirloom Airaruten from the Vikander Territory."
The Grand Duke pointed to his sword sheath. The wonderful voice that spread throughout the banquet hall left people speechless for a moment but soon became noisy.
"Is that that sword? A treasure said to have been passed down from generation to generation from the fallen royal family of Lowell?"
"Your Majesty coveted that sword so much. Even if you offered up your precious white crystal mine, you didn't wrap it up like that?"
"But what kind of oath is Your Majesty presiding over? Wasn't this a war victory banquet?"
A suspicious commotion arose. The Emperor laughed heartily, the corners of his mouth turning up.
"Ha ha ha. Okay. After all, as a knight, you should have a Lady to whom you can offer your honor. I am happy that my Grand Duke will receive a worthy Lady today, so I will grant you one wish."
A wish granted by the Emperor. There was a commotion in one corner of the banquet hall, but the Grand Duke had an expression on his face. The Emperor subtly winked at the Princess. At that moment, everyone understood. Ultimately, the purpose of this banquet was to return the Grand Duke to the imperial family. The Emperor chuckled.
"Isn't this good news? The Grand Duke who protects the Franz Empire is belatedly swearing a knight's oath to the Lady. Duke, swear an oath."
The Princess, wearing a pure white dress, was suddenly holding a large bouquet of flowers. It was the moment when the Princess, who received the glory of all the knights at the knight ordination ceremony, turned her body toward the Grand Duke. The Grand Duke turned around. And then he looked around as if he was looking for someone. At some point, when he made eye contact with me. The Grand Duke's eyes widened. I took a step back. But the Grand Duke was faster. Every time the Grand Duke walked, nobles made way for him. In the end, there was me.
"Princess Olivia Madeleine."
An alluring voice called my name. The Grand Duke knelt down on one knee in front of me with a graceful gesture.
"It is an honor to reveal your name. This is Edwin Lowell Vikander."
The expressionless face used to treat the Emperor was broken, and the red eyes within the elegant eyes sparkled mischievously. The moment the corner of his mouth turned up, there was a sound of someone taking a breath from somewhere. There are also people who immediately understand what he means when he introduces himself when there is no need for it.
"It is the only 'most' precious sword on the continent that combines a treasured sword and a jewel."
I and the Grand Duke were the only ones who understood what those boastful words meant.
"Please, will you grant me the honor of becoming your sword?"
The banquet hall was as quiet as if cold water had been poured on it. I looked at the Grand Duke. His breathtakingly gorgeous face and his red eyes filled with spring-like kindness looked up at me. He was strange. When I first met him in Laheir, when he went to the Prince's Palace last Monday, no, when he walked up to me a little while ago, I had to look up for a long time.
He knelt down on one knee in front of me, as if it was natural for me to see a tall, tall man who had received the honor of his noble status so that anyone could not help but look up. It seems as if he will unconditionally follow my choice, and the act of holding out the handle of his precious sword just to look at it is unrealistic. I was about to slowly part my red lips.
"Unfortunately, you have to take your oath back, Grand Duke."
It was a Leopold. Leopold wrapped his arms around my shoulders. The Grand Duke's eyes flashed for a moment at the action of declaring it as mine.
"Are you interfering with my oath to Princess Madeleine?"
A low voice rang through the banquet hall. An eerily cold voice turned towards Leopold as if threatening.
"And that on an oath that even received approval from His Majesty the Emperor?"
The corners of the Grand Duke's mouth rose slightly. Even though the subject was daring to look up, the Grand Duke's eyes looked at Leopold as if sternly shooing him down. The intimidation of those red eyes was unreasonable, so Leopold's hands tightened. I, who felt pain from the strength of his grip on my shoulder, unconsciously looked up at Leopold.
Leopold didn't even care about me.
"... It would be good to hear what brought the Prince out."
The Emperor mediated the tense atmosphere. Leopold bowed his head towards the Emperor and smiled sweetly at me. However, I scolded Leopold for finally taking care of me. I wanted to at least relieve my sore shoulders, but Leopold wrapped his arms around me, pretending to be more intimate. For the first time, Leopold gave his side away. But strangely enough, Leopold felt more distant than ever.
"The Princess is now my fiancée. Do you have any idea that an unmarried archduke giving his oath might scandalize my fiancée?"
The nobles murmured at Leopold's hard voice.
"It doesn't look good anyway. The Queen-to-be should be the most chaste."
" Are there one or two rumors that the Princess is still spreading?"
"That's right, really. Thanks to Her Majesty's favor, they are maintaining their current engagement."
At some point, the nobles stopped talking. A sharp force pierced the nobles. When it felt like a cool energy was looking down on the nobles.
A quiet word overwhelmed the atmosphere. The Grand Duke's red eyes shone brightly.
"What scandal could attach to the Princess to whom I give my oath?"
"Well, that is..."
No nobleman came forward. The Grand Duke changed his face and smiled at Olivia.
"Would it have been resolved this way? Once the vows are made, you have to have a first dance. Don't you think it's rude of you to be accompanying a Princess?"
My body stiffened invisibly at Leopold's dry words. Leopold was closer to Maria Ethel than his companion. My gaze fell to the floor, wondering if anyone would mention me not being treated as his fiancee.
"Oh, my mistake."
I raised her head at the light, regretful voice.
"I thought the Princess came alone on purpose for me."
The corners of the Grand Duke's eyes were playfully curved for just a moment. Soon, he calmly turned to Leopold and spoke as if he had never done anything like that before.
"I thought His Royal Highness was inevitably accompanying someone else. It was all my mistake."
“Grand Duke.”
Leopold called the Grand Duke as if to warn him, but the Grand Duke did not even look up.
"I'm sure His Highness, the broad-hearted Crown Prince is not doing this because of the first dance."
Leopold gritted his teeth. At that moment, the Grand Duke looked straight at me and jokingly added.
"... Well, what if I had at least asked the Princess to marry me?"
What?
My eyes widened. What is the Grand Duke talking about now?
“Grand Duke!”
Leopold shouted sharply. However, the Grand Duke instead stared at Leopold as if there was some problem.
"Brother. Why don't you talk about wearing clothes that don't conform to etiquette?"
A tickling voice broke into the tense atmosphere. She was a Princess. The Princess glared at me with her venomous expression and immediately walked out smiling brightly.
"The Lady receiving the oath must receive the oath in white attire, symbolizing the knightly attire. He must also deliver flowers to the knight as a token of permission and pleasure."
The Princess trailed off, looking at me and tilting her head. She faced me, her pale blue eyes resembling Leopold's, filled with bitter hostility.
"It looks like the Princess is underprepared today as well."
"That's right. During the investiture ceremony, all ladies wear white clothes!"
"Come to think of it. Why didn't I think of that? It's not like we're trying to break a tradition that has been passed down from generation to generation."
A sneer was heard among the high-pitched voices. I glanced towards where the laughter came from. The daughter of Count Charmin, the daughter of Baron Staren, and the daughter of the Marquis of Libeorn.
They were all the Princess's playmates.
"Maybe it's because she's never taken the oath, but she doesn't know much about attire. Well, is that really the Princess's fault?"
Words that were no different from insults appeared and disappeared amidst laughter. Those words are painful as if they were cutting into my heart. As always, my father and Conrad, who was far away, did not say anything.
"I know. Grand Duke, what can I do? My fiancee said she wasn't ready."
Even Leopold agrees with the Princess's words. Strangely enough, more than anything else, I was more concerned about those red eyes that were looking at me with concern. Even though he was so cold when he looked at the place where the words came from, his eyes were warm towards me when I saw him a few times.
It was funny. What can I say about that single glance? Ironically, all of this tickles me.
I slowly parted my lips.
"The first time a knight's oath appeared in a history book was during the time of Liam Franz, the first Emperor of the Empire, and Empress Olica Franz."
In this situation, I spoke more gracefully and calmly than anyone else. The nobles were swept away by the atmosphere and unconsciously fell silent. The eyes of some of the nobles who were wondering why a history book was being published here changed.
"The first Emperor, who led the Asphalterun War to victory, which defined the boundaries of the Empire, embraced the first Empress in his blood-stained armor."
I gently removed my shoulder. Leopold gave his strength as if to trap me, but I gently pried Leopold's hand away with my gloved hand.
"It is recorded that the white dress of the Empress, who was praying for the Emperor's safe return, was completely stained with blood."
Leaving Leopold behind, I took a step toward the Grand Duke. He smiled, looking at me all the way through the eyes.
"It is said that the Empress gave the flowers that had been offered to the foundation to the Emperor, with only the gloves still pure white."
Everyone saw that my white gloves sparkled in the light of the gorgeous chandelier.
The ladies were right. Until I was twenty, no knight had ever sworn an oath to me. Although I attended each of the investiture ceremonies in a white dress, I always remained as still as a flower on the wall. I didn't want to go to the banquet, but I had no choice but to go.
Because I was the Prince's fiancée and a Princess at the same time. It is true that I did not receive the oath. But I couldn't be told that I didn't know how to behave. Because my manners have always been perfect and will always be perfect. Because that was the best me, as Madeleine, could do.
"If you follow the etiquette of ancient books, there can be no more perfect reenactment than what I am wearing now."
I gently lifted the hem of her dress. While the pure white lace gloves sparkled, the deep red dress was enough to replace the first Empress's white dress, which was said to be soaked in blood.
"Thank you, His Majesty the Crown Prince. And Her Royal Highness."
Unlike Leopold, who glared coolly at me, Rayna's face turned bright red.
"Thanks to the clear arrangement of the two respected Royal Highnesses, I was able to receive the oath without any disturbance."
Half of it was fake, but half of it was sincere. Thanks to this, the controversy was dispelled.
"But the flowers!"
Instead of the Princess, the daughter of the Marquis of Libeorn shouted.
"I cannot dare to offer flowers that have withered all season to His Majesty's fidelity, so I replace my heart with this jewel."
I removed the jewel pin that held my hair in place. Gorgeous silver hair flowed softly. The purple flower and green calyx hairpin that sparkled in the chandelier light were gifts to me from Ethella for this banquet. I had no idea that Ethella's gift would be used like this. She later said that she could exchange the jewelry pin for another piece of jewelry if I asked. Strangely enough, it seemed like the Grand Duke would grant my request.
I made eye contact with the Grand Duke as she placed a jewel pin on the Grand Duke's palm.
“Olivia Madeleine.”
I grabbed the treasured sword from the Grand Duke's hand. As I wrapped my palm around the seemingly cold handle of his sword, his strange warmth instantly spread throughout my entire body.
"I gladly accept the honor of Your Excellency the Grand Duke. May my joy once again belong to your glory."
Holding the treasured sword, I bowed my head towards the Grand Duke, and loud applause rang out from somewhere. The Grand Duke smiled brightly and stood up from his kneeling position, and that moment.
"Oh, excuse me, Princess."
The Grand Duke fell towards me as if wrapping his arms around my shoulders. Before I could feel the warmth that hit me, the man smiled softly and pulled away from me. A sound similar to surprise came from somewhere, but I didn't care.
"My legs were numb because I was kneeling for longer than I expected."
The man shrugged his shoulders as if there was nothing he could do.
"I heard it was a great chivalry. It seems your legs are weaker than I thought."
"I know, right. By the way, You save me every time."
He saved something that almost fell and saved something that almost lost its toll money.
"So, since you saved me, please save me one more time. Would you please give me the honor of having my first dance with you?"
The Grand Duke extended his hand to me.
"Can the person whose legs are numb start dancing right away?"
"I felt better right away."
The Grand Duke said shamelessly. I said, allowing the Grand Duke to make her face look embarrassed for a moment.
"... I'll tell you in advance, I'm not good at dancing."
"I like it?"
The Grand Duke smiled brightly.
"I am good at everything I do with my body. Maybe I can give you a little help this time."
I slowly took the Grand Duke's hand. While I was feeling a strange sense of tension and relief at the same time, a nice voice came from behind.
"Congratulations, Olivia. My fiancée has been honored by the greatest knight in the empire."
It was a Leopold. As if to indicate that it wasn't over yet, the Prince's eyes met the Grand Duke's eyes.
Thanks for the translations!!! I loved how FL defended herself so calmly and embarrassed the prince and princess.
ReplyDeleteI cant wait to see her leaving them itll be so satisfying
ReplyDeleteI love how good they are together.
ReplyDeleteYES IM SMILING EAR TO EAR RIGHT NOW
ReplyDeleteAbout time.
ReplyDelete