DYBAR - Chapter 8

DYBAR - Chapter 8

Do Your Best And Regret It

"Sister, where are you going?"

It was a sunny Monday, Ethella, who was coming down the stairs, saw me and her eyes sparkled. I looked excited today in my dark green dress. The only time I made a face like that was every Wednesday when I had an appointment with the Prince. Olivia said indifferently.

"I just need a place to go out for a while."

"That's not just it, Miss. His Royal Highness asked Miss Olivia out on a separate date, so we were on our way out."

Instead of me, Sally spoke with a lot of pride.

"Oh, my God! It seems that His Highness the Crown Prince likes my sister very much. I knew that!"

The confidence in Ethella's eyes as she ran down the stairs in one go made me laugh a little.

"Sister..."

Suddenly, Ethella made a groaning sound.

"Huh?"

"Really, your smile is so pretty! Doesn't this mean that His Royal Highness will fall in love with sister once more today?"

"That's right! You look like a fairy when you smile!"

Hearing Sally's praise-like words mixed in with Ethella's very affectionate words was so unfamiliar that I didn't know how to react. 

A fuzzy, shiny, hot, and sweet feeling kept rising from a corner of my heart. Like, yeah. It's like cotton candy. It was so sweet.

It would be nice if Leopold was treated the same way. Ethella, who had been quietly looking at me, suddenly sighed.

"Sister."

"Huh?"

"Sister. Of course, dark colors are pretty but bright colors will look really good on you. Let's go get dresses together next time!"

Sally nodded enthusiastically and agreed.

"That's right, Miss. You only like dark colors, but something bright and colorful would be pretty for you."

I smiled vaguely and played with the hem of my dress. A piece of memory with Leopold that I had written down in my diary a long time ago came to mind.

"The Princess is not the flashy type."

This is what Leopold said to me while I was wearing a white dress on my engagement day when I was fourteen. When I returned home, I put away my white dress as if to seal it, and I never wore a brightly colored dress again. 

"Well, then how about this?"

Ethella suddenly took off a necklace with a pink gem. She then hung it around my neck. 

Before I could refuse, Ethella pushed me towards the front door.

 "See. I heard you look good in bright colors like this. So, have a great trip, and be sure to tell me about your date! Okay?" 

Before heading out the door, I looked back at Ethella. I said while pursing my lips.

"Thanks for lending it to me. I'll have a nice trip."

Ethella smiled brightly. She waved at me until the carriage pulled away and she told Veronica, her dedicated maid. 

"It's a secret that I lent the necklace to my sister. Got it?" 

If her brothers find out, they will be mean to me again. Ethella snorted and drew a big picture. Although she is still pushed back by her brothers' interference, if she had a successful debutant, she would not be left by her sister's side. 

Veronica swallowed her moans as she looked at the brightly smiling Young Lady. A fact that everyone knows, but at the same time, a fact that only the Young Lady does not know. And the truth that we must never know in the future.

***

"Ethella must never know."

The Duke's command, which I heard on the day I became the Young Lady's dedicated maid, still lingered in my ears. Even if it wasn't actually an order, Veronica didn't want the Young Lady to know about it.

She is such a gorgeous Young Lady. Because she could never let her sister, whom she trusted and loved so much, find out what happened. 

*** 

The meeting place was a coffee house on Laheirn Street. Taking my seat, I looked down at my necklace.

The softly sparkling pink jewel was very pretty. Does something this flashy really suit me? I shook my head as my worry quickly flooded me. Ethella said it looked good on me, so it would definitely be good in Leopold's eyes. 

It was my first date outside of the imperial palace. My lips naturally raised as I thought of Leopold. Because even Leopold said he was looking forward to today. 

I remembered the contents of his card that I kept looking at last night. It would be nice if every day was just like today. I thought quietly. I hang out with Ethella and go on dates with Leopold. Then, we all ate together in harmony, and my father and brothers smiled at me. 

My happy thoughts kept spreading. It was so sweet just imagining it, but I had no idea how happy I would be when it became reality. It was then. The door to the drawing room, where I there was burst open.

"You came early, Young Lady."

Leopold strode in through the open door. The gorgeous golden clothes that resembled his hair matched very well. One side of my chest felt tense. Because it's sweeter than I imagined. Because it was a day like cotton candy, I smiled brightly.

At that moment, Leopold's mouth twitched.

"Meet the little sun of the Empire."

***

Olivia Madeleine always looked at Leopold like that. Her eyes always say she loves me. A woman who swallows her complaints every time she looks at me with an earnest face, as if she is hoping for something from her. 

She's such an easy girl. 

Leopold looked at Olivia with his cool eyes. Ever since the engagement ceremony, which was held at a young age when he was eleven, I have not liked Olivia.

"Prince, The imperial faction pushed the eldest Princess of Madeleine to become the Prince's fiancée. The Prince knows too, right? That green-eyed Lady. How dare you treat the Crown Prince with anything."

There was nothing wrong with what my mother, the Empress, said. People looked at Olivia and said she was half Madeleine.

Even if Madeleine had not been the head of the imperial faction, it was a time when she had to balance the imperial faction and the aristocratic faction. It was an engagement that would never have taken place. 

Last Wednesday, she thought of Olivia, who had come to visit his palace. Not only did she take away the place of her lover, Maria Ethel, but she also took away the time they spent together. 

Leopold sat down in his seat.

"You know, Your Highness. Please spend some time with the Princess, at least for today. Isn't there a relationship with Madeleine?"

The adjutant's nagging throughout the ride was good. If all goes according to plan, I'll at least pretend to comfort Olivia by spending time together. 

Any intention to do so has already been cut away. Leopold grinned.

"You are always diligent."

"Ah, thank you." 

"I was planning to come early today, wait for you, and act like a gentleman. You make me late every time."

There was a deep sense of discomfort in the voice that cut off the waist. Surprised, Olivia looked at Leopold. 

One of his handsome eyebrows quirked up. My heart dropped. What's wrong? 

Leopold's face certainly looked good until he came in.

"Well, I didn't mean to do that. I just want to see you quickly."

"Haha. I was joking. You're too naive."

Leopold smiled brightly and nodded. The servant standing on the wall came over and set up a hot teapot, tea cups, and refreshments on the table. 

While everything was going smoothly, Olivia was the only one who couldn't keep up with the atmosphere, really... Was it a joke? 

Olivia quietly looked at Leopold's face. Leopold raised his teacup with an elegant gesture.

"It smells pretty good."

Leopold's brows softened. When our eyes met, her eyes, which were as blue as the sea, were kindly curved.

"I guess you liked sweets."

I liked it. Until one day when I was seventeen, Leopold told me that I seemed to have gained weight. But I ignored that fact and smiled. Because Leopold's smile instantly calmed my anxiety.

"Thank you."

Okay. It must have been a real prank. Otherwise, there was no reason for Leopold to do that to me. 

Leopold picked up a cream cookie and put it in his mouth. His expression was soft as if he liked the sugar cream melting crisply in his mouth. The only sweet snack that Leopold, who does not like sweets, looked for when drinking hot tea was a crunchy sugar cream cookie. It's a good thing he told me in advance.

Olivia drank her tea, feeling relaxed. She liked the smell of tea today.

"Ah, That's missing. Bertin."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Count Hodges quickly came to Leopold's side. What is missing? It was the moment I was looking at the table.

"Jam made from figs. Bring it quickly."

"... Yes."

Count Hodges' answer was one beat late. A strange expression flashed across the face of such a loyal person. It's fig jam, and Leopold liked fig jam.

"It's hard to believe that something the Princess likes is missing."

Tsk...

The sound of clicking one's tongue suddenly reminded me. There is news that the Marquis of Ethel has purchased a new orchard. This was so that her youngest daughter, Maria Ethel, whom he valued so much, would plant a lot of her favorite figs. 

Therefore... I felt like being hit with cold water. 

I looked at Leopold. Leopold's eyes narrowed. Deep blue eyes with kindly curved edges were staring coldly at him. 

Indeed, it was as if he was anticipating what kind of reaction he would receive. I couldn't even tell whether the temperature touching the palm wrapped around the teacup was cold or hot. 

What is his intention? What kind of reaction do you want me to react to?

 In the past, Leopold wasn't very good at keeping his promises, but he was kind. He sent flowers, gifts, and cards saying he couldn't keep his promise. He took time out of his busy schedule and prepared this day. More than anything.

"It's a pretty name. Olivia."

From the day I first met Leopold at the age of nine, on his birthday, he was the person I loved who showed me brilliant salvation. So all I could say was this. 

"I liked figs."

I spoke dryly as if speaking to someone else. I took my hand off her teacup. The tips of both hands that were under the table pinched each other painfully.

"Isn't it?"

Leopold tilted his head, pretending not to notice.

"I quite enjoy eating them during fig season."

Leopold chuckled. As if he knew it would happen. 

My eyes were hot. My sharp fingernails stabbed my own hand, fearing that the image of Leopold in front of me might become even a little blurry. I thought I would show an ugly side if I let my guard down even for a moment. 

I gave strength to my back.

"Olivia."

"Yes, Your Highness"

The voice that came out of my mouth was hard. It was fortunate. Because crying was literally the worst.

"Your face was pale. Where does it hurt?"

The true meaning behind his worried tone was clear. Her fingertips were shaking, but she didn't even know she was in pain.

"You look tired. I'll just go for today."

In the end, this is what Leopold meant today. I blinked my eyes rapidly. My voluminous eyelashes looked as if they were about to sink into dampness. 

The servant put fig jam on the table. When I saw that jam, I actually started laughing.

"Also."

"Huh?"

"Your Highness is kind."

It's a shame that that kindness didn't reach me. 

I  smiled slightly. Leopold frowned. I lightly glanced behind him. While everyone, including Count Hodges, bowed their heads, the youngest servant who had been looking at me as if observing lowered his head.

"Please set aside time like this. So, it's okay if you don't send flowers today."

This was my last pride. Because I no longer wanted to be comforted by flowers.

"Flower? Are you saying this in hopes that I will send it to you?"

When Leopold chuckled, I once again thought something was wrong.

"What kind of flowers do you want to receive from me, so you are speaking so directly, Princess?"

Leopold's words sounded slow. The flowers were from Leopold. No, I thought so and I never once doubted it. It was a flower from the imperial palace, and there was even a card as a precious gift. 

I couldn't manage my facial expressions. Fortunately or unfortunately, Leopold, who was getting up from his seat, was not interested in me. 

Leopold smiled when he saw I was not getting up.

"Oh my. My fiancee is also weak. She takes a little rest and then goes out. And Olivia, if you want flowers, why don't you learn how to wait to receive them? Like a lady. Oh, by the way."

At that moment, Leopold leaned over me. His languid hand touched the jewel of my necklace.

"Didn't I tell you? Bright colors really don't suit you."

The gentle voice made me feel weak. 

Leopold turned around. Like the ebb of the tide for a moment, everyone escaped. 

When the door closed, I was the only one left in the living room. In this quiet place, I suppressed my miserable mood and pondered the facts. The precious gifts that came again and again, and the flowers that fill the room no matter how many times they are dried.

Even the flower language that made me excited and the card that contained sweet consolation. Not all of them were sent by Leopold. 

 A dull laugh burst out from my lips. It definitely looked so perfect until this morning. I felt like was stuck in the mud. I was devastated.

No, I was so helpless that my blood felt cold. Because the flowers and cards I believed to be affectionate were all lies. Because all this time I had planned for Leopold was denied. Even the cheers from Ethella who hung my necklace were ignored. 

In the midst of the overwhelming emotions, I took control of my blurring vision. Don't cry stupidly,  Olivia Madeleine. 

I muttered to myself. I have to play it cool. dare. Because I needed to know who had provoked me like this.

 As I blinked my watery eyes a few times, my transparent green eyes shone coldly. I stood up and walked to the drawing-room door. 

While the sound of my shoes' heels continued to squeak, I rallied my mind. Not even half an hour had passed since our appointment time. 

I told Sally to take my purse and come back later, and I told the coachman to come back in a few hours. It was just an escort knight who hid his appearance. Renting a carriage from a coffee house was notoriously risky, and waiting for a private carriage took time.

How can I get to the royal palace without anyone knowing? I was about to open the door and leave the drawing room.

"Miss?"

A familiar voice spread through the hallway.

"How can I meet you here?"

It was that man. A very gentle man with jet-black hair and red eyes. The man rolled his eyes and smiled as if he couldn't believe this meeting. If it's that harmless laugh.

"You said you were giving me a gift, right?"

My voice cracked ever so slightly. The man's eyes looked at me astutely. When noticed the sharp fingernail marks on the back of my hand, his red eyes cooled for a moment.

"... Sure, miss. What can I do for you?"

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