DYBAR - Chapter 9 <Cutting Off Lizard's Tail >
Do Your Best And Regret It
The carriage set off. When I saw the man sitting across from me, my anger cooled and reality came flooding back. I was riding in a carriage with a man I barely knew. It wasn't like me to act impulsively like this, but that man was equally strange.
When a woman he didn't know very well asked him to go to the imperial palace, he quickly brought a carriage.
Nevertheless, I felt strangely reassured when I was with that man. Maybe it was because of his thoughtful actions. Because he lent me his robe when he left the coffee house. No one would have known that I was Princess Madeleine.
I played with his black robe that covered my knees. Bouquets and cards filled my mind again. Gifts pretending to be Leopold. So many flowers and gifts that they fill my room.
Who dares? With what intention? Could they have impersonated the Crown Prince? Who dares? Did they look down on Madeleine and me?
"Take it."
"Yes?"
While I was blinking, the man held out a purple velvet box. I, who had picked up the box in confusion, paused for a moment.
"Where did it come from?"
"Yes, in this carriage?"
"What is this?"
"You'll find out when you open it, right?"
The man smiled mischievously and walked away. I opened the box as the conversation seemed like a play on words.
What's in the box,
"Gloves?"
I muttered. It was a unique and pretty design that I saw for the first time. The tightly woven lace sparkled whenever it caught the light.
Suddenly, the man cleared his throat, I, who had been looking at the gloves, looked at the man, who narrowed one of his eyes endearingly at me.
"At this rate, you won't just listen to what I said last time, right? I have everything that is truly valuable, so just tell me."
Could it be a gift? As I laughed and tried to put on the gloves, his eyes caught sight of the fingernail marks on the backs of my hands. Did he really see this?
I quickly put on the gloves. I was worried about the size, but my hand fit inside the glove. It's like he got it right.
As I lifted my hand and looked at the glove, I saw a man behind my fingers. The moment our eyes met, I felt something strange about him and brought my fingers together.
I couldn't see the man, but I could still feel his gaze.
Before we knew it, the carriage had entered the single road leading to the imperial palace. I spoke in a low voice after seeing strong castle walls and armed guards of the Imperial Knights instead of gorgeous streets.
"Please drop me off in front, a little far from the door."
"As you said."
The man relayed Olivia's words to the small window connected to the coach seat. The carriage headed to a place a little away from the imperial castle gate.
The carriage, which had been slowly slowing down, stopped. The distance to the castle gate was neither too close nor too far to walk. Without asking, the man pulled the hat of his robe all the way over. Since his face was not visible, the man appeared to be a family knight. The man got out of the carriage first. And he held out his hand towards me as if to escort me.
Feeling awkward being escorted by him, I looked at his large hands for a moment and then lightly raised them. The man's hand, which touched the thin layer of lace gloves, was much harder, larger, and warmer than I thought.
The knights of the Imperial Knights were approaching. I looked back at the man for a moment.
"This is Olivia Madeleine. My Name."
"Olivia. It's a pretty name."
The man spoke as if it didn't matter what the last name was after the name. It sounded like he already knew I was a princess.
The man's attitude gave me a little more courage.
"When I come out, will you tell me your name?"
The man didn't answer. I added softly.
"I won't be a bad deal to you."
Because Madeleine was thorough in repaying the favor. Revenge was clearer.
"Of course, it will be a very nice loss, but unfortunately it will be difficult today."
I thought you would say, yes of course. The man who was supposed to be kind drew a line.
I tried to hide my embarrassment.
"Okay, then. Thank you for your help."
"It's not that I don't want to tell you my name. I have to go for today."
It was only then that I remembered what I had said when I heard the sad voice.
"When I come out, will you tell me your name?"
With what confidence did I think that that man would naturally wait? I tried to pull my hand away, feeling my face blush from embarrassment.
The man's hand, which touched mine as if he was escorting me, did not let go. As I turned around, the man said with a laugh in his voice.
"Next time. I'll be sure to tell you your name next time. With the most precious gift."
"...As a princess, there aren't many gifts that I can't get, right?"
"Then, it has to be something so precious that everyone envies it for you to accept it. For example,"
The man spoke slowly.
"It's the only sword in the world that combines a treasured sword and a jewel."
"... I look forward to it."
I calmed down my anger when I heard that I could see the man one more time, rather than the gift he said he would give me.
My hands dropped, and I walked towards the imperial palace. The knight recognized me and bowed his head.
"Hello, Princess. What are you doing here?"
"I want to go to the Prince's Palace. Can I borrow your carriage for a while?"
***
"Princess. What's going on here today? His Royal Highness went to Laheirn Street to see the Princes."
As soon as they arrived at the Crown Prince's Palace, the chief chamberlain seemed confused. Did their paths diverge, or did Leopold not show up at the appointed place?
A lot of worry passed over the chamberlain's face.
"I'm on my way to see His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, Chamberlain. More than that, there was something I needed to check."
"Yes, Princess."
The experienced chamberlain guided me into the drawing room. Immediately, the door to the reception room of the Prince's Palace, where not a single sound could escape, was closed.
I sat on the sofa in front of the tea table and looked straight at the chamberlain.
"The chamberlain probably knows. Whenever His Highness didn't come to his appointment on Wednesday, His Royal Highness always sent flowers and gifts."
"Yes, Princess. I know."
"However, His Royal Highness doesn't know."
An expression of 'oops' passed across the chamberlain's face,
"Is the person who tried to taunt me the Chamberlain?"
"Princess, no. It's humiliation. I just."
The chamberlain was speechless.
"Is the person who sent the card also the chamberlain?"
"What card are you talking about?"
The chamberlain's words were interrupted for a moment as if he was embarrassed. I smiled coldly.
"It is true that the Crown Prince's Palace sent me a gift, but I cannot reveal who sent it. I don't know anything about cards."
"..."
"Is that all the Chamberlain can say?"
"I'm sorry, Princess."
"Chief Chamberlain."
"Yes, Princess."
"I don't know if you know, but I quite like people like Chamberlain."
Instead of answering, the chamberlain looked at me blankly. His eyes were trying to guess what my intention was with my unexpected words. A strong chamberlain who has assisted Leopold since he was young.
I grinned.
"Whether it's a gift or flowers. What actually matters? No matter who sent it and with what intention, I think it was worth it if it comforted my heart by saying it was sent from the Crown Prince's Palace."
"Princess."
"But not a card."
When the story of the card came up, the chamberlain's eyes wavered again. I couldn't believe the look in his eyes that said he really didn't know. Especially if you are a loyal person like the Chamberlain.
"...... I can't believe it. This palace dares to send a card pretending to be a member of the royal family, especially the Crown Prince, to the princess."
"It happened. The chamberlain didn't even know the card had been delivered. That's why I came this far on a day like today."
"..."
"Nevertheless, if the Chamberlain does not come forward, there will be limits to what I can reveal. The chamberlain knows better than anyone that I, a Princess and not yet the official Crown Princess, have the authority to give orders to His Highness the Crown Prince's chamberlain."
I laughed bitterly. The Chamberlain made no reply.
"But how about exercising extra authority over the authorized servants of Tiase Palace? At best, rumors will only spread that the Princess was in a bad mood. And as you may know, two months ago, the chamberlain's youngest son entered the palace as an apprentice chamberlain at Tiase Palace."
"...!!!"
The chamberlain's face, which was like a hard mask cracked in an instant. I should have noticed. The chamberlain brought his two trembling hands together and squeezed them tightly.
A year ago, the Princess was granted real power in Tiase Palace, the palace of the Crown Prince. It was a much later start compared to previous fiancées who usually had power in the palace within two years of getting engaged.
The Empress used the Princess's lack of skill as an excuse. However, her chamberlains all knew that the Princess was skilled enough to take charge of the Princess's duties.
The first thing the Princess did as soon as she took power was to select the apprentice chamberlain. After hearing that even children without experience could be sent to Tiase Palace, all the chamberlains sent their families. The chamberlain sent his youngest son. It was unlikely that the son born late would inherit the title and property. All the chamberlains thought they were planting their limbs in the Crown Prince's palace. No one knew that it would eventually come back as shackles.
Just as the chamberlains calculated, the Princess so calculated.
I looked at the chamberlain calmly. Beneath that calmness, my frosty rebuke poured out.
"How dare you insult Madeleine? Should I still stay still like this?"
"Oh, Princess."
The chamberlain hungrily bowed his head toward me.
"Mercy just once, Princess. Please, have mercy just once."
So I spoke more kindly.
"Chief Chamberlain. You don't have to go this far. As I said, I would like to maintain a good relationship with the Chamberlain. So, looking at the chamberlain's face, I will not ask who sent the flowers and gifts."
"Thank you, thank you, Princess."
"Instead, find out who inserted the card."
"Yes, yes, Princess."
"Of course, this is my request to the Chamberlain."
I smiled slightly. The chamberlain hurriedly left the drawing room. I, who maintained my upright posture until the moment the door closed, sighed quietly in the quiet of the drawing room. I was lucky.
The chief chamberlain of the Crown Prince's palace was the one who pitied me the most among the chamberlains of the four palaces. If he hadn't looked down on me, things wouldn't have worked out this easily.
Then, suddenly, when I mentioned his youngest son, the image of the chamberlain turning blue came to mind and I felt strange. Are all fathers like that?
Would he go that far to protect my child?
My father came to mind. It's already been a few days since I saw my father. My father always frowned at me. I pursed my lips and hoped that the Chamberlain would catch the culprit. However, contrary to my expectations, the maid, who had been brought in by the chamberlain as the culprit, opened her mouth quite easily.
"I just did what Countess Chase told me to do! Help me, Princess. I was wrong!"
The maid on her knees, crying and begging, was so young that it seemed like she was only thirteen or four years old.
The culprit is the Countess of Chase. She was the Countess who looked down on me at the Crown Princess' palace. She is the Empress's handmaiden.
I held my head to my chest. It looks like the Empress would cut off the lizard's tail.
***
At that time, Duke Giovanni Madeleine entered the drawing room of the Empress's' palace. The Empress smiled warmly and welcomed the Duke. Although she had a face as beautiful as a rose, the Duke knew very well that the Empress's nature was like a poisonous thorn.
"Greetings to the Imperial Moon, I see you, Your Majesty, the Empress."
In response to the Duke's greeting, his aide, Lord Huxley, presented a bouquet of flowers to the Empress.
"Oh my, such a wonderful flower. It may have been a sudden request, but thank you for visiting, Duke. I heard you had something to tell me."
The Duke got straight to the point. The Empress looked behind the Duke with an embarrassed expression. The Duke felt disgusted by that obvious gaze but looked behind him.
Among the Empress's maids, there was one woman in particular who was trembling with a pale face. She was an unfamiliar face even to the Duke, who knew all of the Empress's people.
It's the new maid, Countess Chase. The Empress spoke as if she was troubled.
"It's an embarrassing rumor, but the Duke must have heard it. Olivia, that sweet girl is spending her Wednesday afternoon alone."
Olivia. As soon as that name was said, the Duke's mouth hardened. The Empress was truly amused by the only weakness of this statue-like man, who showed his emotions.
Oh my God. Who would have known that Giovanni Madeleine, the most upright man in the Empire and sincere to his wife, would make her an illegitimate child? The Empress recalled a rumor that had caused an uproar in the Empire fourteen years ago. It was the Empress's greatest joy to see Madeleine, a pillar of the imperial faction opposing the aristocratic family, stand up like this.
"I am truly sorry. I need to talk to the Prince better."
"If that's all you have to say, I'll just head back."
"Really. How should I say this?"
The Empress continued to drag the horse to gauge the Duke's intentions.
"To appease Olivia's disappointment, I told the chief maid at the Crown Prince's palace to bring her a gift, and the maid added her own words of consolation."
"..."
"I know how she feels, but if she goes on a rampage out of disappointment, won't she start saying all kinds of things? Still, if it's what her father says, she'll listen. I just don't want to miss seeing Olivia because of something like this."
She went round and round, but there was only one conclusion. To put pressure on Olivia to stay still. The Empress's eyes suddenly twinkled.
Sl-t of a man the duke.
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