DYBAR 29 - A Name That Makes Me Happy Every Time I Call It >
Do Your Best And Regret It
I entered the grand gate of the grand ducal residence. I seemed to feel Jade's eyes behind me, but I continued walking.
At the entrance to the garden, the Grand Duke was standing in front of the carriage. I must have been looking at the doorway and immediately made eye contact with the Grand Duke.
The dark atmosphere quickly disappeared. The Grand Duke rolled his eyes and smiled.
"Did you successfully kick him out?"
Olivia smiled slightly.
"I think so."
"Wasn't it hard to kick him out?"
He is very good at using ambiguous words. Does it mean that it wasn't too hard for you, or that it wasn't hard on your mind?
Even though he was looking at me as if searching, his eyes were worried. His eyes looked like he was looking at a sick patient, just like when he was sick a few days ago. I walked lightly on purpose.
"That's definitely not true."
Except that my hand was so strong that the document envelope I was holding was completely crumpled. I felt strangely calm. I knew the reason better than anyone else.
"Now, I feel like I'm going to have a family."
Family. It was something I said on impulse, but I didn't think it was wrong. Rather, I thought it was the most appropriate word.
Now I was really going to marry the Grand Duke. The word that I thought was heavy somehow tickled me.
I glance at the Grand Duke. The eyes that were looking at me were narrowed and bent. Feeling those gentle gazes, I slowly parted my lips. A voice as sweet as spring light spread.
“Eh, Edwin.”
disappeared in the cool night air. Even the name resembles that long, strong man.
Olivia called the Grand Duke's name once again.
"Edwin."
It was awkward at first, but it was easy after that. I even liked the way the corner of my mouth went up when pronouncing the last letter. As if the name was always filled with joy, the moment I called that man's name, I seemed to start laughing.
I looked to the side again to share this curious Information. But Edwin was not there. What?
I turned around and saw Edwin three steps behind me. He stood still as if he had frozen in mid-walk.
"Why are you doing this? Edwin?"
Edwin blinked slowly. As if waking up from a dream, his hazy eyes came into focus.
While I tilted her head, Edwin's face turned red. Edwin raised his arms and covered his face.
"No, that's it. I really don't know how to call you."
I, who inferred that the words were spoken intermittently as if I had a malfunction, burst into laughter. Edwin avoided my gaze as if embarrassed. When I saw that, I felt even more embarrassed.
"I just said, Your Highness told me to call you by my name."
"Keep calling my name. Because it sounds better that way."
We talk well even though we can't make eye contact. But my body was also stiff with embarrassment. Can the night be this hot?
I continued to fan her warm cheeks with my hand. The lukewarm wind tickled my cheeks. No, it might have been tickling my heart.
I took the lead and Edwin followed next to me. It was funny to see two elongated shadows walking sloppily as if they were woven together.
"Would you like to walk here?"
A loud voice was heard once again. I opened my eyes and looked to the side. Oh my God.
I had forgotten about the big carriage like this. A large brown horse near me blinked its meek eyes and looked at me. The coachman, sitting in his coach's seat, looked around the garden with a puzzled look on his face.
"Even if you go by carriage, it takes more than 10 minutes. Shall I go in first?"
The coachman asked cheerfully and without notice. My face seemed to be turning red again. I said as I quickly ran towards her carriage.
"I want to ride."
"Would you like to? What about Your Highness?"
"... I'm going to walk. Because the day is hot."
Edwin answered in a low voice. Then he slowly came to the carriage and just closed the door. The driver tilted his head and nodded happily as if he had figured out the answer. As expected, the great knight seems to be training his physical strength on a regular basis. The driver gave Edwin a thumbs-up with a proud look on his face. And he shook the reins lightly. The horse blinked his big eyes and started walking again.
In the carriage, I was pressed against the window. I was curious about the Grand Duke's face.
"What."
I was wondering if it was still red. I muttered in my wistful voice. He deliberately had his back to me so I couldn't see his face. I sat right back in her carriage, just looking at his broad back. It was his face that I would continue to see later anyway.
I started practicing calling his name. Even if Edwin's face turns red, I won't mind. Edwin, Edwin. It's a really good name. Every time I sing it, the corners of my mouth go up.
I was already smiling brightly. My thoughts about Jade, which had remained in a corner of my mind, flew away silently...
Edwin looked at the slow-moving carriage and washed his face again. The face that touched his palm felt very hot. His throbbing pulse felt like it was going to tear through his palm and jump out. Edwin clenched his fists. He knew it would be good. But he had no idea he would be this good.
"I must have looked stupid."
On a quiet night, a sighing voice fell softly over the sound of insects crying. What he didn't know was that there was sweet worry buried at the end of that sigh.
***
Meanwhile, the imperial palace is late at night. A gorgeous carriage slowly entered the entrance of Tiase Palace. Leopold, loosely unbuttoning the top button of his shirt, sat leaning against the carriage with his arms crossed. His handsome brow furrowed.
"Today, Your Majesty's body is with me, but my heart seems to be somewhere else."
Maria's crying voice seemed to ring in his ears. Leopold disheveled his hair. Even if he thought to himself, today's date was a mess. Even though Maria was next to him, his mind was filled with other thoughts.
Olivia. Bright blue eyes flashed for a moment. It was enough to make Count Bertin Hodges, the adjutant in front, flinch.
"I guess I got my point across."
He told her to wait because he wouldn't come until late in the evening. Count Hodges answered yes. Still, it seemed like there was something he wanted to say by looking at Leopold.
"What. Stop begging me like that and talk."
"Your Highness, but the Princess's attitude has been unusual these days. Shall I prepare some flowers?"
"Flower?"
Leopold furrowed his brows. Anyway, that damn flower. On their first date at the coffee house, Olivia also talked about flowers, and this time it was Count Hodges.
The Count, sensing his discomfort, shut his mouth.
Tsk, Leopold clicked his tongue. These days, there are a lot of things that Olivia doesn't do as he wants. That's why he kept thinking about Olivia on his date with Maria. Not only did she receive the oath of knighthood from the Grand Duke, but he also allowed her to dance for the first time, and now she doesn't even say no to marriage proposals. She even went so far as to refuse his call by staying at the Grand Duke's residence.
It was an unreasonable thing. It was clear that the Grand Duke had used something similar to Olivia. If they meet today, it wouldn't be a bad idea to order her to stay at Tiase Palace. Maria would be sad, but he would rather have Olivia be stubborn than she was.
Feeling somewhat frustrated, Leopold unbuttoned one more button. And then he let out a deep breath. Even in this absurd situation, one thing was certain. Of course, Olivia would be waiting for him. She is someone who always follows him around and bothers him just to get some attention. Because Olivia was that kind of person...
"What? Say it again."
Leopold growled. The voice scratched his throat like an animal's threat, and Baroness Sophron responded by clutching her trembling hand.
"The Princess has returned home."
"Nonsense."
It wasn't even funny. Is Olivia coming home? She was a woman who went as far as she wanted, even into the womb of the Empress, just to see him. Leopold can't believe Olivia left without even seeing him. There is definitely something going on here.
Leopold looked at Baroness Sophron with sharp eyes.
"What the hell is going on? Has something really happened to the Princess that I don't know about?"
"Well, that is,"
The Baroness looked at Leopold for a moment. Leopold swallowed his anger and spoke in a coaxing manner.
"Tell me, ma'am. If there's something strange about Olivia, isn't it your job to figure it out?"
Just because the Grand Duke proposed to her, is he being arrogant and unaware of his subject? Or is there another reason?
While Leopold's head was busy, Baroness Sopron carefully took her luck.
"That... Do you remember last Wednesday?"
"Last Wednesday?"
Leopold tilted his head. Nothing special happened. Olivia had been to Tiese Palace since dawn, that was all. At that moment, Leopold's good head rolled quickly.
"It looks like the Princess saw me and Maria."
The Baroness lowered her head instead of answering. Leopold chuckled, looking at her bewildered face. And as if stretching, he stretched his body.
"Anyway. Did she just leave today with something like that? I wonder if she received a marriage proposal from the Grand Duke, but now she doesn't even come because she's sick. And you want me to personally ease your mind like this."
Leopold's voice seemed relaxed as if he had finally figured out the answer. Leopold's words of rebuke to Olivia made Baroness Sophron's mind ring with alarming thoughts as if warning lights were ringing.
Baroness Sophron has been seeing Princess Olivia Madeleine since she became the fiancée to the Crown Prince.
The Princess is always calm and well-groomed, but on her Wednesday official meeting day, she looks as excited as anyone her age.
But last Wednesday was different. That day, the Baroness learned that this is what it means for a person to break down.
And today, the princess rode away in the carriage with the Grand Duke as if she had become a completely different person.
Baroness Sophron wanted to tell the prince what she had seen. Olivia is different than before. But Leopold only laughed softly and did not listen to Baroness Sophron.
"Send a letter to the princess. Let's postpone this Wednesday's appointment to tomorrow."
"Yes."
Leopold acted as if there was no problem. In fact, it made Baroness Sopron, who was standing next to him, even more anxious.
***
Tiase Palace at midday. I walked down the hallway at a slow pace. Even when I closed my eyes, I could clearly see the hallways of the palace. I recalled the detailed information that I had placed daffodils on the table in the west hallway, and that I had placed blue hydrangeas on the nightstand in the east hallway.
As I thought this was the last time I would see it, I felt sad about everything. The appointed time to meet Leopold passed, but Baroness Sophron, who was next to me, was getting restless when I did not come to her support. I smiled slightly.
"Isn't it still a while before Your Majesty comes anyway?"
"Still, Princess."
I knew full well that time wasn't the only thing Baroness Sophron was worried about, but I pretended not to notice. It reminded me of Edwin, who is entering the palace with me today and is freely going around the palace grounds. Where is he walking by now? I wish it was a garden full of beautiful flowers. That way, he won't be able to see me finish with Leopold.
I looked at the garden. On the table, long past the appointed time, there was only a cooling teapot and two tea cups waiting for the owner.
"Let's go now."
Baroness Sophron sighed as if she was pleased with my words. She was such a transparent person. I grinned at the fact that she had found out for the first time in over a decade...
"When Your Majesty comes, please stay back."
"Yes."
Baroness Sophron nodded and stepped back a little. The black tea in the teacup with the magnolia embossed on it had cooled down a long time ago. I stared at the cooled black tea in my own glass and then at the empty glass across from me that I had not even poured.
I didn't know, but waiting wasn't my thing. I can't believe he made me wait until the end like this. It was a moment when a faint smile appeared on my lips.
"Glory to the little sun of the Empire."
I stood up as I heard a series of greetings. In the distance, I saw a man walking with long strides that matched his tall stature. His beautiful face smiled arrogantly at me. Leopold, my fiancé, is breaking off our engagement today. I politely rolled up the hem of my dress and held it lightly.
"Greetings to the..."
"Why are you being so polite? You're sorry you left first yesterday, but?"
Leopold, who cut off my words as if it were obvious, faced Olivia with a face that clearly showed his displeasure. In Leopold's mind, as he brought up yesterday's events, it seemed that he had not missed his appointment time by any length. I grinned at the maids. The maids with the look in their eyes saying, "Oops," quickly left their seats.
Now it was just me and Leopold in this garden. I picked up the teapot and filled the empty glass, but Leopold only glanced at the glass and did not touch it. Instead, he crossed his arms. The bright blue eyes in the fiercely raised eyes shone sharply. I calmly explained my business.
"I came to see you one last time before I break off our engagement."
Ha ha ha.
As soon as Olivia finished speaking, Leopold burst into laughter. His face with a bright smile and a lively laugh was handsome enough to shake everyone's heart, but his bright blue eyes were sparkling with anger.
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