DYBAR - Chapter 30 < Greetings To Break An Engagement >

DYBAR - Chapter 30 < Greetings To Break An Engagement >

Do Your Best And Regret It

"Why don't you just be honest?"

Leopold shrugged his broad shoulders. Unlike his angry, sarcastic tone of voice, his attitude was quite relaxed. I quietly looked at Leopold.

"I don't know if it's right to be honest, but I told you the truth."

"Not that one."

Leopold slicked back his well-maintained blond hair. The handsome mouth twisted upward.

"You're doing this because you're jealous because you saw me with Maria."

The moment his unique, confident voice rang in my ears, my whole body trembled. If I didn't touch my fingertips, I felt like my lips would tremble and look obscene. Leopold knew. The reason I left Tiase Palace that day.

"... Still, is that all you have to say to me?"

At least, he had to be polite to me. No matter how much he enjoys spending time with Maria Etel. Even if he left me alone and took Maria Ethel as a partner, It was an engaged relationship. Even when everything was broken, I hoped we would at least maintain courtesy. 

However, as always, Leopold disregarded courtesy towards me in the most egregious way.

"If I ask you out again, I won't see you again with the Grand Duke. Olivia?"

It was a voice as sweet as honey. The high-pressure content contained within was now clearly visible. Leopold has never loved me.

The brilliant man I loved never for a moment looked at me as an equal, as his fiancé. 

The moment I acknowledged this fact, my mind swirled. Is this anger or sadness? 

I was left speechless by his immeasurable devastation. Meanwhile, Leopold laughed lowly, as if interpreting my silence as affirmation.

"Okay, Olivia. It's so nice to hear you listen to me like that. And you broke off the engagement. You didn't really believe what Grand Duke Vikander said, did you? Olivia, What can you do if you're so naive at the age of nineteen?" 

"...... I'm twenty, your Highness."

"Okay? Are you already twenty?"

Despite my correction, Leopold nodded as if he was not particularly interested.

I, who was looking at him like that, suddenly burst into laughter.

 The sound of beautiful laughter startled even Baroness Sophron, who was a long way away. And without realizing it, she craned my neck to look towards the table. She could only see the Princess's back, but could not confirm what kind of face the Princess had.

It was the first time the Princess had laughed out loud like that. Anxiety overtook her, but Baroness Sophron could not look any further than that. This was because she noticed that the Prince's brows were furrowed. 

I also saw that Leopold's expression was crumpled. But I had no intention of stopping laughing. A man who makes me confused as to how old I am.

Actually, I don't know anything about Leopold. It was funny. I gave up my whole heart for a man who didn't even know my age. From the time I first entered the palace at the age of nine until the time I received a marriage proposal from the Grand Duke. No, maybe even a little while ago when my heart was pounding. 

But now I have clearly made up my mind. When swirling emotions burned away, there was nothing left. 

I slowly stopped laughing. A much cooler smile settled on my lips. However, Leopold, who was unaware of the change, spoke in an unpleasant tone. 

"It's not polite to laugh alone in front of other people, Princess."

"Isn't it fun, Your Highness?"

"What do you mean?"

Leopold responded appropriately as if he was not interested. I  should have been satisfied if he had been able to soothe my heart this kindly, but I continued to talk to him as if I was not tired. 

Leopold replied half-heartedly and thought it was time to leave. But that thought disappeared the moment he heard my laughing voice.

"It's the same as Your Highness, who brought Lady Ethel into my palace without my permission and didn't show courtesy to me."

"... What?"

Leopold answered a beat late. I smiled slightly and lifted the teacup for a moment to wet my lips. I was an impeccably graceful person. And when I made eye contact again, Leopold's arrogant pride cracked at the sight of my aloof green eyes.

A cold sneer came from Leopold's mouth.

"Are you blaming me now, Princess?"

Leopold said coolly. In his entire life, he had never once heard someone blaming him. It was something he couldn't even think about. Even more so if the other person is Olivia Madeleine.

I said calmly.

"I told you because I thought you liked being honest." 

"Stop it and go back today. I don't think I want to look at your mentalism anymore. Also, avoid rash actions. Unless you really want to break off the engagement."

Leopold said as if he was chewing on his teeth. This is enough for her to understand. 

She was overcome with jealousy. She didn't know what the Grand Duke was up to, but she knew how obsessed Olivia was with the betrothal. It was when Leopold pressed his temple, saying that Olivia should even ignore Wednesday's promise until she reflected on the date and all.

"As you said, Your Highness will break off your engagement with me."

Should we go all the way to the end?

Leopold glanced at my calm face and snorted.

"It's all anyone wants. According to your heart and my will."

"What kind of crap is that?"

"Your Majesty, there is someone else you would like to make Empress."

His blue eyes looked at me with piercing sharpness, as if trying to figure out whether or not I was watching. To give me confidence, I spoke slowly.

"I am good at grasping the topic, You know."

A clear voice passed through my mind. It was Leopold's voice.

"The princess understands the topic well. I will never cause any inconvenience to you. I guarantee it..... You've gone beyond the point of jealousy, princess. Did you at least eavesdrop?"

I smiled thinly when I saw the frowning face that seemed displeased. He really couldn't find any consideration for me even after washing his eyes. So I told the truth.

"Rather than eavesdropping. Your Highness forgot her promise to me and had a secret meeting in the garden of the Crown Princess' palace where I was waiting."

"Princess!"

A flash of life came to my whole body. They said it was a great article. I never thought it would feel this way. The force was making it difficult for me to breathe properly, but I did my best to keep my body upright. That was the pride I wanted to protect, and that was the last thing I wanted to see. 

And at that moment, a single sound of footsteps intervened. 

"Is the final greeting over,  Miss?"

I smiled faintly at the neat voice. Before I knew it, I could breathe easily. 

Leopold called his name softly.

“Grand Duke Vikander.”

I slowly looked back and smiled softly. His white face contrasted with her jet-black hair, and he came to Olivia's side. Wearing a black uniform that highlighted his broad shoulders and strong body lines, he looked both beautiful and dangerous enough to charm everyone.

"I see you, the little sun of the empire. You look so innocent, your Highness."

"What kind of rudeness is this?"

Leopold raised one lip awkwardly. I slowly stood up.

"I plan to tell Your Majesty that I want to break off our engagement and then go to see His Majesty together."

Despite Olivia's answer, Leopold did not hide his impatient anger. 

"How dare the Grand Duke enter the Crown Princess' palace without permission?"

 "I formally invited. It was a palace that was allowed to me, Your Highness."

I looked at Leopold for a moment. He stared at me in disbelief at his handsome face. I couldn't tell what was swirling beneath his sunken, deep blue eyes. No, I didn't want to guess anymore. All my life I have been watching someone's attention. Now it was time to throw it all away.

I smiled. I thought it was my responsibility. It wasn't. 

"It's mine." 

"Olivia."

"So, for the last time, I tried using the authority given to me. It was a good choice to end such a dreamy time."

I looked around as if it was something new. I examined every single blade of grass, every tree, and at least every single window that supported the palace. All the beautiful things I wanted Leopold to see. That's why I took care of my palace with even more care. 

I, who had seen everything in the palace, was ready to say goodbye to my palace. I took my steps lightly. As if it was obvious, the place I headed was next to Edwin. It was then,

A quiet voice came from behind. I looked at Leopold out of the corner of my eye. He seemed angry. There would be no need to be angry at all. To Leopold, Olivia Madeleine was just his fiancée, who had a good grasp of the subject.

"Ah." 

I turned around as if I had just remembered something. For a moment I saw a faint look of exaltation on Leopold's face that I knew I would see. I lifted the hem of my dress towards Leopold.

"Salute to the little sun of the empire. Olivia Madeleine, I will greet you again soon as Archduchess Vikander."

I raised my head. It was an act that was unbecoming of etiquette, but it didn't matter. When I saw Leopold's face glaring at me with his mouth shut, as if denying the situation unfolding before his eyes, I remembered all of my past moments.

 I first fell in love with that ray of sunshine when I was nine years old. At the age of 14, as he was leaving for his first expedition, I smiled while holding the cravat that I could not hand to him. At the age of 18, I believed that my first dance as a debutante would be with him, but in the end, I was cruelly defeated. And at the age of twenty, poor Olivia Madeleine, who was watching her fiancé professing his love to someone else in this place that I had no doubt was mine. Olivia Madeleine, who was longing for his love, was finally able to get rid of Leopold Franz. 

I smiled brightly and continued my story.

 "I hope you stay safe until then." 

I turned around. It was my first time showing my back to Leopold. Edwin bowed politely to the prince and held out his arm. I lightly grabbed his arm in a graceful motion. It was unfamiliar to me to walk with someone behind me. I had already walked around with Duke and Jade behind me, but it seemed like I could never get used to this strangely dull feeling. 

Suddenly, I wondered what my back would look like. Remembering how I always looked at someone's back and longed for their affection, I carefully opened my mouth.

"Does it always feel this strange to leave someone behind?" 

"... How is it?"

"I feel like I'm curious about useless things like what my back looks like." 

As soon as I finished answering, a friendly laugh was heard from next to me. I looked at Edwin curiously. When a sweet smile appeared at the end of his beautiful eyes, Edwin smiled softly.

"I saw it."

Edwin glanced back. The prince was seen making a bewildered and foolish expression. It looked exactly like the stupid figure from a moment ago, who had forgotten his morals as a knight and was spewing out murderous energy. 

The small shoulders that straightened her back in front of him came to mind. He has a confident will that will not bend to anyone. An attitude that reveals a strong mindset.

Edwin looked at the slender hand holding his arm again. The gaze of this little girl, who had been dealing with this shallow trembling sensation all on her own, was straighter than anyone else's.

"It's very cool."

My eyes widened slightly at the low sound of the voice. A red aura like a spring flower slowly spread across my white cheeks. I avoided Edwin's gaze. I suddenly saw Baroness Sophron and other maids standing where I looked. When our eyes met, her face looked surprised.

"Wait a minute."

I apologized and approached Baroness Sophron. Baroness Sophron looked at me with confusion on her face.

"Prince... No, Lady..."

The Baroness's face turned white as if she finally understood the whole situation. I laughed lowly.

"Thank you so much, ma'am."

Baroness Sophron could not say anything. No matter how much the Prince loves Lady Ethel, the owner of Tiase Palace eventually becomes this elegant Princess.

"Please continue to take good care of Tiase Palace."

She thought this Princess, who showed affection for the palace until the very end, would take over the palace. 

The Baroness let out a soft sigh without realizing it. Who could show affection for the palace like this? 

Now that she thinks about it, she didn't waste time looking through every nook and cranny of the palace earlier. Irreversible regret leaked out again like a sigh. 

The Princess took her steps again. She was resolute with her back, never turning around. As if she would never come back. When her graceful figure disappeared like a dot, Baroness Sophron could not tell whether the feeling that arose in her heart was pity or regret. She just felt empty, that her master, the one who suited the best in this Tiase palace, was gone.

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