DYBAR - Chapter 35 < A Little More Fortunate >

DYBAR - Chapter 35 < A Little More Fortunate >

Do Your Best And Regret It

"If I were asleep, I should have woken me up." 

My anxious voice rang out in the living room. I tried to stay calm, but I was failing.

"You fell asleep because you were tired. How do I wake you up? I don't know if I have to pick you up and carry you."

"Edwin!"

I, startled, called Edwin's name. Edwin smiled naturally and held up both his palms. His eyes smiled sweetly as if he was harmless. Don't fall for that eye smile. Let's not forget how surprised I was when he woke up in the carriage earlier. 

I glanced at Edwin, fanning my hand over my flushed cheeks.

"Ah, are you awake?" 

It was a moment when I blinked because my blurry vision felt strange. In front of me, Edwin, who had been looking at me for some time, was smiling.

"Uh, uh, this"

"I guess you were very tired. If I had known this would happen, I would have come to the mansion quickly."

Edwin looked at my complexion as if he hadn't thought about it. Looking at my blank, sleepy face, he smiled a little and then turned to his coach seat and said.

"Now let's go into the mansion."

I, with my anxiety rising, hurriedly looked outside. The sky had already turned black. After hearing that the carriage that had entered the Grand Duke's residence went round and round in the garden for a long time, my eyes became dizzy. 

During the carriage ride back to the mansion, I  fell asleep very few times. Did I really feel relaxed today? My face must have been swollen when I woke up. 

Thinking about it again, I felt embarrassed all over again. My cheeks puffed out. My green eyes were lost in the distress, unaware of my puffy cheeks. 

I, who was so lost in thoughts that I didn't even notice Edwin's gaze looking at me cutely, raised my head.

"You have to wake me up next time! Okay?"

"... Next time?"

Edwin's words were one beat late. Done. I smiled brightly and nodded my head.

"You said you would give me anything I wanted."

It was a threat if things didn't work out. I wanted to see Edwin make a mistake. Strangely enough, the corners of Edwin's mouth turned up mischievously.

"I just tried to be nice 'this time', and 'next time' I'll wake you up..."

A languid voice enveloped me. When I, who only then realized the flaw in my words, made a mistake, Edwin's body tilted as if he was going to pour towards me.

"Can I do whatever I want next time?"

The red eyes in the loosely curved eyes sparkled dangerously somewhere. I responded by reflexively shaking my head.

"No!"

"And... Are you answering without even thinking? Do you know what I can do?" 

"No matter what you do. There is no next time."

"I wish I had."

Edwin playfully shrugged and leaned back on the sofa. There is no way. Before I could make up my mind, Edwin spoke kindly.

"Then it's okay for me to doze off in front of Olivia, right?"

 "Yes?"

"Just... When the sun is warm, I feel sleepy in the carriage. If I do that, I might fall asleep first."

A hazy picture was drawn above Edwin's voice. Edwin nods his head in a carriage bathed in yellow sunlight. Edwin then falls into a deep sleep and leans against the window of the carriage. Just imagining it made the corners of my mouth rise. It wasn't because I wanted to make fun of Edwin, who fell asleep first, but because I wanted to see him fall asleep relaxed in front of me. 

I blinked my eyes when I realized that. It was a strange feeling. Did Edwin feel the same way as me? 

Just thinking about it made my heart tighten. I wanted to reach a little further. Because I wanted to sit next to him, not across the table. Because I want to keep leaning on that kindness.

Instead, we decide to wake each other up when we arrive. 

"If you keep sleeping in the carriage, you'll feel dizzy."

"What if it's not a carriage?"

"Yes?"

"For example, what if I fall asleep while drinking tea in the living room?"

"Then..."

I was speechless at the unexpected question. Edwin spoke as if he had been waiting.

"How about moving to the side and letting the sleeping person rest their head on your shoulder? Aren't we capable of that much?"

Edwin slyly narrowed one eye. My face lit up as soon as I thought of Edwin's head touching my shoulder. I want to reach, but I can't get that close..!

Instead of shaking my head, I pursed my lips. I don't have this much free time. I hated the way he smiled as if it was nothing special for him to touch me. Even though he pulled me in without any gaps, I wanted to make fun of that relaxed attitude that was hidden behind my back. 

So I nodded my head as if it was no big deal.

"Is that so?"

Edwin's eyes widened for a moment. His handsome face looked somewhat embarrassed, which made me feel better inside.

"Really?"

"I'm real. Did you really ask a lie?"

I laughed out loud. Perhaps, contrary to his sly exterior, Edwin may be innocent and gentle on the inside. Come to think of it, he was like that last time too. 

When I called his name, Edwin's red face came to mind. I wanted to play more. Perhaps, as the Grand Duke said, I think I am really witty. It was when I thought I wanted to approach him with a little more jokes.

"... I was very determined to approach slowly."

The voice that was heard quieted down, sensing something strange about me, looked at Edwin and my eyes widened. The beautiful face gave off a somewhat dangerous aura. It was strange. Edwin is smiling more kindly than usual. I smiled awkwardly and pulled my body. In an instant, the air in the living room became strangely heated. When Edwin laughed lowly, his bulging neck rang slowly. A deep desire spread over his red eyes.

"Did Olivia give permission first?"

"No, I guess?"

"No way."

The corners of Edwin's eyes were sweetly curved. Then, when he saw the table that seemed to block them, he clicked his tongue. The table, which I had previously thought was disappointing, acted as a great protective shield. But he also had the luxury of taking a breather. 

Edwin quickly got up from his seat. I swallowed my dry saliva without realizing it as he looked like he was about to come next to me at any moment. It was then. 

A knock on the door broke the mood. Edwin's face frowned. 

"This is Sobel. Can I go in for a moment?"

"No."

"Yes?"

The sharp answer was met with an absurd response from outside the living room. I spoke instinctively.

"Okay! Come in," 

"Olivia."

The voice calling me was mixed with a sigh. 

Haha

While I smiled awkwardly and looked away, the door opened and Sobel came in.

"Your Highness, My Lady,"

"Since when did you stop listening to my commands? Sobel?" 

It was me who was pricked by the gloomy voice. Sobel shrugged his shoulders calmly.

"It was when Your Highness told me to give priority to the Young Lady's orders, maybe."

"I only lived with my mouth, Sobel."

"I'm glad I survived. Starting tomorrow morning, we will begin construction of the room next to the Lady into a dressing room. But just looking at the drawing, there are too few dresses, shoes, or jewelry to store."

Edwin clicked his tongue and sat down. He unfolded the paper Sobel was holding as if he had been waiting. Even at a glance, there were few colored parts indicating use.

"That's right. What should I do about this?"

Edwin looked back at me and smiled wickedly. I answered quickly.

"I think it will be full when the dress I ordered from Madame Pluto's boutique arrives."

"Fifteen dresses are not enough. Even the shoe and jewelry display cases were empty."

Shoes and jewelry. I shrugged my shoulders with an embarrassed expression. Edwin raised his chin calmly. I laughed involuntarily. In that hazy atmosphere, Sobel became cold and salty.

Then he winked at Edwin and said,

"Really. And Your Highness. The tea is completely cold." 

Tea? I stared blankly at the teapot. I had just entered the parlor and the tea was still warm. While I was looking at the tea, Edwin's expression hardened slightly and then relaxed.

"..... I feel bad. I guess it's because Olivia's display case is empty. Sobel, Call a jeweler. Even shoemakers."

"Yes."

Sobel answered as if it were obvious.  Indeed, starting tomorrow, jewelers were expected to visit the mansion one after another. Unlike before, my only property now is an abandoned mine. I hesitated. 

"I have jewels. I also had a pink diamond necklace back then."

"But you won't bet after the banquet." 

"Yeah..."

Because it reminds me of Ethella who has the same necklace. I shrugged my shoulders. 

As if sensing my ambiguous mood, Sobel left the parlor, offering to bring me more tea. Only after I confirmed that the door was closed did I smile lightly. 

"You bought me two of these pink diamond necklaces that day."

"I gave one as a gift to Olivia, and the other one.." 

He gave it as a gift to my sister Ethella. I delivered it.

 "I don't know if I will do it."

I had no idea that the word 'younger Sister' had such an unfamiliar and difficult pronunciation. I muttered 'little sister' into my mouth again. It was a term that was gradually becoming more unfamiliar. 

I smiled faintly. Edwin, who was watching the scene closely, slowly spoke.

"Why do your eyes get so sad when you think of my younger sister?"

It's sad, I just miss Ethella... 

I blinked my eyes as I thought absentmindedly. It wasn't a family I miss. My younger sister whom I always cherish and love. My dear younger sister, whom I couldn't approach for fear that rumors about me might cause harm. 

But the emotions I feel now are a little more complicated than that. It was still heartbreaking, but also sad at the same time. I felt sorry for her, but I was upset about him. Therefore...

"Like Edwin said, I'm sad."

The voice that left my lips became soothing. The bridge of my nose became cold. The more I thought about it, the more I was sad. I pursed my lips and looked at Edwin. Because of Edwin. 

I tried not to think. I thought it would be okay if I just covered it all up, but when the story came up, I remembered it again.

"I wish she would have listened to just one word."

Even if it was a childish complaint, I couldn't do it. In fact, at that time, I wanted to say just one word to Ethella. I said I didn't do anything. 

"... Is it because I always put off my promise by saying 'next time' that Ethella doesn't listen to me?"

A friend's tea party that Ethella always talked about, a coffee house that we decided to go to together, preparations for a debutante, etc. Countless things came to mind that Ethella wanted and I had put off. 

Then I  laughed a little. I decided to stop looking for reasons from me. All kinds of complicated thoughts ran through my mind. Nevertheless.

"... Still, I hated those words. Did Mother really die because of me?"

Those words that Ethella said came to fruition like a lump. I slowly looked at Edwin. You probably don't even know what I'm saying. 

Edwin was looking at me obsessively. And that too with an inscrutable expression.

"Then it would be very unpleasant to see."

It was a strangely soft voice. But I couldn't nod my head. I felt sad, and maybe even truly hated her.

"I want to see her."

He said Ethella collapsed. I wanted to at least see if she was okay. Ethella. 

Edwin, who was still, shrugged his shoulders. He seemed to sigh, and he seemed subtly regretful.

"I guess the Madeleine duchy is generally lucky."

Oi blinked at the sudden story of the Madeleine duchy.

"And Princess Madeleine is the luckiest one among them." 

Princess Madeleine. Edwin always called me Lady. So, there was only one Princess whom Edwin was lucky enough to mention in that way. I swallowed my saliva without realizing it. I seemed agitated and subtly subdued. My heart was pounding rapidly. Edwin continued speaking softly.

".... The Princess came to the mansion. She misses Olivia."

Thud. 

For some reason, I felt like my heart was dropping loudly. I squeezed my shaking hand. Edwin looked at me.

"What do you want to do?"

The decision was entirely up to Olivia.

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