DYBAR - Chapter 60 < Hidden Introduction To The Summer Banquet >
Do Your Best And Regret It
"Then let's go out."
The Viscount and the knight repeatedly looked back at the Princess. The Princess, who was smiling elegantly, fell down on the sofa as soon as the door closed. A look of satisfaction appeared on the Princess's beautiful face.
"It was something that could be resolved so easily, Nanny. Yes?"
"It's all thanks to Her Highness's great thought of a trick."
Baroness Ruhas looked at the Princess with sincere admiration. A moment ago, the Princess, who had been smiling seductively at the knight she had summoned, instantly made the knight her ally.
"I am so grateful that you gave me the knight's oath. If you're my knight, you can at least grant my request, right?"
The young knights all nodded to the Princess's words with open faces. Even when asked to keep secret the schedule for five days, which went against the Emperor's orders. While he was leaving, the Princess even called the Viscount and expressed her sincere gratitude.
"Thanks to the Viscount and Viscountess, I was able to carry out His Majesty's orders."
Viscount Katanya could not hide his strange expression for a moment. She is a Princess and she hasn't done anything since she came into the Viscount's house. However, after confirming the reaction she had expected, the Princess continued her words smoothly.
"I really want to repay you. How about inviting you to the imperial palace's summer banquet?"
At the Princess's words, Viscount Katanta, a country nobleman, did not refuse even once and nodded eagerly with a bright face. Seeing the enthusiastic look on the face of the self-made as if he would give her everything, the Princess made a 'small' request in a low voice and then gave a noble order to congratulate him.
And she smiled brightly as if all her worries had been resolved at this moment.
"So, make sure the nanny and other maids know this as well. I stopped by Vikander territory, confirmed the investigation of the trusty maid sent earlier, and then, according to the Emperor's orders, I left here in a hurry to return to the imperial palace within five days."
***
Meanwhile, even when the knight in the hallway was far away, the Viscount and Viscountess, who could not leave the door of the room where the Princess was staying, looked at each other with expressions of disbelief.
"Oh my god, honey. We're going to a summer banquet. This isn't a dream, is it?"
"Then! I heard it too!"
The bewildered couple looked at each other and then hugged each other.
"I didn't believe this,"
The Viscountess kept saying. Even as the Viscount was comforting the Viscountess, she could not help the raised eyebrows and her mouth. Finally, the Viscounty of Katanta was incorporated into the system. However, even though what he had always wanted unfolded before his eyes, a feeling of uneasiness remained somewhere in the Viscount's heart.
"I just stopped by here for a short while. Do you understand, Viscount?"
The Viscount Katanta knew best that the Princess did nothing while staying at the Viscount's residence. Such a Princess has already fulfilled the Emperor's orders. The Princess princess, who saw the Viscount tilting his head in question, raised one corner of her mouth loosely and continued her words.
Quirky noises always come from below. The Viscount must properly control the entry of those below him. Don't let people spread the word that she stayed here for a long time.
"Do you understand what I mean?"
The Viscount trembled involuntarily when he remembered how her sea-colored eyes, which had once seemed delicate, flashed brightly and tightened his neck. That cold face was completely different from the saint-like Princess he had only heard about through rumors. The Viscountess, who suddenly became silent, seemed to be thinking the same thing.
"...But, is it really okay for us to go to the banquet?"
The Viscountess, who was speaking to the Viscount as if she were anxious, looked around the hallway and spoke in a low voice.
"Anyway, the maid heard a strange rumor yesterday. Your Highness, well, regarding our Viscounty of Katanta..."
"Oh no, that's pointless. Are you going to dwell on such personal nonsense before such a great event?"
The Viscount shouted, quickly cutting off the Viscountess' voice, which had become increasingly private. He shrugged his shoulders as if the Viscountess was looking at him.
"No, just."
"We have to go to the summer banquet. The summer banquet you've been dying to go to."
The Viscountess made a dazed look as she heard the Viscount's voice becoming lower and coaxing.
"So, as you said, thoroughly control the house. Got it?"
At this time, neither the Viscountess, who was nodding energetically nor the Viscount, who was delighted with the reaction, noticed it.
"Oh my God. The Princess who is said to be like a Saint?"
The story of the Princess, which she thought only spread within the owner's residence.
"That's right. She screamed like that at the palace maid last night."
Like an uncontrollable wildfire, to the next territory, and to the next territory.
"I heard it too. Do you think that's it? I heard she threw the dishes brought to her because they were dirty, so the maids carried the dishes out of the kitchen themselves?"
This means that it has reached the threshold of the system where the imperial palace is located.
***
The Emperor's Palace, bathed in brilliant sunlight.
Duke Madeleine walked away without saying a word as he left the Emperor's office. The adjutant, Sir Huxley, tried to guess what had happened, but in vain. There were countless times when the Duke of Madeleine made such a cold face.
The Duke, who had been walking with an undisturbed posture, frowned only after reaching the rear garden.
"At the summer banquet that will be held soon, we will be able to see the first Princess's changed appearance."
With the order given so blatantly, there was no time to wait for Jade, who had no news. He sent a messenger to Vikander to tell Olivia to visit the Duke as soon as possible.
"Madeleine, everything. I will erase it."
The Duke opened his eyes sharply at the sudden sound of Olivia's voice. No matter how much she rebels, Olivia, who always craves his attention, will quickly give in and put all her work aside to come back.
Duke Madeleine, who was continuing his thoughts, paused for a moment. And he pondered over a sentence that felt somewhat uncomfortable. Soon the Duke let out a brief sigh of bewilderment. She 'will' come back. Now he refers to Madeleine as the place she will return to.
Madeleine, it was as if the girl's absurd claim that it was her home and her family was contagious to her. Well, fourteen years was enough time for even such insignificant thoughts to stick together. Otherwise, he wouldn't have thought so generously towards 'that girl'.
"It's been a while, Duke."
A drowsy voice pierced through his thoughts. It was Prince Leopold. The Prince, wearing a fancy uniform, approached the Duke. The Duke showed courtesy without even changing his expression.
"...I see you, His Highness the Crown Prince."
"Does the Duke know any news about Olivia?"
The Duke looked at Leopold for a moment in response to the question being asked. Leopold, who was facing the Duke's face whose emotions were indecipherable, was the first to shrug his shoulders.
"I sent someone to where Olivia was, but for some reason, there was no news. She is my fiancee in name only, but I am concerned about her doing well in that harsh and cold place."
The handsome face spoke with a hint of concern. But everyone here knew that the concern was just a smooth greeting that would disappear like smoke. So the Duke answered indirectly.
"I will tell her to contact Your Highness soon."
These were the most appropriate words to end this superficial conversation. The Duke bowed his head again in courtesy. It was an action that hoped the Prince would pass by quickly. But instead of moving forward, the Prince opened his mouth once again.
"Well, it looks like the Duke doesn't really know the news about my fiancée right now."
The Duke raised his head at the sharp tone. Leopold's eyes looked at the Duke, smiling viciously.
"Only like this, can I trust the Duke and wait a year later?"
"Your Highness!"
Before the Duke could say anything, a sonorous voice calling for Leopold was heard from afar. Maria Ethel, dressed in fancy clothes, was cheerfully waving her hand.
Tsk, the sound of his clicking his tongue as if she were disapproving was scattered. And before the Duke could speak again, Leopold quickly took his steps and spoke softly.
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Anyway, as the Duke said, I will wait for your contact."
With those words, the conversation ended. In a moment when no one could see, a look of impatient nervousness passed over the Prince's handsome face. Maria Ethel, who came to the Prince's side, smiled brightly like a blooming rose.
Maria Ethel's face stiffened for a moment as she looked at the Duke, but that was all. Soon, Maria, solemnly wrapping her arms around the Prince's arm, started walking and bellowed.
"Your Highness, I was thinking about our engagement ceremony earlier."
As Maria Ethel's sonorous voice faded away, the Duke could not shake off a feeling of discomfort. Like before, is there an error in his thinking? Or is there something that goes against the decoration of this sponsorship?
The Duke, who was quickly analyzing, realized where his gaze was directed and took a deep breath. The Crown Prince and Maria Ethel are now far away. A pair of beautiful lovers navigating the social world. Behind them was Olivia Madeleine, who always followed her lover at an appropriate distance.
Only when the image that came to mind was stuck in his eyes like an afterimage did the Duke shake his head in surprise. He just felt a sense of foreignness for a moment because the familiar appearance disappeared.
After organizing his thoughts, the Duke gave orders to Lord Huxley.
"Send a letter to Vikander Territory. Please tell Olivia to visit the Duke's residence as soon as possible."
***
"But my Maria, how about preparations for the banquet?"
Maria's eyes widened at Leopold's sharp words. Her beautiful blue eyes trembled slightly and avoided Leopold's gaze. The summer banquet was the Princess's pride and a major event for the imperial palace.
How can he entrust such an event to her, who has no experience hosting a banquet?
Maria said, trying to erase her dejected expression.
"B-but...... The summer banquet was hosted so wonderfully by Her Highness the Princess that I am cautious about putting pressure on her. I thought it would be better for Her Highness to prepare."
Maria's voice gradually became quieter and soon turned into a mumble. She waved Lepold's arm as if she was fawning.
"Leopold please take my side. If you could please speak to Her Majesty the Empress,
"Maria."
Leopold gritted his teeth and called Maria. He was trying to suppress his anger as much as possible, but Maria was frozen in shock and was looking up at him. His head was pounding. Leopold briefly pressed his temples and spat out.
"Didn't you hear from Baroness Sophron? What are your responsibilities as a Crown Princess?"
Although Leopold's voice was somewhat calm, he could not erase the hint of criticism. Maria's eyes filled with tears. He always thought that innocent look was adorable. Today, it was difficult for Leopold to look at Maria's face. His lovely and pitiful lover.
Maria wanted to do anything. But what had been filling Leopold's mind since yesterday was different news.
"Well, Your Highness the Crown Prince. The news from the messenger who went to Vikander Territory has been cut off."
"Send it again."
What's the problem?
Leopold reacted Indifferently. However, Count Hodges, who was embarrassed, spoke carefully.
"That is... In fact, we stopped hearing from messengers a few days ago, so we sent two more people, but there is no news from all three."
He can't believe the news from the messenger from the Crown Prince's palace has stopped. All while heading to Vikander Territory. It was clear that his father's dog had done something.
Leopold could not shake off his displeasure when he was completely cut off from Olivia, who he had thought would contact him at any time. If she was like before, she should have sent him the news first. She hasn't contacted him at all so far.
It was so embarrassing.
In the meantime, he upset even Maria. He doesn't think something like this happened during Olivia's time.
Leopold looked into Maria's face, trying to suppress his awkward mood. Tears formed on the strands of her rich, golden eyelashes. Leopold clicked his tongue softly, trying to control his anger.
".... Don't cry. I get really upset when you cry. You said you would show me what you're good at."
"I will try to do well again."
Maria Ethel's voice trembled pitifully. Only then did Leopold hug Maria. As soon as Maria was in his arms, Leopold whispered sweetly to her.
"This is an important time, Maria. You know, right? At least I shouldn't let people say you're inadequate compared to Olivia."
Maria's eyes, which had been relaxing to the soft voice, suddenly became black and empty. At the same time, her heart dropped.
Why is he mentioning Olivia's half-baby name?
As if that wasn't enough, he reminded her of his former fiancé like this. how. Leopold could do this to her.
Although this whole situation was sad, Maria swallowed her anger. And she gave Leopold his favorite answer.
"Yes."
She could hear Leopold's satisfied smile, but Maria couldn't smile.
Damn Olivia, Olivia, Olivia!
Everywhere she went, even at Tiase Palace, Olivia Madeleine's hand was touched.
"Ah, that's what Princess Madeleine did."
"This is how the Princess has handled things so far."
Maria was sick of Olivia's name appearing whenever she did something. It wasn't a bad idea for her to completely turn herself around this time. In fact, a new way of banqueting would completely erase her previous memories. In a way that will make people not forget her banquet, and also make her memorable to Leopold.
For example, as if the banquet itself was her engagement party!
Maria Ethel's eyes brightened as a bright thought occurred to her. The corners of her red mouth quirked up.
***
At that time, the Great Siege.
Lying on the bed, I was deep in thought. I fell asleep soundly, and after waking up, I clear mind was busy thinking of various ways to jointly own the mine. And not long after, I brightened my green eyes brightly.
I had a very good idea. I have a very good idea to gift this White Crystal Mine to Edwin. As Edwin pictured my happy face, a happy smile appeared on my face as well.
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