DYBAR - Chapter 58 Mixed Feelings
Do Your Best And Regret It
"Why, why?"
My voice wavered. I was taken aback by Bethany's unexpected answer. I thought of course I would be able to register it as community property as soon as I got back. Is there something wrong with my White Crystal Mine?
Now even the resistance magic is gone. I thought ceaselessly. As if to cut me off from that thought, Bethany shrugged her shoulders and smiled.
"Yeah... You two are not a couple yet."
"Yes?"
I opened my eyes wide. Bethany burst into laughter. And explained it a little more simply, as to the Young Lady.
"No matter how much the property of the Grand Duchess of Vikander is jointly owned, they do not combine the property just by planning a marriage, Miss."
"I did not know? Are we not married yet?"
After Bethany, Edwin added playfully. You can't register it as joint property until you're officially married. Edwin and I are supposed to get married a year later, according to the 'one-year grace period'. Still, my eyes, which had been muttering in impatience, suddenly became wide and irritated.
"But right now, I'm spending a lot of the Grand Duke's fortune."
I was even more angry at myself for what I said out of my mouth. It was true. Just because I was renovating Jeniv Street, I had already freely contracted everything from his materials to his workers.
"Miss, I like this brick. What do you think?"
Dean, who seemed to have completely opened his heart to me and was so excited every time he chose the materials that he didn't know what to do.
"Even though I said I would save it, I spent quite a lot."
I muttered as if making an excuse. Edwin looked at me as if he was puzzled.
"No, Olivia. That's it. Why does that word come out here?"
"That's because I believed that property was jointly owned and used it freely."
Edwin sighed. He told her to increase the distribution, but this little girl really didn't listen to him. Even the way she glanced at him was both lovely and sad.
Bethany spoke in place of Edwin, who was speechless.
"Miss, this is something that Grand Duke Vikander was originally planning to do. I am grateful that you are leading the work as the prospective Grand Duchess, so don't worry about the budget. As a person who manages Vikander's property, I can tell you that even if you use it that much, it's like taking a glass of seawater."
I grinned at Bethany's confident words.
"That's right. It's just that I didn't get married, but I'm actually the prospective Grand Duchess. Not only do we plan to get married, we set a date and wait for it. Still, I can't register it as joint property?"
Bethany's mouth fell shut as she looked into those sparkling green eyes. There are definitely laws and regulations, but just looking into those eyes made Bethany's heart become infinitely weaker. Those were the words of a precious and lovely girl who brought the Princess's treasure, the White Crystal Mine. It was the moment when Bethany's heart became soft.
"Oh, how about transferring it?"
Having said that, I thought it was a pretty good method. To me, it was just mine with a dry or worthless mine, but it had such great significance to Edwin and the Dukes of Vikander. It would be much better to have it registered as the property of a Grand Duke who could understand its meaning.
But as soon as my words left my mouth, Edwin and Bethany called me with serious faces.
"Olivia."
"Miss."
"Yes?"
I was confused as they were called at almost the same time and looked at the two in turn. Where should I start pointing this out?
Edwin thought for a moment and then shook his head.
"Let's take a nap first and then we'll talk."
"I'm not sleepy."
"I'm sleepy, Olivia."
Edwin blinked his eyes slowly on purpose. Strangely enough, I felt drowsy when she saw Edwin's drowsy appearance. I nodded my head slightly and Edwin smiled sweetly and escorted me out. Bethany quickly followed behind the two of us and opened my door. The sight of my low bed made me feel tired as it reminded me of my earlier surprise at seeing Bethany and Edwin, who were not under my resistance spell.
Nevertheless, I told Edwin as I had promised.
"Sigh, we have to wake up and talk."
"As much as you want. So, sleep well and come out. Okay?"
I nodded at Edwin's words and entered the room.
"Olivia."
I turned around slowly, hearing Edwin's voice calling from behind. Edwin said, looking at me for a moment.
"Thank you."
I felt the weight contained in that single word, so I nodded and answered.
"You're welcome."
I grinned and entered the room. Soon Bethany followed me in. Edwin relaxed at the signal telling him to leave it to me. And when the door closed, there was no trace of sleepiness on Edwin's face when he turned around.
Howard, with red, bloodshot eyes, came closer to Edwin. Edwin looked into Howard's eyes and a new smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
"Are you sure you not cried? I told you not to cry."
"Is that possible? My eyes are bloodshot from staying up all night."
"Don't cry."
Howard shamelessly shook his head, remembering Edwin's words to his order before entering the mine. He knew Howard well, who stayed upright for days on end on the battlefield, but Edwin smiled without saying anything. Because there are other important things.
"So. Where is the princess now? Check what the princess is doing now."
The Grand Duke's order, which he gave before leaning forward and telling him not to cry. Howard gave a prepared answer.
"It's called the Viscounty of Katanta."
"Ha, did she finally get there?"
"The main reason is motion sickness. Other than that, there doesn't seem to be any other reason. Well, I can say that unmaintained roads are also a reason."
As Howard's answers flew down the hallway, Edwin's red eyes filled with a loose smile.
"Okay, then what should we do now? Howard?"
"I will make sure the Emperor knows about this."
"Of course, I'm betting we don't know."
"I walked first."
Howard's blunt answer was filled with sincerity. A satisfied smile appeared on Edwin's lips.
***
Early morning, the Duke of Madeleine.
The Duke, who was sitting in the dining room, quietly looked at his empty seat. It's been a while since he took the time to come over for breakfast, but Ethella, who would usually chatter next to him, was nowhere to be seen.
“... Ethella.”
"She has been on a diet lately because of my debutante..."
Conrad, who was next to him, answered on her behalf. Neither the Duke nor Conrad knew very well that that was not the real reason why Ethella did not shine her face.
However, they did not dig deeper, as if they had promised each other. It's been several weeks since breakfast has been this bleak. The Duke kept seeing Esella's empty seat, and then Jade's empty seat. Conrad ate without even looking at the empty seat next to him. The taste was no different from before, perhaps because the vassal, Viscountess Monique, had inspected the meal, but the food in his mouth was as rough as grains of sand.
Maybe this time itself was uncomfortable. As soon as his thoughts reached him, Conrad was inwardly surprised. A cool-headed and fair father. Meals with his father were one of Conrad's favorite times. He can't believe this time and feels uncomfortable. It was ridiculous.
It was then.
"Duke, a letter has arrived from the imperial palace."
The chamberlain hurriedly approached holding a letter. The letter bore the Emperor's seal. His father's brow furrowed as he opened the letter.
"I guess I should go first."
"Yes."
Perhaps the request to enter the palace this time was also due to Olivia. Conrad's stomach felt uncomfortable somewhere. As soon as Olivia's name came to mind, the empty space he had been trying to ignore appeared in his eyes.
"Any news from Jade yet?"
"Yes,"
Because the answer did not meet his father's expectations, Conrad's voice was quiet. The Duke stood up with restrained movements as if it didn't matter.
Conrad, who was looking at the back, let out the breath he had been holding. The plate was the same as when the food was first served. As Conrad grabbed the empty glass, a servant quickly came over and poured water for him.
"Ethella."
"She is eating in her room."
It was the same answer today. Conrad jumped up from his seat. Even though he drank water, his stuffy feeling didn't go away, so Conrad picked up his pace.
***
Knock knock.
At the sound of a knock on the door, Ethella tensed for a moment. She said last night she heard that her father came home late. Could it be that he is my father?
Seeing Ethella's stiff appearance, Veronica stepped forward and spoke outside her door.
"Yes."
"it's me. Please open the door."
Fortunately or unfortunately, the voice coming from outside the door was Conrad. There were many things she didn't want to encounter, so Ethella thought for a moment.
After seeing Veronica's eyes asking what she was going to do, Ethella managed to open her door.
"Brother? What's going on?"
"It's hard to see each other when we live in the same house, Ethella."
Ethella averted her gaze at the voice full of bitter laughter. Conrad was a great older brother to her who she loved more than anyone else. Seeing Conrad make that kind of expression made Ethella's heartache.
"I know, right. When I eat with my brother, I keep eating. As you know, I need to prepare for my debutante."
So she kept making these ridiculous excuses. Actually, she doesn't want to see him. Ethella pretended to smile, hiding her true feelings that she could not bear to say.
"But you still have to eat. Father came too."
At Conrad's words, Ethella looked at Conrad without realizing it. Father. Her father, who cherishes and loves her more than anyone else, at the same time. The father brought her older sister and was pushed into the imperial palace by those officials.
Every time she thought of her father, Ethella felt extremely uncomfortable. Ever since the distortion that had been blocking her eyes disappeared, she had been suppressing the urge to ask.
"Brother didn't..."
Are you uncomfortable?
Before she could continue her words, Conrad's face was caught in Ethella's eyes. Conrad's face, which was always smiling as if he was relaxed, looked scary for some reason.
Ethella closed her mouth. She was fortunate. She came to her senses before she could say anything. After swallowing her words, which she couldn't bear to ask, Ethella looked into her room with envy.
Conrad's actions clearly showed his desire to enter, so he swallowed what he wanted to ask and remembered Viscountess Monique's words.
"I heard you're interested in social circles."
"Yes."
Conrad was silent for a moment in response to the short answer. Ethella smiled awkwardly and closed the door as if waiting for the conversation to end.
Conrad sighed as he watched the door hastily close. A little while ago, he had a vague idea of what Ethella's staring gaze was saying. There was no way to resolve the stuffy, uncomfortable feeling inside him.
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