DYBAR - Chapter 63 < Precious Things That Have Finally Found Their Place #3 >

DYBAR - Chapter 63 < Precious Things That Have Finally Found Their Place #3 >

Do Your Best And Regret It

When I suddenly woke up, it was still night outside. When I slightly opened the tightly closed window, the cool night air rushed in. When I looked beyond the window where I could hear the sound of grass bugs crying, I saw knights patrolling at night in the distance. That's how they do night patrols in the Great Siege Castle. They were a little different from the one I had seen in the Duke of Madeleine, and I tilted my head as I found it strange. 

At the Duke of Madeleine's residence, I often, or perhaps often, saw the servants patrolling at night. There were many nights when I couldn't sleep or couldn't fall asleep. However, since going to the Grand Duke's residence, or at least since coming to Vikander Territory, there has been no waking up in the middle of the night like this. 

I looked for something familiar above the unfamiliarity of the unfamiliar night. The bed where I woke up a little while ago, the desk where I always write my diary, the table where I drink tea, a sofa that is easy to lean on, and a dressing room with lots of jewelry and dresses like in a boutique. Everything I saw seemed familiar to me. All my things. 

As soon as I realized that fact, my fingertips trembled slightly. My heart pounded loudly when the happiness I thought I had become accustomed to came to me as a big reality. If this happiness was really mine, I wanted to see with my own eyes the greatest happiness that had come to me right now.

As soon as I finished my thoughts, I rushed towards the door. I couldn't remember the location of Edwin's bedroom, but I felt like I could get to Edwin if I opened the door and went out.

"Olivia?"

As soon as I opened the door, a sleepy voice called to me from next to the door. Edwin, who was leaning against the wall, slowly straightened up and looked at me.

"Are you awake already?"

Edwin's voice sounded dreamy. Edwin is right in front of my room at this hour. Could this moment, as if my wish had come true, be a dream? 

Without realizing it, I reached out my hand and grabbed Edwin's hand. I felt a gentle warmth at his fingertips.

"You're not going away."

"Should I disappear?"

At the sound of Edwin's playful voice, Olivia hurriedly said, 

"Ah. It's a dream, what should I do? I was just a little worried."

Before he could say he was glad that wasn't the case, Edwin's eyes narrowed.

"It can't be a dream."

An alluring voice laughed lowly in the night air.

"I've been standing here motionless since last night because I was afraid it was just a dream."

Edwin, who was looking at the joined hands with regret, lightly kissed the back of my hand.

"So, leave your worries to me, Olivia, and go in and get some sleep."

I, who entered the room as if pushed by Edwin, blinked. It was a reality that did not disappear. 

*** 

The architect the Young Lady spoke of arrived on Jeniv Street. If the Young Lady knew, she would definitely be happy. 

A sudden command fell to Dean, who happily ran into the castle, thinking of the Young Lady's brightly smiling face.

"Really? Me? Do you want me to get a gem from Baron Stone to use as a gift ring?"

Bethany didn't even answer the question that was repeated over and over again. 

Why? He is an escort knight who is definitely not supposed to leave the Lady's side. 

But before he could ask again, His Royal Highness and the Young Lady were approaching the carriage. Dean, who was quick to show respect to the sight, felt a slightly different atmosphere from the two people than usual. 

Although he knew from the beginning that His Highness valued the Young Lady.

"Because I can walk on my own feet?"

"I'm afraid you won't be able to wear it out, right?"

"Shoes?"

"Come on, Olivia."

... He didn't make it so that she couldn't even walk in front of people. 

Dean unconsciously brushed his forearm down. Above all, the mere fact that His Highness the Grand Duke said such a thing without a change in his complexion gave goosebumps on Dean's arms. 

In addition to Dean, who quietly left, many employees stared at the two people. 

Swallowing shame at the gaze she felt, Olivia glanced at Edwin.

"Even if you keep saying that, Sir Szellin will be visiting today. I heard you were standing there all night. Edwin has to sleep soundly."

Edwin let out a loud noise mixed with frustration at Olivia's decisive words. He was going to send Dean to Baron Stone and spend time with Olivia instead. He was forced to take a break because he said, 'I've been standing in front of Olivia's room since last night!' 

He tried to pout and show off his charms, but Olivia wouldn't let him go along. Finally, when Edwin raised his palm, Howard, who was behind him, came forward.

"Dean has something else to do today, so Howard will take care of you. Dean says that the architect you spoke of has arrived in Jeniv Street."

Olivia's face brightened when she heard those words. Edwin, who must have been angry at her face, protruded his lips and begged Olivia.

"Are you really going to leave me behind?"

Olivia, who had been looking at Edwin for a moment, leaned towards Edwin and whispered. 

"You won't have time to follow me to get the ring, will you? I will only receive a very precious ring, but last night you said you would bring it within three days, so there are only two days left, right?"

Edwin looked caught off guard by those words. Olivia, who was laughing energetically in front of the carriage, smiled gracefully and waved her hand. 

"I'll be back."

***

I had one wish while carrying out the Jeniv Street project. It is transformed into a street that will not disappear while providing a feeling of sanctuary so that green-eyed people can proudly live in Jeniv.

"... I feel this every time, but they give me a task that is too difficult."

And this middle-aged man who spoke grumpily was fully capable of doing that.

"I'm leaving it to you because I think you can do it well, Mr. Shurn Karain."

Shurn chuckled at my sincere words. And as if to erase his trembling, he joked. 

"No need to pay in two installments this time? Even ten percent..."

"Why would I do that when I can pay all at once?"

I said slyly and looked straight down Jeniv Street. I captured this moment in my eyes so as not to forget the scenery that I would never see again once it changed.

"I heard about the situation so far from Sir Szellin, so would it be okay if I looked around the streets for a moment?"

"Of course, Lord Interfield. Is it okay if I ask you a favor?"

Howard nodded to Shurn's request. And he went ahead to lead the way to Jeniv Street.

"Wow, this is a rare place where people with green eyes gather."

Shurn curry. A special feature is the architect who was in charge of waterway construction in the Tristan granary area, and the reorganization, we will be in charge of planning the layout of roads and houses. 

"It would be good to leave this site as is, as the Princess said. The road is straight and wide."

Seeing Shurn looking seriously at Jeniv Street, Howard corrected his words in a calm voice.

"Miss."

"Oh, that's right."

Shurn, who was scratching his head, turned around as if it was something new. And he muttered as if he was talking to himself. 

"Well, you were able to distribute the money in installments like that, so of course it worked out well."

Howard felt puzzled by those words.

"Isn't the original payment supposed to be paid in installments?"

The most popular method was to pay the down payment, interim payment, and final balance in three installments. But Shurn's eyes widened as if he didn't know, and he started talking.

"Of course, it is common to pay the price in installments, but the Duke, or rather, the Lady, was paid in installments in a slightly different way."

The events of two years ago appeared vividly before Shurn's eyes. It was autumn, when the yellow wheat fields made his heart feel full. It was also the day when waterway construction began in the Princess's rich territory, the Tristan granary region. 

The architects and workers who participated in the project, saying that it was a project led by the saintly Princess, were disappointed when they saw the Princess with silver hair and green eyes. 

However, it was then that people gradually opened their hearts to the words of the Princess, who neatly instructed her work.

"Before making payment, I would like to suggest two payment methods to you. The first is to pay the down payment, interim payment, and the balance upon completion of construction."

When told that there were two ways to pay, people who were listening closely snorted when they heard the first method, which was no different from usual. At the same time, the Princess continued speaking calmly.

"The second is to pay the down payment first, and then pay the Interim payment and balance all at once after construction is completed. Of course, since you are late, we will pay an additional fifteen percent of the amount, including the advance payment and the remaining balance."

"Fifteen percent?"

Shurn, who was brought out of his thoughts by the startled voice of Howard, chuckled. It must have been surprising even to the nobles.  Well, they also opened their eyes wide.

"There must have been a set budget."

"So there were many people who just chose option 1. Of course, I chose option 2 and received an additional fifteen percent."

"How..."

Shurn said smugly to the knight's genuinely curious face.

"According to what we heard, when the new wheat was harvested at that time, the Young Lady purchased all the unsold old wheat at a low price with the down payment that should have been paid to the workers." 

Old wheat. As soon as he heard those words, an article about a Princess who solved the spring crisis of a retail estate automatically popped into Howard's mind.

"And during the next spring season, she sold it to another territory and paid the entire price with the profits she made there."

Schurn's words proved Howard's prediction correct. He felt a bit dry, but Howard was in the mood and didn't do anything stupid like miss out on his work.

"Mr. Shurn Caraine."

"Yes?"

"Can you confirm that?"

Shurn suddenly sighed at the sound of a heavy voice. It was time for Howard to swallow his nerves at that sight.

"What else can I say? Why are you talking so seriously? Of course. This is a fact known not only to me but also to the designers and workers who worked with me."

Seeing Shurn answer cheerfully, Howard quietly looked at the Grand Duke. All je had was the belief that the Young Lady had always done good deeds for the Princess, but to be able to secure such clear evidence. 

Howard was glad, but at the same time, je was heartbroken. She's like this. How will His Highness the Grand Duke feel when he hears about this, and what will the Young Lady involved have been through? 

He didn't dare to guess. 

*** 

Expensive materials and ample workers. And the financial ability to pay the bills at any time.

"Don't you need to pay in two installments this time?"

When I heard Shurn's words, for a moment I felt like I had gone back in time. I ran out of money to pay for the construction, so I had to come up with a trick somehow. 

I smiled slightly. The money the Princess gave me was always average. I always ran out of budget because the Princess didn't take into account cases where 'unexpected things happened. 

Fortunately, the Princess's estate was generally prosperous. And as I watched the ledgers of the Duchess of Madeleine, I learned many clever ways to manage the finances. To be exact, it was the way I learned from Conrad.

"You need to know how to spend money in order to use it within the allocated budget. Are you stupid enough to wait for me to tell you that?"

I shook my head at the name that came to mind for the first time in a long time. I stared at the ring as my thoughts drifted.

"Are you really going to leave me behind?"

Edwin, who pretended to be pitiful until the end, was seen off. My mood became much more cheerful when I remembered that image of him. It was then that I wished he would hurry and bring the ring.

"Miss!"

A group of kids ran towards me. Children no longer wore dirty clothes and did not hide their faces with robes. Bright eyes looked at me with a gaze full of envy. 

In these streets, I was a hero and an angel herself. I am someone everyone respects and calls me Miss. Little Jane, who was talking to such a person, continued talking while suppressing her pounding heart.

"I have something I want to give to you, Young Lady."

"What?"

I bent down and spoke sweetly to the child. The child, twisting her body, looked at me as innocently as the brown-haired child from Laheir who gave me the flowers. I should be happy for whatever the child gives me, I promised my self in my heart. But when the child held out her hand, I couldn't bring myself to keep that promise.

"It's an anklet. Mom told me to give it to you! It's been so long since I made one, so I hope people will appreciate it even if it's not enough. They say this will make your wish come true!"

The child's excited voice faded away. I stared at the child's hand, forgetting to breathe for a moment. On her small palm, which was just gaining weight, was an anklet made of twisted colorful threads.

The method of twisting and weaving threads using unique knots was very similar to my mother's thread anklets that were stolen from my nanny a long time ago and never seen again.

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