DYBAR - Chapter 65 The Sight Of Lovers For The First Time

 DYBAR - Chapter 65 The Sight Of Lovers For The First Time

Do Your Best And Regret It

The dining room at Tiase Palace.

"That's why. I've been looking at documents all day today."

Unlike Maria Ethel, who recited her day's work in an excited voice, the Crown Prince looked down at the white plate with a stern expression. Baroness Sopron, seated against the wall, refrained from even the sound of her breath. She didn't feel well. The corners of Leopold's handsome eyes became sharper and sharper.

"By the way, Leopold. Why aren't you eating so much today?"

Maria Ethel also seemed to have noticed the Prince's condition. Baroness Sophron was a little relieved to hear her voice laced with charm. Because the Prince had a soft side to his lover's lovely appearance. She thought that frown would soon straighten out.

"It stinks."

So when an unexpectedly cold voice fell, the dining room froze as if cold water had been poured on it. The smell of the food that the Supreme Prince would eat. Not only Baroness Sophron but also everyone in town felt a cold chill.

"What is this about His Highness's food?"

"I apologize, Your Highness."

At the same time, Maria shouted loudly, Baroness Sopron rushed over and apologized. The sight of his servants kneeling one after another seemed slow to Leopold's eyes. Leopold stared at them numbly and then looked back at the table. It seemed like someone quickly took the plate containing the food. Even though the appetizing smell had disappeared, there was still an extremely sweet smell. 

Where does the smell come from? 

Even though he looked around desperately, it seemed like there was a sweet smell coming from everywhere. Leopold eventually got up from his seat. Leopold said dryly to the eyes that were looking at him like aspen trees.

".... Maybe it's because my head hurts today. I'm tired. I have to go."

"Leopold....!"

Maria was heartbroken. Today is the day to tell him that the summer banquet schedule should include an engagement party. Even with the limited budget, she had to somehow manage within today. Perhaps because of her earnest calling, Leopold looked back at Maria for a moment. And Maria did not miss this golden opportunity.

"Then how about tea? If you eat it with a sweet treat, your headache will go away a bit."

Maria smiled brightly and recommended. Leopold looked at Maria's lovely face for a moment. He stood up to escape the terrible smell of sweet daguarani. Of course, Leopold was about to refuse, but a scene of the neatly organized Tiase Palace suddenly flashed through his mind. 

An elegant landscape that spreads like a watercolor painting. It felt like his mind, which had been as oppressive as a dark cloud, was able to breathe a little. The time Leopold looked at Maria became longer. Well then, Maria curled the corners of her mouth. With Leopold's favorite smile on her face, she subtly grabbed his sleeve.

"It would be better if I could relieve Leopold's fatigue."

Leopold nodded. Maria, in her triumph, looked down at the maids as if to be proud. His Highness the Crown Prince saw her and gave her a helping hand. So, of course, the owner of this palace is the beloved Maria Ethel. All the maids understood what she meant and bowed their heads. 

Thanks to that, everyone missed Leopold's somewhat empty eyes.

After the Crown Prince and Maria left, the chefs who heard the news late rushed into the dining room.

"Chef."

Without paying attention to the resentful looks from the servants, the chefs hurriedly checked the dishes hidden in the trolley. The chefs, who had been smelling and eating for a while, looked at each other with puzzled faces.

"It just smells delicious?"

"Really. There is no fishy smell or anything like that. The sweetness of the fruit puree is just right." 

"What smell are you talking about?"

"But don't you feel a little sweet somewhere?"

One of the chefs who was tilting his head said. The maid quickly answered those words.

"Ah! It's probably the scent of Lady Ethel's perfume. He told me to spread the new incense throughout the palace."

"Then that's not true. There is no way His Highness the Crown Prince would smell the perfume of a lady who is with him all day long."

***

"Now, please eat."

Sitting on the sofa in the living room, Leopold obediently opened his mouth. With a coquettish gesture, Maria put a sweet cream cookie into Leopold's mouth. The crispy, crumbly cream cookies were quite tasty. In addition, the bitter tea scent that completely erased the sweetness was just to his taste. Leopold smiled generously and kissed Maria's hair.

"My Maria. I'm glad I listened to you. I feel better."

"I'm glad you're feeling better with your headache."

Maria smiled meekly. Cream cookies and Leopold's favorite tea. Everything had always been prepared before Maria entered this palace. 

Olivia Madeleine. Yes, that stupid thing is that she never dreamed that Maria would use what she had prepared. Maria, intoxicated by her thrilling sense of victory, suddenly lowered her face in shame.

"But the living room was very messy. I was so embarrassed earlier."

Maria looked like that before. When she saw the living room with documents strewn about, she was surprised and didn't know what to do. She then picked up the documents. The way she clumsily organizes the documents, and when she glances at him as if looking at him and makes eye contact, she smiles cutely. 

Yes, Leopold loved Maria Ethel. Cute and lovely appearance. Sometimes, cutely, she shows off to show him something.

"It looks like my Maria is carrying out her duties as fiancée diligently. You work so hard."

"I was preparing hard, but how did you know?"

Sadly, Maria blinked as if she didn't know anything

".... However, there is a very slight shortfall in the budget allocation."

"Budget?"

Leopold's reaction was the same as usual. Maria, full of her confidence, spoke her words.

"Yes. Still, it's the first banquet I'm hosting...."

"Maria."

"Yes?"

Maria was taken aback by the voice of Leopold, who cut her off. It was at that moment that she felt something cool about Leopold's sweetly smiling face.

"You have to say it right away. My Maria doesn't throw any banquets, do you?"

Oops, that's a mistake. This was a fiancee's duty and at the same time a summer banquet hosted by the Princess. Maria quickly nodded her head. Leopold smiled grabbed Maria's hair and kissed her.

"I can't believe you don't have enough budget. I've never had a shortage before."

At that moment, Maria's heart dropped. She was surprised when she was asked how prepared she was, but those words struck Maria painfully. 

How could the story of Olivia Madeleine be brought out in this space filled with her ladies-in-waiting and Count Hodges? 

But Leopold looked like he didn't even know what she was talking about. Just like last time.

"This never happened."

Maria lowered her head as she saw that it did not go away even though she clenched her fists. Then the new Leopold spoke again.

"What a great banquet to have..."

Leopold, who was speaking boredom, blinked for a moment.

"... Archduke Vikander is said to be attending?"

"Yes?"

"The banquet. The attending list must have arrived."

"That is...."

Leopold's eyes narrowed at the sight of Maria, who seemed embarrassed and unable to speak.

"Then Olivia."

Maria's eyes widened at the thoughtless name. Immediately, Maria's face flushed with shame and her lips trembled. 

"Why?"

"Of course, those two should come."

Leopold, who had come to a neat conclusion, looked at Maria.

What is natural? What is natural? 

It felt like her hair had become pure white. Of course, Maria also wanted Olivia to come to the banquet. Because she hoped those mean eyes would be tinged with despair when they saw her and Leopold standing proudly. 

But, this... This wasn't it. 

When Maria failed to answer, Leopold's eyes sank coldly. She can't believe she didn't get an answer right away regarding attendance. Olivia had never done that before. Even when Leopold asked about Maria's attendance, she always answered calmly. 

Leopold looked straight at Baroness Sophron.

"I haven't heard back from either of you regarding her attendance. Does that make sense?"

"I'm sorry."

Until the Victory Banquet, the Grand Duke had never attended a banquet. So even the seasoned Baroness Sophron had no choice but to send an invitation.

"Has an invitation been sent to the Grand Duke?"

"... I apologize. As news from the messenger who had gone to Vikander territory was cut off, an invitation was first sent back to the Grand Duke's residence. It has been confirmed that the Grand Duke's butler received it."

"Well, Your Highness the Crown Prince. The news from the messenger who went to Vikander Territory has been cut off."

Count Hodges' report appeared overlaid on Baroness Sophron's answer. Leopold's eyes sank coldly. If the Grand Duke does not receive an invitation, Olivia will naturally not be able to come to the summer banquet. It was a mean move as if they were trying to break Leopold and Olivia up. If that were the case, Olivia would have not come back to his side. 

Leopold tried to suppress the growing discomfort he felt at the sight of him making an obvious move despite the obvious outcome.

"If the Grand Duke does not attend, I will have to hold the Grand Duke's butler responsible. Would it be better for you to go and get the butler now?"

"... Your Highness. There is no reason to force the Grand Duke to attend."

Leopold's eyebrows furrowed fiercely as he heard Count Hodges' words sounding like he was embarrassed. 

Eventually,  Leopold roughly got up from the sofa. In an instant, everyone in the living room became quiet, as if cold water had been poured on them.

"If you don't have a cause, you have to create one."

A sharp blade fell into the living room. Maria, surprised by that sight, could not say anything. 

Leopold walked out of the living room with great strides. Only after Count Hodges followed did Baroness Sophron raise their head and look at Maria Ethel. The Lady, who had always received only his love, only blinked with a surprised face like the rabbit. Soon her shock flashed across her bright blue eyes. 

Maria Ethel is probably seeing this for the first time. Her Royal Highness always looked kind to Maria whenever he saw her. 

Baroness Sophron thought for a moment and then said something. 

"He is a person born with the blood of a King, just by his very nature."

She said it politely, but the original meaning was this. The most arrogant and self-righteous person in the world. 

Originally, it meant that a person with such a disposition had only been kind to Maria until now, but unfortunately, it seemed that she had not been able to reach him.

"You've never seen me like that before."

Hearing the murmur, Baroness Sopron hurriedly followed the Prince. But before she could even run, she spotted the Prince standing in the distance. The place where the Prince stood was in the hallway to the east. 

Originally, there would have been a nightstand and blue hydrangeas. But what was in front of the Prince now was a gorgeous vase and a light pink Lisianthus in full bloom. Leopold's face, which was looking down at Lisianthus with sharp eyes, became blurred for a moment. 

Obviously, when Olivia comes to Tiase Palace...

"I think it was comfortable."

The Prince's words that came out in a whisper were in the past tense. There was regret in his voice as if he was reminiscing about something. 

At that moment, Baroness Sopron ironically recalled something from a very long time ago. When Princess Madeleine first brought green hydrangeas onto this nightstand.

"His Royal Highness said that looking at this flower is soothing to the eyes." 

"But, the language of this flower is..."

Then Baroness Sophron paused for a moment. No matter how worried she was, it was not something she would say to the Princess's brightly smiling face. But she said it as if being a Princess was no big deal.

"Heartless."

"As you know."

"But you know that too, right? This hydrangea can change color depending on the soil. So, in places with strong acidity in the south, these green hydrangeas are called 'miracles."

The Princess's voice, full of anticipation, dispersed. Baroness Sophron blinked her eyes. 

The Prince, who seemed somewhat empty, opened his eyes again as sharply as usual. At that moment, it occurred to Baroness Sophron that the vain miracle was coming to fruition only too late...

***

As her hands trembled on her dress, all sorts of thoughts raced through Maria's mind. It was Olivia Madeleine who always got those looks at her. All she could do was watch Olivia Madeleine's expression harden as she stayed next to Leopard. 

But Maria Ethel shook her head. Maria had to think of another move quickly before the strange thought consumed her. The reason why Leopold is acting like that right now is probably because she wants to show Olivia what she and Leopold are like. 

If she showed a perfect image to the Grand Duke and Olivia, Leopold would love Maria again. She was able to make up for any shortfall in the budget. Because Ethel's family was very wealthy, and her father loved her more than anyone else. If she goes to he father, she will think of a good way to fill the budget as well. 

Because her father wants her to become a clear Crown Princess just as much as she does.

".... I have to leave for today. Please prepare a carriage."

Her eyes, which had been bright like those of an immature aristocratic daughter just a moment ago, began to shine bright blue. 

***

At that time, the front door of Marquis Ethel opened and closed. The carriage entering the richly decorated garden had the emblem of the Duke of Elkin, the head of the aristocratic faction, engraved on it.

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