DYBAR - Chapter 75 < Six-Year-Old Olivia, Twenty-Year-Old Olivia >

DYBAR - Chapter 75 < Six-Year-Old Olivia, Twenty-Year-Old Olivia >

Do Your Best And Regret

Conrad hastily turned to the next page.

[ Dining etiquette was not elegant. Father said he had a bad appetite. You should never do that. Let's keep thinking, Olivia. Let's not make mistakes and keep doing our best. ]

The next chapter, and the chapter after that. The content was similar. It was all about beating herself up over her family's abuse. Conrad's name also appeared several times. Things he couldn't even remember were written down in detail. And then the words that followed were the same. 

[Let's never do that, Olivia. Don't make mistakes, think for yourself. ]

Conrad's hands were shaking. There are five identical notebooks. So, is everything like this?

"What..."

Conrad unconsciously lost the diary in his hands. The diary that fell on the desk flipped over and the first page opened. This handwriting was badly crooked, with letters smeared here and there. However, Conrad could not bear to call this handwriting ugly. 

Perhaps, the reason he came here was because the next sentence caught his eye as naturally as breathing.

[Just write it down and memorize it. Brother Conrad was like that. Just write it down and memorize it. Olivia, you can do it. ]

Conrad unconsciously bit his lip. And he remembered. He has never said such nice things to Olivia before. When he was young, he was always angry and swearing, and as he grew up, he was ignored. 

The image of a small girl appeared like a blurry afterimage. And at the same time, an evil voice rang out in his ears.

"It's because of you! If you can't understand it, write it down and memorize it! Because of you! Don't stand out and live a distorted life!"

As the voice in his memory grew louder. Conrad's eyes widened. His hands were shaking. He remembered. Twelve-year-old Conrad, he was bitter and resented Olivia.

"Sorry, Brother."

And six-year-old Olivia. The image of Olivia quietly lowering her head after hearing that evil. When those hollow eyes met him, Conrad held his breath for a moment. A disaster that he hated his whole life. The sin that killed his mother and devastated this family. He had already forgotten. At that time, Olivia was only six years old. A six-year-old who writes such crooked handwriting. A little girl who followed him around with her young eyes, admiring him so much. She was a child who always followed her family with longing green eyes. 

Conrad's eyes wavered aimlessly, not knowing what to do. Conrad, who kept looking elsewhere as if he wanted to run away, was frozen like ice. Of course, the place he turned his gaze to was his bedside. What was there was a small rabbit doll. A rabbit doll that, at first glance, appears to have been treasured by its owner. 

It was only different in size from the rabbit doll that Jade had given Ethella as a child. It occurred to him that it had been several years since Ethella had abandoned her doll, and at the same time, a feeling so intense that it made him shudder came flooding back to him. 

The more he had looked away, the sharper. 

***

After it was decided that the Grand Duke and the Lady would go to the island, The Great Siege was in chaos.

"You've been here for so long that you suddenly go to the islands...!" 

Packing in a hurry wasn't the problem. Not only the knights who had just completed their oath to the Young Lady, but also the vassals and maids who had become acquainted with each other, and even the servants, talked about their regrets every time they gathered together.

"They say he will leave quietly tomorrow morning. Oh my God. You don't even let me see you off."

It was the same late in the evening before leaving. I blinked for a moment as I heard the voice filled with disappointment as I came through the open door of the balcony. Bethany, who was checking my luggage for the last time, had the same surprised look on her face. One of my maids hurriedly walked to the full-length window to close the balcony door.

Meanwhile, the conversation continued quickly.

"Anyway, the imperial palace is the problem. Our busy Lady can't even rest just because they're having a banquet."

"That's right. She finally finished her work on Jeniv Street and took a breather." 

"Surely the imperial palace didn't want her to come back?"

"By the way, didn't you say that Lord Calter sent her an invitation?"

"No, you mean he gave something from the imperial palace to the Lady?"

It was a terrifying voice as if something from the imperial palace was poison. 

Hey, your voice is too loud! 

The maid closed the door at the same time as she spoke harsh words next to her. The maid turned around and smiled awkwardly.

"Everyone seems to be very sad that you are going to the island."

"That's right. We really want to see you off."

One of the maids secretly expressed her disappointment. Her eyes twinkled as if her other maids agreed with those words. But the Young Lady only laughed and did not change back what she said. 

It was early in the morning, and I knew well how to be considerate of my busy employees, but that didn't make my regret go away.

"Instead of sending them off, we can give them a double welcome when they return."

Bethany inadvertently suggested a good solution. A double welcome. While the maids' eyes were sparkling again, Bethany approached me. I knew just by looking at Bethany's steps that Bethany's nagging would start again.

"Aside from seeing you off, Young Lady. You must take into account my words that there is always room for vigilance in the capital. No matter how busy you are, you must finish your entire meal. I also wrote a letter to Sobel..."

"I made it a point to wear all my jewelry when going to a banquet, Bethany."

It was something I had already heard twenty times. Even though she was repeating the words one after another, Bethany looked like she wasn't at ease. I grinned and looked at everyone in my room. When I announced that I was going to the capital, they were the ones who were worried about my changing bed.

"I will miss you."

I meant it. Even if you go to the Grand Duke's residence, it's Sobel, Hannah, and Martha. I will meet a familiar face, though. I will always miss this Vikander. 

Bethany, who had a sad face, came over and hugged me tightly.

"It would be best if you come quickly..."

Bethany was silent for a moment and then spoke.

"... Please write to me anytime if you need it. I'll fly away soon."

I smiled brightly when I saw her hugging me. The maids who heard Bethany's words opened their eyes wide at the same time. It was also a great decision for Bethany, who had never gone outside the Vikander territory since the previous Grand Duchess passed away... 

It was a pitch-black morning. The carriage procession lined up in front of the Great Siege began to depart. The employees, who could not bear to break the order, turned on the lights in their rooms instead of the front door and saw the carriage procession off. The Great Siege is brightly lit even in the dark. 

Inside the carriage ahead, I couldn't take my eyes off the window. I told them not to see me off. I thought I would miss these friendly people so quickly. The last time I left the Grand Duke's residence, I was just as anxious as I was now. Even if it was a summer banquet, it would last about two weeks. If I include the time to travel back and forth, it could easily take up to a month. Converting it to days, it was a longer time than I thought. 

My eyes moistened ever so slightly as I looked at the Grand Siege. The carriage reached the gate that divided the inside and outside of the Great Siege and stopped for a moment. 

Normally, I would have gone straight out without stopping, but today the castle gate was tightly closed.

"How..."

I chuckled when I heard a friendly voice.

"Shall we turn the carriage again?"

Edwin asked with a grin. I knew very well that what was inside was concern about what might happen. So I  opened my eyes and looked at Edwin.

"Absolutely not. I packed a month's worth of luggage in one full day." 

"Me too. Olivia looked at the Grand Siege with such fondness that I almost made a mistake. I am here who needs to be looked at with those eyes."

A languid voice touched my heart. I mumbled, avoiding his gaze.

"But this time, I didn't even have time to use a card."

"To whom?"

"Yeah..."

I unconsciously turned around and looked at the Grand Duchy. But when I looked ahead again, the gate opened. 

As soon as the castle gate opened, small lights flickered in the darkness. I blinked my eyes and looked blankly ahead of me, wondering what kind of light this was in this dark dawn. People holding small fires were standing there until there was no end in sight. The carriage started slowly.

"I made a mistake, Olivia. I said I told them not to see us off, just to the people in the Grand Duchy's castle... But, it's too early in the morning now."

I couldn't believe it. The moment people's faces were clearly visible in the light, I clenched my fists without realizing it. Edwin's voice, a mixture of laughter and sighing, mumbled as if he was in pain.

"I guess you didn't know. If you didn't know, please understand now. How dearly this Vikander loves you." 

A bittersweet expectation was met. Even though I tried to suppress it, the happiness that poured out did not disappear and remained by my side. The bright lights of the Grand Duchy sent me off, from children to adults standing on the street, and even people with green eyes. 

People standing on both sides of the road smiled brightly and waved their hands at the carriage, specifically at me. Is it okay for my heart to beat this fast? 

My fingertips were shaking so he held my hand.

"Have a nice trip, Lady."

As soon as a young voice was thrown onto the quiet street, long-awaited send-offs poured in from all over.

"You have to come back quickly!"

"You must come back and visit our store!"

Vikander, breaking the silence of dawn, was as lively as when he first welcomed me. At some point, I had been constantly waving my hand toward the outside, and only when I reached the border wall of Vikander Territory did I mumble softly. 

Edwin, who was concentrating all his senses on Ome, raised his eyebrows when he recognized those two little syllables as 'card'. Then, he burst into laughter at the whining mixed with tears.

"It's a good thing I didn't use it. When are we going to use this up on so many Vikander people?"

***

In the end, it was only when the sun appeared that the carriage completely left Vikander territory.

"Have a nice trip!"

I was startled as I tried to get out of the window when I heard a voice echoing from the castle walls.

"No matter how unfortunate it is, it is dangerous to fall outside the carriage."

The voice ringing in my ears was alluring.

"You were going to catch me, Edwin."

"Did you know that?"

"I don't know."

Edwin's eyes relaxed languidly as if he was in a very good mood. I shrugged my shoulders and laughed.

"Why?"

"It's fun. I have strong confidence that you will catch me if I fall, and that you will come find me if I get lost. This must be..."

It was like that. To be precise, I felt like je was someone I could endlessly trust and love. Edwin was now a big figure to me, similar to my mother. 

Suddenly, I realized the presence of my thread anklet tied to my ankle for a moment. Come to think of it, I was so busy with work that I couldn't gift Edwin a thread anklet. 

Edwin repeated my words, penetrating my thoughts.

"Exactly, what?"

Do I look like Bethany? A little more later...

Could you even fix my bed? 

The words I was trying to add in a joking tone seemed to have a strange vibe, so I covered my mouth. At the same time, Edwin, who was looking at me with his inscrutable eyes, answered me with a hearty laugh.

"What are you doing? Sometimes I feel like Olivia is a girl about to make her debut."

"...."

I was speechless for a moment. I knew it was a joke, but my pride was strangely hurt. He kissed my cheek, hugged me, and even placed his lips on my wrist. Even though I knew what it meant, I was taken aback by this playful provocation.

"What made you look at me so young? A really good 20-year-old?" 

"That's right."

Edwin's eyes, which had been smiling sweetly at the cheering, darkened for a moment, and...

"I guess it's because I have rabbit eyes every time I do this?"

A soft voice rang in my ears. 

Thump thump-

My heart dropped and soared into the sky again and again. My vision became vaguely blurred. 

All I could see was Edwin in front of me.

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