DYBAR - Chapter 76 < Touched And Fell >

DYBAR - Chapter 76 < Touched And Fell >

Do Your Best And Regret

The sound of Olivia's frozen breathing became increasingly clear. Her innocent green eyes wavered, not knowing what to do. 

That's it. Edwin smiled sweetly and pulled his body back. And he looked up at his palms as if he had just finished an interesting story.

"... I tried making a joke. Of course, I don't think it was as funny as Olivia's joke."

It was dangerous. Olivia, who was looking at him with her big, round eyes, was very pretty, but at the same time extremely seductive. Edwin already knew how sweet the inside of that slender wrist was and how hot the red lips that touched the pulse of his wrist were.

"I like it, Edwin."

Even the confession gave off more dizzying heat than the heat. Edwin narrowed his eyes and looked away from Olivia. He felt like Olivia would never smile at him like that if she knew how intense his lust was underneath his bright smiling face. Since that sweet day, his patience has been growing shorter. Moment by moment, every time he swallowed his angry feelings, his nervousness began to rustle. He really hoped Olivia wouldn't notice. 

Because, if Olivia wants, Edwin can act as a gentle gentleman. But Olivia was snogging him and she didn't give him any answer. Instead of smiling awkwardly and obviously changing the subject like she usually did, she pursed her lips and looked at Edwin. Is this what it means to have anxiety? 

Edwin hesitantly parted his lips due to the sharp, tingling sensation.

“Olivia?”

At that moment, the carriage, which had been rolling smoothly, suddenly shook. Without even having time to think, Edwin quickly grabbed Olivia.

"Sorry. Your Highness, Lady. A stone rolled for a moment..."

It was at that moment that the coachman's voice was heard from outside. A lightning-like warmth passed by at the tip of Edwin's right lip. It was a careful contact that he wasn't even sure if it really made contact. 

Edwin blinked slowly as the sweet scent disappeared from the tip of his nose. Olivia raised her head high and looked at Edwin with her innocent face.

"Ah, even though we are not married yet. Still, we wore the ring together like this,"

The red jewel ring on their finger was enough to prove their relationship. He thought it was a pretty bold move. However, the voice he spoke excitedly began to tremble. 

My gaze went lower and lower. From the dazed red eyes. A tall, well-shaped nose. And red smeared lips...

I stared at his sharp jawline, unable to face his pressed lips. The sight before my eyes turned pure white. I couldn't know, and I didn't want to know, what the gaze that was staring at me meant. As if on cue, the driver with a good voice shouted from outside.

"I removed the stone. We'll speed up again!"

"Thank God."

I smiled awkwardly and gently pushed Edwin's shoulder. I just wanted him to fall a little, but his shoulders, touched by my fingertips, were like rocks and didn't budge. I  was surprised that he didn't push me, so my pushing hand stopped.

"Why are you so surprised?"

Edwin gently squeezed the hand that stopped awkwardly in the air. I blurted out my words.

"No, that's it. Just sit down. Because it's dangerous. I was going to do that..."

"I know. So it's okay not to be that surprised. It has already reached deeper."

I was startled, opened my eyes wide, and held out my other hand.

"Are you going?"

The sound of the voice was exceptionally bright. It was clearly revealed that I was conscious of him. The corners of the eyes on a face that was somehow alluring, like a blooming rose, were curved ironically.

"Oh, it's so short I don't remember much. It seems like it didn't reach me."

Edwin stretched out his words and tapped the corner of his lips with his free hand. And he looked at me subtly.

The small hand trapped in his hand was so tense that it had forgotten to wiggle. The round, distracted eyes glanced at Edwin. And the moment our eyes meet. My peach-colored cheeks spread red. Edwin's head felt dizzy for a moment because my eyes, which were burning with embarrassment, were so lovely.

".... By the way, I can't see Lord Calter and  Dean. Both of them were definitely there earlier."

I saw they were busy preparing for departure in the morning. Edwin was tired of the distracting words. So he pretended not to care and revealed his true feelings.

"It must be somewhere. Rather, I'd like to talk more about the situation from earlier."

"Now that I think about it, I think we need breakfast."

".... Really. You know very well how to make sure I don't win."

Edwin groaned and shook his head. I laughed bitterly. 

***

Meanwhile, at that time. Winster Calter could barely sigh as he watched the carriage procession safely leaving the outskirts of Vikander. It was fortunate that the procession to see them off within the Grand Dukedom was long. If he were, to be honest, he almost wouldn't have been able to lure Jade Madeleine to this place, which was far away from the castle gate, before the carriage came out.

"... You fooled me. I heard Olivia is there."

Fiercely forged anger swirled. 

Yikes. 

Winster shrugged his shoulders and took a step to the side. And he smiled slyly. It's hard to spit out a curse when you have a naturally smiling face.

"You are more innocent than I thought. Lord Madeleine. Are you saying that because you are a Master?"

Of course, it was just useless words between him and Jade Madeleine. Although the distance was reasonable, Jade Madeleine was able to close the gap and approach him. While he was tense, Jade Madeleine spoke intermittently.

"No matter how much she received the Grand Duke's oath, Olivia is still my..."

Jade pursed his lips for a moment. Above the distorted face, one could clearly see the inner thoughts that had been swallowed in silence. 

Sister. 

No matter how many times he was kicked out, his feelings of regret were evident in the way he kept knocking on the gate of Grand Duke Vikander Castle every morning. That had nothing to do with Winster. Either Jade's skin and bones are very dry, or he ends up sleeping on the street due to bad rumors spreading among nearby inns. Instead, there was something else that Winster was interested in. 

An order was received from His Highness the Grand Duke this morning, just before departure.

"Since you are slow to hear news, let me tell you something special."

Winster Calter's voice lowered secretly. Jade clenched his fists. He couldn't even feel his fingernails digging into his palm. Jade was a born knight. Jade's keen insight to clearly judge the superiority decided that it was time to bend

"I am doing this not only because she has received the Grand Duke's oath."

Then what more? 

The words he was trying to say out of reflex disappeared in an instant. Winster's voice continued without any pitch.

"I also offered my vows to her. No, all Vikander has offered his oath to her."

"..."

"Vikander's oath is not light. Vikander's knights, who would never kneel before the Emperor, became loyal to the Lady in just a few weeks."

He couldn't get any words out. Jade knew well how meaningful the oath to the Lady was to a knight. So his heart had been pounding ever since the Grand Duke told him that he had given his oath to Olivia. 

But, in the end. All of these Vikanders have given their oaths to Olivia. It was absolute loyalty.

"To whom did you give your oath? What about Madeleine's knights?"

At the same time, he felt a terrible sense of defeat. He never for a moment thought of giving Olivia his oath. That kid... Olivia....

"Ah........Come to think of it, Princess Madeleine, whom you love so much, hasn't even made her debutante yet, right? I'm surprised she has time to do this right now. It seems like the brother and sister are so close that it brings tears to my eyes."

Jade's face, unable to answer, was laughable. Winster grinned. And he rallied even the slightest bit of affection and gave helpful advice

"If I were you, I would focus on more productive things."

"..."

"For example. How did the Princess, who had been wandering around in the Viscounty of Katanta, come up with a report on Vikander's abandoned mine?"

"..."

"If not, spread the story about how our Young Lady makes Vikander shine."

"..."

"Or, I hope we can spread the word about the Young Lady who is revered enough to be seen off by all of Vikander even at this early morning."

Jade, who was wondering what that had to do with it, paused for a moment. Winster smiled mischievously as if he had finally noticed.

"The situation is completely different from when you come from the capital. There are countless knights who will stand up honorably the moment anyone dares to be rude to the Young Lady."

Winster was very proud of himself for carrying out the Grand Duke's orders so clearly, so he raised the corners of his mouth and added,

"Of course, His Highness the Grand Duke is at the forefront."

"..."

"Unlike the Duke of Madeleine."

Jade's eyes lost their shine. His emaciated body, which had been standing unwaveringly, swayed. 

Winster, who had not shown his warmth even once, turned around without regret. Dean, who was watching the whole thing from behind, clicked his tongue. Dean, too, would have been offended by the Madeleine Duke, who was of the imperialist faction, but Winster behaved very cruelly.

"Do you have any trouble with Jade Madeleine?"

Instead of answering, Winster shrugged his shoulders. What a bad relationship. This was an attitude of giving in and giving in. 

He is the Lady's second knight, and at the same time, he is the one who has seen everything that has happened in the Islands. This much was natural. 

***

Tiase Palace at midday. 

Maria looked down the hallway of the palace, her blue eyes wide.

"What is this..."

"His Highness the Crown Prince has ordered."

Despite her astonished voice, Baroness Sophron responded calmly.

"Leopold?"

Baroness Sophron's eyebrows rose at the thought of Leopold's name being called carelessly. However, Maria was so shocked by the sight of Tiase Palace that she could not see anything. 

After meeting the Princess, she was unable to come to the palace for only three days due to illness. During that time, the palace she had put so much effort into maintaining was acting strangely again. 

Above all, this rustic green hydrangea! 

Instead of the fluttering lisianthus, the nightstand and green hydrangeas once again took their place. Maria's mood was ruined by this plain color.

No, in fact, she was angry from the moment she entered this palace. Baroness Sophron raised her head in front of her, and the maids looked on as if they were looking down on her. Above all, even Leopold ordered to change of this palace. How could he do this to her? 

She said she was sick and he didn't even send her a letter!

"...Is it okay to change something like this without my permission just because Your Highness tells you to change it?"

The maids standing behind flinched at the sharp voice. Bright blue anger flashed over her bright blue eyes. But even after meeting those eyes, Baroness Sophron's complexion did not change at all. 

Even after knowing that fact, Maria had nothing to do. Baroness Sophron was the head maid of the Tiase Palace. Since she did not have a Crown Prince according to etiquette, it was natural for her to listen to the Crown Prince's orders.

"Tea!"

Baroness Sophron's face darkened for a moment at the sharply shouted words. But the maids immediately followed Mary's words. 

One person quickly brought out the tea. Maria soon became uncomfortable once again when she saw the teapot set in front of the table.

"It's not my teapot!"

A teapot embossed with green flowers imported from the Kingdom of Gershwin. This teapot, of which only two sets were introduced to the Empire, was used by Maria from the moment she entered the Tiase Palace. 

At first, she was reluctant because the green flowers seemed unsophisticated, but Leopold particularly enjoyed drinking tea from this teapot. As it turned out, it was a teapot that Maria also loved. But Baroness Sophron answered indifferently.

"I cleaned everything while I was cleaning the teapot."

"Both sets?"

"Yes, My Lady."

The attitude of asking what was wrong made Maria angry. She couldn't take it anymore. Maria gritted her teeth and looked straight at Baroness Sophron.

"Didn't you know that my favorite teapot?"

".... You didn't come for a few days, so I was trying to take care of it."

In fact, when she saw the carriage coming, the Baroness broke it and started cleaning it. Because this was Princess Madeleine's teapot. 

Baroness Sophron's calm reply avoided any cause for criticism. So Maria became even more intoxicated. Her sparkling blue eyes instantly cooled down to ice. 

At the moment when Baroness Sopron paused at her strange expression, Maria smiled brightly. Soon after,

"Ah!"

A tearing scream echoed throughout Tiase Palace.

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