DYBAR - Chapter 100 < A Family That Need To Talk >
Do Your Best And Regret
Indeed, he was a more beautiful man than rumored. At the same time, he was a knight who gave off an enormous sense of Intimidation.
The Duke of Kiwal held his breath and looked at the Grand Duke.
Unlike his languidly smiling mouth, his red eyes were narrow. It was sharply curved as if they were trying to gauge the Duke of Kiwal's true intentions.
There was no need for the search to be prolonged. The Duke of Kiwal chose his words lightly.
"I didn't know that the person who took away laughter from us would give us this much laughter."
The fearsome opponent who turned Heferti into a defeated country helped humiliate the royal family in front of the delegation. Things the Duke had never heard of in his life kept happening in the Franz Empire.
Should he get angry or ignore it?
The Duke of Kiwal curled his fist without realizing it. And the response he received the most was laughter.
"As you know, it was not me who won, but Your Majesty. Aren't all the compliments that started the banquet directed at Your Majesty?"
The meaning contained in the relaxed tone of the speech was clear. The Duke of Kiwal swallowed his saliva.
The Emperor's dog, Grand Duke Vikandar.
Secret rumors were also rampant in Heferti. If the Duke had a conflict with the Emperor for some reason, maybe the Grand Duke and his country, Heferti, could have a closer relationship.
"I came with strong resolve, but I keep seeing unexpected things."
"It would be good if it goes in a positive direction."
"In many ways, I think you saved me from trouble."
The Duke of Kiwal placed emphasis on 'in many ways!' The fact that fair treatment of prisoners of war and protection of civilians was maintained was enough to justify the Duke. He had every intention of expressing his gratitude to the Grand Duke. However, looking at the Grand Duke's grinning face as if he had been waiting, the Duke of Kiwal was reluctant.
"In many ways, I tend to pay off my debt well."
"..."
"Of course, even if I owe money, I tend to repay it generously."
It was a dangerous word, like a double-edged sword. A mysterious smile that could not even be understood looked down at the Duke of Kiwal. Among the generous expressions, as if giving a choice, 'a debt to be repaid generously' kept beckoning towards the Duke of Kiwal. Is it the rich and powerful Empire of Franz, or the Grand Duke?
Maybe, it could have been a trap between the Empire and the Grand Duke.
The Duke of Kiwal looked at the Grand Duke, who was smiling so dazzlingly that he was dizzying, and slowly parted his lips.
"That's good."
As the first syllable fell, the Grand Duke's smile deepened.
The Duke of Kiwal shrugged his shoulders. In fact, the correct answer was fixed. Ever since he burst out laughing in the banquet hall because he couldn't bear to look at the Emperor's command that seemed like a clown's play.
".....I also tend to collect interest on the debt I owe."
From the moment the Grand Duke, who was looking at him intently, smiled and walked away as if holding his gaze.
***
"It's okay if Bethany didn't find out her secret. The hint might be here."
"I apologize. I'm in a hurry."
"Lord interfield. Why is your face so disappointed? It's a precious place that I've finally entered."
"Yes. They say they have not yet discovered the secret of 'that place' that Her Highness the previous Grand Duchess spoke of."
The Grand Duke's voice became quiet. A brief shadow passed over Howard's face, which was smiling expressionlessly.
"Have you received any new communication from Bethany?"
The Crown Prince, who could not even properly respond to the delegation at this banquet, ended up drinking poison. So, how easy is the world in the Prince's eyes?
Even if he does whatever he wants, the most precious things will be everywhere. The arrogant Emperor always gave only precious things to his children. He took only the jewels and wealth from Edwin's blood-soaked hands.
Edwin smiled coldly with his beautiful face.
"That's rude. To the point of being stupid."
"....Isn't it sudden?"
Howard took a moment to choose a word.
" The process by which the delegation came was so. "
"Does he even have hostility?"
"Although the Duke of Kiwal may not know, there are many people within the Heferti mission who are hostile to the empire. Even if the Duke, who is the representative of the delegation, gets lucky, everyone will be excited."
"I hope Vikander's position is well conveyed through this."
After looking at the back of the Duke of Kiwal, who lowered his head and disappeared, Howard looked at the Grand Duke in awe for a moment. He wasn't sure it would come over.
The Grand Duke, who had been speaking as if he knew this would happen from the beginning, only shrugged his shoulders.
After being polite to the end, the Duke of Kiwal entered the banquet hall again.
Howard swallowed for a moment as he heard the Grand Duke's voice filled with laughter. Even with his comforting words, the look of nervousness couldn't be erased from Howard's face..
Edwin burst into laughter. Howard, who was always very calm, usually expressed his emotions at the hands of Vikander. Among them, these days, it was especially related to the 'White Crystal Mine.
Edwin looked into the distance for a moment.
His mother's unforgettable voice came clearly into his ears.
"It's a secret passed down from generation to generation only to the royal family of Lowell who has reached adulthood. I hope the day comes when I reveal this secret to you as soon as possible."
According to Olivia's words, there was a 'document from the White Crystal Mine' in the royal family's document preservation archive that only the royal family could see..Maybe there was even a hint about a secret written there.
Edwin planned to take this opportunity to steal the 'document' no matter what.
Heferti made the negotiations as advantageous as possible to Vikander's side or lower the mineral tax rate to an absurd level. Either that or....
A dangerous thought flashed across his red eyes.
Meanwhile, Howard, who had not yet seen the Grand Duke's eyes, spoke in a bright voice as if to brighten the mood.
"Bethanny is not giving up and says she will continue to stay in the mine. The enthusiasm was amazing."
Howard looked around again for a moment and lowered his voice. The voice became infinitely quiet, as if talking about something secret.
"In addition to finding out the secrets of the former Grand Duchess, there is another thing that motivates Bethany."
"Is my marriage being postponed?"
"Did you know?"
Howard relaxed at the casual answer. He continued speaking with a sour face.
"So everyone is being careful about what they say. Even if the mine's secrets are revealed and we proceed as originally set out, don't you think the Young Lady values etiquette and will try to complete the one-year grace period regardless?"
Those words. Edwin smiled lazily.
"It'll be okay because I won't be restricted by etiquette when I become King."
"What do you mean... ?"
Howard's puzzled face slowly began to understand. Edwin added with a grin.
"A woman who was in a relationship with the royal family cannot be in a relationship with another noble for a year. But we are fully prepared, so as long as we find out the secret, we can become independent right away. In that case, it is a marriage proposal as a Prince, but strictly speaking, it is not 'another noble"?"
A loophole that no one had thought of.
That loophole became a breakthrough and stimulated Edwin.
Howard blinked his eyes and said blankly as if caught off guard.
"... So, you always reacted lukewarmly, but now..Everything is falling into place, so starting tomorrow, you will see a clear change in the situation."
Edwin was silent for a moment. Starting tomorrow. As he said a moment ago, Olivia will probably go down to Vikander Territory the day after tomorrow at the latest, or even tomorrow at the earliest.
What on earth has changed her mind?
Edwin quickly recalled the events from yesterday to today. But all he could remember was Olivia confidently asking him to wait and see, and her elegant appearance after finishing the conversation with the Princess at the curtain.
Edwin swallowed a light sigh. It didn't matter that he wasn't involved with those in the imperial city anymore. Rather, he likes it. But Edwin knew better than anyone else that enduring something like that would make a person feel desolate.
"What should I do if I want to receive an apology even more?"
Does she want an apology, or does she want to forgive?
A solid and strong girl.
Below that, a late-night street. Edwin knew better than anyone else that Olivia was in the middle of the street, crying and saying she had nowhere to go.
The hand he lightly held became increasingly stronger. The red eyes became increasingly darker.
'I'm usually quick-witted, but at times like this, I don't know what's inside her head.'
Edwin decided at this moment to do what he could for sure.
A complete break with the empire. Fortunately, the work for Olivia and his goals were completely aligned.
***
"Somehow, prevent the Princess's affairs from leaking out!"
The emperor's angry roar erupted even through the closed office door. The Duke of Madeleine stared at the completely closed door. The servants standing in front of the door could not bear to raise their heads.
"Your Majesty must be very angry. But...I'm so angry that my body is shaking."
A familiar voice approached him. It was the Duke of Elkin.
A face identical to the Empress's was slyly glaring at the Duke of Madeleine, like a snake, and at Conrad, Jade, and the Viscount of Katatawho stood behind him.
"If you look at the situation, you would think that the Duke of Madeleine is an aristocrat. No, how could an imperial noble treat Her Highness the Princess in front of a foreign delegation...!"
Duke Elkin frowned as if he couldn't say anymore. And he knocked on the office door. Soon, permission was heard and Duke Elkin entered the office.
Duke Madeleine looked into the distance for a moment. It was just as the Duke of Elkin said. The Princess's authority fell in front of foreign delegations.
As the head of the imperial faction, there was a lot of work to do. Viscount Katanta's work, or conversations with the delegation.
A lot of things filled the Duke of Madeleine's mind. However, what he said to his adjutant, Sir Huxley, who was running from afar, went beyond everyone's expectations.
"...Would you like to find accommodation for the Viscount and Viscountess?"
"Yes? We have accommodation, Duke."
Viscount Katanta was startled and threw up his hand. He had shown courage earlier, carrying Sir Jade Madeleine on his back, but now the situation was different.
Even though he had only seen the Emperor's wrath, he was completely exhausted. He wanted to quickly go back to his estate and rest. The Viscountess seemed to feel the same way, and his eyes were wide.
But the Duke had a neat face and spoke calmly as if nothing had happened.
"This matter. Since we have to investigate this, we had better be on the side of what we know."
"That's it."
"Send the Viscount and Viscountess back, Duke."
A calm voice opposed the Duke's words. It was Jade. His face was so cold that it was hard to believe that he had just experienced the Emperor's wrath.
The Viscounts, including Lord Huxley, continued to just look at him. It was a strange and sharp current that took his breath away. Lord Huxley winked at Conrad. Conrad was the only one who could resolve this situation now.
Conrad, who would normally subdue Jade gently, behaved a little strangely today.
"......You."
Breaking the heavy silence, the Duke looked at Jade with extremely calm eyes. The son he had seen his whole life was a stranger whom he was seeing for the first time today. It was the same.
"You need to talk to me now." Let's go to the mansion. I would like to speak to you in the Duke's drawing room."
The voice of his son, who called him Duke until the end, was unfamiliar. The Duke nodded.
The moonlight was colorful. In the middle, three carriages that had left the Imperial Palace entered the Duke of Madeleine's residence. The faces of the three fathers and sons reflected in the window were extremely similar, yet completely different.
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