DYBAR - Chapter 90 < Engagement Ceremony Of The Century (3) >

DYBAR - Chapter 90 < Engagement Ceremony Of The Century (3) >

Do Your Best And Regret

When the doors to the banquet hall opened to the sound of an elegant melody, Maria believed that her world changed today. 

Everything was perfect.

Flower petals fall towards her, sparkling lights, a brilliant engagement dress sprinkled with diamond dust, and all kinds of jewels to make her shine. And the gazes that follow her every time she walks.

She wanted to show it clearly. The person who is worthy of this noble position, where even foreign delegations are looked up to, is not some lowly half-baby, but the precious Maria Ethel.

Especially to Olivia Madeleine, who would look up at her with a distorted face from somewhere in the banquet hall.

Maria's ecstatically intense pleasure coursed through her entire body, starting from her toes. Her heart was so heavy that it felt like it was going to burst.

The backlight illuminated the back of the Leopold running down the stairs as if it had spotted her.

Maria couldn't help but smile brightly.

The thing that shines the most here is the Leopold that is coming up now. And it was she who would hold his hand.

But...

"All right, Livia..."

The name that echoed throughout the quiet banquet hall was not hers.

The rosy future floating above the clouds suddenly crashed. Maria Ethel quietly blinked her eyes and looked at Leopold. He should hold her hand and smile softly. Leopold was staring at a place in the banquet hall with his wide back facing her and a face she had never seen before.

And there.

There was Olivia Madeleine. 

With the Grand Duke by her side, Olivia Madeleine was smiling as if she had everything.

This is ridiculous. A strange sense of déjà vu came to Maria. Without knowing the identity of the deja vu, Maria desperately cried out to Leopold.

"What are you doing, Leopold? I'm here..."

Maria's voice trembled. When she cried like this, Leopold always looked after her. However, the affectionate eyes that were supposed to be directed at her did not waver, as if they were fixed in one place.

An uncontrollable fear came over Maria. Shaking off the whispering deep inside her heart, Maria held onto Leopold's arm tightly.

She felt like she would die if she let go of his arm.

"I'm here. I am your Maria!"

Your Maria.

Her evil voice echoed in the high-ceilinged banquet hall.

"I'm here..."

And where are you looking, Leopold?

"Stop!"

Only when she heard the Emperor's heavy shout did Maria startle and close her mouth. Everything was now clearly visible before her eyes, which had been pitch black.

The back of her sweet lover who no longer sees her. Olivia Madeleine is where his eyes are directed.

And envoys and nobles from other countries watched the situation with interest. The Princess and the Empress were glaring at Maria as if they were going to tear her apart.

Seeing the Empress looking at Maria with her cold eyes, Maria Ethel instantly came to her senses, as if she had been doused with cold water. 

The nobles' whispers that were previously unheard began to be heard.

"What is going on? Is it true that His Highness the Crown Prince has called Princess Madeleine?"

"Is he having an engagement ceremony with the daughter of Ethel? No, is this the engagement ceremony? I heard it was a congratulatory performance by the delegation."

"It's a sight to see. A delegation from another country came and something like this happened. Is this something that Lady Ethel does alone?"

"It can't be. Her Royal Highness watches the banquet very carefully."

"So, does this mean that Her Highness the Princess also gave permission?"

Maria couldn't understand. Apparently, the Duke of Elkin said he would prepare everything.

Maria hurriedly looked around the banquet hall with her pale face. The only person who would take her side now was the Duke of Elkin.

And when she saw the Duke of Elkin's face in the distance, Maria cried out in a desperate voice without even realizing it.

"Something is wrong, Your Highness! This is not from the Duke of Elkin, no, from Her Majesty the Empress!"

At that moment, a large hand pressed Maria's shoulder. Maria was so frightened by the strength that she could not even breathe. Leopold, if Leopold saw this now, he wouldn't stay still.

"....I won't look at you anymore, Maria."

Maria's eyes widened. Her perfectly raised eyelashes were trembling. The growl that reached her ears was clearly Leopold's voice. 

The Emperor's voice was heard far away.

"The Lady's condition is not good. Let's get her out."

What is all this about? Is this a dream? 

Leopold's back was cold as he turned around. Even though her hand had fallen from his shoulder, his massive weight seemed to remain.

"I will take you there, Young Lady."

Before she knew it, the knights and maids who came running surrounded Maria. Contrary to their polite words, they covered Maria's mouth and then randomly grabbed her arms as if they were going to rape her.

Maria could barely see the banquet hall through the knights. Everyone has to face this situation right now. But all the looks she thought were in awe were laughing at her.

So, why should she look at the Crown Prince who also has a fiancee? 

"I hope she passes it on."

"Not even Lady Ethel knew that His Highness the Crown Prince's heart would be so inclined."

"Ugh. Still, if it were me, I would have noticed it yesterday. It's a nickname."

The whole world turned darkly and slowly as if it had sunk underwater. The whispering words recklessly determined Maria's location.

The moment she saw the hem of her priceless dress dragging miserably, the source of a déjà vu flashed through her mind.

"Under my protection and affection, you will continue to act pretty, right?"

Sea-colored eyes that looked at Maria coolly, and the sweet voice of a lover who asked for a definite answer as if that was all.

"That can't be possible."

She even gave a strong answer to the assumption that Princess Madeleine might not return.

No, no. That can't be possible.

It was confusing. She couldn't believe it. Her blinking eyes suddenly saw a green-eyed woman in her field of vision.

Olivia Madeline.

Why is Olivia looking at her with that expression?

Maria's icy eyes were wide and irritated. Soon, the door to the banquet hall closed. As the cool breeze from the hallway touched her cheeks, Maria let out a helpless laugh.

Everything.

It was a mess.

***

"Maria!"

Marquis Ethel shouted in agony. He couldn't even see her daughter being dragged away, surrounded by knights, blocked by the nobles who stood as tightly as a wall.

"I was too greedy."

"His Royal Highness doesn't even look back."

Sue's voice criticized and belittled his daughter. This could never have happened. His precious youngest daughter, she was not the type of child to listen to things like that.

There was only one person who could overcome this situation. The Marquis of Ethel begged the Duke of Elkin in a trembling voice.

"Duke, how can I..."

"What can I do?"

It was a calm voice. The Marquis looked up at the Duke of Elkin with a dumbfounded look on his face.

"Yes?"

Until yesterday, the Duke was asking his daughter if she was ready. But now, he's the only one with a normal face!

"Duke, until yesterday...!"

"It did. Until His Highness the Crown Prince calls Princess Madeleine by her nickname."

The Marquis' face became blank. 

The Duke of Elkin raised his eyebrows. How could a father or daughter be this stupid? How can Maria go ahead with her plan even after seeing the face of the Prince who called Princess Madelaine by her nickname yesterday? 

The Duke of Elkin shook his head. 

The Duke of Elkin prepared for both directions. If the Lady of Ethel did well, he intended to go in that direction. However, now that Lady Ethel had incurred the Emperor's wrath, it was the right time to gain the trust of the Emperor and the Crown Prince by controlling his interactions with the envoys.

Especially when the Duke of Madeleine was on the verge of falling into the Emperor's eyes for failing to bring his Princess.

Duke Elkin looked at Princess Madeleine, who was a little distance away. How could she have such an indifferent face while receiving all the attention of the Prince? 

Moreover, there was even the Grand Duke who stepped in front of her as if to protect the Princess.

 The more he looked at it, the more he wanted it. 

Come to think of it. 

"If you think about it, I'm like a God to that kid."

Duke Elkin muttered leisurely. He himself was the one who attached the woman to the Duke of Madeleine to warn him so in the birth of the Duchess, he herself was a God.

On the other hand, Marquis Ethel was not in his right mind. What was urgent for him now was his precious youngest daughter who had been dragged outside.

"What is that? No, Duke!"

"She spent a lot of money on the dress. The bill will be flying out from the top soon."

The Duke spoke in a carefree tone. As if he had finally understood, the pale Marquis Ethel's face turned red.

Even though he knew things would end up like this...

"I need you to come with me, Marquis Ethel."

A dry voice interrupted Marquis Ethel's words. The Emperor's chamberlain, who took advantage of the opportunity for his gaze to turn to Maria Ethel, approached him secretly and spoke calmly.

Marquis Ethel's lips trembled as if he had finally realized that his situation had changed. 

Duke Elkin took two steps back and whispered.

"Then why were you so greedy, Marquis? I won't be seeing you off."

***

Under the conductor's direction, the orchestra played a new waltz piece. But no one was dancing. A summer banquet that was expected to be fun. But now, in the banquet hall, everyone just looked at each other.

I glanced at the door the Emperor and Empress had exited through a moment ago.

"Something not very pleasant happened in the presence of a delegation that had come a long way."

I must not have been the only one who saw the Emperor's mouth, which was smiling brightly, tremble.

"I hope everyone will forget what just happened and enjoy the banquet."

The Princess hurried out of the banquet hall, following the Emperor and Empress, and then the Prince. 

Until the end, I could feel Leopold's eyes on me, but I did not meet his eyes. I didn't even want to think about the voice calling me so carelessly.

The nobles, who had been whispering in the frozen atmosphere, watched their prey little by little. The person who was most interested right now was me, whose name was called, and the Princess in the distance.

If there weren't three knights in front of me right now, I would have been bitten a long time ago. The nobles were weighing the relationship between me and the Princess.

I blinked my eyes. Strangely, Maria's eyes, which I had met only briefly, opened her pretty, doll-like blue eyes and glared at me.

"Are you okay, Olivia?"

"Yes?"

"I think I had an interesting sight. Olivia looks a little dazed."

Of course. Edwin will keep in mind that Leopold dared to call Olivia at the end.

I pouted and arched my eyes in response to the joking addition. 

Edwin's voice had a strange power. A mysterious power that makes me forget both Maria Ethel's eyes Maria Ethel the dress the Prince sent me.

"What should I do? If it's okay with Olivia, I'd like to ask you to dance a song, but I think you'd be okay with going back to the palace."

Now I see that not only Edwin but also Howard and Winster are waiting for my decision. I, who was looking at those faces, shook my head. I had to go to the royal residence with only good memories. I had to shake off this discomfort at the banquet hall.

"I will be safe under the escort of two wonderful knights, so Edwin, why don't you at least say hello to the delegation?"

It was a cheerful answer. Edwin's eyes narrowed ironically as he looked at me for a moment.

"Well, I don't want to be away from Olivia for even a second. Then how about we just wait and see together and then go back?"

"A wait-and-see?"

It was a strange word. Edwin, who was raising the corners of his mouth seductively, took my hand and led me.

As we got closer to the Princess, there was a soft sofa and a table that seemed to have been prepared at the place where we stopped. 

The brilliant performance gradually reached its climax. Edwin smiled and whispered sweetly.

"For my good Olivia, who doesn't even tell me to cut off the Princess's head."

Cut off Princess's neck. 

The conversation I had with Edwin in the mine suddenly came to my horrified mind. Edwin's words continued, reminding me of his words that he would kill the Princess if I wanted.

"I had a feeling that I could show interesting situations that happen by chance."

"Are you planning something fun?"

"Well, just a light taste?"

Shrugging his shoulders, Edwin gestured in the direction where the Princess was.

"But how dare Lady Ethel think of inserting something like that into Your Highness's banquet?"

A soft question arose from the group of nobles surrounding the Princess.

"Everyone knows how carefully Your Highness watches the banquet."

"There is no way Your Highness would have known that Lady Ethel would be like this."

Amidst the aristocratic tone that followed, the Princess's pale face caught my eye. The sea-colored eyes that met mine trembled.

Ah, so this is a wait-and-see approach. 

Olivia smiled slightly.

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