DYBAR - Chapter 92 < I Will Not Look Back At The Place I Abandoned >
Do Your Best And Regret
Leopold blinked once. But Olivia's expression did not change. A calm face with no hint of sarcasm or regret.
At first glance, he could smell the fishy taste of iron through his clenched teeth.
Leopold looked at Olivia, forgetting to relax his jaw.
An unfamiliar feeling that he had never felt before came to him more and more.
No. Probably not.
Leopold tried to deny his anxious thoughts. First, what should he say to Olivia?
"...I didn't say that either. Congratulations on your engagement, Your Highness."
A slow voice broke the moment that was just Olivia and him.
Sigh.
Leopold let out a sour breath and shrugged his shoulders. The eyes, which had widened as if in shock, quickly turned bright blue and faced the Archduke.
The guy who had been out of sight just a moment ago clearly revealed his presence.
The Archduke dared to press his arm closer to Olivia, as if the seat next to her was his own and looked at Leopold as if provoking him.
Leopold twisted the corners of his lips. Irritated anger rose up, and the unfamiliar fear was pushed away.
The seat next to Olivia was prepared for him. It wasn't something to be messed with.
They're engaged. He probably knows better than anyone else that that's not the case.
"Olivia."
His violent breath burned black beneath his heart, unable to escape, but it didn't matter.
Suppressing his nervousness, Leopold tried to smile sweetly. And he extended one of his hands towards Olivia.
"It's okay if you don't show off that much. Olivia"
A slight smile appeared on Olivia's face and then disappeared.
The smile that came out after her calm expression was broken was even more seductive. Leopold spoke to Olivia once again as if possessed.
"Forget the reprieve and all, and come into my palace. I ordered to prepare a room for the Crown Prince."
"..."
"This is the room you always wanted."
Olivia slowly raised her head. The green eyes looking at him felt a little familiar now. Eyes that always loved him with a soft smile.
A faint sense of elation rose in him. Leopold's handsome mouth rose as if relieved.
Facing that face, Olivia took a step forward, leaving behind the Archduke who had been escorting her. The Archduke, who had stretched out his hand to follow her movements for a moment, quietly lowered his arm.
"Your Highness, you really don't know anything. It was exactly what I wanted the room to be."
"Then, It's your job."
"Then, Your Highness, what do you want from me?"
What the Supreme Prince desires. Many thoughts tangled in Leopold's mind. But there was only one word that immediately jumped out of his lips.
"...I wanted you to come back to my side again, live."
Leopold blinked for a moment. The waves of words he spoke out slowly shook his heart. It felt like his hair, which had been cloudy, had cleared up like water mist had spread.
Okay. That was it.
The reason he tried to call Olivia to the Prince's Palace instead of the Crown Princess' Palace, the reason he was annoyed by the delay, and the reason he was speechless while looking around the banquet hall to cover up Maria's engagement announcement earlier.
Perhaps. Maybe Leopold has some affection for Olivia. Maybe that's why he wants to keep her by his side.
Suddenly Olivia burst into laughter. As her sonorous laughter split the night sky, Leopold could no longer continue his thoughts and looked at Olivia.
"If you give me the position of a vain fiancé again, will Lady Ethel, whom His Highness loves so much, become your mistress again?"
"Be careful what you say, live."
Immediately, his handsome brow furrowed. The voice that seemed to be coated with sweet honey returned to a warning tone.
Olivia chuckled. The Prince hasn't changed. How can he be so rude to me from beginning to end?
"I am truly disrespected, Your Highness."
"What are you saying all of a sudden, Olivia..."
Leopold's voice became sharp as if he was embarrassed. I looked straight into his big eyes and said,
"I told Your Highness not to call my nickname. I also told Your Highness that I am planning to become engaged to His Highness the Archduke here. But are you asking me to come back now? Where?"
"You are my fiancee!"
A voice full of anger shouted with courage. I smiled slightly in response. Leopold's expression slowly distorted, as if something was wrong with me.
No way, still. Did he believe that I would love him?
Maria Ethel was foolish and so pitiful. Does Maria Ethel even know about this situation?
"Was your love so shallow that you could abandon such a solid engagement? Me...!"
The face seemed to be somewhat frightened, or full of her anger. In the end, Leopold looked at me for a long time and spoke.
"You love me...!"
Leopold's eyes became increasingly desperate as he said something like an ultimatum. Just like I looked at Leopold before.
So, for the first time since I left for Vikander, I smiled sweetly at the Prince. And I answered as sweetly as I could.
"From now on, forever, It will never happen again."
I knew best how much my own words would impact him.
Sea-colored eyes wavered aimlessly. His gaze turned to my face as if that couldn't possibly be the case. But I still smiled without wavering.
"Lie. Do not lie. Every time I look at you, you make an expression that says you love me."
"You even knew that. Why didn't you even know that flowers were coming to me in your name?"
"A flower. No way, you told me about flowers back then..."
I grinned and curled up the corners of my mouth. As if that was enough of an answer for me, Leopold's face turned pale.
Ah, that's right. Who was I daring to sympathize with?
Maria Ethel never does anything to deserve pity. This foolish choice must have been exactly what Maria Ethel had hoped for.
I quietly lowered my hand. The hand that was hoping for someone to hold it is now held tightly by friendly warmth before it can even move.
"... I remember everything you said."
"..."
"How earnestly did you speak of your love for Lady Ethel?"
"Olivia..!"
I couldn't take it anymore. My tightly clenched fists seemed to be shaking awkwardly.
Leopold's heart felt like it was going to explode. The breathing coming out of his mouth became increasingly rough.
But, to my cruel surprise, I in front of him smiled gracefully.
"So I dare say."
It's infinitely prettier.
"Now don't say things like you wanted me by your side."
Infinitely firm.
Just like you did when you announced to me that you were breaking off your engagement.
Leopold's heart, which had grown only now, was slowly broken before he could even begin to realize it. Leopold bit the inside of his mouth hard, feeling helpless for the first time in his life. Looking at Olivia in a situation where she couldn't even feel his pain, she was extremely pretty.
In contrast to her gracefully curved lips, her green eyes were cold as she warned Leopold.
"Even If, by any chance, His Highness has different feelings for me, don't even reveal that."
"..."
"And please,"
"..."
"When I leave that place, please think of my last appearance as my answer to you."
The back of Olivia, where he felt something strange for the first time. What he should have had was not doubt, but a sense of crisis.
Leopold's face gradually fell.
I thought back to what he had said as I indifferently watched Leopold's inner thoughts peeling off, one by one.
I don't look back at the place I left behind. I made a promise the day I showed my back to him for the first time.
The person who held my hand as I took my precarious steps was now next to me. Just a moment's glance satisfies the feelings I've wanted for over a dozen years, so I want to do my best, for Edwin.
"Imperial Moon. In that high place..."
In the place I left behind,
"Your Highness already has a Lady Ethel whom you love."
Maria Ethel, who had longed for that seat, could sit down. I could see Maria Ethel's face looking down at me from a high-rise window especially clearly.
Those blue eyes truly resent me.
I looked away from her without any hesitation.
Before I knew it, whispering sounds could be heard from all around me. As the banquet reached its halfway point, all the nobles came out and looked at the situation.
A summer banquet that goes out of control. The Princess standing in front of him was looking at me with her pale face.
Edwin's escort continued smoothly. I muttered softly as I walked.
"In the past, when nobles made a fuss like this, I started to worry."
Ah, how should we crack down on social circles?
Her Majesty the Empress will call me again tomorrow. Father, no. I guess the duke will scold me again.
I looked at Edwin, thinking of the countless things I should have controlled.
"But now it's good. No, I'm actually looking forward to tomorrow."
No matter who took care of it, it wasn't my job.
I swaggered, leaning back as if showing off my guts. My face with a mischievous smile was extremely lovely.
"Our wedding is still a long time away, but isn't my qualifications as a prospective Grand Duchess quite good?"
Edwin swallowed a groan at the condescending tone of my voice. And he hugged my exposed shoulder with a little greed.
"It's so overwhelming that we need to get married right now."
I smiled brightly. I didn't care about Leopold's collapsing expression as he looked at her from behind.
***
"What a disgrace this is!"
A thunderous wrath shook the drawing room of the Emperor's palace.
The noise that leaked through the closed door was so loud that even the servants standing in the hallway lowered their heads.
The princess, who was receiving all of her anger, lowered her body without even raising her head.
She had always been taught to keep her dignity, but she couldn't stop her body from shaking like an aspen. This wasn't just her fear of the Emperor.
How come Olivia?
She is that lowly thing. She rejects her brother.
The Princess's vision became distant. She just went out to cool off her anger for a moment, but all the nobles at the new banquet who could not control it saw what happened. Her brother, who thought he would pin Olivia down, instead lowered his head with a look of complete defeat on his face.
The Empress spoke as if trying to calm the mood.
"Your Majesty. We will fix it."
"Fix it? Is this something that will become permanent?"
The Emperor suddenly became angry and bit his lip.
Even if the Marquis Ethel was imprisoned for the crime and his daughter was quickly married somewhere else, the envoys from other countries had already seen this ridiculous situation.
The future path of the future Emperor, the Princess's position in society, and the entire Franz Empire must have seemed ridiculous.
"How on earth do you manage to hold a banquet where delegations from other countries also visit! I wish you had just done what you always did!"
At that moment, the Princess's body stiffened with tension. The Emperor frowned at her uneasy premonition.
"What are you planning to do starting tomorrow?"
"Well, that is..."
The Princess's helpless face touched the Emperor's sensitive touch.
No way. But the Emperor soon shook his head. Anyway, the Princess has solved countless problems so far. The idea that she had borrowed someone's help was a speculation.
There was no benefit in pushing the Princess right away. The Emperor said, ignoring the Princess as if he did not want to see her.
"Starting from tomorrow's banquet, the Empress will be in charge."
"Yes?"
"Your Majesty!"
The shocked Princess shouted loudly, but the Emperor barely held his breath as he wheezed and did not even look at her. As if on cue, the chamberlain came in with a knock.
"The Duke of Elkin requests an audience."
"Tell him to come in."
The Empress retreated with the Princess.
"After this banquet, the Princess will order her to be put on probation, so she will not behave badly and she will always have to be careful."
A solemn command fell.
As if her world had collapsed, the Princess's body slowly collapsed.
"The Marquis."
"I locked her up in the mansion. Her daughter also wanted to join, but..."
The Duke of Elkin trailed off as if he was embarrassed. The Emperor felt as if a fire were burning before his eyes.
The brazen woman who insulted Franz is now protected in the Prince's peaceful palace. It was even said that Princess Madeleine, who had rejected the Prince twice as of today, was safely inside the Grand Duke's residence.
"Sigh."
The Emperor let out a sigh of relief. His train of thought naturally placed blame on his son. Even though Leopold is still young, he needs to think about his position.
He brought shame to another country twice by not being able to control a woman in a public place.
"The Duke of Madeleine doesn't come for anything!"
The frustration spread elsewhere. If the Duke of Madeleine had taken good care of his daughter, this disgrace would not have occurred.
The Duke of Elkin nodded his head In agreement. He had to somehow overhaul this disgrace.
For a moment, the emperor's eyes sparkled.
Since the problem arose during the engagement ceremony, the only way to cover it up was with a larger engagement ceremony.
"Tomorrow."
The Emperor spoke dully.
"Before the banquet, invite the Grand Duke to an imperial dinner."
There was still a White Crystal Mine. The last remaining leash had to be used in times like this.
***
"Mother. What if Your Majesty really finds out everything? Olivia, everyone saw that she rejected my brother!"
The drawing room of the Empress's palace.
The Princess, who was shedding tears, ended up burying her face in her palms. Her tears fell to the floor along with her sobbing sounds.
The Empress, looking at that scene, could not hold her breath.
What a disgrace to her proud son and daughter. The Empress's brother said that she would have no connection with her family, which was a blessing in disguise.
Marquis Ethel and Maria Ethel, neither of them will be left alone.
The blood-red anger was even directed at Olivia, who had rejected her son.
"You don't even know the topic."
A flash of anger burst out of her lips.
Olivia was the one who deserved to be treated with contempt in front of everyone. The Empress suppressed her anger and spoke to her headmaid.
"Have you heard any news from the person sent to Vikander Territory yet?"
"I'm sorry, Your Majesty. There is no news from there, but..."
Lady Chang, who responded with a bewildered look on her face, leaned her body towards the Empress and spoke softly to her. The Empress's face turned bright red as she listened to those words with her sharp face.
"Is that really true?"
"Yes. Apparently, the Princess's maid said that the Princess exchanged letters with the Grand Duke, even using an alias!"
***
It was just as I had predicted.
The press was blocked, but the mouths of social circles could not be stopped. The next day, a tea party invitation came to the Grand Duke's residence.
Behind the polite letter lurked the curiosity of the nobles, who were curious about the story of 'Princess Madeleine', who had twice rejected the Prince.
I rejected all the letters, but only one.
There was a letter I couldn't refuse.
A tea party invitation from the Empress. At the bottom of the letter, which was supposed to have been sent to everyone, was a postscript addressed only to Olivia.
-Since the little Princess of Madeleine is also attending, it would be nice if you attended as well.
Her plan was to take Ethella hostage. But I decided to give it a try.
The carriage I was riding in came to a complete stop. I looked outside the carriage. The Princess's palace, which I had always decorated, greeted me with a somewhat untidy feeling.
Suddenly, I remembered Edwin's last words, after we parted ways a little while ago.
"You don't have to go, Olivia."
Did Edwin know that those words were actually more reassuring?
I grinned and stepped toward the open door of the carriage.
As if she had been waiting, an attendant guided me. At the drawing-room door, the servant shouted inside.
"Princess Olivia Madeleine has arrived."
When the door opened, I saw a luxurious drawing room, with the ladies who had already arrived sitting at a long table. Eta, who was sitting near the head of the table, widened her eyes. Her face looked like she didn't know I was coming.
The beautiful Empress, sitting at the top table, smiled brightly.
"It's been a long time since I've greeted you this close, Princess."
The Empress's gorgeous voice was as cool as a snake. I quietly looked at the Empress.
I, who always cowered beneath my graceful, unsmiling eyes, silently held my breath for once. I said, and I had perfect manners.
"Glory to the Imperial Moon. I see you, Her Majesty the Empress."
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