DYBAR - Chapter 95 < Reasonable Price >

DYBAR - Chapter 95 < Reasonable Price >

Do Your Best And Regret

The drawing room was always the place where the Emperor met Grand Duke Vikander.

Sitting in the most noble position decorated with gold and onyx, looking down at the Grand Duke kneeling at the foot of the platform. A clear gap that anyone can see. The Emperor's intention was clear.

But now, the view in the office was the exact opposite. The gorgeous face shrugged his shoulders indifferently. Then, just as he was looking down, he smiled loosely.

"I have a habit of eating meals with My Lady."

The Grand Duke deliberately held out his left hand. It was an action that showed off the significance of the elegant, large hands and the sparkling red jewel ring on the fourth finger.

The Emperor suppressed the tension in his bones and gestured toward his table.

"Let's sit down first. Bring the tea."

The chamberlain set a hot teapot, tea cup, and refreshments on the table and then retreated to the wall.

The Emperor waited for the atmosphere to calm down. As expected, his dog did nothing and just stared at the Emperor.

He had a relaxed attitude, like a predator biting the back of its prey's neck and waiting for its last breath.

Clearly, as long as the mine belongs to the Princess, the Grand Duke is at a disadvantage.

The Emperor, who was looking at Grand Duke Vikander without any surprise, suddenly felt a strange sense of déjà vu.

The Emperor never once allowed anyone to have the upper hand over him. Nevertheless, those red eyes strangely touched the Emperor's heart.

In the end, the Emperor could not suppress his growing impatience and took the initiative to do his business.

"...You have to be betrothed to the Princess."

The Emperor's expected attitude toward the Grand Duke was one of two things.

Like a moment ago, he spoke of 'My Lady' to inflame the Emperor, or he flashed his eyes and expressed hostility as before.

What the emperor wanted was the latter. However.

"It's an engagement with the Princess."

Edwin didn't even think about the reaction of a slow smile as he looked at the emperor.

The Emperor, who unconsciously tensed his body, did not like this situation. 

"Hmm," he said majestically, showing signs of discomfort.

"I told you about the engagement, but the Princess is a member of the royal family. Be careful what you say."

"Yes, Your Majesty." 

The Grand Duke answered quickly as if he was obediently listening. It was impossible to guess what was hidden beneath that beautiful smiling face.

His stomach felt like a fire was boiling in one side of his chest. Of course, the tea was also hot. The Emperor was displeased with all of this.

If he had known this would happen, he would have moved to the living room. There, he always felt superior and was mentally superior. 

The Emperor frowned, but it was already too late.

"But what benefit will I get if I become engaged to Her Highness the Princess?"

"What?"

He never thought the Grand Duke would talk about compensation so blatantly. The Emperor tried hard to suppress his displeasure.

If what he wants is clear, it is actually a good thing. It was already learned at the noble meeting that the white crystal mine alone would not be enough to tie the Grand Duke's leash.

As for wealth, the treasures of the imperial palace were already overflowing with the loot he had donated. Giving a small portion of the Princess's property was a refreshing change compared to the loot the Grand Duke would collect in the future.

Especially when negotiations with Heferti are ahead.

The Emperor naturally thought of the benefits he would gain from the engagement between the Grand Duke and the Princess.

The Crown Prince's solid position, the name of the empire that will be exalted, and the Grand Duchy of Vikander, who will forever be subordinated to him as his dog.

The Emperor laughed heartily, barely hiding the twinkle in his desire. His hand, which had been tapping the teacup nervously, was now leisurely tapping the armrest of the sofa.

"Ha ha ha. It looks like the Grand Duke has finally developed something called greed, right? Okay. If you have the spirit to call yourself the head of the family, you should be coveted to that extent."

"..."

"Didn't I already appreciate Grand Duke's merits and allow you to attend the negotiations with Heferti? If you want anything else, please let me know. Of course,"

the emperor paused and looked at the Grand Duke. And lie sulbilly male lilo furtune.

"Wouldn't you like the White Crystal Mine the most?"

“..... Aha.”

The Grand Duke narrowed his eyes slightly.

"You mean Lowell's, my mother's white crystal mine. What I wanted so badly to get back."

The Emperor, who had been avoiding his gaze without realizing it, made a mistake. He let out an uncomfortable sigh and spoke to the Grand Duke as if he were hammering a nail into his mouth.

"Yes. I wonder if the Princess will allow her husband to enter her mine."

"Ha ha ha. The Emperor suppressed his discomfort and assumed what if. It was the blueprint the Emperor wanted. The Princess who will become Grand Duchess Vikander. And the Vikander family, with the Emperor's blood mixed in... Well, when the direct lineage becomes stronger, it might be returned to the son as a gift."

"So, Grand Duke. Please take good care of the Princess, who is like my precious treasure, as she goes to that precious place."

"Dear Emperor, Your Majesty."

The Emperor lowered his searching gaze towards the Grand Duke and smiled.

"Good to hear, Grand Duke. In the future, too."

"Your Majesty, the precious seat you are talking about has already been occupied by a precious person."

"What?"

"You say it's a precious place, but can you treat it like leftover scraps?"

The Grand Duke's eyes narrowed sweetly. The Emperor's face, who was staring blankly at the scene, slowly began to turn red. The leftover crumbs are what he was talking about! 

The Emperor jumped up from his seat. The teacup that was hanging precariously at the end of the table fell onto the carpet, but no one paid any attention.

"How dare this cheeky bastard claim safety!"

The Chamberlain bowed his head with a bewildered face as the roar was as loud as thunder. But the Grand Duke still smiled brightly.

"Please sit down, Your Majesty. The calculation is not yet complete."

At that moment, the Emperor sighed.

"Ugh." 

The force of it pressing into his shoulder was terrifying. An unbearable anger appeared in the Emperor's eyes.

"How dare you let me out of this imperial palace..."

"Lowell's White Crystal Mine mine was originally Lowell's. But how dare you show mercy by allowing me to enter?"

"Yes you bastard! How could that mine belong to Lowell?"

The Emperor, who had been shouting like a thunderbolt with his body straight, stopped talking for a moment.

An unclear corner was clearly revealed.

The guy who always wanted mine stopped paying attention to it at some point. At first, he thought it was just the temporary satisfaction of having a girl who looked like his mother by his side.

But really, is that all?

Seeing the Emperor unable to continue speaking, the Grand Duke shrugged his shoulders as if he was amused.

"Now let me tell you a little about something that should have been mine, not Lowell's."

"It's natural. How dare you seek what is yours from me?"

When the hoarse, tired voice ended, the Grand Duke widened his eyes for a moment. Soon, the sound of wonderful laughter echoed through the office and then suddenly stopped.

The captivating red eyes looked at the Emperor with a hearty smile.

"I am Your Majesty's dog that you sent to the battlefield, and I have overcome countless deaths. Something like that,"

The Grand Duke knocked down the untouched teacup. The teacup that fell on the carpet made a dull sound.

"There was also something like this. Thanks to this, I threw away everything that His Majesty bestowed upon me. On the battlefield where food is scarce."

"So, are you saying that I have poisoned the Grand Duke even now?"

The Emperor denied it, blood clotting his neck.

Of course, it was true that he had poisoned the Grand Duke in the past. Even if they went back to that time, the Emperor would have done the same thing. His dog had to be more perfect than anyone else. So, he trained him.

But in this situation, the truth was against the Emperor. Additionally, he left no evidence of his past. So he could act more confidently.

But the Grand Duke shook his head as if regretful.

"You don't understand the point."

"..."

"I'm talking about the present, not the past."

"The present....?"

"When you proudly let the dog you trained so hard enter the main gate of the imperial palace."

For a moment, the Emperor couldn't even breathe. He got goosebumps down his back.

A beautiful face resembling a Princess smiled. Red eyes flashed as they stared at the Emperor.

"Aren't you prepared to at least pay an appropriate price?"

It was as if the face was on the verge of taking the target's life away.

Bang!

The door closed. It was at that time that the Emperor, who had been glaring at the place where the Grand Duke had left, let his body hang down helplessly.

"Your Majesty!"

The startled chamberlain rushed over and knelt down in front of the Emperor, but even that seemed far off.

"Then, I'll see you at the banquet."

The image of the guy smiling slowly opening his eyes and leaving the office with a perfect bow was repeated in his head. After repeating it several times, the Emperor let out his anger with a heavy breath.

“How dare, how dare!”

The Emperor couldn't calm his rising anger. The Emperor suddenly stood up and kicked the table. The heavy table fell over with a single kick from the strong Emperor.

Wajangchang;

There was the sound of thick glass breaking, but the Emperor still could not control his anger.

A bright red sense of shame soared, and at the same time, his backbone became scary.

There have been several instances of resistance before, but this is the first time that the dog has bitten the leash like this.

Isn't there a reason why Vikander can show off like that?

The Emperor bit his lip. As far as the leash he's holding, the only thing left is White Crystal Mine.

He had to quickly hear from the Princess about the White Crystal Mine and the few days she stayed in Vikander Territory.

"Chamberlain, chamberlain!"

"Yes, Your Majesty! Please give your order."

"Hurry, the Princess..."

The Emperor paused for a moment, and his eyes darkened. The moment doubt appeared over his sunken eyes, the Emperor continued speaking.

"No, bring me the documents about the White Crystal Mine."

He could no longer trust the Princess. The emperor's eyes became as sharp as an awl.

***

Garden of the Emperor's Palace.

The gates of the heavily guarded palace opened and the Grand Duke appeared.

Winster, who was suppressing his nervousness and looking inside the hall, ran to the Grand Duke's side.

"Did you finish the meeting well?"

"Then. You don't have to worry that much. Sir Calter. Did I really overturn the table?"

A sly answer came as if he had been waiting.

Winster was able to bet half of his fortune on the fact that it was not the table that upset the Emperor. But he couldn't bear to say that in front of his lord.

Meanwhile, the Grand Duke glanced inside the carriage and said.

"What about My Lady?"

"Ah, not yet, Young Lady."

Winster's face distorted as he looked towards the Princess's palace as he answered inadvertently.

Aha. 

The Grand Duke, who was following Winster's gaze, smiled slowly. 

Conrad Madeleine. He, who was walking with his head Madeleine. He, who was walking with his head down with a gloomy face, seemed to have spotted the Grand Duke and his eyes widened for a moment.

While confirming that face, the Grand Duke raised his voice towards Winster next to him.

"I guess I saw something even though I shouldn't have? Why are you frowning like that?"

"Oh, sorry. I feel sick just looking at those purple eyes."

"Is that eye color discrimination?"

"Well, didn't you say that it's okay to discriminate against people with silver hair and purple eyes?"

Edwin chuckled at Winster's answer. The beautiful face's evil smile made him look like a villain, but Winster swallowed the words.

Meanwhile, Conrad, who had come up to his neck, lowered his head.

"I meet you, the great hero, His Highness the Grand Duke."

"Your attitude has become more polite, Little Duke."

Despite his sarcastic and laughing tone, Conrad was unable to say anything.

The whole time he thought of Olivia. To be exact, Olivia was six years old. And eventually, he wondered what the child's fault had been.

There was no wrongdoing left behind when Olivia was filtered out. All could see was Olivia looking at them pitifully.

A terrible feeling of guilt passed through his lungs. Conrad gritted his teeth. He should have asked the Grand Duke something, but no words came out, as if his lips were glued.

"He wished he had never had anything to do. The Little Duke is the working-level member of the negotiations with Heferti, right?"

Negotiation. 

Conrad raised his head brightly.

Even the sight of the Grand Duke clicking his tongue as if he didn't like it was pleasing.

"That's right. Your Highness, I...."

For the first time in his life, Conrad muttered his words.

The Grand Duke, who was looking at Conrad, had a red sneer on his lips.

"It looks like the younger brothers were quite prepared. The Little Duke looks like he's in bad shape."

"Yes? What is that......."

"Of course, I don't need to explain, right? Then, will the Little Duke just disappear from this road with the heartless Duke over there?"

It was rude. If it weren't for the next words, would have been so angry.

"My Lady is coming, so I can't make her see two unpleasant faces."

At those words, Conrad looked back with a bloodless face. In the distance, a carriage with Vikander's emblem on it was driving by, and behind him, he could see his father.

There was only one decision Conrad could make

***

".... What?"

That time. The Emperor couldn't believe his ears.

"Say it again, Chamberlain!"

"Well, that is."

The chamberlain closed his eyes tightly and reported again.

"It is said that, in addition to the records in the archives room, the documents on the White Crystal Mine have already been transferred to Princess Madeleine, Your Majesty."

Thud. 

The Emperor's heart sank suddenly. The Emperor stumbled for a moment. A blur spread before his eyes. He couldn't even breathe properly.

"Your Majesty!"

When the chamberlain's voice calling him became increasingly distant. The Emperor clenched his fist.

Alright. Thinking of the expression on the Grand Duke's face that had completely slipped through his fingers, the Emperor instantly understood the identity of the déjà vu he had felt earlier.

A nonchalant and relaxed attitude, as if he had the upper hand even though the situation was clearly unfavorable.

"Princess."

The Princess of Lowell, seemed to be crushed by the Emperor's teeth.

That's how he felt the day he last saw her.

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