DYBAR - Chapter 127 < Portrait of the Previous Grand Duke and His Wife >

DYBAR - Chapter 127 < Portrait of the Previous Grand Duke and His Wife >

Do Your Best And Regret

"Wait, Edwin."

I hurriedly caught Edwin. Right in front was the 'house'.

It is a mysterious place that only maintains spring in this winter-like valley of Senua. A place where a magic stone necklace sparkles as if resonating.

"If you go a little bit here, there is a really amazing place. Even in this cold weather,"

"Olivia..."

Above the persuasive words, a desperate voice called out to me. I closed my mouth without realizing it.

"...... It was too dangerous here. You didn't forget that you said you'd go back in case of danger, right? Especially..."

Edwin paused for a moment and then raised the corners of his mouth.

"..... Just because you slipped is enough reason to go back to the castle and get treatment."

"I didn't slip!"

Treatment! I was reminded of the excessive prescriptions I had previously received from the Grand Duke's residence. Times when even books were banned and all I could do was rest.

I said I wasn't hurt at all, and I assured him that the place wasn't as dangerous as he thought.

"It's not that I slipped, but I was reaching out to grab the necklace and suddenly a strange wind pulled me..."

“Aha.”

I blinked my eyes. For some reason, Edwin's eyes looking at me darkened for a moment.

"We promised we wouldn't do anything dangerous."

"..."

"This is a really dangerous place."

Ah, this is a big deal. I think I said something completely wrong.

***

It was the time when the sun was at its peak.

Maybe it was the atmosphere, but the temperature seemed much lower only in the area where the carriage was.

"Really, I was so surprised. Your Highness must be appalled."

"It's natural for you to be more surprised. Anyway, if she fell because of some suspicious force rather than just slipping, he might be even more opposed to going."

"Still..."

Dean pursed his lips for a moment in response to Bethany's answer. It was quite disappointing. In his vague memories, did he really go to where the old man was? Are there more people in there?

"What if Your Highness really won't let me enter Senua's Valley again?"

"Well. Think about it later. I think there's something else that's urgent?"

Dean's brow furrowed as he looked ahead at Bethany's carefree words.

Engraved on the carriage that seemed to block the castle gate was the emblem of the Madeleine duchy.

As if to prove it, three tall men were standing in from of the carriage. The knights who were standing guard at the castle gate looked at Dean with very happy faces.

Just like the Young Lady, she has silver hair that shines so brightly that it tingles. Beneath the emotionless amethyst-colored eyes.

Dean slowly stopped speaking. Even though he was dealing with the only two Dukes in the empire, he ignored the courtesy of getting off a horse. Despite being treated like a provocation, the Duke slowly opened his mouth.

"I came to see Olivia."

It was a calm voice, as if he was talking to someone else, he was so nervous wondering what he was going to say that it was almost laughable.

"Do you really think I am under Madeleine's protection?"

Dean remembered every word of what the Young Lady said that night in the garden.

He may have been neglecting or encouraging rather than protecting. The Duke, who never once published a corrected article in the newspaper while the numerous scandals were accumulating, must have looked like this.

It was fortunate. Because he resembles Jade Madeleine, whom he hates. So Dean smiled and spoke kindly.

"It may be a pity, but I advise you to return, Duke. This is Lord Madeleine's second visit, don't you know that well?"

Dean didn't have a knack for sarcasm, but what he learned from watching was Howard and Winster.

"Grand Duke Vikander prohibits the Madeleine duchy from visiting at all."

Winster's words, which Dean thought were mean, came out of his mouth. It might have hurt his pride, but the Duke looked at Dewnn intently and repeated the same thing.

"I came to see Olivia. It's about the Duke of Madeleine."

"Please get out of the way. You haven't come to visit before, but seeing as you came here in such a hurry, I guess you at least need to make a good impression on the Lady."

It seemed like it worked a little this time. Aside from the expressionless Duke, the faces of his two sons next to him were blurred.

Soon Jade Madeleine ordered the driver to get out of the way of the carriage. Conrad Madeleine, who was looking at the castle with regret, said something to the Duke, and the Duke seemed to follow him.

The moment Dean saw that series of scenes, he immediately understood why Winster was so obsessed with Jade Madeleine.

That kind of appearance comes to the Lady late, and now people mention the last name 'Madeleine' as if they were family.

It was so weird and it was so bloated as if there was a bug in his stomach, it seemed like Dean couldn't stand it.

***

Olivia's room in the Grand Duchy.

I lowered my head. The day I counted the number of people who entered the room, my face felt like it was going to explode.

Even though I only moved my hand for a moment, I could feel the solid warmth touching me.

This was so dark and close that it should never have been felt under my medical care. It looked like Edwin was hugging me as if he was surrounding her.

I felt pitiful and sorry to see Edwin shivering as if he was trying to calm down while hugging me in the carriage. At the same time, I reflected a lot as I watched Edwin cling to me as if I were his salvation.

But this wasn't it.

It's not enough to just carry me up as if I were a patient, he's also examined me while holding me in his arms.

And with everyone from the council members to Bethany, Deanne, Brock, and the maids...!

I managed to speak in a voice that did not come out of embarrassment

".... Please, Edwin. Could you please put me down?"

"They won't listen to anything the patient says, Live."

The glaring eyes quickly drooped. Perhaps because of her embarrassment, her apple-colored cheeks were prettiest, but Edwin pretended not to notice and observed the doctor's treatment.

The council member, checking my joints here and there, smiled kindly and nodded at me.

"There is nothing wrong. On the contrary, she is very healthy."

Only after hearing the doctor's confirmation did I deliberately repeat the doctor's words as if to show off to Edwin.

"You mean I'm very healthy?"

"Yes. Sure."

"That's a good thing."

"You seem rather surprised, Your Highness. Do you need a medical examination?"

Not if he doesn't like it.

The doctor immediately changed his mind, as if he was pretending just by looking at his frowning face. The doctor, whose eyebrows were all white, said.

"You weren't like that when you were young." 

He added one word.

That figure somehow resembles Jerun. She spoke before she thought.

"Oh, I..."

"Yes, Miss. Is there anything else I can check?"

"There are places that hurt more Live?"

The doctor and Edwin spoke almost simultaneously. I said, trying to avoid Edwin's gaze.

"It's not my story, I saw someone who was sleeping for a long time and didn't wake up... What should I do to wake him up?"

I felt Edwin's eyes narrow as he looked at me.

"How long has that patient not woken up, Miss?"

Oops. I didn't hear that. I glanced at the people in the room.

"Uh, five years...?"

"Hmm..." 

The cautious doctor's eyes flashed for a moment.

"I'm cautious about saying anything without even seeing the patient, so I think I'll find out once I see it. Five years. It seems like the skill of the doctor in charge is so great that he can endure for five years with a patient who won't wake up?"

"They say he's not a doctor, but a healer."

The doctor's eyes widened at my response.

Between the wizard and the doctor, there was no one called a healer. Isn't this just a herbalist and a vague statement? 

The doctor's eyes sparkled.

"Healer? What exactly does a healer do, Miss?"

"That is..."

"Stop."

A cold voice interrupted the conversation.

Edwin smiled and shrugged his shoulders.

"I'd like to leave it at that for today, Olivia. No matter how good it is, my girl needs rest now. Yes?"

The doctor nodded his head with a regretful expression. No matter how curious he was about the Young Lady's story, the Grand Duke was right. 

Soon, I looked at Edwin in the room where everyone had left like the tide.

"You only see me after everyone leaves, Live? Are you sad?"

It was just as the doctor said. It was better than before, but my grinning face still had a pale look to it.

The way he intentionally avoided talking about Senua's valley, the hand that held me as if clinging to me inside the carriage. Even that trembling breath.

"I will definitely come back. Have dessert at tea time."

I remembered the last words I said to Jerun.

"Jerun called Edwin the royal grandson. They called me a priest."

My eyes sparkled as I got to the point. 

Edwin raised one eyebrow. His young lady always had a gentle smile on her face, but at times like this, she went on more fiercely than anyone else.

"He knew something more, Edwin. I can go back now. Let's just rest for one day and go together tomorrow, yes?"

"I said you would never do anything dangerous. I guess Senua's Valley was too dangerous for Olivia."

"I'm not hurt. Maybe that strength is what led me. The magic stone was sparkling just a moment ago, so if we go there, the secret might really be revealed."

Edwin would be much more interested in what I have to say if I just explained that the magic stone sparkled. However, I could not say anything as Edwin continued.

"Olivia, you are incomparably more precious to me than any secret."

I was speechless. Edwin's face as he spoke just one sentence was exactly the same as before, full of fear. I couldn't say anything.

I knew how important the mine and the secrets related to Lowell were to Edwin, so I was more like that.

Edwin smiled bitterly for a moment and then shrugged his shoulders.

"So, Liv, I hope you never set foot in the valley again."

A firm recommendation. I faced Edwin, who leaned into my arms as if he were being held in my arms, and I murmured in his ear.

"Today, I won't talk about the valley anymore. Should we do something else instead?"

"First of all, I need you to feel safe now. I want to continue to enjoy having Liv by my side."

The sound that reached my ears felt vaguely wet. I, who was being held in a dazed state as if I had a strange fascination for people, suddenly pushed Edwin away with my weak hands.

"Haven't we been together enough since a while ago?"

He won't let me go even when everyone is around!

I must have remembered it again now as I approached him with my red face.

Edwin, who was being pushed away obediently, chuckled. And in an instant, he brought my face to Olivia's face.

"Live."

My eyes widened at the sweet voice that seemed to ring in my ears. Close enough that the tips of my noses are touching, that our breaths are intertwined, and that our lips are pulling each other.

From that short distance away, his red eyes were seductively wide.

"I'm always hungry for you."

Before I knew it, his arms were firm, as if he was hugging me. The sensation of feeling the boundaries between my dress and shirt bristled.

"Even if we stay together all day, I'm not sure if I'll be able to get through it. I was so scared earlier that I would have to stay for three days this time."

Edwin smelled nice. So I felt dizzy.

I just swallowed. Edwin, who was laughing softly at the sound of my neck moving, lightly kissed me on the lips.

"My Lady, how about you?"

"I ..."

My eyelashes fluttered. Edwin unconsciously leaned towards me. It was when his red lips slowly fell beneath the sweet scent.

"I think we should look at the portrait of the previous Grand Duke?"

After a while, Edwin asked back as if he couldn't believe it.

"It's not me, but a portrait of my father?"

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