DYBAR - Chapter 167 < A Story Suited to Each Other >
Do Your Best And Regret
In the bitter cold of early winter, a delegation heading to the southwest to negotiate with Vikander passed through the gates of the imperial palace...!
As soon as the carriage stopped, the Empress hurriedly got off. Under the carelessly rolled up hem of the dress, busy steps headed towards the Emperor's palace.
“... In Vikander, I asked to make a deal for five territories in the southwestern region. The lord's agent is unable to properly defend himself, but the imperial palace cannot easily afford to send knights..."
The Emperor's voice, which had been lifeless a few days ago, came to mind. The Empress gritted her teeth.
This was clearly a scam.
In the southwest, which had been extremely infested with bandits for nearly a month, she could tell that only Tristan and Vikander's territory were intact.
Vikander, they must have used some kind of trick. The imperial castle can't even send knights.
Misery came over her in the helpless reality. The Empress made an effort to raise the tip of her chin.
In the past, they would have defeated the bandits in one fell swoop and spread their spirit throughout the empire.
Where has the glory of Empire Franz gone?
Both the powerful knights and the rich wealth of the imperial palace, which would have sufficiently compensated for the damage to the territory caused by theft, have decreased noticeably.
But the Empress shook her head as if ignoring all of that. The Duke of Elkin and the Duke of Madeleine were the representatives of the delegation. No, even if she couldn't trust the Duke of Madeleine, she had to trust the Duke of Elkin.
"Your Majesty. Through this negotiation, we will strengthen the trust between us that has been broken. Don’t you need at least enough territory for Her Highness the Princess to receive good marriage talks?”
Yes. Still, the Duke of Elkin elevated her to the title of Crown Princess and firmly guarded her back during the more than twenty years she served as Empress.
If a decent royal family and a Princess can marry... At least it was the first step toward future plans.
The Empress entered the Emperor's palace with sparkling eyes. At that moment, the Duke of Elkin was coming out in the distance.
However, the answer the Duke of Elkin brought was the exact opposite of the Empress's expectations.
“So, are you saying that those five territories were transferred to Olivia in her name? At that cheap price?”
She felt like she was doused with cold water. Just exchanging a few gold nuggets for five southwestern territories. The Empress couldn't believe it.
Could it be that her brother is truly betraying her?
“... In Vikander, I asked to make a deal for five territories in the southwestern region. The lord's agent is unable to properly defend himself, but the imperial palace cannot easily afford to send knights..."
The Emperor's voice, which had been lifeless a few days ago, came to mind. The Empress gritted her teeth.
This was clearly a scam.
In the southwest, which had been extremely infested with bandits for nearly a month, she could tell that only Tristan and Vikander's territory were intact.
Vikander, they must have used some kind of trick. The imperial castle can't even send knights.
Misery came over her in the helpless reality. The Empress made an effort to raise the tip of her chin.
In the past, they would have defeated the bandits in one fell swoop and spread their spirit throughout the empire.
Where has the glory of Empire Franz gone?
Both the powerful knights and the rich wealth of the imperial palace, which would have sufficiently compensated for the damage to the territory caused by theft, have decreased noticeably.
But the Empress shook her head as if ignoring all of that. The Duke of Elkin and the Duke of Madeleine were the representatives of the delegation. No, even if she couldn't trust the Duke of Madeleine, she had to trust the Duke of Elkin.
"Your Majesty. Through this negotiation, we will strengthen the trust between us that has been broken. Don’t you need at least enough territory for Her Highness the Princess to receive good marriage talks?”
Yes. Still, the Duke of Elkin elevated her to the title of Crown Princess and firmly guarded her back during the more than twenty years she served as Empress.
If a decent royal family and a Princess can marry... At least it was the first step toward future plans.
The Empress entered the Emperor's palace with sparkling eyes. At that moment, the Duke of Elkin was coming out in the distance.
However, the answer the Duke of Elkin brought was the exact opposite of the Empress's expectations.
***
“So, are you saying that those five territories were transferred to Olivia in her name? At that cheap price?”
She felt like she was doused with cold water. Just exchanging a few gold nuggets for five southwestern territories. The Empress couldn't believe it.
Could it be that her brother is truly betraying her?
At the same time as suspicion, sharp criticism was directed at the Duke of Elkin.
“Duke, does that make sense? Vikander, what kind of trick did they use to let you fall for it?”
"Your Majesty! How can you say that to me?”
The Duke of Elkin raised his voice in surprise. A look of injustice and despair crossed his face, but the Empress could hardly believe him.
“So what do you make of this situation? The empire’s best negotiator came to an absurd agreement.”
“...That's not the point, Your Majesty. Rumors are already spreading in the South.”
“What rumors? Is this a rumor about our Princess?”
Ha.
“Duke, does that make sense? Vikander, what kind of trick did they use to let you fall for it?”
"Your Majesty! How can you say that to me?”
The Duke of Elkin raised his voice in surprise. A look of injustice and despair crossed his face, but the Empress could hardly believe him.
“So what do you make of this situation? The empire’s best negotiator came to an absurd agreement.”
“...That's not the point, Your Majesty. Rumors are already spreading in the South.”
“What rumors? Is this a rumor about our Princess?”
Ha.
The Duke of Elkin let out a deep breath and rubbed his face with his palm o frustration.
"Therefore..."
“....”
“... Franz, the status of the empire is at stake, Your Majesty."
The Empress blinked her eyes. She was completely speechless. The status of the Empire is at stake...
"Therefore..."
“....”
“... Franz, the status of the empire is at stake, Your Majesty."
The Empress blinked her eyes. She was completely speechless. The status of the Empire is at stake...
No matter how difficult the current situation was, it was an Empire. How could that great status be shaken?
“In the south, they actually welcomed the move to Vikander. Vikander's territory now extends beyond our Empire, Your Majesty. So even now...”
The Duke of Elkin muttered something with his stern face. Looking at that face, the Empress pursed her lips.
That's why they should have gotten rid of Vikander a long time ago. She needed to create a stronger position for the princess.
“In the south, they actually welcomed the move to Vikander. Vikander's territory now extends beyond our Empire, Your Majesty. So even now...”
The Duke of Elkin muttered something with his stern face. Looking at that face, the Empress pursed her lips.
That's why they should have gotten rid of Vikander a long time ago. She needed to create a stronger position for the princess.
Olivia. The Empress didn't mean to put that on as the Crown Princess. She should have named the Crown Prince a proper spouse.
Many regrets passed through her mind. But in the end, the words that left her trembling lips...
“...You definitely promised me, didn’t you?”
"Yes?"
“Didn’t you say that my position as Empress would always be strong?”
It was her own safety.
The Empress screamed like crazy. She threw and tore at whatever she could catch, but she couldn't stop the fire from burning inside her.
Even the sight of the startled maids closing the door and leaving was not visible to the Empress. Twenty-five years ago, when she was crowned Princess, the Duke's words remained vivid in her ears.
“Become Empress. Raise the status of Elkin as you're the mother of all, the noblest woman of this generation. After that, the Duke of Elkin will always have strong support.”
“I have lived as an Empress. You promised me that you would make me live as an Empress for the rest of my life. Now what?”
The Empress's muttering suddenly stopped. Her eyes, mixed with many emotions, turned to the mirror. The tiara she is wearing, the expensive shoes she is wearing, and the dress she is wearing. A mirror that reflects everything she wears.
She was perfect in it. But now everything she has is going to be shaken.
At that moment, the Empress covered his mouth. The fear and futility she had been ignoring ate away at her. The fear that the Empire might lose its great name, the helplessness of not being able to do anything in this situation.
“But now, if the status of the Empire is at stake...”
The sound of fragments breaking was loud. When the Empress suddenly came to her senses and raised her head, the Princess with a face whiter than a broken porcelain plate stuttered.
“Your Majesty the Empress. What do you mean by that?”
“The Princess! When...!”
“The Empress is not the Empress! What is that!”
The Princess just came to apologize for not even having a friend. The Princess couldn't believe what she heard just now.
Her body was shaking. Her fear overflowed over the Princess's sea-light eyes.
The Princess has already had countless things taken away from her. The twelve fiefdoms of which she was a lord, the image of a Saint, the name of the flower of society, and even the pretty good wives chosen for her based on her birth.
But now, if what she has achieved is not enough and the noble status she has had since she was born is on the brink...
"...In that case, it would be better.”
The Princess muttered faintly. The Empress was astonished at the new sound coming from her parted lips, but she could not stop the Princess from speaking.
She's better off dead.
The Empress froze as she approached her daughter. While her faintly muttered words were lost in time, the Princess slowly turned around and left the drawing room.
Wherever the Princess's steps touched, her despair bloomed. Her despair, fueled by her fear, strangled her so badly that she could not escape. Then suddenly the Princess fluttered her eyelids and looked around her.
She has no playmates who always accompany her, no nobles who surround her to win her favor and no knights who worship her.
Even before her status was taken away, there was no one left by her side. Even if she were not the Princess, what would be different?
In the end, the Princess stopped on the spot.
Many regrets passed through her mind. But in the end, the words that left her trembling lips...
“...You definitely promised me, didn’t you?”
"Yes?"
“Didn’t you say that my position as Empress would always be strong?”
It was her own safety.
The Empress screamed like crazy. She threw and tore at whatever she could catch, but she couldn't stop the fire from burning inside her.
Even the sight of the startled maids closing the door and leaving was not visible to the Empress. Twenty-five years ago, when she was crowned Princess, the Duke's words remained vivid in her ears.
“Become Empress. Raise the status of Elkin as you're the mother of all, the noblest woman of this generation. After that, the Duke of Elkin will always have strong support.”
“I have lived as an Empress. You promised me that you would make me live as an Empress for the rest of my life. Now what?”
The Empress's muttering suddenly stopped. Her eyes, mixed with many emotions, turned to the mirror. The tiara she is wearing, the expensive shoes she is wearing, and the dress she is wearing. A mirror that reflects everything she wears.
She was perfect in it. But now everything she has is going to be shaken.
At that moment, the Empress covered his mouth. The fear and futility she had been ignoring ate away at her. The fear that the Empire might lose its great name, the helplessness of not being able to do anything in this situation.
“But now, if the status of the Empire is at stake...”
The sound of fragments breaking was loud. When the Empress suddenly came to her senses and raised her head, the Princess with a face whiter than a broken porcelain plate stuttered.
“Your Majesty the Empress. What do you mean by that?”
“The Princess! When...!”
“The Empress is not the Empress! What is that!”
The Princess just came to apologize for not even having a friend. The Princess couldn't believe what she heard just now.
Her body was shaking. Her fear overflowed over the Princess's sea-light eyes.
The Princess has already had countless things taken away from her. The twelve fiefdoms of which she was a lord, the image of a Saint, the name of the flower of society, and even the pretty good wives chosen for her based on her birth.
But now, if what she has achieved is not enough and the noble status she has had since she was born is on the brink...
"...In that case, it would be better.”
The Princess muttered faintly. The Empress was astonished at the new sound coming from her parted lips, but she could not stop the Princess from speaking.
She's better off dead.
The Empress froze as she approached her daughter. While her faintly muttered words were lost in time, the Princess slowly turned around and left the drawing room.
Wherever the Princess's steps touched, her despair bloomed. Her despair, fueled by her fear, strangled her so badly that she could not escape. Then suddenly the Princess fluttered her eyelids and looked around her.
She has no playmates who always accompany her, no nobles who surround her to win her favor and no knights who worship her.
Even before her status was taken away, there was no one left by her side. Even if she were not the Princess, what would be different?
In the end, the Princess stopped on the spot.
Ha ha ha.
A hollow laugh burst from her lips.
“What kind of stupid thing is that?”
The painter fell flat on his face at the eerie voice. Cold sweat broke out behind him as his eyes shot out.
“Well, that. The Princess's portrait is not drawn, Your Highness."
It was something he couldn't understand even if he said it himself. Cool silver hair and green eyes. He's sure he's memorized the appearance of Madeleine's eldest Princess very well.
However, the moment she actually picked up the brush, the artist felt that his mind was empty and he could not do anything. He came all the way from the Kingdom of Auslan because he said he would pay a high price...!
"Oh my. They say there is a ghost. Is it really...”
The terrified painter mumbled something. And Leopold, who heard the sound clearly, looked at the white canvas. A blank canvas on which more than ten painters could not draw a single line.
“...Are you punishing me for something like this?”
All he wants is just one of Olivia's paintings. Is she not even allowing him to have pictures?
Leopold took control of his dimming vision. After not being able to sleep for several days, Olivia's gorgeous silver hair floated like an illusion before his eyes.
A sweet laugh and a pretty face that tickles his ears. He reached out his hand unconsciously and only missed it after flailing it in the air a few times.
A great sense of loss washed over him like a wave. The empty half of his heart hurt so bad.
His memory was fading day by day, and he was unable to have even a single portrait of Olivia. While Leopold was biting his lip, Count Hodges next to him spoke, unable to hide his nervousness.
"Your Highness. Now is not the time to do this. The negotiating team, including the Duke of Madeleine, returned. It is said that the title to the southern fiefdom went to Lady Olivia. About how to quickly restore the territories...”
“Berteng.”
"Yes, Your Highness."
“Get more skilled painters. It would be better if they couldn’t say anything so they couldn’t say anything stupid.”
For a moment, Count Hodges was speechless. And he looked at the Prince. There was no trace of a firearm in his sparkling sea-colored eyes. His face was pale, without even his bushy beard trimmed.
Count Hodges thought blankly at the collapsed state of the Crown Prince prince, whose very existence was the future of the Empire.
The imperial palace, perhaps the Empire...
***
“What kind of stupid thing is that?”
The painter fell flat on his face at the eerie voice. Cold sweat broke out behind him as his eyes shot out.
“Well, that. The Princess's portrait is not drawn, Your Highness."
It was something he couldn't understand even if he said it himself. Cool silver hair and green eyes. He's sure he's memorized the appearance of Madeleine's eldest Princess very well.
However, the moment she actually picked up the brush, the artist felt that his mind was empty and he could not do anything. He came all the way from the Kingdom of Auslan because he said he would pay a high price...!
"Oh my. They say there is a ghost. Is it really...”
The terrified painter mumbled something. And Leopold, who heard the sound clearly, looked at the white canvas. A blank canvas on which more than ten painters could not draw a single line.
“...Are you punishing me for something like this?”
All he wants is just one of Olivia's paintings. Is she not even allowing him to have pictures?
Leopold took control of his dimming vision. After not being able to sleep for several days, Olivia's gorgeous silver hair floated like an illusion before his eyes.
A sweet laugh and a pretty face that tickles his ears. He reached out his hand unconsciously and only missed it after flailing it in the air a few times.
A great sense of loss washed over him like a wave. The empty half of his heart hurt so bad.
His memory was fading day by day, and he was unable to have even a single portrait of Olivia. While Leopold was biting his lip, Count Hodges next to him spoke, unable to hide his nervousness.
"Your Highness. Now is not the time to do this. The negotiating team, including the Duke of Madeleine, returned. It is said that the title to the southern fiefdom went to Lady Olivia. About how to quickly restore the territories...”
“Berteng.”
"Yes, Your Highness."
“Get more skilled painters. It would be better if they couldn’t say anything so they couldn’t say anything stupid.”
For a moment, Count Hodges was speechless. And he looked at the Prince. There was no trace of a firearm in his sparkling sea-colored eyes. His face was pale, without even his bushy beard trimmed.
Count Hodges thought blankly at the collapsed state of the Crown Prince prince, whose very existence was the future of the Empire.
The imperial palace, perhaps the Empire...
He couldn't finish his thought. So instead of answering, he walked outside with his head down. The aides gathered in front of the door were looking at Count Hodges with anxious faces.
Count Hodges spoke with the feeling of swallowing bitter water as he looked at his face, hoping that he would give the right order this time.
“Do your best to stop the rumor that the southwest territory has been taken over by Vikander. There is a lot of turmoil due to Vikander’s marriage, but there is no need for rumors to spread throughout the system.”
A look of defeat deepened on the faces of the aides. But all Count Hodges could do was to slow the path to downfall even a little.
***
- Congratulations. Lord of the Southwest.
Now the rumor that her sister is the owner of seventeen fiefdoms has spread throughout Franz.
A sunny afternoon. Listening to the sound of firewood crackling, Ethella read the first line of the letter she wrote with a happy face.
Unlike the letter written in the past tense, it was actually before the rumor spread, but it was not a lie. By the time her sister received the letter, the rumor would have spread throughout Franz, just as she had written in her letter.
In social circles, rumors travel as fast as a word without a foot can travel a thousand miles.
"Oh my God. I can't believe the Marquis of Liveorn is here too. I guess there really is no one left by Her Highness’s side now.”
As if to prove Ethella's confidence, a whisper came from the downstairs drawing room through the open window.
It wasn't even tea party time yet, but the ladies who arrived quickly as if they were aware of it were chattering away, unaware of the existence of the open balcony.
"Shh. Be careful what you say, Young Lady lady. They say Vikander's national wedding is coming soon, but will even the Marquis of Liveorn be able to hold out? Probably only the Duke of Madeleine was invited from the Empire.”
Ethella stopped her hand at the voice she heard. Suddenly, Conrad's face came into her mind as he handed her the wedding invitation.
“The knight from Vikander asked me to deliver it to you.”
He received only two invitations to the negotiation meeting. The names of Ethella and Sally were written on the invitations.
When her father heard about the invitation, he didn't say anything. He simply told Ethella to take good care of her gift. But she knew.
Her father's living room, that timeless space, was beginning to pass. And that the portrait that was hanging above the fireplace was wrapped in cloth and moved to the art room.
Now, there is a portrait of the 'family' that can never be returned above the fireplace, and sometimes faint cries leak out from the closed parlor door.
Ethella hastily shook her head. No one in her family knows about it. It was an unwritten rule that even Jade, who did not come into the mansion often, knew.
She moved her pen again. And she began writing down letters filled with rumors that had recently stirred up the system.
- It is said that a Countess from the Kingdom of Auslan locked herself in the most barren place among her estates. The Count took a mistress younger than his wife.
- By the way, have you ever heard the name ‘Emerald’? This is the name of the most famous donor in the system these days. There are also frequent rumors that the identity of this donor is my older sister. Could you please tell me a little bit about what the truth is?
- Now I'm pretty good at tea parties. Isn't it funny that rumors about the imperial palace spread through the patronage of the Duke of Madeleine?
However, Ethella still doesn't know why His Royal Highness is recruiting artists. Once those countless painters enter the imperial palace gates, they don't come out.
“By the way, why doesn’t the Princess come here?”
Ethella glanced at the complaining voice and checked the time. Now she really just had to write the last verse and leave.
- I think this will be the last letter from the system. Just the thought of going to see my sister, the most beautiful bride, will make my day happy. I hope my sister has a happy day too.
Ethella.
Ethella, who concluded the letter with her brief signature, hesitated for a moment. Then she added a more friendly greeting in front of her signature.
Only then did a satisfied smile appear on her face.
The sunlight that came through the window illuminated Ethella. The pink diamond necklace around her neck sparkled as much as her smile.
A sunny afternoon. Listening to the sound of firewood crackling, Ethella read the first line of the letter she wrote with a happy face.
Unlike the letter written in the past tense, it was actually before the rumor spread, but it was not a lie. By the time her sister received the letter, the rumor would have spread throughout Franz, just as she had written in her letter.
In social circles, rumors travel as fast as a word without a foot can travel a thousand miles.
"Oh my God. I can't believe the Marquis of Liveorn is here too. I guess there really is no one left by Her Highness’s side now.”
As if to prove Ethella's confidence, a whisper came from the downstairs drawing room through the open window.
It wasn't even tea party time yet, but the ladies who arrived quickly as if they were aware of it were chattering away, unaware of the existence of the open balcony.
"Shh. Be careful what you say, Young Lady lady. They say Vikander's national wedding is coming soon, but will even the Marquis of Liveorn be able to hold out? Probably only the Duke of Madeleine was invited from the Empire.”
Ethella stopped her hand at the voice she heard. Suddenly, Conrad's face came into her mind as he handed her the wedding invitation.
“The knight from Vikander asked me to deliver it to you.”
He received only two invitations to the negotiation meeting. The names of Ethella and Sally were written on the invitations.
When her father heard about the invitation, he didn't say anything. He simply told Ethella to take good care of her gift. But she knew.
Her father's living room, that timeless space, was beginning to pass. And that the portrait that was hanging above the fireplace was wrapped in cloth and moved to the art room.
Now, there is a portrait of the 'family' that can never be returned above the fireplace, and sometimes faint cries leak out from the closed parlor door.
Ethella hastily shook her head. No one in her family knows about it. It was an unwritten rule that even Jade, who did not come into the mansion often, knew.
She moved her pen again. And she began writing down letters filled with rumors that had recently stirred up the system.
- It is said that a Countess from the Kingdom of Auslan locked herself in the most barren place among her estates. The Count took a mistress younger than his wife.
- By the way, have you ever heard the name ‘Emerald’? This is the name of the most famous donor in the system these days. There are also frequent rumors that the identity of this donor is my older sister. Could you please tell me a little bit about what the truth is?
- Now I'm pretty good at tea parties. Isn't it funny that rumors about the imperial palace spread through the patronage of the Duke of Madeleine?
However, Ethella still doesn't know why His Royal Highness is recruiting artists. Once those countless painters enter the imperial palace gates, they don't come out.
“By the way, why doesn’t the Princess come here?”
Ethella glanced at the complaining voice and checked the time. Now she really just had to write the last verse and leave.
- I think this will be the last letter from the system. Just the thought of going to see my sister, the most beautiful bride, will make my day happy. I hope my sister has a happy day too.
Ethella.
Ethella, who concluded the letter with her brief signature, hesitated for a moment. Then she added a more friendly greeting in front of her signature.
Only then did a satisfied smile appear on her face.
The sunlight that came through the window illuminated Ethella. The pink diamond necklace around her neck sparkled as much as her smile.
Ethela is so precious
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