Chapter 10
#010. The Drawing Room of My Father, Where I So Desired to Enter
"Of course, even if an unfortunate event occurs, another daughter of House Madeleine can come. Wouldn't that be a truly solid bond?"
The Empress spoke clearly.
Leopold's partner would unconditionally be a noble lady from the Imperial faction. The most honorable position, and at the same time, a place where she would wither and die, trapped in the Empress's nest.
The Duke was the heartless father who offered his daughter to that place where everyone else hid theirs.
A cold man who hid his precious youngest daughter and offered up a bastard he had turned the empire upside down to find.
So the Duke would move as he wished, like a piece on a chessboard.
"I will be going."
Everyone knew that agreement was omitted before the Duke's words. The Empress threw a laughing remark at the Duke's departing back.
"Farewell, Duke. No matter what others say, we are on the same side."
A tinkling laughter spread from the drawing room he left behind. Duke Giovanni Madeleine gritted his teeth.
Olivia. What on earth was that child doing to make the Empress even mention Esella?
He had to go to the mansion. Before she ruined things further.
.
.
.
As soon as the Duke left, Countess Cheise fell to the floor.
"Y-Your Majesty. I really didn't do it. Please believe me."
"I want to believe you didn't either."
The moment she heard the pitiful voice, Countess Cheise raised her head sharply as if she had found a glimmer of hope.
"But what can I do?"
"Y-Your Majesty?"
"With so much evidence against you, there's no reason for me to embrace you and make an enemy of House Madeleine, is there? Don't you think so?"
"……."
"You must be tired after coming up to the capital, so go back down to Cheise territory to rest."
Everything was neatly arranged. The Empress waved her hand lightly at Countess Cheise, who was being pushed out.
When the door closed, the Empress laughed again like a girl.
"That was fun. Threatening the Chamberlain. That lowly thing is quite something."
The corners of the Empress's eyes narrowed thinly. A half-Madeleine, is that it? Hmph. In the end, she's just a half.
Someone who can't mix in anywhere.
"I'm glad you enjoyed it, Your Majesty."
Marchioness Ophtem, the closest of the maids, smiled and applied fragrance to the Empress's hand.
After confirming the Empress's relaxed expression, Marchioness Ophtem spoke as if she had just remembered.
"By the way, Lady Etel is quite something too. Daring to impersonate His Highness the Crown Prince."
"This time was a bit dangerous. Really, if Her Majesty hadn't bestowed her grace, that lovely face would have been ruined."
"Indeed. Her Majesty is truly amazing. How did she know and send a maid there?"
The Empress smiled generously and thought of Maria Etel.
The Crown Prince's lover with a lovely appearance.
As a member of the same aristocratic faction, it was quite a pity that she couldn't be raised to the position of Crown Princess Consort, but she didn't know she would create such an interesting game on her own.
"Lady Maria Etel asked for a card."
She remembered what the maid planted in the Crown Prince's palace had said. Now that she had covered it up so grandly, it was only a matter of time before Maria Etel became her pawn.
The Empress hummed and looked down at her nails.
It was time to get her nails done again. Longer and sharper.
* * *
The Chamberlain bowing beyond the window could be seen. The carriage slowly departed.
Countess Cheise had left the palace. Within a few days, the Countess would return to her territory.
Just like the way the Empress always did things.
Normally, Olivia would have pretended not to know.
But, now that House Madeleine had been touched as well. This matter had to be told to her father.
If it were just her own matter, it would be one thing. But if it was something concerning Madeleine, whom he loved like his own life, her father would likely be angry as well. Perhaps, just perhaps.
Wouldn't he be angry, even just a little, for her sake too?
Olivia chuckled. The thought that it was unlikely was greater, but an unavoidable expectation swelled up.
Whatever it was, she had a reason to talk to her father, even if just a little.
Olivia, with a brighter face, looked out the window and was startled. She knocked on the window of the driver's seat.
"Stop there for a moment."
"Lady!"
When the carriage slowed down and came to a complete stop, Sally called out to Olivia loudly and boarded the carriage.
"How did you get here? How did you know I was here?"
"Lady, that's not important right now."
Sally breathed heavily. Olivia sensed something unusual in Sally's tense face.
"What's wrong?"
"His Grace is looking for you!"
Olivia's heart pounded violently. The words that her father was looking for her were the first she had heard since she came to House Madeleine.
* * *
In front of the dark oak door, Olivia took a deep breath.
Her father's drawing room. A place that had been forbidden to her for 14 years.
She raised her trembling fist and knocked on the door.
"It's Olivia."
The door, which seemed like it would never open, opened.
The Duke was standing in front of a large window where the sunset was overflowing.
Because the sunset was too strong, the Duke's face could not be seen. Not knowing what kind of expression he had, Olivia clenched and unclenched her fist for no reason.
The drawing room was quiet. Olivia pressed down on the area near her pounding heart with her hand and took another step forward.
How much had her father heard? Had he heard how she reacted? Not knowing where to start, Olivia hesitated for a moment before parting her lips.
"F, Fathe-"
"Crown Princess Consort."
Cutting off Olivia's words, a cold voice fell. The Duke looked down at Olivia directly. His face against the sunset was as cold as ice.
"To become the Crown Princess Consort, that was the only thing I asked of you."
A sharply honed voice once, and a gaze without a shred of affection, stabbed Olivia.
"Unable to keep even that one thing, you've been embroiled in such a scandal, and you're audaciously trying to turn the Crown Prince's palace upside down?"
"That's, not true."
There was clearly a misunderstanding.
"I heard that the Empress sent you a gift as a consolation for always being alone. But you threatened the Chamberlain just because of a card included in it? Do you really think you are qualified to be the Crown Princess Consort after doing that?"
The heavy voice sharply attacked Olivia, but Olivia was relieved instead.
Right now, her father was misunderstanding her.
"It wasn't just a simple card. It was a card that impersonated His Highness the Crown Prince to mock me and insult House Madeleine."
"Why does that insult House Madeleine?"
"Pardon?"
"Didn't you hear me? I asked why mocking you insults House Madeleine."
His vivid purple eyes were as indifferent as if he were looking at a stranger.
Olivia's breath caught as if she had been stabbed deep in her lungs by the coldly cutting words.
It had been a really, really long time since she had seen her father.
Every morning, he would frown when he saw her face, and he had never once called her to his drawing room, but that was because her efforts had not yet reached her father.
Her father had still brought her here, who had become alone.
He had allowed her to live with a wonderful wife for a while, allowed her to meet her brothers and sisters, allowed her to wear pretty silk dresses, allowed her to eat delicious food, and also…….
Ah, that's right. He had seated her next to Leopold, in the most precious seat.
Her father knew that she liked Leopold. He said it was a precious seat that she would not be able to sit in if she were not a lady of House Madeleine.
The more she counted, the more reasons there were.
"I'm also,"
For some reason, her voice trembled, so Olivia clenched her fist tightly.
"I'm also, a Madeleine."
The voice that burst out towards the Duke trembled.
The moment the Duke looked at Olivia indifferently, Olivia realized.
"If you want to claim that you are a Madeleine, act properly like a Madeleine."
That there was still a line between her father and her.
"Behave yourself. And don't drag those dirty rumors into House Madeleine again."
A cold gaze, words that hated her as if everything was her fault. All of these things were the same situation as when she was a child, unable to say anything with her arms held.
Then and now, there was only one thing she could say.
Olivia muttered small, as if squeezing it out.
"……I, didn't do, anything."
"You didn't do anything, and those rumors are covering you?"
"……Yes."
"Then, what did you do in the Crown Prince's palace?"
"That's, just."
……It was her effort to protect Madeleine. Even if she was ignored, Madeleine shouldn't be.
If she protected Madeleine together, she thought she would get an inch closer to her father.
The Duke looked down at Olivia as if reproaching her. She had only wanted an inch, but they had grown ten inches apart.
"……Get out."
The Duke glared at Olivia as if he was fed up with her. Olivia turned around and stared blankly at the drawing room.
Every time she looked at the oak door, she wondered what was inside.
The portrait hanging above the fireplace was the same as it was 14 years ago, before she came in. There was the Duchess smiling brightly, a kind father, and Conrad and Jade laughing mischievously. There was the fairy-like Esella.
In this place, where time seemed to have passed by, and which was still the same as it was 14 years ago.
There was just, hatred for her.
Olivia consciously breathed.
She felt like she was suffocating.
.
.
.
She didn't know how she got back to her room.
Lying on the bed in her dress, Olivia stared at the ceiling. There was a silk canopy full of fancy lace sliding down, and no matter where she looked, there were valuable things everywhere.
But her insides were empty and hollow. Had she skipped dinner?
After thinking about it for a while, Olivia shook her head and buried her face in the bed again.
The rustling bedclothes coldly wrapped around her cheeks.
In a state where all sounds seemed to have disappeared, Olivia just thought that what she wanted was very small.
Even if it wasn't the kind of affection that would give everything like the Chamberlain.
She had hoped to hear words like, "You worked hard," or "You did well."
At least. She thought that her best effort, which hid her trembling hands, was worth that much.
Olivia raised her hand. And suddenly thought.
It was fortunate that she continued to wear the gloves she had received from the man.
At least, her father wouldn't have seen her hands trembling. The brilliantly sparkling gloves would have caught his eye first.
Then Olivia chuckled softly.
Come to think of it, there was no way her father would have noticed her trembling hands. The thought made her laugh. Olivia laughed out loud.
When the loud laughter subsided.
Olivia's face twisted slightly before being quickly hidden by the blanket.
Without a sound, Olivia's back trembled delicately.
* * *
In the victory banquet hall filled with paired hands, Olivia Madelaine was alone again today. The nobles subtly gestured towards the Madeleine Princess with knowing smiles.
"Honestly, what's she thinking, wearing matching outfits like partners and being alone?"
"I know, right? She should have just not worn the dress. It's like advertising that Lady Etel stole the Crown Prince from her."
As the nobles said, Leopold in his red uniform was next to Maria Etel in her pink dress.
Not next to Olivia in her red dress, which matched the red uniform as a partner outfit.
Her eyes met Leopold's in the distance. One corner of Leopold's mouth quirked up. A beautifully drawn eye smile and a crooked yet charming attitude.
Leopold knew Olivia too well. That's why this was so easy for him. Being with Maria Etel, and everything that happened at the Crown Prince's palace.
Olivia looked ahead as if nothing had happened.
If she thought it was nothing, it really was nothing. Otherwise, she felt like she would be consumed by the shame and humiliation she had carefully hidden.
Her father and Conrad were visible at a moderate distance. They must have heard the story, but they didn't even pretend to turn to look at her.
Seeing them in such a large banquet hall made them seem like strangers. Her gaze fell to the lace gloves.
She wore the jewels and dress sent from the Imperial Palace, but she wore these gloves, the ones the man had given her.
Olivia slowly raised her gloved hand. He was a man who strangely put her at ease when she was with him.
It was then. A heavy horn sound overwhelmed the banquet hall.
"His Imperial Majesty, the Empress, and Princess enter!"
The Chamberlain shouted loudly. Everyone paid their respects to the Emperor, Empress, and Princess. Behind the lavishly decorated Emperor and Empress was Princess Reina in a pure white dress.
It was an unusual dress for the Princess, who always loved extravagance.
"Homage to the sun and moon of the Empire. We greet His Imperial Majesty and the Empress."
"Haha. Everyone, it's a joyous day, so please rise."
As if to liven up the atmosphere, the Emperor laughed coolly and raised his glass. Then, noticeably looking around the banquet hall, he said loudly.
"But where are the main characters of today?"
"Well, that is…"
The Chamberlain of the Imperial Palace, who was closest, whispered to the Emperor, looking embarrassed. The Emperor frowned at those words.
"What? They haven't arrived yet?"
Everyone in the banquet hall fell silent. Although it was a victory banquet, it was impossible to arrive later than the Emperor and Empress.
Just as the Emperor was about to explode with his fiery temper.
"Grand Duke Edwin Lowell Vikander and the Imperial Knights, the Vikander Knights, enter!"
With the Chamberlain's voice echoing through the banquet hall, knights in full uniform entered majestically through the abruptly opened doors.
Olivia also looked at the line of knights, searching for Jade. It would be easy to find him with his silver hair, but she couldn't see him, perhaps because there were so many people.
Suddenly, the people watching the procession became silent. Olivia turned her head at the reaction of the people.
Olivia's eyes widened. And she blinked without realizing it. The man in the black uniform at the very front of the knights' procession.
Towering height and hair as black as darkness that even reflected light. Ruby-colored eyes with a reddish tint. A beautiful face that made even admiration feel inadequate.
That man was definitely. The man she had been thinking about until just now, the one she had seen on Ruheirn Street.
