Translator: Nox

Chapter 103

#103. The Last Tea Party in the Capital (2)

"...You've arrived at just the right moment, Young Duke."

The Empress softened her expression. And Olivia thought the triumphant smile on her face was only natural.

Conrad resembled the Duke more than anyone else. Therefore, he would side with the Empress for the sake of his younger sister's well-being and his family, who belonged to the Imperial Faction.

Even if that decision had nothing to do with Esella's wishes.

"We can't let the Princess's first Tea Party be filled with burdens. Young Duke, praise the Princess's efforts and escort her to rest. It would also upset you if the frail Princess were to struggle."

"Thank you for your concern. I was already worried about hosting the first Tea Party in the Imperial Palace."

Conrad's response did not deviate from Olivia's expectations.

Unlike Esella, who turned pale, Olivia merely raised the corners of her lips in a faint smile. In a situation where she could face Conrad without disappointment or fear, his words had no impact on her.

Esella had to give up her rightful place as the host of the Tea Party, but what could she do?

It was then. Just as Conrad's words seemed to pause for a moment, she felt a strange gaze. Assuming it was the Empress, Olivia raised her head and blinked.

It was Conrad. Until now, Conrad's gaze towards her had been one of two things: contempt or hatred.

But the way he was looking at her now was strange. He avoided eye contact as soon as their eyes met.

"...I will heed Empress's advice and actively cooperate with Esella's Tea Party here as well."

"What did you just say, Young Duke?"

Olivia wasn't the only one who doubted her ears at the quiet voice. The Empress, who had been smiling brightly, frowned and asked again as if she had misheard.

"It seems the preparations have gone smoothly thanks to the wisdom and help of the ladies here."

The Empress's lips twitched. Noble ladies and young ladies were all paying attention to the Empress.

"...The Young Duke must be busy with other important matters, yet he tries to check even such trivial things. It would be better to focus on the Heferti Delegation, befitting the Empire's status."

"As a working-level official, I must pay attention to even the smallest details to ensure the delegation's comfort. Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty."

The Empress scrutinized the Young Duke's face. This couldn't be happening.

It was hard to believe that he was the same Young Duke who had once taken her daughter's hand and danced the first dance, he showed no opening.

The Empress gritted her teeth. Unlike her heart, which was spreading with anxiety, she had to smile brightly.

"...The Duke must be very happy, Young Duke. To have such capable children."

Everyone could tell that there was a hidden dagger in her words filled with laughter. And Olivia was the only one who noticed that Conrad's eyes trembled slightly at those words.

"I hope he thinks so too."

Unlike his eyes, there was not a hint of tremor in Conrad's voice. Esella's whisper of relief beside him felt a little distant. Olivia stared at him blankly.

All of that was unlike Conrad.

Olivia clenched her fist tightly for a moment. What did it matter if it was unlike him, or like him? It had nothing to do with her.

Suppressing the strangely wavering heart, Olivia turned around. In the distance, the delegation and nobles were entering the garden.

* * *

It was a strange Tea Party. A Tea Party to which foreign delegations were invited, yet neither the Crown Prince nor the Princess were present.

The Crown Prince, who had attended until lunchtime, had excused himself due to a headache, while the Princess did not appear at all.

This was different from what the Empress had said earlier, that she could act as the host.

It might be possible for an ordinary Tea Party with only noble ladies and young ladies, but it was impossible now.

What on earth were they thinking about the delegation's reception?

All the nobles thought the same thing, but they didn't say it out loud. Meanwhile, the Emperor looked at the Empress with a kind face and said loudly.

"Now that we have enjoyed the luncheon, shouldn't we also enjoy the Empire's Tea Party? The second Princess of Madeleine has worked hard to prepare it, so I hope everyone has a good time."

With the Emperor's words, the Tea Party began.

Esella, as the host, greeted everyone according to etiquette, but the nobles' and the delegation's gazes quickly wandered elsewhere.

The second Princess. Then the Emperor was directly mentioning that the position of the first Princess was still valid.

But Olivia was nowhere to be seen.

Instead, the nobles glanced at the Grand Duke at once. The Grand Duke, sitting at a table with the Heferti Delegation, was staring at the Emperor with cold eyes.

It was an interesting situation. The nobles lowered their voices and cautiously expressed their opinions.

"Acknowledging her as a Princess still, does that mean he's going to reinstate her as the Crown Prince's fiancée?"

"Lady Etel caused such a mess, so he must have had to fix it somehow."

"Wasn't the Grand Duke even informed? His expression doesn't look good..."

"Doesn't look good, Edwin?"

Suddenly, the whispering voices stopped.

Olivia, who had suddenly appeared from nowhere, walked towards the Heferti Delegation's table with an elegant gait.

Edwin, who was sitting in a chair, blinked in surprise when he saw Olivia. His wide eyes looked cute.

"...Olivia wasn't visible, so I was looking around with a pitiful gaze."

Olivia smiled faintly at the natural answer.

"Where were you? I couldn't find you no matter how much I looked around."

There were few who knew the shortcuts in the palace where the banquet hall was located better than Olivia. It had been years since she had mastered even the paths used only by the servants.

"Well..."

While she hesitated, Edwin's eyes sparkled. Olivia smiled faintly and shrugged.

"It's a secret."

"Even between us?"

"Then I should keep it even more secret. The more secrets you have, the more mysterious you seem, right?"

Smiling lightly as if boasting, Olivia keenly scanned the gazes of the surrounding nobles.

The nobles, who had been hesitant about the word "second Princess" mentioned by the Emperor, were watching Olivia with calm eyes.

Calling Edwin's name as if showing off was intentional.

Now the nobles would talk about her relationship with Edwin again. Forgetting the phrase "second Princess of Madeleine."

Conrad, sitting at the Heferti Delegation's table, caught Olivia's eye as she scanned the nobles.

His strange expression, as if he had something to say, was the same as before.

Her calm heart fluttered. Not knowing what the essence of this strange wave was, Olivia closed her mouth tightly for a moment.

If it hadn't been for the Emperor's words, she would have just gone back. Why did she have to experience this strange feeling here?

The feeling of wanting to hate someone sincerely, as if being dragged down into a stained swamp.

She had to return to the Territory of Vikander quickly, she resolved inwardly.

"...You're already mysterious enough, so I should hold onto your hand, at least. Olivia."

A gentle voice brushed past Olivia's ear. A tender warmth carefully held Olivia's hand. The sharp, prickly heart quickly dulled.

The effect of the firm hand was great. If it hadn't been for the light clearing of someone's throat from somewhere, she would have wanted to hold on to it forever.

Olivia subtly pulled her hand away and greeted the nobles of the delegation.

"Excuse me. I am Olivia, the Grand Duke's fiancée."

Conrad paused for a moment. Ignoring the sign, Olivia looked at the delegation. Even from hearing the names without surnames, the delegation seemed to have noticed the strange atmosphere.

Olivia gave her final greeting with perfect etiquette.

"I came to greet His Highness for a moment, but the greeting has become a little long. I hope you have a pleasant time, and I will be on my way."

It was time to return to the Grand Duke's Residence. She hadn't spent as much time with Sobel and Hanna as she had thought. As she thought about leaving, she thought of things she would miss.

Where was Dian, who hadn't returned yet, resting? Olivia smiled faintly and was about to turn around when.

"If you don't mind, would you like to have a cup of tea with us, Lady?"

At the friendly words, Olivia looked at the man wearing a monocle for a moment.

Duke Kiwel, the head of the Heferti Delegation.

During her time as the Crown Prince's fiancée, she had heard quite a few stories about Duke Kiwel during the war with Heferti.

A man of great skill, excellent at leading negotiations. His moderately smiling face gave off a friendly atmosphere, but Olivia knew well that many nobles in society could stab you in the back with a smiling face.

What was his intention? No, what choice should she make to make things more favorable for Edwin?

Olivia reflexively looked at Edwin. At that moment, the precarious worry, like walking on a tightrope, became meaningless.

"If you have time, you should. Olivia. This tea is quite good."

As soon as their eyes met, Edwin smiled harmlessly and whispered.

Olivia suppressed a burst of laughter at his focus on the current situation, not the negotiation landscape. And she whispered back to Edwin in the same way.

"I asked for that tea to be set up."

He didn't seem to have noticed even after seeing the tea that she enjoyed drinking at the Grand Duke's Residence.

Edwin, who blinked in surprise, smiled brightly. Olivia smiled faintly and made her decision.

And she looked at Duke Kiwel and nodded.

"It's fortunate that the table is wide enough to be treated to a cup of tea."

"Indeed. It's similar to the tea tables in Heferti, so I was also soothing my homesickness."

At Duke Kiwel's words, the nobles unknowingly looked at the scenery of the Tea Party.

Come to think of it, it was a thoughtful party composition. The sunshade, the flowers on the table, and even the tea table hidden under the table cover.

This was exactly the kind of delicacy that had been seen in the Princess's past banquets.

The nobles exchanged glances with a strange feeling. Meanwhile, a servant quickly set up a new chair and teacup next to Edwin.

When Olivia sat down with Edwin's escort, Duke Kiwel smiled faintly. And he looked at Olivia with a subtle gaze.

"My father was quite knowledgeable about jewels."

At the sudden story, Olivia quietly looked at Duke Kiwel.

"He could recognize any jewel at once. He could even guess what grade the jewel would be, so my mother would always ask my father to accompany her when she bought jewels."

Was it a story about jewels, or a story about his father?

Conrad's gaze felt burdensome, but Olivia tried to focus on the story. Duke Kiwel was still looking at Olivia as if he was interested.

Duke Kiwel's gaze was quite low throughout the story. Was he perhaps looking at the necklace around her neck?

"Since I was always looking at jewels, I also have a pretty good eye for judging jewels. Nevertheless, it seems there are jewels that I cannot distinguish."

Duke Kiwel's voice, smiling as if interested, became strangely low.

"May I ask what the jewel in that necklace is?"

At the confident question, Olivia reflexively clutched the Magic Stone.

* * *

"What? Olivia is at the Tea Party?"

The Crown Prince's Palace bedroom.

Leopold, who had been lying down with an impatient face, jumped up.

Count Hagis nodded, suppressing his urgent heart.

The Crown Prince, who hadn't even listened when he had talked so much about the importance of the Tea Party, was now paying attention to Olivia's name.

Count Hagis cursed himself for bringing up Olivia's story and helped the Crown Prince prepare.

It was then. A piercing voice called Leopold through the open door.

"Leopold-!"

Her lovely face was filled with desperation. Maria Etel clung to Leopold's arm pitifully.

"You promised to be with me if I stayed here quietly! My father also promised not to protest the confinement, so where are you going!"

Leopold looked at Maria with a disgusted face.

Even though she knew that the connection was already broken, Maria couldn't let go of that handsome face.