Chapter 107
#107. The Only Name You Can Call
"Your Highness has arrived!"
The moment the report of Edwin's arrival reached her, a myriad of thoughts flashed through Olivia's mind.
"The previous Grand Duchess also had green eyes, so don't you realize that the love you receive is merely a substitute for her!"
Starting with the story about the eye color of the previous Grand Duchess, Lowell's last princess.
"I don't know how they came to be, but I know why they settled here."
Yeniv Street, where people with green eyes, unseen even in the capital, lived.
And.
"...If we meet again, and I mean if, would you allow me to repay your kindness then?"
Every moment with Edwin, who had been kind and asked for her permission from their first meeting, rushed back to her. If even one of those moments had been intentional... If even a sliver of truth was mixed in with the Crown Prince's countless lies.
Unresolved thoughts churned in her head. Even the mere possibility suffocated her. She felt a chilling sensation throughout her body, as if submerged deep underwater.
Nevertheless.
Olivia raised her stiffening lips.
Ironically, if Edwin appeared before her now, Olivia could smile as much as she wanted. If he asked if something was wrong, she could smile gently and say it was nothing.
She simply liked the present. The present where she was loved and loved in return.
She didn't want to unearth any hidden truths. She could bury the small sprout of unease and hide it away so it would never be seen again...
"Are you alright, Olivia?"
Clang-. A heartwarming bell sound rang out, and a tender concern rushed in through the opened door.
Olivia blinked as she looked at Edwin walking in from the doorway.
His reddish eyes, as if relieved, and his hurried steps towards her were all familiar.
The moment a strand of his perfectly styled black hair slowly fell onto his forehead, Olivia suddenly remembered Edwin whom she had met at the turning bell.
When she looked up at his face as he came to find her, just like then.
Olivia realized that the most important condition was missing from the scenario she had created.
Edwin loves her.
With such complete sincerity that it was almost ridiculous to doubt it.
At that, Olivia burst into laughter.
.
.
.
"All the healing mages in the capital belong to the Imperial Palace, so Bethany..."
As her beautiful laughter echoed through the reception room, Edwin, as well as Howard and Winster who were following behind with reports, stopped in their tracks.
Unlike the bright laughter, Olivia's eyes were red-rimmed. Before he could even discern the meaning of her laughter, his heart sank.
The moment he saw the dark purple bruise on her pale, slender wrist, Edwin gritted his teeth.
How dare they...! It was easy to guess who was responsible.
"Dian says that the young lady came from the Crown Princess Palace."
Fierce anger surged through him. If he had known this would happen, he would have crushed the Crown Prince's face instead of facing the Emperor.
Belated regret washed over him. Forcing a smile, Edwin was about to speak when.
"Edwin, I used to have a bad habit."
A bad habit? No, before that, her light, canary-like voice didn't suit the situation.
Sensing the unusual atmosphere, Howard ushered the others outside.
Thud, the door closed.
In the space where only the two of them remained, Olivia smiled gently.
"It's constantly saying that I'm okay."
"..."
"Actually, it's a habit I thought I had lost. Ever since I met Edwin, I've become so impatient that I do whatever I want."
"..."
"But today, for a brief moment, this bad habit resurfaced."
A bad habit that resurfaced, taking advantage of her restless heart.
The words that came out at the end of a deep breath trembled slightly.
Seeing Edwin's eyes waver, Olivia took his hand and added quietly.
"...I learned from His Highness the Crown Prince earlier that the previous Grand Duchess also had green eyes."
Edwin's face instantly hardened. Fearing that Edwin might think she was making a ridiculous misunderstanding, Olivia cut him off in advance.
"I'm not misunderstanding anything. I've received so much love that I can't doubt Vikander's love for me. And as for you desiring me for revenge..."
"Olivia!"
"...Edwin's face is already saying no."
Olivia stared silently at Edwin's pale face.
There was no way a man who rushed to her with such a pained expression over a single bruise would deceive her.
"So, there are many things I want to hear from Edwin."
"..."
"But may I speak first?"
His answer, as if he had been waiting for it, sounded somewhat desperate. Looking at his face, which seemed ready to tell her anything, Olivia hesitated for a moment.
Pushing aside the dozens of rational questions filling her head, there was only one thing she wanted to say most.
"...I love you."
As if it wasn't what she had expected to say, Edwin's eyes widened. His red eyes were filled with her reflection.
It felt new. It was as if only now, after a long time, she was reflected in his eyes. Or, to be precise, was it that she was finally able to stand on her own?
Olivia intertwined her fingers with Edwin's.
Her heart was pounding as if it would burst. The heightened emotions seemed to like the name she had given them.
Seeing Edwin standing still as if frozen, she felt a pang of affection and was about to cry.
"So, share the weight you're carrying with me. Just like you did for me."
Perhaps the reason she had been so anxious after hearing the Crown Prince say she was a substitute for the previous Grand Duchess was because she knew nothing.
The story of the previous Grand Duke and Duchess and the Imperial Family, the real reason why everyone in the Territory of Vikander seemed to hate the Emperor, and even the people of the Territory of Vikander who didn't hate people with green eyes.
The countless pieces she had overlooked were now revealing themselves one by one.
Edwin blinked slowly.
His lips, which wouldn't easily give the answer that he loved her too, were tightly shut.
It was strange. Her heart was beating fast. She felt impatient and anxious at his appearance, which clearly showed that he loved her but didn't answer.
She didn't know if it meant he wouldn't share the weight, or if it meant something else. Olivia's lips were parched, and she murmured.
"If you can, please call me Liv."
It was a word she wanted to say in a more stylish way.
It was a ridiculous shape for a word that she had been thinking about for a long time. But Olivia spoke with sincerity.
"It's a name that only my mother used to call me a long time ago, and now."
"..."
"It's a name that only Edwin can call. So..."
"Liv."
When his voice, burning like passion, called her nickname, Olivia's eyes widened.
Edwin, who had been sitting next to her as if frozen, was now leaning over her, his hand on the back of the sofa.
His red eyes, burning like lava, were deeply sunken. His heartbeat was pounding so loudly that it was hard to believe she hadn't heard it until now.
"Liv... Liv, Liv."
Like a child learning a word for the first time, Edwin tried calling Olivia's nickname.
It was her nickname that she had heard since childhood. Nevertheless, the name pronounced in his captivating voice, which made her face flush, felt somehow unfamiliar.
"Edwin."
"Why do you keep saying things that are only advantageous to me?"
The emotions that had swept through her heart surged up.
Edwin didn't want to share his burdens with her. He wanted to hide the barren past of Vikander and only show her its wealthy and strong side.
A completely independent Duchy of Vikander, or a kingdom that could face the Emperor head-on.
He wanted to completely protect Olivia within it, allowing her to live in a peaceful world where she could do everything she wanted.
The things related to Lowell were the choices after that.
But this brave young lady always broke out of the world surrounding her. Sometimes so strongly that it was suffocating, sometimes giving strength so that her straight back wouldn't waver,
And, sometimes.
"Because."
Smiling so firmly.
"It's not just advantageous to Edwin, it's advantageous to us."
He couldn't bear it any longer.
Edwin let out a short groan in a hoarse voice. His large, solid body leaned towards Olivia. His clasped hands were precariously placed on the back of the sofa.
In the dense atmosphere, Edwin looked at Olivia with a straight gaze.
"...Will you allow me?"
A distance so close that their breaths mingled.
Olivia nodded slowly but surely.
His face came closer and closer.
As if waiting for it, his approaching lips slowly opened towards each other.
Olivia squeezed her eyes shut at the soft sensation that invaded the gap, the wet sounds, and the clumsy breathing.
With her eyes closed, all her senses rushed in more clearly.
The kiss that had approached pretending to be gentle was terribly hot and intense.
It was a first memory that she could never forget.
* * *
"...Most of the people of Lowell are like that. Green, light green, sky blue."
Darkness rippled through the window frame.
She had guessed it, but hearing it directly was a different feeling. Edwin continued slowly.
"As Olivia said, my mother's eye color was also green. To be exact."
"..."
"The royal family and high-ranking nobles of Lowell had green eyes."
Olivia's eyes widened at the overwhelming feeling.
"Just like Olivia's eye color now."
Edwin added as if driving a wedge. There was not a hint of playfulness on Edwin's face. Of course.
Then Mom...
Memories of her mother floated up like bubbles. Her strong and beautiful mother, and the dances and songs that made every situation sparkle like magic.
Olivia bit her lip without realizing it. And, ah, she murmured.
Her lips, which had been touching Edwin's for a long time, were plump. The moment she bit the area that was sore just from touching it, pain quickly rushed in.
"That won't do. Olivia. I should apply some medicine."
At the same time as his low voice, his strong hand carefully fixed Olivia's chin. His eyes, which had become much darker, stared at her lips and clicked his tongue.
Just that hoarse sound vividly recreated the heat from before. The tension that had made it impossible for her fingers to even wiggle rushed in again as if permeating her.
Feeling unnecessarily embarrassed, Olivia lowered her gaze. Edwin, who had been looking at her lips as if upset, smiled faintly.
"...It's okay to apply the medicine later. Will you continue the story?"
"Your thirst for knowledge is much higher than I thought, Olivia."
A joke was thrown out as if to change the atmosphere. Olivia smiled faintly.
"It's just, it's strange."
"..."
"I mean, my mom was always pointed at. That the royal family or high-ranking nobles of Lowell had green eyes."
Olivia closed her mouth for a moment. Because she didn't know what the true nature of this emotion that was rising up as if scratching the inside of her throat was.
Looking into Edwin's eyes, who was looking at her, Olivia chose the word to end the sentence.
She felt wronged, sad, and sometimes sorrowful. But even in all those situations, she liked these eyes she had inherited from her mother.
After a long time, Olivia closed her mouth with a faint smile.
"...It's strange."
