Chapter 108
#108. Lowell, the Dancer, and Green Eyes (1)
Pitch-black darkness surged in the early dawn.
With the sound of horses snorting, the carriage carrying Olivia departed. Olivia continuously gazed out the window.
The Grand Duke's Residence was brightly lit, as if seeing Olivia off, and in front of it, numerous people were bidding farewell to Olivia and the Knights. Sobel, Hanna, and Winster and Howard...
Among them, Edwin's face was particularly etched in her mind.
As his face grew more distant, she felt an urge to stop the carriage, but Olivia did not.
"We'll see each other soon. So, go to the Territory of Vikander first... Liv."
The nickname she had called him all night came to mind.
The gentle voice that tickled her ears echoed, and Olivia's gaze could not leave Edwin.
He was right. Soon, when the negotiations were over, Edwin would return to the Territory of Vikander.
But this was the first time they had been apart for so long after heading to the Territory of Vikander together.
Only after the carriage passed through the gate did Olivia finally adjust her posture. The carriage, where the two of them used to sit, seemed particularly spacious.
Her heart felt so heavy and cold that Olivia clasped her hands together, hidden inside her Robe.
The warmth of Edwin's hands, which had been holding hers just moments ago, remained, comforting Olivia. Her nose tingled strangely, and Olivia hesitated to bite her lip.
The medicine applied transparently on her lips tasted bitter. At the same time, Edwin, who had applied the medicine, came to mind.
The hand that carefully reached for her lips, the worried eyes, the voice that called out to her. And the affectionate face that smiled while kissing the bridge of her nose.
Everything was Edwin.
She had stayed up all night, but she wasn't tired. On the contrary, her mind was clear. Nevertheless, Olivia quietly closed her eyes.
At the same time, the story Edwin had told her last night came to mind.
* * *
"...I don't know much about it either. But I heard that after Lowell disappeared into history, strange rumors spread throughout the Empire. As Olivia knows, people with green eyes... the rumor of dancers."
The late-night moon was brightly shining. Under that moonlight, Edwin embraced Olivia as if comforting her, and spoke.
Olivia smiled slightly. She understood the meaning implied by the silence before the word "dancer" in Edwin's words.
Crude words like vulgar or frivolous. His considerate heart, as if he couldn't bring himself to say them, was clearly revealed.
"I approached the people of Yeniv to find out when and why, but they didn't easily let their guard down. Which is understandable. I didn't tell them the story of Lowell regarding the green eyes either, so it's the same."
"...When we return, I'll go there again."
"That's so reassuring. Liv?"
"Don't expect too much. I'm going because of the construction on Yeniv Street too."
Olivia quickly added to his praising words. Nevertheless, his gaze full of trust did not change.
Olivia quietly buried her face in Edwin's chest, as if avoiding his gaze. Edwin smiled slightly and continued.
"So, I've even speculated that it might be to suppress the remaining forces of Lowell. Even if His Majesty the Emperor considers Vikander a thorn in his side, there's not much reason to touch Lowell, which is already a ruined nation."
A thorn in his side.
Although he mentioned it with a light word, Olivia was well aware of the rumors that had spread throughout the Empire.
When Edwin became Grand Duke Bikander and first went to the battlefield, it was ten years ago, when he was only about ten years old.
If it was the Emperor who sent that young child to the battlefield, it was not just a thorn in his side, but practically pushing him off a cliff to die.
If Edwin had been hurt back then... Olivia consciously held her breath, but it was difficult to avoid the painful scenes that filled her mind.
Unaware of her feelings, Edwin smiled and said to Olivia, whom he was holding in his arms.
"All I know about Lowell is that magic was developed there. Bethany probably knows more than I do. I... all I have are old stories I heard from my mother when I was young."
Since all records of Lowell had long been branded as seditious books and burned, it was understandable.
Anyway, old stories. Olivia looked at Edwin with a strange feeling. She was curious about everything related to Lowell.
Perhaps that feeling was revealed in Olivia's eyes, as Edwin added with a low laugh.
"If I had known this would happen, I would have left it as a fairy tale and shown it to Liv. At that time, I just liked listening to the stories. I'll be sure to tell you next time. I'll remember it perfectly."
Olivia recalled the songs her mother used to sing to her. Perhaps there was something related to Lowell among them.
While she was briefly reminiscing, Edwin continued.
"So, maybe that's why I want to know more about the secret of the White Crystal Mine. Because what's clear about the 'Lowell' I know is not much."
"A, secret?"
When Olivia barely stammered, Edwin nodded as if agreeing.
"Yes. I'm going to check the secret documents of the Imperial Family that Olivia told me about back then. If we see that, at least we can figure out what the Emperor knows."
* * *
The secret of the White Crystal Mine.
Olivia quietly opened her eyes. Bethany was practically living in the mine now, trying to find the secret, she said.
What could be the secret hidden in the bleak and strange mine?
Olivia shook her head, recalling the time she had accompanied magicians and geologists on an investigation.
If there was a secret in that place where even the veins of minerals had been cut off, there was no way the magicians wouldn't have discovered it.
Nevertheless, Olivia hoped that Edwin would discover the secret.
"It would have been nice if I could have heard what that secret was directly from my mother."
Because the quiet voice, as if adding it at the end, seemed like it would never be forgotten.
"...She said she could only tell the royal family of Lowell who had come of age."
There was an indelible wound on his red eyes.
"Now, it's something that can't be achieved no matter how desperately I wish for it."
The lonely smile that she could only look at with pity disappeared in the blink of an eye.
Olivia recalled that face and unconsciously murmured.
"...If we do our best, everything will be achieved."
Olivia realized her mistake at the words that came to mind belatedly, like her mother's spell, and approached the window. Beyond the carriage that was already quite far, she could only see Dian, who was riding alongside as if escorting her.
She should have said those words directly earlier.
With regret, Olivia pictured the day she would see him again in her mind. After the negotiations with Heferti were completed and the secret documents of the Imperial Family were obtained.
Or after Bethany discovered the secret of the White Crystal Mine first.
It was impossible to predict which would be faster.
But.
Just as Edwin was looking for clues about the White Crystal Mine in the Imperial Palace, she too would help Bethany find the secret of the White Crystal Mine.
Olivia habitually fiddled with the Magic Stone on her necklace. Solid efforts were bound to be achieved.
At the words that reminded her of her mother, Olivia quietly relaxed her body. Then, a quiet melody leaked out from her lips. The songs her mother used to sing...
If she found the secret of the mine, Edwin would be happier.
Dian outside the window would not cover his eyes either.
And the children of Yeniv would also run around singing joyful songs...
Olivia paused for a moment. She felt strange. An unresolved question began to arise.
Blinking her eyes, Olivia re-examined the story Edwin had told her. At the same time, she began to add the things she had experienced and create a connection.
The lost kingdom of Lowell and the green-eyed royals, the late Grand Duchess who went to the palace, and the White Crystal Mine, the treasure that was taken away.
And the green eyes that were branded as despised dancers.
"...Why a dancer of all things..."
Knock knock-. A knock echoed over Olivia's murmur. Olivia stopped murmuring and lowered the window.
Dian asked with an expectant face.
"My lady. How about breakfast now? There's a really delicious turkey meat restaurant over there!"
Turkey. Olivia smiled and nodded. Soon, Dian smiled brightly.
As the sun rose, it seemed as if a hint of greenish pupils could be seen under Dian's brown Lenses.
* * *
The Princess couldn't bring herself to lift her head due to the overwhelming pressure. She didn't even have time to call for her mother, the Empress, who would protect her, and she was having a private audience with the Emperor.
"His Majesty the Emperor is looking for you."
The Chamberlain himself had come to find her. Without even having time to delay, pretending to be sick, she reluctantly headed to the Emperor's office, where she faced the Emperor, and tens of minutes of silence continued heavily.
"...Take responsibility for what you've done and make it as if it never happened."
At the voice full of anger, the Princess's head went blank for a moment.
She thought there would be no forgiveness, but still, to have to solve this messed-up situation all by herself.
She couldn't even distinguish what the Emperor meant by 'what I've done'.
Was it about the Abandoned Mine? Or was it about Maria Etel's matter? If not, she didn't even dare to ask what it was.
"Before the delegation returns. Perfectly."
"Your Majesty the Emperor-!"
"If you want to live as a Princess like you do now."
The Princess, who was about to appeal to the Emperor in a hurry due to the tight schedule, quickly closed her mouth.
There was no affection whatsoever in her father's eyes when she raised her head and met his gaze. Her hands and feet turned cold as if frost had formed on her heart. At the same time, it felt as if the floor she was standing on was collapsing.
She immediately knew what the words, if you want to live as a Princess, meant.
The crisis of being deprived of everything she had enjoyed so far.
Only then did the Princess realize why the Emperor had referred to her as 'you' instead of 'Princess' earlier.
On a precarious test stand. The only answer the Princess could give on top of it was this. Suppressing her fear, the Princess barely spoke.
"...Yes. Your Majesty."
There were no further instructions from the Emperor. The sound of him turning his head as if he didn't even want to see her face was sharp.
At the unspoken order to leave, the Princess barely gave a proper greeting and left the office.
In the hallway full of Knights, greetings poured out for her. But the Princess knew very well that their eyes had changed significantly.
The eyes that had always looked up to her had lost their light. Watching their mechanical behavior, the Princess silently clenched the hem of her dress.
Her legs faltered with shame, but she couldn't bring herself to collapse. She smiled at the nanny who was looking at her with worried eyes and walked out.
Every time the nobles who had come to work early paid their respects to her, she steadied her crumbling heart.
She could never let go of her status as a Princess.
The Princess of the Franz Empire, the most powerful and prosperous on the continent. This status would make her shine wherever she went.
Then what should she do? Her head was all in a mess.
The banquet that had not yet ended, the gossiping delegation and nobles.
A good card to completely divert their attention.
The Princess quietly stopped walking. Why hadn't she thought of this?
"Your Highness the Princess?"
The nanny asked, puzzled by the Princess's sudden stop. The Princess asked coldly.
"...Where is Maria Etel now?"
That detestable girl who had put her in trouble, but who might now save her from trouble, a card to be used and discarded.
If she completely buried that child in society, her story would be buried.
But the nanny couldn't hide her uneasy heart.
"Your Highness the Princess, what is the reason for looking for Maria Etel..."
