Chapter 13
#013. The Second Dance
"Your Highness, did you enjoy it as well?"
Words, heavy with worries I didn't even know I had, vanished into the air.
A small crack seemed to form on Leopold's usually indifferent expression. For the first time, I thought I saw an unfamiliar emotion in his eyes, which always looked at me with such ease.
"...No."
Olivia closed her mouth at the quiet reply. Leopold was truly different today.
He directly referred to her as his fiancée, called her by a pet name, and asked her for the first dance.
Could Leopold's sincerity have been hidden in those actions, which she had thought were just him taking her lightly?
It was an engagement she had reluctantly agreed to at first, but perhaps Leopold had inwardly acknowledged her as his fiancée.
Maybe Leopold had subtly opened his heart to her.
Small hopes gathered one by one. With expectations built upon disappointment, Olivia slowly looked at Leopold.
Leopold softly curved his eyes. The deep blue eyes within them looked at her as if accusing her. Olivia had a feeling that Leopold would say something different from what she expected.
"You dared to treat me like that in front of all the nobles. It would be a lie if I said I was only pleased."
A playful coldness pressed down on Olivia. Olivia smiled bitterly without realizing it. If she didn't bite her lip, a hollow sigh might have escaped.
"Thank Maria."
Leopold, mentioning Maria's name indifferently, gently tucked Olivia's hair behind her ear. A faint smell of burning wood wafted from him as he approached. Before she could cough, Leopold whispered.
"If Maria hadn't tried to lift my spirits, I would have been truly angry."
Of course. There was no way Leopold would be like that.
Forgetting to cough, Olivia tried to regain her fading senses. Her delusion was laughable. Leopold was still the same.
When would her expectation that he would look back at her if she did her best ever be fulfilled?
The realization of reality cruelly washed over Olivia. Olivia barely managed to raise the corners of her lips.
As new music began to play, Leopold's hand went to Olivia's waist. The feeling of his hand on her waist was awkward.
When Olivia flinched slightly, Leopold whispered as if he were a loving fiancé.
"If you're clumsy, you should at least pretend to be skilled, Princess."
Those words pierced Olivia's heart like a splinter.
Olivia danced.
She had imagined this day countless times.
Dancing with Leopold, wearing clothes of the same color, stepping in time together.
She was sure that she would be in the middle of a splendid banquet hall, receiving everyone's attention, and meeting Leopold's eyes. She thought that when he held her hand and danced with her, Leopold's eyes would surely be as gentle as a spring breeze.
Reality was neither as sweet nor as warm as she had imagined.
Even though it was the same dance, Leopold's lead relentlessly drove Olivia.
Olivia tried her best to keep up with Leopold's pace, focusing intently. She moved her feet quickly, worried about stepping on Leopold's feet.
Spinning around and around, floating up and crashing down. This dance was not enjoyable.
It was when she felt a throbbing in her ankle. The waltz ended.
Clap, clap, clap-. Thunderous applause erupted. Leopold, looking at her as if it were natural, gave a small bow.
Breath that she hadn't been able to exhale because she was so focused on her feet rose to her chin. Only then did Olivia belatedly catch her breath and bow to Leopold.
When she immediately raised her head, Leopold had already turned away.
Olivia realized that Leopold was heading towards Lady Etel, who was wearing a pink dress.
Olivia suddenly had a thought.
Maria Etel must be more familiar with Leopold's face.
Even if he was a man who always showed her only his back.
The throbbing pain in her foot grew stronger. Olivia composed herself, pretending to be fine. She thought as if casting a spell on herself.
It's okay, it's nothing. It's really okay.
On the dizzying high heels, Olivia clutched the hem of her dress. She had to stay in the banquet hall until five more songs had passed.
Sitting at a table at the edge, Olivia focused on the music. She hoped that the nobles wouldn't talk to her, but she felt a presence.
"Congratulations on your first dance, Princess."
It was Maria Etel. It was the first time she had spoken to Maria at the banquet. The nobles' attention was focused on this side.
"...Thank you, Lady. To congratulate me on my first dance. How thoughtful of you."
"Of course. You are the Crown Prince's fiancée. I should pay the most attention to you."
Maria sat next to Olivia, pretending to be friendly. Amidst Maria's perfume, there was a faint smell of burning wood. It was the same cigar smell she had smelled from Leopold.
Olivia coughed slightly. Maria widened her eyes in surprise and leaned back.
"Ah, I'm sorry, Princess. I must have picked up a bit of the smell because I stopped by the terrace for a moment."
Everyone knew that the terrace, draped with thick damask curtains, was a place for lovers to tryst. Maria smiled secretly.
"As you know, His Highness the Crown Prince always insists on this cigar. Oh, but if you're coughing, it seems like your respiratory system is weak. Or..."
Maria trailed off.
"You don't have many opportunities to smell cigars."
A subtle malice rose above the voice expressing concern. A sneer was deeply revealed in the eyes of Maria Etel, who tilted her head innocently.
Olivia smiled brightly.
So this was the reason why Maria Etel had bothered to find her.
Olivia quietly looked at Maria Etel. It was nothing new, but Maria was truly beautiful.
Her splendid blonde hair, her lovely white face, her confident attitude looking straight ahead, and her sparkling blue eyes were so beautiful. She was as lovely as if she had only received love.
Was that why Leopold couldn't let go of Maria?
"Princess?"
As if breaking the silence, Maria called Olivia in a friendly manner. Olivia swallowed words she couldn't say. The swallowed words broke sharply and painfully stabbed Olivia's chest.
Looking at the mocking eyes, Olivia deliberately smiled and replied.
"That's right. His Highness the Crown Prince doesn't usually smoke cigars in front of me. You must be happy, Lady. It seems your respiratory system is strong."
Maria's face twisted for a moment. While Maria closed her mouth as if searching for something to say, Olivia spoke casually.
"Do you want to be a mistress?"
Maria froze quietly. In this crowded place, Olivia spoke in a voice that was neither too small nor too loud.
"Since our Franz Empire does not recognize polygamy, the only position Lady can ultimately rise to would be Countess Rowaltz."
There were two ways for a young lady to become a mistress. Either live as a lady forever, or find a suitable match, get married, and then serve as an unofficial mistress under a tacit agreement.
"It's already been 30 years since Countess Rowaltz passed away. Isn't it a perfect position?"
Of course, both were equally dishonorable.
As if belatedly angered, Maria jumped up from her seat. She seemed to have forgotten the nobles who were straining their ears to eavesdrop on their conversation.
"H, how dare you, say such things to me!!"
"If not, what is the reason why Lady continues to flaunt her friendship with His Highness the Crown Prince to me?"
Maria's lips trembled at the quiet words. Tears seemed to well up in her fragile blue eyes, and then Maria ran off somewhere.
Watching Maria's retreating figure, Olivia also stood up. Before she could take a step, a throbbing pain spread through her foot.
As she walked with a blank expression, ladies gathered around Olivia.
"Princess. You seem to be having an interesting conversation, can we join you?"
"Both your first and second dances were wonderful."
"Come to think of it, where did Lady Etel go?"
Subtle probing disguised as friendly voices filled Olivia's surroundings.
Amidst the obvious provocations, Olivia replied, "I wonder." The nobles, as if growing more impatient with her ambiguous words, spoke to Olivia even more eagerly.
How did she know the Grand Duke, why was Lady Etel angry, why wasn't the Crown Prince showing himself.
The words, aristocratic in tone only, lacked any respect for Olivia. Olivia smiled brightly and bowed slightly.
"As you can see, there have been too many things happening. I'll excuse myself first today."
Sharp criticisms poured out behind her back, but it didn't matter.
A burning pain spread through her foot. Olivia looked around, walking with a straight posture. The Grand Duke was nowhere to be seen in the banquet hall.
Ironically, she was disappointed. Olivia blinked and said, "Ah."
Come to think of it, she hadn't even talked about the jewel pin Esella had given her.
The victory banquet would continue for several days, so there would be opportunities to meet the Grand Duke at some banquet.
If she asked him then, she might be able to get the jewel pin back.
Strangely, she was confident that she would.
A faint smile appeared on Olivia's lips.
* * *
"Aaaah!!"
In the splendid Princess's room, Princess Reina screamed.
Reina, stomping on the crushed bouquet with venomous eyes, gritted her teeth.
Edwin Lowell Vikander. Despite being called the Grand Duke, he's just a butcher.
How dare he not offer me a treasured sword, despite His Majesty's boundless grace?
At first, she had been wary because of the rumors that he was called a butcher.
However, her mind changed when she saw his splendid appearance as he confidently entered. She even smiled at him first, thinking that if he had that kind of face.
The Grand Duke, ignoring her with the bouquet and turning away, was vivid in her mind. How dare the Grand Duke, who had rejected her, pledge allegiance to none other than the shame of House Madeleine.
This was the first time she had been so humiliated.
How dare, how dare!!! Olivia Madelaine danced with the Grand Duke and the Crown Prince in turn, as if she were the hostess of the banquet!
She couldn't believe it. That position was supposed to be Reina Franz's, her position!
"Act like a Princess, Reina. You have the noblest blood of all."
Only then did Reina raise her head. She saw her mother, sitting with more dignity than anyone else.
Her mother, the Empress, always manipulated Olivia with a single finger.
Hearing her mother's words, Reina felt much calmer. The panting breaths, which had been angry, gradually subsided, and Reina continued to think.
As a Princess, she had to break Olivia Madelaine's arrogance.
The complicated thoughts in her head became cold.
Come to think of it, the daughter of House Madeleine is quite protective of her sister, isn't she? Alone in a flower garden, foolishly knowing nothing.
Reina's blue eyes flashed for a moment. The Empress also smiled deeply at her daughter's appearance, as if she had a good idea.
* * *
The twilight was darkening. Already, the walls of the mansion could be seen beyond the carriage window.
Her feet, which had walked straight until she left the banquet hall, collapsed as soon as she got into the carriage.
You endured it well, Olivia.
Suddenly, she remembered Esella's words asking her to tell her about the banquet.
That the Grand Duke had pledged allegiance to her, that she had finally had her first dance, and that she had warned Lady Etel.
Except for the first one, they were secrets she could never tell. Olivia sighed, thinking quietly.
She wished she could tell her that she had seen Jade.
Despite it being a victory banquet, Jade was nowhere to be seen in the banquet hall. Where on earth was he?
The carriage stopped and Olivia entered the mansion. It was when she stepped down and the accumulated pain rushed in.
"You."
Olivia raised her head sharply at the familiar voice. The voice heard from the stairs was definitely.
It was Jade.
"Jade!"
Olivia ran towards the stairs with a burst of joy. The pain in her feet, the accumulated resentment, all faded away when she saw Jade's healthy return.
"I've really been waiting!"
"What's your relationship with that crazy bastard?"
Olivia stopped at the fierce, sharp voice.
She hadn't imagined this.
In all the scenarios Olivia had conjured of Jade's return, Jade glaring at her wasn't one of them.
Olivia stared blankly at Jade.
