Chapter 15
#015. Happiness and Misfortune Arrive Simultaneously
It was my first time attending an official tea party.
Esella took her lips off the cup filled with rose tea. The strong rose scent was overwhelming.
The conversations flowing over the table were just as burdensome.
"You look as beautiful as ever today, Princess."
"Look at the Pink Diamond Necklace you're wearing. I heard it was sent by the prince of the Welton Kingdom, your suitor?"
"It suits you so well, Your Highness."
"Is that so?"
The Princess smiled contentedly at the excessive praise, touching her necklace. It was the same conversation repeating for an hour already.
Esella recalled the invitation. There was no mention of her sister at the tea party, which she had attended after agonizing over a letter asking her to come and see photos of her sister at a banquet. Rather, whenever she tried to bring up her sister, the conversation would abruptly stop with subtle glances.
I came to this tea party risking being scolded by my family. Instead, I feel exhausted. Should I leave now? Esella was contemplating when.
"I didn't know she was that pretty. What do you think, Madeleine?"
"Yes. She is beautiful."
That was all there was to the simple reply. The Princess hid her embarrassment and lifted her tea. The ladies-in-waiting awkwardly smiled, following the Princess's lead.
The Princess glared at Esella with malicious eyes.
Esella Madeleine, who had grown up only receiving the Duke's love, had no tact. Earlier, she had ruined the atmosphere that was being created by tearing down Olivia's dress.
"You're mistaken. My sister looks good in all colors, so she looks beautiful in any dress."
That wasn't all.
"My sister manages not only the ducal residence's budget but also the territory's budget. And the Crown Princess Consort's palace's financial documents come to our house every day. If my sister were a government official, wouldn't she be the most honest and hardworking official ever?"
Esella took Olivia's side, that bastard, in every conversation.
Whenever the conversation flowed into a bad story about Olivia, she would cut it off, and now she didn't even have the will to participate in the conversation.
Are all those with Madeleine blood like that?
"But, Your Highness."
Suddenly, Esella looked at Reina.
"When can I see the banquet photos you mentioned in the invitation?"
"Banquet photos, huh. I guess the photos were your purpose?"
While Reina was gesturing to the Marquess Liveorn's daughter, Esella lightly said.
"Thanks to the Princess's kind offer to come and see my sister's photos first."
Esella left her maternal home, the Marquess Haelquin's residence, and came to the Imperial Palace because of that one line written in the postscript of the invitation. Even with the determination to be scolded by her family.
But she really wanted to see her sister's photos. The articles were all about her sister and the Grand Duke who had sworn allegiance to her, but she couldn't see any photos.
Esella, who was thinking of Olivia, smiled. Did my sister wear the jewel pin I gave her?
Meanwhile, strange glances were exchanged over the table.
First, Shamin, the Count's daughter, said kindly.
"You seem to be very close to the First Lady, Madeleine."
"Of course. She's my only sister."
At the answer that even felt pride, the ladies-in-waiting exclaimed and laughed. The laughter was somehow subtle. They were looking at Esella with pity, making eye contact with each other.
A sense of déjà vu suddenly passed through Esella's mind. It was similar to the gazes that the elderly servants used to give when she played with her sister when she was young. An uneasy feeling rose like a warning. I should really go now, she thought, when Shamin, the Count's daughter, shook her head.
"You're so kind, Madeleine. Did you take after your mother?"
"…What do you mean?"
"Well, isn't it?"
Shamin, the Count's daughter, shrugged and looked at everyone at the table. She suddenly met the Princess's eyes. Esella was startled and avoided her gaze at the malice reflected in her blue eyes.
A kind voice covered Esella without filtering.
"How can you treat the daughter of the dancer who caused your mother's death like your own sister? I can't even imagine it."
I couldn't understand what she was saying. That couldn't be true. How could my sister not be my sister?
We may be a little distant now, but my sister was definitely kind to me. She would sneak into my room without my father and brothers knowing, read me fairy tales, put me to sleep, sing me songs, and teach me how to dance.
"How can you treat the daughter of the dancer who caused your mother's death like your own sister?"
I remembered my sister dancing as if shattered by moonlight. And her green eyes, different from my family's.
I was suffocating. Esella, who was shaking her head in denial, lowered her head. I hoped my hair would cover my face.
Esella's face, which I glimpsed, was becoming empty. The Princess smiled contentedly. And she approached Esella as if she was truly sorry and put her arm around her shoulder.
"Didn't you know, Madeleine? It was a fact that everyone in the Empire knew."
"……."
"The reason why Madeleine's mother died."
"……."
"It's because of that green-eyed bitch."
The Princess's eyes sparkled evilly as she whispered. At the same time, one of the axes that made up Esella's world collapsed.
* * *
"Not even a chandelier falling at the Chandler Theater today could steal the young lady's front-page article."
"I don't think it's that much."
"Of course, it's more than that! The young lady is the lady to whom the war hero has dedicated his honor!"
Olivia smiled a little at Sally's heated words. Of course, high society must be buzzing too. That the Crown Prince's fiancée had received a vow from a strange man.
"Young lady, you didn't see it earlier, but the delivery men who came today were all lingering and wouldn't leave the back door! Thanks to that, I became a popular star from the morning! Look at this. Stableman Peter even got these business cards from reporters for me to deliver."
Sally handed over a bunch of business cards with an excited face. They were all yellow papers that dealt with gossip. Olivia joked.
"So, are you going to contact them?"
"Hey. I would never do that! I also received a really good exclusive maid education."
Olivia smiled softly at the sight of her shaking her head. The carriage entered Ruheirn Street. Olivia counted her to-do list.
I have to send a letter to Esella and check if there are any letters in the mailbox.
I also had to buy a gift for the Grand Duke to replace the jewel pin.
Olivia shook her head, thinking of the reply she couldn't write after all.
It was awkward to talk about the jewel pin, and it seemed like he would really give me that huge thing if I talked about the treasured sword.
Whatever it is, it would be nice to ask for it with a gift. What should I buy to exchange for Esella's jewel pin?
The carriage stopped while I was thinking. Olivia was about to go out when Sally quickly grabbed the door. And she said with a worried face.
"Young lady. Of course, the knights are around, but anyway, there might be a lot of people flocking to the young lady today. Of course, I will protect you!"
"Why are you being so careful?"
"Oh, young lady. I'm serious."
Olivia didn't take Sally's worries seriously and left the carriage. Exactly five steps away from the carriage, Olivia admitted that Sally was right.
About half of the people who used to look at me hostilely were glancing at me with eyes I had never seen before. Olivia swallowed her embarrassment at the unfamiliar gaze and tried to walk forward, thinking about other things.
What does a man who has everything need?
It's not a joke, Grand Duke Bikander has everything.
Honor and status, plus a huge fortune.
Olivia recalled the taxes of the Territory of Vikander, which had been increasing every year. Despite the increasing taxes due to gemstone mining, the Territory of Vikander had never been in arrears.
What would be really good? I was walking while thinking quietly.
"Um, young lady."
Olivia inadvertently looked down and was a little surprised at the sound of a young voice calling her. A little girl, maybe six years old, was looking up at Olivia.
In an instant, the street became as quiet as if cold water had been poured on it. Feeling the silence on her skin, Olivia looked at the child.
The brown-haired child was holding a pretty flower and looking at Olivia with admiring eyes. Before Sally, who was behind her, could approach the child, the child rolled her clear eyes and said.
"Are you that Madeleine, young lady?"
"That Madeleine?"
"Yes! The fairy-like pretty Madeleine!"
Olivia involuntarily covered her face with her hands at the child's innocent cry.
A fairy-like pretty Madeleine.
My face flushed at the title I was hearing for the first time. What did I hear that made me call myself that? Ridiculously, the corners of my mouth kept going up in the midst of embarrassment.
My mood became as sweet as if I had poured honey on it. There are people who think I'm pretty besides Esella and Sally.
While Olivia didn't know how to react, the child held out the flower she was holding. A pink wildflower that seemed to have been picked from somewhere. What was it about that one flower? Olivia received the flower with a slightly trembling hand.
"……Thank you."
I wanted to say something more, but even this one word choked me up. A tense part of my heart melted away.
The child smiled brightly and ran away. Other children followed, shouting wa- behind the child. With that sound as a starting point, the Ruheirn shopping district became noisy again.
Olivia quietly looked down at the flower. Surprisingly, just holding one flower made me no longer shrink from the gaze. Sally smiled and looked at Olivia.
"You must be happy. A fairy-like pretty Madeleine. When will I ever hear such a story?"
"……The child just said it."
Even Sally, who was oblivious, knew that the young lady's ears were flushed red.
Olivia bent her eyes like a crescent moon. It felt like a soft breeze was blowing, and somehow my heart was tickling. The pink wildflower in Olivia's hand swayed.
"……I'm going to ask for a jewel, so would the same jewel be better?"
"Yes?"
Olivia smiled brightly and walked ahead. Towards Madam Deton's jewelry store.
.
.
.
The brown-haired child ran into the alley. And he said proudly to the brown-haired man standing in the alley.
"I gave the flower to Madeleine!"
The brown-haired man, Winston, spoke with a slightly surprised look.
"How did you know she was the princess without hearing the explanation?"
"I heard the explanation. You said she was a lady as pretty as a fairy."
"That's right!"
The children who followed answered as if in a chorus. Is that so? Winston tilted his head slightly.
The children talked about Olivia with excited faces.
"She was like a real fairy. Her smile was so pretty."
"I saw it too!"
"Tch. I wanted to give her flowers too."
Among the regretful children, a girl raised her nose.
"They said the brave person gets, gets, whatever! Everything! Anyway, I kept my promise, so you keep your promise too, mister!"
Mister, Winston didn't even have time to feel dejected before six or seven children looked at Winston with sparkling eyes.
"As promised, this is yours."
Winston handed one of the new balls next to him to the children. The children smiled brightly, shouted, and ran out.
"Thank you!"
Meanwhile, the Grand Duke, who had been leaning against the wall, slowly got up.
"...The kids are really smart, aren't they? To find the lady without even knowing her hair color."
"Well, they say children have the best aesthetic sense."
Winston, who had answered nonchalantly, suddenly felt a chilly murderous intent. Even as his body instinctively flinched, Winston shouted as if wronged.
"No! What, what's wrong again?"
From delivering letters since morning, to cleaning up the reporters who had spread around House Madeleine, and even enlisting children to deliver flowers.
He worked his bones out for His Highness, and in the end, what he got in return wasn't even an incentive, but murderous intent!
Ignoring Winston's gaze full of sorrow, the man muttered.
"...It's okay. Anyway, the lady has high standards, so she'll only see me."
No, who asked the princess to look at me?
As they say, when a person is speechless, they can't even speak, Winston pounded his chest instead of speaking. Truly, the one who was having the hardest time here was him.
A person who wasn't usually like that changed so much whenever the story of Olivia Madeleine came up.
Really, he made up his mind not to help again, but the Grand Duke, who had gone that far, suddenly turned around. A playful voice called out to Winston.
"Aren't you coming?"
Oh well, whatever. I'll have to go to the Territory of Vikander and relieve this sorrow! Thinking to himself, Winston ran again today.
"I'm coming!"
* * *
At Madam Dayton's jewelry store.
"Um, could you show me that one too?"
Pale blue velvet boxes were piled on the table in the drawing room. As Olivia pointed, Madam Dayton opened a new box. Obsidian cufflinks sparkled.
"As expected, the princess has excellent taste. This is the only one left that was imported from the Welton Kingdom."
Madam Dayton made a fuss, but Olivia shook her head. Rather than a precious jewel, she wanted a jewel that reminded her of the Grand Duke a little more.
Suddenly, the Grand Duke's eyes came to mind. Eyes that were as red and sparkling and affectionate as jewels.
"Princess?"
"Yes, yes?"
Olivia was startled by the sound of her being called and raised her head. Madam looked at Olivia with concern.
"What were you thinking so hard about? Are you hot? Your face is red."
"No. It's just... Is there anything else?"
"These are all the best products imported this month. I can't believe they didn't catch your eye. I'll have to grill the import manager."
Madam Dayton turned her head as if sulking. Madam Dayton, who started a business under a new name after her divorce, was one of the few people Olivia could sincerely treat.
"Or would you like to go out and take a look?"
Madam Dayton pointed outside. Olivia hesitated for a moment before going out alone. While the jewels in the display case, like elaborate crafts, caught her eye, there was one jewel that particularly caught her eye.
It was a red gemstone ring that looked like it was on fire. Seeing the jewel with flickering flames in the crystal case, she somehow thought of the Grand Duke.
As Olivia stared at one place, Madam quickly approached.
"Princess, do you like that one?"
What Madam took out was a sapphire bracelet next to the ring.
"Not that, the ring next to it."
"Yes? This ring?"
It was the moment when Madam's expression became ambiguous at Olivia's words.
"How did you know that ring was yours?"
A languid whisper interjected. At the familiar voice, Olivia raised her head. A large man wearing a black Robe was standing next to her, having arrived unnoticed.
That Robe was definitely.
"Grand,"
"Shh."
The beautiful face visible under the Robe gestured to Madam. Olivia, surprised, bit her lip with wide eyes. Meanwhile, Madam looked at the Grand Duke, tilted her head, and cautiously said.
"Unfortunately, this is not for sale. Another customer entrusted us with a ring for a proposal, so we are just keeping it."
