Chapter 16
#016. I Thought It Was a Perfect Day
"And what brings the guest in the back?"
Madam greeted the Grand Duke with a business smile. The Grand Duke didn't answer. The suspicious Robe and the lack of response made Madam's hand reach under the display case.
Olivia hurriedly spoke as she saw her about to press the guard call button.
"I know him."
The quick-witted Madam blinked.
The Princess who received the oath that made the capital noisy last night came to choose a gift for a man other than her family and the Crown Prince for the first time. And if this person who appeared is someone she knows...
Madam, who understood at once, gave Olivia a meaningful smile. And she politely bowed to the Grand Duke.
"...Yes. Then I will bring out a new tea. I will have everyone removed, so please ring the bell if you need anything."
Madam left before Olivia could say anything, seemingly misunderstanding something.
As if he had been waiting, the Grand Duke took off his Robe. A dazzling face that left Olivia speechless smiled playfully at her.
"What if I like being helped like this? Should I really keep getting into trouble?"
"What do you mean!"
Olivia retorted without realizing it, then realized her mistake. Olivia, grabbing the hem of her dress, bowed.
"Olivia Madeleine, I greet Your Grace, the Grand Duke."
"I think you can skip that greeting."
"It's etiquette."
"I want to give the lady who has pledged her oath a privilege above etiquette. What do you think, my lady?"
Olivia blinked slowly. A greeting without etiquette was a privilege that proved a close relationship. It also meant respecting each other regardless of status.
Olivia bit her lip at words she had never heard even from Leopold, whom she had known since she was nine.
The Grand Duke, keenly observing her, naturally changed the subject.
"Didn't you have something to say to me?"
Oh. Only then did Olivia realize what she was going to say and narrowed her eyes.
"What did you mean by what you said earlier?"
"Which words are you referring to?"
"That ring. Why give me a ring for a proposal!"
Olivia couldn't even finish her sentence. The Grand Duke, on the contrary, asked Olivia as if he was curious.
"I know, right? How did you know to like that one in particular?"
Was it a joke or was he serious? Olivia, at his glib words, habitually examined the Grand Duke's expression.
The Grand Duke avoided her gaze. The tips of his ears, glimpsed between his black hair, were red.
Like he was serious.
Olivia, startled by the sudden thought, shook her head. She heard the Grand Duke laughing, but she didn't even feel embarrassed.
It was an absurd assumption.
Her counterpart was the Grand Duke. She was probably overreacting to his joke.
Olivia tried to suppress the heat rising in her face. Ignoring the violent pounding of her heart, Olivia retorted more playfully.
"If you keep making jokes like that, you'll end up walking down the aisle."
He was the only Grand Duke in the empire, wealthy, and even had a high reputation as a war hero. It was only yesterday that the Emperor had put forward the Princess at the appearance of the number one groom.
Olivia smiled proudly, hoping that her sincerity would be taken as a compliment.
But the Grand Duke's face, as he looked back at her, was somehow strange.
Olivia mulled over her words at the red eyes that looked at her as if searching.
It was clearly a compliment, but could it have been conveyed incorrectly? Just as she was starting to worry, the Grand Duke smiled kindly.
"...That's what I'm hoping for."
"...To me?"
"Yes. To you, my lady."
Olivia's chest swelled with a dull ache at the clear answer. She felt like she had to say something, but as soon as she met the Grand Duke's eyes, Olivia closed her mouth.
Why was that man looking at her like that?
A gaze that made Olivia, who was receiving it, feel embarrassed. All the things Olivia had hoped for were in that gaze.
Tender affection.
He was a man who had been kind to her from the beginning. Were all these things signals? Or was it from some point on?
Countless questions rose up. But the only thing Olivia said was one thing.
"...I'm the Crown Prince's fiancée?"
The Grand Duke drooped his eyes as if he didn't like the answer. Olivia felt like she had done something wrong at his sulky, puppy-like face.
"I know. But don't you like that ring either?"
"Of course I like the ring, but..."
Olivia, who had answered absentmindedly, glared at the Grand Duke when she realized the implication. The Grand Duke quickly raised his palms.
"Okay, I understand. But what brings you here?"
"I'm trying to choose a gift for His Highness."
"You were choosing a gift for me?"
The Grand Duke was delighted like a child. Olivia, feeling a little sorry, told the truth.
"The jewel pin I gave you yesterday was actually a gift from my sister. It's something I really cherish."
"You're not going to tell me you're taking back the gift you gave me, are you?"
"That's exactly what I was going to say. And give you another gift instead."
The Grand Duke pouted. Olivia, uncharacteristically, added an excuse to his attitude full of disappointment.
"Of course, it would have been better if I had given you something else from the beginning, but as you know, the situation was urgent."
"...There is one way to get the jewel back."
"What do you like?"
Olivia quickly checked the display case. Of course, excluding the Grand Duke's ring. If it's cufflinks, would Obsidian or diamonds be better?
Then the Grand Duke pointed to one side of the display case.
"How about that one?"
What the Grand Duke pointed to was an emerald necklace. A deep but brilliant color like the green of a lush summer. The necklace, with emeralds shining between the tightly woven Platinum chain, was enchanting.
Olivia looked back and forth between the necklace and the Grand Duke.
"Uh... um. Are you going to wear it yourself?"
"It's for you, my lady."
The Grand Duke said firmly at her confused expression.
"I'll give you back the jewel pin, but you have to accept that as a gift. I won't give it to you otherwise."
"I'm supposed to be giving you a gift, but you're telling me to receive one instead?"
"You said you'd do anything."
The Grand Duke was brazen. Olivia was about to retort that she had never said that, but stopped. She was going to listen to the Grand Duke anyway. But that color... Olivia shook her head.
"Don't you like it? Then how about the pink diamond next to it?"
"It's not that I don't like it."
Olivia trailed off and glanced at the Grand Duke. His face, smiling languidly, seemed like he would wait forever.
It was difficult to reveal such a weakness in the social world, but if it was that man...
Olivia said lightly, as if it was nothing.
"Bright colors don't suit me well."
"What do you mean."
The Grand Duke frowned without realizing it. Olivia shrugged with a clear face.
"I know too. I know it doesn't suit me, so can I choose a dark color?"
While Olivia was looking at the display case, the Grand Duke carefully examined Olivia. The gray dress was of good quality, but it was simple, and she had no earrings or necklace. He thought she preferred to dress simply.
His mouth felt bitter. Swallowing the aching inside, the Grand Duke said lightly.
"As I said yesterday, the people around you seem to lack even aesthetic sense."
"Yes?"
Olivia turned to the Grand Duke. He was even more angry at her face that said she didn't know what he was talking about. He was even more angry because the direction of his anger was obvious. The stupid son of the imperial family who couldn't recognize precious things and couldn't even recognize precious people.
The Grand Duke gritted his teeth and muttered lowly.
"...I need to call an expert for a moment."
The Grand Duke lightly rang the bell. As if she had been waiting, the door opened and Madam entered. Madam's eyes shook for a moment as she faced the Grand Duke, who was taking off his Robe.
"I greet the great hero, His Grace, the Grand Duke."
"I believe that since you are quick-witted, you will also be tight-lipped."
"Thank you. Is there anything you need?"
"Bring out all the necklaces with bright colors that would suit the Princess."
"I told you those things don't suit me?"
Olivia said, but the Grand Duke didn't even pretend to listen. The same was true of Madam, who was excitedly taking out the jewels.
"Oh my. I knew it would suit the Princess!"
Madam, who had brought a transparently sparkling pink diamond, gave a flattering compliment.
The brighter the jewel, the more drab she would look.
Olivia's mouth was parched. Her aimless hands fidgeted anxiously. Olivia lowered her head even more when the Grand Duke didn't say anything.
Madam asked in an excited voice.
"What do you think, Your Grace?"
"...More than I expected."
Olivia closed her eyes tightly at the deeply subdued voice. Leopold's sneer was heard beyond the black vision.
"Didn't I tell you? Bright colors really don't suit you."
"I was surprised because it suits you better."
A firm voice overlaid Leopold's. Olivia slowly opened her eyes.
The Grand Duke, leaning against the display case, nodded lightly.
"It suits you very well. Both the dark colors you're wearing now and the bright ones."
She felt a tickling sensation from head to toe. It was a strange feeling she had never experienced before. Olivia cautiously glanced at herself in the mirror.
Leopold had clearly said it didn't suit her. He had even said Esella's Pink Diamond Necklace didn't suit her.
The reflection she glimpsed in the mirror wasn't bad. Or, perhaps, it was even a little bit good.
The Grand Duke shrugged as if to say, "Isn't that right?"
Madam, who was behind them, kept bringing out jewels. As clear garnets, rubies, and sapphires continued to adorn Olivia's neck, the Grand Duke said seriously,
"Just one? I misspoke. Can't I gift you all of them?"
"One is more than enough, Your Highness."
At Olivia's firm words, the Grand Duke looked dejected.
Oh my. Madam inwardly screamed. The way the Grand Duke was looking at the Lady was unusual.
* * *
The Grand Duke volunteered to escort her on her way. After Sally, who was smiling contentedly, left first, Olivia, who was in the carriage, fiddled with the Pink Diamond Necklace.
"I'll bring the jeweled pin by today as promised."
The Grand Duke gracefully curved his eyes. It was obvious that he was in a good mood. Olivia, who had been chuckling, paused.
Suddenly, she remembered what the Grand Duke had said earlier. That he wanted to give her a ring for a proposal.
It was true that she liked the Grand Duke's kindness and appreciated his gentleness, but if the Grand Duke was being nice to her for the purpose of proposing, she had to cut it off now.
Because she had to become the Crown Princess Consort.
Only when she stood proudly beside Leopold would her family look at her.
The hand that had been touching the necklace stiffened. A corner of her heart sank heavily. She didn't realize that the thought of not seeing the Grand Duke again would be this disappointing.
Before they got any closer, Olivia carefully parted her lips.
"Your Highness. There's something I need to tell you."
"What is it?"
"It's about the ring you mentioned earlier."
"Have you finally decided you want it?"
The Grand Duke, who had been sitting casually, straightened his posture. His loosely relaxed red eyes shone sweetly.
"It's quite late, but since the lady wants it, I'll think about it one more time."
Contrary to his conceited tone, his movements were quick. Seeing the Grand Duke take out a ring case from his pocket, Olivia hurriedly said,
"It's not about that, it's about you being so kind to me."
Olivia's voice grew smaller under his blatant gaze.
"You don't have to be so kind if it's for a proposal."
The Grand Duke's expression became subtle. He moved his lips as if to say something.
She knew. How wrong her actions were right now. Surely the Grand Duke would be dumbfounded too. After he had been so kind.
Olivia's shoulders slumped. At the same time, a calm voice was heard.
"Am I being kind to you?"
The man was asking sincerely. Olivia nodded.
"Yes. You've been too kind to me."
Olivia had never tasted such generous kindness before.
Flattering compliments. Gentle gazes. Considerate gestures. Kind words. Even gifts.
She was sincerely grateful.
The Grand Duke's face momentarily contorted as he met Olivia's eyes filled with gratitude, then he smiled as before. Olivia somehow felt that the Grand Duke seemed hurt.
"...In that case, I plan to be even kinder to the lady."
"...Why?"
"I've been suppressing the urge to be even kinder, and approaching you in a way that's as unobtrusive as possible."
His words were as gentle as the spring sunshine. So much so that she couldn't believe she was tasting such kindness.
The Grand Duke chuckled.
"So, don't tell me not to be kind. Understood?"
Olivia's mouth felt dry. After a long while, Olivia nodded. The Grand Duke smiled faintly.
Before she knew it, the carriage had arrived in front of the gate. The Grand Duke, who got out of the carriage, gestured to the side of Olivia. Another new jewelry box was placed there. Before Olivia, who was surprised, could say anything, the Grand Duke spoke first.
"That's for your sister. I want to make a good impression on your precious sister too."
The Grand Duke smiled and started the carriage. The gate opened and the carriage carrying Olivia crossed the garden. Olivia looked out the window at the Grand Duke.
The Grand Duke's smiling face, which was moving away, was clear.
* * *
Olivia, who entered the mansion, opened the box that the Grand Duke had left behind. A pink diamond necklace. The same one she was wearing.
For some reason, her heart fluttered. It felt like a truly perfect day. She had received flowers from the children and even received such a gift.
"Sally."
Olivia called for Sally, whom she had sent to the mansion first. But Sally was nowhere to be seen.
A lot of maids were gathered on one side. It was in front of Esella's room.
The maids, who were standing with worried faces, also discovered Olivia.
"Lady Esella is looking for you."
"Esella is back?"
She wasn't supposed to be back for another three days, what's going on? Olivia shook her head, feeling a bad premonition.
What bad things could there be? She must have been happily playing at her maternal home, the Marquess of Haelquin's residence.
Olivia, who entered Esella's room, was a little surprised.
The room, which was not lit even though it was evening, was dark. Esella was seen sitting on the bed between the spreading sunset light.
Perhaps sensing the presence, Esella turned towards the door. Her face, covered by her hair, was not visible. Olivia, who was about to call Esella with an uneasy sense of déjà vu, paused.
This was the feeling she had when she first entered her father's drawing room.
"Sister."
When she heard a metallic voice, Olivia put the box she was holding on the table and approached Esella.
"What's wrong."
That was Eun's voice. A voice that was completely exhausted.
Olivia clenched her fists tightly. Who dared to make the angelic Esella cry? It was absolutely impossible.
"Tell me. What's wrong,"
"Because of you, Sister, really..."
Esella slowly turned her head. At that moment, Olivia stopped in her tracks. Esella's eyes, which were always filled with happiness and laughter, were sunken.
"Did our mother die?"
A trembling voice was directed at Olivia.
Olivia's heart dropped with a thud.
