Chapter 24
#024. A Letter from the Imperial Palace
Esella stopped walking. The voice coming from the crack in the door was Conrad's. The maid who saw Esella quickly tried to greet her, but Esella put a finger to her lips. Her fingertips trembled.
Her heart pounded. She had a bad feeling.
Even though she knew she shouldn't listen, Esella approached the dining room door.
"We need to bring Olivia back. She came to our house for that purpose, didn't she?"
Conrad's back was visible through the narrow crack in the door.
What did she mean, that her sister came to do something?
An uneasy feeling, like when she went to the Princess's tea party last time, enveloped her whole body.
"If Esella becomes the Crown Princess Consort…"
What was he talking about? Her sister was the Crown Prince's fiancée. They loved each other, so why was her name being mentioned?
"…she'll suffer so much that she'll wither and die from the Empress's venom. I can't bear to see that."
At Conrad's heavy voice, Esella reflexively thought of Olivia.
Then, what about Olivia?
Esella's face turned as white as if all the blood had drained from it in an instant.
Not knowing what all this meant, Esella ran towards her room.
Suddenly, someone grabbed Esella's shoulder. Startled, Esella turned around. It was Jade.
"Brother Jade."
"What's wrong? What happened?"
All her strength suddenly drained away. Jade firmly held Esella, who was limply drooping, and shouted.
"Are you alright? A doctor! Call a doctor!"
The servants scattered in an orderly fashion. In that situation, Jade faced Esella's pale face.
What could have happened? Esella's face was completely bloodless.
Damn it. He was about to go to bring Olivia back to the Grand Duke's Residence, but Esella was more urgent. Esella, who had been weak since childhood, was always a worry to the family.
"Let's go to bed first. Aren't you dizzy?"
"Brother."
"Yeah. Tell me."
"It's not true, is it?"
Esella's voice was desperate. But Jade couldn't immediately understand the sentence without a subject.
"What's not true?"
"Sister…"
Jade's steps, which had been striding towards Esella's room, stopped. Regardless, Esella's voice trembled.
"My sister… she wasn't having a hard time because of the Empress, was she?"
Jade gritted his teeth. It was something he had never thought about deeply.
That woman, who was a noble through and through, would have tormented Olivia as much as she wanted.
"…I don't know."
But whether that was true or not, it was irrelevant to Jade. Esella's eyes welled up with tears.
"Tell me it's a lie."
"…You have a fever."
"Then, was being the Crown Princess Consort originally my place?"
At that moment, Jade's eyes trembled violently.
He had suspected it, but he had hoped it was a lie.
Haha. Esella laughed hollowly. Conrad's tangled words fit together like a puzzle, matching her situation.
"She came to our house for that purpose, didn't she?"
The fact that she suddenly had a sister when she was young, the fact that her family didn't bring her out into society as if they were hiding her, the fact that they treated her sister as if she didn't exist. It all made sense if it was for that reason.
Then, the fact that she would suffer so much that she would wither and die from the Empress's venom.
It must all be true.
Esella felt like she was about to burst into tears. She felt sorry for her sister, who had to go to the Imperial Palace in her place. She felt bad for her sister, who must have been tormented by the Empress.
At the same time, the words she had said to her sister slowly became clear.
"Don't touch me! You're dirty!"
"Don't pretend to worry about me. How could you do that, sister!"
"It was because of you. Mom suddenly disappeared. It was all because of you!"
"Get out! You're not my sister! Not you! Get out! I don't want to see your face!"
What had she said?
Esella, who had been stunned as if she had been hit on the back of the head, burst into tears.
Jade, who was silently lost in thought, didn't seem to have the time to comfort Esella, but it was rather fortunate.
As the fog cleared and the questions dissipated, Esella realized the truth.
Her sister was only six years old when her mother passed away. A six-year-old who loved her mother very much.
A six-year-old who smiled brightly whenever she saw her, her mother, and Jade, even though her hair was strangely cut. What could a mere six-year-old have done?
There was no way her sister could have caused her mother's death.
The fact that her sister came to their house, the fact that she became engaged to the Crown Prince, the fact that she had a lot of work to do, and perhaps even the fact that she couldn't play with her.
It might have all been caused by the adults.
Her sister's eyes, which had suddenly looked at her, came to mind. The kind, green eyes that glanced at her even as she turned away, pretending to be cold.
Why did she only think of it now?
She missed her sister. Right now.
Her heart sank. Tears of regret streamed down Esella's cheeks.
* * *
Olivia looked around the room in disbelief.
"What is this?"
Her voice rose in dismay. But the Grand Duke smiled proudly, as if he had done a good job.
"I've remodeled it into a room suitable for resting."
"You've taken all the books out?"
Olivia pointed to the bookshelf with a desolate expression. She had taken medicine, slept well, and woken up, only to find that the bookshelf that had filled one wall had completely disappeared. The books that had been on it were gone as well.
The Grand Duke lowered his eyebrows, looking a little guilty. His handsome appearance was pitiful, like a wet puppy. But Olivia wasn't fooled.
"You should read books when you're resting!"
"Who reads books when they're resting? You should just lie down."
"That's convalescing! I'm all better now!"
Olivia smiled confidently.
Because he liked that look, the Grand Duke barely swallowed the words that she was still too sick to read books.
Meanwhile, Olivia coughed, clearing her throat, as if to prove that she was better.
"See? My voice is fine too. I'm not dizzy anymore, you know?"
So, in a silent plea to return the books, the Grand Duke turned his head, pretending not to notice. If Olivia had slept a little longer, he would have brought in other furniture to replace it altogether.
"…The empty space is a bit hollow, though. Shall we go buy something else?"
"I like the bookshelf that was there, so I don't want to buy a new one. I'd be grateful if you'd buy me new books, though."
Olivia was quite satisfied with her response. She had handled it smoothly, so now the Grand Duke would bring the bookshelf back.
But the Grand Duke just stared blankly at Olivia. His long eyelashes blinked slowly. He looked as if he was facing something unexpected, his face bewildered and surprised.
"…Your Highness?"
"…That's good."
"What is?"
Was there anything else that could be good in this situation? Olivia tilted her head for a moment.
The Grand Duke smiled, crinkling his eyes. It was a bright and beautiful smile.
"For you to directly ask for a gift. How could I not be in a good mood?"
"I! Didn't want a gift!"
"Don't worry. You said you liked the bookshelf, so I'll return it as it is."
The Grand Duke's face was filled with a relaxed smile, as if he was really in a good mood. She really didn't want a gift. Olivia gave up on trying to argue.
He was happy even after giving a gift. Well, she knew very well what that feeling was like.
Olivia smiled faintly, but her face clouded over. She was reminded of the old days when she had prepared gifts for her family and Leopold every time.
Jewels, cufflinks, handmade sword decorations, and rare old books. She had prepared them hoping that they would at least accept those gifts, but they were always left in front of her door.
As if to show that they hadn't even touched them.
Leopold's gifts were entrusted to the Chamberlain. Now that she thought about it, she had never seen him wear or use any of them.
She had prepared them hoping that he would wear them at least once.
She couldn't help but feel down. At the same time, a heavy sadness consumed Olivia.
Come to think of it, what happened to the pink diamond she left in Esella's room? The boutique she had booked for Esella… did they send it back?
Forcing down the bitter feelings that were rising up, Olivia looked at the Grand Duke again. The Grand Duke, who had been matching her gaze as if waiting patiently, asked slowly.
"Are you alright? Are you sick again?"
Olivia chuckled. If he asked if she was alright, the answer would be no. But now, she had to move forward. So.
"…Everything will be alright."
Everything.
She would get better, overcoming these sad memories.
Only then did the Grand Duke smile elegantly.
"That's a wise answer."
It was a smile so wonderful that it sparkled. At that moment, Olivia froze, momentarily forgetting her depressed feelings.
What was this?
Her heart pounded with an unfamiliar feeling.
Olivia quickly shook her head.
It must be because she was grateful. There was no way she wouldn't be grateful when he was doing so much for her.
Olivia suppressed this strange feeling. No matter how much she had expectations for the Grand Duke, she didn't want to open her heart this quickly.
And in fact, she was scared.
Her heart, which had been rejected twice by her family and her fiancé, was still shrunken.
"Speaking of which, shall we have a meal?"
The Grand Duke said, as if changing the atmosphere. The corners of Olivia's lips naturally lifted.
"A meal. Sounds good?"
She was hungry because she had slept so well. With this much appetite, she felt like she could eat a whole bowl of soup. The Grand Duke winked mischievously.
"You have to eat better than before. Otherwise, I'll feed you again."
Suddenly, she remembered what had happened earlier. Olivia glared at the Grand Duke with a pout, feeling like her face was about to get hot.
Her fair and beautiful face was sulky, but the small earlobe visible through her hair was red. The Grand Duke, hiding his amusement, held out his hand to Olivia.
"Then shall we go?"
"…Don't joke around."
Even so, Olivia took his hand. It was then that there was a sudden knock on the door. At the word to come in, Sobel opened the door and entered.
"I apologize for the urgent matter."
With a face that didn't look urgent at all, Sobel handed over three letters.
"A letter has arrived from the Imperial Palace. One for Your Highness, and two for you, Miss."
Olivia unconsciously checked the seals on the letters. The seals stamped on the three letters were different. The Emperor's Palace, the Imperial Princess Palace, and the Crown Prince's Palace where Leopold was.
Of these, the letters that could be for me were from the Imperial Princess Palace and the Crown Prince's Palace.
"...It would be nice if the family sent them all at once."
It was a lament that didn't suit his captivating voice. Olivia couldn't help but burst into laughter, then cleared her throat and put on a serious face. The Grand Duke's eyes, glancing at Olivia, were intense.
"Will you give me my letters first?"
"Yes, Miss."
The letters Sobel handed over were as Olivia had expected. From the Imperial Princess Palace, and from Leopold. Olivia slowly opened the letter from the Imperial Princess Palace first.
"What does the Princess say?"
"...She says to enter the Imperial Palace immediately?"
It was unexpected. Olivia's eyes sparkled brightly as she tried to guess what her ulterior motive might be. Anyway, she had to see the Princess once.
"That's good. I had something to see her about."
"You know that today is absolute rest, right?"
She didn't know, but it seemed like a good excuse to avoid the immediate meeting. Olivia took a deep breath and opened the letter from Leopold. Her hand trembled slightly.
"...As Your Highness said, they are family in a way."
"Why? Is it the same?"
"Not a single word is different."
Just one line. It said to enter the Imperial Palace immediately. Olivia stared intently at the single line and smiled faintly.
The card and handwriting that she had received from Leopold until now were similar, but slightly different.
So, this was what a real letter from Leopold was like.
It was a complex emotion. Knowing that I was at the Grand Duke's Residence, all he sent was a single word to enter the Imperial Palace.
There was no concern or affection for Olivia at all.
Olivia tried to shake off the rising sense of futility. The betrayal, longing, and sadness mixed beneath the emptiness swirled chaotically.
These were all emotions that had to be put behind her now.
Olivia turned away from the letter with a firm face.
Meanwhile, the Grand Duke tore open the Emperor's letter and shook it.
"I wonder if the contents of this letter are the same as well?"
At the playful, lighthearted words, Olivia smiled and nodded. Then, as if the Grand Duke had guessed correctly, she smiled with her eyes and said.
"Shall we send the same reply?"
* * *
At dusk, the Chamberlain approached Leopold in the rear garden of the Crown Prince's Palace. His seasoned face was tinged with embarrassment.
But it was none of Leopold's concern. He rubbed his eyes with his hand as if suppressing his anger.
A little while ago, he had sent a letter to the Grand Duke's Residence. If it was Olivia, she would have rushed over. This time, he had to talk to her properly.
How dare she. A betrothed Princess staying out all night without propriety, at the Grand Duke's Residence where she was likely to be embroiled in scandal.
His blue sea-colored eyes were filled with anger.
He should have known when they appeared together at the final victory banquet last night. When he heard that they had entered the Grand Duke's Residence together, Leopold was furious. He even forcibly sent Maria, who had come to comfort him, back.
He would not let it go this time. Leopold's eyes flashed as he opened his mouth.
"Olivia. Has she arrived?"
At the impatient voice, the Chamberlain lowered his head for a moment.
"...The Princess has not come, but a letter has arrived."
"What?"
It didn't make sense. Olivia hadn't come? Leopold snatched the letter with a fierce momentum and tore it open. The phrase written in neat handwriting was simple.
"...So, she's saying she can't come because she's just sick?"
A lie. Leopold gritted his teeth.
Olivia had never been sick once.
She was a woman who was unnecessarily healthy and always followed him around.
I don't know what kind of Magic this is. It must be a struggle to get me to look at her.
But what Olivia is doing now has crossed the line. It didn't matter who started it first. He would not leave the Grand Duke or Olivia alone.
He was uncontrollably angry. His handsome face was terribly distorted.
