Chapter 25
#025. A Man Who Makes You Anticipate
"Your Highness. I have something to tell you."
It was after dinner, while the Grand Duke and Olivia were having tea in the drawing room. A knight with ash-gray hair approached with a stern face and spoke.
Baron Howard Interfield.
Olivia had seen him in the peerage directory, but this was the first time she had faced him so closely.
She had glimpsed him at the last banquet. Olivia didn't know much about Baron Interfield.
That he was a vassal of the Grand Duke's household, that he had inherited the title of Baron a few years ago, and that, like the Grand Duke, he was a key player in this war victory. That was about it.
His handsome face with strong features bowed his head to Olivia. Olivia also nodded in acknowledgment.
She thought he would leave right away, but the Grand Duke looked at Olivia with a troubled and apologetic expression.
"I'm sorry. Would you mind if I stepped away for a moment?"
"Yes? Of course. Please go ahead."
Olivia answered as if it were natural. Even she, as a Princess, had work piling up before she could even finish her meals. It was even more so when she was performing the duties of the Crown Princess Consort and the tasks assigned by the Princess simultaneously.
So, she had a rough idea of how much busier someone in the Grand Duke's position would be.
But despite Olivia's consideration, the Grand Duke had a strange expression. Olivia tilted her head.
"You seem busy. Shouldn't you go quickly?"
"...That's right. I am busy. Haha."
Was it Olivia's imagination, or did the Grand Duke's voice sound listless? The Grand Duke, who was getting up from his seat, turned to look at Olivia.
"Oh, right. I haven't taken my medicine yet."
Oops. Olivia naturally avoided the Grand Duke's gaze. A languid, crumbling laugh tickled her ear.
"I'll bring your medicine soon. I'm taking it."
"......"
"You will, right?"
It was a question demanding an answer. When Olivia didn't respond, she felt his blatant gaze.
She mustn't look up. She knew best how many times she had become embarrassed when their eyes met.
But.
How was he looking at her?
Curiosity stubbornly overcame her embarrassment. When that brief impulse made Olivia lift her head, she pursed her lips for a moment.
Why did that man look at her with such spring sunshine in his eyes?
...What was she to him?
Red eyes within sweetly curved eyes gazed at Olivia tenderly. The Grand Duke emphasized once more.
"You must take it. If you don't, I'll really come right back."
"......Yes."
As if satisfied with Olivia's small reply, the Grand Duke smiled gently and left the drawing room.
Olivia lowered her head. The fingertips on her dress, which she hadn't been aware of, slowly turned red.
The irregular sound of her heartbeat seemed to echo in her ears.
This was really strange.
Olivia quietly muttered to herself.
She had decided to think about her expectations for the Grand Duke slowly, so why was her heart pounding like this?
While she couldn't tell if this unfamiliar yet familiar feeling was good or bad, a knock came from outside.
"Yes."
The person who entered at Olivia's reply was Sir Winster Calter, with his brown hair.
Ah. Lace.
Naturally, the image of a knight's uniform with lace trim popped into Olivia's head.
The cheerful face, unaware of that fact, winked at Olivia.
"I greet you, Miss. I've come to assist with your medicine."
"Ah. Sir Calter. Please take care of me."
She had naturally expected Hanna to come, so she hadn't expected a knight. Especially Sir Calter, a close aide of the Grand Duke.
Olivia was flustered and answered stiffly. She had seen him burst into laughter last time, but this was the first time they were alone together.
Despite the strange task of assisting with her medicine, Winster smiled as if he was happy about it.
"Please speak comfortably, Miss. I came all this way, and if you're uncomfortable, I might not get another chance."
"Chance?"
Olivia thought she shouldn't have asked that question even as she asked it absentmindedly. But Winster seemed to like that and began to elaborate.
"Yes. As you know, there are people all over the Grand Duke's Residence who want to say just one word to you, Miss."
"To me?"
"Of course. We were all trying so hard to look good to you at the restaurant that day."
"That day?"
"Yes. The day I ran around the Grand Duke's Residence all day because I laughed."
Winster drooped his eyebrows. His pitiful face was so funny that Olivia unknowingly smiled a little, then realized what she had done.
They weren't even close yet, and if she smiled, he might not like it. But before she could worry, Winster laughed cheerfully.
"So you're usually a very cheerful person."
Olivia's eyes widened. It was the first time she had heard that she was cheerful.
Olivia carefully touched her lips as if brushing them. Her lips were really turned up. It felt awkward but good to laugh so comfortably. She could feel her eyes curving loosely even without checking.
Winster swallowed a strange emotion as he watched her.
Coming here was only half true. There were many servants who were jealous that he was ordered to come by the Grand Duke, but coming here made him think he had done well to come.
The daughter of Duke Madeleine, the head of the Emperor's faction, and the younger sister of the hot-tempered troublemaker Jade Madeleine.
It was hard to believe that the reality of Olivia Madeleine, who was burdened with such strong preconceptions and even a reputation for being bewitching, was such a clear and small young lady.
A fairy-like young lady with not a trace of venom looked at Winster for a moment.
"Then, can I ask you something?"
"Yes! Of course!"
Winster thumped his chest. There were very few things Winster didn't know about the Grand Duke, this Grand Duke's Residence, and everything related to them.
"That..."
Olivia hesitated a little. An unhidden curiosity hung over her small face.
"Are you perhaps fond of uniforms with lace trim?"
"Ack!!"
.
.
.
A beautiful laughter leaked out through the open window of the drawing room. Unlike the Grand Duke, who was listening with satisfaction in the next room, Howard had a dumbfounded expression.
"...Do you really have to go this far?"
Deliberately leaving the seat and having Winster act friendly towards the young lady.
It was an incomprehensible strategy even after thinking about it again.
But the Grand Duke nodded and smiled languidly.
"Of course. Now is the chance."
The only destination the young lady, who said she had nowhere to go, thought of was here.
He wanted the young lady to become more attached to the Grand Duke's Residence. So that she would eventually take this place for granted as her home. That was the result the Grand Duke wanted.
Watching the Grand Duke smile brightly as if he was in a good mood, Howard sighed inwardly.
Winster, who had taken a liking to the young lady since the last burst of laughter, would be fine, but it seemed far off to gain the favor of the other knights still in the Territory of Vikander.
Howard had a headache as he thought of the knights who had a strong antipathy towards the Emperor.
To those who shuddered at the Emperor, Duke Madeleine, the head of the Emperor's faction, was no different from the Emperor.
Then what about the Duke's daughter? They wouldn't be docile just because she was their lord's young lady.
Howard cautiously broached the subject.
"I hesitate to say this, but there are many in the Territory of Vikander who dislike even Duke Madeleine. Of course, we will block it in advance, but there may be times when the young lady gets hurt."
"I hate him too."
"Yes?"
"The Duke. I hate him too."
Howard couldn't understand the Grand Duke's words. In the meantime, the Grand Duke, who shrugged his shoulders, got up from his seat.
"And they won't be able to hate the young lady."
"Of course, I think so too."
"Especially Dian. He was praising her so much, saying that the patron who sent the turkey meat during the war must have a kind heart."
The patron who sent the turkey meat during the war?
Howard's eyes widened.
The Grand Duke winked one eye.
"Keep it to yourself. Even if she starts without knowing, the young lady will captivate Dian just the same."
"If. If she only has preconceptions without knowing, then..."
Howard trailed off without realizing it.
If Grand Duke Bikander's knights showed hostility, including the fiery Knight Dian Szelin, who was a match for Jade Madeleine... Howard's face, which had been expressionless even in the worst-case scenarios, slightly contorted.
The Grand Duke glanced at Howard. An overwhelming force that no one dared to match pressed down on Howard. Howard instinctively straightened his posture.
A beautiful face smiled leisurely.
"Even if that's the case, nothing will change."
"......"
"The lady will be my consort, and my knights will serve my lady as they serve me."
Only then did a chill run down Howard's spine.
Daring to judge his lord's lady. In front of the lord who wanted to give her everything.
"......I apologize. I misspoke."
Howard bowed respectfully. The sharp air that had dominated the space slowly dissipated.
The Grand Duke sighed slowly.
Even though the oppressive aura had faded, the sigh pressed painfully on Howard's shoulders.
"......Be more careful with your words in front of the lady. She's just now trying to say what she wants without worrying about what others think."
* * *
"I will go to see the Emperor as soon as possible."
Of course, only if the lady is okay with it.
Olivia nodded slightly at the Grand Duke's addition.
She had been prepared to go again someday. But there was something to do before that.
"If it's alright, I'd like to visit the Imperial Palace first. I think I need to see His Highness the Crown Prince and Her Highness the Princess."
Aside from the letters that had arrived, there were final words to be said. Olivia had a determined expression. The Grand Duke, who had been narrowing his eyes, nodded sullenly.
"I suppose. The lady must have things to settle as well."
The Grand Duke's face, which was trying to sound nonchalant, showed a childish displeasure. Olivia smiled faintly. And she opened her mouth quietly, as if recalling distant memories.
"It's been a year since I was granted control of Tiaje Palace."
"Is that so?"
The Grand Duke raised his eyebrows. He seemed to know that usually, the Crown Prince's fiancées were granted power from a much younger age.
"Yes. Of course, I had been working before that, but being granted power is different, isn't it? So, how could I not be?"
Olivia deliberately spoke lightly. Making sure none of her sadness was revealed. Fortunately, the Grand Duke didn't say anything more.
"......I took care of Tiaje Palace day and night. Finally, this palace has completely become mine. That kind of childish possessiveness, you know?"
Olivia smiled bashfully. She spoke as if it were nothing, but the emotion at that time was so moving that her nose tingled even when she thought about it again.
She was sincerely grateful to the Empress, who reluctantly gave her power. Even when the Princess came and ruined the palace every now and then, telling her to pay more attention to the Imperial Princess Palace, she worked without complaint.
Thinking that she would be recognized someday.
"Especially the back garden. It's a place I worked really hard to decorate."
Hoping that Leopold would find it beautiful even once.
It was a vain hope. Olivia swallowed the bitter memories and smiled gently. The Grand Duke spoke slowly.
"......If the lady decorated it, it must be a really beautiful place."
"Wouldn't you like to see that beautiful back garden in person?"
Olivia said playfully. The Grand Duke didn't answer and looked back at Olivia. Soon, the corners of his lips turned up languidly.
"......Is this a date invitation?"
"To be precise, I'm practicing what Your Highness called 'using' you, aren't I?"
"That's the same thing."
The Grand Duke smiled elegantly. Olivia didn't respond to his face, which was as radiant as a fully bloomed rose, and chuckled.
Actually. She wanted to show him.
Her palace, which no one had ever paid attention to.
Her space, which she had always wanted to show off.
She needed someone who would recognize her efforts. And she thought that the Grand Duke would be able to recognize her efforts.
She liked this tickling excitement. The certainty that he would live up to her expectations made Olivia feel excited.
Olivia looked away from the Grand Duke. As if the smile was contagious, Olivia's eyes kept curving.
* * *
"I greet the war hero, Grand Duke Bikander, and the Princess. But what brings Your Highness to Tiaje Palace?"
Baroness Sophron had a flustered expression.
And for good reason.
Grand Duke Bikander appearing in Tiaje Palace, the Crown Princess Consort's space where male nobles were not allowed to enter without permission, with the Crown Prince's fiancée.
Especially at a time like now, when rumors were swirling that the Grand Duke had proposed to her.
Olivia smiled faintly and faced the Grand Duke. A smile spread across the Grand Duke's face.
"I allowed it."
"Yes?"
"It means that I, the owner, personally allowed and welcomed him as a guest."
Baroness Sophron's expression clouded at the weighty, composed voice.
It was easy to tell who the Baroness was thinking of.
The uninvited guest, Maria Etel.
Even though it was the Crown Prince's will, it was a fatal mistake for a maid who was supposed to assist the Crown Princess Consort and manage Tiaje Palace. But Olivia pretended not to notice and changed the subject.
"......I sent a letter to His Highness the Crown Prince in advance. He will be coming here soon, so please prepare."
"Yes. Then I will prepare in the back garden."
Baroness Sophron hurriedly left. Amidst the glancing eyes of the palace staff, Olivia turned to the Grand Duke.
His face, looking around the palace as if he were amazed, felt a little cute. At the same time as she realized this, Olivia hurriedly shook her head.
"Lady?"
The Grand Duke called Olivia as if he were puzzled. Oh dear. Only then did Olivia realize that her actions might seem strange, and she said defensively.
"A, a bee. I guess there are bees because it's spring."
"It seems that even the bee has an eye for beauty."
The Grand Duke smiled kindly. The smile was so embarrassing that Olivia changed the subject.
"Over there. I planted those pink flowers."
Huh? Olivia didn't understand what the Grand Duke was saying for a moment. What did he mean by saying that the handwriting was familiar?
But before she could ask again, a shout-like voice came from the other side.
"Princess! Her Highness the Princess is urgently looking for you!"
