Translator: Nox

Chapter 29

#029. A Name That Makes Me Happy Every Time I Say It

Olivia entered the magnificent gates of the Grand Duke's Residence. She felt Jade's gaze on her back, but Olivia kept walking. At the entrance of the garden, the Grand Duke was standing in front of the carriage.

Their eyes met quickly, as if the Grand Duke had been constantly looking at the gate. The heavy atmosphere quickly disappeared. The Grand Duke smiled, his eyes crinkling.

"Did you send them off well?"

Olivia smiled faintly.

"I think so."

"Was it too much to send them away?"

He was good at using ambiguous words. Did he mean if it was too much physically, or if it was too hard on her heart?

His eyes were worried as he looked at her searchingly. It was like he was looking at a sick patient, like when she had been bedridden a few days ago. Olivia deliberately walked lightly.

"That's definitely not it."

Except for the fact that her hand, holding the document envelope, was clenched so tightly that it was crumpled. Her heart was strangely calm.

She knew the reason better than anyone.

"Now, it feels like I'm going to have a family."

Family.

It was an impulsive thing to say, but she didn't think it was wrong. Rather, she thought it was the most appropriate thing to say.

Because she was really going to marry the Grand Duke now.

The word, which had only felt heavy, somehow tickled her. Olivia glanced at the Grand Duke. His eyes were narrowed and curved as he looked at her.

Feeling his affectionate gaze, Olivia slowly parted her lips.

"E, Edwin."

A voice as beautiful as spring light spread and disappeared on the cool night air. Even the name resembled the tall, solid man. Olivia called the Grand Duke's name once more.

"Edwin."

The first time was awkward, but the next time was easy. She even liked the way the corners of her mouth turned up when she pronounced the last syllable. It was as if she was smiling whenever she called his name, like a name that was always full of joy.

Olivia looked to her side again to share this amazing information. But Edwin was gone.

What?

Olivia turned around and found Edwin three steps behind her. He was standing still, as if he had frozen in the middle of walking.

"What's wrong? Edwin?"

Edwin blinked slowly. His eyes, which had been dazed as if he were waking up from a dream, focused. As Olivia tilted her head, Edwin's face turned bright red. Edwin raised his arm and covered his face.

"No, it's just that... I didn't know you'd really call me that."

Olivia, piecing together his disjointed words as if he were broken, let out a hollow laugh. Edwin avoided her gaze, looking embarrassed. Seeing him like that made her feel even more embarrassed.

"I just... Your Highness told me to call you by your name."

"Kee, keep calling me by my name. It sounds better that way."

He couldn't even make eye contact, but he was good with words. But Olivia was just as stiff with embarrassment.

Could the night really be this hot?

Olivia fanned her cheeks, which were warming up, over and over again. The lukewarm breeze tickled her cheeks. Or maybe it was tickling her heart.

When Olivia took the first step, Edwin followed beside her. It was funny how the two elongated shadows walked awkwardly, as if they had planned it.

"Are you going to walk all the way?"

A rough voice was heard once again. Olivia opened her eyes wide and looked to the side.

Oh my god. She had forgotten about this huge carriage.

A large brown horse nearby blinked its gentle eyes and looked at Olivia.

The coachman, sitting on the driver's seat, looked around the garden with a puzzled expression.

"It takes more than 10 minutes to get inside by carriage. Should I go in first?"

The coachman asked cheerfully, oblivious to the situation. She felt like her face was going to turn red again. Olivia quickly ran towards the carriage and said,

"I'll take the carriage."

"Are you sure? What about Your Highness?"

"...I'm going to walk. It's hot."

Edwin replied in a low voice. Then he slowly came to the carriage and just closed the door.

The coachman tilted his head, then nodded contentedly as if he had figured out the answer.

'As expected, a great Knight trains his stamina from an early age.'

The coachman gave Edwin a thumbs up with a proud face. And he lightly shook the reins. The horse, which had been blinking its big eyes, began to walk again.

Inside the carriage, Olivia stuck close to the window. She was curious about the Grand Duke's face.

"...What."

She wondered if he was still red.

Olivia muttered with a disappointed voice. He must have deliberately turned his back to her, because she couldn't see his face. After staring at his broad back, Olivia sat down in the carriage.

She would be seeing his face again and again anyway. Olivia began to practice calling his name. So that she wouldn't be fazed even if Edwin's face turned red.

Edwin, Edwin.

It's a really nice name. Because the corners of my mouth turn up every time I say it.

Olivia was already smiling brightly. The thoughts of Jade that had remained in a corner of her heart flew away without a sound.

.

.

.

Edwin, watching the slowly moving carriage, washed his face with his hands once more. His face, touched by his palms, was burning hot.

His throbbing pulse felt like it would tear through his palms and burst out. Edwin clenched his fists tightly.

He knew it would be good. But he didn't know it would be this good.

"...I must have looked like an idiot."

In the quiet night, a sigh-filled voice fell softly over the sound of crickets chirping. He didn't know that a sweet worry was buried at the end of that sigh.

* * *

Meanwhile, in the Imperial Palace late at night.

A splendid carriage slowly entered the entrance of the Tiaje Palace.

Leopold, who had loosened the top button of his shirt, sat leaning against the carriage with his arms crossed. His handsome brow furrowed.

"Today, Your Highness's body is with me, but your heart seems to be elsewhere."

Maria's tearful voice seemed to echo in his ears. Leopold ruffled his hair.

Even he thought today's date was a mess. Even though Maria was next to him, his head was full of other thoughts.

Olivia.

His blue eyes flashed for a moment. It was enough to make his adjutant, Count Hagis Bertin, flinch.

"...You delivered my message well, right?"

The message that he would visit late in the evening, so wait for him.

Count Hagis replied that he did. But he was looking at him cautiously, as if he had something he wanted to say.

"What is it? Don't whine like that and just say it."

"Your Highness. The Princess's attitude has been unusual lately, so should I prepare some flowers?"

"Flowers?"

Leopold frowned. Always with the flowers. Olivia had talked about flowers on their first date at the coffee house, and now it was Count Hagis.

The Count, noticing his discomfort, closed his mouth. Tsk, Leopold clicked his tongue.

Lately, Olivia had been doing things that didn't suit his taste. He had kept thinking about Olivia during his date with Maria because of that.

Not only had she received a Knight's vow from the Grand Duke, but she had also allowed him to dance the first dance, and now she hadn't even refused his proposal. She had even stayed at the Grand Duke's Residence and refused his call.

It was outrageous. The Grand Duke must have used some ridiculous trick on Olivia.

If he met her today, it wouldn't be bad to order her to reside in the Tiaje Palace altogether. Maria would be sad, but it was better than Olivia being stubborn for no reason.

Feeling somehow stuffy, Leopold undid another button. And he let out a deep breath. Even in this absurd situation, one thing was certain.

That Olivia would be waiting for him, of course.

She was the kind of person who always followed him around and bothered him just to get a single glance. Olivia was that kind of person.

.

.

.

"What? Say that again."

Leopold growled. At the voice that scratched his throat like a beast's threat, Baroness Sophron clasped her trembling hands tightly and replied.

"The, the Princess has returned home."

"Ha."

It was ridiculous. Olivia returned home?

She was a woman who would barge into the Crown Prince's Palace to see him. For Olivia to go back without even seeing him, something must be wrong.

Leopold looked at Baroness Sophron with sharp eyes.

"What the hell is going on? Did something really happen to the Princess that I don't know about?"

"Th, that is..."

The Baroness glanced at Leopold for a moment. Leopold swallowed his anger and tried to coax her.

"Tell me. Baroness. Isn't it your job to figure out if there's something strange about Olivia?"

Did the Grand Duke propose to her and now she's so arrogant that she doesn't know her place? Or is there another reason? As Leopold's mind raced, Baroness Sophron cautiously began to speak.

"Do you remember last Wednesday?"

"Last Wednesday?"

Leopold tilted his head. Nothing special had happened. Except that Olivia had come to the Tiaje Palace from dawn, that was all.

In that instant, Leopold's good mind worked quickly.

"The Princess must have seen me and Maria."

The Baroness bowed her head instead of answering. Leopold chuckled at her flustered expression and stretched languidly, as if yawning.

"Honestly. Did she leave early yesterday over something so trivial? First, she receives a proposal from the Grand Duke, and now she doesn't even come because she's supposedly ill. She wants me to soothe her feelings myself, doesn't she?"

Leopold's voice was laced with ease, as if he had finally figured out the answer. The Baroness Sophron felt a sense of unease, as if warning lights were flashing in her mind at Leopold's words reproaching Olivia.

The Baroness Sophron had been watching Lady Olivia Madeleine since she became the Crown Prince's fiancée. The always calm and composed Lady would show a giddy side, like others her age, on Wednesdays, the day of their official meeting.

But last Wednesday was different.

That day, she realized what it meant for a person to crumble. And today, the Lady left in a carriage with the Grand Duke as if she were a completely different person.

The Baroness Sophron wanted to tell the Crown Prince what she had seen, that things would be different from before.

But Leopold only chuckled softly and didn't seem to want to listen to the Baroness Sophron's words.

"Send a letter to the Lady. Tell her to move our appointment for this Wednesday to tomorrow."

"Yes."

Leopold acted as if there was no problem at all. The Baroness Sophron, standing next to him, was even more anxious.

* * *

Tiaje Palace at midday.

Olivia walked slowly down the hallway.

Even with her eyes closed, she could see the palace hallway clearly. She could recall even the smallest details, such as the daffodils on the table in the west hallway and the blue hydrangeas on the side table in the east hallway.

Knowing that this was the last time she would see it, she felt a sense of regret.

Olivia had not gone to the back garden even though the time for her appointment with Leopold had passed, and the Baroness Sophron, who was beside her, was fidgeting.

Olivia smiled faintly.

"Anyway, it will be a while before His Highness arrives."

"Still, Lady."

Olivia pretended not to notice that the Baroness Sophron was worried about more than just the time.

She thought of Edwin, who would have entered the palace with her today and would be freely wandering the palace gardens.

Where could he be walking now? She hoped it was a garden full of beautiful flowers.

That way, he wouldn't have to see her final moments with Leopold.

Olivia looked at the garden. On the table, long past their appointment time, sat a cooling teapot and two teacups, lonely waiting for their owners.

"...Let's go now."

The Baroness Sophron looked relieved, as if she was glad to hear Olivia's words. Olivia smiled faintly, realizing that the Baroness was so transparent, a fact she had only learned after more than a decade.

.

.

.

"When His Highness arrives, please step back."

"Yes."

The Baroness Sophron nodded and stepped back slightly.

The tea in the magnolia-embossed teacup had long gone cold. Olivia stared blankly at the cold tea in her cup before gazing at the empty cup across from her, which had not even been filled.

She hadn't realized that waiting wasn't her thing.

To make her wait until the very end, really.

A faint, chilly smile appeared on her lips.

"Glory to the little sun of the Empire."

Olivia rose from her seat at the sound of the successive greetings. In the distance, she saw a man walking towards her with large strides, befitting his tall stature.

His handsome face smiled arrogantly at Olivia.

Leopold.

Her fiancé, with whom she would break off her engagement today.

Olivia lightly gathered the hem of her dress and curtsied.

"To the little sun of the Emp-"

"Why are you being so formal? Are you sorry for leaving early yesterday?"

Leopold cut off Olivia's words as if it were only natural, his face showing his displeasure.

It seemed that Leopold didn't care that he was late for their appointment today, even as he brought up what happened yesterday.

Olivia smiled sweetly at the maids. The maids, with a look of realization, quickly left the scene. Now, only she and Leopold were in the garden.

She picked up the teapot and filled the empty cup, but Leopold only glanced at the cup and didn't touch it. Instead, he crossed his arms. The piercing blue eyes in his sharply raised eyes gleamed sharply.

Olivia calmly stated her business.

"...I came to see you one last time before breaking off our engagement."

Hahahaha. Leopold burst out laughing as soon as Olivia finished speaking. His hearty laughter and bright smile were handsome enough to shake the hearts of many, but his blue eyes were flashing with anger.