Chapter 34
#034. Permission to Call My Name
"How about this dress? It's designed with the petals of a red tulip as its motif."
No sooner had Madam Pluto finished speaking than the staff brought out a new dress. It was a beautiful dress, like red petals blooming with water.
"Buy that one too."
Edwin said as soon as he saw the dress. Madam Pluto's face brightened, while Olivia's turned a shade paler.
There were already so many dresses they had decided to buy, all of them Madam Pluto's premium creations.
Olivia knew best that the premium line was five times more expensive than the regular dress line. The dresses for her partners that she wore at the Imperial Palace were sometimes tailored at Madam Pluto's boutique.
"Your Highness."
"Are there any other dresses?"
Edwin, ignoring Olivia's call, spoke to the Madam. The Madam grinned broadly.
But it couldn't go on any longer. Olivia called Edwin as if delivering an ultimatum.
"Edwin."
At the quiet call, Edwin froze for a moment. Taking advantage of the gap, Olivia spoke to Madam Pluto.
"Madam, I think we need some more tea. Would it be alright to ask for hot tea?"
"Of course. It might take a little while to brew hot tea. Please, take your time looking at the dresses."
Fortunately, Madam Pluto was quick-witted. In the ornate reception room, where even the staff had been dismissed, only Edwin, Olivia, and Winster, who stood guarding the door, remained.
Olivia glanced at Winster. The grin on his face, as if watching something interesting, quickly hardened into that of a Knight.
He pretended to be oblivious, as if he had never had any other thoughts, but Olivia wasn't fooled.
"Sir Kalter, would you excuse us for a moment as well?"
When his name was specifically called, Winster looked at Olivia with obvious regret. Surely something interesting was about to happen!
But even setting aside the Grand Duke, who was glaring at him from the side, there was a strange, irresistible force in the little lady's words.
"…Yes. Then I will wait outside."
Only when Winster had left the reception room did Olivia turn to Edwin. Olivia called Edwin softly, as if to soothe him.
"Edwin."
"…What is it, Miss?"
Unlike his usual gentle self, his voice was a little sulky, as if he was pouting. But regardless, the corners of his handsome mouth lifted slightly.
Edwin cleared his throat, trying to manage his expression, but he had already been caught.
Olivia chuckled.
"If you're going to laugh, just laugh. Why are you making such a scary face?"
"A scary face? I'm just showing that I'm a little upset."
Edwin looked wronged.
"If you're upset one more time, I'll just buy out the entire boutique."
"That's a good idea, isn't it?"
Edwin's eyes sparkled as if he had just realized it. Olivia quickly shook her head because Edwin's expression was sincere.
"I misspoke. I don't need that many dresses."
Especially not such bright and beautiful dresses.
From the pink dress with rose-colored frills to the navy and silver dress inspired by the Milky Way in the night sky, to the elegant white dress sprinkled with pearl powder. After that, there were more than a dozen dresses lined up.
But Edwin shrugged at Olivia's words.
"Wow. Where did your earlier ambition to pick only the best go?"
"Ah, that's…"
"Even when I asked you to tell me what your tastes are, you didn't pay attention."
Edwin said sullenly. Olivia's conscience pricked.
Edwin was right.
Unlike Edwin, who was excited as soon as they entered, she hadn't even looked at the dresses properly and was just being perfunctory.
It wasn't easy to visit Madam Pluto's boutique without a reservation, and yet she was looking at the dresses so carelessly.
Olivia was speechless when she remembered that she had just nodded when Edwin suggested looking at the premium line.
Feeling sorry, Olivia fidgeted with her fingers. What should she say first?
The truth was, as soon as she saw Madam Pluto's boutique, Esella came to mind, and she couldn't concentrate. She kept thinking that the tailor must have gone to the Duke's mansion.
But before Olivia could open her mouth, a languid laugh was heard.
"I can't even be petulant with Miss. Why are you making such an apologetic face?"
"…Because I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to be distracted, but I kept having other thoughts and couldn't focus on the dresses."
Olivia confessed as if blurting it out. Edwin tilted his head for a moment, and worry spread across his face.
"Did you have any worries? Don't tell me that you lied about not being tired?"
"Ah, that's true. I'm not tired. It's just."
Olivia hesitated for a moment. It seemed ridiculous to think about her sister even after leaving the Duke's family. But Esella was special to her.
"You don't have to say it if you don't want to. Shall we continue choosing dresses?"
Seeing Edwin changing the subject considerately, Olivia slowly opened her mouth.
"…Before I left the Duke's mansion, I had reserved my sister's dress at this Madam Pluto's boutique. I suddenly thought of that."
"…You seem to think a lot about your sister, like last time."
Olivia smiled faintly instead of answering.
She had to gradually reduce thinking about Esella now. The bitterness that she could no longer do the things she had always done as a matter of course weighed heavily on her. Seeing that expression, Edwin said more playfully on purpose.
"…How about paying a little more attention to me now? Look, I was really about to be upset because Miss kept not looking at me. But I cheered up so easily just by saying one word."
Edwin smiled, softening his eyes even as he exaggerated. His red eyes warmly looked at Olivia.
Olivia, who was smiling without realizing it, widened her eyes at that moment.
"Come to think of it, Edwin isn't calling me by my name either?"
Olivia said casually and blinked. The man who had asked her to call his name wasn't calling Olivia's name.
How could this be?
Olivia narrowed her eyes and looked at Edwin. But Edwin shrugged and said with a nonchalant face.
"That's because Miss hasn't allowed or requested me to call your name."
"When did I—"
Olivia stopped speaking reflexively. Come to think of it, she had never given such permission. No one had ever asked for permission to call her name before.
Strangely, her cheeks felt itchy. No, maybe it was a part of her heart that was tickling.
"Well, it would have been fine if you just called me by my name."
Even at the words she blurted out awkwardly, Edwin looked at Olivia seriously. And he shook his head with a kind smile.
"I can't do that. I told you, I'm ready to do anything for Miss. But in other words, I can't do anything unless Miss tells me what you want."
"…You're being mean."
"Mean? I'm not a mind reader."
Edwin shrugged and narrowed his eyes. Olivia avoided his gaze at the fascinating smile that seemed to captivate people.
Red eyes, full of expectation, stubbornly followed Olivia's eyes.
"It seems like you want something now. Aren't you going to tell me?"
The end of his languid voice stretched out as if urging Olivia.
What she wanted.
Olivia moved her lips. What she wanted was usually not achieved. It was easier to endure and promise for the next time.
But strangely, she had many desires in front of Edwin.
Olivia had never felt such a strong desire as she did now. It seemed that the more often her expectations were met, the more she wanted beyond that.
When she didn't want to return to the Duke's mansion, when she wanted someone to recognize her efforts after seeing the Tiazza Palace that someone had carefully decorated, and even now.
Her heart beat faster and faster. It felt like she could hear the sound of it pounding fiercely in her ears. Olivia clenched her fists tightly and pressed down on her knees. And she slowly said, making eye contact with Edwin.
"I'd like Edwin to call me by my name too. And also…"
Is it okay to say even this?
But, along with the impulse, Olivia raised the corners of her lips provocatively and said,
"...Very preciously."
The people I had wanted had called my name very easily.
When giving warnings or drawing lines. They even called me by my nickname carelessly, as if doing a favor.
But Olivia had also been called very preciously by someone.
"Olivia. Liv. My baby."
Just hearing it made my heart swell, reminding me of my mother who used to call me that.
And at that moment.
"...Olivia."
Olivia caught her breath for a moment. Edwin smiled sweetly, as if even pronouncing it was precious, as if it was very valuable.
"I really wanted to call you. I'm only calling you now."
"......"
"It's a really pretty name. Olivia."
The way he called my name softly felt so precious.
"Pretty name. Olivia."
Suddenly, Olivia realized that the memories with Leopold, who had made her suffer from love for so long, had flown away.
But she didn't feel sad or heartbroken. She was sure that much more precious memories would accumulate than the memories that had flown away.
So Olivia smiled brightly.
"Edwin too. It's a good name."
"My name?"
Edwin blinked as if he was hearing it for the first time. And at this moment, Olivia knew it was time to tell him what she had found out.
"Yes. Because when I call Edwin's name, the corners of my lips go up like this. It's a name that makes me happy every time I call it."
Hearing that, Edwin smiled like a flower slowly blooming. The sweet smile pulled Olivia's eyes even brighter.
* * *
The twilight seen through the carriage window was gradually darkening.
Edwin quietly knocked on the coachman's seat twice. The coachman recognized the signal and slowed down the carriage.
Edwin smiled and looked ahead. Olivia, who must have been very tired, started dozing off as soon as she got into the carriage. The posture she had been maintaining rigidly gradually loosened.
Olivia wrinkled her nose, wondering what she was dreaming about. Edwin's smile deepened at the face that resembled a clear rabbit.
"Olivia."
Edwin murmured Olivia's name. As if understanding her name, Olivia made a small fuss in her sleep. Edwin immediately closed his mouth. Then Olivia started dozing off again.
He was overjoyed that they were becoming a relationship where they could show gaps instead of raising sharp thorns.
If the Emperor's permission was granted, he would have to go down to the Territory of Vikander with Olivia right away. He wanted to let her laugh more freely and want more things.
"Your Highness, Grand Duke."
Winston, who had come close to the window, said in a small voice.
"There's someone in front of the gate."
Edwin's eyes sharpened at Winston's words.
Is it Jade again? This time, since Olivia was asleep, he wouldn't send him back nicely.
But the identity of the person standing in front of the gate was unexpected.
The same cool silver hair as Olivia, and a familiar Pink Diamond Necklace.
Even without saying her name, Edwin could tell who that young lady was.
Esella Madeleine.
Olivia's sister, whom she cherished so much, was standing in front of the Grand Duke's Residence gate with a swollen face.
