Translator: Nox

Chapter 40

#040. The Belief That Life Will Be Full of Happiness

The atmosphere in the assembly hall turned chilly.

Olivia blinked. Edwin's words to her before entering the hall came back to her vividly.

"I couldn't tell you beforehand, but you might be a little surprised when you go in."

Since she entered the assembly hall without further explanation, Olivia thought Edwin was worried about her meeting with Duke Madeleine.

But.

"...We'll deal with that issue later. What's urgent today is the matter of the Grand Duke and Lady Madeleine's marriage."

When the Emperor blatantly disliked Edwin's attendance at the meeting, and when he changed the subject to the marriage issue as if to divert attention.

Olivia understood what Edwin meant by "you might be surprised."

For the Emperor to obstruct the attendance of the Empire's only Grand Duke at the meeting. This was absurd, beyond surprising.

What on earth could be the reason?

The reason why the Emperor was so openly wary of Edwin's attendance at the meeting.

Was he worried that forces would gather under Edwin, who had become a war hero? Or perhaps.

Olivia's thoughts were getting deeper when.

"...As the Grand Duke wishes, I approve the marriage of Grand Duke Edwin Lowell Vikander and Lady Olivia Madeleine."

The Emperor's voice echoed heavily in the assembly hall. Olivia was startled and raised her head.

To grant approval so readily.

The Emperor, who just yesterday wouldn't even accept a formally requested meeting.

"However, the formalities must be followed."

Instantly, various formalities related to marriage flashed through Olivia's mind.

Among them, if there was a formality that could hinder the marriage...

"Do you know the formality that a woman who has been in a marital relationship with the Imperial Family cannot form a relationship with another noble for a year, Lady?"

"Your Majesty!"

"Yes, I know."

Olivia grabbed Edwin's arm, who was calling out to the Emperor in dismay, and answered obediently.

Olivia knew best how maliciously the 'one-year grace period' could be used.

"It's fortunate that the Lady knows well. Since it is a wish promised to be granted by Imperial decree, I permit the marriage of the Grand Duke and the Lady, but I order that the 'one-year grace period' be strictly observed."

The Emperor spoke without inflection. His first plan to humiliate the Lady and the Grand Duke had already gone awry.

Today, he decided to be satisfied with simply removing them from his sight quickly, and the Emperor looked at Duke Madeleine.

The Duke, who had been looking at Olivia with a stiff face, seemed to sense the gaze and bowed his head to the Emperor.

If he knew the Duke correctly, he would surely return his first daughter to the position of Crown Prince's fiancée within a year.

Hoping that this intention would also be conveyed to the Grand Duke, the Emperor suddenly frowned at the voice that was heard.

"Thank you for Your Majesty's grace."

Lady Madeleine was smiling, linking her arm with the Grand Duke's.

The Lady, whom he had always known to be docile, was displaying affection with her partner at the noble council.

"I was already thinking of about a year for the marriage preparation period with His Highness the Grand Duke. As Your Majesty has declared, we will legally hold the wedding exactly one year from now."

Edwin, who seemed surprised by the sudden arm-linking, soon smiled languidly at Olivia. And he pulled Olivia closer to him.

Perhaps because their bodies became closer as the arm that had been lightly placed went in deeper, Edwin's cool scent filled Olivia's nose in an instant. His scent urged Olivia's heart, which was beating fast with tension, to beat even faster.

"It's a pity that I can't welcome my lady as Grand Duchess soon, but what can I do? Still, I can rely on Your Majesty's grace to prepare for the marriage more perfectly."

Forcibly ignoring the sound of her heart pounding like a drum in her ear, Olivia smiled at Edwin.

It was fortunate that Edwin was quick-witted. It was the moment when she hoped that no one would mention the 'one-year grace period' any further and that it would pass as it was.

"I heard that the Lady is well-versed in ancient books..."

It was then. At the voice clicking his tongue as if displeased, Olivia swallowed her breath and looked at the nobles. The person stepping forward with arrogance was Marquis Etel.

Marquis Etel exaggeratedly lowered his body towards the Emperor.

"Your Majesty, it seems that the Lady does not fully understand the 'one-year grace period'. To prevent its meaning from fading, would you allow me to step in for a moment?"

When the Emperor slowly nodded, the Marquis rejoiced inwardly.

The opportunity had rolled into the palm of his hand. And the Marquis was not one to miss an opportunity.

The Marquis cleared his throat and rose from his seat. And he approached Lady Madeleine and Grand Duke Vikander, who were standing.

The pressure emanating from the Grand Duke was great, but not from the Lady.

The face staring at him was only about the age of his youngest daughter. The Marquis swallowed a sneer and opened his mouth to the Lady as if worried.

"I fully understand that the Lady is excited about her marriage to His Highness the Grand Duke. However, if you do not properly understand the intention of implementing the 'one-year grace period', I am speaking as a father with a daughter, worried that there may be a problem with the Lady's chastity in the future."

"..."

"The issue of the Imperial Family's succession is of utmost importance. It is presumptuous to say this in front of His Highness the Grand Duke, but the Lady has lived as His Highness the Crown Prince's fiancée for eleven years. A full eleven years."

The Marquis paused for a moment. And he looked around at the nobles and said meaningfully.

"...If there was no affection during that time, wouldn't that also be a problem?"

Laughter was heard from somewhere. The move to insult her by mentioning her charm as a woman had worked properly.

The Marquis smiled at Duke Madeleine.

Even though she was an illegitimate daughter, she was a daughter who had her name on the family register. He couldn't understand how he could sit there so indifferently. Marquis Etel couldn't understand at all.

But what did it matter if he didn't understand? Thanks to this, he could get rid of the Madeleine Dukedom and the Lady at once.

The Grand Duke's eyes, staring at him as if to stab him, became increasingly fierce. Instinctively, his spine tingled, but every time the Grand Duke tried to step forward, the Lady continued to grab the Grand Duke's arm.

She seemed to know that making the situation bigger now would cause more harm to the Lady herself.

The atmosphere flowed as the Marquis wished. The Marquis, fully intoxicated with this situation, triumphantly concluded his remarks.

"So, if you clearly understand the meaning of the 'one-year grace period', I hope you will pay more attention to your behavior than to preparing for the marriage, so that the issue of discussing the legitimacy of the heir does not arise, Lady."

"..."

"There should be no situation where rumors come out, should there?"

"Eleven years."

It was before the Marquis even turned around. At the quiet voice, the Marquis inadvertently turned around and was startled.

"It's already been eleven years since I became engaged to His Highness the Crown Prince, Marquis Etel."

The half-Lady, who couldn't even make eye contact with him until just now, was now looking at him indifferently.

"I really didn't know eleven years ago that I would be getting a 'one-year grace period', breaking off my engagement with His Highness the Crown Prince, and preparing to marry His Highness the Grand Duke."

Olivia exhaled shallowly and faced the Marquis. Beyond the Marquis, who was looking at her as if he was confident, Duke Madeleine was visible.

Even while looking at the Duke frowning, she didn't feel sore or stuffy. She didn't know that the day would come when she would be okay even after seeing the Duke not taking her side.

So Olivia deliberately bowed her head to the Marquis.

"...I will gratefully listen to your concerns as a father with a daughter."

A final greeting to the Duke, who had never treated her as a daughter, and at the same time, a sarcasm towards the Marquis.

Around the time when everyone was subtly feeling those two meanings, Olivia raised her head and smiled brightly.

"So. Please ask your daughter, Lady Etel, to keep that in mind as well."

"What, what?"

The Marquis's face turned red as if he had been caught off guard.

"I also didn't know that my engagement, which had lasted for eleven years, would be broken. Lady Etel, who is only serving as His Highness the Crown Prince's partner, should be even more careful with her behavior, shouldn't she?"

"Lady! Watch your words! Maria is already designated as the fiancée,"

"Marquis!"

The Emperor roared. The Marquis shut his mouth with a look of realization, and Olivia looked at the Marquis with a joyful glint in her eyes.

"Ah. Then you should tell her even more, Marquis. You have to prevent rumors from coming out about your lovely daughter, since you don't know what will happen to the engagement, shouldn't you?"

The atmosphere in the assembly hall turned cold in an instant at the words containing bones.

Olivia smiled demurely and paid her respects to the Emperor once more.

"I am grateful that Your Majesty has already prepared for the position of His Highness the Crown Prince's fiancée, which will become vacant, so I can prepare for the marriage with His Highness the Grand Duke more comfortably, Your Majesty."

Green eyes sparkled intelligently. A cool gaze that was never easy to deal with.

The Emperor felt a sense of déjà vu from a long time ago, when he saw the Late Grand Duchess Vikander, and he murmured lowly.

She had always been shy and quiet, but she spoke quite boldly to the Marquis and even swayed the atmosphere of the assembly hall.

One more reason why he couldn't let go of Madeleine's first daughter had been added.

The Emperor gestured to the Chamberlain. As the Chamberlain approached, the Emperor ordered him to hear only that much.

"Summon the Princess to my reception room."

The Duke would surely do well, but. The Emperor decided to dig in his heels. To do so, he had to grab the Grand Duke's leash again.

Firmly, so that he would never let go.

* * *

"Isn't it a perfect day? As Olivia said, I was able to attend the noble council, and I was able to get permission to marry and go down to the Territory of Vikander."

It was the garden of the Imperial Palace after the noble council had dispersed in a flurry.

"And even my lady has achieved a perfect victory."

In the garden where the warm sunlight was shining, Edwin opened his mouth, examining Olivia's complexion.

"...But why do you have such a sad expression, huh?"

A soothing, affectionate voice was directed at Olivia. Olivia shook her head.

"...I don't have a sad expression."

"That can't be. Your voice has dropped like this."

"...I'm just a little upset. You should have told me in advance. That you didn't attend the meeting, but couldn't."

Olivia bit her lip and lowered her head.

Foolish Olivia Madeleine. No, foolish Olivia.

There must have been a reason why Edwin didn't attend the noble council. She insisted on recommending his attendance.

The result was announcing in front of all the nobles that the Emperor disliked Edwin's attendance at the meeting.

"...I'm grateful for your efforts for me, but if that's not what Edwin wants, don't do it. This is also what I want."

Olivia slowly raised her head. She was deliberately looking at Edwin's face to earnestly ask him.

Hahaha. A splendid laughter echoed over the garden.

Olivia's eyes widened. She thought he would tell her not to worry about it, or that he would be troubled, but Edwin smiled, his eyes crinkling as if he was truly enjoying it.

"E, Edwin."

"Olivia. My innocent lady."

Edwin called Olivia as if lamenting. Innocent. Edwin used a word that no one could sympathize with without hesitation.

"How can you be so tenderhearted like this? Huh?"

If Marquis Etel, who had been turned red in the face by that tenderhearted Olivia Madeleine, had heard that, he would have been furious.

"I thought you had become bolder. At this rate, is Olivia the one breaking the promise?"

"What do you mean!"

"I really 'didn't' attend the meeting until now. And I've decided to attend from now on, having been persuaded by Olivia."

"But..."

"The fact that the Emperor dislikes my attendance is not something Olivia needs to worry about,"

Edwin, who had been speaking without hesitation, suddenly widened his eyes. It was because Olivia had covered his mouth with her hand. Olivia looked around with rabbit eyes. Fortunately, there was no sign of anyone passing by.

"Edwin! This isn't the Grand Duke's Residence, and,"

Olivia, who was about to rattle off a lecture, froze. The red eyes she met were close. It was when an unavoidable gaze was staring at Olivia intently.

"Ah!"

The sensation of soft lips touched and fell away beneath her palm.

Olivia was startled and took her palm away from Edwin. Edwin shrugged playfully and shrugged his shoulders.

"You're impudent!"

"What's wrong with that? Between a couple about to get married."

"Still."

She couldn't think of anything to say. Olivia's face flushed like a carrot.

Edwin, who had been looking at that face as if coveting it, changed his expression the moment he met Olivia's eyes. Then, he raised his palm as a sign of surrender.

"I surrender. I'll call the carriage quickly before I get scolded."

Edwin, who was turning around to find the carriage, looked back at Olivia as if he had forgotten something.

"By the way, Olivia."

"Yes?"

With her palm wrapped around her chest, Olivia answered readily. At that innocent appearance, Edwin's eyes narrowed languidly.

"...Do you know what a kiss on the palm means?"

"Oh, really!"

Olivia finally turned around. Only when the sound of Edwin laughing had faded far away did Olivia carefully turn around. Edwin was gone, as if the joke was over.

Only then did Olivia let out a soft sigh.

It was fortunate that the wind caressing her cheeks was cool.

Olivia looked down at her palm. The part in the very center of her palm, where Edwin's lips had touched a moment ago, felt hot.

"...Does a kiss have a meaning for each part of the body?"

Because her words, which she had spat out like a complaint, were embarrassing. The corners of Olivia's lips gradually rose.

Who would have known that the last memory in the Imperial Palace, which had always weighed down on her shoulders, would be so sweet?

What would it be like if she went to the Territory of Vikander? Would the people there welcome her? Or would they not?

Despite the anxiety that was welling up inside, Olivia now smiled brightly.

"I thought you had become bolder."

Edwin would regret saying those words to her. Because she, who had become bolder, could love Vikander sincerely without worrying about welcomes or anything like that.

Happy imaginations swelled one by one in Olivia's mind. She also remembered what she had been forgetting.

The letters from the nameless Knight that had come to the mailbox. Even after the war ended, letters had not come from the Knight.

Olivia thought that she should send him one last letter.

Not a letter wrapped in lies.

She thought it would be okay to tell the person who had comforted her about her real life at least once.

She wanted to say thank you for everything, that he had been a comfort to her, and that she sincerely hoped that the Knight's best would also be achieved.

Where did this courage to be so honest come from? She could know without answering.

"Olivia. Let's go."

Looking at Edwin, who was smiling like sunshine in the distance, Olivia pressed the area near her heart with her palm.

Her expectations, which she thought had all died down, had been sprouting little by little since she didn't know when, and were heading towards Edwin.

Because her heart was full. Olivia smiled brightly and walked towards Edwin.

Sunlight poured down with every step Olivia took.

As if cheering on Olivia's future.