Translator: Nox

Chapter 41

#041. The Road to the Territory of Vikander

Starting with the carriage carrying Olivia and Edwin, a long procession left the gates of Grand Duke Bikander's Residence.

It had been a long time since Olivia could no longer see the people waving their hands in front of the Grand Duke's Residence, but she continued to gaze out the window with a face full of regret.

Only after passing the high, sturdy walls and entering the street did Olivia let out a heavy sigh.

It seemed she had grown quite fond of this Grand Duke's Residence in just a few short weeks.

If she had known this would happen, she would have suggested staying a little longer.

Olivia's shoulders drooped at the belated regret.

It was Olivia herself who had chosen today, Wednesday, as the day to leave for the Territory of Vikander, to draw a new beginning over the memories she had always looked forward to.

"Your eyes are red, Olivia. Are you that sad?"

Edwin, who was sitting right in front of her, said kindly. Olivia chuckled and shook her head at the playfulness hidden in his gentle voice.

"I'm not crying. Anyone who hears that will think I'm a big crybaby."

"Not exactly a crybaby, but you do cry often. Or not these days?"

"Of course. Actually, I'm not usually the type to cry easily. Edwin, you've seen something very, very precious."

"That's a relief."

Edwin smiled contentedly like a well-fed cat. The loosely curved corners of his lips seemed somewhat mischievous.

"So. My affectionate lady, who doesn't cry easily, left cards for everyone except me, I hear?"

Olivia's eyes widened at the voice full of disappointment.

Edwin, who had been so busy preparing to go to the Territory of Vikander that they barely had time to eat together, when did he see her leaving cards for the servants?

Olivia laughed awkwardly, "Ahaha."

"Well, it's because I was grateful for everything they've done. And if Edwin accompanies me when you come up to the Nobility Council later, I'll see them again anyway."

"I heard you wrote letters to people outside too?"

"How did you know?"

"Hanna was busy saying she had to send your letters. You must have been busy enough preparing to leave for the Territory of Vikander. It seems everyone except me got cards and letters. Right?"

Olivia smiled a little at his sulky expression as he turned his head away. Then she waved her hand and said,

"It's true I gave out cards, but the letter was for Esella."

"To Madeleine?"

"Yes. Well, for several reasons. I was also thinking of contacting Sally, who used to be my maid."

Ah. Understanding dawned in Edwin's red eyes. He seemed to remember her mentioning that she missed the maid in the Madeleine Dukedom in passing.

Olivia smiled faintly and thought of Sally.

She had hoped to see her once before going to the Territory of Vikander. She was sad she couldn't see her, but she felt relieved thinking that she would be with Esella.

"You seem to be close. Should we bring that maid to the Territory of Vikander?"

"...Are you serious?"

"Of course. If Olivia wants it."

Leaving aside practical issues such as her already belonging to the Dukedom or Sally's opinion, Edwin nodded as if he was serious. Olivia burst into laughter at the sight.

Edwin's lips softened at the beautiful laughter that filled the carriage.

Olivia, who had laughed until her stomach hurt, finally stopped laughing and cleared her throat.

"Thank you for the thought, but it's okay. I can see Sally later. And."

Olivia trailed off. Edwin was looking at her with a clear face, as if he would wait as long as it took. Olivia spoke with sincerity to that reassuring face.

"There will be good people in the Territory of Vikander too."

As much as Edwin.

Edwin's eyes curved languidly, as if he understood the unspoken words.

Feeling embarrassed, Olivia averted her gaze and looked outside. The carriage was already passing through the crowded marketplace and approaching the border of the capital.

"Of course. Everyone will be waiting for Olivia."

"Everyone at the Grand Duke's Residence has been counting down the moments until you return since you went out today. Of course, I wanted it the most."

She remembered that night when she had to leave even the Crown Princess Palace. And Edwin's voice that she heard when she had nowhere to go.

Even though she had heard it once before, the words that he was waiting for her were terribly pleasing.

A place that awaits me.

Olivia murmured to herself. Then she slowly bit her lip.

It was a relief that it hurt.

That her reality was so affectionate and warm.

Meanwhile, Edwin shrugged his shoulders with a slightly nervous face.

"I hope you like your first impression of the Territory of Vikander."

The feelings that had been soaking in melted away in an instant. Edwin's assumption that this would be Olivia's first time in the Territory of Vikander was wrong.

She had visited once in the past when she went to investigate the Abandoned Mine on the Princess's orders.

But this was a secret. Even though she was now the owner of that Abandoned Mine, she didn't want to reveal to Edwin that she had been a errand girl for the Princess.

Olivia smiled awkwardly and agreed with Edwin.

"I'm sure I'll like it."

This was sincere. Although it was only a place where she had eaten one meal, the lively atmosphere and the people who took care of her in a nonchalant but caring way were still vivid in her mind.

Edwin's eyes drew a beautiful curve, as if he liked Olivia's answer.

"Once you get used to it, let's go to the marketplace together. There's a restaurant I enjoy going to. Of course, the chef at the Grand Duke's Residence is great, but we should visit restaurants sometimes too."

Olivia could feel the excited feeling in Edwin's voice. Olivia chuckled and imagined the things Edwin was describing.

The varnished wooden door and the checkered tablecloth on the rough table, the cheerful owner taking orders, and the peppery soup served in pretty dishes.

She hadn't even arrived yet, but her mind was already filled with images of Edwin and her going to the marketplace.

Visiting the jewelry store like last time, giving each other gifts, and then, when the time came, going together to the Abandoned Mine that she had decorated so nicely.

Ah. Olivia was suddenly anxious, thinking of the Abandoned Mine documents that were deep in her luggage. She wanted to develop it quickly and show it to Edwin.

"Will I be busy when I go to the Territory of Vikander?"

"Well, you'll probably be busy at first, right? You have to check all the servants and inspect the territory."

Olivia smiled softly at the words that scared her, saying that there would be quite a lot to study.

The things Edwin was talking about were all familiar to Olivia.

"I like it all. Is there anything else?"

Edwin, who had been quietly watching her pretty little face nodding confidently, paused and said,

"...And we have to prepare for the wedding too."

"Wedding preparations. We have to do it perfectly."

Olivia nodded seriously. She had to prepare for a grand wedding, as if taking responsibility for her words that she would prepare for the wedding during the one-year grace period.

She had done similar things before, but preparing for a wedding was a first.

What would be the most important thing? Just as Olivia was about to fall into thought and casually ask Edwin a question.

"...Why, why are you staring at me like that?"

Olivia said, hiding her embarrassment. Edwin's body, who had been quietly looking at her with an angelically beautiful face, slowly leaned towards her.

Before she knew it, a mischievous smile hung on his red lips.

"So, did you look up the meaning of the hand kiss?"

Olivia's cheeks flushed red as if they had been dyed with red flower water in an instant. Olivia hurriedly pulled her body back and said.

"Why, why would I look that up."

"Why are you so embarrassed? If you had looked it up, you wouldn't be this embarrassed, would you?"

Olivia resented Edwin, who was speaking so nonchalantly. But at the same time, curiosity surged.

If she had looked it up, she wouldn't be embarrassed? Did it perhaps have some kind of sacred meaning?

Olivia's mind raced as she bit her lip.

But there was no one to ask.

Hanna was too busy crying at the news that she was leaving, and if it was Sobel, he would have just looked at her with his unique expressionless face and smiled as if he knew.

"...What is it?"

When Olivia said it as if she was crawling in, Edwin shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly.

"What do you think it is?"

"Are you really going to be like this?"

Olivia looked at Edwin sulkily. Just as Edwin's smile deepened at the faint resentment in her green eyes.

"To help you. Shall we try again?"

His low voice was somehow subdued. Like a small animal's instinct, Olivia pretended not to know and looked out the window.

Edwin looked at Olivia with a generous pretense with eyes that had become very dark. He didn't do stupid things like missing the small, round earlobes and the white nape of her neck between her hair that were flushed red.

Perhaps feeling his gaze, Olivia, who had been looking outside, rattled off something else.

"Still, it's a relief that familiar faces are going with us. Lord Interfield too, and Lord Calter..."

Olivia, who had inadvertently said Winster's name, said "Huh?" and muttered softly, looking out the window once more.

Unlike Howard, who was closest, Winster was not visible. Perhaps he was somewhere else, Olivia looked everywhere, but what could be seen through the small window was limited.

"Are you looking for Winster? With me right in front of you?"

Olivia smiled sheepishly at the absurd voice. Edwin, who had been looking at Olivia leisurely until just now, turned his back on Olivia with a sulky face once again.

Olivia defended herself without realizing it.

"Well, he was always next to Edwin, but I couldn't see him."

"He went to work."

"What work?"

"Is that important now?"

Olivia blinked her big eyes as if asking what was important then. Edwin sighed, exhaling a heavy breath at that innocent face.

It seemed he had a long way to go.

On the road to the Territory of Vikander, that is.

* * *

At the same time, in the Emperor's Palace reception room.

The Princess's hand holding the teacup trembled slightly. The Princess looked at the Emperor, trying to hide her incredulous expression.

"...Your Majesty. Are you saying that you want me to investigate that Abandoned Mine again?"

"Yes. Investigate it thoroughly again and report back."

The Emperor put down a report in front of the Princess with a troubled face. The report, which looked meticulously written at a glance, was written by Olivia Madeleine, that half-blooded Madeleine.

"You clearly said that there were no special findings when you went to investigate it back then."

"Yes, yes. That is correct, Your Majesty."

"Didn't the magicians say anything about the phenomenon of something sparkling in the 7th mine?"

The Princess's heart sank at the Emperor's stern question. The 7th mine? How many mines were there in that Abandoned Mine? No, more than that, there was a sparkling phenomenon?

The Princess's mind was twisted in various ways. The Emperor's eyes narrowed as her answer was delayed.

It was an urgent matter. Today, Grand Duke Bikander, her dog, was said to be going down to the Territory of Vikander with Madeleine.

Before she wasted a year in vain, she had to check the special features of the White Crystal Mine that the Princess had. But the Princess, who had always written reports so clearly, was acting dull today.

"...Then what do you think about the traces of White Crystal at the entrance?"

"That, that is."

The Princess, who had been hesitating, suddenly touched her forehead. Her slender white hand trembled slightly. Then she said in a weak voice as if she was about to faint.

"Your Majesty, I am sorry. I suddenly have a headache. As you know, I went to rest, but when I heard that Your Majesty was calling for me, I rushed up, so it seems that my body has not fully recovered yet."

The Emperor suppressed his uncomfortable mood at the Princess's face, which was trying to smile bravely. It was true that he had urgently called the Princess, who had gone to rest for the past few days.

She said she was sick. Is that why she can't answer like this?

There were a lot of urgent matters, but the Emperor nodded with a helpless face.

"Return to the palace today and rest a little more. Do not forget to thoroughly investigate the White Crystal Mine as soon as possible."

"...Yes. Your Majesty."

.

.

.

"Your Highness. Count Yubler has taken a leave of absence due to his wife's Childbed Fever."

The Princess frowned at the maid's report. The sound of shoes walking through the hallway was dizzying.

What is going on?

She had handed over the Abandoned Mine as if to shake off bad luck from that half-blooded Madeleine and went down to the summer palace to enjoy herself under the pretext of recuperation.

Why would they want to investigate that Abandoned Mine again? The Princess couldn't understand at all.

When she tried to check the information about the Abandoned Mine, even Count Yubler, who was in charge, was on vacation. The Princess's heart was beating fast, feeling like bad things were piling up on top of each other.

First of all, she had to go to the palace. If she went to her palace and organized her thoughts.

In the Princess's sight, who was trying to leave the Emperor's reception room and rush to the palace, the royal guard in uniform suddenly caught her eye. To be exact, it was the vice-captain who stood at the very front of the royal guard.

A man with silver hair that shone dazzlingly and a tall height. A Knight who exuded a somewhat impatient atmosphere.

It was Jade Madeleine. A good idea flashed through the Princess's mind like lightning.

If it was Jade Madeleine, who hated that half-blooded Madeleine as much as she did...

"...I've never had tea time with Lady Madeleine."

The corners of the Princess's lips slowly rose. The maid, who understood those words, hurriedly ran towards the royal guard.

The Princess moved gracefully. The darkness that had been hanging over her until just now had disappeared as if washed away.

Under the warm sunshine, the Princess smiled like a fully bloomed flower and hummed a song.

Her Tea Party was always enjoyable.

Even on the day when that half-blooded Madeleine of Madeleine stood in front of her without even raising her head.

Even on the day when the second Madeleine lowered her head with a world-lost face.

And even now.

It was a Wednesday, just right to prepare for a Tea Party.