Chapter 47
#047. The Grand Duchy Recognizes Joint Property
Dedicated lady-in-waiting and escort Knight.
The conditions Edwin mentioned for inspecting the Territory of Vikander were met.
Even the sky was clear from morning. It was the perfect day to go on a Territory of Vikander inspection. However, what was troubling Olivia now was something else.
"Are you alright?"
Olivia looked at herself in the mirror. A bright yellow dress and a wide-brimmed hat. It was a dress she had never worn when inspecting the Territory of Vikander under the Princess's orders.
It's a Territory of Vikander inspection. Wouldn't it be better to wear something more dignified? Bethany shook her head firmly.
"I will prepare elegant and dignified dresses for formal inspections. But today, you need to look at every corner of the Territory of Vikander, so a dress that is easy to move in would be better."
Bethany was right. This bright yellow dress was light and easy to move in. She could easily get off the carriage and walk around.
As if proving that she was a former lady-in-waiting to the previous Grand Duchess, Bethany took meticulous care of Olivia.
She braided Olivia's hair thickly and finished her makeup with skillful hands. Then, she brought out an antique jewelry box, opened it, and said,
"And this."
Inside the jewelry box was a White Crystal Necklace she had never seen before. Every time the nail-sized White Crystal shook, the transparent gem seemed to flash green.
It didn't seem like an ordinary White Crystal, but before Olivia could take another look, Bethany put the necklace around her neck. As soon as the Platinum chain touched her skin, Olivia's eyes widened.
"Bethany, did you cast a spell on me?"
Even the slightly chilly breeze felt refreshing. It felt like her whole body was being warmed. Bethany shook her head.
"It's because of that necklace. It's a Magic Stone."
"A Magic Stone?"
Even when she lived as a Princess, she had only seen a handful of Magic Stones. To wear such a precious thing as a necklace. While Olivia was taken aback, Bethany's eyes became wistful.
"It belonged to the late Grand Duchess."
"Is it okay for me to wear something so precious?"
Olivia was surprised, but Bethany smiled warmly and shook her head.
"Of course. Even if the late Grand Duchess were here, she would have given it to you as a gift. When the late Grand Duchess first came to Vikander, she had a hard time adjusting to this cold land. Now, you have to adapt to this place for good."
Olivia silently touched the necklace, watching Bethany speak as if it were natural that she would spend her future here. The small gem that touched her fingertips was hard.
Just like the firm belief Bethany showed.
Bethany smiled brightly at Olivia and said,
"Now, shall we go on the Territory of Vikander inspection?"
* * *
Two carriages with the Grand Duke's crest. And five escort Knights.
It was a rather modest arrangement for a Territory of Vikander inspection, but Olivia liked it.
"We need to go with a small number to be able to stop by restaurants without any problems. Do you remember the place I told you about on the way here?"
Edwin's excited voice from last night came to mind. The corners of Olivia's lips lifted, and Edwin, who was sitting right in front of her, grinned.
"You look brighter today, Olivia. I don't think it's just because you're wearing a bright dress?"
"The Territory of Vikander inspection is fun, and I'm looking forward to the restaurant. Also,"
Olivia added, gesturing towards the window.
"The Knight I wanted to be on my side the most became my escort Knight."
Through the window, Dian was driving the horse with a blank face. Yesterday, when she greeted him to ask him to take good care of her as an escort Knight, his face was distorted.
"Wasn't I your number one?"
Edwin looked sulky. Olivia quickly nodded and replied.
"Of course. Edwin, you're the first Knight to pledge your oath to me."
At Olivia's words, Edwin narrowed his eyes as if he was in a good mood. Taking advantage of the gap, Olivia subtly asked.
"By the way, Sir Szelin seems to dislike the Emperor more than others."
To be exact, it seemed like he disliked her. Olivia lumped it together and blamed the Emperor. Edwin chuckled.
"I guess he can't like him, can he?"
"Is it because he's a Knight of the Territory of Vikander? Or is there another personal reason?"
Is it because of the long-standing animosity between the Grand Ducal Family and the Imperial Family? Or is it a personal reason? Olivia asked indirectly.
"To give you a hint, the personal reason is probably bigger..."
A personal reason. Yesterday, Dian said that he was twenty-one years old. A young Knight who had only become an adult a few years ago had a personal grudge against the Imperial Family.
Olivia widened her eyes and waited for Edwin to continue. Then, Edwin lowered his voice as much as possible.
"...But Olivia, where did the person who said they would handle it themselves go?"
"That's... true."
Olivia held up her palm. It was a clean admission. As Edwin said, she had no choice but to trust the power she had.
The power to open people's hearts. Olivia pondered Edwin's words and looked at Dian. And she cast a spell in her mind towards him, who wasn't even looking at her.
Open your heart, open your heart.
Whether it was because of the spell or the gaze. Dian, who was driving well, suddenly raised his head. The moment their eyes met, he frowned even more and turned his head so sharply that it made a sound.
Olivia smiled slowly.
The attitude Dian was showing now was the same as the noble children who hated her during her adolescence.
Suddenly, Edwin's hand blocked her view. At the same time, a languid voice turned to Olivia.
"But don't pay too much attention to Dian."
The moment her red eyes intertwined with his, Olivia swallowed a small breath.
Those eyes that looked at her as if they truly wanted her.
The person who looked at her with the eyes that Olivia really wanted.
Even though she tried not to be conscious of it, she kept being bothered by Edwin. The air in the carriage was a little hot, and his affectionate gaze pulled Olivia in.
Olivia swallowed once. Before she knew it, her expectations had grown like this. Her heart, which had been broken by her family and her former fiancé, was sparkling again and leaning towards Edwin.
If only she could convey these words that lingered in her mouth.
Some unknown emotion still made Olivia hesitate.
"That necklace is pretty."
"Ah, this."
At Edwin's words, Olivia glanced at Edwin for a moment. Her mother's keepsake. It must be a precious item. But Edwin smiled without caring.
"It suits you well."
At those words, Olivia swallowed her complicated feelings. The pulse on the inside of her wrist, where Edwin had kissed her yesterday, was beating fiercely.
.
.
.
The first step of the Territory of Vikander inspection was Soneier Street, the most prosperous street in the Territory of Vikander.
To be exact, it was the restaurant <Where the Wind Blows> on Ruheirn Street.
A varnished wooden door and a checkered tablecloth on a rough table.
"Order here!"
The cheerful voice of the employee shouting and the thin soup smelling of pepper.
It was exactly as Edwin had described.
Olivia ate the soup with curious eyes.
"It's delicious."
At Olivia's answer, Edwin smiled proudly.
Lunchtime. Edwin blended in naturally in this crowded place. With his striking appearance, the residents of the Territory of Vikander looked at Edwin with awe and respect.
"The soup is delicious, but the turkey meat here is famous."
Steam rose from the golden-brown turkey on the large plate. Along with the savory and flavorful smell, Edwin cut off a well-cooked leg.
Soon, Olivia's eyes widened as she held her fork.
.
.
.
"Here you go."
Dian said bluntly, looking at the turkey meat that the employee had put down.
"The turkey that our dear patron sent us during the war was really delicious."
He never thought he would eat turkey on the battlefield. Especially such a plump one.
"I wonder how Liv Green is doing?"
Dian looked at Howard, hoping for agreement. But Howard turned around instead of answering.
Fortunately, the 'dear patron' who had sent the turkey during the war didn't seem to hear Dian's voice and was enjoying the meal.
Howard let out a light breath and said to Dian.
"You... if you enjoyed the turkey, just keep it down."
This was a huge hint. He had acted like a zealous follower of the patron Liv Green throughout the war, but now he was being rude to her. He didn't need to see it to know how much he would regret it.
"I haven't even eaten it yet?"
But unfortunately, Dian didn't understand. He tore off a piece of turkey meat and ate it deliciously, thinking.
Anyway, Howard and His Highness, and even Bethany, are all strange since the Princess came.
He didn't say anything about the story of Liv Green, the patron who had given them kind help throughout the war, and just turned around.
There was only the Princess eating turkey meat deliciously there.
* * *
After the meal, the carriage quickly crossed Soneier Street.
Not as much as Ruheirn Street, but a sufficiently prosperous and wealthy street. It was a street that Olivia had visited once. The scenery, similar to and different from her memories, continued.
"Vikander is not as well organized as the Imperial Territory of Madeleine. Most of the area, except for Soneier Street, still has dirt roads."
As Edwin said, the barren wilderness of the north unfolded just a little way off the street.
She couldn't see all of the vast Territory of Vikander in one day. Edwin first led her to the mine.
The barren northern Territory of Vikander. The main source of income here was gem mining. It was natural to go see that source of income.
But when she arrived at the Pink Diamond Mine, Olivia opened her mouth slightly at the enormous scale.
"Greetings to the great hero Grand Duke, and to you, my lady. I am Stone, the person in charge of the mine."
Baron Stone, one of the few remaining vassals of the Grand Duke Bikander family, was a pleasant-looking middle-aged gentleman with a plump physique. Rubbing his hair, which was just beginning to recede, he introduced the mine and brought out a gem, saying it was the most beautiful Pink Diamond mined this year.
The baby fist-sized Pink Diamond sparkled transparently in the sunlight.
"It's a higher grade than the one the Prince of Welton Kingdom bought at auction."
It was a famous story that the Prince of Welton Kingdom had offered a Pink Diamond Necklace to Princess Reina when he proposed to her. To think that there was an even higher grade than that. How jealous would the Princess be if she knew?
In the meantime, Edwin held out the Pink Diamond.
"Take it. It's Olivia's."
"Mine?"
Olivia, who had taken the diamond in a daze, smiled blankly. She felt a heavy weight in her hand, but somehow it didn't feel like it was hers.
"I already have a Pink Diamond Necklace, don't I? The one Edwin gave me."
"That's that, and this is a better one."
A better one.
Olivia looked at the Pink Diamond instead of refusing at the strangely unfamiliar words. Meanwhile, Edwin pointed to the mine and continued.
"There are many mines in Vikander. In addition to this Pink Diamond Mine, there are also gold mines, and there are Blue Sapphire mines in the Antrell Mountains in the west."
"Are you bragging about your wealth?"
Olivia smiled a little. Edwin smiled softly and shook his head.
"I'm saying that all of that will also become Olivia's."
"Yes?"
She couldn't understand what he was saying. It certainly seemed like a huge statement. Edwin smiled loosely and looked at Olivia.
"Vikander doesn't distinguish between the Grand Duke's and Grand Duchess's property."
"..."
"So, what I'm saying is that if you marry me, everything will also become Olivia's."
Pink Diamond Mine, gold mine, Blue Sapphire mine. All the other properties in Vikander.
The list of assets recited in his handsome voice was all enormous. Edwin's appearance, saying that those astronomical assets were jointly owned, made her feel overwhelmed, regardless of the scale of the assets.
Ahem, Edwin cleared his throat. Looking at his face, which was smiling somewhat shyly, Olivia was sure that it was now.
"I, I also have property."
"Really?"
Olivia nodded. Edwin knew that Olivia had come out of Madeleine penniless. But at that face that said it was real, Edwin asked mischievously.
"Wait a minute. If I hear it now, it will be jointly owned, are you sure?"
"It was Edwin's because I brought it as a dowry. It's more advantageous for me if it's jointly owned."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. Ah, but I can't show it to you now. I'll show it to you after I fix it up."
"What needs fixing up?"
"It may not have much value in itself..."
Olivia wiggled her fingers. At that moment, Edwin's expression stiffened for a moment.
Suddenly, the day he went to the Imperial Palace came to his mind. Olivia had brought something back after meeting the Princess.
With a feeling of disbelief, Edwin's mouth went dry. There was no way such a coincidence could happen. No matter how little the Princess knew its value, there was no way she would hand it over to Olivia knowing that he was tied to the White Crystal Mine.
But, if.
If there really was a chance.
Edwin hid his anxiety and didn't urge her. It was the moment when Edwin's Adam's apple moved slowly, patiently waiting for Olivia's next words.
"Your Highness. I have something to report to you."
Howard, who had been standing far away, approached. At this important moment. Edwin suppressed his hasty anger. He was about to calmly open his mouth to tell him to come later.
"It seems urgent, go ahead."
Olivia smiled brightly. It was a completely different face from when she was worried and trying to speak a little while ago.
"It's not urgent. I'm more curious about Olivia's property."
"I'll fix it up and show it to you nicely."
Olivia smiled playfully. He was burning with impatience, but Edwin didn't want to urge Olivia. No, to be exact, he wanted to maintain his expectations, which had grown arbitrarily, even a little longer.
Even if it was something that couldn't happen.
Olivia pushed Edwin's back slightly towards Howard, saying it wasn't urgent.
Edwin, who was suddenly pushed away, said in a low voice that only Howard could hear.
"If it's not urgent, you'll be sparring with me as soon as we get back."
Sparring with Edwin was one of the trainings that everyone avoided. It was a petty remark that sounded like he was going to take revenge for interrupting this moment. But Howard indifferently handed over a telegram as if that wouldn't happen.
"It's a telegram. It's about the Princess's movements that you mentioned at that time."
It was urgent, but the timing was bad.
Edwin sighed lightly and unfolded the telegram that Howard handed over.
