Chapter 5
#005. Man of Ruheirn Street
“So, you’re coming to see the Crown Prince next Monday too?”
As soon as the carriage left the Imperial Palace, Sally, her personal maid, asked. Olivia had barely nodded when Sally's face brightened. Sally, who was the same age as Esella, was a maid from the orphanage House Madeleine sponsored. She was especially fond of Olivia, much like Esella, so after taking care of her a few times, she had grown enough to be entrusted as a personal maid.
“The Crown Prince must like you a lot, Miss.”
Olivia smiled a little at Sally's innocent search for romantic love. Well, she was the same when it came to love.
“Let's have dinner together next Monday. I'll send a carriage to meet you at lunchtime.”
Leopold's words rang vividly in her ears. Her father would be happy if he knew this. It was the first time Leopold had asked her out on a date. Wouldn't he say she did a good job? The image of her father constantly ignoring her came to mind, but Olivia consciously tried to erase it. The magnificent view of the endlessly stretching Imperial Palace ended, and luxurious and elegant shops appeared outside the window. Ruheirn Street. It was the most bustling street in the empire and a trendsetting street. . . . In the street of glamorous boutiques, Sally's pace slowed. She was looking with envious eyes at the glamorous dress displayed at the entrance of the boutique.
“Is it that pretty?”
“Hehe. I think it's Madam Pluto's new collection. Isn't it sparkly and so pretty?”
Sally, who smiled embarrassedly, sparkled her eyes again. At those words, Olivia also looked closely at the dress. The light pink color and the richly gathered lace on the skirt seemed to suit Esella well. Olivia felt better just thinking about Esella wearing that dress.
“Sally. Tell that boutique to come to the mansion next week.”
“Are you getting a dress made, Miss? Oh my goodness!”
“Not for me. For Esella.”
Sally, who had been overjoyed, pouted her lips. She had heard that if she served the princess, she would go on boutique tours every day, but that was all a lie. The young lady, busy buying things for her family, didn't take care of her own needs.
“That bright color of dress would suit you well, Miss.”
“Later.”
Olivia smiled and promised for the future. Sally knew very well that 'later' would not come even after five years, but she didn't say it. Instead, she told another story.
“You're going to the post office after buying a diary today, right?”
“Yeah. I wonder if a letter has arrived today?”
At Olivia's playful words, Sally was taken aback. It had already been six months since the 'letter,' which was the only pleasure of the young lady who had no hobbies, had not arrived. Olivia smiled at Sally, who was fidgeting.
“He must be busy. I heard the war is coming to an end.”
The words to Sally were actually to herself. The fact that the letters, which had been coming and going for about a year, had not arrived for six months was not a good sign. Especially if the recipient was a Knight who participated in the war with Heferti. It was really a coincidence that she exchanged letters with a Knight whose name she didn't even know properly. After Jade left for the battlefield, Olivia sent relief supplies several times. But Jade returned all the relief supplies sent in Olivia's name. Just in case, she sent relief supplies using a pseudonym. Her heart sank when she saw that the relief supplies were not returned, but she was still happy. She was happy just that Jade was using those things. Then one day, a letter came to her. The letter from the battlefield was a thank you for the relief supplies. - With gratitude to Liv Green. That day, Olivia read the letter that came to her again and again. It was really awkward and ticklish that someone was expressing their gratitude to her so much. The letters continued to come and go like that. Until six months ago, when the letters stopped. He must be doing well. Since they said they had gained the upper hand, he must be busy. Olivia thought positively, recalling the letters she had carefully stored. Still, she really hoped a letter would come today. Olivia turned into a narrow path with anticipation. The bookstore where she bought her diary every time was on the outskirts of the downtown area. Just by getting out of the downtown area, the surroundings became much quieter.
“Toll! Are you deaf because you're so precious? Why can't you understand me?!”
A harsh shout was heard from inside the alley.
“Miss, it seems like there are still people collecting tolls.”
“I guess so.”
While saying that, Olivia moved her steps. It seemed like the place where the loud noise came from was around here. As she thought about it, she saw burly men and one person surrounded by them in the alley. Although he was wearing a Robe, his height, which was much taller than the men, caught her eye. It was too obvious of a scene. One of the gang members turned around as if sensing someone's presence.
“Huh? What is it? Where did these fearless things come from?”
“And there are two of them.”
With a greasy smile, two men began to approach Olivia. The person wearing the Robe paused for a moment, but the two men didn't seem to want to stop. Olivia said calmly.
“It seems like the rumors are slow. I thought it was already widely known what happens when you recklessly collect tolls on this street.”
“What?”
“What is that woman saying? Hey, noble lady. Didn't they tell you at home not to walk alone in alleys like this?”
Olivia smiled.
“Hey, aren't you, Ack!!”
The man was pushed against the wall before he could finish his sentence. It was as the man said. Nobles never walked alone, no matter where they went. Especially Olivia, who was a princess and the Crown Prince's fiancée. Olivia said lightly.
“Send them to the constabulary.”
“Yes. Princess.”
Sir Rein, the escort Knight, entered the alley with large strides. The remaining men shouted in panic and pulled out their jackknives. They shouted, aiming as if to stab the person wearing the Robe.
“D, don't come closer!”
Oh dear. Olivia clicked her tongue. The real Knight, Sir Rein, was sensitive to knives.
“D, don't come closer, Ugh!”
“Agh! D, don't think this will, Ack!”
As Sir Rein approached, the frightened men swung their knives at Sir Rein indiscriminately, but it was useless. The men were subdued in an instant, and the Knights dragged the men away in a row.
“Good job.”
“It was nothing.”
Sir Rein and his partner, Sir Derobon, bowed as if it was a matter of course. Then, they looked at Olivia and glanced at the inside of the alley. In response to the expression asking what to do with that person, Olivia looked inside the alley. The person wearing the Robe was standing in the same spot inside the alley. Olivia headed inside. Sally, who was behind her, was startled and said softly.
“Miss! Are you going yourself? He might be a dangerous person!”
“Or, do you want to go?”
When Olivia teased her, Sally said resolutely as if her life depended on it.
“Yes! I, I'll go!”
Olivia smiled faintly and moved forward. As if she knew it, Sir Rein and Sir Derobon followed behind her. Even Sally, who didn't know what to do, followed closely behind her. 'Precious person,' they said. Even if she hadn't intervened, those guys wouldn't have been able to collect a generous toll. The man's Robe, which she saw up close, had a fancy pattern embroidered on it, but it wasn't the kind of embroidery that came from high-end products.
“Are you alright?”
“……I caused you trouble. Thanks to you,”
The man's low voice stopped abruptly. Although his face was not clearly visible because of the Robe, he seemed to be staring intently at her. What is it? While Olivia was tilting her head at the strange silence, the man slowly walked towards Olivia. One step, one step. It was the moment he was getting closer. Suddenly, the man staggered greatly and leaned towards Olivia. Surprised, Olivia unknowingly supported the man. Sir Rein and Sir Derobon quickly approached at the sudden event, but the man immediately seemed to regain his senses and distanced himself from Olivia.
“Miss!”
While the surprised Sally blocked Olivia, Sir Derobon took off the man's Robe. Sally, who was about to get angry, became quiet in an instant. It was no wonder. The man was truly beautiful.
Raven-feather black hair and white skin, thick eyebrows and slender, curved, deep eyes with sparkling red pupils. From the aristocratic nose to the well-shaped lips. His elegant and beautiful face was a perfect beauty as if God had carefully sculpted it. But what made everyone hold their breath now was not just the man's beauty. Despite his indifferent voice even after being threatened with a knife, the man was trembling. His small, trembling red eyes, as if terrified, met Olivia's. As if a newborn deer had met its savior for the first time, various emotions passed over the man's white face. After a bit of fear and relief passed, gratitude was clear. Only then did the man smile. His eyes narrowed slightly, and a drop of tear that had been welling up beneath them fell with a 'drip.' While everyone was speechless at the pathetic tears, the man continued to speak in a slightly trembling voice.
“……My legs gave out. I was really at a loss for what to do. Thank you. I don't know how to repay this debt.”
The man's eyes slowly turned red. Everyone, including Olivia, was flustered by his picturesque beauty and forgot two things. The one drop of tear that the man shed pathetically was a squeezed-out, ant-urine-sized drop of tear, and. Unlike his eyes, which were red as if tears would fall at any moment, his pupils were only looking at Olivia. They forgot these two things. . . .
“……Thank you again for helping me.”
Whether the man seemed unlikely to cause harm, Sir Rein and Sir Derobon moved away again. As if he had finally calmed down a bit, the man took the end of his Robe and dabbed at his eyes. He smiled awkwardly as if embarrassed, but his voice was wonderful and his gaze was clear. Every time he smiled, a noble dignity flashed across his beautiful face. Olivia stared at the man for a moment. Who could he be? If he were an aristocrat of the empire… he wouldn't smile at me like that. Olivia, who had perfectly memorized the imperial peerage yearbook at the age of twelve, was seeing the man for the first time. If he was an aristocrat missing from the peerage yearbook, he had either been executed, or… belonged to the Grand Duke Bikander's family. Jet-black hair and ruby-colored eyes with a reddish tint. It was a facial feature that reminded her of someone, but Olivia shook her head. Goodness. To be reminded of Grand Duke Bikander. The war hero who was turning the sluggish war with Heferti, which had been dragging on for over three years, into a victory. There was no way that he, who terrified everyone with his blood-red eyes and hair as black as darkness, could be the same person as this harmlessly smiling man. Above all, it was absurd that the Grand Duke, who should be on the battlefield, was surrounded by common thugs in this back alley of Ruheirn Street and being asked for a toll. It didn't make sense. The man, who couldn't even guess what she was thinking, smiled innocently. Olivia straightened her back and faced the man with a nonchalant look. She didn't know who this man was, but she was Madeleine, the Grand Duchess and the Crown Prince's fiancée. There were only a handful of people in this empire from whom she would avert her gaze first.
“I'm glad I could help.”
Olivia was about to quickly pay her respects and leave, but at her words, the man's eyes widened and he waved his hands.
“It's not just help. You saved me. I really don't know how to repay this kindness.”
The man smiled as if he was slightly disappointed.
“If only I knew where my Knight had taken the carriage, I would really repay you right away.”
To be wandering alone in an alley in Ruheirn, where you don't even know you're being robbed even with your eyes wide open. Seeing that he came with a Knight who wasn't a mercenary, he seemed to be a newly rich aristocrat who had accumulated wealth. That would explain why she didn't recognize his face.
“I repeat, it's really okay. More importantly, where did you get separated from your Knight?”
“A place with a fountain and lots of carriages.”
There were many fountains on Ruheirn Street, but only one place with many carriages. The Garden of the Four Seasons. Fortunately, it was right behind them. It was the time when the sunlight was ripe. As they entered the path leading to the Garden of the Four Seasons, the sound of water and cheerful laughter could be heard.
“……Let's go our separate ways from here. You're almost there, so you won't get lost.”
“Won't you come with me? It's not a lie, if I can just find my Knight, I can give you precious gifts.”
“I'll just take your kind thoughts.”
“Then how about promising to meet again next time?”
“I'm afraid that will be difficult too.”
It was a clear answer, but the man was not disappointed.
“I see. Then I'll have to hope for luck once more.”
What an interesting man. For him to say that meeting me was lucky. It was such an unfamiliar thing to hear that I almost wanted to bow my head because it tickled my face. Even after saying something that would have made my face flush, the man smiled kindly. The look of wiping away tears from earlier was nowhere to be found. Oh my. Sally, who was standing behind me, made a fuss. Would I have been so excited too if I didn't have a fiancé? Leopold suddenly came to mind from earlier today. My fiancé, who was with Maria Etel. My mouth felt bitter. Olivia deliberately smiled faintly. But the man had a serious face.
“……If we meet again, I mean.”
Really, if. The man quickly added and continued.
“At that time, would you please allow me to repay your kindness?”
Olivia gasped for a moment. It was so strange. This situation where someone was asking for my permission. She raised her hand and pressed down on her chest. It felt like something was welling up. She felt dizzy. What was it about this first-time meeting with this man's words? The man did not urge the silent Olivia or add any more words. Instead, he stood still as if waiting for an answer. Watching him, Olivia deliberately raised her chin and said arrogantly.
“……I'm telling you in advance, I have high standards. I won't accept it if I'm not satisfied.”
“That's good to hear.”
The man's eyes narrowed pleasantly. A sweet smile hung on the corner of his red lips.
“I am always one to covet. Naturally, wouldn't I be full of precious things that can only be obtained with the most effort?”
The way the man pronounced the words, 'precious things,' was somehow strange. Olivia blinked once. The red eyes looking at her in the slender eyes sparkled provocatively.
