Chapter 55
#055. The Moment His Best Was Realized
It had been a long time since I'd ridden in a carriage this late at night.
The excellent Knight Howard Interfield was not only a good rider but also a good carriage driver.
Olivia deliberately looked out the window, trying to think of other things.
While trying to focus on Howard's driving skills, which made the ride almost completely smooth, Olivia couldn't help but glance at Edwin's face reflected in the window.
She couldn't bring herself to look directly at Edwin's face, who was sitting across from her. The moment she looked at Edwin, she felt like she would recall the expression he had shown her earlier.
.
.
.
A little while ago, in Olivia's room.
It was when the trembling in Edwin's arms had subsided. While soothing Edwin's pounding heartbeat with her palm, Olivia impulsively said,
"If you're okay with it, would you like to go see it now?"
"C-Can I really?"
At his damp, tear-filled voice, Olivia looked at Edwin's face. The expression Edwin wore at that moment was one she would probably never forget for the rest of her life.
A face that looked at her desperately, like a child left alone. The steadfast interior of Edwin, who had always held her firmly, was revealed to her. Olivia involuntarily gasped.
Tears welled up in his red eyes and trickled down the corners. With his eyes and the tip of his nose red, Edwin looked at her as if she were his savior.
It was different from the affectionate gaze that usually made her heart flutter, or the persistent eye contact that made her feel embarrassed.
Edwin shook his head slightly, his face confused as if he couldn't believe it. He looked like he couldn't figure out what to say.
Olivia swallowed the aching pain in her heart. And she intuitively knew that the expression, like a shard of glass, that was embedded in her heart would never be removed.
But if she cried at this moment, Edwin would comfort her, setting aside his own pain.
So, Olivia held back the lump in her throat and spoke gently, just as Edwin had done for her.
"Of course. The White Crystal Mine is Edwin's now. You can go see it whenever you want."
His mother's keepsake, which had been taken away, and the treasure of the Lowell Kingdom.
Olivia knew very well the resonance that such things could have. If someone gave her her mother's Thread anklet, she might also stand there blankly and burst into tears like Edwin.
She was grateful for the fact that she could be by Edwin's side, who had always lifted her up, at this very moment.
Olivia firmly took Edwin's hand and met his eyes.
"You can go alone next time, but just go with me today."
She wanted to be behind him, even if just a little. She couldn't leave such an affectionate person alone on a day like this.
Olivia quickly added.
"I absolutely won't interfere with you looking around the mine. So, just this once, go with me."
Olivia waited anxiously for Edwin's answer. Edwin nodded almost imperceptibly.
"...I'll prepare the carriage right away."
Howard, who she didn't know when he had arrived, said with reddened eyes.
.
.
.
"I'm going to ask you to put the seal on it proving it's jointly owned as soon as we get back. So, rest a little. If you don't rest, I really won't let you see Bethany tomorrow. Got it?"
Come to think of it, she hoped Bethany was resting well. Thinking of Bethany, who had barely nodded her head as if she were exhausted, Olivia glanced towards the Ducal Palace.
Before she knew it, the grand Ducal Palace looked as small as a dot.
She wondered how long it would take to get to the mine.
Olivia estimated the distance, recalling the first time she had come to Bikander. In order to consciously avoid looking at Edwin in the silence, she had to keep thinking about other things.
"...Olivia."
At the sound of her name, Olivia looked at Edwin in surprise.
His beautiful face smiled loosely as he looked at Olivia.
"Why are you so surprised?"
"...Well, because I didn't think you would call me."
Olivia swallowed her bewilderment and answered honestly. Edwin chuckled softly.
Before she knew it, the redness around his eyes had disappeared without a trace, returning to normal. His red eyes, which had been so wet, sparkled again.
"I'm sorry, but..."
Edwin frowned slightly for a moment. Only the dry, cracked voice that had sunk down was a remnant that proved Edwin's confused state until just now. Edwin smiled faintly and reached out his hand.
"Can you hold my hand? I feel a little carsick today."
Looking at his hand, Olivia bit her lip.
She had been wrong. He hadn't returned to normal at all. Her heart ached endlessly at the sight of Edwin, whose hands were trembling so much, asking her to just hold his hand because he was carsick.
Olivia slowly shook her head. A voice that was more restrained than usual leaked out from between her clenched teeth.
"I can't hold your hand."
"I thought so."
Edwin, who had been smiling weakly and pretending to be okay, widened his eyes. The sweet fragrance that always made Edwin yearn came close to his side.
Olivia, who had suddenly sat next to Edwin, wrapped her arms around Edwin's solid shoulder and said,
"The best thing for carsickness is to lean on the person next to you and close your eyes."
It must be an uncomfortable position. Olivia carefully rested Edwin's head on her. With her other hand, she held Edwin's hand.
"I understand if I'm being unreasonable right now. I won't interfere with you at all when we arrive."
Her firm voice soothed Edwin's precarious heart. The small gap that had remained in one corner of his heart was filled to the brim.
Edwin, who had been blinking at the warmth, slowly closed his eyes.
* * *
"We have arrived."
At some point, the carriage came to a complete stop. At the sound of Howard's voice knocking from outside the door, Olivia glanced at Edwin for a moment.
"...Shall we get out?"
Edwin cleared his throat as if his completely hoarse voice was awkward. Olivia wanted to smile a little at his gesture to ease the atmosphere, but it seemed like only the corners of her lips barely lifted due to the tension.
As soon as she got out of the carriage, Olivia let out a shallow breath. The White Crystal Mine in front of her was exactly the same as the last time she had seen it.
As if untouched by people, the trees at the entrance were still withered and bare. The sound of the branches hitting each other whenever the wind blew was eerie.
Remembering how cold the wind had been inside the mine, Olivia unconsciously fiddled with the Magic Stone on her necklace.
If she had this Magic Stone, she would be warm like now. Just as she was about to give it to Edwin, Olivia struggled to undo the clasp behind her neck.
"Please wait... I'll go in first."
Before she could even take off her necklace, Howard said in a stiff voice. Tension was evident on Howard's face, which did not reveal any emotion.
"It's okay."
Edwin shook his head and said.
Olivia hesitated for a moment, looking at Edwin and Howard, who seemed to have made a firm decision as if they were entering a place they shouldn't, and asked.
"...Is there a rule that you can't go in here at night?"
If that wasn't the case, there was no need to have such firm expressions just from entering. Instead of Edwin, who only smiled without answering, Howard hesitated for a moment and said.
"When the Emperor owned the White Crystal Mine, he had a wizard cast a resistance spell on this place against all members of the Grand Duke Bikander family."
"A resistance spell?"
She couldn't believe it. A resistance spell. A resistance spell that prevented unauthorized people from approaching was a spell that only wizards with great skill could cast.
The fact that a spell that was cast on the most secure vaults in the Imperial Palace was cast on this mine.
Olivia looked at the mine, shocked by the fact she had never known. Howard added.
"Yes. The magic was cast in multiple layers so that even Bethany could not undo it, so we have been restricted from entering."
"Now that ownership has been transferred to my Olivia, we can go in, right?"
Edwin winked playfully and strode towards the mine. Before Olivia could calm her surprised heart at the word "resistance magic," she called out to Edwin in surprise.
"Edwin!"
If the resistance magic rejected access, the person would suffer excruciating pain. A word she had vaguely heard came to mind, and Olivia ran to Edwin's side in terror.
Could it be that the Princess knew this fact and was trapping her? She hoped Edwin would be safe.
With a desperate wish, Olivia grabbed Edwin and passed through the entrance of the cave. Just as Olivia closed her eyes tightly on the firm hand she was holding,
"...I'm in, Olivia."
Edwin looked at Olivia as if he couldn't believe it.
It was the same.
He had entered this White Crystal Mine, which he could not give up even with the pain of being struck by lightning and burning from the inside out, but instead of being thrown out, he was still standing there.
Olivia, who had closed her eyes tightly, slowly opened them. And after thoroughly checking that Edwin was safe, she got angry.
"How can you just go in like that! Do you know how scary resistance magic is? It's magic that burns people to death,"
At that moment, Edwin hugged Olivia tightly. He could feel the anger seething beneath Olivia's body, which was much smaller and softer than his, but Edwin couldn't contain this overwhelming feeling.
"...A long time ago."
Edwin murmured, holding back his emotions.
"...My mother often told me about this place. My mother, who cherished this White Crystal Mine very much, always said that there was a tremendous secret here."
“It’s a secret passed down through generations only to the royals of Lowell who have come of age. I hope the day comes soon when I can tell you this secret.”
The image of his mother saying that playfully was vivid.
The unbearable drowsiness that washed over him, and the sound of his mother’s voice, as beautiful as a canary, singing for him, a young boy on the verge of sleep. The gentle touch of her hand carefully stroking his hair.
He vaguely thought he wanted to turn eighteen quickly. But when he actually turned eighteen, he was in a state where he couldn’t even pass through the entrance here.
He swallowed the burning pain as if he were being burned, hoping that one day he would be able to enter.
Edwin briefly pulled Olivia away from his embrace. Green eyes, brimming with tears of worry, met Edwin's.
At that moment, Edwin remembered the phrase this brilliantly shining lady had sent him.
"...My, my best has been achieved."
Hoping that the Knight's best will be achieved. Liv Green, Dream.
Looking at Olivia's face, which showed she didn't understand what he meant, Edwin said once more.
"Olivia has achieved my best."
A low voice full of trembling. Olivia felt a sense of déjà vu from Edwin's words, but she didn't ask anything.
Instead, she put strength into her arms and hugged Edwin tightly.
Whatever it was, she was glad that Edwin's best had been achieved. His quiet laughter was so pleasant to hear, and so ticklish.
Olivia could only wish that this moment would last forever.
