Chapter 56
#056. The Person Who Gives Courage to Speak
"...I don't know where to begin. So, please go ahead first. I will guard the entrance."
Howard said with a terribly cracked voice. Unlike his trembling voice, his bowed posture was unwavering.
Just moments ago, as soon as he confirmed that Edwin had safely passed through the mine entrance, Howard, who had been frozen in place, repeatedly went back and forth between the inside and outside of the mine entrance with a face full of confusion.
Each time he went back and forth, he looked as if he was about to cry with disbelief, but Howard chose to bow his head without showing a crying face in the end.
Olivia, who was watching him, naturally thought that her place was next to Howard.
"I absolutely won't interfere with Edwin exploring the mine. So, just this once, let's go together."
She had said to Edwin several times that she wouldn't interfere with him exploring the mine.
So, her role was only to deliver the Magic Stone necklace to Edwin. And to calm her startled heart while waiting for Edwin.
Olivia was about to raise her hand again to take off the necklace.
A firm, large hand carefully grabbed Olivia's right hand. Within the touching palms, her pulse thumped rapidly.
She couldn't even distinguish whether the irregular sound was her own heartbeat or Edwin's.
Unlike the startled Olivia, Edwin, who was smiling kindly, raised the corners of his lips.
"Then wait here for a moment."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Edwin leaned towards Howard for a moment and added something.
It was such a small voice that even Olivia, who was next to him, couldn't hear it, but Howard nodded slightly as if he understood. Howard's tightly clenched fist trembled.
The cold moonlight briefly illuminated Howard's face. His nose, which she glimpsed, was flushed red, and he was still holding back tears.
Olivia pretended not to see and looked inside the mine. The dark path inside that she had passed by last time vividly came to mind. Perhaps it would be better for her, who knew the way well, to go with Edwin rather than him going alone.
"Shall we go?"
"Together?"
"Of course."
To think that him holding her hand really meant he wanted her to go with him. She was a little dazed that something she had only thought about was happening.
Edwin lightly led Olivia. As Olivia took a step inside the mine, she said very quietly to Howard.
"...Don't worry, Lord Interfield. I'll be back."
This was a word for Howard, but also for herself.
She knew this White Crystal Mine better than anyone else. Even where the floor of this mine was slippery.
As if going out for a short trip, saying "I'll be back" was natural now whenever she went somewhere.
The place to return to was right here, Vikander.
Just as Olivia, who had composed her mind, was about to take another step, a muffled, wet voice reached Olivia on the wind.
"...Yes. Lady. Please, come back safely."
* * *
Olivia remembered how desolate and chilly this mine was. The place that had been so cold felt warm today, as if warmth was enveloping her body.
It must be because of the Magic Stone that maintained body temperature.
Olivia groped for the clasp of the necklace behind her neck with the hand that wasn't holding Edwin's. Perhaps because she was using one hand, she couldn't get a good grip on the clasp.
"What's wrong? Are you uncomfortable somewhere?"
"It's not that,"
The clasp was released by the hand groping behind her neck. And at that moment, Olivia's eyes widened.
Even though the Magic Stone necklace had clearly come loose from her neck and fallen into her palm, she didn't feel any coldness; her body was still warm.
"Edwin, by any chance... isn't this mine cold?"
"Was it cold? Just a moment."
Perhaps he misunderstood, Edwin tried to take off the Robe he was wearing with the hand that wasn't holding Olivia's.
Olivia hurriedly waved her left hand holding the Magic Stone necklace.
"It's not that, the mine is supposed to be a little cold..."
Olivia spoke, recalling a year ago, but Edwin smiled and shook his head, thinking of a typical mine.
"It seems like it's always been like this here. I haven't been here since I was very young, but unlike other mines where I always wore thick Robes, I used to just go in here."
Always?
Olivia looked inside the White Crystal Mine with confused eyes.
Something was different from a year ago. What was going on?
Olivia calmed her heart, where excitement and anxiety coexisted. And holding Edwin's hand, she walked into the mine along the path she knew.
The further they went inside, the more the Magic Stone in Olivia's left palm, which was clenched tightly, glowed green.
As if resonating with something, the Magic Stone's sparkle quickened, but the light hidden by her palm was not noticed by anyone.
.
.
.
The path leading into the mine was divided into a total of thirteen tunnels.
The stone path ran straight until the point where the branching points appeared. The sound of water droplets falling somewhere echoed clearly.
As they went deeper into the mine, the moonlight from the entrance decreased and completely disappeared. Even if your eyes got used to the darkness, it was nearly impossible to walk skillfully inside the mine.
Therefore, Olivia naturally thought that she would take the lead.
A year ago, while investigating this White Crystal Mine, Olivia walked not only the thirteen tunnels but also the dead ends (the blocked parts of the tunnels) several times. She could clearly see everything from the protruding parts to the slippery parts.
"Be careful of your feet, Olivia. It's slippery down here."
But Edwin knew as much about the White Crystal Mine as Olivia did.
Before Olivia could even speak, Edwin, who had slowed his pace, smiled softly.
Was it because of the echo in the mine, or was it because her vision had narrowed and her other senses had become more sensitive?
Edwin's laughter sounded much more seductive than usual. Olivia tensed up in an instant at the languid laughter that made the fine hairs on her ears stand on end.
For some reason, Edwin's hand, which she was holding, felt much larger and firmer.
Olivia swallowed hard and said as calmly as possible.
"...You know a lot about the mine, Edwin."
"I knew that a day like this would come someday, so I tried to remember it whenever I had the chance so I wouldn't forget."
Olivia couldn't even begin to guess how much effort was hidden beneath the calm voice that made it seem like it was nothing.
Olivia blamed herself for asking a careless question.
By the way, she wanted to tell Edwin that she had investigated this mine according to the Emperor's order before it was too late. Olivia closed her mouth again because she didn't know how to say it.
The sound of shoe heels mingled with the sound of regularly falling water. If they went a little further, they would see the beginning of the tunnel that split into thirteen branches.
It was then.
"Ah."
At the same time as the sound of something hard colliding, Edwin's body tilted to the side for a moment. Hearing Edwin's soft groan, Olivia reflexively grabbed Edwin's hand tightly.
Just before seeing the tunnel that split into branches, she suddenly remembered that scholars and magicians had fixed wooden blocks on the floor to mark distances.
"Be careful. There are wooden blocks in this area,"
Olivia, who was speaking absentmindedly, stopped speaking with an "ah." And she looked at Edwin. Edwin widened his eyes as if he was surprised for a moment, then smiled without even showing it.
"Thank you, Olivia. I didn't know about this."
Edwin muttered, tapping the wooden block under his feet. And he looked back at Olivia.
His red eyes were full of affection for her. At that moment, Olivia realized that now was the right time to confess the truth.
"...When was the last time you came here?"
"I was nine years old, so it's been more than ten years."
Edwin answered calmly.
More than ten years. Swallowing the time she couldn't even fathom, Olivia uttered a trembling voice.
"I was here a year ago. When I came to this White Crystal Mine."
She thought he would be surprised. Unexpectedly, Edwin calmly patted the back of Olivia's hand.
As if he had been expecting it.
.
.
.
"Around this time last year, I investigated this White Crystal Mine under the Princess's orders. With several magicians and scholars."
Amid the echoing sounds, Olivia confessed everything in a low voice.
That she had investigated the White Crystal Mine under the Princess's orders, that she had written a report on this abandoned mine with its severed veins and presented it to the Emperor.
Even that she had visited the Territory of Vikander once to investigate the White Crystal Mine.
The more she told the story, the lighter Olivia's heart became.
Edwin, who had heard everything, was looking at Olivia with the same eyes as before he had heard the story.
"...There are many things I want to say, but the first thing I want to say is."
The voice that fell softly was so warm that Olivia put strength into the corners of her lips. Even in the midst of the confusion and trembling, she knew.
That what Edwin was about to say would make her cry.
"...You must have gone through a lot, Olivia."
She knew it. How many people wouldn't cry if he spoke so kindly?
Olivia deliberately pouted her lips at the feeling of her nose tingling. And she tried to be okay and said jokingly.
"Thanks to that, I know what kind of report went to His Majesty. I reported that there were no special features in this mine. It's a relief, isn't it?"
"Really, that's a grateful thing. Thanks to Olivia, the Emperor must not have had any suspicions about this White Crystal Mine."
Olivia nodded at the voice that admired her sincerely. Edwin, who was looking at her kindly, paused for a moment.
"...I'm really grateful, so if you want, just say the word."
"Yes?"
"If you want me to bring you the Princess's head, I'll bring it to you within two days."
Olivia was genuinely flustered at Edwin's words, which seemed sincere. The eyes that had been looking at her kindly just a moment ago shone coldly in an instant.
"I don't need that!"
Olivia screamed in horror.
As the rumbling sound spread throughout the mine, Edwin chuckled a little. Only then did Olivia think that the words were a joke and laughed along.
"Don't make jokes like that. Okay?"
Edwin licked his lips as if he was a little disappointed for a moment, but he didn't show it. Instead, he put strength into the hand he was holding with this brave and strong lady.
There were many things he wanted to say, but swallowing all the words, Edwin suggested.
"...Shall we walk a little further inside?"
"Are you okay, Edwin?"
"Of course."
Olivia smiled and nodded. It was late, but she didn't feel any fatigue.
Rather, she felt refreshed as if she had slept well.
* * *
Late at night, in Olivia's room in the Ducal Palace, where the cold moonlight shone through the glass windows.
Bethany, who had been lying blankly, slowly raised her body. The maid next to the bed was startled and tried to stop Bethany.
"Bethany, please lie down. The Lady ordered you to lie down quietly and comfortably."
"I have to go lie down in my room. How can it be comfortable to lie on the Lady's bed?"
"Still..."
Before the maid, who had sympathized with Bethany's words for a moment, could say anything, Bethany moved her feet.
Bethany, who had entered her room and locked the door, didn't lie down on the bed but went into the drawing room attached to one side of the room. And she walked to one side of the drawing room, where a curtain was hung.
Bethany, walking step by step with trembling legs, drew back the curtain.
Bethany's eyes, looking at the portrait behind the curtain, were filled with longing.
A blonde woman wearing a voluminous white dress.
Her face was reflected in the moonlight and could not be seen. But even without seeing her face, Bethany, who still had her vividly in her memory, spoke in a trembling voice.
"Princess, the White Crystal Mine has returned to Vikander."
Looking at the unresponsive portrait, Bethany choked up once again.
"A very precious, treasure-like Lady has come to Vikander with the Princess's treasure."
At that moment, the moonlight shone on the woman's face. The woman's eyes, smiling brightly with a beautiful face that looked exactly like her young master, were a vivid green.
.
.
.
That night, in the Emperor's bedroom in the Imperial Palace.
"...What?"
The Emperor, who had gone to bed, hurriedly got up from his seat. The Chamberlain couldn't bring himself to raise his head at the Emperor's bloodless, pale face.
The Emperor, who had been glaring at the Chamberlain, strode into the depths of the bedroom. At that moment, the Emperor gasped.
"Why, in the world, is this."
The portrait that should have been wrapped in the splendid tapestry symbolizing the Franz Empire had fallen to the floor.
The portrait, which had even been enchanted with preservation magic, had fallen. It was something that had never happened before.
In the portrait that had fallen under the tapestry, a beautiful blonde woman with an expressionless face. It felt as if those cold green eyes had smiled at the Emperor for a moment.
