Chapter 58
#058. Tangled Hearts
"Why, why is that?"
Olivia's voice trembled. Bethany's unexpected answer had thrown her into confusion.
She had naturally assumed that as soon as she returned, she could register it as joint property.
Could there be some problem with her White Crystal Mine? Now that even the resistance magic was gone.
Olivia thought incessantly. As if to cut off her train of thought, Bethany shrugged and smiled.
"Well... the two of you aren't married yet, are you?"
"Pardon?"
Olivia's eyes widened. Bethany burst into a hearty laugh and explained a little more simply, as if to a young lady.
"Even if the Bikander Grand Ducal family's assets are jointly owned by a married couple, they don't combine their assets when they're only planning to marry, my lady."
"Didn't you know? That we're not married yet?"
Following Bethany, Edwin added playfully. She couldn't register it as joint property until they were officially married. And her marriage to Edwin was set to take place a year later, according to the 'one-year grace period.'
Still, Olivia's eyes, which had been mumbling anxiously, suddenly widened.
"But, I'm spending the Grand Duke's family's money like water right now."
Olivia was even more taken aback by the words she had spoken.
It was true. For the sole reason of renovating Yeniv Street, Olivia had already freely contracted everything from materials to laborers.
"My lady, I think this brick looks good, but what do you think?"
With Dian, who seemed to have completely opened his heart to her, gleefully beside her, unable to contain his excitement every time he chose materials.
"Even though I tried to save, I've spent quite a bit."
Olivia muttered defensively. Edwin stared at Olivia as if he were dumbfounded.
"No, Olivia. That's that. Why is that coming up here?"
"Well, it's because I believed the assets were jointly owned and spent freely."
Edwin sighed.
He had told her to be a little bolder, but this little lady really didn't listen to him at all.
Even the way she glanced around, trying to gauge the situation, was endearing and heartbreaking. Instead of Edwin, who was at a loss for words, Bethany spoke.
"My lady, that's originally something the Bikander Grand Ducal family was planning to do. It's already a great help that you, as the Grand Duchess-to-be, are leading the work, so don't worry about the budget. As a servant managing Bikander's assets, I can tell you that even if you spend that much, it won't even make a dent, like taking a cup of seawater from the ocean."
She was caught. Olivia grinned at Bethany's confident words.
"Exactly. I may not have had the wedding yet, but I'm clearly the Grand Duchess-to-be. It's not just planning the marriage, we've even set the date and are waiting. Still, I can't register it as joint property?"
Looking into her sparkling green eyes, Bethany's mouth snapped shut.
There were clearly laws and regulations in place, but just looking at those eyes, Bethany's heart became endlessly weak.
And it was the words of a precious and lovely lady who had even brought the Princess's treasure, the White Crystal Mine. It was a moment when Bethany's heart was softening.
"Ah, or how about a transfer?"
Even as she said it, Olivia thought it was a pretty good idea.
To her, it was just a mine with dried-up veins and no particular value, but if it held such great significance to Edwin and the Bikander Grand Ducal family. It would be much better if it were registered as property of the Grand Duke's family, who could recognize its value.
However, no sooner had Olivia's words fallen than Edwin and Bethany called out to Olivia with serious faces.
"Olivia."
"My lady."
"Yes?"
Olivia looked back and forth between the two, bewildered by their almost simultaneous calls. Where should she start pointing things out? Edwin hesitated for a moment before shaking his head.
"Let's talk after you get some sleep first."
"I'm not sleepy."
"I'm sleepy, Olivia."
Edwin deliberately blinked slowly.
Seeing Edwin's sleepy appearance, Olivia strangely felt sleepy too.
As Olivia nodded slightly, Edwin smiled kindly and escorted Olivia.
Bethany, who had quickly followed behind the two, opened Olivia's door.
Seeing the bed in the distance, the shock of seeing Bethany earlier and the surprise of seeing Edwin not affected by the resistance magic washed over her, and her body felt languid.
Nevertheless, Olivia said to Edwin as if promising.
"Let's talk after I wake up from a nap."
"Of course. So, get some good sleep and come out. Okay?"
As Olivia nodded at Edwin's words and entered the room.
"Olivia."
Olivia turned around a beat late at Edwin's voice calling from behind. Edwin looked at Olivia for a moment and said.
"Thank you."
Feeling the weight contained in that one word, Olivia nodded and replied.
"You're welcome."
Olivia grinned and entered the room. Soon, Bethany followed Olivia inside. At the signal as if to leave it to her, Edwin was relieved.
And when the door closed, there was not a trace of sleepiness on Edwin's face as he turned around. Howard, his eyes bloodshot, approached Edwin. Edwin looked into Howard's eyes and let a smile slip through his lips.
"Don't tell me, you cried? I told you not to cry."
"How could that be? My eyes are bloodshot from staying up all night."
"...Make sure. Don't cry."
Howard brazenly shook his head, recalling Edwin's words added to the order before entering the mine.
Edwin knew Howard well, who was unfazed even after staying up for days and nights on the battlefield, but Edwin smiled without saying anything.
Because there was something else that was important.
"So. Where is the Princess now?"
"Check what the Princess is doing now."
The Grand Duke's order, given as he leaned in before telling him not to cry. Howard offered the prepared answer.
"She's said to be in the Katanta Viscountcy."
"Ha, she's only gotten that far?"
"The main reason is said to be motion sickness. There doesn't seem to be any other reason. Well, the unpaved roads could be a reason, I suppose."
When Howard's answer scattered across the hallway, Edwin's red eyes, which had been filled with murderous intent, now held a relaxed smile.
"So, what should we do now, Howard?"
"I'll check if the Emperor knows about this."
"Of course, I'll bet money that he doesn't know."
"I bet first."
There was sincerity in Howard's voice as he answered bluntly. A satisfied smile formed on Edwin's lips.
* * *
Early morning, Madeleine Dukedom.
The Duke, sitting in the dining room, quietly stared at the empty seat.
He had taken the time to come to breakfast for the first time in a while, but Esella, who would normally be chattering beside him, was nowhere to be seen.
"...Esella is."
"She's been dieting lately because of her Debutante..."
Conrad answered instead from beside him.
Both the Duke and Conrad knew that wasn't the real reason Esella wasn't showing her face. But they didn't delve any deeper, as if they had made a promise to each other.
It had been several weeks since breakfast had become so bleak. He kept noticing Esella's empty seat, and Jade's empty seat.
Conrad made an effort not to look at the empty seat next to it as he ate.
Perhaps because the vassal, Viscountess Monic, had checked the meal, the taste was no different than before, but the food that entered his mouth felt gritty like sand. Maybe the time itself was uncomfortable.
As soon as the thought reached him, Conrad was surprised inwardly.
A cool-headed and fair father.
Having meals with such a father was one of Conrad's favorite times. To feel uncomfortable during this time was absurd.
It was then.
"Duke, a letter has arrived from the Imperial Palace."
The Chamberlain hurriedly approached with the letter. The Emperor's seal was stamped on the letter. The Duke's brow furrowed as he opened the letter.
"...I must leave first."
"Yes."
Perhaps this request to enter the palace was also because of Olivia. Conrad's stomach felt uneasy.
No sooner had he thought of Olivia's name than the empty seat he had been trying to ignore was starkly imprinted in his eyes.
"No news from Jade yet?"
"...No,"
Conrad's voice was small because it wasn't an answer that met his father's expectations. As if he didn't care, the Duke rose from his seat with restrained movements.
Conrad, who had been watching his retreating figure, exhaled the breath he had been holding in. The plate was the same as when the food was first served. As Conrad grabbed the empty glass, the Chamberlain quickly approached and poured water.
"...Esella is."
"She's eating in her room."
It was the same answer again today. Conrad jumped up from his seat. Even drinking water didn't relieve the stuffy feeling, so Conrad moved his feet.
* * *
Knock knock-.
Esella tensed up for a moment at the sound of knocking on the door. She had heard that her father had come late last night. Could it be her father?
Seeing Esella's stiff expression, Veronica stepped forward and said towards the door.
"Yes."
"It's me. Open the door."
Fortunately or unfortunately, the voice coming from outside the door was Conrad's. She didn't want to run into him either, so Esella hesitated for a moment. After seeing Veronica's eyes as if asking what to do, Esella barely cracked the door open.
"Brother? Is something wrong?"
"It's hard to see your face when we live in the same house, Esella."
Esella avoided his gaze at his voice full of bitter laughter.
Conrad was her beloved older brother, more than anyone else. Seeing Conrad with such an expression made one side of Esella's heart ache.
"I know. If I eat with you, Brother, I keep eating. As you know, I need to prepare for my Debutante."
So she had been making these absurd excuses all along. When the truth was that she didn't want to see him. Hiding the truth she couldn't bring herself to say, Esella pretended to smile.
"Still, you have to eat. Father came too."
At Conrad's words, Esella looked at Conrad without realizing it. Father. Her father, who cherished and loved her more than anyone else.
At the same time.
The father who had brought her sister and pushed her into the Imperial Palace instead of her. Every time she thought of her father, Esella's heart felt endlessly uncomfortable.
After the distortion that had been covering her eyes disappeared, she had been suppressing the urge to keep asking.
"Brother doesn't feel..."
Uncomfortable?
Before she could finish her sentence, Conrad's face was imprinted in Esella's eyes.
Conrad's face, which always seemed to be smiling with composure, somehow looked precarious.
Esella closed her mouth.
It was fortunate. She had come to her senses before the words came out. After swallowing the words she couldn't bring herself to ask, Esella deliberately looked inside the room.
Seeing her actions, which clearly showed that she wanted to go inside, Conrad swallowed the words he wanted to ask and recalled Viscountess Monic's words.
"...I heard you're interested in society."
"Yes."
Conrad was silent for a moment at the curt answer. As if she had been waiting for the conversation to end, Esella awkwardly smiled and closed the door.
Conrad sighed as he watched the door close hastily.
Just now, he had vaguely guessed what Esella's obvious gaze was saying.
There was no way to resolve the stuffy and uncomfortable feeling in his heart.
