Chapter 62
#062. Precious Things That Have Finally Found Their Place (2)
From the moment the ring was slipped onto her finger, the area around her neck felt warm.
Olivia touched the Magic Stone hanging around her neck with her right hand while looking at her left hand.
To be precise, the ring on the fourth finger of her left hand.
Olivia, gazing at the ring that flickered like a flame, parted her lips.
She wanted to say something, but she couldn't bring herself to say the words that had risen to the tip of her tongue in front of Bethany.
Olivia carefully chose her words and muttered.
"...It fits perfectly."
Olivia felt a little surprised even after she said it. The ring fit her finger size perfectly, as if it had been custom-made.
"Well, it's a ring made for only one person."
Edwin smiled, his eyes crinkling as if it were obvious. Olivia avoided his gaze as soon as their eyes met. A hot sensation flushed over her cheeks.
How long would it take before she could meet that affectionate gaze without feeling flustered?
Olivia smiled faintly as she thought of those red eyes that made her heart flutter and beat wildly just by looking at them.
Edwin was right in front of her, and yet she was thinking about Edwin again. She would get used to it eventually if she saw him often enough.
Olivia shook her head and reached out her hand to Edwin.
"Don't you have a ring, Edwin? I'll put it on for you."
She expected him to smile brightly and readily offer his ring, but.
Unexpectedly, Edwin met Olivia's eyes with a look full of regret.
"...Could you wait just three more days to say that again?"
"Pardon?"
"Well, the wedding ring is still being crafted. I'll tell them to bring it as soon as possible within three days, so could you wait just three more days?"
Bethany, standing behind them, looked at Edwin with a face full of things to say, but Edwin paid no attention and wore an earnest expression.
Olivia subtly raised the ring on her finger and said.
"What about this one?"
Edwin smiled gently at Olivia's question, as she was accustomed to the engagement culture where the engagement ring also served as the wedding ring.
"This is, as I said, an engagement ring. It's my most cherished ring, so I wanted to propose right away with this ring whenever I found someone I truly loved."
Someone he truly loved.
Olivia briefly recalled the first time she saw that ring at Madam Deton's boutique.
"How did you know that ring was yours?"
Also.
"It's very late, but I'll think about it one more time since you want it, Miss."
The time when Edwin took out the ring again in the carriage that was taking her to the Madeleine Duke's residence.
"Finally, this ring has found its place."
And now.
The ring that had gone around and around had finally been placed on her finger.
Without realizing it, Olivia stroked the ring with her other hand. Edwin's eyes softened languidly at the careful gesture, as if she cherished it.
Olivia suddenly raised her head.
"This ring is great too, but..."
Edwin's heart sank at the hesitant start of her words. Was there something wrong with the ring? Or did she not like the ring?
But Edwin burst into laughter without realizing it at Olivia's next words.
"What should I do if I want to wear the wedding ring too?"
Olivia glanced at Edwin's left hand. Unlike her hand, his hand, bare of any jewelry, was proof that he was unmarried to anyone who saw it.
Just imagining Edwin wearing the same ring as her was delightful.
Therefore, waiting three days, three weeks, or even three months was not a problem. The wait to wear the same ring would rather settle in her heart as excitement.
But even if she could wear the same ring, she couldn't take off this red gemstone ring.
"Hahaha."
Olivia glared at Edwin, feigning annoyance at the hearty laughter that burst out.
"Why are you laughing?"
But the catch was that even that sulky look softened the moment her eyes met Edwin's.
"Then we can just wear them together."
"Pardon?"
Olivia's eyes widened like a rabbit's.
The moment he saw that lovely face, Edwin unconsciously tightened his grip on the hand holding Olivia's.
His Miss truly made him fall helplessly every moment.
Despite the languid heat that washed over him, Edwin smiled nonchalantly as if nothing was wrong.
"...We'll soon be wearing rings on all ten fingers anyway, so think of it as practicing in advance, Olivia."
"Are you joking?"
"Of course not."
Edwin, who had spoken firmly with a bright smile, added as if he were acting.
"Oh, it's already night. I'll escort you to your bedside."
.
.
.
It was late at night.
When they arrived at her door, Edwin stopped with a gentlemanly expression.
"Have a good night, and I'll see you in the morning."
Edwin, who thoughtfully volunteered to escort her to her door, never came inside this door.
Ah, except for that one time. Except for when he revealed that he owned the White Crystal Mine, and when Bethany knelt before her, really.
Normally, she would have gone into her room around this time, but for some reason, she didn't want to let go of his hand today.
So, instead of going through the door that Bethany was opening, Olivia stared intently at Edwin's face.
The most beautiful face in the world smiled as if Olivia's gaze was more than satisfactory.
"Why aren't you going in and just looking at me like that?"
Unlike his languid voice, his eyes, deeply sunken, stared at Olivia. In the subtly deepening atmosphere, Olivia's gaze slowly moved down and stopped.
Well-shaped red lips. Without even realizing where her gaze was directed, Olivia kept looking at Edwin's lips.
She was satisfied with the current moment, full of a hot feeling as if the palms of her hands and the inside of her wrists were burning. The moment she held hands in the cave and walked all night floated in her mind.
It was the same at this moment. She didn't want to let go of this hand all night.
At that moment, Edwin's lips slowly parted.
"If you keep looking at me like that, I feel like I'll be here forever?"
Edwin seemed to have no intention of coming inside this door, innocently.
The moment Olivia realized that, a blush rose on her cheeks.
"Oh, are you hot? Your cheeks are red."
Edwin, who asked as if he were wondering, carefully brought his fingers to Olivia's cheek.
The heat of his fingers, which brushed past her cheek, remained on Olivia's cheek, making it burn even redder.
Olivia hurriedly let go of Edwin's hand and said.
"Y-yes. It's a bit hot. Good night, Edwin."
"You seem to have forgotten something."
It was Edwin who stopped Olivia, who wanted to go into her room right away.
Forgotten something. There was no way she could remember such a thing. Olivia, wanting to hide what she was thinking, rolled her big eyes in embarrassment.
Edwin, who had been leisurely admiring her, smiled, his eyes crinkling. And in an instant, he moved his body close to Olivia. A refreshing scent wafted over her, and Olivia's body tensed up.
Edwin, who had come right in front of her, whispered sweetly.
"We're at the point where a light kiss is allowed after saying good night, right?"
At that voice, the fine hairs on her ears stood on end, and a sense of tension fell down her spine. But Edwin only looked at Olivia with an innocent face.
As if he couldn't do anything without Olivia's permission.
Her heart was pounding as if it would burst. The red lips she had been looking at just a moment ago were now even clearer.
And finally, Olivia nodded slightly as if she were under a spell.
The red eyes, which had been smiling seductively, gleamed with a somewhat feverish feeling. The moment Edwin approached, Olivia closed her eyes tightly.
Just as she was waiting for his meltingly sweet lips to come to her lips,
Gentle lips that seemed to melt kissed Olivia's cheek. The tender kiss on her cheek was gone before Olivia could even open her eyes.
"Good night."
Edwin, smiling brightly, stepped away from the door.
What... what just happened? Olivia blinked her big eyes. While she was feeling dazed by all of this, Bethany closed the door.
Only when Edwin's figure was no longer visible did Olivia dazedly stroke her cheek. There wouldn't be any lip marks left, but the part Edwin had kissed felt hot.
Her gaze kept lingering on the door with a strange sense of disappointment. At that moment, a small laugh broke the silence.
Ah, Bethany!
Only then did Olivia come to her senses, and her face turned bright red.
"I didn't see anything."
Bethany's voice, as she spoke as if singing, was full of laughter. But Olivia was at a loss for what to do because of her embarrassment. Normally, she would have changed into her pajamas and written in her diary before going to bed at Bethany's nagging.
Her mind went blank. Without thinking of doing anything, Olivia went straight to bed.
Even though she couldn't just hide her head like a bird, Olivia pulled the blanket over her head.
"Miss, what about your pajamas?"
Bethany, who was speaking, seemed to know that Olivia wouldn't come out from under the blanket. Instead of hiding her laughter, she didn't call Olivia anymore and quickly left the room.
In the room where she was alone, Olivia, who had barely calmed her emotions, lowered the blanket below her face.
Whether it was because she was trapped in the blanket, or really because of Edwin. She could feel the warmth that had touched her cheek spreading to every corner of her body.
Olivia quietly looked down at her ring. And she brought the hand wearing the ring to her heart.
Olivia's heartbeat was added to the silence flowing in the room.
This pleasant feeling that she could feel when her heart was full.
The happiness that had been walking towards her and surrounding Olivia came rushing at her. As if savoring it, Olivia smiled more brightly than ever.
Happiness could come this close to her too.
* * *
Meanwhile, Bethany, who had deliberately made it obvious that she was leaving Olivia's room, looked at the Grand Duke standing in front of the door as if she had expected it.
The Grand Duke, who had been escorting his Miss like a gentleman until just now, was looking at the door Bethany had come out of with endlessly sunken eyes.
If he kept looking like that, even this sturdy door would be pierced through. There must have been something going on at the restaurant earlier.
Bethany, who had been smiling contentedly, said to the Grand Duke with a start.
"But Your Highness. What are you going to do about saying you'll bring the ring in three days?"
He hadn't even mined the jewel yet.
Bethany recalled what the Grand Duke had said to Baron Stone, the mine manager, last time.
"It's a ring for my dearest Miss in the world to wear. I have no doubt that the Viscount will bring me the best diamond."
It was the first time she had seen the Grand Duke speaking so kindly. There were rumors that Baron Stone's waistline, who was overjoyed at the promise to repay his faith, had already shrunk by several inches.
The best diamond. Bethany shook her head at the Grand Duke's attitude, who didn't take into account that he had already given his Miss the best pink diamond last time.
But that was all. In Bethany's heart, her Miss was already a very precious person who should wear a ring made of the best jewels.
"Three days is right. After tonight, it will be two days."
"Pardon?"
Bethany, who had been lost in thought, thought she had misheard. But Edwin smiled as if Bethany's reaction was amusing.
"What are you so surprised about? Isn't two days enough time to bring the ring?"
"But there hasn't been any news from Baron Stone yet?"
"There's no need for there to be only one wedding ring."
"Well..."
A smile of understanding spread across Bethany's lips as she replied absentmindedly. And she also looked at her Miss's room for a moment.
The precious Miss was really going to wear rings full of splendid jewels on all ten fingers.
"I'll contact Baron Stone right away and have him select the crafted rings."
"Leave the bringing to Dian."
"To Dian?"
Not Howard, who always assigned tasks, but Dian, who was in charge of guarding his Miss?
At the questioning gaze, the Grand Duke shook his head and grumbled.
"That guy, he's too affectionate for my liking. Once he goes out, he doesn't leave my Miss's side easily."
And he moved first. A contented smile slowly spread across Bethany's face as she watched his tall figure walking away.
She thought that she would have a lot to tell the princess in the portrait today.
