Chapter 67
#067. A Relationship Growing Ever Closer
Even with her eyes closed, Olivia could clearly feel the sensation of the soft brush sweeping across her cheek.
She reflexively tried to open her eyes at the ticklish feeling, but a stern voice immediately cut her off.
"No, my lady. Please wait just a little longer."
Olivia could hear the maids giggling softly at Bethany's words. She smiled a little along with the gentle laughter. Then, she said, feigning a pout,
"It's my face anyway, can't I even look at it?"
"Of course not. You see it every day, so I think you don't realize how beautiful you are! I'll show you just how gorgeous you are with a 'ta-da'!"
Olivia couldn't help but laugh again at the confident voice. It was just her face, no matter how beautiful. Bethany spoke as if she were about to perform some incredible transformation.
Well, if it weren't for Bethany, she wouldn't be getting her hair done and wearing light makeup on a night without a Summer Ball.
"No! There are so many jewels to wear, and you're only going to try on ten rings?"
The thought of wearing rings on all ten fingers was overwhelming enough, but Olivia widened her already large eyes even more at Bethany's words, which implied that it was completely unacceptable.
"Really? Then..."
Edwin's reaction, as if he hadn't even considered it, was funny, but that wasn't the point. Before Olivia could say anything, Bethany raised her index finger with a snap.
"Of course, you have to try on at least a tiara, basic earrings, and a necklace!"
Her resolve was so firm that Olivia unexpectedly thought of the rumors about the northern wizard.
The rumors claimed he was unyielding and had a strong moral compass, but whenever she saw Bethany, she thought the rumors were exaggerated. Bethany was always kind and warm.
But when Bethany, who always had a smile on her face, erased her smile, Olivia found herself unconsciously following Bethany's lead.
"Alright, my lady, come over here, and Your Highness, please step out for a moment! Girls, let's display the cosmetics simply!"
No one could beat Bethany as she clapped her hands and spoke. Edwin and Dian, looking bewildered, were immediately pushed out of the room, and the maids arranged the cosmetics on the vanity.
In that situation, it was only natural for Olivia to sit in front of the vanity.
As Olivia recalled the events of a moment ago, she suddenly realized that the room was filled with silence and was taken aback.
She couldn't hear any of the sounds from just a moment ago, from the rustling of the dress to the cheerful voices asking for cosmetics. It was as if all sound had disappeared into silence.
Olivia cautiously called out to Bethany.
"...Bethany?"
"...Oh my goodness. My lady, please open your eyes now."
It was an exclamation that seemed somehow suppressed.
Olivia slowly opened her eyes. She felt quite dazzled by the bright light, even though she had only closed her eyes for a short time. After blinking several times, Olivia was finally able to see her reflection in the mirror.
"How is it, my lady! You can see how beautiful you are, right?"
Olivia couldn't easily answer Bethany's excited words, or the maids' added comments from behind.
It was the first time she had worn so many jewels at once since her engagement ceremony with Leopold.
The elaborate tiara that Bethany had placed on top of her intricately braided updo sparkled elegantly. The platinum earrings dangling from her earlobes and the new diamond necklace she wore around her neck blended well with her original Magic Stone necklace, as if they were a set.
The person in the mirror was...
"...It doesn't look like me."
"Of course it does! It's you, my lady."
Bethany, who had been smiling contentedly, said firmly. Olivia in the mirror looked at Bethany.
Her eyes curved into crescents, and her fluttering eyelashes cast shadows on her fair and beautiful face.
Her smile clearly showed that she didn't believe Bethany's words, just as she had subtly done whenever Bethany styled her hair or adjusted her clothes.
Whenever this happened, Bethany swallowed the ache in her heart and deliberately made more of a fuss.
"You're barely wearing any makeup since you're only wearing the jewels for a short time. Wearing the jewels like this just accentuates your natural beauty."
"Is that so?"
Even after hearing Bethany's words, Olivia felt that her reflection in the mirror was somehow unfamiliar. Taking advantage of that gap, Bethany said boastfully.
"Of course, it's also thanks to me for braiding your hair up so beautifully. Your skin is so clear and your neckline is so slender that you look beautiful whether your hair is down or up! Seeing you like this, I'm starting to plan how to style you for your wedding day."
Wedding!
Olivia, who had been staring blankly into the mirror, was startled.
Bethany's eyes curved mischievously at her innocent reaction. The surrounding maids were the same.
"When you think about it, a year really isn't a long time. By the time you start renovating Yeniv Street, your wedding day will be just around the corner, right?"
"I heard that His Highness was going to build a new banquet hall, but he gave up because it would be difficult to complete within a year."
"Someone who can barely wait a year, I wonder how long he's been waiting outside this room."
One of the maids gestured towards the door. Olivia unconsciously looked at the door before looking back at the mirror.
Until just a moment ago, she had only felt slightly unfamiliar with her appearance, but as soon as she thought about Edwin seeing her, her mind went blank.
Will he really... say I'm pretty?
Olivia smiled faintly at the question that suddenly popped into her head. For some reason, she felt a little, no, much more confident about Edwin's reaction.
As she imagined the expression Edwin would make when he saw her, it seemed as if her reflection in the mirror looked even prettier.
Bethany, who had been watching the smiling lady, hurriedly stepped out of the room. The Grand Duke, who had been leaning against the door, straightened up with a languid air. Bethany gave him a firm warning as she looked at his face.
"You know what to do when you see her, right? It has to be an overwhelmingly positive reaction, Your Highness."
The Grand Duke chuckled softly at her words.
"...Of course."
Olivia was wearing the jewels he had prepared for her on this late night. The thought alone was thrilling, and it was even more ridiculous to think that there wouldn't be an overwhelmingly positive reaction when it was actually happening inside this room.
The red eyes within his slender, curved eyes shone brightly.
But when Edwin actually entered the room, he couldn't say a word.
"...I hope I look pretty."
The moment Edwin heard the voice that slipped out like a sigh before he even saw her face, his mind became a tangled mess.
His already beautiful lady wanted to look pretty to him.
And the next moment, when Olivia looked at Edwin.
Their eyes met. Edwin unconsciously held his breath.
In the instant that Olivia's eyes curved into crescents, Edwin was suddenly afraid that this fairy-like lady would disappear.
He only saw Olivia, nothing else mattered. Edwin forgot all the eloquent sentences he had prepared in advance.
As he fell into the green eyes that looked at him with anticipation, someone poked him in the side. Edwin unconsciously mumbled.
"...You're prettier than I thought."
His stammered words were never fully formed.
Olivia burst out laughing.
He was even more captivated by the fact that she was laughing at his clumsy words. Edwin hung his head low.
While the maids next to him were smiling and Dian was staring at Edwin with a shocked expression.
"Goodness. I never knew you were so inarticulate."
Bethany grumbled softly. The catch was that even her eyes were filled with laughter.
.
.
.
"We'll be back in a moment after we've put away the jewels."
Bethany, who was looking at Edwin with a dissatisfied expression, led the maids and Dian out of the room.
Edwin looked a little dejected. Olivia suppressed her mischievousness. If she teased him now, Edwin really looked like he would be discouraged.
I didn't think it was bad. I actually liked it. Prettier than I imagined. It seemed that I really looked pretty in Edwin's eyes. Olivia touched her braided hair a little.
In the meantime, Edwin, who couldn't even make eye contact, said quietly.
"...That. It looks like Bethany left it behind."
That couldn't be. Olivia followed Edwin's gaze and smiled a little when she saw the yellow jewelry box placed on the desk. Then, she opened the box and said.
"Ah, that's a gift I received from Yeniv Street. A Thread anklet."
"A Thread anklet?"
"Yes."
The Thread anklet that she had lost, which looked exactly like her mother's keepsake.
Olivia swallowed the rest of her words. She decided to keep her speculation that this Thread anklet might be related to the green eyes to herself until she was more certain.
"It's pretty, isn't it? The colorful threads are skillfully woven together."
Instead, it would be okay to brag a little, right?
Olivia smiled brightly. Edwin feigned a sulky expression at her appearance.
"Wow, you didn't seem this happy even when I gave you jewels."
"That's not true. You know how much I loved the jewels you gave me, Edwin. This is different from that, it's precious."
"If it's that precious, how about giving it to me as a gift?"
"I can't do that. I received it as a gift too. No one else will see it, but it's so pretty that I'm going to wear it just for myself."
Olivia said jokingly. At those words, Edwin's gaze, which had been on the Thread anklet, lowered infinitely. And he stared intently at the area around her ankle, which was hidden by the hem of her dress.
There was only one way to see the Thread anklet on her slender ankle. It was the moment when he was having impure thoughts beneath his gentle face.
Knock, knock - Bethany entered the room energetically with a knock on the door.
"My lady. I've finished tidying up."
My lady.
Edwin swallowed a bitter smile.
He was becoming more and more conscious of that title.
'Grand Duchess' would be nice.
After being able to kiss Olivia on the cheek, his desires grew more and more each day.
He wanted to treat her better, make her laugh more, and let her have whatever she wanted. Now, he wanted to get closer and kiss her.
...Even if he coveted her more deeply. He hoped that she would always smile at him.
If they became closer and closer like that...
Edwin ran his hand over his lips once to hide his impatience.
He kept getting thirsty.
Edwin, troubled by his thirst that he couldn't quench right now, forced himself to look away.
"...If you really want that, I'll learn how to make it quickly."
...It was a disaster that the Thread anklet happened to be in the place he looked.
"I'm not going to give you this."
At the playful voice that seemed to be teasing him, Edwin finally covered his eyes with his palm.
A groan escaped from his red lips.
* * *
Late at night. The Emperor's reception room.
"...You're saying that nothing additional was discovered here?"
The Emperor said quietly as he looked through the report for a long time. It was too overbearing to be the first words he said to his daughter, whom he hadn't seen in a long time.
But the Princess lowered her body at the dry words.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The Emperor frowned at the Princess's polite appearance.
The contents of the report were no different from what they had been years ago.
It was suspicious.
The Emperor was well aware that scholars and magicians had been brought along during the previous investigation. For the contents of that excellent report to be the same as the results of this simple group of investigators was the same as showing that they hadn't investigated at all.
"They say they checked everything thoroughly for five days."
The Emperor recalled the Chamberlain's words. The Emperor, who had been looking down at the Princess with cold eyes for a moment, shook his head.
"...Chamberlain."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Add the Princess's report to the White Crystal Mine documents."
At those words, the Princess was startled and raised her head. Documents. They were already with that half-wit!
Before she could even think, the words blurted out of her mouth first.
"Your Majesty, I will add it to the documents myself. How can the Chamberlain access the documents of the Imperial Family? Especially..."
The Princess paused for a moment. The Emperor's dry eyes flickered for a moment. She knew immediately what words the Emperor was waiting for.
The Princess lowered her voice and continued.
"...Especially important documents related to the fall of the nation."
Only then did a somewhat satisfied smile spread across the Emperor's lips. If she was going to say such things, it seemed that she was well aware of the importance of the White Crystal Mine. If that was the case, he was certain that she wouldn't have done the investigation carelessly.
"...You're finally showing that you've read the documents. You didn't reveal such a story in the report."
"...I apologize, Your Majesty. The contents are too sensitive to be recorded, so I am only telling you this."
The Emperor laughed heartily as if he was satisfied. The Princess laughed along.
"You're my daughter after all. I'm looking forward to this year's Summer Ball as well."
The Princess had successfully led the Summer Ball for several years. Despite the strong expression of anticipation, the Princess smiled confidently.
"I will not disappoint you."
But the Princess, who had maintained her elegant smile until she left the Emperor's reception room, bit her lip as soon as the door closed.
Her clenched fist, which was holding the dress, was full of cold sweat.
The Summer Ball!
Just when she thought she had finished with the Abandoned Mine, another task was placed before her. She had only thought of calling that half-wit for the Summer Ball, but she hadn't thought that her father, the Emperor, was looking forward to it.
How far had the preparations for the Summer Ball progressed? No, had she even received replies to the invitations properly?
Her head was about to explode with complexity.
In the end, the Princess said to her nanny, Baroness Luhan, with a fierce expression.
"Contact Lady Etel immediately and tell her to come to my palace."
* * *
Meanwhile, the Emperor entered his bedroom, having cast aside his worries.
And he naturally entered the deepest part. A space only for the supreme Emperor.
Inside, the Emperor raised the curtains. The portrait, which had been re-enchanted with preservation magic, was hanging in its familiar place.
The Emperor looked down at the portrait with a sneering gaze. It was very easy to make eye contact with the expressionless Princess, unlike in the past.
"...Nothing changes. Princess."
He had even made preparations. The Emperor curled up the corners of his lips as he stared straight into the eyes of the Princess in the portrait.
"Would I have spread the rumor of the green-eyed dancer for no reason?"
The Emperor raised his hand and stroked the cheek of the Princess in the portrait. His touch, filled with twisted obsession, caressed the portrait possessively.
"In case someone with the same power as the Princess appears again."
His eerie voice spoke softly, as if whispering a secret.
"...I silenced that beautiful voice."
