Translator: Nox

Chapter 7

#007. The Enduring Girl and the Emperor's Dog

I thought my Debutante would be perfect. Olivia thought so too, until she actually had to go through it. She starved herself to lose weight, and everything from the dress to the makeup and hair was a perfect fit. The moment the first waltz started, her heart felt like it would burst with anticipation. But the moment the dazzling Leopold asked the daughter of Marquess Nordian for the first dance, everything shattered. She knew. She knew that Leopold was reluctant to be engaged to her, and that the Crown Prince might ask the daughter of Marquess Nordian for the first dance to appease the noble faction, which was uneasy about his engagement to Madeleine, who was part of the Emperor's faction. But knowing and experiencing it firsthand were different. Not even the most dazzling jewels or sparkling dress could hide the feeling of being tainted. Despite being an Imperial Princess and the Crown Prince's fiancée, she became a wallflower at her first Debutante, receiving no dance requests from anyone. She just wanted someone to talk to her. She just wanted someone to ask her to dance, just once. She remembered the desperation of that moment when she felt like everyone was looking at her and whispering. She frantically looked around, but neither Duke nor Conrad nor Jade were looking at her. She clenched the hem of her dress, afraid that her smiling face would break. The only good thing was that she didn't make a fool of herself at the Debutante. Olivia smiled whenever Leopold looked at her. And Leopold would give her a handsome smile in return. Like Madeleine. Like someone who would one day become the Crown Princess Consort, she tried to be resilient. All the while, the hand that held her dress turned pale during the twelve waltzes, and when she came home, she buried her face in her pillow and cried her eyes out.

“Olivia.”

Only after hearing Conrad's warning did Olivia snap out of her old memories and blink.

“Ah, I'm sorry. I was thinking about my Debutante.”

It had already been two years. I've grown up so well. I occasionally had dinner with my siblings and received some real power in the family. Olivia glanced at Esella, who was full of anticipation, and said.

“Esella, you'll do so much better than I ever could.”

She meant it. Esella's cheeks flushed rosy.

“Really? But you'll still come with me when I have my Debutante, right?”

When young ladies had their Debutante, it was customary for a noblewoman or a lady who had already made her debut to accompany them. Olivia reflexively looked at Conrad. Conrad, who had been looking at Esella with a gentle expression, met Olivia with a face as cold as the north wind in winter. His tightly closed lips told her, without him saying a word, that it was not allowed.

“...What should I do? I don't think I can because I'm busy with Imperial Palace affairs.”

“If you're busy, there's nothing we can do. Esella. I'll find a good lady to accompany you.”

“Yes…”

Despite Conrad's soothing words, Esella picked at her food with a dejected look. Unable to hide her disappointment, Esella finally got up from her seat.

“Thank you for the meal. I'll go up first.”

Her listless steps faded away, and the dining room became quiet. Conrad lightly swirled his wine glass.

“Olivia.”

“Yes, brother,”

“Who is your brother?”

A harsh answer came back to her careless words. Conrad said dryly.

“You need to be aware of yourself.”

“……”

“You're just a member of Madeleine.”

He speaks so painfully. Not family, but a member of Madeleine. That one word felt like a huge wall separating Conrad and her. Conrad's lips moved slowly. Olivia knew exactly what he meant. She clenched her fist tightly as if to cushion the shock. No sooner had her fingernails dug into her palm than even more painful words stabbed Olivia.

“So, keep your distance from Esella. Who do you think you are to mix with her? Are you trying to bring Esella down to your level?”

“Who do you think you are to mix with anyone? Are you trying to make Esella like our mother? Are you trying to taint Esella with your rumors?”

Conrad's words echoed like an engraving. With just those words, the young Olivia, who had wanted to play with Esella so much, gave up her desire without regret. Olivia knew very well how much the rumors of society could hurt people. So, it was only natural for Olivia to be careful not to hurt Esella.

“Answer.”

It can't be helped now. If I try a little harder, if I become a Crown Princess Consort who is recognized, as my father said. Then things will be different. If Conrad sees my efforts to become the Crown Princess Consort, he will accept me as family. So, I had to answer now. Olivia clenched her numb fist once more and gave the answer she didn't want to give.

“...Yes.”

Only then did Conrad seem to be a little relieved, and he gestured toward the dining room door.

“Get out.”

“Then, I'll be going now. Have a good day. …Brother.”

The last words were half sincere, half my revenge. Olivia, who had fled the dining room, quickly closed the door. There was no one in the hallway. Olivia inhaled and then exhaled slowly. It was her mother's habit. She said that even if things were difficult, taking a proper breath would give you strength again. Olivia added one more thing to this habit. To promise herself that she would become a beloved Crown Princess Consort. Now, that was really the only way. If I become the Crown Princess Consort, my family and Leopold, everyone, will smile brightly at me. Olivia tried to keep smiling, holding on to her last hope, even as she ignored the fact that the end of her smile was crumbling. . . . Red wine sloshed in the wine glass. Conrad, who was left alone in the dining room, let out a hollow breath as if he was dumbfounded.

“Then, I'll be going now. Have a good day. …Brother.”

Olivia was a disaster that had entered his home. Because of her, his affectionate parents became worse than strangers, and in the end, his mother died because of her. A half-blooded Madeleine who he wouldn't even feel bad about tearing apart and killing. But a Madeleine bloodline who had to go to the icy Imperial Palace instead of Esella and stick by the side of the good-for-nothing Crown Prince. That was all Olivia was. It would be enough if she just stayed in her place. But she looked at him, at his father, at Jade, at Esella, with her green eyes, as if she wanted something. Even though he knew what it meant, Conrad nipped it in the bud every time his expectations rose. Because that child didn't deserve it. The aftertaste of the wine was bitter. As if to dispel his annoying mood, Conrad took out Jade's letter from his pocket. The letter, which he had read as soon as he received it, contained news of what he had been up to. It was something he had already been informed of while working at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but Conrad read the last part again. - ...I've secured the victory. I'll be returning soon once a few things are settled. Thank you as always, brother. Please take good care of Father and Esella. Of course, there was no mention of Olivia. There was no reason to ask him to take care of a child who was not within the family circle. Conrad snorted and folded the letter again. The part in the middle of the last sentence that had been crossed out with a pen several times as if something had been written wrong, the word 'Olli' that was faintly written below it. Conrad didn't care. * * * Inside the ornate reception room, the Emperor sat on his throne. The most noble seat, decorated with gold and agate, was for him alone. The Emperor, with his flamboyant blond hair and bright blue eyes, as befitting the Imperial family's lineage, smiled with satisfaction. Immense wealth and power. All of it was at his feet. Especially since he had 'him'. The Emperor nodded leisurely. When the Chamberlain opened the door, a tall man in a black Robe walked into the reception room.

“So, you've finally come. The protagonist of this war.”

The Emperor let out a hearty laugh and looked at the man with eyes that didn't smile. The man slowly took off his Robe. When his jet-black hair, beautiful face, and red ruby eyes were revealed. The Emperor let out a low sigh without realizing it.

“...He looks just like his mother.”

The only difference from the late Grand Duchess was that he didn't smile. The Emperor raised one side of his mouth as he recalled the face of the Grand Duchess, who always smiled kindly. Well, yes. When the late Grand Duke went missing and was presumed dead, the Grand Duchess was forcibly confined to this Imperial Palace. At that time, she looked at the Emperor in just that way. Just like her son, who was now kneeling without any emotion and looking up at the Emperor.

“Edwin Lowell Vikander. I greet the sun of the Empire.”

The voice that echoed through the reception room was chillingly cold. The Emperor looked at the man, Edwin Lowell Vikander, with keen eyes. The dog the Emperor raised. A nickname that circulated secretly about the man. The Emperor's eyes flashed greedily at that satisfying nickname. Empty eyes that seemed to feel no emotion, and the way he perfectly handled whatever task he was given. He was only a Grand Duke in title, but what he did was no different from an assassin squad. Recalling the things he had ordered him to do, the Emperor felt a thrill that made his spine tingle. That the noble and dignified 'Vikander' was doing something no different from an assassin squad. It had taken him a full 10 years to tame 'Vikander' like that. The Vikander Grand Ducal family, who had been granted the desolate and cold northern Territory of Vikander after the oath of the founding Emperor and Monarch. Those arrogant bastards who relied on their excellent swordsmanship skills. Those bastards, who had discovered mines and gold veins in the useless land of the north, instantly threatened the authority of the Imperial family. Naturally, he was reminded of the former Grand Duke Vikander, who had been so stiff-necked. That unlucky bastard who had taken the princess of a ruined nation, whom he had thought was his, as his Grand Duchess. It was he who had finally broken both of their necks. Flickering his gleaming eyes, the Emperor said benevolently.

“I heard that the Grand Duke was always at the forefront in this war as well. As expected of Vikander.”

“You flatter me.”

“Now that the Grand Duke will be officially ascending soon, we must hold a splendid victory banquet. I look forward to the precious spoils of war that the Grand Duke will offer to the Imperial family at that time.”

“I will transfer them to the Imperial family as soon as I return.”

“Yes. I'll be looking forward to it. Now that I think about it. You must be over twenty years old already. It's time to get married and solidify your posterity.”

The Emperor subtly brought up the topic.

“...I have no thoughts of that yet.”

“Oh, don't say that. The Grand Duke is the only direct descendant of Vikander, isn't he? The more it is like this, the more you must strengthen the bloodline of the direct line.”

At the Emperor's words, a fist under the Robe was clenched so tightly that the veins stood out. The Emperor didn't notice and was caught up in his mood, rambling on.

“Come to think of it, the Grand Duke didn't even have a Debutante. I believe the Knight investiture ceremony was also a formality.”

The Emperor trailed off as if he didn't remember. He knew full well that he was busy defeating the Serachi tribe, who were crawling up to the east, during the Debutante, and that he had barely received the Knight investiture ceremony covered in blood to replace a certain Imperial family commander who had run away. Tsk, if that bastard hadn't run away, Vikander's name wouldn't have spread so widely. The Emperor clicked his tongue in regret. That's why he wanted him even more. Until now, he had obediently wandered the battlefield as he had directed, but now he was twenty-one years old and had his head on his shoulders. Vikander's reputation was already high in the Empire, and at some point, forces had gathered. A jackal might come crawling up to him at any time. So, he had no choice but to put another leash on him.

“Still, a Knight should have his lady. I heard that the Princess has prepared a flower for you at this victory banquet.”

And if it was a shackle caused by marriage, it was a decent card that wouldn't be easily undone. If the Grand Duke, who resembled the previous Grand Duchess, became his family... That would even be satisfying. If the princess of the fallen kingdom, who had ignored him until the very end, saw it from the afterlife, wouldn't she foam at the mouth? The Emperor, now in a cheerful mood, lowered his voice and coaxed him, speaking slowly.

“……I have news that Grand Duke Bikander will be pleased to hear. That Lowell's White Crystal Mine has now become the Princess's share.”

The mine that his predecessor, the Grand Duchess, cherished as the last asset of the Lowell Kingdom. At the same time, a leash that bound the Grand Duke. At that one word, the Grand Duke's eyes flashed. Only then did the Emperor smile leisurely and add.

“The title may be important, but if you are husband and wife, you can tour the mine without the Imperial Palace's approval, can't you?”

To think that he would be so obsessed with the White Crystal Mine, which he had received as compensation for the responsibility for the late Grand Duke Bikander's disappearance on the battlefield. He was so innocent, probably because he only went to battlefields. He had already offered the 'White Crystal Mine' more than twenty times, but every time, his eyes would light up like that. Even though it was a mine that had been dried up for at least 15 years. Because the Grand Duke's continued obsession was strange, he had searched every corner of the White Crystal Mine. Excellent magicians and geologists were dispatched, but the only answer they returned with was a report that it was an abandoned mine. Last year, thinking it was the last chance, he entrusted the investigation to the Princess. The Princess, who had grown remarkably in the past few years, had even neatly restored the territory struggling in the spring famine, and had thoroughly investigated the White Crystal Mine. But as expected, the report was the same as before, that the vein had been cut off long ago. The Emperor bestowed the White Crystal Mine to the Princess, an abandoned mine where white crystal production had already bottomed out, but because he was thinking of his parents, he must want to inherit his mother's last legacy, since he had been going to the battlefield since he was ten years old. He had no intention of giving it to him at all anyway. He was just planning to use it as a driving force to keep the Grand Duke moving, with the bait full of hope, just like now. ……Forever. The Emperor smiled, soaked in arrogance. That arrogance clouded the Emperor's eyes. He might not have noticed that the Grand Duke was looking at the chuckling Emperor with cold, mocking eyes. And that day, extra editions were distributed throughout the Franz Empire. It was joyful news that the war with Heferti, in which Grand Duke Bikander had gained the upper hand, had ended in victory.