Chapter 79
#079. The Beginning of the Summer Ball
Everything was perfect.
Why did this Thread anklet have to be a problem now?
Olivia looked down at her palm with a troubled expression.
She had shared the joy of reunion with welcome faces and even enjoyed a delicious dinner at the Vikander residence in the capital. So, she thought that right before going to bed was the best time to give the gift.
She had clearly brought it, even packaged in a pretty velvet box, to give as a gift.
After Hanna, wearing a beaming smile as if to say, "Leave it to me," left to call Edwin at her request, Olivia opened the box with a hopeful heart, only to let out a hollow sigh.
The clasp of the Thread anklet in her hand was loosely broken.
Knock, knock-. At the sound of the knock, Olivia answered in a fluster. And then she realized her mistake.
The only person who would come in now was.
"I heard you have a gift for me?"
It was only Edwin.
At Edwin's excited face, Olivia reflexively hid her hand behind her back.
Edwin's eyes curved loosely at the obvious attempt to hide something. His red eyes, sparkling subtly, scanned Olivia for a moment.
A hand conspicuously hidden behind her back. A troubled face.
It seemed like a small problem had occurred, but Edwin pretended not to notice and wore an expectant expression. He already knew what the gift was.
"Ah, that's..."
She had made a mistake. She should have just said it was an invitation. It seemed like she had needlessly said there was a gift. Olivia said without realizing it.
"There was a gift, but,"
"There was...?"
"It's, gone. Haha."
Olivia was the only one laughing in the quiet room. Edwin's eyes widened, and then he lowered his head as if disappointed.
Feeling sorry for him for some reason, Olivia unconsciously reached out with the hand she had been hiding behind her back.
"Actually, there is a gift, but there's a small problem."
A persistent gaze followed her. Olivia cautiously unfolded her clenched palm. And with half worry and half expectation, she watched Edwin's reaction.
"H, how is it?"
"It's a very pretty Thread anklet."
His voice was as gentle as melting spring snow. As the tension melted away, Edwin met her gaze and asked.
"Is it the same as Olivia's?"
"Only the color is different, everything else is the same."
This was a black and red Thread anklet made especially for Edwin.
"You made it very beautifully."
"...Well, I've been told I have good manual dexterity."
Olivia puffed up a little at the continued admiration and compliments. The eyes watching her narrowed as if peeking through a gap. Olivia said with a hint of regret.
"It needs a little repair. I'll fix it as soon as I return to the Territory of Vikander and give it to you again."
"...What if I don't want that?"
The languidly falling voice was quite seductive. As Olivia flinched at the quietly approaching voice, the palm of her hand felt empty.
In the blink of an eye, Edwin, who had taken the Thread anklet, looked at the object in his hand with a delighted expression.
"Thank you, Olivia. I'll definitely wear it. This makes two matching things we have now."
Edwin smiled innocently and raised his left hand. The sparkling red gemstone ring flashed before Olivia's eyes, and then Edwin sat on the sofa and bent down.
Seeing him about to put the broken Thread anklet on his ankle, Olivia hurriedly said.
"I told you, you can't wear it now! Give it to me."
"Vikander never takes back what he has received. Absolutely not, Olivia."
Edwin smiled sweetly and stood up, raising his hand high. There was already a height difference that made it hard to reach, but raising his hand made it impossible to reach him.
Olivia, who was desperately looking at the Thread anklet, pouted her lips.
"...I told you, you can't wear it now anyway, Edwin. The clasp is broken."
"This pretty green clasp is broken."
Pretty green.
Even as his fingers touched the clasp, Edwin's gaze was fixed on Olivia's eyes.
The languidly moving touch created a strange atmosphere. Olivia's cheeks flushed slightly.
Enjoying that reaction, Edwin raised the corners of his elegant mouth and asked.
"...So, you're saying that if I replace the clasp, I can use it right away?"
"That's, but."
Olivia barely managed to finish her answer.
No sooner had Olivia's answer fallen than Edwin pulled the bell cord near the bed. Soon, Sobel entered the room with a knock.
"Sobel."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Find a clasp like this. Right now."
Right now? Olivia's eyes widened. But Sobel answered with a face that said it was no problem at all.
"Yes."
If she had known this would happen, she would have brought a spare clasp.
Baskets brought by the chambermaids were lined up on the table. Edwin looked at the clasps in the baskets with a serious face. The maids continued to take out clasps with faces that barely suppressed their laughter.
"As you said, if it's a green clasp, we've brought out all the clasps used to mend our maids' clothes."
Of course, there was no clasp suitable for the Thread anklet. In Edwin's mansion, where only Baron Stone's jewels were used for accessories and ornaments, there was no way there would be a clasp to repair other accessories, let alone a Thread anklet.
"I'll go out and buy one right now."
"At this hour?"
Olivia looked outside and asked back. It was the time when all the shops were closed, but Sobel nodded without a hint of wavering.
"If I contact them now, I can buy it and return within an hour and a half at the latest."
"...Isn't this, okay? Olivia?"
It was then. Edwin lifted something from one side of the repair basket. At the same time, the sound of clear metal beads colliding rang out.
"...Beads?"
"To be exact, pretty green beads."
Edwin shook the beads with a smile. As the clear, tinkling sound spread softly, everyone looked at Edwin, unable to hide their bewildered expressions.
The cold-blooded slaughterer and cruel war hero, the Grand Duke. Wearing a Thread anklet with a cute tinkling sound to the Summer Ball.
The servants looked at the young lady with one mind. As if the meaning of "absolutely not" was conveyed, the young lady said in a roundabout way.
"Sh, shall we contact the store?"
"I like this. Doesn't Olivia think this sound is cute too?"
Edwin shook the bells again. His eyes drooped as if it was too much, and soon Olivia was a little swayed by Edwin's words.
Come to think of it, it seemed cute.
Edwin shaking the bells.
"...It's cute, but. Isn't the sound too loud?"
Sobel, Hanna, and the maids, who were anxiously waiting for the young lady's answer, swallowed their astonishment. The one person who could stop Grand Duke Edwin was giving in so easily...!
But Edwin offered a simple solution as if it was nothing.
"We can reduce the sound by putting in a little beeswax."
The Grand Duke's gaze turned to Sobel as if asking if that wasn't the case. His sincerity made them want to say that it would be better to open the closed store and buy the clasp, but.
"...I'll melt the beeswax right away."
As always, Sobel moved efficiently.
.
.
.
Already the fifth time.
Olivia, who was repairing the clasp of the Thread anklet, repeated her fumbling. She hadn't been this flustered even when she first made it. It was all because of the gaze that was watching her from right across.
Even if she tried not to be conscious of it, it was difficult to ignore such a gentle and sweet gaze like the spring sunshine. Olivia bit her lip tightly and looked only at the Thread anklet.
"Are you still doing it?"
"Yes?"
At the sudden question, Olivia raised her head. Seeing Edwin's face, which was mischievously smiling, made her feel as if her inner thoughts had been seen through. Had he seen her constantly glancing at him?
Trying hard to hide her flushing face, Olivia hurriedly threw out an answer.
"I'm not, conscious of it?"
"Conscious?"
Ah. A languid laughter that tickled her ears followed.
"I was just asking if you were still fixing the Thread anklet."
Oh my god. Olivia's face turned redder than ever. Seeing the young lady's face, which was redder than a rose, Edwin felt an irresistible urge.
To go right up to her and look at that face...
"Young lady. If it's okay with you, may I tell you about tomorrow's schedule in advance?"
A calm voice, like pouring cold water, cut into this atmosphere. Edwin looked at Sobel with sharp eyes.
Olivia nodded hastily in a fluster. She wanted to avoid Edwin's chuckling face more than being embarrassed in front of Sobel. With the hope that she would listen to anything quickly, Olivia tilted her head.
"Tomorrow's schedule?"
"Yes. After having breakfast in the morning, a hair boutique will come to see the young lady. After lunch, a tailor will come to check the dress fitting, and in the afternoon, we would like to check the makeup as well. Is that okay?"
"I've already brought all the dresses to wear to the Summer Ball. And the makeup and hair are all decided."
At Olivia's puzzled face, Sobel answered seriously.
"Bethany wrote 'make it perfect' five times in her letter."
Olivia chuckled. She was reminded of Bethany, who had expressed her affectionate concern from the Territory of Vikander.
"It's okay. I've brought everything."
"No, it's not okay, young lady. If there is even one point of discomfort in the young lady's adornment, Bethany will come and kill me."
"Surely not."
"I'm serious."
Olivia's tension melted away at Sobel's words. As a result, the clasp of the Thread anklet was replaced without any fumbling.
"It's a gift. Edwin."
Receiving the Thread anklet with the tinkling green bell, Edwin smiled brightly.
"Thank you, Olivia. I'll wear it forever."
"Then, when I return to the Territory of Vikander, I'll make you another one without a bell."
It wasn't even a big gift. Olivia was even happier at Edwin's reaction. Edwin smiled, curving his eyes, as if he liked the words she had blurted out.
"Sleep well, Olivia. You'll be very busy from tomorrow."
.
.
.
Late at night, in the Grand Duke's drawing room.
"...Rumors are spreading in society that the young lady has received the Oath of Vikander. We have confirmed that it has not yet spread to the Imperial Palace. In addition, rumors about the Princess's visit to Viscount Katanta's residence are also gaining momentum."
It seemed that Jade Madeleine, who had returned to the capital, had properly spread the rumors. Winster finished his report, recalling Jade's face.
The Grand Duke, who had been listening to the report with a languid face, nodded.
"...Was 'that' which Brock Drowin mentioned, confirmed?"
The insignificant spark that Brock Drowin had mentioned.
"The young lady has now completely become a person of Vikander! As expected, Grand Duke Edwin has won! Such a perfect rev,"
The reason why Grand Duke Vikander proposed to the eldest daughter of Madeleine was revenge for the late Grand Duchess. A ridiculous story.
Winster nodded slightly.
"We have confirmed that it is a rumor that is only briefly circulating on the border, where there is great antipathy towards the Imperial Family."
"A spark must not become a wildfire. You know that, right?"
At those words, everyone in the drawing room, including Winster, nodded with serious faces. Only one person, Sobel, tilted his head for a moment with a puzzled face.
'No, the young lady is Liv Green. What kind of ridiculous rumor is that? Surely they don't still not know each other?'
In the meantime, the Grand Duke rose from his seat. Every time his tall and sturdy body moved with graceful steps, a tinkling, very small bell sound was heard.
* * *
In the Empress's palace garden, where the summer sun was shining.
"I'm glad I sought wisdom from my mother. After talking to my mother, my Tea Party has become peaceful again, just like before."
The Princess smiled elegantly and talked about the last Tea Party.
Essela Madeleine had not come, and Maria Etel had expressed her intention to prepare the best ball, apologizing to her.
She looked triumphant for once. It was completely different from when she had come to her, huffing and puffing, and she had soothed her and sent her back. The Empress's eyes curved beautifully as she looked at the Princess.
"...What do you think about raising Lady Etel to the position of Crown Princess Consort, Your Majesty?"
She was reminded of the words her brother, Duke Elkin, had said a few days ago. It was not a bad card, so the Empress held back her words, saying that she would watch. In any case, she was in a position to choose the cards.
It was the day before the Summer Ball. Everything was flowing smoothly.
* * *
And the first day of the Summer Ball.
Elegant melodies flowed in the splendid ballroom. There were beautiful sculptures and mysterious decorations reminiscent of a fairy country that were impossible to take your eyes off, but the nobles had expressionless faces.
That was understandable. That was because it was the exact same concept as the 'Night of the Fairies' that Olivia had presented two years ago.
Leopold gritted his teeth. To think that all they could do was recycle the previous ball.
There could be no greater disgrace. The Princess, who had taken her first step into the ballroom, could not contain her anger and immediately went out to the terrace. Her face, which had turned bright red, was vivid as she looked at Leopold.
She would definitely come running to him and demand an explanation as soon as the ball was over.
Maria smiled coquettishly, noticing that the hand holding his arm as if escorting her was strained.
"Leopold, smile. It's a ball."
It was an act of charm that would melt the hearts of many men, but Leopold's brow did not relax.
The fact that Leopold's gaze, which was filled with noble sea-blue light, was constantly directed towards the door of the ballroom was obvious to anyone with a keen eye.
.
.
.
Meanwhile, at the edge of the ballroom.
"...This is, similar to before."
"Well, aren't all Summer Balls pretty much the same?"
"But Princess has always shown us new balls."
"But isn't the concept of the ball not the important thing today?"
One secret voice was added to the murmurs filled with regret. At the same time, the nobles looked at each other and smiled.
Rumors were rampant throughout the capital that Grand Duke Vikander and Madeleine would attend the Princess's Summer Ball.
There was a story that someone had asked Conrad Madeleine about 'Madeleine's attendance' and had been severely reprimanded. But it was not enough to cut off the nobles' interest in the two.
In the distance, the Crown Prince and Maria Etel, who were wearing gold outfits like partners, had a grim atmosphere. Duke Madeleine and Conrad Madeleine on the opposite side were also uneasy.
The nobles quickly began to read this new atmosphere.
With the Emperor and Empress not yet having entered, everyone was desperately hoping that the door would open and the Grand Duke and Madeleine would enter.
The servant standing at the door was spotted moving busily.
"War hero Grand Duke Edwin Lowell Vikander, and Olivia Madel, no, Miss Olivia, are entering!"
