Chapter 84
#084. Faith in Father
"The Territory of Vikander currently prohibits all access to the Imperial Family and House Madeleine."
That was it.
The reason why all messengers sent to the Territory of Vikander had returned empty-handed. Even his aide, Sir Huxley, had failed to meet Olivia.
Duke Madeleine glanced towards one side of the banquet hall. His icy gaze landed on Olivia.
More precisely, on Olivia, surrounded by two Knights and the Grand Duke.
When he first heard that she had arrived in the capital, he thought everything would return to normal.
But…
She hadn't responded to his invitation to visit the Madeleine Residence. She even refused to use the pet name she had always used for the Crown Prince, whom she loved so dearly. What on earth had happened in the Territory of Vikander in those few weeks?
The memory of what had happened earlier made his stomach churn.
Olivia's expressionless face as she told him not to use her pet name, as if she had no lingering feelings, and the way she had indifferently turned her gaze away when their eyes met as she entered the banquet hall.
She was never like that. The Duke asserted, calming his rising impatience.
He had already made up his mind to bring Olivia into the Residence.
For Hazel and Esella's sake.
He had decided to forgive her, the girl who always brought him misfortune, just a little. If he told her this, she would leave the Grand Duke and return to the Dukedom.
But now was not the right time to speak to her.
Many eyes were watching him and Olivia. There was nothing more foolish than approaching her in this situation.
To seize an opportunity, the Duke continued to watch Olivia.
It was then.
Olivia, who had been listening to the Grand Duke's story, widened her eyes for a moment and burst into a bright smile.
For a moment, Duke Madeleine forgot to breathe as he stared at Olivia. His tightly clenched fist, now pale white, trembled.
It was impossible.
She was not a child who could smile like that. Smiling so brightly, as if everything in the world was enjoyable.
…She shouldn't be smiling like that.
She, who had not only caused Hazel's death but also turned Esella away from him.
She shouldn't be smiling so happily, as if she was the only one who was happy, after making him so miserable.
Anger, shock, and resentment swirled together, tearing at the Duke's heart.
The moment countless emotions rose above his eyes, which had been coldly observing the situation, his legs, which had not moved, strode forward.
The eyes of the nobles, who had been glancing at the Duke without being obvious, moved and fixed on him at the same time as his movement. The atmosphere was tense, as if something was about to happen.
Someone stepped in front of the Duke, as if blocking his path. The Duke's eyes narrowed as he recognized the face.
“…Conrad.”
An irresistible sense of pressure was laid over the low voice. Enough to make a son who had never disobeyed his father's words in his life step aside immediately.
But Conrad did not back down. A shadow fell over his handsome face.
“…Father. I should have told you in advance.”
Conrad's voice trembled slightly, as if he had made a firm decision. But instead of looking at the bowed Conrad, the Duke stared beyond him.
The moment he saw the Grand Duke's red eyes sparkling as he looked at him, the Grand Duke rose from his seat.
Soon, he saw the Grand Duke reaching out his hand to Olivia.
He was impatient. He had to grab Olivia quickly. Whatever had happened, he had to bring her back to the Imperial Palace, the girl who was acting as if she was lost in happiness alone.
But the little reason he had left stopped him from pushing Conrad aside and going to Olivia. The Duke swallowed his rising anger. As the raw emotion, like a hot fireball, gradually cooled down, Conrad continued to speak with a troubled face.
"There is something I want to show you back at the Residence."
He should have told him sooner.
Conrad bit the inside of his mouth, swallowing the rest of his words. He wished he could feel some pain, but he was only more aware of the weight on his left chest.
He had been agonizing ever since he read Olivia's diary.
Whether he should show this to his father as well, or whether it was something he should keep to himself.
But at this moment, seeing Olivia smiling far away, he made a decision.
He should show it to his father.
If his father knew that Olivia had been struggling, he wouldn't be so angry as he was now.
Because that would be the true nature of his father, whom he respected and loved.
The moment felt like an eternity. Conrad couldn't bring himself to look up. The soft melody echoing in the banquet hall seemed to fade away.
“…Okay. Let’s go back.”
Conrad raised his head sharply. And he looked at his father's back, who had turned away first. It was the back of his father that he had always seen.
Strong, upright, and so fair that he was almost cold.
Conrad followed his father's back, holding back his surging emotions.
But there was one thing Conrad didn't know. The Duke's short answer came only after Olivia had left the banquet hall.
And that the Duke's face, walking ahead, was still full of anger.
Conrad simply believed that his father had also noticed that something was wrong with the current situation, as he had always conveniently thought.
* * *
At the same time, Olivia left the banquet hall under Edwin's escort. The sound of Howard and Winster's footsteps following behind was pleasant to hear.
Fresh night air entered through the open window in the hallway. Instead of the artificial coolness that suppressed the heat of the banquet hall, a perfectly cool breeze brushed against her hot cheeks.
Olivia's eyes relaxed. Even if the Magic Stone in her necklace regulated the temperature, nothing felt as good as this night air.
"You look happy, Olivia."
“…It was a more enjoyable banquet than I thought. Of course.”
A condition was attached to the end of Olivia's murmur. The three men, who had perked up their ears at the condition, smiled at the following words.
"Even if it wasn't as good as the banquets we had in the Territory of Vikander."
Olivia curled up the corners of her lips. No matter how perfect the banquet was, it would be difficult to surpass the two banquets that had taken place in the Territory of Vikander.
Ah, unless it was the upcoming wedding celebration.
"You must have had a lot of fun, Olivia."
"Of course. I danced five times, and I was perfectly dressed for the concept. And even."
Olivia trailed off, looking slowly at Edwin, Howard, and Winster. A feeling of gratitude rose in her green eyes.
"I had three very valiant Knights protecting me."
"Oh, you noticed that too. Thank you, Miss."
"We only did what was natural."
Winster and Howard's answers were the opposite, but their faces, which showed a sense of pride, were the same.
Olivia chuckled. Really, it was a more wonderful banquet than she had expected. She had spoken to the Crown Prince for a while, but she had said what she wanted to say, and she hadn't encountered the Princess or House Madeleine at all.
The Duke's figure trying to approach her flashed in her mind, but even that was blocked by Conrad.
Conrad. Olivia's eyes went blank for a moment at those three letters. The face that had briefly turned to look at her before blocking Duke Madeleine flashed through her mind.
Ironically, would it be her imagination that Conrad's gaze, which had been consistent throughout her life, was different today?
Olivia shook her head.
Winster and Howard were there, so even if Conrad hadn't blocked him, Duke Madeleine wouldn't have been able to approach her. So, there was no need to feel any gratitude.
While Olivia was neatly organizing her thoughts, Edwin suddenly turned to Winster and Howard as if he had remembered something. Mischief was plastered on his red eyes.
"That's right. You haven't forgotten the bet you made with me, have you?"
"What bet are you talking about?"
Winster asked, bewildered. Olivia was hearing this for the first time as well.
"When Olivia mentioned this concept, I said I would guess it right away, but you said it might not be possible?"
The two Knights' faces became wronged at Edwin's triumphant words. And, contrary to the image of a Knight, they quickly waved their hands at Olivia.
"No, when did I ever say that? I just said that there would be so many concepts that I didn't know if it would really be possible. …Lord Calter said that."
"Howard? What are you saying now?"
Howard quickly turned the arrow to Winster. Winster, who had been suspected of doubting the Miss out of the blue, couldn't even finish his sentence properly.
It was the result of Edwin's mischief and Howard's quick wit. Winster was suddenly wronged, but Olivia willingly sided with the one who was putting Winster in trouble.
"Hmm, you made such a bet?"
"No, it's not like that! I just had no idea what the concept was…!"
Winster waved his hands in embarrassment. He was at a loss for what to do at the playful words that Howard and Edwin were exchanging. It was completely different from his usual tactful self.
Olivia burst into laughter at the sight of them turning this place into the Grand Duke's Residence in an instant, not the Imperial Palace.
It was then.
"Are you already leaving the Palace? The real banquet hasn't even started yet."
It was Maria Etel.
Maria was panting as if she had followed them in a hurry, but she glared at Olivia with venomous eyes.
She, who had been away with Leopold, didn't even seem to know that the atmosphere of the banquet was already in full swing.
Olivia smiled gently at Edwin, who was trying to stop her, and shook her head. And step by step, she approached Maria Etel.
Instead of answering, Olivia slowly looked at the woman. Only then did Maria Etel's face turn blue as if she realized the meaning of the gaze that was staring at her dress.
It was an amusing sight. She hadn't even written the concept on the invitation, but she was dressed like a 'fairy' all by herself.
The fact that this outfit was one of the Princess's dress candidates from the previous banquet was something that only Olivia and Maria knew among them.
"T, this is."
"I enjoyed the banquet. Your dress is very pretty too."
A nonchalant word fell. At the same time, a red sense of shame rose on Maria's face.
"From the beginning, you knew."
Maria felt like she was suffocating. Olivia's face, which didn't answer, felt like it was mocking her.
Well, she had been in charge of the Princess's banquets until now, so she would have known that the job would come to her. Knowing that, she left all the work to her, pretending not to know!
Come to think of it…
Maria glared at Olivia, who was perfectly suited for today's banquet, with blue eyes. She hadn't even announced the concept. Could it be that one of the Tiaje Palace maids had passed the concept on to Olivia?
In an instant, Maria's heart dropped. Her lips trembled. Were the Tiaje Palace maids still following Olivia instead of her?
"How did you know the concept…?"
Olivia smiled brightly as she looked at the face that was turning blue, then red, and now white. And she leaned towards Maria Etel and said in a whisper.
“…I used what was kept in Tiaje Palace very frugally.”
It was easier than she thought to deduce the concept that was not written on the invitation.
The Princess would never host the Summer Ball.
In that case, Maria Etel would be in charge, but if she didn't even write the concept on the invitation even though Baroness Sophron was there, it was clear that she had decided everything in a hurry until the very end.
And among the banquet items left in Tiaje Palace, the concept item that was almost perfectly left was the 'Night of the Fairies'.
But there was no obligation to kindly tell her this fact. Maria Etel was trembling so much that she felt sorry for her, wondering what she was thinking.
A deep sense of humiliation rose in her blue eyes, as if she had been betrayed.
It was strange. Maria Etel herself was the one who always had malice towards her, but when she dealt with her, she always portrayed her as a bad person.
There was no need to face her anymore. Olivia turned away without regret and approached Edwin.
Edwin, who had been watching the whole situation, smiled. Olivia shrugged her shoulders at the smile that seemed to ask if she was okay. There was no reason for her not to be okay.
Because she had a perfect banquet today.
“…Other days are fine, but you must attend tomorrow!”
She thought it was all over. A shrill scream came from behind. Olivia didn't even look back. But the voice, screaming as if she was screaming, continued to follow Olivia.
"I'll show you something very interesting! Be sure to attend!"
No one paid attention to Maria. Maria, who had shouted desperately alone, glared at Olivia Madelaine's back with eyes full of bitter resentment. And when that figure had completely disappeared.
Jade Madeleine, who was one step late, ran up, panting. But the carriage with the Vikander crest had already departed.
* * *
And late at night, in Olivia's room at the Madeleine Residence.
The sound of turning the diary pages was cold.
Conrad swallowed hard, looking at the rabbit doll on the bed, thinking that's just how the sound of turning paper is. It was when he felt like his hands were trembling.
"So, what do you want to say?"
Conrad blinked blankly at his father's indifferent voice.
