Chapter 99
#099. Fall and Strange Fate
"...Who, dares to."
The Emperor uttered hoarsely into the silent banquet hall. His eyes, bloodshot as if insulted, darted around.
The nobles, frozen wherever his fiery gaze landed, startled and shook their heads.
Who dares to.
The nobles murmured the Emperor's words in their mouths, looking around. But soon, their gazes converged on one place.
The only person smiling brightly in this banquet hall was Edwin Vikander Lowell, the Grand Duke.
Amidst the Emperor's flashing murderous intent, the Grand Duke let out a languid chuckle. A couple of the more sharp-eared nobles cocked their heads, but only for a moment.
"Why ask the Viscount? The important thing is whether Princess Esella stayed in Katangta, or visited the Territory of Vikander by His Majesty's order, isn't it?"
The smooth voice pinpointed the essence. The atmosphere, which had been driving towards blaming the Viscount of Katangta and covering up the matter, was instantly reversed.
The fates of the Viscount of Katangta and the Princess diverged sharply. The back of the Princess's hand, clutching her dress, trembled.
The Princess's dignity was falling to the ground. This situation was also linked to the crisis of imperial power.
The most formidable crisis in the history of the imperial family.
A chill ran down someone's spine as if a knife had been placed against their heart. The Emperor's hand, gripping the armrest tightly, had lost all sensation at some point.
Red eyes, gleaming eerily, stared at the Emperor as if truly enjoying the situation.
As if playing a game, the Emperor called out to the Grand Duke with a gambling heart, provoked by his provocative gaze.
"...Grand Duke. Let's discuss that matter separately."
"No. Your Majesty the Emperor, whom I respect. Ask me again."
"Edwin Lowell Vikander!"
When the Emperor shouted with bloodshot eyes, the agate ornament on the armrest shattered, unable to withstand his strength.
The Emperor momentarily lost his balance and staggered. His fist instinctively clenched the broken ornament, as if it were the Grand Duke's mouth.
"Because I will answer no."
But the Grand Duke spoke without hesitation, shrugging his shoulders nonchalantly.
All the nobles in the banquet hall froze for a moment, looking at the Princess, the Emperor, and the Grand Duke. Impurities mixed into the gazes that had always been filled with respect and awe.
In that instant, the Emperor felt that the authority of the throne, which he had thought eternal, and that the guy had slipped out from under his palm.
Something he had never even considered was happening in reality. He could clearly feel the nobles' suspicion sticking to his skin little by little.
"So, did Her Highness the Princess really falsely report her whereabouts? Why, and for what reason?"
"That's one thing, but is it possible that only this time her whereabouts are false? Even the Summer Ball is different from before. Could it be...?"
Someone who had carried the voice disappeared in an instant. But it was enough to ignite the suspicion.
Princess Reina, who had always shown elegant and noble devotion, and was praised as a Saintess.
Cracks began to appear one by one in that solid image.
The Princess looked around desperately. Just like her maternal uncle, Duke Elkin, had done a moment ago, someone had to step forward. The Princess naturally looked at Lady Libeorn and her playmates.
But.
One side of her heart turned cold. The Lady Libeorn, who had always made a fuss in front of her, her playmates, and even the noble ladies were all watching from afar.
No one defended the Princess on her behalf. She looked at all the nobles in the banquet hall with an incredulous expression, turning her back on the throne.
Those who showed blatant curiosity, those who felt sorry for her but didn't say a word, and even the delegation, who watched with interest.
As if someone had grabbed her Adam's apple, she couldn't even utter a word properly. The reputation she had worked so hard to build disappeared in an instant, like a sandcastle swept away by the waves.
The Princess knew very well how someone with a scandal was forgotten in society. Unable to even come to banquets, or confined to a room like a puppet with severed strings, with all courtship cut off.
But that shouldn't be her story. The Crown Princess of the Welton Kingdom, or the Crown Princess of the Oran Kingdom. That was her place...!
"Ah, Verge."
As if calling to God from the edge of a cliff, the Princess's voice was pitiful and desperate.
But even after several seconds, several minutes, the Emperor's gaze did not reach the Princess. When all the anxious expectations disappeared, layer by layer.
The ground the Princess was standing on began to collapse. It was the moment when the Princess's dignity, which had always been solid under the authority of the imperial family, fell to the ground.
She closed her eyes as everything faded away. Her body swayed violently, and screams passed by in the distance.
Everything was a mess.
* * *
"...Olivia, Olivia."
At the low voice, Olivia blinked. Under the deep darkness of the balcony, Edwin lightly raised his arm.
Only then did Olivia realize that her hand, which had been holding Edwin's arm, was gripping it too tightly.
"Ah, Edwin. I'm sorry."
"Isn't your wrist sore? If it's not sore, you might have a truly amazing talent."
"Talent?"
"Don't you remember? Olivia lifting Airaluten with one hand."
"How could I forget? It was the first knight's oath I received."
Olivia raised the corners of her lips. If it was a joke to lighten the mood, it worked very well.
A cool evening breeze tickled Olivia's cheeks. The fresh scent of flowers was carried on the wind.
"What a mess of a Summer Ball."
Adding to that, the great fuss on the next balcony. Although the balcony was covered with thick curtains, it couldn't block the voices leaking from the open space of the next balcony.
"If only Her Highness the Princess hadn't collapsed..."
"...Either way, the timing was good."
Behind the strange voice, the conversation continued in murmurs. Olivia glanced at the curtains for a moment.
It was as they said.
The timing was good.
For the Princess, and for the Emperor.
The Princess fainted on the spot. Duke Elkin, who was standing next to her, hurriedly supported her, but couldn't prevent the Princess's limp, beautiful hair from dragging on the floor.
It was something the Princess, who thought only the soles of her shoes touched the floor, would be horrified to know.
"...Summon a physician to diagnose the Princess's condition. Duke Madeleine and the Little Duke, the Vice-Commander, and the Viscount and his wife, follow me."
The Emperor hurriedly wrapped up the situation and left. The nobles, who had been bewilderedly paying their respects and watching the Emperor's departure, rushed towards Edwin as soon as the doors of the banquet hall closed.
"We meet the great war hero, Grand Duke. What in the world is going on?"
"Really, Her Highness the Princess didn't go to the Territory of Vikander? My. I never would have imagined it."
Avoiding the nobles who were rushing to seize the opportunity to talk to him, he had come here.
Even now, Howard and Winster would be having a hard time dealing with the nobles outside the curtains.
Olivia, who was about to laugh at the thought of the two sweating profusely, bit her lip for a moment.
"...If Edwin is okay with it, I want to go back to Vikander."
A calm voice fell over the night sky. It was an unexpected remark. He had wanted to see her reveling in the victory a little more.
Edwin studied Olivia's expression for a moment and smiled gently.
"Shall we go back right now?"
"Edwin still has negotiations with Heferti left."
Even in this situation, it was a sensible answer. Edwin smiled a little, agreeing.
"In that case, I'll be okay with everything except missing you. I'll just have to finish the negotiations quickly and come."
This time, Olivia smiled with a clear face. Edwin asked subtly and carefully.
"But why did you suddenly want to go back early? You seemed very relieved until just now."
"I was relieved. I was definitely very happy."
The Empress and the Princess were struggling over the White Crystal Mine. He didn't know if it had any influence, but the Crown Prince was also trying to catch her.
It was true that she felt a sense of satisfaction every time. The fact that the people she had always had to bow to were bowing to her was good enough to make the corners of her lips rise.
But now, as good as it was, her heart was restless. Ever since she saw Jade putting the Princess in trouble.
"...Whether it is or not, I will pay the price for what was not honorable as 'Madeleine'."
More precisely, ever since she saw Jade looking at her.
Olivia unconsciously muttered as she felt like she could grasp what the emotion contained in the sparkling amethyst eyes was.
"...What if I want to receive more apologies from other people?"
Regret, maybe regret.
It was a similar look to what she had seen in Esella.
But Olivia shook her head. She might have been mistaken.
Everything was cut off between them. There was no reason to sort out right and wrong and apologize.
But what were those eyes, and the emotions she thought she had thrown away kept surging up.
She had already heard apologies or pleas from the Princess. There was no sincerity, but the person who had always been stiff with her lowered her head.
But that would only be allowed to the Princess. There was the White Crystal Mine between the Princess and her.
There was only Esella between the Madeleine Dukedom and her.
It was a dual emotion. The desire to demand an apology that she wouldn't even do kept rising up.
Even if she apologized, it wouldn't be enough for her. Just like the Princess had done.
So Olivia said quickly.
"...It's not worth it. There's nothing more to see here now."
She liked it now. This life of being loved in happy Vikander.
But Edwin, whom she looked up at, had a strange face for some reason. He seemed a little pitiful. There was nothing to be pitiful about in this situation.
Olivia changed the subject.
"Why did Edwin step in instead?"
"Me?"
Edwin smiled innocently. Olivia narrowed her eyes.
"Maybe the person who laughed was on the delegation's side."
Olivia knew that the laughter came from a little further away, not right next to her.
Edwin sweetly curved his eyes.
"Well, it's a coincidence. It was a funny timing for me too."
Olivia smiled brightly at the added words. She thought he was kind and only liked to give to others.
"That's unexpected. I thought you weren't good at calculating."
"You have to be quick-witted to get what you want. Thanks to that, I was able to bring someone as precious as Olivia by my side."
Unlike the playful words, the gaze that kissed the back of her hand was intense. The cool night air heated up in an instant. The lips that touched and fell away like a hot brand curved seductively.
"...It's a shame to go back like this. Shall we have a drink for a while?"
"...Okay."
"With alcohol?"
At the very seductive invitation, Olivia shrugged her shoulders as if thinking for a moment. And she nodded.
A piece of laughter hanging on the end of Edwin's red lips deepened.
"I'll have to go quickly."
.
.
.
After Edwin left, Olivia shrugged her shoulders for a moment. She took a deep breath and looked into the distance.
Today, Tiaje Palace was shining silver and dignified. It was so unfamiliar to see it with such a detached heart that Olivia smiled a little. And she recalled the conversation with the Empress earlier, thinking of the unknown knight.
The reason why she came back to the capital. But Olivia shook her head. Now that the Empress knew about him, she gave up on the idea of meeting him.
Contacting him, who might be on the Empress's side, was an unnecessary risk.
There was regret, but it couldn't be helped.
...This restless heart, like the matter of the unknown knight, could be cut off as much as possible.
A faint sigh escaped from her slender lips. The complex emotions began to gradually spread over the night sky.
* * *
"If you keep scratching, it will be difficult to obtain the 'document' that the young lady mentioned."
In a corner of the banquet hall where the nobles no longer followed, Howard said quietly.
The subject was not specified, but Edwin knew for sure that the subtle words referred to the Emperor. So he shrugged his shoulders and glanced back.
"I have to be patient, but I can't be patient when I see that face. But it seems I've done a good job of setting up a last stand. Lord Interfield."
As the searching gaze got closer and closer, Edwin turned around leisurely. It was as he expected.
"...We meet the Grand Duke. I am Duke Kiwel, the representative of the Heferti Delegation."
"You were waiting for me."
"It's not a very good relationship, but you stepped in when I was about to be in a difficult situation."
Duke Kiwel, wearing a monocle. And the one who burst into laughter at the banquet earlier.
Edwin smiled deeply.
