Chapter 92
- A Cruel Truth
2023.12.31.
There was no one in the rose garden stained with the Stained glass lamp.
Sara Pavlova was nowhere to be seen, so much so that I wondered if I had seen wrong.
I could have gone deeper inside, but I decided it wasn't a good idea to overwork my still-recovering foot.
I was sorry that I couldn't say hello, but I decided to give up at this point.
Edgar might be back.
Olivia, who had already moved far away from the festival of lights, turned her steps following the wind that shook the rose branches.
She walked slowly through the enchanting night scenery of the rose garden, which was in full bloom with roses at its peak.
On the night of the Rose Ball, the roses under the moonlight were shining beautifully, just like that night with Edgar's memories.
'Is Marquis Lancelot going to propose today?'
My heart started beating again at the voice that lingered in my ear. Ignoring the pain in my instep, my pace began to quicken.
What kind of expression should I make?
What if my heart stops because I'm so nervous?
The promenade stained with streetlights looked incredibly romantic.
The scent of roses brought by the wind that had passed the Bichen River was so sweet.
Even the faint moonlight wrapped in a lunar halo felt beautiful at that moment.
"This season was really amazing."
The unexpected voice broke the peace just as I turned the corner of the hedge.
Olivia, startled, stopped and hid behind the hedge. Small sparks moved like fireflies in the dark sky, heading this way.
"Recruiting Olivia Blanchett was truly a divine move. For such a dark horse to catch Edgar's eye. That guy is really lucky."
Young gentlemen, whom I had seen from time to time, were smoking cigars and settling on a nearby bench.
They were Edgar's close friends.
"The operating profit is five times that of last year. The clash between a noble princess and a lowly bastard! He's truly a business genius."
"The publicity effect was amazing. Without spending a penny, the media and social circles were all fired up on their own."
"And he even managed to get such a beauty by his side."
Low chuckles and the acrid smoke of cigars drifted in the breeze.
In an instant, the emotions that had been tickling Olivia's heart dissipated like hazy smoke.
It wasn't a pleasant thing to hear, but it wasn't a new truth now.
It was no different from the scathing articles that newspapers had been churning out almost daily.
I had ignored it with indifference, but it didn't mean I wasn't bothered by it. Nevertheless, I had ignored it, and I could continue to do so now.
Olivia left the spot silently.
Avoiding them, she went around in the opposite direction, only to get lost in the maze garden.
When she came to her senses, she had come deep into a place where the lights from the banquet hall did not reach.
Olivia stopped there, dazed.
'The operating profit is five times that of last year. The clash between a noble princess and a lowly bastard! He's truly a business genius.'
The words the men exchanged flew like daggers and pierced her. Her instep hurt.
Olivia took a long breath. She tried to compose herself and regulate her breathing.
Was the world surrounding her ever not malicious? She couldn't be swayed by everything.
Edgar will be waiting.
Olivia resolved in the darkness of the maze garden where she stood alone.
Let's just think about that man, Edgar. Let's just think about the future with him, shining brilliantly like golden Champagne...
It was then that a ray of moonlight leaked in.
Just as Olivia was about to take a step following the light, a long figure was climbing the pergola stairs at the opposite end of the hedge path.
Edgar's narrowed eyes were fiercely fixed on the woman as he slowly exhaled the deeply inhaled smoke.
Sara Pavlova smiled.
"When I thought about it, losing in the finals is clearly different from losing in the first round of the preliminaries."
"Now you say that."
Edgar retorted coldly.
"That's why I'm wondering why your head is turning now. Giving in to Olivia Blanchett in exchange for three times the prize money, I don't think it's a loss. I lost my honor."
"Looks like you were the one being dragged around like a dog. Don't you think?"
"My acting has improved quite a bit, right? I have the face of a top-ranked player, so I couldn't give in too easily."
Hazy smoke rose like fog between them.
As the smoke scattered with Edgar's snort, the woman's face was clearly revealed. Her shiny black eyes were like a snake.
There seems to be no end to the greed of foolish humans.
"So I need to receive something equivalent to that, even now."
Sara Pavlova, with a physique as solid as an athlete, stared straight at Edgar and continued.
"Olivia Blanchett broke down Princess Anne Boleyn's wall. Next year, I'm going to stand in that position once. With the full support of Lancelot Company."
Sara Pavlova smiled, revealing her white teeth.
"After all, that position was mine."
Her silver hair shone coldly in the moonlight seeping into the ivory marble pergola.
Edgar frowned, tapped the end of his cigarette, and put it back in his mouth.
The moment his cheeks hollowed out, the two people's eyes met.
"If you haven't forgotten my contribution to Olivia Blanchett's victory, I believe you'll grant my request. And you know this isn't a negotiation, right?"
As she said, this was not a negotiation but blackmail. Edgar had no other choice. Damn it.
His gray-blue eyes narrowed through the hazy cigarette smoke.
The moon, swallowed by the clouds, disappeared, and the surroundings darkened at once.
Olivia, who had collapsed behind the rose vines, covered her mouth.
Her trembling hands were pale in the faint moonlight that appeared from the passing clouds.
Edgar's steps, which had been striding across the banquet hall, slowed down and soon stopped. His neat brow gradually furrowed.
Edgar stared at the faces of the women looking up at him one by one.
In the place where Olivia should have been, noble ladies with heavy makeup and strong perfume were sitting and chatting. When they saw Edgar, they looked quite embarrassed.
"Oh my! Marquis, you've arrived?"
The noble lady who had gifted Olivia with perfume greeted him with a bright smile.
"Olivia is."
The low, deep tone was somehow eerie. The women became embarrassed.
They were taken aback because they had been chatting without realizing the time.
It was only then that they realized that Olivia, who had left her seat as if she would be back soon, had not yet returned.
"Where did she go?"
Edgar slowly raised one eyebrow.
"Ah! Blanchett said she had someone to greet and went out for a moment. I guess the conversation is getting long."
The woman looked around the hall, then looked up at Edgar without much success.
The gaze staring at them was so fierce that it seemed clear that he thought they had made things difficult for Olivia Blanchett and chased her away.
"It seemed like a welcome person. Judging by how quickly she got up..."
The noble lady, who was telling him about Olivia's whereabouts, trailed off because her neck was prickling.
"Is that so."
Edgar slowly turned his head.
His gaze, slowly scanning under the bright lights of the huge chandelier, was darkly sunken.
Unlike the marquis, who always had an attractive smile, he seemed to be in a low mood today.
"Who is it."
The marquis's voice, not even trying to hide his blatant expression, was sharp.
"We don't know that much either."
Edgar frowned. At the same time, the noble ladies' hearts shrank.
The women exchanged glances. An agreement was silently reached to avoid getting caught in the crossfire.
"She said she would be back soon, so she'll be here soon. Then we'll be going now."
The noble ladies carefully watched Edgar's expression and got up from their seats one by one, moving away.
Edgar once again thoroughly scanned the heated hall. Olivia was nowhere to be seen.
Maybe she's in the lounge. Or the powder room.
He sent Gerald to check.
It wasn't an incomprehensible situation to think that she was having a quiet conversation with an acquaintance she hadn't seen in a long time.
Edgar, who finally sat down, raised his hand and brought it to his chest.
A small box was bulging. It was a case containing a Blue Diamond Ring.
Lancelot and the bitch.
His choice was Olivia without a moment's hesitation.
He had planned to propose at the moment of victory that everyone was watching. At least until Anne Boleyn ruined the atmosphere like that, it was really the best timing.
It was a bit later than planned, but it wasn't a bad night to propose today. It might be somewhat romantic on the balcony where the fireworks that decorate the night sky are most beautiful.
Edgar waited for Olivia and tilted his Champagne glass. Gerald returned when the round glass was half empty.
"She's not in the lounge."
Edgar's dark eyebrows twitched.
"In the suite."
"Not yet."
"Go check."
"Yes."
How much time had passed? Edgar, who had been wandering around looking for her, lowered his gaze to check his wristwatch and frowned.
It was well past 11 o'clock. The party was already nearing its end.
"She doesn't seem to be in the hotel."
"......"
At Gerald's report, Edgar pulled down his black Bow tie and unbuttoned his collar.
The series of languid movements seemed weary at first glance, but Gerald, who had served him for a long time, knew. That his reason was slowly evaporating.
"Find her. Again."
The voice, uttering each syllable one by one, was heavy.
"Understood."
At the repeated order, Gerald quickly disappeared out of the banquet hall.
Edgar's gaze, staring at Gerald's back, flickered ominously.
The melody of the last dance, a beautiful waltz, was strangely distorted and struck his heart uneasily.
The sense of déjà vu, which had been subtly scratching at his nerves since earlier, was slowly taking shape.
Olivia has disappeared.
