Chapter 10
“Of course, even if an incident occurs, it would suffice if the duke’s other daughter comes. Quite a strong bond, isn’t it?”+
The empress spoke in a clear, resonant voice.+
Leopold’s partner was destined to be a lady from the imperial faction. The most honorable position, yet one trapped in the empress’s coils, doomed to wither away.+
Everyone hid their daughters from that position, but the heartless father who offered his was none other than the duke.+
Hiding his precious youngest daughter, he presented an illegitimate child, found after scouring the empire, a man as cold as ice.+
Thus, the duke would move as desired, like a piece on a chessboard.+
“I will go.”+
Everyone knew the duke’s words omitted agreement. The empress threw a laughing remark at the departing duke’s back.+
“Farewell, Duke. No matter what others say, we’re on the same side, aren’t we?”+
A tinkling laugh echoed from the reception room left behind. The duke, Giovanni Madelaine, ground his teeth.+
Olivia. What on earth was that girl doing to make the empress mention even Essela?+
He had to go to the mansion. Before that girl ruined things further.+
.+
.+
.+
As soon as the duke left, Countess Chase collapsed to the floor.+
“Your, Your Majesty. I truly didn’t do it. Please believe me.”+
“I want to believe it wasn’t you.”+
The moment a pitying voice was heard, Countess Chase lifted her head as if spotting a glimmer of hope.+
“But what can I do?”+
“Your, Your Majesty?”+
“When so much evidence points to you, why would I antagonize Madelaine to protect you? Don’t you agree?”+
“…….”+
“You must be tired from coming to the capital, so return to Chase territory to recover.”+
Everything was neatly resolved. The empress lightly waved at the Countess Chase, who was ushered out.+
When the door closed, the empress laughed like a girl again.+
“That was amusing. Intimidating the chamberlain? That lowly thing has some nerve.”+
The empress’s eyes narrowed slightly. Half-blooded, but still a Madelaine, is that it? Hmph. Still just a half-blood in the end.+
Something that would never belong anywhere.+
“I’m glad Your Majesty enjoyed it.”+
The Marchioness of Oftem, the closest among the maids, smiled as she applied perfume to the empress’s hand.+
Confirming the empress’s relaxed expression, the Marchioness of Oftem spoke as if just remembering.+
“By the way, Lady Etel is no ordinary person either. Daring to impersonate His Highness the Crown Prince.”+
“That was a bit risky, wasn’t it? Truly, if Your Majesty hadn’t shown grace, that lovely face would’ve been ruined.”+
“Indeed. Your Majesty is truly remarkable. How did you know to send a maid like that?”+
The empress smiled generously, thinking of Maria Etel.+
The crown prince’s lover with a lovely appearance.+
It was a pity she couldn’t be made crown princess as a fellow noble faction member, but who knew she’d create such an entertaining scene on her own?+
“Lady Maria Etel asked for a card.”+
The words of a maid planted in the crown prince’s palace came to mind. Having covered for her so grandly, it was only a matter of time before Maria Etel became hers.+
Humming a tune, the empress looked down at her nails.+
It was time to redo her nails. Longer, sharper ones.+
Through the window, the chamberlain was seen bowing. The carriage slowly started.+
Countess Chase had left the palace, they said. Within days, she would return to her territory.+
As the empress always did.+
Normally, Olivia would’ve pretended not to notice.+
But since they’d touched Madelaine too, this time she had to tell her father.+
If it were just her own matter, fine, but if it concerned Madelaine, whom she loved like her life, her father would likely be angry too. Perhaps, just perhaps.+
He might be a little angry for her sake too.+
Olivia gave a small laugh. Though she doubted it, an inevitable hope swelled within her.+
Whatever happened, she now had a reason to talk to her father, even a little.+
With a brighter expression, Olivia looked out the window, then gasped and tapped the coachman’s window.+
“Stop over there for a moment.”+
“My lady!”+
As the carriage slowed and stopped completely, Sally called out loudly to Olivia and climbed aboard.+
“How did you get here? How did you know I was here?”+
“My lady, that’s not important right now.”+
Sally exhaled heavily. Seeing Sally’s tense face, Olivia sensed something serious.+
“What’s wrong?”+
“His Grace is looking for you!”+
Olivia’s heart pounded—thump, thump—wildly. Her father looking for her was something she’d never heard since coming to Madelaine.+
Before the dark oak door, Olivia steadied her breathing.+
Her father’s reception room. A place forbidden to her for fourteen years.+
With a trembling fist, she knocked on the door.+
“It’s Olivia.”+
The door, which seemed like it would never open, did.+
The duke stood before a large window where the sunset glowed.+
The sunset’s light was so strong she couldn’t see the duke’s face. Unable to read his expression, Olivia clenched and unclenched her fist nervously.+
The reception room was silent. Pressing a hand to her racing heart, Olivia took another step forward.+
How much had her father heard? Did he know how she’d reacted? Unsure where to begin, Olivia hesitated before parting her lips.+
“F-Father.”+
“Crown Princess.”+
Cutting her off, a cold voice fell. The duke looked straight at Olivia. His face, backlit by the sunset, was as cold as ice.+
“I asked for just one thing: to become the crown princess.”+
A sharply honed voice struck once, a gaze devoid of the slightest affection struck again. They pierced Olivia.+
“You couldn’t even manage that one thing, and now you’re embroiled in such scandals, arrogantly trying to disrupt the crown prince’s palace?”+
“No, that’s not it.”+
There was clearly a misunderstanding.+
“I heard the empress sent you a gift to console your loneliness. And you threatened the chamberlain over a mere card in it? Do you really think you’re fit to be crown princess?”+
The heavy, sharp voice attacked Olivia, but she felt oddly relieved.+
Right now, her father was misunderstanding her.+
“It wasn’t just a card. It mocked me by impersonating His Highness the Crown Prince and insulted Madelaine.”+
“How does that insult Madelaine?”+
“What?”+
“Didn’t you hear? I asked how mocking you insults Madelaine.”+
His vivid purple eyes were as emotionless as if looking at a stranger.+
The coldly cutting words made Olivia feel as if her lungs were stabbed, her breath catching.+
It had been so long since she’d seen her father.+
Every morning, he’d frown at her face, never once calling her to the reception room, but that was because her efforts hadn’t yet reached him.+
Her father had still brought her, alone, to this place.+
He let her live with a splendid wife for a while, meet siblings, wear beautiful silk dresses, eat delicious food, and…+
Oh, yes. He placed her in the most precious seat, beside Leopold.+
Her father knew she liked Leopold. He said it was a precious seat, one she couldn’t have had if she weren’t a Madelaine lady.+
The more she counted, the more reasons there were.+
“I, too,”+
Her voice trembled, so Olivia clenched her fist tightly.+
“I, too, am a Madelaine.”+
Her voice, bursting toward the duke, quivered.+
The moment the duke looked at her emotionlessly, Olivia realized.+
“If you want to claim you’re a Madelaine, act like one.”+
There was still a line between her and her father.+
“Behave properly. Don’t drag Madelaine into such filthy rumors again.”+
Cold eyes, words blaming her as if everything was her fault. It was the same as when she was a child, grabbed by the arm, unable to speak.+
Then and now, she had only one thing to say.+
Olivia muttered faintly, as if wringing it out.+
“…I didn’t do anything.”+
“You did nothing, yet those rumors engulf you?”1
“…Yes.”+
“Then what about what you did in the crown prince’s palace?”+
“That was just…”+
…her effort to protect Madelaine. Even if she was ignored, Madelaine shouldn’t be.+
She thought protecting Madelaine together would bring her a step closer to her father.+
The duke looked down at her with reproach. She’d hoped for just one step closer, but now they were ten steps apart.+
“…Get out.”+
The duke glared at Olivia as if fed up. Turning away, Olivia stared blankly at the reception room.+
Every time she looked at the oak door, she wondered what was inside.+
The portrait above the fireplace was painted fourteen years ago, before she arrived. A brightly smiling duchess, a kind father, a mischievous Conrad and Jade, and a fairy-like Essela.+
As if time had passed it by, the room remained as it was fourteen years ago.+
Filled only with hatred toward her.+
Olivia forced herself to breathe.+
It felt like she couldn’t breathe.+
.+
.+
.+
She didn’t know how she got back to her room.+
Lying on the bed in her dress, Olivia stared at the ceiling. The silk canopy, adorned with lavish lace, draped elegantly, and everything around her was valuable, but…+
Her heart felt hollow. Had she skipped dinner?+
Pondering, Olivia shook her head and buried her face in the bed again.+
The cool sheets brushed her cheeks.+
In a world where all sound seemed to vanish, Olivia thought she wanted something very small.+
Not the kind of affection that would risk everything, like the chamberlain’s.+
“Good job.” Or “Well done.” She hoped for words like that.+
At least, she thought her trembling hands, her best effort, were worth that much.+
Olivia raised her hand and looked at it. Then she thought suddenly.+
She was glad she’d kept wearing the gloves a man gave her.+
At least her father wouldn’t have seen her hands trembling. The glittering gloves would’ve caught his eye first.+
Then Olivia gave a soft laugh.+
On second thought, her father wouldn’t notice her trembling hands. That thought made her laugh. Olivia laughed out loud.+
When that loud laughter subsided.+
Olivia’s face twisted slightly, then was buried in the sheets.+
Without a sound escaping, Olivia’s slender back trembled faintly.+
At the victory banquet hall, filled with paired hands, Olivia Madelaine was alone again. Nobles glanced at the Madelaine lady with subtle smiles.+
“What’s she thinking, dressing like a partner and standing alone?”+
“Exactly. She shouldn’t have worn that dress. It’s not like she’s advertising that Lady Etel stole His Highness the Crown Prince.”+
It was as the nobles said. Leopold, in a red uniform, stood beside Maria Etel in a pink dress.+
Not beside Olivia, in a red dress matched to his red uniform as a partner.+
Her eyes met Leopold’s from afar. One corner of his mouth lifted. A charming smile and a roguish, attractive demeanor.+
Leopold knew Olivia too well. That’s why this was so easy for him. Being with Maria Etel, everything that happened in the crown prince’s palace.+
Olivia looked ahead as if nothing was wrong.+
If she thought it didn’t matter, it really didn’t. Otherwise, the shame and humiliation she hid so carefully would consume her.+
In the distance, she saw her father and Conrad. They must’ve heard, but they didn’t glance her way.+
In this grand banquet hall, they felt like strangers. Her gaze fell to the lace gloves.+
She wore the jewels and dress sent by the palace, but the gloves were the ones that man gave her.+
Olivia slowly raised her gloved hand. That man, who strangely calmed her when they were together.+
Then, a heavy trumpet blast overwhelmed the banquet hall.+
“His Majesty the Emperor, Her Majesty the Empress, and Her Highness the Princess arrive.”+
The chamberlain shouted loudly. Everyone paid respects to the emperor, empress, and princess. Behind the ornately adorned emperor and empress, Princess Reina appeared in a pure white dress.+
It wasn’t the flashy dress the princess usually favored.+
“We pay homage to the sun and moon of the empire. We greet His Majesty the Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress.”+
“Haha. It’s a joyous day, so rise.”+
To lift the mood, the emperor laughed heartily, raising his glass. Then, scanning the banquet hall noticeably, he spoke loudly.+
“But where are the stars of today?”+
“Well, that’s…”+
The chamberlain from the emperor’s palace whispered awkwardly to the emperor. Hearing it, the emperor frowned.+
“What? They’re not here yet?”+
The banquet hall fell silent. It was a victory banquet, but arriving later than the emperor and empress was unthinkable.+
Just as the emperor’s fiery temper was about to erupt.+
“His Highness Archduke Edwin Lowell Bicander, the Imperial Knights, and the Bicander Knights enter!”+
With the chamberlain’s resounding voice, the doors swung open, and knights in ceremonial uniforms marched in grandly.+
Olivia, too, looked for Jade among the knights. His silver hair should be easy to spot, but with so many people, she couldn’t find him.+
Suddenly, the crowd watching the procession fell silent. Noticing their reaction, Olivia turned her head.+
Olivia’s eyes widened. She blinked instinctively. The man in a black uniform at the front of the knights’ procession.+
Tall, with jet-black hair that reflected even darkness. Ruby-red eyes with a hint of crimson. A face so beautiful it stole one’s breath.+
That man was undoubtedly the one she’d been thinking of, the man she saw in Ruheirn.
