DYBAR - Chapter Eight

"Sister, where are you going?"

It was a sunny Monday, Esella, coming down the stairs, saw Olivia and her eyes lit up. Olivia, wearing a deep green dress, looked unusually excited today. She only had that expression on her face every Wednesday, the day of her appointment with the prince. Olivia said it casually. 

"I just need to go out for a bit. Just that, miss, she was on her way out because His Highness, the Crown Prince, asked her out on a separate date." Sally spoke with a lot of pride instead Olivia.

"Oh, my goodness! The Crown Prince must really like you, sister! I knew it!"

Olivia smiled slightly at the confidence in Esella's eyes as she ran down the stairs in one breath.

"Sister..." Esella suddenly groaned. 

"Huh?"

"Sister, your smile is so pretty! At this rate, isn't His Majesty the Crown Prince falling in love with you once more today?!"

"That's right! Your smile is just like a fairy's!"

Hearing Sally's words, peppered with praised, echoed Esella's affectionate words, leaving her feeling uneasy and unsure of how to react. A fuzzy, sparkling, hot, and sweet feeling continued to well up in a corner of her heart. Like, yes. Like cotton candy! It was so sweet. 

I wish Leopold would see it the same way.

Esella, who had been quietly gazing at Olivia, suddenly sighed.

"Sister."

"Huh?"

"Sister. Of course, dark colors are pretty, but bright, vibrant colors really suit you. Let's go get dresses tailored together next time!"

Sally nodded vigorously and agreed. "That's right, miss. You only like dark colors, but bright and colorful ones would look good on you, miss."

Olivia smiled vaguely and fiddled with the hem of my dress. A fragment of a memory she had written about with Leopold in her diary long ago came to mind:

"The princess isn't the flashy type."

It was Leopold's words to me on my fourteenth engagement day, as I wore a white dress. I returned hoe, sealed the white dress away, and never wore a brightly colored dress again.

"Well, how about this?" Esella suddenly removed a necklace with a pink gemstone and placed it around Olivia's neck. Before Olivia could refuse, Esella pushed her toward the doorway. 

"Look! I told you, you look good in something this bright! Have a nice trip and be sure to tell me about your date! Okay?" 

Before leaving out the door, Olivia looked back at Esella. After a long pause, she spoke.

"...Thank you for lending it to me. I'll be back soon."

Esella smiled brightly. She waved as Olivia's carriage pulled away, then spoke to her maid, Veronica.

"It's a secret that I lent my necklace to her, you know?"

If my brother's knew, they would be angry with her again. Esella snorted and thought of the bigger picture. She was still being held back by her brothers' interference, but if she could just have a successful debutante, she wouldn't leave her side. Veronica swallowed a groan as she gazed at the brightly smiling young lady. It was a truth everyone knew, yet at the same time, one that only she didn't know. And a truth she must absolutely must never know.

"Esella must never know."

The Duke's order, the day she became the young lady's personal maid, still rang in her ears. Even if it hadn't been an order, Veronica didn't want the young lady to know. She couldn't let such a splendid young lady know what happened because of her sister, who she trusted and loved so much.

***

The meeting place was a coffee house on Rue de la Reheirne. Sitting down at the seat assigned to her, Olivia looked down at the necklace. The soft, sparkling pink gem was incredibly pretty. Would something so extravagant really suit me?

Olivia shook her head, overcome with a sudden worry. Since Esella had said it suited her, Leopold would surely like it. It was their first date outside the palace. Olivia's mouth curled up as she thought of Leopold. Leopold had said she was looking forward to today, too. The card she'd been looking at the night before came to mind.

If only every day could be like today, Olivia thought quietly. 

Playing with Esella, dating Leopold, and then having a peaceful meal together, my father and brothers smiling at me. Happy thoughts kept flooding my mind. Just imagining it was so sweet, I couldn't fathom how happy I would be if it were real. Then, the door to the dining room where I was suddenly flung open. 

"You're early, princess."

Leopold strode in through the open door. His hair matched his gorgeous gold attire, and it matched him perfectly. A pang of tenderness welled up in Olivia's chest. It was sweeter than she'd imagined. It was a day as sweet as cotton candy. Olivia smiled brightly. At that moment, Leopold's mouth twisted...

"I greet the little sun of the empire."

Olivia Madeleine always looked at Leopold like that. Eyes that consistently showed love for him. A woman who only looked at him with a pleading expression, as if yearning for something, yet swallowing her complaints. That's why she was so easy. Leopold looked at Olivia with cold eyes. Ever since the engagement ceremony, which was supposedly held at the tender age of eleven, he had disliked Olivia.

"Prince, the royal faction has pushed Madeleine's eldest daughter to become the prince's fiancée. You know that, don't you? The green eyed young lady. How dare you look down on the prince!"

The Empress dowager was absolutely right. People called Olivia a half-Madeleine. If Madeleine hadn't been the leader of the royal faction, if it hadn't been for the need to balance the royal and aristocratic factions, this engagement would never have happened. He remembered Olivia, who had come to his palace last Wednesday without warning. Not only had she usurped Maria Ethel's seat, but she had also taken away their time together. Leopold sat down with a plop.

"You understand, Your Majesty. At least spend some time with the princess today. You have a relationship with Madeleine, don't you?"

The adjutant's nagging the whole way was good. If all had gone according to plan, they would have spent time together, at least pretending to appease Olivia. But that thought had already vanished. Leopold grinned.

"You are always diligent."

"Oh, thank you."

"I was planning on coming early today, waiting for you, and acting like a gentleman. But you always make me the one who's late."

The voice that cut off his words was thick with dissatisfaction. Startled, Olivia looked at Leopold. One of his handsome eyebrows rose crookedly. Her heart sank. What was wrong? Leopold had clearly looked happy when he came in. 

"I, I didn't mean to do that. I just wanted to see Your Majesty, quickly."

"Haha. I was just joking. How naive."

Leopold smiled brightly and nodded. The servant standing by the wall approached and set a hot teapot, teacups, and refreshments on the table. As everything flowed smoothly, Olivia was the only one who couldn't keep up with the mood. Was this really a... joke? Olivia studied Leopold's face. He lifted his teacup with a graceful gesture.

"The scent is pretty good."

She liked it. Until one day, when she was seventeen, Leopold remarked that she seemed to have gained weight. Yet Olivia ignored the fact and smiled. Leopold's smile instantly dispelled her anxieties. 

"Thank you."

Yes. It had to be a joke. Otherwise, there was no reason for Leopold to do that to me.

Leopold picked up a cream cookie and put it in his mouth. His expression was soft, as if he was enjoying the crispy, melt-in-your-mouth sugary cream. Leopold, who doesn't like sweets, only crunchy sugar cream cookies were the sweet treat he craved when drinking hot tea. It was good that he had mentioned it in advance. 

"Oh. That's missing. Bertin?"

"Yes, Your Majesty?" Count Hodges quickly approached Leopold. What was missing? Olivia was just examining the table.

"Fig jam. Bring it quickly."

"...Yes." Count Hodges's reply was a beat late. The strange expression that briefly crossed the face of such a loyal man was undeniably etched in his mind. Fig jam. Leopold loved fig jam.

"If it were to fall out, it would be because it was the thing the princess likes."

A click of the tongue suddenly reminded me of something. News that Marquis Ethel recently purchased a new orchard. It was to fill it with figs, the favorite of his youngest daughter, Maria Ethel, whom he cherished so dearly. So...

It felt like a splash of cold water. Olivia looked at Leopold. His eyes narrowed. Gently curved, his bright blue eyes stared at me with coldness.

It was as if he was waiting for me to react. I couldn't even tell if the warmth of my palm, the cupping of the teacup, was cold or hot. What was his intention? What reaction did he expect me to make? Leopold hadn't been one to keep promises before, but he was kind. He sent flowers, a gift and a card for me when he couldn't keep our meetings. He took time out of his busy schedule ot make today happen. Most importantly.

"That's a pretty name. Olivia."

He was the one I loved, the one who had shown me such brilliant salvation since I first met him on Leopold's birthday, when I was nine. So, all I could say was this:

"...I am fond of figs." Olivia spoke dryly, as if she were speaking to someone else. She lifted her hand from the teacup. The tips of her hands, pulled under the table, pinched each other painfully. 

"Is that so?" Leopold tilted his head as if he didn't know.

"...I enjoy eating them quite a bit during fig season."

Leopold chuckled. It was as if he had known it. His eyes were hot. Olivia sharpened her nails and pricked her hand, fearing that Leopold's appearance before her would blue even a little. Fearing that even a moment of inattention would reveal an ugly sight, Olivia straightened her back. 

"Olivia."

"Yes, Your Majesty." The voice that came out of my mouth was hard. Fortunately, sobbing was the worst thing ever. 

"Your cheeks are pale. Does it hurt?"

The sincerity in his worried tone was clear. My fingertips were trembling but I didn't even realize I was hurting. 

"You look tired. Let's call it a day."

In the end, this was what he meant today. Olivia blinked rapidly. Her thickly curled eyelashes felt like they were about to fall damp. The servant placed fig jam on the table. Seeing it, ironically, made her laugh. 

"Also,"

"Hm?"

"...Your Majesty, you are so kind."

It's a shame the kindness didn't extend to me, though. Olivia smiled faintly. Leopold frowned. Olivia nodded behind him. Everyone, including Count Hodges, bowed their heads, and the youngest servant, who had been watching me, lowered his head in surprise. 

"Thank you for taking the time for me. So, it's okay if you don't send flowers today." That was my last bit of pride. I didn't want to be comforted by flowers anymore. 

"Flowers? Are you saying this in hopes that I'll send you some?"

When he snickered, Olivia thought something was amiss, again. 

"What kind of flower do you want from me that you are speaking so directly to me, Princess?"

Leopold's words came slowly. The flowers were from Leopold. No, I thought so, and never doubted the fact. They were from the palace, and they were a precious gift, complete with a card. I couldn't control my expression. Fortunately, or unfortunately, Leopold, who was getting up from his seat, paid no attention to me. 

Seeing Olivia not rise, Leopold smiled broadly. 

"Oh, my. My fiancée is frail. Let's rest a bit before we go. And Olivia, if you want flowers, how about learning to wait until you give them to her? Like a lady. Oh, by the way," In an instant, Leopold leaned over Olivia. His slow hand touched the jewel on her necklace. "Didn't I tell you? Bright colors don't really suit you."

The gentle voice made his body lose all strength. Leopold turned around. 

Like a fleeting tidal wave, everyone left. When the door closed with a thud, Olivia was the only one left in the dining room. In this quiet place, Olivia suppressed her misery and ruminated on the facts. The precious gifts that had arrived countless times, the flowers that filled the room no  matter how much she tried to stop them. Even the cards with the flower language and tender comfort that had made her heart flutter. They weren't sent by Leopold. Ha.

A dull laugh escaped her lips. Clearly, until this morning, I felt like cotton candy. I felt like I was now stuck in a swamp. I felt empty. No, I felt so empty my blood ran cold. The flowers I'd believed to be affection, the cards, were all lies. All this time, I'd planned for Leopold had been denied. 

Even the encouragement Esella had given me with her necklace had been ignored. Amidst the overwhelming emotions, I tried to control my blurring vision. 

"Don't cry like a fool, Olivia Madeleine." I muttered to myself. I had to remain calm. How dare they. I needed to know who provoked me like this.

She blinked her watery eyes a few times, and her clear green eyes shone with a cold gleam. Olivia rose from her seat and walked toward the parlor door. Amid the steady clack of her heels, Olivia collected her devastated mind. Not even half an hour passed since the appointed time. She had given Sally some coins and told her to go play, and told the coachmen to return a few hours from now.

A hidden escort was all she had. Renting a coffee house carriage carried the risk of bad publicity, and waiting for a private carriage would take time. How could she get to the crown prince's palace without anyone knowing?

Olivia opened the door and exited the parlor. 

"Miss?" A familiar voice echoed through the hallway. "How could I see meet you here?"

It was him. A man with jet black hair and crimson eyes, a man of unparalleled gentleness. He widened his eyes and smiled, as if he couldn't believe this encounter. If only that harmless smile could solve her anguish.

"...You said you would give me a gift, correct?" Olivia's voice cracked slightly at the end. The man's eyes studied her sharply. When he noticed the sharp nail marks on the back of her hand, his red eyes turned cold briefly.

"...Of course, miss. What can I do for you?"

Chapter Nine (To Be Posted)