DYBAR - Chapter One

"What the hell did you do?"

It was the last day of the victory banquet. Sharp words rained down on Olivia without filtering. Facing me, my father, the Duke of Madeleine, said coldly that he would freeze everything.

"Because you whispered something, Grand Duke Vikander proposes to you - the fiancée of the Crown Prince." Contempt was reflected in the amethyst eyes that looked down at me. "Only one. Is it so messed up that you can't do even one thing right? You can't become the Crown Princess without any noise?"

Just like it always has been. It was then that I, who had been silently listening to sharp criticism as usual, burst into laughter. The Duke raised his eyebrows as if he was displeased, but I couldn't stop laughing. Oh my God!

'How can you completely put an end to my lingering feelings like this?'

The Duke will never know. How did I feel when I followed the Duke in the banquet hall? At this moment, what was my expectation that was shattered miserably?

"Can't you answer right away?"

"If I tell you, will you believe me now?"

"What?"

A sharp gaze stared piercingly at me. I always endured that gaze. Someday, someday, those eyes will look at me kindly, they will admit that I am also my father's daughter. I never doubted.

There was a time when I was happy just to see the Duke's silver hair, which was the same color as my own, and to share the characteristics of the Duke of Madeleine. Not anymore. My efforts have ended here. At my best, I smiled sweetly.

"Then I will tell you: I never whispered to His Highness to ask for his hand in marriage, and even after hanging around for several years, he ignored me as his fiancée and stayed friendly with Lady Ethel."

"That mouth, shut up!"

"The person who brought me to the mansion and sent me as His Highness' fiancée instead of Esella is the Duke himself, who is standing in front of me."

"Shut up!"

A ferocious roar shook the night. The sound of the birds flying away was loud. Duke Madeleine glared at me as if he had lost his temper after all. His purple eyes flashed red as if a blood vessel had burst.

"It is because of you! You! If you... If you hadn't come to my house, nothing would have happened! You made me unhappy! It's all because of you!"

Each syllable was filled with bitter anger. The Duke let out a heavy breath. There was a time when I doubted myself whether it was really my fault or not because the hatred was so intense.

"Now and then,"

"..."

"I really didn't do anything."

"..."

"I didn't make the Duke unhappy."

"Olivia Madeleine! You dare!"

I did not lower my head any longer, despite the Duke's anger. It was strange. The Duke, who had felt so great, was no longer frightening. It really seemed like it was time to end it.

"You said you wanted to erase me, right?"

"If I could, I would erase you from my life."

Even though it was a memory from a few days ago, the voice of the Duke who was talking like vomiting was clear. The words that made my heart feel like it was about to break apart became numb in just a few days.

"Me too. I am now a Madeleine. It's attached to me."

Madeleine. It was the castle I had longed for. The family I held on to with all my might, the family I unrequitedly loved with all my life. And my outer loves, who never looked back. I smiled lightheartedly at all those crushes.

"Everything Madeleine, I will erase it."

Slowly, the relationship that only I was pulling on fell away.

"Olivia!"

Along with the Duke's shout, a flash of life came to my whole body. I held my body upright despite my ferocious spirit, which even tightened my breathing. That was the last thing I wanted.

"Stop there."

At that moment, the sound of footsteps interrupted.

"If you pose any further threat to my precious Lady, you will turn the whole of Vikander into an enemy. Peacock."

The tidy voice enveloped me warmly. The Duke gritted his teeth and muttered lowly.

".... Archduke Vikander...... Your Highness."

I looked back. Ruby-red eyes glistening in his hair black as the feathers of the crows of the abyss. A gorgeously handsome man who is unbelievably full of ugly nicknames such as murderer and blood demon. He smiled sweetly the moment he faced me with an expressionless face that never seemed to break. It was a strange thing. No family, no fiancé, no one I've ever tried so hard. He had never looked at me that way.

"When you're done with your business, I want you to give me a chance to escort you home, My Lady."

So kindly and so sweet. With the eyes that I had longed for.

***

Early in the morning at Madeleine's house, a voice was heard on the stairs. It was the sound announcing the arrival of the Duke of Madeleine.

"Good morning."

Taking advantage of the gap between the conversation with the adjutant, I greeted him. The duke frowned. He had been watching me for fourteen years since I was six, but I never got used to the pain of a pounding heart. Eyes that are worse than looking at others. I pretended not to see, and she smiled and held out her tray. As on any morning, there was his vegetable juice.

"I made it with vegetables that are good for blood vessels."

Before I could finish my words, the Duke moved again. The adjutant following the Duke, Lord Huxley, bowed his head with a more embarrassed face and followed the Duke. I muttered the words I couldn't get out of my mouth as I looked at his cold back.

Bye, Father.

Didn't succeed today. Handing over the vegetable juice I've been making for years, greetings, and calling him father. But it was something that might one day succeed. That expectation had moved me for the 14th year. Because my mother did. If I do my best, that wish will come true someday.

I, Olivia, who had struggled to shrug my shoulders, lifted my head. The huge portrait hanging in the center of the hall on the first floor caught my eye. The father sitting on the chair and the first son, Conrad, and the second son, Jade stand firmly to the right. The youngest, Esella, standing to his left and smiling brightly. I smiled as I looked at myself standing awkwardly next to Esella.

The reason why I look particularly awkward in that portrait is probably not just because of the distance. Silver hair that looks like it was made from picking cool silver and sparkling purple eyes. Contrary to the long-standing characteristics of Madeleine, my eyes were green. Social circles said it was an embarrassing green color resembling a wandering dancer, but I liked my eyes. It was the only trace I had inherited from my mother. But I regretted it a little bit. If I had purple eyes like Esella, would the attitude of my family towards me be a little different?

Envy passed over my green eyes as I looked at Esella in the portrait. But then I shook my head. The youngest daughter, Esella, who looked exactly like the former Duchess, who was called the flower of society, grew brighter by the day. It would not be possible to follow Esella just because the color of the eyes was the same. Above all, Esella -

"Sister, Did you wake up already? What about Father?"

- because she was so nice and lovable. As befits a young 17-year-old, Esella rubbed her drowsy eyes as she came down the stairs. I deliberately spoke coldly.

"He went to work."

"I came as soon as I woke up. It's late today. By the way, sister," Esella looked at the doorway with regret then approached me. "I heard that a very unique and pretty flower decoration came out at Her Highness's tea party this time, did you hear it? I heard that this is the first design to be showcased, but when I heard it, I felt like I had seen it somewhere."

Esella's voice softened. The Princess often made me work. One of her duties this time was a new flower arrangement. The flower decoration I made after thinking about it for several days became popular as always in the name of the Princess. It was said that it was popular but it seemed that the story reached Esella, who never attended the tea party.

"That, the one I saw in my sister's room,"

"I got some from Her Highness before the tea party. If you like it, I can send some to your room." I said dryly. As if the answer was different from what was expected, Esella's face showed steam, but she pretended to notice me.

"Thank you. Oh, and by any chance, my friend, Veronia, is having a tea party today. Could you come with me? She brags a lot about her cousin, her sister." Esella was looking at me with an expectant face. Looking at the two sparkling eyes and blushing face, the words I had been ruthlessly cutting off did not come out.

"Uh, I am -"

"Esella." A soft voice rose above me. Esella looked up at the stairsteps, her eyes twinkling. It was Conrad.

"Brother!" Esella naturally ran to Conrad and hung him by the neck. Conrad, who lightly hugged Esella, met me with his cool eyes. I knew better than anyone that his eyes were a warning. I am warned not to stay with Esella.

Conrad asked affectionately. "What were you talking about?"

"Oh, I was asking my sister to come with me to Veronia's tea party."

"Okay? By the way, Olivia. It's Wednesday today, haven't you started yet?"

"Oh,  right! Was it today? His Highness the Crown Prince will be waiting for you!"

Conrad naturally changed the subject. Ethella nodded her head as to why she couldn't beg me anymore.

"I know, thank you, Brother."

Conrad's face distorted just a little bit, but I pretended not to know. I liked calling Conrad my brother. I just liked my family. I liked that little connection.

"Then, sister, I will definitely go with you next time. Next time, I'll be sure to ask early!" Esella looked at me with regret. I avoided her gaze. No matter how much she told me earlier next time, I wouldn't be able to go with Esella.

" You don't even ask me to come with you, Esella? What am I doing with you? Everyone will only look at you."

Ha, ha, ha. 

Conrad laughed softly. He looked back at me as if thinking of Esella, who was going up the stairs as if she had a heartache, she said.

"Really! Sister! Didn't you forget dinner tonight? Come back safely!" Esella waved vigorously and ran up the stairs again. Conrad, who was following her, spoke excessively.

"Be faithful to your duty. Don't even think about approaching Esella."

A shrill voice stabbed me. I, who looked at his back as he walked away as if nothing had happened, held my breath and exhaled slowly. From the first time I came into Madeleine, my six-year-old silence had been my way of avoiding his upset. Usually, this is all gone. Even though he went up to his room, his upset that had piled up that day did not go away.

I opened my drawer. I took out the diary I was writing now out of the five stacked diaries and opened it, and I smiled.

"Oh, I wrote everything." I muttered at the tightly written letters to the end. 

It was time for me to input an entry into my diary. On the way home, I was thinking I should buy a another one. The first diary, which was exceptionally degraded, caught my eye. I opened my diary.

Today, I called Esella frivolously. I am by no means aristocratic, and I've been told to fix it. From now on, never do that. I have poor dining etiquette. Father said I had poor taste. I should never do that. Let's keep thinking, Olivia. Let's not make mistakes and keep doing our best.

The letters were smudged here and there, and the paper was weeping. Still, thanks to this diary, I was able to get better. I always wrote down the points pointed out and tried not to do that again. So, these marks were not a big deal. My hand stopped as I was going through my diary.

editor's note:

anyway i'll be trying to attach the illustrations to the chapters as i go along with posting the main story. i'll be writing the character's names as i know them from the manhwa. today is january 29, 2026 so the manhwa is on season finale hiatus. i have free time so my goal is one chapter a day. my typing skills are being put to the test lmao

Chapter Two