5-7 minutes

※ This novel’s chapters have been split into halves, but they’re numbered normally to make things simple. Moving forward, the TL will be posting as often as she can to compensate for the length. You can read more about this on the TL’s note at the end of chapter 1~

Chapter 64

Translator: Yonnee

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‘How…’

With a stiff expression that he didn’t have to conjure, Olivier stared at her intently.

‘You can smile like that, too?’

During the night of the banquet, their encounter was a result of several overlapping coincidences.

When Marquis Russell’s attendant announced the arrival of the Tilrod family, he unconsciously looked towards the entrance.

It was purely due to his personal interest in the Tilrod family’s ancestors.

Usually, he would have just turned away after a quick glance, but the strange appearance of the Tilrod family caught his eye.

Missus Tilrod and her youngest daughter were both dressed to match the event, but the older daughter did not.

Besides this, as soon as she entered the banquet hall, she became a wallflower.

Amidst the flood of colorful people, she looked like a pitiful wilted flower, caught up in the current and washed away.

Maybe that’s why.

As she walked towards the garden, he saw her fall. She tried to get up all on her own without anyone’s help, and at this, Olivier couldn’t turn a blind eye.

Without any explanation, her eyes alone were what drew him to her.

She was in pain.

In fact, it looked as though she wanted to cry.

He knew that expression well.

There were beasts around him, their fangs aimed at his neck. The moment he’d reveal his weakness, the soft flesh of his throat would be torn apart, blood gushing out from his arteries. So he knew that face, that it was impossible to unclench one’s lips.

At that moment, she was like a mirror in front of him.

For just that moment, she allowed him to take off his mask of pretense.

And now, when everything was about to start, she appeared again in front of him… smiling so brightly.

Perhaps a humorous scene played out.

So she laughed out loud.

When she laughed so heartily, her eyes scrunched up while her hands were wide open, covering her face.

He could see her thumb pressing against her cheek as she continued to laugh.

Then, a new development seemed to have rapidly come. She sighed lightly.

Perhaps she even looked angry.

That moment, as he watched her, he could see everything about her.

She was so full of vitality, as though she was a red flower blooming beneath the midsummer sun.

Her eyes, her smile, her gestures.

All of it was so vivid that he had no choice but to close his eyes.

When Olivier opened his eyes again, he saw the crow-like Yves Russell next to her.

She whispered something to Marquis Russell, and then he nodded back dryly.

When Olivier saw this, he felt a terrible sense of helplessness out of nowhere.

He really didn’t know why.

She leaned against the railing again and focused on the play, and right then, Marquis Russell looked up.

In the air between them, Olivier and Yves’ gazes met.

Yves Rusell smirked.

He smirked as though he had watched everything and read everything in his mind.

Olivier looked back at him with a dull gaze.

But even so, Olivier had to admit it.

Having taken notice of Olivier’s feelings faster than he could himself, Yves Russell caught him off guard and broke down the steel walls that he had built around him.

Olivier quietly raised his index finger and placed it over his lips.

Seeing this, Yves Russell nodded.

Without a word between them, a negotiation had taken place.

* * *

“It was vulgar as expected. It’s absolutely not worth seeing more of it.”

As the play entered its second half, Empress Adrianne stood up from her seat.

Even as she said it’s not worth seeing, she seemed to have exerted much energy in watching it intently, given how bloodshot her eyes were.

Following the empress, Olivier stood up as well.

The empress had already grasped the underlying meaning of the play.

Olivier’s goal was fulfilled.

More than that, the results were satisfying.

‘And…’

While the empress stepped into the lounge for a moment, Olivier wrote a note and handed it to his aide, Joel.

“Deliver this to Marquis Russell.”

Joel left immediately.

And right after, the empress returned. She was quite calm now.

But her mask wasn’t entirely firm.

While being escorted by Olivier, the empress’ mind was heavy with complicated thoughts as she looked around, chewing her lips persistently.

“Your Majesty.”

At his call, Adrianne’s eyes were wide as she glanced towards him.

“Are you feeling uncomfortable?”

Adrianne’s forehead was slightly wrinkled.

However, in her blue eyes, she saw nothing different from Olivier’s usual appearance.

“…Ahh, it’s only because I’ve grown tired.”

Adrianne forced herself to smile.

Olivier nodded.

“Then, let us return to the Imperial Palace.”

“Alright, let’s do that.”

Adrianne was lost in thought again.

Olivier looked behind the line of attendants to confirm that Joel was following. When he saw the aide there, he ordered Joel to prepare for their return to the palace.