Do Your Best and Regret

Chapter 12

"How is it, Olivia? How does it feel to receive your first vow?"

Even as he called my name affectionately. The corners of Leopold's mouth twitched. Whenever there was something he didn't like, that was a sign I saw. Whenever that happened, I always tried my best to make Leopold feel better, as if I had done something wrong.

I, who was about to go next to Leopold as was my habit, stopped. As I lightly shook the Grand Duke's hands and held them together, the stiff expression on his face softened. One of Leopold's eyebrows rose crookedly as he looked at that scene.

'I didn't like Olivia from a while ago. Even when she gets out of my hands and when she turns away from my gaze. This couldn't have happened. Of course, Olivia should have come next to me. This was the middle of the nobility. In the midst of all this, Olivia didn't take any action, as if she was daring to reject me.'

Leopold felt nauseous as if his stomach was going to turn. Leopold's eyes became increasingly sharp as his emotions surged as if on fire.

"Your Highness."

The Grand Duke, who hid me behind his back as if to protect me, spoke so kindly that the nickname "Slaughter Demon" was put to shame. He was the exact opposite of Leopold, who had a sharp and ferocious stance.

"If you don't have anything to do, just get out of the way. I was about to have my first dance with the girl to whom I gave my vows."

"Just as my fiancee received the first vows, I would like to take the first dance, Grand Duke. "

Contrary to his hard voice, Leopold looked at me with his eyes gently widened.

"...Live."

A friendly voice called my nickname. At that moment, my heart was pounding. It was the first time I had been called by my nickname since my mother. My heart was beating violently. Leopold smiled brightly. Just like when I was eleven years old, which was my brilliant salvation a long time ago. So I  almost moved without realizing it.

"You always wanted to have your first dance with me."

It really would have been like that if it weren't for those words that seemed like red lines. The word 'first dance' reminded me of my debutante. Of course, it was me who stood next to Leopold, and Leopold held the hand of the Nordian Marquis' daughter, leaving me alone. Nevertheless, now, Leopold was confident. The sight of Leopold naturally extending his hand without even a single request. I quietly bit the inside of my lip at the sight of Leopold calling my nickname without asking for my permission.

Am I that easy on Leopold? Even though he came with Maria Ethel, he told me that I was his fiancee, and he pretended not to know when he must have heard from the Chamberlain about the cards and flowers that he never sent. In this way, it makes me into nothing. I felt infinitely depressed. I tried to get my mind straight. Without any time to think about what happened next, I  slowly parted my lips.

"It is a victory banquet celebrating war heroes, majesty."

"...Live?"

As if he couldn't believe it, Leopold called out to me again. I held my head higher than ever. I don't know if the anger in Leopold's bright blue eyes was anger at the situation or at me, but I didn't want to care. I was so tired today.

"I will dance my first dance with His Highness the Grand Duke first."

As if the timing was right, the Grand Duke gently escorted me. One step, two steps.

Oh, by the way, I briefly turned towards Leopold as if I remembered it too late. Then yes, I spoke politely to Leopold, who looked at me arrogantly.

"Your Highness, please enjoy your first dance with Lady Ethel behind you."