Chapter 69

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 69

Chapter Title: Olivia Is

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Annblin felt utterly wronged.

"It wasn't me. It really wasn't. I swear to God."

The Crown Prince of the Britt Kingdom, Alex, let out a long sigh.

"Just because you say it wasn't you doesn't make it true. If Johann believes it was, then that's what matters. I told you, Ann. Don't act so recklessly."

"Why are you doing this to me? It wasn't me."

"Then why did you meet with Seymour's daughter?"

"......"

At the unusually cold question, Annblin fell silent.

"Don't even try denying it. Someone saw you in the western palace."

Annblin shuddered in shock for a moment.

She had been secretly brought in through a hidden passage leading outside. Even if someone had seen her, the hood she wore should have made identification impossible.

Not to mention it wasn't even the dead of night.

So how on earth?

Annblin ran through the faces of her maids one by one in her mind. Secretaries, courtiers in the western palace—every single one.

There was a spy.

How else could it be?

Who?

Who the hell dares?

"Ann."

Pulled from her thoughts by Alex's call, Annblin composed her expression and spoke calmly.

"She's someone who's been begging to join our group for a long time."

"And you just had to let her in right now, of all times."

"Is even that a crime now?"

"Ann."

"I wasn't alone. Kayla was there too. So ask her yourself. Ask Miss Seymour directly."

Her puffy eyelids turned red.

"I know exactly what my sin is. My sin is... loving Ed too much."

Annblin sniffled, on the verge of tears.

"That's why whenever something happens to that woman, they all suspect me. Isn't that right? I only met her in a way that's perfectly acceptable for someone of my position, so why should I suffer this humiliating misunderstanding?"

A pitiful sigh escaped from between her stubbornly pursed lips.

Alex gazed at his sobbing sister with a heavy heart.

"Don't touch that woman. Ann."

"What the hell is so special about her that everyone acts like this?!"

Annblin screamed hysterically.

His sister, who had lived a life where everything was prepared for her, had no idea how to get what she wanted.

It was one of the things their late father and he himself had failed to teach her.

'Alex, if you truly love the princess, don't go soft. That's not the way to look after your sister.'

"For the time being, stay inside except for tournament matches."

"......B-Brother......"

Annblin's eyes widened as tears dripped down one by one.

"I can't do that."

It wasn't something the Crown Prince she knew would say. Annblin's mind went blank.

To her, who had grown up without a mother, Alex was both brother and mother figure. Always kind and warm.

"This isn't a request from your brother. It's an order from the Crown Prince of this kingdom. Don't disappoint me, Ann."

"Brother!!!"

Alex left Annblin's bedroom, leaving her near-scream behind.

Even after the door closed, her choked sobs hammered at his chest.

The earnest voice of Louise held back his urge to rush in and comfort her.

'The world has changed, Alex. A royal family without the people's trust will lose its place. There are things you must protect beyond just the princess.'

She had gently taken his hand and placed it on her belly.

That was how his wife announced her pregnancy. He clenched his jaw.

"Kayla."

Kayla Johansson, Annblin's friend and cousin, looked up at the Crown Prince.

"Take care of Ann."

"Yes."

Alex turned, fists clenched.

"Don't cry, Ann."

Kayla stroked Annblin's back as she stared at her intently.

"He's changed. He's never been like this to me."

Annblin sobbed endlessly.

"He's just trying to protect you. You know how much His Highness cherishes you."

As always, Kayla offered words of comfort. She ordered a maid to bring warm tea.

Then she gazed impassively at Annblin, whose shoulders shook with sobs.

That position could have been mine.

Her own mother, the eldest daughter of the late king and a noble princess.

A pitiful woman denied the throne solely because she was female, living as an ordinary noblewoman.

Even though they were both granddaughters of the late king, their statuses were worlds apart.

Companion, playmate.

Annblin insisted they were friends, but they had never been equals, not even once.

"Calm down, Ann. Calm down and try some of this."

Kayla personally poured the tea brought by the maid into a pale blue cup and set it before Annblin.

A bitter herbal scent rose from the cup. Her watery eyes stared blankly at the tea.

From childhood, she could never surpass Annblin in anything.

Even at her one-and-only debutante ball, she couldn't wear a prettier dress than the princess, and the number of jewels she could don was strictly limited.

She could never walk ahead of her, and if Annblin wanted a man she had her eye on, Kayla had to yield.

That's why Kayla had always envied Rondos, ruled by a queen.

If Britt were like that, she would have been the princess, not Annblin.

Kayla lifted the cup and placed it in Annblin's hand. Her unfocused amber eyes turned to Kayla.

Annblin's once-brilliant era now flickered like a precarious gas lamp.

In that moment, Kayla thought the princess's seemingly solid life might crumble for the first time.

"Don't worry. You'll never share a stage with that woman. I guarantee it."

Kayla spoke, watching Annblin's face slowly regain its color.

"No. Don't do anything, Kayla."

Annblin wasn't stupid.

"I appreciate the thought, Kayla. But even if that woman trips and falls on her own, they'll blame me. So don't do a thing."

"Got it. I was short-sighted. I'll do that."

Kayla gently stroked Annblin's back. After a moment, she gazed at her red hair with soft eyes and whispered.

"I won't do a thing."

Annblin, leaning her head on Kayla's chest, didn't see the darkening glint in her eyes.

After Annblin secluded herself, Olivia sailed smoothly toward the finals, as if with the wind at her back.

Praise for the rising star filled front-page articles daily, and public sentiment toward the shameless vixen shifted rapidly.

Olivia Blanchett on the green court was so captivating that anyone who saw her even once couldn't help but fall for her.

"Where's Olivia?"

Edgar entered the VIP suite on the top floor of Lancelot Hotel and asked Marie, the maid tidying the room.

"She went to the tennis court with Countess Elaine."

Marie reported politely.

Olivia's townhouse on Riverside 3rd Street had been exposed.

With reporters camping out day and night, the neighbors' complaints had forced her to move.

Edgar nodded curtly and headed to the tennis courts.

His strides were swift as he crossed the lobby and moved along the colonnade connecting to the garden.

Descending the terrace stairs and passing the neatly trimmed fountain maze, the tennis courts came into view.

Edgar stopped and narrowed his eyes. His gaze swept the empty grass before fixing on the groundskeeper.

"Where's Olivia?"

"She went to the lounge with her group."

The midday sun poured brightly over the empty green expanse.

Edgar winced at the glare, gave a slight nod, and turned back toward the main building.

The hotel grounds felt absurdly vast.

Entering the lobby, the lofty marble space echoed softly with piano melodies from the lounge.

Edgar scanned the lounge, fragrant with freshly brewed coffee, and asked the manager who had hurried over.

"Where's Olivia?"

Repeating the same question, Edgar's patience was wearing thin.

"I-It was full, so she left."

As expected, the polite reply differed little from the previous ones.

"Do you know where she went?"

"Not exactly, but... I'll check."

"Forget it. Get back to work."

Back to square one.

Edgar stood before the door of Olivia's suite. He raised his hand to knock but clenched it into a fist.

From inside came the obnoxious, brainless guffaw of that damned Russell Junior—uhahaha.

Followed by a woman's trill of laughter—thankfully not Olivia's.

Edgar sighed irritably and knocked politely.

As expected, it was the maid who opened the door.

As Edgar entered, Olivia, seated at the round table, stood up in surprise.

"Edgar!"

Joy rippled through her wide blue eyes, round like a rabbit's.

Meeting that gaze refilled his depleted patience.

Olivia approached with quick steps and stood before him, smiling.

"You're here?"

"Having quite the fun time, I see?"

Though it sounded scolding, Olivia laughed it off.

"After practice, I was taking a break, and Coach was telling stories from his playing days."

Still a pathetic guy.

The thought of her eagerly listening to his disorderly boasts filled him with considerable displeasure.

"I see."

Edgar eyed Russell Junior with pointed disdain. The man flinched, shoulders jerking.

"We meet often."

Elaine, standing beside Russell Junior, greeted him.

Her gaze was unkind. Edgar ignored it appropriately and nodded.

"I need to talk to you."

He wanted to eject the interlopers immediately, but Olivia would hate that. Instead, he subtly nodded toward the balcony.

"Sorry, I'll be right back."

Olivia excused herself as if committing some grave discourtesy and followed Edgar to the balcony.

"What is it?"

Standing face-to-face, she tilted her head up. Her blue eyes sparkled, reflecting the sunlight.