# Chapter 64: 64
As…?
With a tense expression that he didn't have to force, Olivier stared at her.
Can you smile like that too?
During the night of the banquet, their meeting was the result of several coincidences that crossed paths.
When Marquis Russell's servant announced the arrival of the Tilrod family, he unconsciously looked towards the entrance.
It was purely due to his personal interest in the ancestors of the Tilrod family.
Normally, he would have looked away after a quick glance, but the strange appearance of the Tilrod family caught his attention.
Mrs. Tilrod and her youngest daughter were dressed to match the event, but the oldest daughter was not.
On top of that, as soon as she entered the banquet hall, she turned into a withered flower.
In the midst of the crowd of colorful people, she looked like a wilted and pitiful flower, caught in the current and swept away.
Maybe that's why.
As he walked towards the garden, he saw her fall. She tried to get up on her own without anyone's help, and at that, Olivier couldn't look away.
Without any explanation, just her eyes were what attracted him to her.
She was suffering.
In fact, he looked like he wanted to cry.
He knew that expression well.
There were beasts around him, with their fangs pointing at his neck. The moment he revealed his weakness, the soft flesh of his throat would be torn apart, blood rushing from his arteries. So he knew that face, he knew how impossible it was to break the tightness of their lips.
At that moment, she was like a mirror in front of him.
For just that moment, she allowed him to remove his mask of pretension.
And now, when everything was about to begin, she appeared in front of him again… smiling so brightly.
Maybe a funny scene was being played out.
Then she laughed out loud.
When he laughed so sincerely, his eyes wrinkled as his hands opened wide, covering his face.
He could see his thumb pressing against her cheek as he continued to laugh.
Then a new development seemed to come quickly. She sighed lightly.
Maybe she even seemed angry.
That moment, as he looked at her, he could see everything about her.
She was so full of vitality, as if she were a red flower blooming under the midday sun.
His eyes, his smile, his gestures.
Everything was so vivid that he had no choice but to close his eyes.
When Olivier opened her eyes again, she saw the crow-like Yves Russell next to her.
She whispered something to Marquis Russell, and then he nodded curtly.
When Olivier saw that, he suddenly felt a terrible sense of helplessness.
I really didn't know why.
She leaned on the railing again and concentrated on the work, and at that moment, Marquis Russell looked up.
In the air between them, Olivier and Yves' gazes met.
Yves Russell smiled sideways.
He smiled as if he had observed everything and read everything in his mind.
Olivier looked back at him with a dull look.
But still, Olivier had to admit it.
Having noticed Olivier's feelings faster than he himself, Yves Russell surprised him and broke the steel walls he had built around him.
Olivier silently raised his index finger and placed it on his lips.
Seeing this, Yves Russell nodded.
Without a word between them, a negotiation had taken place.
───── •????️• ─────
—It was vulgar, as expected. Absolutely not worth watching any more of this.
As the play entered its second half, Empress Adrianne rose from her seat.
Although he said it wasn't worth watching, he seemed to have spent a lot of energy watching it carefully, given how red his eyes were.
Following the empress, Olivier also stood up.
The empress had already understood the underlying meaning of the work.
Olivier's goal had been achieved.
More than that, the results were satisfactory.
And…
As the empress entered the room for a moment, Olivier wrote a note and handed it to his assistant, Joel.
—Give this to Marquis Russell.
Joel left immediately.
And right after, the empress returned. She seemed quite calm now.
But his mask was not completely firm.
While being escorted by Olivier, the empress's mind was filled with complicated thoughts as she looked around, biting her lips persistently.
—Your Majesty.
Hearing his call, Adrianne's eyes widened as she looked at him.
—Do you feel uncomfortable?
Adrianne's forehead was slightly wrinkled.
However, in his blue eyes he saw nothing different from Olivier's usual appearance.
—…ahh, it's just because I feel tired.
Adrianne forced a smile.
Oliver nodded.
—Then, let's return to the Imperial Palace.
—Okay, let's do it.
Adrianne was lost in thought again.
Olivier looked behind the line of servants to confirm that Joel was following him. When he saw the attendant there, he ordered him to prepare for his return to the palace.
Valiz