Episode 33. I'll propose to her
Usher's gaze was askew, looking down at Noah's feet. Judging by his tense brow and slightly pursed lips, he seemed to be choosing his words.
And then, as if he had made up his mind, he raised his eyes and stared at Noah intently. With his eyes a deep, dazzling blue, he spoke even more clearly.
“I will propose to her.”
"...What?"
Noah frowned at the unexpected remark and asked a beat later. Usher then added a slightly longer explanation.
"The Polia situation is not trivial. My father is right. He has already told me to consider the preservation of the royal family. And I have come to the same conclusion. I just came to see my father to tell him I intend to propose to Miss Olivia Liberty."
“...”
"If a popular, well-known commoner becomes royalty, it could change the situation in the long run. Of course, if I'm successful in proposing."
“...”
Silence fell over the brothers' heads.
Noah stared intently at Usher. Usher met his gaze without averting his gaze, as if trying to read his true feelings.
The deep blue eyes that were always gentle were deeply sunken and unwavering.
It seems he really wanted to propose to her.
"Ha...."
The strength left Noah's stiff shoulders.
If only he had been even one year older, how much better it would have been.
Usher's gaze was askew, looking down at Noah's feet. Judging by his tense brow and slightly pursed lips, he seemed to be choosing his words.
And then, as if he had made up his mind, he raised his eyes and stared at Noah intently. With his eyes a deep, dazzling blue, he spoke even more clearly.
“I will propose to her.”
"...What?"
Noah frowned at the unexpected remark and asked a beat later. Usher then added a slightly longer explanation.
"The Polia situation is not trivial. My father is right. He has already told me to consider the preservation of the royal family. And I have come to the same conclusion. I just came to see my father to tell him I intend to propose to Miss Olivia Liberty."
“...”
"If a popular, well-known commoner becomes royalty, it could change the situation in the long run. Of course, if I'm successful in proposing."
“...”
Silence fell over the brothers' heads.
Noah stared intently at Usher. Usher met his gaze without averting his gaze, as if trying to read his true feelings.
The deep blue eyes that were always gentle were deeply sunken and unwavering.
It seems he really wanted to propose to her.
"Ha...."
The strength left Noah's stiff shoulders.
If only he had been even one year older, how much better it would have been.
The reason Noah, despite his hatred of the press, continued to follow his father's orders was because of Usher.
The person who silently stopped him whenever he was about to go off the rails was the one who had been quietly doing his job.
Usher was both an anchor and a milestone that held him together, and at the same time, an insurmountable mountain.
As Noah's expression gradually fell, Usher carefully hugged him tightly, then pulled away and patted his shoulder.
“Get over your feelings. I’m going to tell Father right now.”
Noah stared blankly at Usher's back as he passed him and entered the building.
Through the rows of windows, he could see Usher walking briskly. Noah looked at him, forgetting that he wasn't even breathing, and thought of her.
Olivia Liberty.
A familiar yet unfamiliar name.
He wishes he could forget that name, but he can't forget it.
Moonlight appeared, tearing through the darkness, a white face soaked with tears, and smooth black eyes that reflected his appearance like a mirror.
The moment the woman's name came out of his father's mouth, he was taken back to that night.
To that autumn night, when nothing special happened, and when he felt rather miserable.
But what if Olivia Liberty shows up holding Usher's hand...?
Usher Astrid would be a much better choice than someone like me, but still, if that woman becomes Usher's wife...
His chest, which had been filled with a lump of lead, burned terribly.
Noah exhaled heavily, hurriedly entering the building and running down the long hallway.
The servants, who had never seen the Prince run around the palace before, watched in astonishment.
When Usher returned to his office, Leonard was standing by the window, trying to calm down, and Beatrix was sitting on the sofa with her eyes closed.
It was a messy sight, like a place ravaged by a storm.
The King and Queen were busy resolving their own feelings, not even paying attention to the Crown Prince who had returned.
Usher looked at his parents in turn, then declared softly.
“I’ll be back soon.”
At that moment, the royal couple quickly turned to look at him.
“Usher.”
Beatrix's sigh-like call of name was met with Leonard's firm refusal.
“No.”
Usher looked straight at his father.
“Why not?”
"Don't ask if you don't know. Your wife is the next Queen. Queen is a title."
"So why not? If she doesn't know something, you can just teach her."
"Isn't it a matter of knowing or not? What matters is recognition. A Queen should be dignified rather than friendly."
While it was natural for Leonard to consider public sentiment, this presupposed that he held the support of the nobles in his grasp. When weighing the weight of approval from the commoners versus the nobles, the latter still held an overwhelming advantage.
It would be very difficult for a Queen to not be recognized by the nobles.
Leonard, who was standing by the window, approached Usher.
"A Princess can hide behind a Prince, but a Queen cannot hide behind a King. That's why you shouldn't go, Usher. You know that bringing Olivia into the royal family as Noah's wife, not yours, is the best option."
“...”
The father looked sharply into his eldest son's eyes.
A heavy silence descended upon the rich man. Unable to bear it any longer, Beatrix muttered.
"You're so selfish, Astrids. Imagine how devastated Olivia would be if she found out the Herods were talking about her like this."
“...”
“...”
Just then, without warning, someone burst open the door and appeared.
Although they wondered what kind of rude thing it was, all three of them guessed who had opened the door.
“Noah.”
Noah politely greeted his mother, who was rising from her seat, and then looked at Usher and his father, who were facing each other.
"You..."
Usher trailed off, as if he had something to say, but Noah didn't look at him.
Noah looked straight at his father and opened his mouth in a steady voice.
“There are conditions.”
Leonard desperately resisted the urge to throw his hands up in the air and cheer.
"Say it."
"If I succeed in my proposal and Olivia Liberty becomes a member of the royal family, that alone will be enough to create a buzz. You want that symbolism, don't you?"
"Yes."
Noah nodded and quickly presented his conditions.
"There's one condition. If I marry her, I won't attend any events or interviews, except those that are absolutely necessary."
“...And the Princess too?”
Noah desperately suppressed his laughter-stricken lips and answered concisely.
"Yes."
Leonard wasn't entirely happy with that part, but he nodded anyway.
“Yes, I promise.”
“Noah.”
Usher approached him as if he had something to say, but Noah continued speaking to his father.
"I'll be leaving for Pulder tomorrow or the day after. Give me the information you've researched now. I'll take care of the rest."
King Herod would not have thought of making her a member of the royal family without any prior investigation.
As expected, Leonard chuckled and took a document out of the safe and placed it on the table.
This proved Lawrence's claim that Olivia Liberty could become Olivia Wilhelm was false. If there had been even the slightest possibility of that, the King would never have chosen her.
Noah picked up the documents without hesitation, but Beatrix grabbed his hand.
“Noah.”
Her eyes rippled like the rippling sea.
What should I do with this child who is adrift and cannot find a place to settle down?
This child, who is suggesting conditions for his marriage...
So, if they get married, wouldn't both Noah and Olivia end up going through hell?
Noah gave a brief smile to his worried mother and then gathered up his documents.
Then he glanced down at the blank cover of the document, then turned back to the King and Queen, bowing respectfully.
It felt like a waterfall of rain was pouring down after the storm had left its mark.
Usher, who had been blankly staring at the spot where Noah had disappeared, quickly followed him.
When her sons disappeared, the Queen sighed deeply and covered her eyes with her hand. She couldn't simply blame her husband.
It's a really difficult and annoying position.
But just then, Leonard's hesitant voice was heard.
“Still, it’s a bit surprising.”
“What is it?”
Beatrix still had her hands over her eyes.
“Because he said he would do it actively.”
“...?”
What kind of nonsense is this?
Aren't you misunderstanding the meaning of the word 'active'?!
As Beatrix raised her head and looked dumbfounded, Leonard repeatedly cleared his throat and began to babble excuses.
"Of course, I ordered him. What I mean is, if Noah were like he usually is, he wouldn't have come back like this. He would've just gone home. I would've had to shove him back again, sending him the documents, tickets, and whatever else, telling him to go now."
And even then, he would have gone as if he were a cow being dragged to the slaughterhouse, showing all sorts of signs of displeasure.
“Oh, yes. Is that so?”
"Oh, really, Trixie? Noah's reaction right now is very, very aggressive?"
“Please keep your promises. Don’t try to get away with it.”
With those words, Beatrix got up and left the office.
“...Who wants to be hated by their son...?”
Leonard gulped down some water in frustration and opened the window.
“By the way, it’s surprising...”
The King's mutterings were scattered across the spring breeze that had been tinged with summer.
“Noah!”
Noah stopped walking at the urgent voice. He looked back and saw Usher closing the distance in an instant.
Then he looked at him with careful eyes and whispered.
“It’s not too late even now.”
“Then you go?”
“Yes. I’m serious.”
Noah took a deep, long breath under the pouring sunlight.
He realized that the air permeating his lungs was free of any chill, and he realized it was spring. He hadn't even realized spring had arrived.
When the sunlight-drenched green eyes finally turned to Usher, Usher noticed that his gaze had become calm.
“Usher.”
“...”
“I will do it.”
Even though his expression was as relaxed and relaxed as ever, he could sense that he was speaking his truth. That's why Usher couldn't help but politely bow and turn away from his brother as he walked away.
And the very next day.
Noah left Herod and went to Pulda.
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