Episode 22. Flashlight and Dreams
While Noah paused, Olivia approached him and glanced up at him. Noah glanced at her briefly before continuing his walk, much slower than before.
Olivia was relieved when the Prince suddenly slowed down, but she kept biting her lip, feeling awkward and embarrassed.
The crunching sound of dry grass underfoot, the distant sound of nocturnal birds of prey, and her own shallow breathing, like the sound of a bellows, filled the dark space, but the large man alone held it all in check.
The moment he turned the corner and met her gaze, although there was no contempt in his eyes, he was undoubtedly looking down on her.
"What on earth are you doing here?"
He was saying it with his whole body.
So, as soon as Olivia saw him, she lowered her head and apologized without realizing it.
"I'm sorry..."
Soon, a long sigh was heard above her head, followed by a short word.
“Let’s go.”
She is still uncomfortable.
When will the maze end? Just when everything felt so distant, he suddenly opened his mouth.
“But what was that?”
"Yes?"
Noah's brow furrowed slightly as she asked again with her eyes wide open like a startled rabbit.
No, what did I do that made you so surprised?
“I’m sorry... What, what is it?”
Olivia bit her tongue after asking the pitiful question.
How stupid would that look?
Her face flushed bright red. At that moment, Noah pointed to the small object in her right hand.
“It looks like there’s a light coming from that thing you’re holding in your hand.”
Olivia reflexively raised her right hand.
“Oh, this?”
The silver, sleek, slender object, a little smaller than the palm of Olivia's hand, was something even Prince Herod had never seen before.
Noah watched Olivia intently. She placed the clutch on her left side and turned the flashlight twice with her left hand. Then, that bright light poured out.
“...?!”
Noah looked at it with wide eyes. Olivia felt a sense of relief at seeing his surprise.
“Is it a portable light bulb?”
The light bulb had already been developed. However, the associated electrical infrastructure was prohibitively expensive, and a steady supply of electricity was not available. Consequently, candles were still used in place of light bulbs in Norfolk.
Electric lights were installed in Herod's Palace a few years ago, but they kept flickering, so the angry King ordered them all to be removed.
Noah looked at the flickering light and remembered the light that had been installed in his room and then disappeared.
“The problem is that the light bulb keeps blinking.”
At his muttering, Olivia quickly shook her head.
"This is a magic flashlight I designed. It's like this because the magic it was charged with is almost depleted. Once it's recharged, it maintains a constant brightness."
"A magic flashlight? You designed it?"
She, who had been constantly watching his expression, looked at Noah as if nothing had happened and started chatting away.
"I've been researching how to convert a wizard's magical energy into other forms of energy. This device has a built-in converter that converts magical energy into electrical energy. This allows me to solve the energy supply problem of conventional light bulbs. The problem is..."
Olivia tilted her head as if she was disappointed, trailing off, and then a bitter expression appeared on her face.
“The maintenance costs are so high that it seems like it will be difficult to commercialize it right away.”
“Because you have to have the wizard recharge it periodically?”
When Noah asked with a serious expression, Olivia nodded.
“That’s right. It’s not only difficult to access, but it’s also expensive.”
The image of the college student from Pulder, who was walking around the schoolyard, finally overlapped with the image of the woman who had been cowering in fear.
Noah stopped completely and held out his hand to her.
“Give it to me.”
At his request, Olivia turned off her flashlight and held it out with both hands, and Noah took it and looked at it from all sides.
“How do I charge it?”
"If you look at the bottom, there's a silver plate. That's where you inject your magic. Once fully charged, it lasts about two weeks, depending on how long you use it. It's been around for about two weeks."
“Is it similar to the Magic Dome?”
Olivia nodded with a smile at Noah's muttering.
“Yes, yes, that’s right! The type and amount of energy being converted are different, but the principle is the same!”
Noah, feeling as if he knew the Magic Dome well, narrowed his eyes and glanced at Olivia. Her expression brightened, as if she were in awe.
“...”
It's much better than being intimidated.
Noah took off his right glove and held the flashlight around the charging terminal.
Olivia asked blankly, looking as if he was trying to recharge.
“...Are you a wizard?”
Noah chuckled. Feeling no need to respond, he turned on the flashlight and gently poured magical energy onto the silver plate he was touching.
In an instant, a light incomparably brighter than any light before burst out from the bulb.
“Wow! That’s amazing!”
Olivia let out a gasp without realizing it, glancing back and forth between the flashlight and Noah.
Even the children knew Prince Noah was a wizard, but the ocean was indeed vast. Still, the praise wasn't bad, so one corner of his mouth quirked upward.
Noah cleared his throat slightly and started walking again.
“It’s brighter now, so it’s much better. Let’s go.”
Olivia quickly followed him.
After that, there was no further conversation between the two.
However, he walked slowly so that she would not run, and her tension was also much less than before.
The rose-laden wind was cold but fragrant, and the dry grass was soft.
Noah didn't say a single word he usually said in such moments.
Not only did he not ask questions like how she developed the flashlight that even Prince Herod didn't know about, or what her college life was like, but he didn't even ask why she was there or what had happened.
Because he didn't feel the need to ask anything.
What would he do with the personal details of a woman who would leave Herod tomorrow and be forgotten in a few months? Even if he knew the whole story of the incident that had caused her trouble, he would not step forward to resolve it, so there was no need to ask.
'This is sufficient treatment for a royal guest.'
Noah thought so himself.
Soon, the lights and noises of the main garden could be heard in the distance, and closer, the bustling movements of people, as if looking for Olivia, could be felt.
Noah thought for a moment, then handed Olivia the flashlight he was holding and pointed in a direction.
“Hey, do you see the knight? Let’s go first.”
As Olivia took the flashlight, he turned around without a moment's hesitation.
It seems like manners end here.
Olivia, who had been blankly watching his back as he walked away, quickly followed him without even having time to think about it.
“...?”
Olivia suddenly held out a flashlight to him as he looked at her questioningly, and she ran quickly to his side.
"Thank you. If you don't mind, I'd like to give you this as a token of my appreciation. Um... Since you're a wizard, I'm sure you won't have any major problems using it, and..."
She continued to speak incoherently, her words becoming increasingly slurred.
Did I do something wrong?
As reason began to creep in, Olivia felt like hiding in a hole, and her outstretched hand gradually lowered.
But then, suddenly, the weight in her hand disappeared.
She slowly raised her head, and he was holding the flashlight in one hand. The Prince glanced at her and gave her a brief greeting.
“Yes. Let’s go.”
Cool and dry, like a cool autumn breeze caressing her cheek.
Olivia bowed her head slightly, then quickly turned around and ran into the gap in the maze where light was streaming in.
The sound of her heart beating loudly rings in her ears.
“Hey, Miss Liberty?? Here, I found you!!!”
The cheering voices of the knights and the hurried footsteps of the people crowding around her all seemed to come from afar.
The black pupils trembled slightly.
Was it a dream?
Olivia turned her head and looked at the maze shrouded in darkness, then hurriedly opened the clutch.
No.
While Noah paused, Olivia approached him and glanced up at him. Noah glanced at her briefly before continuing his walk, much slower than before.
Olivia was relieved when the Prince suddenly slowed down, but she kept biting her lip, feeling awkward and embarrassed.
The crunching sound of dry grass underfoot, the distant sound of nocturnal birds of prey, and her own shallow breathing, like the sound of a bellows, filled the dark space, but the large man alone held it all in check.
The moment he turned the corner and met her gaze, although there was no contempt in his eyes, he was undoubtedly looking down on her.
"What on earth are you doing here?"
He was saying it with his whole body.
So, as soon as Olivia saw him, she lowered her head and apologized without realizing it.
"I'm sorry..."
Soon, a long sigh was heard above her head, followed by a short word.
“Let’s go.”
She is still uncomfortable.
When will the maze end? Just when everything felt so distant, he suddenly opened his mouth.
“But what was that?”
"Yes?"
Noah's brow furrowed slightly as she asked again with her eyes wide open like a startled rabbit.
No, what did I do that made you so surprised?
“I’m sorry... What, what is it?”
Olivia bit her tongue after asking the pitiful question.
How stupid would that look?
Her face flushed bright red. At that moment, Noah pointed to the small object in her right hand.
“It looks like there’s a light coming from that thing you’re holding in your hand.”
Olivia reflexively raised her right hand.
“Oh, this?”
The silver, sleek, slender object, a little smaller than the palm of Olivia's hand, was something even Prince Herod had never seen before.
Noah watched Olivia intently. She placed the clutch on her left side and turned the flashlight twice with her left hand. Then, that bright light poured out.
“...?!”
Noah looked at it with wide eyes. Olivia felt a sense of relief at seeing his surprise.
“Is it a portable light bulb?”
The light bulb had already been developed. However, the associated electrical infrastructure was prohibitively expensive, and a steady supply of electricity was not available. Consequently, candles were still used in place of light bulbs in Norfolk.
Electric lights were installed in Herod's Palace a few years ago, but they kept flickering, so the angry King ordered them all to be removed.
Noah looked at the flickering light and remembered the light that had been installed in his room and then disappeared.
“The problem is that the light bulb keeps blinking.”
At his muttering, Olivia quickly shook her head.
"This is a magic flashlight I designed. It's like this because the magic it was charged with is almost depleted. Once it's recharged, it maintains a constant brightness."
"A magic flashlight? You designed it?"
She, who had been constantly watching his expression, looked at Noah as if nothing had happened and started chatting away.
"I've been researching how to convert a wizard's magical energy into other forms of energy. This device has a built-in converter that converts magical energy into electrical energy. This allows me to solve the energy supply problem of conventional light bulbs. The problem is..."
Olivia tilted her head as if she was disappointed, trailing off, and then a bitter expression appeared on her face.
“The maintenance costs are so high that it seems like it will be difficult to commercialize it right away.”
“Because you have to have the wizard recharge it periodically?”
When Noah asked with a serious expression, Olivia nodded.
“That’s right. It’s not only difficult to access, but it’s also expensive.”
The image of the college student from Pulder, who was walking around the schoolyard, finally overlapped with the image of the woman who had been cowering in fear.
Noah stopped completely and held out his hand to her.
“Give it to me.”
At his request, Olivia turned off her flashlight and held it out with both hands, and Noah took it and looked at it from all sides.
“How do I charge it?”
"If you look at the bottom, there's a silver plate. That's where you inject your magic. Once fully charged, it lasts about two weeks, depending on how long you use it. It's been around for about two weeks."
“Is it similar to the Magic Dome?”
Olivia nodded with a smile at Noah's muttering.
“Yes, yes, that’s right! The type and amount of energy being converted are different, but the principle is the same!”
Noah, feeling as if he knew the Magic Dome well, narrowed his eyes and glanced at Olivia. Her expression brightened, as if she were in awe.
“...”
It's much better than being intimidated.
Noah took off his right glove and held the flashlight around the charging terminal.
Olivia asked blankly, looking as if he was trying to recharge.
“...Are you a wizard?”
Noah chuckled. Feeling no need to respond, he turned on the flashlight and gently poured magical energy onto the silver plate he was touching.
In an instant, a light incomparably brighter than any light before burst out from the bulb.
“Wow! That’s amazing!”
Olivia let out a gasp without realizing it, glancing back and forth between the flashlight and Noah.
Even the children knew Prince Noah was a wizard, but the ocean was indeed vast. Still, the praise wasn't bad, so one corner of his mouth quirked upward.
Noah cleared his throat slightly and started walking again.
“It’s brighter now, so it’s much better. Let’s go.”
Olivia quickly followed him.
After that, there was no further conversation between the two.
However, he walked slowly so that she would not run, and her tension was also much less than before.
The rose-laden wind was cold but fragrant, and the dry grass was soft.
Noah didn't say a single word he usually said in such moments.
Not only did he not ask questions like how she developed the flashlight that even Prince Herod didn't know about, or what her college life was like, but he didn't even ask why she was there or what had happened.
Because he didn't feel the need to ask anything.
What would he do with the personal details of a woman who would leave Herod tomorrow and be forgotten in a few months? Even if he knew the whole story of the incident that had caused her trouble, he would not step forward to resolve it, so there was no need to ask.
'This is sufficient treatment for a royal guest.'
Noah thought so himself.
Soon, the lights and noises of the main garden could be heard in the distance, and closer, the bustling movements of people, as if looking for Olivia, could be felt.
Noah thought for a moment, then handed Olivia the flashlight he was holding and pointed in a direction.
“Hey, do you see the knight? Let’s go first.”
As Olivia took the flashlight, he turned around without a moment's hesitation.
It seems like manners end here.
Olivia, who had been blankly watching his back as he walked away, quickly followed him without even having time to think about it.
“...?”
Olivia suddenly held out a flashlight to him as he looked at her questioningly, and she ran quickly to his side.
"Thank you. If you don't mind, I'd like to give you this as a token of my appreciation. Um... Since you're a wizard, I'm sure you won't have any major problems using it, and..."
She continued to speak incoherently, her words becoming increasingly slurred.
Did I do something wrong?
As reason began to creep in, Olivia felt like hiding in a hole, and her outstretched hand gradually lowered.
But then, suddenly, the weight in her hand disappeared.
She slowly raised her head, and he was holding the flashlight in one hand. The Prince glanced at her and gave her a brief greeting.
“Yes. Let’s go.”
Cool and dry, like a cool autumn breeze caressing her cheek.
Olivia bowed her head slightly, then quickly turned around and ran into the gap in the maze where light was streaming in.
The sound of her heart beating loudly rings in her ears.
“Hey, Miss Liberty?? Here, I found you!!!”
The cheering voices of the knights and the hurried footsteps of the people crowding around her all seemed to come from afar.
The black pupils trembled slightly.
Was it a dream?
Olivia turned her head and looked at the maze shrouded in darkness, then hurriedly opened the clutch.
No.
Olivia blinked slowly.
A dream that isn't a dream.
It was a time like that fleeting moment when she woke up from a sweet sleep and felt hazy.
The Queen and Margot, having heard the news that Olivia had been found, came running.
“Olivia!”
Olivia, who was sitting in front of the stove, wrapped in a blanket, jumped up at the appearance of the two people.
Margot examined her cheeks with a hardened expression. They weren't in disarray, but they weren't exactly pretty either.
The Queen approached Margot and looked at Olivia with pity.
“You must have had a hard time. You must have been so cold and scared all alone.”
“Your Majesty, I... am sorry.”
Olivia hesitated for a moment, then bowed slightly to the Queen. Judging by the commotion, there must have been a flurry of activity in search of her.
She thought she had no choice but to run away, but there was no excuse for her reckless actions. Thinking rationally, there were plenty of better options.
“Margot, please step aside for a moment.”
As Margot stepped aside, the Queen sat down on the sofa where Olivia had been sitting and offered her a seat.
The Queen, sitting next to Olivia, stared intently into her eyes. Her face, pale and pale, reflexively lowered her gaze and pursed her lips.
“Olivia.”
"Yes."
Just as there may be no reason to dislike someone, there may also be no particular reason to feel fond of someone, and for the Queen, Olivia, who was in front of her, was one of the latter.
She liked the fact that she finally earned her diploma despite her difficult appearance, and she also liked her pretty and elegant face.
Of course, as a Queen who had a duty to entertain guests, now was the time to offer words of comfort, regardless of whether Olivia liked it or not.
But because she was particularly concerned, she spoke to the stiff young lady in a soothing tone.
“I know, to some extent, what happened.”
“...”
"I'm sorry."
Olivia's eyes widened in surprise.
Her soft blue eyes sparkled with sincerity.
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