Episode 23. Noah's Lost Peace
The Queen apologized to her.
Olivia's eyes widened and trembled slightly as she realized that fact.
“I didn’t want to cause any trouble, but I wasn’t paying attention.”
The Queen looked at the dark, fluttering eyes in bewilderment and let out a small breath.
“I would have liked to have made those who had troubled you apologize, but that was a bit difficult.”
“Oh, no. Well, Your Majesty, I...”
Olivia trailed off. Unsure of what to say, she blinked rapidly, and something trickled down her cheek.
Her fingertips were wet with tears that fell without giving her time to breathe.
The quick-witted head maid quickly handed the handkerchief to the Queen, who then placed it in Olivia's hand.
“I wanted to make Herod’s last night wonderful, but this is what happened.”
Olivia stared blankly at the Queen's handkerchief, then suddenly raised her head and shook her head.
"No, no. It was wonderful. It was truly wonderful, an unforgettable night. It really was."
The Queen, who had been silently staring at Olivia for a moment, rose from her seat with a smile on her face. Having been in the cold for so long waiting for Olivia to return, she, too, was feeling unwell.
Olivia quickly got up and followed her.
The Queen, who was about to turn around, stopped as if remembering something.
"Has anyone helped you find your way? If so, I'd appreciate it."
At her words, Olivia answered cautiously, recalling the moment when the moonlight had descended.
“His Highness Prince Noah took me to where the knights were.”
“...?”
For a moment, a very subtle emotion flashed across the Queen's face, but she skillfully controlled her expression.
It was a name she never thought of.
If the Queen were to rank the characters in order of their likelihood of bringing Olivia home, she would not hesitate to put Noah's name at the bottom.
Her blue eyes narrowed.
“Noah, right?”
"Yes."
The Queen let out a short laugh that was either a hollow laugh or a sigh, and nodded slightly.
"You've done a wonderful job. Yes, Olivia. Now go back and rest."
"Thank you."
“Princess, you too should go and rest. You worked hard today.”
“Your Majesty, please go back and rest.”
The Queen greeted Margot affectionately and then disappeared first.
Margot looked at Olivia gently and patted her shoulder.
“Let’s go.”
“I’m sorry for worrying you, Professor.”
"Fine. Is that your fault? Her Majesty punished those girls to the best of her ability. I hope you, too, will let go of your hatred."
Of course, the prodigal sons were not punished.
Olivia, her tension relaxed, shook her head slowly and said.
"There's no such thing as hatred. It was my fault for running away without thinking. I was out of my mind."
“Huh, Lucy’s flower pin is still stuck in your hair.”
"Thank goodness. I would have been really upset if I'd lost this. Oh no! I forgot to return that handkerchief!"
When Olivia sighed, showing the handkerchief in her hand, Margot smiled and shrugged.
“It’s something that can be easily resolved and left alone.”
Following the maid's guidance, they walked a short distance through the rose forest, and a carriage waiting to take them to the VIP palace awaited them.
As soon as the two women boarded the carriage, it set off. Herod's palace, shrouded in darkness, quickly passed by.
Margot, who had been staring blankly at Olivia from inside the swaying carriage, suddenly opened her mouth as the carriage passed the main gate of the VIP palace.
“How far did you go to meet Noah?”
Olivia, who was dazed, blinked several times at her question and then tilted her head.
"Actually, I don't know. There were no lights or stoves there. But I was holding a flashlight, and I think he saw the light. Maybe he was out for a walk?"
Noah Astrid in a remote maze without a lamp or a brazier?
The maid said that Noah had disappeared as soon as she heard that Olivia was missing, but she never expected that he would come and find her.
Margot looked thoughtful for a moment with a subtle expression, then turned her head to look out the window.
She thinks that human affairs are unpredictable.
Noah escaped the maze through a deserted passage. Perhaps it was time to leave this tedious banquet.
After wandering around the maze for over an hour without a stove, he was very tired.
As we exited the maze, the servants were gathered in groups of three or five.
“Your Highness!”
As one of them, who had a familiar face, quickly approached and bowed his head, Noah sat down on a nearby bench and gave an order.
“Would you please go and call my carriage? And let them know that I am leaving the palace.”
“Yes, I understand.”
The servant turned with the precision of a soldier and quickly disappeared. Several servants offered him a blanket, but Noah refused.
The chilly autumn breeze blew into his arms, but what did it matter?
Noah lightly pressed his forehead with his fingertips and closed his eyes tightly.
Tomorrow he has to go to work at the Admiralty House in the morning and attend a charity event at the Royal Hospital in the afternoon.
"Haa..."
His sturdy shoulders slowly slumped with a long sigh.
He has to laugh in front of people again.
Noah took out the cigarette he hadn't seen in a few days.
Then, suddenly, he pulled out the flashlight he'd kept in his right pocket. As he stared blankly at it, that moment came back to him.
He slowly tilted his head back.
The moment the moon tore through the sky and showed its face, her two black eyes widened.
...small, open lips, a puffy line extending from the white, pale nape of the neck.
Finally, he cursed softly.
“It seems like I'm frustrated.”
Just then, the sound of horseshoes and the rolling of carriage wheels was heard. Noah put out his cigarette and stood up.
But ahead of his carriage, a beautiful carriage with an impressive pale blue color was running. It was the carriage of his mother, Queen Beatrix.
Noah put the flashlight in his pocket and straightened his posture.
The Queen's carriage stopped right in front of Noah, and at the same time, the window opened with a jerk, and his mother peeked out.
“Noah, are you going back instead of staying in the palace?”
“Yes, Mother. It’s more comfortable at home.”
“Oh my, is that your house?”
Noah didn't answer, just smiled. The Queen, who had been shaking her head slightly at her son's cynical attitude, gestured toward him.
As Noah approached with a questioning expression, the Queen whispered softly enough for only him to hear.
“I heard you brought Miss Liberty back.”
Even though she was tired, the mother, curious about her son's reaction, glanced at his expression.
Her self-righteous husband seemed to believe all the social media gossip about his son, but Beatrix was confident she could bet her crown that they were all lies.
Noah Astrid was feeling tired of life.
Twenty-three, in the season of lush green foliage.
When Noah brought Olivia, the Queen couldn't help but be curious.
But was it just a needless interest?
Not a trace of agitation crossed her son's handsome face. He looked at her with impassive eyes and answered listlessly.
“Yes, that’s right.”
“...”
That indifferent face is so sad.
There was a time when this child would run around the palace like a playground, his face turning red.
The Queen praised his hard work with a bitter expression.
“You’ve worked hard. You’ve worked hard in my place.”
“We just happened to meet in passing.”
“Yeah. Oh, right, Noah.”
"Yes."
"Princess Marguerite and Olivia are leaving tomorrow morning. We're planning to see them off at the palace that morning. What are you going to do?"
"I'm sorry, but I have to go to the Navy Residence tomorrow morning. I already said goodbye to my aunt."
“I see. Yes, go ahead. You must be tired too.”
As Noah stepped back and bowed his head respectfully, the Queen's carriage immediately set off.
He too boarded the carriage, and it moved swiftly. As it left the palace and passed through the main city center, Noah, looking out the window, caught sight of the golden lion statue, shrouded in darkness.
Then, inevitably, that day came to mind.
A fleeting question crossed his mind, but that was it.
He wonders if he'll even remember her name in a few months.
He wonders if he will remember her as someone who brought him a moment of peace.
Noah looked away absentmindedly.
Maybe so.
Early the next morning.
Olivia and Margot left Herod's palace, greeted by the royal family.
King Leonard gave Olivia a casual greeting, not even glancing at Margot.
“If you ever want to come to Herod, just call me!”
The newspapers, while Olivia was there, were so tear-jerking!
“Are you saying you can be interviewed anytime?”
Then, immediately, Margot's sharp question flew in, and the King turned his head away with a look of disgust.
“Anyway! Go away, Margot!”
Olivia bowed deeply to the King.
“Thank you very much for your hospitality, Your Majesty.”
The Queen handed Olivia back the handkerchief she had washed and dried overnight.
"Take this. It was nice meeting you, Olivia. I'll keep in touch with you often through Princess Marguerite."
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
Usher also greeted his aunt and Olivia with a gentle expression.
“Please go back carefully.”
Last was Lucy, tears welling up in her eyes. Her chubby, rosy cheeks and tiny, cherry-like lips twitched intermittently, but the young Princess never clung to him.
“Hehe, take care. It was nice meeting you, Hehe.”
And there was no Noah Astrid.
Olivia, who was riding in the carriage with Margot, looked out the carriage window several times to see the royal family moving away.
“Did you have fun?”
Olivia nodded coolly at Margot's question.
“Yes. It was so much like a dream, I thought.”
"Thank goodness. I was worried you'd remember it as a hellish event."
“Those events, I really enjoyed them.”
Margot turned her head with a chuckle, and Olivia engraved the retreating palace on her chest.
She thinks she'll remember it for a long time.
This palace, and...
The dark eyes were slightly curved with a smile.
The Queen apologized to her.
Olivia's eyes widened and trembled slightly as she realized that fact.
“I didn’t want to cause any trouble, but I wasn’t paying attention.”
The Queen looked at the dark, fluttering eyes in bewilderment and let out a small breath.
“I would have liked to have made those who had troubled you apologize, but that was a bit difficult.”
“Oh, no. Well, Your Majesty, I...”
Olivia trailed off. Unsure of what to say, she blinked rapidly, and something trickled down her cheek.
Her fingertips were wet with tears that fell without giving her time to breathe.
The quick-witted head maid quickly handed the handkerchief to the Queen, who then placed it in Olivia's hand.
“I wanted to make Herod’s last night wonderful, but this is what happened.”
Olivia stared blankly at the Queen's handkerchief, then suddenly raised her head and shook her head.
"No, no. It was wonderful. It was truly wonderful, an unforgettable night. It really was."
The Queen, who had been silently staring at Olivia for a moment, rose from her seat with a smile on her face. Having been in the cold for so long waiting for Olivia to return, she, too, was feeling unwell.
Olivia quickly got up and followed her.
The Queen, who was about to turn around, stopped as if remembering something.
"Has anyone helped you find your way? If so, I'd appreciate it."
At her words, Olivia answered cautiously, recalling the moment when the moonlight had descended.
“His Highness Prince Noah took me to where the knights were.”
“...?”
For a moment, a very subtle emotion flashed across the Queen's face, but she skillfully controlled her expression.
It was a name she never thought of.
If the Queen were to rank the characters in order of their likelihood of bringing Olivia home, she would not hesitate to put Noah's name at the bottom.
Her blue eyes narrowed.
“Noah, right?”
"Yes."
The Queen let out a short laugh that was either a hollow laugh or a sigh, and nodded slightly.
"You've done a wonderful job. Yes, Olivia. Now go back and rest."
"Thank you."
“Princess, you too should go and rest. You worked hard today.”
“Your Majesty, please go back and rest.”
The Queen greeted Margot affectionately and then disappeared first.
Margot looked at Olivia gently and patted her shoulder.
“Let’s go.”
“I’m sorry for worrying you, Professor.”
"Fine. Is that your fault? Her Majesty punished those girls to the best of her ability. I hope you, too, will let go of your hatred."
Of course, the prodigal sons were not punished.
Olivia, her tension relaxed, shook her head slowly and said.
"There's no such thing as hatred. It was my fault for running away without thinking. I was out of my mind."
“Huh, Lucy’s flower pin is still stuck in your hair.”
"Thank goodness. I would have been really upset if I'd lost this. Oh no! I forgot to return that handkerchief!"
When Olivia sighed, showing the handkerchief in her hand, Margot smiled and shrugged.
“It’s something that can be easily resolved and left alone.”
Following the maid's guidance, they walked a short distance through the rose forest, and a carriage waiting to take them to the VIP palace awaited them.
As soon as the two women boarded the carriage, it set off. Herod's palace, shrouded in darkness, quickly passed by.
Margot, who had been staring blankly at Olivia from inside the swaying carriage, suddenly opened her mouth as the carriage passed the main gate of the VIP palace.
“How far did you go to meet Noah?”
Olivia, who was dazed, blinked several times at her question and then tilted her head.
"Actually, I don't know. There were no lights or stoves there. But I was holding a flashlight, and I think he saw the light. Maybe he was out for a walk?"
Noah Astrid in a remote maze without a lamp or a brazier?
The maid said that Noah had disappeared as soon as she heard that Olivia was missing, but she never expected that he would come and find her.
Margot looked thoughtful for a moment with a subtle expression, then turned her head to look out the window.
She thinks that human affairs are unpredictable.
***
Noah escaped the maze through a deserted passage. Perhaps it was time to leave this tedious banquet.
After wandering around the maze for over an hour without a stove, he was very tired.
As we exited the maze, the servants were gathered in groups of three or five.
“Your Highness!”
As one of them, who had a familiar face, quickly approached and bowed his head, Noah sat down on a nearby bench and gave an order.
“Would you please go and call my carriage? And let them know that I am leaving the palace.”
“Yes, I understand.”
The servant turned with the precision of a soldier and quickly disappeared. Several servants offered him a blanket, but Noah refused.
The chilly autumn breeze blew into his arms, but what did it matter?
Noah lightly pressed his forehead with his fingertips and closed his eyes tightly.
Tomorrow he has to go to work at the Admiralty House in the morning and attend a charity event at the Royal Hospital in the afternoon.
"Haa..."
His sturdy shoulders slowly slumped with a long sigh.
He has to laugh in front of people again.
Noah took out the cigarette he hadn't seen in a few days.
Then, suddenly, he pulled out the flashlight he'd kept in his right pocket. As he stared blankly at it, that moment came back to him.
He slowly tilted his head back.
The moment the moon tore through the sky and showed its face, her two black eyes widened.
...small, open lips, a puffy line extending from the white, pale nape of the neck.
Finally, he cursed softly.
“It seems like I'm frustrated.”
Just then, the sound of horseshoes and the rolling of carriage wheels was heard. Noah put out his cigarette and stood up.
But ahead of his carriage, a beautiful carriage with an impressive pale blue color was running. It was the carriage of his mother, Queen Beatrix.
Noah put the flashlight in his pocket and straightened his posture.
The Queen's carriage stopped right in front of Noah, and at the same time, the window opened with a jerk, and his mother peeked out.
“Noah, are you going back instead of staying in the palace?”
“Yes, Mother. It’s more comfortable at home.”
“Oh my, is that your house?”
Noah didn't answer, just smiled. The Queen, who had been shaking her head slightly at her son's cynical attitude, gestured toward him.
As Noah approached with a questioning expression, the Queen whispered softly enough for only him to hear.
“I heard you brought Miss Liberty back.”
Even though she was tired, the mother, curious about her son's reaction, glanced at his expression.
Her self-righteous husband seemed to believe all the social media gossip about his son, but Beatrix was confident she could bet her crown that they were all lies.
Noah Astrid was feeling tired of life.
Twenty-three, in the season of lush green foliage.
When Noah brought Olivia, the Queen couldn't help but be curious.
But was it just a needless interest?
Not a trace of agitation crossed her son's handsome face. He looked at her with impassive eyes and answered listlessly.
“Yes, that’s right.”
“...”
That indifferent face is so sad.
There was a time when this child would run around the palace like a playground, his face turning red.
The Queen praised his hard work with a bitter expression.
“You’ve worked hard. You’ve worked hard in my place.”
“We just happened to meet in passing.”
“Yeah. Oh, right, Noah.”
"Yes."
"Princess Marguerite and Olivia are leaving tomorrow morning. We're planning to see them off at the palace that morning. What are you going to do?"
"I'm sorry, but I have to go to the Navy Residence tomorrow morning. I already said goodbye to my aunt."
“I see. Yes, go ahead. You must be tired too.”
As Noah stepped back and bowed his head respectfully, the Queen's carriage immediately set off.
He too boarded the carriage, and it moved swiftly. As it left the palace and passed through the main city center, Noah, looking out the window, caught sight of the golden lion statue, shrouded in darkness.
Then, inevitably, that day came to mind.
Why did I cry when I saw that dazzling light?
He wonders if he'll even remember her name in a few months.
He wonders if he will remember her as someone who brought him a moment of peace.
Noah looked away absentmindedly.
Maybe so.
***
Early the next morning.
Olivia and Margot left Herod's palace, greeted by the royal family.
King Leonard gave Olivia a casual greeting, not even glancing at Margot.
“If you ever want to come to Herod, just call me!”
The newspapers, while Olivia was there, were so tear-jerking!
“Are you saying you can be interviewed anytime?”
Then, immediately, Margot's sharp question flew in, and the King turned his head away with a look of disgust.
“Anyway! Go away, Margot!”
Olivia bowed deeply to the King.
“Thank you very much for your hospitality, Your Majesty.”
The Queen handed Olivia back the handkerchief she had washed and dried overnight.
"Take this. It was nice meeting you, Olivia. I'll keep in touch with you often through Princess Marguerite."
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
Usher also greeted his aunt and Olivia with a gentle expression.
“Please go back carefully.”
Last was Lucy, tears welling up in her eyes. Her chubby, rosy cheeks and tiny, cherry-like lips twitched intermittently, but the young Princess never clung to him.
“Hehe, take care. It was nice meeting you, Hehe.”
And there was no Noah Astrid.
Olivia, who was riding in the carriage with Margot, looked out the carriage window several times to see the royal family moving away.
“Did you have fun?”
Olivia nodded coolly at Margot's question.
“Yes. It was so much like a dream, I thought.”
"Thank goodness. I was worried you'd remember it as a hellish event."
“Those events, I really enjoyed them.”
Margot turned her head with a chuckle, and Olivia engraved the retreating palace on her chest.
She thinks she'll remember it for a long time.
This palace, and...
The dark eyes were slightly curved with a smile.
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