Episode 64. The Wedding Schedule Unknown to Even the Parties
The cheers that made it seem like the harbor was going to collapse were nothing.
“Gyaaaaah! Your Highness, the Prince!!!”
“OLIVIA LIBERTY!!!”
“Congratulations on your wedding!!!!”
As the carriage emerged from the harbor, citizens beyond the barricade waved their hands wildly and shouted at the carriage.
The sound pouring from both sides was deafening, but Olivia forced a soft smile onto her lips, just as Noah had instructed. Sweat clung to her palms beneath her gloves, and a slight twitch formed at the corners of her mouth, but she still managed.
Occasionally, the camera light would burst through the window and blind her, but she soon got used to it.
Above all, Noah, sitting across from her, was very relaxed, so her tension was quickly relieved.
However, Noah's inner feelings were far from leisurely.
Even though he was smiling softly, his eyes were so cold and settled that if Olivia had been a little more relaxed, she would have thought, 'You're not feeling well.'
Meanwhile, Noah, whose vision was darkened by the unexpected camera light, cursed inwardly.
'You must be very excited.'
Yeah, his father seems very excited.
How many articles must have been published for so many people to have gathered together?
After a while, the darkened vision slowly returned.
Noah desperately suppressed his lips, which were about to rise up miserably, and pulled out a stack of newspapers stuck to the carriage wall.
"Hmm..."
Without even looking further, the front page of the newspaper he picked up had a picture of him and Olivia printed across the entire page.
He could bet his entire fortune that every newspaper in the past month or so has been like this.
But there was something else that embarrassed Noah more than the photo that was posted on the door.
Noah, who was opening another newspaper with a careless hand, narrowed his eyes and frowned.
[The Royal Family Officially Announces Prince Noah's Marriage]
He and Olivia just arrived, and they've already officially announced their marriage?
The wedding schedule, as revealed by the royal spokesperson, was densely packed under an eye-catching headline.
"Haha..."
Noah eventually burst into laughter and quickly read the article.
“What’s wrong?”
When Olivia, sensing something unusual, asked, Noah frowned and handed her the entire newspaper. A smirk was the bonus.
“The wedding schedule we didn’t even know about was published in the newspaper.”
"Yes?"
Olivia's dark eyes, as she read the article, gradually widened. The most disconcerting thing was,
“Your Highness, the wedding date is in a week...”
Noah warned, meeting her round, dark eyes that clearly showed her confusion.
“Keep that in mind.”
“...What?”
“My father has less patience than I do.”
“...”
The face of Leonard II, who looked exactly like the prince before her, appeared in Olivia's mind.
Meanwhile, the carriage had passed through the crowd and entered the road, gradually increasing its speed.
There were a few greetings from citizens towards the majestic royal carriage.
Olivia couldn't tear her eyes away from Harrington, whom she hadn't seen in a long time. Her dark eyes darted from side to side without pause, so much so that even Noah, who was reading the newspaper, followed her gaze, wondering if there was anything else out there.
Then, beyond the window, she could see the magnificent spires of the Hamelin Cathedral, and a few blocks away, the gleaming golden lion statue.
Beyond the quickly passing trees, the golden lion statue slowly drifted away alone.
“Why did you cry when you saw that dazzling thing?”
Olivia looked at Noah at the sudden question.
"Yes?"
Noah, who had been looking out the window, faced her and asked more specifically.
"The day we all went to Central Park, you cried when you saw the lion statue. Or did Lucy pull your hair and it hurt?"
Olivia, remembering that day, ended up laughing.
“No way.”
"Then why did you cry? That's not a very touching sight."
The appreciation of the royal symbol was extremely disrespectful.
Olivia pretended not to hear the Prince's sentiments and chose her words slowly.
"When I lived in Herod, my family and I went on a picnic to Central Park. I don't remember anything else, but I do remember eating ice cream in front of the Lion Statue."
“...”
"So, I was lost in my memories when suddenly someone pulled my hair. Startled, I turned around, and there it was, Her Royal Highness."
“You must have been embarrassed, but how would I have felt?”
Olivia chuckled and nodded at Noah's protest.
“It was absurd and unbelievable.”
As Olivia continued to laugh, Noah eventually started laughing too.
“I was so flustered at the time. I was desperately thinking about it, and then I clapped.”
Noah said with a smile on his face as the scene came to mind.
Olivia smiled bashfully and turned her head. It must have rained the night before; the walls of the buildings, clinging tightly together, were damp, and the trees were also dyed dark.
And in the distance, the pointed roof of the palace appeared.
Her heart pounded. She wasn't sure if it was fear or excitement, but one thing was certain.
“It’s nice to be in Herod.”
“...”
“I’ve always wanted to come.”
At Olivia's honest words, Prince Herod tilted his head slightly, then raised the corners of his mouth.
His heart, once so deeply burdened by the name Oliver, began to lighten a little over the course of two days. At first, he vaguely felt like a bastard, no different from Ansen Wilhelm. But when he thought about it rationally, he realized he wasn't that bad.
It wasn't like he was going to take what Olivia had for free like that kid, and he certainly didn't drag her there with a leash around her neck.
He proposed marriage, pointed out what it would entail for her, and didn't force her into making a choice.
Of course, the circumstances she faced during the process of making that choice were extremely harsh, but he did not encourage those circumstances.
As a result, Olivia chose him, and she, too, must have something to gain from this marriage.
Noah leaned back in his chair and slowly crossed his legs.
Yes.
I'm indeed using you, but you also chose this life.
I hope your life here is much better than your life as an engineer in Pulder.
Noah pictured Olivia strolling through the lavishly decorated mansion. She was well-dressed, well-fed, well-off, and living a comfortable life.
In his mansion, there will be no ill-mannered women to slap her cheeks, no man to break down the door in the middle of the night, no thieves.
Olivia will no longer have to worry about making a living or feeling threatened.
She will eat and drink seasonal delicacies, and fill her wardrobe with dresses and accessories that even nobles will envy.
Then she will be happy.
Noah could have made it happen any time.
It's easy for him.
His heart became as light and airy as a feather.
Lucy stared intently at the door. The resolute determination she displayed as she sat there, even the King and Queen, and even Usher, smiled.
At that moment, a presence was felt beyond the door.
Lucy instinctively straightened her back and held her breath. Her small heart pounded.
After a while, a servant came in with a polite knock and announced the long-awaited visit of those who had come.
“His Royal Highness and Miss Liberty have arrived.”
Lucy gasped and quickly climbed down from her chair. She habitually adjusted her skirt and stood with her hands clasped together when Noah appeared first from behind the open door.
But the one the Princess was looking for was not him.
Lucy looked away without even looking at her brother's face.
At the same time, the person she had been waiting for appeared on the other side of the door.
The girl's eyes widened slightly, and the corners of her mouth turned upward. The kind person who always wrote her long, drawn-out letters about her worries had finally arrived.
Meanwhile, Olivia desperately followed Noah's footsteps, just as she had in the past, crossing the hall, only looking at the hem of Margot's skirt.
The tension that had been building as she stepped out of the carriage and walked through the palace halls reached a peak that threatened to explode when she encountered the royal family.
She was looking down, not daring to face the King and Queen, when Noah finally stopped.
Noah glanced down at Olivia. Standing close, he could clearly feel her breathing becoming uneven.
She seemed perfectly fine in the carriage, but upon entering the palace, she became visibly nervous. Olivia's shoulders trembled pitifully before King Herod and Queen, whom she hadn't seen in a long time.
Finally, Noah called her softly.
“Liv.”
In an instant, Olivia's trembling ceased as if by magic. As the loud, pounding sound of her heartbeat faded away, she let out a long, unconscious breath.
Noah, who had confirmed the sight, looked up and greeted them politely.
“I’m back.”
Olivia followed suit and bowed as she had practiced.
At the same time, Leonard burst into hearty laughter.
"Yes. Thank you for your hard work on the long journey. It's been a while, Olivia!"
Olivia mustered up her courage and cautiously raised her gaze at the voice that was filled with joy.
The cheers that made it seem like the harbor was going to collapse were nothing.
“Gyaaaaah! Your Highness, the Prince!!!”
“OLIVIA LIBERTY!!!”
“Congratulations on your wedding!!!!”
As the carriage emerged from the harbor, citizens beyond the barricade waved their hands wildly and shouted at the carriage.
The sound pouring from both sides was deafening, but Olivia forced a soft smile onto her lips, just as Noah had instructed. Sweat clung to her palms beneath her gloves, and a slight twitch formed at the corners of her mouth, but she still managed.
Occasionally, the camera light would burst through the window and blind her, but she soon got used to it.
Above all, Noah, sitting across from her, was very relaxed, so her tension was quickly relieved.
However, Noah's inner feelings were far from leisurely.
Even though he was smiling softly, his eyes were so cold and settled that if Olivia had been a little more relaxed, she would have thought, 'You're not feeling well.'
Meanwhile, Noah, whose vision was darkened by the unexpected camera light, cursed inwardly.
'You must be very excited.'
Yeah, his father seems very excited.
How many articles must have been published for so many people to have gathered together?
After a while, the darkened vision slowly returned.
Noah desperately suppressed his lips, which were about to rise up miserably, and pulled out a stack of newspapers stuck to the carriage wall.
"Hmm..."
Without even looking further, the front page of the newspaper he picked up had a picture of him and Olivia printed across the entire page.
He could bet his entire fortune that every newspaper in the past month or so has been like this.
But there was something else that embarrassed Noah more than the photo that was posted on the door.
Noah, who was opening another newspaper with a careless hand, narrowed his eyes and frowned.
[The Royal Family Officially Announces Prince Noah's Marriage]
He and Olivia just arrived, and they've already officially announced their marriage?
The wedding schedule, as revealed by the royal spokesperson, was densely packed under an eye-catching headline.
"Haha..."
Noah eventually burst into laughter and quickly read the article.
“What’s wrong?”
When Olivia, sensing something unusual, asked, Noah frowned and handed her the entire newspaper. A smirk was the bonus.
“The wedding schedule we didn’t even know about was published in the newspaper.”
"Yes?"
Olivia's dark eyes, as she read the article, gradually widened. The most disconcerting thing was,
“Your Highness, the wedding date is in a week...”
Noah warned, meeting her round, dark eyes that clearly showed her confusion.
“Keep that in mind.”
“...What?”
“My father has less patience than I do.”
“...”
The face of Leonard II, who looked exactly like the prince before her, appeared in Olivia's mind.
Meanwhile, the carriage had passed through the crowd and entered the road, gradually increasing its speed.
There were a few greetings from citizens towards the majestic royal carriage.
Olivia couldn't tear her eyes away from Harrington, whom she hadn't seen in a long time. Her dark eyes darted from side to side without pause, so much so that even Noah, who was reading the newspaper, followed her gaze, wondering if there was anything else out there.
Then, beyond the window, she could see the magnificent spires of the Hamelin Cathedral, and a few blocks away, the gleaming golden lion statue.
Beyond the quickly passing trees, the golden lion statue slowly drifted away alone.
“Why did you cry when you saw that dazzling thing?”
Olivia looked at Noah at the sudden question.
"Yes?"
Noah, who had been looking out the window, faced her and asked more specifically.
"The day we all went to Central Park, you cried when you saw the lion statue. Or did Lucy pull your hair and it hurt?"
Olivia, remembering that day, ended up laughing.
“No way.”
"Then why did you cry? That's not a very touching sight."
The appreciation of the royal symbol was extremely disrespectful.
Olivia pretended not to hear the Prince's sentiments and chose her words slowly.
"When I lived in Herod, my family and I went on a picnic to Central Park. I don't remember anything else, but I do remember eating ice cream in front of the Lion Statue."
“...”
"So, I was lost in my memories when suddenly someone pulled my hair. Startled, I turned around, and there it was, Her Royal Highness."
“You must have been embarrassed, but how would I have felt?”
Olivia chuckled and nodded at Noah's protest.
“It was absurd and unbelievable.”
As Olivia continued to laugh, Noah eventually started laughing too.
“Cats Cray-Doll was really funny too.”
Noah said with a smile on his face as the scene came to mind.
“Don't worry about it anymore. Lucy must have grown up a bit—she doesn't keep pestering me to do that anymore.”
“If she says we should do it, then we should do it.”
And in the distance, the pointed roof of the palace appeared.
Her heart pounded. She wasn't sure if it was fear or excitement, but one thing was certain.
“It’s nice to be in Herod.”
“...”
“I’ve always wanted to come.”
At Olivia's honest words, Prince Herod tilted his head slightly, then raised the corners of his mouth.
His heart, once so deeply burdened by the name Oliver, began to lighten a little over the course of two days. At first, he vaguely felt like a bastard, no different from Ansen Wilhelm. But when he thought about it rationally, he realized he wasn't that bad.
It wasn't like he was going to take what Olivia had for free like that kid, and he certainly didn't drag her there with a leash around her neck.
He proposed marriage, pointed out what it would entail for her, and didn't force her into making a choice.
Of course, the circumstances she faced during the process of making that choice were extremely harsh, but he did not encourage those circumstances.
As a result, Olivia chose him, and she, too, must have something to gain from this marriage.
Noah leaned back in his chair and slowly crossed his legs.
Yes.
I'm indeed using you, but you also chose this life.
I hope your life here is much better than your life as an engineer in Pulder.
Noah pictured Olivia strolling through the lavishly decorated mansion. She was well-dressed, well-fed, well-off, and living a comfortable life.
In his mansion, there will be no ill-mannered women to slap her cheeks, no man to break down the door in the middle of the night, no thieves.
Olivia will no longer have to worry about making a living or feeling threatened.
She will eat and drink seasonal delicacies, and fill her wardrobe with dresses and accessories that even nobles will envy.
Then she will be happy.
Noah could have made it happen any time.
It's easy for him.
His heart became as light and airy as a feather.
***
Lucy stared intently at the door. The resolute determination she displayed as she sat there, even the King and Queen, and even Usher, smiled.
At that moment, a presence was felt beyond the door.
Lucy instinctively straightened her back and held her breath. Her small heart pounded.
After a while, a servant came in with a polite knock and announced the long-awaited visit of those who had come.
“His Royal Highness and Miss Liberty have arrived.”
Lucy gasped and quickly climbed down from her chair. She habitually adjusted her skirt and stood with her hands clasped together when Noah appeared first from behind the open door.
But the one the Princess was looking for was not him.
Lucy looked away without even looking at her brother's face.
At the same time, the person she had been waiting for appeared on the other side of the door.
The girl's eyes widened slightly, and the corners of her mouth turned upward. The kind person who always wrote her long, drawn-out letters about her worries had finally arrived.
Meanwhile, Olivia desperately followed Noah's footsteps, just as she had in the past, crossing the hall, only looking at the hem of Margot's skirt.
The tension that had been building as she stepped out of the carriage and walked through the palace halls reached a peak that threatened to explode when she encountered the royal family.
She was looking down, not daring to face the King and Queen, when Noah finally stopped.
Noah glanced down at Olivia. Standing close, he could clearly feel her breathing becoming uneven.
She seemed perfectly fine in the carriage, but upon entering the palace, she became visibly nervous. Olivia's shoulders trembled pitifully before King Herod and Queen, whom she hadn't seen in a long time.
Finally, Noah called her softly.
“Liv.”
In an instant, Olivia's trembling ceased as if by magic. As the loud, pounding sound of her heartbeat faded away, she let out a long, unconscious breath.
Noah, who had confirmed the sight, looked up and greeted them politely.
“I’m back.”
Olivia followed suit and bowed as she had practiced.
At the same time, Leonard burst into hearty laughter.
"Yes. Thank you for your hard work on the long journey. It's been a while, Olivia!"
Olivia mustered up her courage and cautiously raised her gaze at the voice that was filled with joy.
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