Episode 71. Soft and Cozy
Olivia's wedding dress was a reverent design, devoid of any revealing detail except for a square neckline that slightly exposed her collarbone. Made of white silk with a subtle ivory hue, the dress was elegant yet somehow unconventional.
The upper body clung tightly to Olivia's slender waist, and from the hipbone down, it spread out wider, flowing not in gentle folds but in thick, billowing waves.
The usual embroidery was nowhere to be found on the dress; thousands of tiny pearls were spread out across the billowing folds of the skirt like the remains of a crashing wave.
In the transparent sunlight that streamed deep into the room, the thousands of tiny pearls hanging from the dress shone like dew.
But even more striking was Olivia herself, wearing the tiara. Her dark hair and dark eyes complemented her simple yet gorgeous dress exquisitely.
Jane Ambrose clasped her hands together as she gazed at the finished masterpiece with awe.
“It’s perfect.”
It was something that should not be said to someone who would dare to become a Princess, but no one could disagree with her opinion.
Mrs. Lehmann smiled gently at Olivia, who was frozen solid, and asked politely.
“Is there anything uncomfortable?”
Olivia carefully turned her head to face her, holding her gloved hand.
“No. This is fine.”
At her words, Madame Lehmann checked her watch. She had finished dressing up just in time.
Madame Lehmann smiled, pursed her lips, and handed her the bouquet herself. It was a gorgeous bouquet of lilies, lilies of the valley, myrtle, ivy, and white orchids.
Olivia held the bouquet in her left hand, then carefully held her dress with her right.
“Well then, shall we go to the main palace to see His Highness?”
As soon as Madame Lehmann finished speaking, the maids all came forward and helped Olivia move. As two of them lifted her long, flowing dress, Olivia slowly began to walk away.
Yet, she did not forget to nod slightly in greeting to Jane Ambrose, whose eyes were shining with enthusiasm.
Her heart pounded, almost bursting, but strangely, her mind was clearer than ever. Olivia walked away gracefully, careful not to make a mistake.
Jane Ambrose watched her as she etched her image into her mind. Then, she whispered secretly to her assistant.
“Look carefully. This will be a dress that will be remembered for a long time to come.”
At her words, the assistant hesitated for a moment, then, after all the royal staff had disappeared, she spoke in a very low voice.
"But after you took charge of designing that dress, all the nobles stopped coming to your store. Sales plummeted by half."
“Instead, Prince Noah asked you to fill Her Highness the Princess’s dressing room after their wedding?”
“...”
When the assistant remained silent, Jane Ambrose patted her shoulder and smiled.
“You would think that would actually reduce our sales in the long run.”
"... Yes."
“I don’t think so. Didn’t you just see Her Highness the Princess’s appearance?”
At her question, the assistant nodded without realizing it.
"The nobles who see her dress today will think, 'I want to wear that dress too.' They'll probably find fault with it on the surface. But after Her Royal Highness's wedding photos appear in the newspapers for the next month, they'll change their minds to, 'I want to wear that dress too.'"
The arrogant nobles of Herrington, the capital of Herod, all stopped coming, as if they would not use the same boutique as the commoner Princess.
If Jane Ambrose had never seen Olivia Liberty, she too would have been very anxious and stamping her feet.
But two years ago, the masterpiece she had made for Olivia was still the inspiration for countless dresses.
As times change, how long can the Herrington nobility endure?
It won't be long before the doors are packed with people trying to order dresses with the same design as the princess's.
In that sense, Jane Ambrose intended to pour her soul into Olivia's clothes.
And not just in that sense, Olivia was a muse in her own right, inspiring her. She'd already sketched several outfits with her in mind.
“Today will be a very historic day.”
The assistant nodded at Jane Ambrose's confident words.
“I think so. Judging by the cheers coming from the entrance of Hamelin Cathedral, I can hear them from here.”
As she said, a distant cheer cut through the bright sunlight and shook the air of the palace.
As the magnificent and magnificent royal carriage, supported by large wheels, arrived at the cathedral entrance, thunderous cheers erupted. The roar was so loud that it felt as if the carriage was rocking back and forth.
Noah and Usher, who were facing each other in the carriage, looked out the window and laughed without realizing it.
“There are more people than I thought?”
Usher spoke to Noah, but he shook his head slightly as his voice was not heard by his own ears.
Soon the carriage stopped, and as if they had made a promise, the brothers simultaneously put on their ceremonial hats and took up their swords.
As the coachman standing at the back of the carriage quickly got down and opened the carriage door, Usher got out first, and the guards waiting all saluted him.
They remained motionless until Noah got out of the carriage, then lowered their hands once he was completely out of the carriage.
Noah slowly scanned the cheering crowd. As the barrage of flashes dimmed his vision, he turned and stepped onto the steps of the ornate yet elegant Hamelin Cathedral.
Numerous reporters were busy taking pictures of the backs of the brothers as they climbed the stairs side by side, as if they had made a promise, and the crowd cheered with all their might for the two men who were so stunning that it was almost breathtaking to look at.
As the Crown Prince and the Prince climbed the many steps to the entrance of the cathedral, the guards waiting at the entrance saluted them.
At that moment, the nobles who had been making a fuss inside the cathedral all shut their mouths.
Noah looked into the cathedral beyond the open door. In the distance, Lucy, dressed in a flower girl dress, stepped forward, making a show of recognition. He smiled at his sister.
Noah shifted his focus from Lucy to look at the entire cathedral.
Under an unusually clear sky, the sunlight filtered through the glass ceiling, illuminating the interior of the cathedral. Combined with the colorful light filtering through the stained glass on the walls, the interior of the old cathedral, which had always felt gloomy, appeared bright and cheerful.
Noah didn't like Hamelin's Cathedral very much because it was dark and damp, but it seemed a little better today.
Noah took a deep breath and turned around. The barricaded street came into view, and the Golden Lion statue was nearby.
Normally, looking at that lion statue would bring to mind royalty, but what Noah actually pictured wasn't royalty. Of course, from today on, she would become a part of it, so it wasn't really an incorrect expression.
Memories connected like octopus legs came to mind one after another in a jumbled, disorganized manner.
Noah remembered the sunset yesterday afternoon.
The reddish sunset brought to mind a flushed face, and soon a sensation that was warm and soft enough to burn spread over his lips.
At the same time, the scent that had touched the tip of his nose and the smooth feeling that had brushed his fingertips came to mind, and his pulse surged strangely fast, like that of a teenage boy.
Yet, his face was incredibly calm.
Noah walked to the top of the high steps and stood motionless. He clenched and unclenched his fist with the hand not holding his sword, waiting for his bride.
“Control your expression, Isabelle. Look away.”
Isabelle bit her lip at her mother's whisper. She desperately tried to catch her breath and lowered her gaze.
Today, most of the capital's nobility, as well as the royal family and high-ranking nobles from each region, were gathered.
The great chapel of Hamelin Cathedral, the largest on the Norfolk Continent, was packed with so many nobles that any scandalous action would only be a matter of time before word spread throughout Herod.
For example, if she, who is not even the bride's sister, were to show tears or do something like that in this place.
"You mustn't even glance at the Prince today. There's no benefit to you from entangling yourself with him, so remember that."
Mrs. Seymour spoke earnestly to her daughter. She wished she hadn't brought her, but she was also concerned that it might fuel rumors, so she had no choice but to bring her along.
Count Seymour was indifferent, not even giving his daughter a glance.
But despite her mother's advice, Isabelle's gaze couldn't help but drift toward him, like iron filings drawn to a magnet. It wasn't something she could control.
Noah Astrid, dressed in his grown-up attire and holding a ceremonial sword in one hand, waited for his bride under the clear sunlight.
He was as lofty as a ruler who held the world at his feet, and at the same time, he was so captivating that men and women alike would hang themselves.
Not only she, but many nobles were looking at him.
But Noah's gaze remained fixed on the steps below. Soon, when his bride arrived, he would reach her.
She hoped that the woman receiving that gaze would be her.
She hoped so, but there was only one reason she approached him like she was gambling, even if it meant taking a risk.
"I told you that great rewards come with great risks. You assured me you could handle it when you started, so now it's time to keep your word."
Madame Zuberne's words cruelly tore at her insides.
Isabelle's blue eyes trembled slightly. The fists clenched in her skirt tightened.
Indeed, how much did his bride, who appeared holding the Prince's hand, have to pay? What price, exactly, did she have to pay to obtain Noah Astrid?
The unanswered question was burning Princess Seymour's heart.
Olivia's wedding dress was a reverent design, devoid of any revealing detail except for a square neckline that slightly exposed her collarbone. Made of white silk with a subtle ivory hue, the dress was elegant yet somehow unconventional.
The upper body clung tightly to Olivia's slender waist, and from the hipbone down, it spread out wider, flowing not in gentle folds but in thick, billowing waves.
The usual embroidery was nowhere to be found on the dress; thousands of tiny pearls were spread out across the billowing folds of the skirt like the remains of a crashing wave.
In the transparent sunlight that streamed deep into the room, the thousands of tiny pearls hanging from the dress shone like dew.
But even more striking was Olivia herself, wearing the tiara. Her dark hair and dark eyes complemented her simple yet gorgeous dress exquisitely.
Jane Ambrose clasped her hands together as she gazed at the finished masterpiece with awe.
“It’s perfect.”
It was something that should not be said to someone who would dare to become a Princess, but no one could disagree with her opinion.
Mrs. Lehmann smiled gently at Olivia, who was frozen solid, and asked politely.
“Is there anything uncomfortable?”
Olivia carefully turned her head to face her, holding her gloved hand.
“No. This is fine.”
At her words, Madame Lehmann checked her watch. She had finished dressing up just in time.
Madame Lehmann smiled, pursed her lips, and handed her the bouquet herself. It was a gorgeous bouquet of lilies, lilies of the valley, myrtle, ivy, and white orchids.
Olivia held the bouquet in her left hand, then carefully held her dress with her right.
“Well then, shall we go to the main palace to see His Highness?”
As soon as Madame Lehmann finished speaking, the maids all came forward and helped Olivia move. As two of them lifted her long, flowing dress, Olivia slowly began to walk away.
Yet, she did not forget to nod slightly in greeting to Jane Ambrose, whose eyes were shining with enthusiasm.
Her heart pounded, almost bursting, but strangely, her mind was clearer than ever. Olivia walked away gracefully, careful not to make a mistake.
Jane Ambrose watched her as she etched her image into her mind. Then, she whispered secretly to her assistant.
“Look carefully. This will be a dress that will be remembered for a long time to come.”
At her words, the assistant hesitated for a moment, then, after all the royal staff had disappeared, she spoke in a very low voice.
"But after you took charge of designing that dress, all the nobles stopped coming to your store. Sales plummeted by half."
“Instead, Prince Noah asked you to fill Her Highness the Princess’s dressing room after their wedding?”
“...”
When the assistant remained silent, Jane Ambrose patted her shoulder and smiled.
“You would think that would actually reduce our sales in the long run.”
"... Yes."
“I don’t think so. Didn’t you just see Her Highness the Princess’s appearance?”
At her question, the assistant nodded without realizing it.
"The nobles who see her dress today will think, 'I want to wear that dress too.' They'll probably find fault with it on the surface. But after Her Royal Highness's wedding photos appear in the newspapers for the next month, they'll change their minds to, 'I want to wear that dress too.'"
The arrogant nobles of Herrington, the capital of Herod, all stopped coming, as if they would not use the same boutique as the commoner Princess.
If Jane Ambrose had never seen Olivia Liberty, she too would have been very anxious and stamping her feet.
But two years ago, the masterpiece she had made for Olivia was still the inspiration for countless dresses.
As times change, how long can the Herrington nobility endure?
It won't be long before the doors are packed with people trying to order dresses with the same design as the princess's.
In that sense, Jane Ambrose intended to pour her soul into Olivia's clothes.
And not just in that sense, Olivia was a muse in her own right, inspiring her. She'd already sketched several outfits with her in mind.
“Today will be a very historic day.”
The assistant nodded at Jane Ambrose's confident words.
“I think so. Judging by the cheers coming from the entrance of Hamelin Cathedral, I can hear them from here.”
As she said, a distant cheer cut through the bright sunlight and shook the air of the palace.
***
As the magnificent and magnificent royal carriage, supported by large wheels, arrived at the cathedral entrance, thunderous cheers erupted. The roar was so loud that it felt as if the carriage was rocking back and forth.
Noah and Usher, who were facing each other in the carriage, looked out the window and laughed without realizing it.
“There are more people than I thought?”
Usher spoke to Noah, but he shook his head slightly as his voice was not heard by his own ears.
Soon the carriage stopped, and as if they had made a promise, the brothers simultaneously put on their ceremonial hats and took up their swords.
As the coachman standing at the back of the carriage quickly got down and opened the carriage door, Usher got out first, and the guards waiting all saluted him.
They remained motionless until Noah got out of the carriage, then lowered their hands once he was completely out of the carriage.
Noah slowly scanned the cheering crowd. As the barrage of flashes dimmed his vision, he turned and stepped onto the steps of the ornate yet elegant Hamelin Cathedral.
Numerous reporters were busy taking pictures of the backs of the brothers as they climbed the stairs side by side, as if they had made a promise, and the crowd cheered with all their might for the two men who were so stunning that it was almost breathtaking to look at.
As the Crown Prince and the Prince climbed the many steps to the entrance of the cathedral, the guards waiting at the entrance saluted them.
At that moment, the nobles who had been making a fuss inside the cathedral all shut their mouths.
Noah looked into the cathedral beyond the open door. In the distance, Lucy, dressed in a flower girl dress, stepped forward, making a show of recognition. He smiled at his sister.
Noah shifted his focus from Lucy to look at the entire cathedral.
Under an unusually clear sky, the sunlight filtered through the glass ceiling, illuminating the interior of the cathedral. Combined with the colorful light filtering through the stained glass on the walls, the interior of the old cathedral, which had always felt gloomy, appeared bright and cheerful.
Noah didn't like Hamelin's Cathedral very much because it was dark and damp, but it seemed a little better today.
Noah took a deep breath and turned around. The barricaded street came into view, and the Golden Lion statue was nearby.
Normally, looking at that lion statue would bring to mind royalty, but what Noah actually pictured wasn't royalty. Of course, from today on, she would become a part of it, so it wasn't really an incorrect expression.
Memories connected like octopus legs came to mind one after another in a jumbled, disorganized manner.
Noah remembered the sunset yesterday afternoon.
The reddish sunset brought to mind a flushed face, and soon a sensation that was warm and soft enough to burn spread over his lips.
At the same time, the scent that had touched the tip of his nose and the smooth feeling that had brushed his fingertips came to mind, and his pulse surged strangely fast, like that of a teenage boy.
Yet, his face was incredibly calm.
Noah walked to the top of the high steps and stood motionless. He clenched and unclenched his fist with the hand not holding his sword, waiting for his bride.
“Control your expression, Isabelle. Look away.”
Isabelle bit her lip at her mother's whisper. She desperately tried to catch her breath and lowered her gaze.
Today, most of the capital's nobility, as well as the royal family and high-ranking nobles from each region, were gathered.
The great chapel of Hamelin Cathedral, the largest on the Norfolk Continent, was packed with so many nobles that any scandalous action would only be a matter of time before word spread throughout Herod.
For example, if she, who is not even the bride's sister, were to show tears or do something like that in this place.
"You mustn't even glance at the Prince today. There's no benefit to you from entangling yourself with him, so remember that."
Mrs. Seymour spoke earnestly to her daughter. She wished she hadn't brought her, but she was also concerned that it might fuel rumors, so she had no choice but to bring her along.
Count Seymour was indifferent, not even giving his daughter a glance.
But despite her mother's advice, Isabelle's gaze couldn't help but drift toward him, like iron filings drawn to a magnet. It wasn't something she could control.
Noah Astrid, dressed in his grown-up attire and holding a ceremonial sword in one hand, waited for his bride under the clear sunlight.
He was as lofty as a ruler who held the world at his feet, and at the same time, he was so captivating that men and women alike would hang themselves.
Not only she, but many nobles were looking at him.
But Noah's gaze remained fixed on the steps below. Soon, when his bride arrived, he would reach her.
She hoped that the woman receiving that gaze would be her.
She hoped so, but there was only one reason she approached him like she was gambling, even if it meant taking a risk.
"I told you that great rewards come with great risks. You assured me you could handle it when you started, so now it's time to keep your word."
Madame Zuberne's words cruelly tore at her insides.
Isabelle's blue eyes trembled slightly. The fists clenched in her skirt tightened.
Indeed, how much did his bride, who appeared holding the Prince's hand, have to pay? What price, exactly, did she have to pay to obtain Noah Astrid?
The unanswered question was burning Princess Seymour's heart.
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