Episode 107. Lucy Goes to School
“Lucy, if the stuffy air in the classroom becomes unbearable, you can just come out.”
“...”
“And if the food doesn’t suit your taste, suggest it to the teacher. No, wait! I think it would be better to send a chef just for Lucy...”
"No, I do not want."
Leonard, who had dropped everything to insist on following Lucy on her first day of school, seemed speechless at his daughter's firm refusal.
Lucy looked directly at King Herod with shining eyes.
“I absolutely don’t want to, Father.”
Despite his daughter's strong opposition, Leonard let out a groan and then listed another concern.
“Alright then... if anyone upsets you, don’t hold back; strike them back. I’ll take care of the consequences...”
"Your Majesty."
Beatrix, who had been listening silently until now, cut him off and glared at him.
What on earth are you saying to the kid right now!
Beatrix clicked her tongue softly and turned her head to Lucy.
“Lucy Therese, what did I say was the reason I sent you to school?”
"It is to experience fairness."
Lucy was born into royalty and had never had the opportunity to enjoy fairness. Having lived a life of constant reverence, she had never shared the thoughts of her peers, nor could she gauge where she stood among them.
Beatrix faced her daughter with a stern face and spoke in a low voice.
“Compete fairly and make friends. For the duration of the moment you are wearing your uniform, be simply Lucy Therese, not Herod’s Princess. Go and learn through fairness that what you enjoy is not to be taken for granted.”
At her mother's firm words, Lucy's blue eyes were filled with a determined light.
“Yes, Mother!”
The carriage came to a stop with Lucy's cheerful voice. As the carriage door opened, Lucy kicked off the carriage as if she had been waiting for it.
"I'm off to school!"
“Lu, Lucy...!”
Leonard watched wistfully as his daughter entered the desolate school (a prestigious school famous for its beautiful grounds), clutching a bag as big as herself (it wasn't).
However, the daughter simply walked past the school gate with excited steps and did not look back at her father even once.
Beatrix gave her husband, who was staring at the window, a look of disdain and started the carriage.
"Let's go."
As the carriage departed, Leonard tilted his head and stared blankly at the receding school, then let out a deep, long sigh.
"I couldn't feel at all at ease, as if I had been left out by the water's edge."
“Young nobles are so audacious these days... I wonder if she will suffer heartache from hearing such harsh words?”
“That’s an experience, too. How can she become an adult without ever having suffered heartbreak? That would actually be the bigger problem.”
“Why does our Lucy have to do that, Trixie? Fairness? Why on earth does Lucy have to?!”
Leonard looked at Beatrix with a look of complete incomprehension, and she finally let out a short sigh.
“Leonard, no matter how much you love our daughter, you cannot live Lucy’s life for her.”
“...”
"Don't take away Lucy's right to fall."
Leonard thought he had all sorts of strange rights. But wisely, he didn't voice that thought.
"Treat Lucy with the same heart you had when you clothed Usher and Noah in protective gear and had them wield swords."
Leonard, who had been quietly listening to Beatrix, closed his eyes tightly and let out another long sigh.
It's really difficult.
“Lucy, if the stuffy air in the classroom becomes unbearable, you can just come out.”
“...”
“And if the food doesn’t suit your taste, suggest it to the teacher. No, wait! I think it would be better to send a chef just for Lucy...”
"No, I do not want."
Leonard, who had dropped everything to insist on following Lucy on her first day of school, seemed speechless at his daughter's firm refusal.
Lucy looked directly at King Herod with shining eyes.
“I absolutely don’t want to, Father.”
Despite his daughter's strong opposition, Leonard let out a groan and then listed another concern.
“Alright then... if anyone upsets you, don’t hold back; strike them back. I’ll take care of the consequences...”
"Your Majesty."
Beatrix, who had been listening silently until now, cut him off and glared at him.
What on earth are you saying to the kid right now!
Beatrix clicked her tongue softly and turned her head to Lucy.
“Lucy Therese, what did I say was the reason I sent you to school?”
"It is to experience fairness."
Lucy was born into royalty and had never had the opportunity to enjoy fairness. Having lived a life of constant reverence, she had never shared the thoughts of her peers, nor could she gauge where she stood among them.
Beatrix faced her daughter with a stern face and spoke in a low voice.
“Compete fairly and make friends. For the duration of the moment you are wearing your uniform, be simply Lucy Therese, not Herod’s Princess. Go and learn through fairness that what you enjoy is not to be taken for granted.”
At her mother's firm words, Lucy's blue eyes were filled with a determined light.
“Yes, Mother!”
The carriage came to a stop with Lucy's cheerful voice. As the carriage door opened, Lucy kicked off the carriage as if she had been waiting for it.
"I'm off to school!"
“Lu, Lucy...!”
Leonard watched wistfully as his daughter entered the desolate school (a prestigious school famous for its beautiful grounds), clutching a bag as big as herself (it wasn't).
However, the daughter simply walked past the school gate with excited steps and did not look back at her father even once.
Beatrix gave her husband, who was staring at the window, a look of disdain and started the carriage.
"Let's go."
As the carriage departed, Leonard tilted his head and stared blankly at the receding school, then let out a deep, long sigh.
"I couldn't feel at all at ease, as if I had been left out by the water's edge."
“Young nobles are so audacious these days... I wonder if she will suffer heartache from hearing such harsh words?”
“That’s an experience, too. How can she become an adult without ever having suffered heartbreak? That would actually be the bigger problem.”
“Why does our Lucy have to do that, Trixie? Fairness? Why on earth does Lucy have to?!”
Leonard looked at Beatrix with a look of complete incomprehension, and she finally let out a short sigh.
“Leonard, no matter how much you love our daughter, you cannot live Lucy’s life for her.”
“...”
"Don't take away Lucy's right to fall."
Leonard thought he had all sorts of strange rights. But wisely, he didn't voice that thought.
"Treat Lucy with the same heart you had when you clothed Usher and Noah in protective gear and had them wield swords."
Leonard, who had been quietly listening to Beatrix, closed his eyes tightly and let out another long sigh.
It's really difficult.
He never knew being a father would be harder than being a King.
Olivia walked and walked along the old stone path. After walking for quite a while along the old stone path overgrown with weeds of uneven height, her house came into view in the distance.
As she ran toward the house in delight, she suddenly saw a tall man standing at the entrance.
Olivia's pace slowly slowed. The moment she saw the sleek, smooth black suit and the blonde hair shimmering even in the dim light, her heart began to pound violently.
That perfect back view really didn't suit her house, which was old and falling apart.
Olivia unconsciously turned and hid behind a nearby tree trunk. Clutching her faded cotton skirt tightly with both hands, she held her breath. The sound of her ragged breathing disturbed her ears.
For some reason, the tip of her nose stung and tears welled up.
Over the desire to run to him in joy, a shabby and sorrowful feeling was painted over like watercolor.
Tears fell to her feet, staining the hem of her skirt black.
But right then, someone gently stroked the corner of her eye.
She looked up in surprise, and there he was right in front of jer.
It was clearly daytime, but before she knew it, the surroundings were dark. Behind him, the moon gleamed, peeking its head out through the darkness. Wrapped in the curtain of night like a cloak, he slowly let out a very deep and long sigh.
He looked extremely exhausted, just like the day they met in the maze.
He gazed intently at her and slowly began to speak.
"Why are you acting so pathetic here?"
Olivia suddenly opened her eyes.
It was so cold that her body trembled, as if a chilling sensation had swept across the area around her heart. Hot breath escaped in ragged tones from between her parched lips, and her mind was completely hazy.
In the midst of all this, a single word etched like a brand kept pricking her heart.
"How pathetic."
Olivia curled up because she was so cold. It was a time when she wished someone would just take this pain away.
“Your Highness!”
Along with a familiar presence, a cool touch reached her shoulder. Barely managing to open her eyes, she saw Mrs. Betty with a worried expression.
"Oh my god, your fever is rising again."
A cold sensation touched her forehead. As she gasped for breath, an unbelievable voice was heard from behind her.
"Go get the fever reducer."
Olivia's eyes, which had been languidly tilting, instantly widened. Just as she was about to sit up in surprise, the Queen appeared from behind Mrs. Betty and stopped her.
“Olivia, stay lying there.”
“Mother...!”
“Stay right there. Just lift your head a little so I can give you some fever reducer.”
Beatrix sat in the chair where Noah had sat all night and personally held the fever reducer to Olivia's mouth. Before Olivia could even feel grateful, the bitter liquid rushed into her mouth.
After Olivia finished drinking the fever reducer, Beatrix personally handed her a towel and water to rinse her mouth.
As Olivia forced herself to regain her senses, the existence of the warship construction ceremony scheduled for today suddenly flashed through her mind.
“Ah! The warship construction ceremony...!”
Then Beatrix smiled gently and shook her head.
“Noah has gone. Don’t worry. You might not be able to go if you're sick.”
Olivia gazed into the Queen's eyes, which shone with affection, then slowly lowered her gaze. She felt like everything she did had gone wrong and everything had become a mess.
Beatrix signaled the head maid to dismiss everyone. Once they had left, she covered Olivia with a blanket.
"Lie down."
“Even so, I couldn’t do that...”
“I came to see if you were okay, not to receive a greeting. I’m fine.”
Beatrix finally laid Olivia down and placed her hand on her forehead.
"Oh, dear. You're still burning up."
Olivia, who had been overwhelmed with gratitude, gradually calmed down at her friendly attitude and affectionate touch.
"I'm sorry..."
"I'm the one who's sorry."
Beatrix gazed quietly into the clear eyes and then opened her mouth.
"Countess Timberlin won't be coming anymore. I picked the wrong person."
“No, no. I heard that no one would be my etiquette teacher. You went to such great lengths to find one...”
“Who even said that to you? Noah?”
“...”
“Right, it certainly isn’t Noah. The Countess has certainly crossed the line in many ways. However, that is not something for you to worry about. You shouldn’t feel indebted to me either. And there is certainly no need to apologize.”
Olivia felt numb.
Beatrix vaguely understood the feelings Olivia was experiencing. She, too, had suffered so much from the pressure to do everything well when she first became the Crown Princess.
“I also found the name Astrid quite burdensome.”
"My mother, too?"
"Of course. You know, I couldn't sleep the entire time I was preparing for the wedding, so I even dozed off during class."
Beatrix continued speaking, hoping that Olivia would lead a healthy life.
"Everything might feel burdensome right now, but time takes away a lot. Someday, when you look back, this burden will feel like nothing."
“...Is that so?”
“Of course. Trust me. So don’t worry about anything for now, and get well soon. His Majesty is concerned about your health as well. I barely managed to dissuade him from coming with me.”
If King Leonard had come as well, it must have been even more burdensome, right?
Olivia couldn't help but smile at the Queen's playful wink.
As she smiled, the chilling sensation that had been hovering around her heart seemed to dissipate a little.
"I’d like to stay longer, but you wouldn’t be able to rest if I did, so I’ll be going now."
"Thank you for coming, Mother."
As Olivia, who had been lying down, sat up at a loss for what to do, Beatrix smiled slightly and turned around.
And just before leaving the door, she turned her head as if remembering something.
"Oh, right, Lucy is starting school today. She said she really wanted to let you know."
Olivia's face lit up at those words.
"That's really great. I should congratulate her when I see her."
Even though she was pale from illness, she could feel her genuine joy. Beatrix nodded and left her room.
Then, she walked slowly, looking around her son's house, which she was visiting for the first time in a long while. She paid particular attention to the expressions of the servants working in various places.
Befitting the servants of the sensitive Noah, everyone was quiet and calm. However, no one appeared intimidated, and as if diligently performing their duties, there seemed to be no corner of the mansion untouched by human hands.
Walking slowly down the central staircase, she asked Mrs. Betty.
“Is the Prince sleeping well these days?”
The son was unusually sensitive from a young age, so sometimes he could not sleep at the sound of rain, and he would toss and turn even at the moonlight broken through the curtains.
Even though he had grown up and started a family, he was still her son. She always wondered if he slept well.
Mrs. Betty bowed her head in response to the Queen's question.
"Yes, it seems so."
“That’s a relief. Does the Princess usually sleep well, too?”
“Yes, Your Majesty, the Queen.”
"That's good news. After all, sleep is important.'
The Queen, who was putting on the gloves handed to her by the Head Lady-in-Waiting, suddenly narrowed her eyes and tilted her head. Turning her head back to look back at the path she had taken, she asked Mrs. Betty again.
“That bedroom where the Princess was just... wasn't it Noah's bedroom?”
***
Olivia walked and walked along the old stone path. After walking for quite a while along the old stone path overgrown with weeds of uneven height, her house came into view in the distance.
As she ran toward the house in delight, she suddenly saw a tall man standing at the entrance.
Olivia's pace slowly slowed. The moment she saw the sleek, smooth black suit and the blonde hair shimmering even in the dim light, her heart began to pound violently.
That perfect back view really didn't suit her house, which was old and falling apart.
Olivia unconsciously turned and hid behind a nearby tree trunk. Clutching her faded cotton skirt tightly with both hands, she held her breath. The sound of her ragged breathing disturbed her ears.
For some reason, the tip of her nose stung and tears welled up.
Over the desire to run to him in joy, a shabby and sorrowful feeling was painted over like watercolor.
Tears fell to her feet, staining the hem of her skirt black.
But right then, someone gently stroked the corner of her eye.
She looked up in surprise, and there he was right in front of jer.
It was clearly daytime, but before she knew it, the surroundings were dark. Behind him, the moon gleamed, peeking its head out through the darkness. Wrapped in the curtain of night like a cloak, he slowly let out a very deep and long sigh.
He looked extremely exhausted, just like the day they met in the maze.
He gazed intently at her and slowly began to speak.
"Why are you acting so pathetic here?"
Olivia suddenly opened her eyes.
It was so cold that her body trembled, as if a chilling sensation had swept across the area around her heart. Hot breath escaped in ragged tones from between her parched lips, and her mind was completely hazy.
In the midst of all this, a single word etched like a brand kept pricking her heart.
"How pathetic."
Olivia curled up because she was so cold. It was a time when she wished someone would just take this pain away.
“Your Highness!”
Along with a familiar presence, a cool touch reached her shoulder. Barely managing to open her eyes, she saw Mrs. Betty with a worried expression.
"Oh my god, your fever is rising again."
A cold sensation touched her forehead. As she gasped for breath, an unbelievable voice was heard from behind her.
"Go get the fever reducer."
Olivia's eyes, which had been languidly tilting, instantly widened. Just as she was about to sit up in surprise, the Queen appeared from behind Mrs. Betty and stopped her.
“Olivia, stay lying there.”
“Mother...!”
“Stay right there. Just lift your head a little so I can give you some fever reducer.”
Beatrix sat in the chair where Noah had sat all night and personally held the fever reducer to Olivia's mouth. Before Olivia could even feel grateful, the bitter liquid rushed into her mouth.
After Olivia finished drinking the fever reducer, Beatrix personally handed her a towel and water to rinse her mouth.
As Olivia forced herself to regain her senses, the existence of the warship construction ceremony scheduled for today suddenly flashed through her mind.
“Ah! The warship construction ceremony...!”
Then Beatrix smiled gently and shook her head.
“Noah has gone. Don’t worry. You might not be able to go if you're sick.”
Olivia gazed into the Queen's eyes, which shone with affection, then slowly lowered her gaze. She felt like everything she did had gone wrong and everything had become a mess.
Beatrix signaled the head maid to dismiss everyone. Once they had left, she covered Olivia with a blanket.
"Lie down."
“Even so, I couldn’t do that...”
“I came to see if you were okay, not to receive a greeting. I’m fine.”
Beatrix finally laid Olivia down and placed her hand on her forehead.
"Oh, dear. You're still burning up."
Olivia, who had been overwhelmed with gratitude, gradually calmed down at her friendly attitude and affectionate touch.
"I'm sorry..."
"I'm the one who's sorry."
Beatrix gazed quietly into the clear eyes and then opened her mouth.
"Countess Timberlin won't be coming anymore. I picked the wrong person."
“No, no. I heard that no one would be my etiquette teacher. You went to such great lengths to find one...”
“Who even said that to you? Noah?”
“...”
“Right, it certainly isn’t Noah. The Countess has certainly crossed the line in many ways. However, that is not something for you to worry about. You shouldn’t feel indebted to me either. And there is certainly no need to apologize.”
Olivia felt numb.
Beatrix vaguely understood the feelings Olivia was experiencing. She, too, had suffered so much from the pressure to do everything well when she first became the Crown Princess.
“I also found the name Astrid quite burdensome.”
"My mother, too?"
"Of course. You know, I couldn't sleep the entire time I was preparing for the wedding, so I even dozed off during class."
Beatrix continued speaking, hoping that Olivia would lead a healthy life.
"Everything might feel burdensome right now, but time takes away a lot. Someday, when you look back, this burden will feel like nothing."
“...Is that so?”
“Of course. Trust me. So don’t worry about anything for now, and get well soon. His Majesty is concerned about your health as well. I barely managed to dissuade him from coming with me.”
If King Leonard had come as well, it must have been even more burdensome, right?
Olivia couldn't help but smile at the Queen's playful wink.
As she smiled, the chilling sensation that had been hovering around her heart seemed to dissipate a little.
"I’d like to stay longer, but you wouldn’t be able to rest if I did, so I’ll be going now."
"Thank you for coming, Mother."
As Olivia, who had been lying down, sat up at a loss for what to do, Beatrix smiled slightly and turned around.
And just before leaving the door, she turned her head as if remembering something.
"Oh, right, Lucy is starting school today. She said she really wanted to let you know."
Olivia's face lit up at those words.
"That's really great. I should congratulate her when I see her."
Even though she was pale from illness, she could feel her genuine joy. Beatrix nodded and left her room.
Then, she walked slowly, looking around her son's house, which she was visiting for the first time in a long while. She paid particular attention to the expressions of the servants working in various places.
Befitting the servants of the sensitive Noah, everyone was quiet and calm. However, no one appeared intimidated, and as if diligently performing their duties, there seemed to be no corner of the mansion untouched by human hands.
Walking slowly down the central staircase, she asked Mrs. Betty.
“Is the Prince sleeping well these days?”
The son was unusually sensitive from a young age, so sometimes he could not sleep at the sound of rain, and he would toss and turn even at the moonlight broken through the curtains.
Even though he had grown up and started a family, he was still her son. She always wondered if he slept well.
Mrs. Betty bowed her head in response to the Queen's question.
"Yes, it seems so."
“That’s a relief. Does the Princess usually sleep well, too?”
“Yes, Your Majesty, the Queen.”
"That's good news. After all, sleep is important.'
The Queen, who was putting on the gloves handed to her by the Head Lady-in-Waiting, suddenly narrowed her eyes and tilted her head. Turning her head back to look back at the path she had taken, she asked Mrs. Betty again.
“That bedroom where the Princess was just... wasn't it Noah's bedroom?”
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