Episode 114. Are You Going to Cheat?
Jane Ambrose seemed like someone who had been waiting only for this day.
This was because the catalog she brought had not been completed overnight. Olivia had been Jane's muse for two years, and the designs she had conceived with her in mind were so numerous that they filled a thick book. They were even organized by season.
"How is it?"
Her designs were concise and dynamic, yet elegant. To put it nicely, that was the case; to put it negatively, they seemed to straddle the line between the aristocracy and the commoner.
However, that aspect captivated Olivia. Olivia smiled as she slowly scanned the catalog.
After choosing a dress with Jane, it was time to choose a gift for Lucy's admission. Among the many items, Olivia selected a fountain pen set that was easy to carry and a notebook.
Jane carefully observed the design Olivia was choosing, then neatly stood up from her seat. She then placed several heavy, Bordeaux-colored boxes on the table.
"What is this?"
When the Princess asked back in a puzzled manner, she laughed heartily and unlocked the largest box.
“This is an item specially ordered by His Royal Highness the Prince. Please take a look.”
When Jane personally opened the lid of the box and showed the contents to Olivia, not only her eyes but even the eyes of the maids standing behind her widened in surprise.
"For your information, it is a blue diamond, not a sapphire, Your Highness."
The blue diamond, no bigger than a child's palm, was an extraordinary object even at a fleeting glance. Even Olivia, who had little concept of the price of luxury goods, could easily guess that this single necklace was worth the price of a prestigious mansion.
“It is difficult to find a set of colored diamonds. That is because it is hard to find the exact same color. But...!”
While Olivia was just blinking her eyes, Jane quickly opened another box and held it out in front of her.
"Oh."
One of the costume shop staff let out a low gasp.
Inside the box Jane held out, large earrings and a ring that appeared to be a set with the necklace were showing off their enchanting beauty.
"His Highness ordered this before the wedding, and we finally received the items last week."
And that wasn't the end of it.
Inside the boxes piled up like a mountain, jaw-dropping jewels were hidden one after another.
From diamond necklaces as transparent as water to three-strand necklaces densely set with pearls of uniform size, matching pearl earrings and rings, dazzling ruby sets and luminous emerald sets, and simple jewelry designs to wear depending on the time and place.
Olivia's mind raced as she scanned through all those things.
The Countess Timberlin didn't teach me the really important thing! I shouldn't ask the price, and I need to choose carefully so I don't get ripped off while still maintaining the formalities!
Noah said he would be here soon, so she wondered why he wasn't coming.
As Olivia surveyed the spectacle of glowing jewels with a serious expression, Jane whispered in a voice mixed with laughter.
“You do not need to choose, Your Highness.”
“...?”
"These are all items that have been paid for."
“...All of this?”
"Yes. There are quite a few items that haven't arrived yet. I will bring them as soon as they get here."
Jane Ambrose desperately pressed down on her twitching lips while maintaining an elegant expression.
As expected, creating the Princess's wedding dress was a stroke of genius.
The Prince, having destroyed all the dresses that Countess Timberlin had advised on, paid a huge amount of money in advance and ordered the preparation of the Princess's clothes.
In addition, expensive jewelry was purchased in bulk, and all of this took place within about a month before and after the wedding.
Money is one thing, but what a huge stroke of luck it is to be able to work while seeing the muse in person!
Jane bowed her head respectfully.
“I will visit you again as soon as the clothes are made and the supplies arrive, Your Highness.”
After Jane left, the jewelry and various luxury items were moved to the dressing room next to the bedroom. Olivia clutched the gift for Lucy and gazed at the glittering jewels with dazed eyes.
Compared to the jewelry that arrived today, the neatly designed diamond set Noah had gifted the other day looked so simple that it seemed shabby.
It was then.
"Do you like it?"
As she heard Noah's voice from behind her, wondering when he had returned, Olivia quickly turned toward him.
“Noah! I didn’t know you were back. Did you have a good trip?”
Without a word, Noah took off his gloves and jacket and walked toward the display cabinet lined with jewels. After scanning the jewelry with his eyes, he glanced at Olivia, who had approached him, and asked.
“How is it? Do you like it?”
"I do like it, though."
"That's all."
“...?”
“I hate the words that follow 'though’. Usually, the words that come after it just ruin my mood.”
Olivia frowned in disbelief at the self-righteous remark and replied.
"You look just like Princess Marguerite."
"You're saying I look like my aunt?"
"Very much so."
"That's unpleasant."
He put his arm around Olivia's shoulders and sat her down in front of the dressing table. Then, he casually picked up the most extravagant blue diamond necklace and brought it over.
Jane Ambrose, who treated it like a newborn baby, would have been appalled if she had seen it.
Noah personally put the necklace around Olivia's neck. Then, he quietly gazed at her reflection in the mirror. Even though she was wearing that large necklace, it didn't really catch his eye.
"Would it look more glamorous if I hung something bigger?"
"Is there anything bigger than this?"
"Why wouldn't it be? If you look hard enough, it's there."
“I think you’re going to go bankrupt. This is more than enough; it’s overflowing.”
"The Princess is being sensitive today. She picks out only unpleasant words."
As Noah sulked, Olivia quietly turned to look at him. He appeared disappointed, having handed her the gift and expected a reaction.
After contemplating for a moment, Olivia rose from her seat and walked gracefully around the row of jewels. Her movements were like those of a butterfly fluttering around flowers.
As Noah tilted his head and stared intently at her, Olivia brushed past the last jewelry box and approached him. Then, looking up at her sensitive husband's handsome face from below, she gently rested her head against his broad chest.
Noah froze in his tracks at the sight of Olivia suddenly approaching.
“Thank you, Noah. I’ll make good use of it.”
Olivia curled her rose-like lips and whispered softly. Then she lifted her head from where it had been leaning slightly.
Noah let out a long, sigh-like breath all at once and stared at her with blurred eyes as if to devour her.
"You..."
Olivia smiled and quickly took a step back. Then she pointed to the notebook and fountain pen set placed on the dressing table.
“I bought that as a gift for Princess Lucy. I’ll wrap it nicely and bring it to you soon. Noah, would you like to write a letter?”
"No."
The refusal was very monotonous and swift. As Olivia nodded as if she had expected it, Noah lightly asked in his usual monotonous tone.
“What did Mrs. Seymour say that day?”
Olivia's eyes widened at the sudden change of topic, but Noah simply waited calmly for her answer. However, seeing that Olivia did not seem likely to respond, he sat on the dressing table and added.
"Did she tell you to have a son?"
“...”
At his question, Olivia bit her lip. Watching her lips being crushed, Noah asked.
"Is there anything you want to ask me?"
"This is a question I heard on the day I visited the polo club."
A soft sunlight shone on Noah's face. His eyes were transparently clear, and there was not a trace of mockery or contempt in his expression.
He looked after her to an excessive degree, practically caring for her. Even if all of that was his 'responsibility for his wife'...
As she listened to the name he whispered all night long while snuggling into her, she would often be filled with the hope that her existence might be special to him.
However, at that very edge always stood her house, where she used to sit on the old stone road, and him, who had called all those efforts shabby.
For that reason, even for her, who believed that it was best to ask honestly when curious, it was not easy to ask Noah.
“Ask now.”
But for some reason, she wanted to ask now. It wasn't a long time, but the time she spent with him gave her courage.
Olivia cautiously parted her lips, then asked cautiously, as if confessing.
“When will you establish a government?”
But after asking, she realized anew just how deeply those words had been driven into her heart like a nail. She wanted to remain calm, but her hands were trembling. Afraid of the answer that might escape his lips, Olivia lowered her gaze.
Everyone in the world said that she had married beyond her means, but the person who felt it the most was none other than herself.
It was her sincere wish to become confident in herself.
Just then, Noah's voice, heavy with irritation, reached her ears.
“Just how much of a piece of trash do you think I am?”
When Olivia looked up in surprise, she saw Noah with his brow furrowed.
“Let me ask you. Are you the one who’s going to cheat someday?”
"Yes?!"
“Why are you so surprised?! You just asked me that!”
Olivia was startled by his furious appearance, so she approached and grabbed his arm.
“No, Noah. That’s not what I meant!”
“What do you mean by ‘no’?! From the looks of it, it seems like you thought I might be right.”
“...”
As Olivia was left speechless, Noah's expression turned cold.
“You wouldn’t even dare to think about cheating, but if I did, are you just going to put up with it again?”
Olivia's eyes turned red at his cruel question. It seemed this man was determined to dig into her heart.
"Say what you want to say."
Noah whispered while gazing at the large eyes, spreading red.
Jane Ambrose seemed like someone who had been waiting only for this day.
This was because the catalog she brought had not been completed overnight. Olivia had been Jane's muse for two years, and the designs she had conceived with her in mind were so numerous that they filled a thick book. They were even organized by season.
"How is it?"
Her designs were concise and dynamic, yet elegant. To put it nicely, that was the case; to put it negatively, they seemed to straddle the line between the aristocracy and the commoner.
However, that aspect captivated Olivia. Olivia smiled as she slowly scanned the catalog.
After choosing a dress with Jane, it was time to choose a gift for Lucy's admission. Among the many items, Olivia selected a fountain pen set that was easy to carry and a notebook.
Jane carefully observed the design Olivia was choosing, then neatly stood up from her seat. She then placed several heavy, Bordeaux-colored boxes on the table.
"What is this?"
When the Princess asked back in a puzzled manner, she laughed heartily and unlocked the largest box.
“This is an item specially ordered by His Royal Highness the Prince. Please take a look.”
When Jane personally opened the lid of the box and showed the contents to Olivia, not only her eyes but even the eyes of the maids standing behind her widened in surprise.
"For your information, it is a blue diamond, not a sapphire, Your Highness."
The blue diamond, no bigger than a child's palm, was an extraordinary object even at a fleeting glance. Even Olivia, who had little concept of the price of luxury goods, could easily guess that this single necklace was worth the price of a prestigious mansion.
“It is difficult to find a set of colored diamonds. That is because it is hard to find the exact same color. But...!”
While Olivia was just blinking her eyes, Jane quickly opened another box and held it out in front of her.
"Oh."
One of the costume shop staff let out a low gasp.
Inside the box Jane held out, large earrings and a ring that appeared to be a set with the necklace were showing off their enchanting beauty.
"His Highness ordered this before the wedding, and we finally received the items last week."
And that wasn't the end of it.
Inside the boxes piled up like a mountain, jaw-dropping jewels were hidden one after another.
From diamond necklaces as transparent as water to three-strand necklaces densely set with pearls of uniform size, matching pearl earrings and rings, dazzling ruby sets and luminous emerald sets, and simple jewelry designs to wear depending on the time and place.
Olivia's mind raced as she scanned through all those things.
The Countess Timberlin didn't teach me the really important thing! I shouldn't ask the price, and I need to choose carefully so I don't get ripped off while still maintaining the formalities!
Noah said he would be here soon, so she wondered why he wasn't coming.
As Olivia surveyed the spectacle of glowing jewels with a serious expression, Jane whispered in a voice mixed with laughter.
“You do not need to choose, Your Highness.”
“...?”
"These are all items that have been paid for."
“...All of this?”
"Yes. There are quite a few items that haven't arrived yet. I will bring them as soon as they get here."
Jane Ambrose desperately pressed down on her twitching lips while maintaining an elegant expression.
As expected, creating the Princess's wedding dress was a stroke of genius.
The Prince, having destroyed all the dresses that Countess Timberlin had advised on, paid a huge amount of money in advance and ordered the preparation of the Princess's clothes.
In addition, expensive jewelry was purchased in bulk, and all of this took place within about a month before and after the wedding.
Money is one thing, but what a huge stroke of luck it is to be able to work while seeing the muse in person!
Jane bowed her head respectfully.
“I will visit you again as soon as the clothes are made and the supplies arrive, Your Highness.”
After Jane left, the jewelry and various luxury items were moved to the dressing room next to the bedroom. Olivia clutched the gift for Lucy and gazed at the glittering jewels with dazed eyes.
Compared to the jewelry that arrived today, the neatly designed diamond set Noah had gifted the other day looked so simple that it seemed shabby.
It was then.
"Do you like it?"
As she heard Noah's voice from behind her, wondering when he had returned, Olivia quickly turned toward him.
“Noah! I didn’t know you were back. Did you have a good trip?”
Without a word, Noah took off his gloves and jacket and walked toward the display cabinet lined with jewels. After scanning the jewelry with his eyes, he glanced at Olivia, who had approached him, and asked.
“How is it? Do you like it?”
"I do like it, though."
"That's all."
“...?”
“I hate the words that follow 'though’. Usually, the words that come after it just ruin my mood.”
Olivia frowned in disbelief at the self-righteous remark and replied.
"You look just like Princess Marguerite."
"You're saying I look like my aunt?"
"Very much so."
"That's unpleasant."
He put his arm around Olivia's shoulders and sat her down in front of the dressing table. Then, he casually picked up the most extravagant blue diamond necklace and brought it over.
Jane Ambrose, who treated it like a newborn baby, would have been appalled if she had seen it.
Noah personally put the necklace around Olivia's neck. Then, he quietly gazed at her reflection in the mirror. Even though she was wearing that large necklace, it didn't really catch his eye.
"Would it look more glamorous if I hung something bigger?"
"Is there anything bigger than this?"
"Why wouldn't it be? If you look hard enough, it's there."
“I think you’re going to go bankrupt. This is more than enough; it’s overflowing.”
"The Princess is being sensitive today. She picks out only unpleasant words."
As Noah sulked, Olivia quietly turned to look at him. He appeared disappointed, having handed her the gift and expected a reaction.
After contemplating for a moment, Olivia rose from her seat and walked gracefully around the row of jewels. Her movements were like those of a butterfly fluttering around flowers.
As Noah tilted his head and stared intently at her, Olivia brushed past the last jewelry box and approached him. Then, looking up at her sensitive husband's handsome face from below, she gently rested her head against his broad chest.
Noah froze in his tracks at the sight of Olivia suddenly approaching.
“Thank you, Noah. I’ll make good use of it.”
Olivia curled her rose-like lips and whispered softly. Then she lifted her head from where it had been leaning slightly.
Noah let out a long, sigh-like breath all at once and stared at her with blurred eyes as if to devour her.
"You..."
Olivia smiled and quickly took a step back. Then she pointed to the notebook and fountain pen set placed on the dressing table.
“I bought that as a gift for Princess Lucy. I’ll wrap it nicely and bring it to you soon. Noah, would you like to write a letter?”
"No."
The refusal was very monotonous and swift. As Olivia nodded as if she had expected it, Noah lightly asked in his usual monotonous tone.
“What did Mrs. Seymour say that day?”
Olivia's eyes widened at the sudden change of topic, but Noah simply waited calmly for her answer. However, seeing that Olivia did not seem likely to respond, he sat on the dressing table and added.
"Did she tell you to have a son?"
“...”
At his question, Olivia bit her lip. Watching her lips being crushed, Noah asked.
"Is there anything you want to ask me?"
"This is a question I heard on the day I visited the polo club."
A soft sunlight shone on Noah's face. His eyes were transparently clear, and there was not a trace of mockery or contempt in his expression.
He looked after her to an excessive degree, practically caring for her. Even if all of that was his 'responsibility for his wife'...
As she listened to the name he whispered all night long while snuggling into her, she would often be filled with the hope that her existence might be special to him.
However, at that very edge always stood her house, where she used to sit on the old stone road, and him, who had called all those efforts shabby.
For that reason, even for her, who believed that it was best to ask honestly when curious, it was not easy to ask Noah.
“Ask now.”
But for some reason, she wanted to ask now. It wasn't a long time, but the time she spent with him gave her courage.
Olivia cautiously parted her lips, then asked cautiously, as if confessing.
“When will you establish a government?”
But after asking, she realized anew just how deeply those words had been driven into her heart like a nail. She wanted to remain calm, but her hands were trembling. Afraid of the answer that might escape his lips, Olivia lowered her gaze.
Everyone in the world said that she had married beyond her means, but the person who felt it the most was none other than herself.
It was her sincere wish to become confident in herself.
Just then, Noah's voice, heavy with irritation, reached her ears.
“Just how much of a piece of trash do you think I am?”
When Olivia looked up in surprise, she saw Noah with his brow furrowed.
“Let me ask you. Are you the one who’s going to cheat someday?”
"Yes?!"
“Why are you so surprised?! You just asked me that!”
Olivia was startled by his furious appearance, so she approached and grabbed his arm.
“No, Noah. That’s not what I meant!”
“What do you mean by ‘no’?! From the looks of it, it seems like you thought I might be right.”
“...”
As Olivia was left speechless, Noah's expression turned cold.
“You wouldn’t even dare to think about cheating, but if I did, are you just going to put up with it again?”
Olivia's eyes turned red at his cruel question. It seemed this man was determined to dig into her heart.
"Say what you want to say."
Noah whispered while gazing at the large eyes, spreading red.
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