Episode 118. The Rabbit Sitting on the Lion's Head
Jonan desperately held back his brow from contorting and looked at the ladies who had come to witness this situation with him.
As if the situation was no different for them, even while looking down, they were busy stealing furtive glances at the two of them.
"It's alright. The wives brought a gift for me. We were just chatting together."
When Olivia, the only one free from the atmosphere Noah had created, spoke with a smile, Noah finally turned his gaze toward the ladies.
Unfortunately, Countess Lilesien happened to make eye contact with the Prince, and she got goosebumps wondering how a person's gaze could change so easily. Startled, she quickly averted her gaze, only to find Noah speaking first.
“Countess Lilesien, we didn’t get to properly exchange greetings at the cafe the other day, so it is nice to see you now.”
Countess Lilesien's legs trembled at the pointed words of the very person who had devastated Letium and Seymour. The Prince was also an investor who had invested a large sum of money in the business of Count and Countess Lilesien.
It was simply unnoticed because the Prince had never personally wielded power under the pretext of business; in an era where money is power, the influence he wielded by silently expanding his business was far greater than expected. Why on earth did he attend the Princess Consort's Shine Party?
“Wow, Your Highness, I apologize for not being able to properly greet you that day due to the circumstances.”
Noah remained silent despite her apology. Instead, he scanned the ladies who were desperately avoiding his gaze, then turned to look at Olivia.
“Liv, is the conversation enjoyable?”
At the Prince's question, the noble ladies looked at the Princess with earnest eyes.
Please, save us from Herod's messengers.
Receiving their enthusiastic gazes, the Princess smiled sweetly and spoke like an angel.
"Very much so."
It's an angel. That person is definitely an angel!
The ladies felt a deep sense of relief as they sensed the halo shining from behind Olivia.
Noah chuckled and nodded slightly.
"As long as you had fun, that's all that matters. I think I might have ruined the mood for a moment, but I hope everyone is having a good time."
He left a light remark to the frozen ladies and gestured to Jonan.
As the Prince and his guards disappeared beyond the door, the noble ladies looked with grateful eyes at the Princess who had protected them from Noah Astrid.
Noah sat on the office table and gestured to Jonan.
"Recite it."
As the concise command was given, Jonan cleared his throat and began to recount the conversation between Mrs. Letium and Mrs. Timberlin.
Noah, who had been listening to his report with his arms crossed, laughed a long laugh in disbelief at the part where Mrs. Timberlin tried to shift the blame onto Olivia.
However, when Olivia explained how she retaliated, he instead wiped the smile from his face and nodded.
“So, the conclusion is that the two of them clearly apologized to Olivia, is that it?”
“Yes. As for the Countess Timberlin, she has apologized for everything that happened when she was Her Highness’s etiquette teacher.”
"Did Olivia accept it?"
"Yes. She said she would consider that gathering not to have been a Shine Party."
“What about the people who were just there?”
“Her Highness’s reaction to them was somewhat unexpected. Just as before, everyone offered excuses. However, unlike the previous two ladies, Her Highness simply accepted their excuses. And as she opened the gifts, she changed the atmosphere for the better.”
"You mean to say she accepted the excuse?"
"Yes."
Just then, it became somewhat noisy outside the window. Noah rose from his desk and looked out, seeing the ladies getting ready to leave.
And his Olivia was seeing them off with a smiling face.
The large diamond hanging around Olivia's neck shone even from a distance. He had spent quite a lot of money to buy it, but the sight made that money feel worth it in a single moment.
Noah gazed intently at Olivia and praised Jonan's hard work.
“You’ve worked hard, Jonan. You may go now.”
Even as Jonan silently withdrew, Noah's gaze remained fixed only on Olivia outside the window.
They should have just said hello and left. Why are they holding onto someone who isn't feeling well and giving such a long greeting?
As a dozen or so noble ladies all greeted Olivia with long farewells, Noah grumbled.
As soon as they had all left the mansion, Olivia turned around gently. Then, to his surprise, she immediately raised her head and looked at the window where Noah was.
Noah paused as their eyes met unexpectedly, and she smiled sweetly.
“...Ha, seriously... You’re really playing with my emotions.”
Olivia, who had vanished like a squirrel, soon reappeared with light footsteps.
Knock, knock, knock, then poked her head in.
“Noah, can I come in for a moment?”
"Very well, Duchess."
Olivia lightly greeted Meson, who was standing beside her.
"Meson, it's been a while."
"I am glad to see you in good health, Your Highness."
As Olivia approached the desk, Noah, who had been leaning against the windowsill until then, moved and asked.
"Are you feeling better?"
"There was nothing wrong with it, was there?"
“What about unpleasant things?”
"There wasn't any."
"Is that enough?"
Olivia narrowed her eyes and asked in a low voice.
"May I ask what you did?"
"A simple warning."
Noah thought that Olivia would soon ask what that 'warning' was.
However, as always, his wife said something unexpected.
"Thanks to you, I might be able to build social connections faster than expected. That said, I won't try too hard to rush it."
“...”
"I have realized that simply enduring everything is not the best approach, so I will not do that either. I will interact with the ladies within reasonable limits so that you do not have to worry, so please watch over me."
The 'warning' Noah gave to the nobles must have undoubtedly been something that required taking risks. After all, intimidation is like a double-edged sword.
In addition, he went to the palace on urgent business and returned to the mansion not long after, and for the past few days, he has been handling all his work from the mansion as well.
Jonan, who guarded her back today, must have told Noah the situation at the time without missing a single word.
Noah was paying close attention to her every move.
However, Noah's expression after hearing Olivia's words was not as bright as expected.
"They might be sweet right now, acting like they would give you their liver and gallbladder, but they might not be the same once they turn their backs."
"It’s okay. I also expect that things won’t change overnight."
Noah muttered with a cruel look on his face.
“I want to take revenge on all the ladies who just left. I have to solidify the situation so they can never climb back up again.”
"What you did had quite a ripple effect. Everyone came flocking there out of fear."
“...”
"If you retaliate against all those people, the blade will come back to you."
"So you just accepted the apology half-heartedly and let it slide? Because you were afraid you might get the short end of the stick?"
When Noah asked forcefully, Olivia also tensed her stomach and fought back.
“No, it’s me. The more you retaliate, the more enemies you will make, and if that happens, I’ll always have to hide behind you. And if something like this happens again, you’ll have to take the risk again.”
“...”
“Noah, thank you so much for going out of your way for me. But please don’t take revenge on everyone. This is enough.”
Noah was speechless in front of those sincere black eyes.
She revealed her presence sporadically in this way.
Finally, when Noah reluctantly nodded, Olivia finally left his room.
Meson, who was listening to the conversation between the Prince and Princess, was impressed by the Princess's exceptional sense.
It was astonishing how gently she held Noah in her grasp. Furthermore, rather than blurring the point by asking what kind of revenge the Prince had taken and how, she indirectly pointed out that his retaliation was dangerous.
As she said, if Noah retaliates against everyone, not only will Olivia be driven into a corner, but it will also be a heavy burden on Noah.
Since she had warned through Letium and Seymour, it was much wiser to befriend the other wives and rally public opinion in her favor.
Meson thought it was not very desirable for Noah to be acting so sensitively toward Olivia that he would lose his reason.
And from his objective standpoint, Olivia was not someone who needed Noah's excessive protection. Since Noah had resolved her vulnerability regarding her identity, she was someone who would find her place on her own if left alone.
"As I mentioned before, Her Highness seems truly wise."
“...”
“Is she not the one who entered and graduated from Haroldington College, which is not open to just anyone, at the youngest age? Please do not worry too much, Your Highness.”
"Yeah, I know."
He knew it in his head, but the problem was that watching him stand still made Meson anxious, as if he would snap at the slightest breeze.
“So, Your Highness. The invitations coming to the Princess... should I really report them to her first?”
Meson wanted the Prince to withdraw the order.
However, Noah, who had been lost in melancholy for quite some time, eventually ran his hand over his face and repeated the same command.
"Bring it to me first."
Then, lowering his darkened gaze, he recalled what Olivia had said.
“No, it’s me. The more you retaliate, the more enemies you will make, and if that happens, I’ll always have to hide behind you. And if something like this happens again, you’ll have to take the risk again.”
What's wrong with hiding behind my back?
You don't need to care what risks I take.
However, since he couldn't say such things to Olivia, he just kept them to himself.
“What should be done about Seymour and Letium?”
Noah answered Meson's question concisely.
"Tell Seymour to maintain the cancellation of the investment, and Letium to invest the amount originally promised.'
But that was the moment.
Knock, knock, a small knock was heard again, and lo and behold, Olivia poked her head out again!
"I'm sorry to bother you while you're busy."
“No, tell me.”
Olivia stood by the door and spoke quickly.
"I plan to go meet Princess Lucy later."
“...Huh? What are you doing?”
“I’d like to come pick up Princess Lucy when she gets out of school. I want to give her a gift and offer some belated congratulations. If you’re not busy, would you like to come along?”
“...So, Liv.”
"Yes."
“Why go all the way to school to pick her up? You could just ask Lucy to come over here for a moment.”
Olivia remained silent for a moment with a smiling face, then spoke softly.
“Noah, that’s not welcoming.”
Nevertheless, seeing her husband wear a bewildered expression, Olivia neatly backed away.
“I’ll go alone! Since I’m escorting you to the palace, I’ll also go pay my brief respects to Her Majesty the Queen and His Majesty!”
And then, how effortlessly they turned around! And how swift their movements were!
Before she could slip out through the half-open door, Noah shouted urgently.
“Liv, what about your body?!”
Then Olivia turned her head slightly, glanced at her husband, and spoke firmly.
"I think I'm all better now!"
Clunk.
“...”
Meson bit his lip tightly and suppressed a laugh at the sight of the Prince blinking his eyes while looking at the closed door.
Jonan desperately held back his brow from contorting and looked at the ladies who had come to witness this situation with him.
As if the situation was no different for them, even while looking down, they were busy stealing furtive glances at the two of them.
"It's alright. The wives brought a gift for me. We were just chatting together."
When Olivia, the only one free from the atmosphere Noah had created, spoke with a smile, Noah finally turned his gaze toward the ladies.
Unfortunately, Countess Lilesien happened to make eye contact with the Prince, and she got goosebumps wondering how a person's gaze could change so easily. Startled, she quickly averted her gaze, only to find Noah speaking first.
“Countess Lilesien, we didn’t get to properly exchange greetings at the cafe the other day, so it is nice to see you now.”
Countess Lilesien's legs trembled at the pointed words of the very person who had devastated Letium and Seymour. The Prince was also an investor who had invested a large sum of money in the business of Count and Countess Lilesien.
It was simply unnoticed because the Prince had never personally wielded power under the pretext of business; in an era where money is power, the influence he wielded by silently expanding his business was far greater than expected. Why on earth did he attend the Princess Consort's Shine Party?
“Wow, Your Highness, I apologize for not being able to properly greet you that day due to the circumstances.”
Noah remained silent despite her apology. Instead, he scanned the ladies who were desperately avoiding his gaze, then turned to look at Olivia.
“Liv, is the conversation enjoyable?”
At the Prince's question, the noble ladies looked at the Princess with earnest eyes.
Please, save us from Herod's messengers.
Receiving their enthusiastic gazes, the Princess smiled sweetly and spoke like an angel.
"Very much so."
It's an angel. That person is definitely an angel!
The ladies felt a deep sense of relief as they sensed the halo shining from behind Olivia.
Noah chuckled and nodded slightly.
"As long as you had fun, that's all that matters. I think I might have ruined the mood for a moment, but I hope everyone is having a good time."
He left a light remark to the frozen ladies and gestured to Jonan.
As the Prince and his guards disappeared beyond the door, the noble ladies looked with grateful eyes at the Princess who had protected them from Noah Astrid.
Noah sat on the office table and gestured to Jonan.
"Recite it."
As the concise command was given, Jonan cleared his throat and began to recount the conversation between Mrs. Letium and Mrs. Timberlin.
Noah, who had been listening to his report with his arms crossed, laughed a long laugh in disbelief at the part where Mrs. Timberlin tried to shift the blame onto Olivia.
However, when Olivia explained how she retaliated, he instead wiped the smile from his face and nodded.
“So, the conclusion is that the two of them clearly apologized to Olivia, is that it?”
“Yes. As for the Countess Timberlin, she has apologized for everything that happened when she was Her Highness’s etiquette teacher.”
"Did Olivia accept it?"
"Yes. She said she would consider that gathering not to have been a Shine Party."
“What about the people who were just there?”
“Her Highness’s reaction to them was somewhat unexpected. Just as before, everyone offered excuses. However, unlike the previous two ladies, Her Highness simply accepted their excuses. And as she opened the gifts, she changed the atmosphere for the better.”
"You mean to say she accepted the excuse?"
"Yes."
Just then, it became somewhat noisy outside the window. Noah rose from his desk and looked out, seeing the ladies getting ready to leave.
And his Olivia was seeing them off with a smiling face.
The large diamond hanging around Olivia's neck shone even from a distance. He had spent quite a lot of money to buy it, but the sight made that money feel worth it in a single moment.
Noah gazed intently at Olivia and praised Jonan's hard work.
“You’ve worked hard, Jonan. You may go now.”
Even as Jonan silently withdrew, Noah's gaze remained fixed only on Olivia outside the window.
They should have just said hello and left. Why are they holding onto someone who isn't feeling well and giving such a long greeting?
As a dozen or so noble ladies all greeted Olivia with long farewells, Noah grumbled.
As soon as they had all left the mansion, Olivia turned around gently. Then, to his surprise, she immediately raised her head and looked at the window where Noah was.
Noah paused as their eyes met unexpectedly, and she smiled sweetly.
“...Ha, seriously... You’re really playing with my emotions.”
Olivia, who had vanished like a squirrel, soon reappeared with light footsteps.
Knock, knock, knock, then poked her head in.
“Noah, can I come in for a moment?”
"Very well, Duchess."
Olivia lightly greeted Meson, who was standing beside her.
"Meson, it's been a while."
"I am glad to see you in good health, Your Highness."
As Olivia approached the desk, Noah, who had been leaning against the windowsill until then, moved and asked.
"Are you feeling better?"
"There was nothing wrong with it, was there?"
“What about unpleasant things?”
"There wasn't any."
"Is that enough?"
Olivia narrowed her eyes and asked in a low voice.
"May I ask what you did?"
"A simple warning."
Noah thought that Olivia would soon ask what that 'warning' was.
However, as always, his wife said something unexpected.
"Thanks to you, I might be able to build social connections faster than expected. That said, I won't try too hard to rush it."
“...”
"I have realized that simply enduring everything is not the best approach, so I will not do that either. I will interact with the ladies within reasonable limits so that you do not have to worry, so please watch over me."
The 'warning' Noah gave to the nobles must have undoubtedly been something that required taking risks. After all, intimidation is like a double-edged sword.
In addition, he went to the palace on urgent business and returned to the mansion not long after, and for the past few days, he has been handling all his work from the mansion as well.
Jonan, who guarded her back today, must have told Noah the situation at the time without missing a single word.
Noah was paying close attention to her every move.
However, Noah's expression after hearing Olivia's words was not as bright as expected.
"They might be sweet right now, acting like they would give you their liver and gallbladder, but they might not be the same once they turn their backs."
"It’s okay. I also expect that things won’t change overnight."
Noah muttered with a cruel look on his face.
“I want to take revenge on all the ladies who just left. I have to solidify the situation so they can never climb back up again.”
"What you did had quite a ripple effect. Everyone came flocking there out of fear."
“...”
"If you retaliate against all those people, the blade will come back to you."
"So you just accepted the apology half-heartedly and let it slide? Because you were afraid you might get the short end of the stick?"
When Noah asked forcefully, Olivia also tensed her stomach and fought back.
“No, it’s me. The more you retaliate, the more enemies you will make, and if that happens, I’ll always have to hide behind you. And if something like this happens again, you’ll have to take the risk again.”
“...”
“Noah, thank you so much for going out of your way for me. But please don’t take revenge on everyone. This is enough.”
Noah was speechless in front of those sincere black eyes.
She revealed her presence sporadically in this way.
Finally, when Noah reluctantly nodded, Olivia finally left his room.
Meson, who was listening to the conversation between the Prince and Princess, was impressed by the Princess's exceptional sense.
It was astonishing how gently she held Noah in her grasp. Furthermore, rather than blurring the point by asking what kind of revenge the Prince had taken and how, she indirectly pointed out that his retaliation was dangerous.
As she said, if Noah retaliates against everyone, not only will Olivia be driven into a corner, but it will also be a heavy burden on Noah.
Since she had warned through Letium and Seymour, it was much wiser to befriend the other wives and rally public opinion in her favor.
Meson thought it was not very desirable for Noah to be acting so sensitively toward Olivia that he would lose his reason.
And from his objective standpoint, Olivia was not someone who needed Noah's excessive protection. Since Noah had resolved her vulnerability regarding her identity, she was someone who would find her place on her own if left alone.
"As I mentioned before, Her Highness seems truly wise."
“...”
“Is she not the one who entered and graduated from Haroldington College, which is not open to just anyone, at the youngest age? Please do not worry too much, Your Highness.”
"Yeah, I know."
He knew it in his head, but the problem was that watching him stand still made Meson anxious, as if he would snap at the slightest breeze.
“So, Your Highness. The invitations coming to the Princess... should I really report them to her first?”
Meson wanted the Prince to withdraw the order.
However, Noah, who had been lost in melancholy for quite some time, eventually ran his hand over his face and repeated the same command.
"Bring it to me first."
Then, lowering his darkened gaze, he recalled what Olivia had said.
“No, it’s me. The more you retaliate, the more enemies you will make, and if that happens, I’ll always have to hide behind you. And if something like this happens again, you’ll have to take the risk again.”
What's wrong with hiding behind my back?
You don't need to care what risks I take.
However, since he couldn't say such things to Olivia, he just kept them to himself.
“What should be done about Seymour and Letium?”
Noah answered Meson's question concisely.
"Tell Seymour to maintain the cancellation of the investment, and Letium to invest the amount originally promised.'
But that was the moment.
Knock, knock, a small knock was heard again, and lo and behold, Olivia poked her head out again!
"I'm sorry to bother you while you're busy."
“No, tell me.”
Olivia stood by the door and spoke quickly.
"I plan to go meet Princess Lucy later."
“...Huh? What are you doing?”
“I’d like to come pick up Princess Lucy when she gets out of school. I want to give her a gift and offer some belated congratulations. If you’re not busy, would you like to come along?”
“...So, Liv.”
"Yes."
“Why go all the way to school to pick her up? You could just ask Lucy to come over here for a moment.”
Olivia remained silent for a moment with a smiling face, then spoke softly.
“Noah, that’s not welcoming.”
Nevertheless, seeing her husband wear a bewildered expression, Olivia neatly backed away.
“I’ll go alone! Since I’m escorting you to the palace, I’ll also go pay my brief respects to Her Majesty the Queen and His Majesty!”
And then, how effortlessly they turned around! And how swift their movements were!
Before she could slip out through the half-open door, Noah shouted urgently.
“Liv, what about your body?!”
Then Olivia turned her head slightly, glanced at her husband, and spoke firmly.
"I think I'm all better now!"
Clunk.
“...”
Meson bit his lip tightly and suppressed a laugh at the sight of the Prince blinking his eyes while looking at the closed door.
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