SOIC - Chapter 120

Episode 120. The Shock of Blood Relatives

That scene delivered a tremendous shock to the parents and siblings.

Even in the midst of that, Noah was watching Olivia. Still seemingly bothered by the plate full of food, he kept looking back and forth between the plate and her until he finally said something to Lucy, who was chattering away.

“Lucy, sorry to interrupt, but I think we should eat first before we talk. The food is still on the plate.”

As Lucy smiled awkwardly at her brother's words and cut the steak, Noah whispered to Olivia as well.

"Since you barely ate the appetizer and left some behind, eat all the steak."

“...!”

“...!!”

“...!!!!!”

Usher, Beatrix, and Leonard held their breath and glared. In the midst of this, Olivia's calm reaction was even more shocking.

Olivia started cutting the steak as if it were a matter of course, and Noah watched her intently before adding a comment.

"Eat all of that if possible."

"Just as much as you can eat."

"Is it hard to slice?"

"Not at all."

She was chewing her food heartily while exchanging her usual conversation when she felt an intense gaze from somewhere. When she cautiously raised her head, she saw three members of the royal family staring at her with wide eyes.

As Olivia paused in surprise, the three royals quickly turned their gaze to their direct blood relatives.

Noah and the three royals' gazes met in the air. However, as expected, there is no arguing with a brazen person.

Noah glanced at his parents' surprised eyes, looked at Usher sitting beside him with a sour expression, and asked brazenly.

"Why."

“...”

What can I say when asked why?

Usher shook his head slightly and turned his gaze away, and Leonard smiled awkwardly and offered food to his daughter-in-law.

"Eat a lot, Olivia."

Just then, Lucy, who had been eating heartily, suddenly spoke up as if she had remembered something.

“Your Highness! Is this the headband I gave you as a gift?”

“Yes, that’s right. I take good care of myself.”

Lucy glanced at Noah and whispered to Olivia.

“Actually, that was Noah’s choice!”

While the royal family looked at Noah again after hearing the girl's whisper, Olivia also turned to look at Noah.

Even while receiving intense stares, Noah did not change the color of his face. Instead, he looked his wife in the eye and said:

"My judgment is consistently excellent."

Olivia responded calmly, without being swayed by his audacity.

"I thank you for your consistent discernment."

The couple twitched their lips at the same time and looked straight ahead.

It was, how should you put it, a peaceful yet friendly scene.

Beatrix gazed intently at Noah's face. Her son, sipping wine, was completely absorbed in watching over his wife, even in the midst of this.

"It is so affectionate, it is lovely to see."

As Beatrix belatedly praised them, Leonard, who was standing nearby, whispered in her ear.

“See? I told you I arranged the marriage well.”

Then Beatrix, who was not swayed by his audacity, responded in a low voice.

"You possess excellent discernment, just like your son. Congratulations."

And a short while later, after Noah and Olivia returned, Beatrix personally took her daughter to her room.

“But Lucy, why did you ask Noah to pick out the headband for you out of so many people? I’m here, the nanny is here, there were plenty of people you could have asked.”

“Mother, you said that since you have to consider and keep the recipient in mind when choosing a gift, you should think of them time and time again before selecting one, didn’t you?”

"Yes?"

The girl glanced at her mother with eyes mixed with innocence and mischief, then answered with a grin.

"So, when you're confused about a gift, wouldn't it be the right thing to do to consult someone who has the exact same person in mind?"

While Beatrix tilted her head, not quite understanding what the girl was saying, Lucy added a kind explanation.

“Around that time, whenever I asked about Pulder, everyone talked about my aunt. They would ask, ‘You miss Princess Marguerite, don’t you?’ It wasn’t actually true, but I couldn’t say no, so I said yes.”

"Hmm?"

"But there was just one person, Noah, who talked about the Her Highness rather than Aunt.'

Only then did Beatrix understand what she was saying and look surprised.

"Did you?"

“Yes. I was actually quite curious about the reaction to the headband Her Highness wore today, so I even discreetly mentioned it to her, you know?”

At those words, Beatrix let out a chuckle, then covered her eyes with her hands and laughed for a long time.

The ten-year-old Princess smiled back at her mother as if she knew everything, then slipped right into her room.

Beatrix, who remained in the hallway, wiped the faint smile from her face and asked the head maid standing beside her.

"What Happened to Noah’s Revenge?"

"It is understood that all the ladies who visited the cafe at the time have apologized to Her Highness. Perhaps due to the exceptional rudeness of Madam Seymour, he has canceled the investment in Seymour, but it is said that he will proceed with the investment in Letium as planned."

“He probably wants to get revenge on Letium as well, but since I punished Mrs. Timberlin, he’s not bothering her further out of consideration for my reputation.”

If he did that, it would amount to proving that he's a being capable of inflicting a greater punishment than the Queen.

"Let's cancel the invitation to the ladies from the other day. I don't think I must be added as well."

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

"The jewelry and dress markets are going to be buzzing soon. It looks like that guy Noah is already buying up jewels."

Beatrix chuckled and leisurely turned around.

He’s the kind of guy who would lament that he can only put ten rings on Olivia because she only has ten fingers. She never imagined his unrequited love had lasted that long.

Good heavens, Noah has a crush.

Beatrix's faint smile gently shook the air in the dark hallway.

Beatrix's prophecy turned out to be true.

Prince Noah's men began purchasing all kinds of jewelry through Herod's famous jewel auctions. Furthermore, rumors circulated that they had also started eyeing expensive ornaments and rare silks from the East entering via the Silk Road.

The finest ingredients were supplied to the Prince's mansion, and everything from precious medicinal herbs said to warm and nourish the body to bath salts and scented candles—in short, all the finest items were chosen by the Prince.

"At this rate, if Her Highness says she is curious about giraffes, he will undoubtedly build a giraffe enclosure inside his house."

Jane Ambrose, the biggest beneficiary of this situation, muttered in a voice mixed with laughter.

Then, she turned her eyes to the newspaper in my hand. As she turned a page, the distinctive smell of newspaper ink wafted in.

"They say trends change as fast as flipping a hand, but who would have thought 'Les Duants' would become this popular?"

“Who would have thought Les Duants would report on actress Miranda Brooks’ scandal? The rumor is that they paid a billion kertes for that single scandal.”

“A billion? That wouldn't add up. Besides, they're giving it away for free, aren't they?”

"Rumors are just rumors. Or maybe they brought in a huge amount of money from somewhere?"

Jane Ambrose shrugged and slowly flipped through the Les Duants newspaper. There were hardly any articles related to politics or the economy; most were gossip, and at the very back, a very provocative novel was being serialized.

It was clear that it was a newspaper aimed at Herod's majority of commoners rather than the nobility or a small upper class.

"Well... It’s fun, after all."

And just as she finished reading the stimulating novel, the carriage passed through the front gate of the Prince and Princess's mansion. Jane Ambrose carelessly tossed the newspaper aside and quickly straightened her clothes.

Meanwhile, Olivia seriously worried that Noah might actually go bankrupt at this rate.

Whenever she looked outside, because the house seemed a little noisy, merchants were invariably busy carrying goods.

Olivia's dressing room was filled at a rapid pace, and every space she visited was decorated with unparalleled splendor and beauty.

On the balcony where Olivia often read, a mother-of-pearl wind chime said to have been imported from the East was installed. It was an object that produced a clear, melodious sound that had never been heard before as the pieces collided when the wind blew.

"Is that all?"

From unheard-of medicinal herbs to books and the like, there was absolutely no item that wasn't brought in.

Olivia thought as she watched the house turn into a treasure exhibition hall.

"Is this an expensive protest?"

A few days ago, on the way back from having dinner at the royal palace, Noah asked.

"Is there anything you want?"

Olivia immediately shook her head, as she had just received several large jewels.

"That’s enough."

However, Noah made a sour face, seemingly dissatisfied with something, and muttered.

“I guess I should just fill it out first without asking. Then you’ll figure it out too. What you want.”

Finishing her reminiscence, Olivia muttered as she looked at the masterpiece hanging on the wall. It was definitely a painting she had seen in a textbook.

"You are filling it out."

And the 'filling' of that day was brought to a climax by Jane Ambrose, who had a broad smile on her face.

“Oh ho ho ho, Your Highness! I will fill this dressing room to the brim today~!”

Meanwhile, Noah, who had gone to work because he could no longer handle business at the mansion, was even checking an invitation amidst his busy schedule.

Luxurious cards decorated with colorful ribbons would roll like trash on his fingers before being tossed into the trash can.

"This person doesn't have a good reputation either."

"There is nothing to see about this person."

"...I’m a bit confused, but the person she's close with is really not good."

What he was sorting were invitations addressed to Olivia, which were pouring in like a flood.

Meson, who had been watching that sight for several days already, spoke cautiously.

"Why don't you leave it to Her Highness?"

However, Noah ignored his words.

The fact that invitations were flooding in was proof that people had started to see Olivia as a goose that lays golden eggs.

"Not yet."

He can't let Olivia be among those who are trying to profit from her by any means.

"Oh, right, the Polo Club contacted me. They're asking if you'd like to attend today's match."

Noah paused at Meson's question. It was not because he was thinking of Polo, but because he realized that he hadn't thought of Polo even once recently. The same was true for cigarettes, not just Polo.

Noah was lost in thought.

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