Episode 121. The Dog Chasing the Chicken
Meson nodded as if he had expected it.
After handling his business, Noah headed straight to the mansion.
The mansion seemed quiet yet chaotic, due to the sheer volume of items that had arrived today. Noah glanced up at the bedroom and asked Mrs. Betty as if greeting her.
"What about the Princess?"
"She is in the study."
Noah took off his gloves and jacket, handed them over, and headed to the study lightly dressed.
As a result of instructing that the path Olivia usually walked be decorated to be splendid and cozy, the hallway leading to the study was harmoniously adorned with all kinds of rare masterpieces and ornaments.
Noah, crossing the hallway while satisfactorily admiring the paradise he had created, politely knocked on the white study door.
"Come in."
As a refined voice was heard, Noah grinned and opened the door.
Olivia was sitting neatly at a fairly spacious desk, reading a book. She looked quiet yet intellectual. Noah suddenly wondered if she would have looked like that if she had continued as a professor.
At that moment, Olivia, who was reading a book, looked up.
“Noah!”
As Olivia was about to get up from her seat, Noah approached her and sat on the edge of the desk. Upon closer inspection, he realized she was reading not a book, but a newspaper. Moreover, she was reading newspapers covering politics and economics, organized by different publishers.
“Why are you checking the same content in the newspaper?”
"That is the only way to accurately grasp the key issues. You read it that way, too, don't you? You know that."
As Olivia laughed and protested, Noah turned his head and scanned the article she was reading. It was news about the Royal School, and she had read it quite deeply, as she had even clipped out parts of it.
Noah just lifted his eyes and looked at Olivia.
“Even going so far as to scrapbook? You study?”
"I was just curious about how Herod is going and what the issues are."
“The Duchess of Rosemond has truly noble tastes. Subscribe to other newspapers if necessary.”
As he said that, he examined the nape of her neck.
There was no necklace hanging on the slightly exposed neck, and no ornaments were worn on the hand resting on the desk.
Noah blinked and suddenly asked.
"Did Jane Ambrose come by?"
“Oh, she stopped by. With a really happy face.”
Olivia rested her chin on her hand and looked up at her husband.
“Well, she had every right to be in a good mood.”
Noah laughed shamelessly and muttered, then returned to the desk and reached out his hand to Olivia.
"Let's go. I need to check if the goods arrived properly."
The dressing room, which had been completely emptied by Noah's wrath, was packed full of all kinds of items as if nothing had happened.
Clutches of various colors said to be in fashion among ladies filled the walls, and items ranging from glamorous dresses to simple blouses and skirts, as well as hats and gloves of various materials, were displayed attractively.
And in the very center of the dressing room, there was an overwhelmingly large mirror with an impressive gold frame and a dark blue velvet sofa.
Noah wanted to give Olivia a dressing room that would leave any noble in the capital speechless. He looked around the treasure box he had made with satisfaction and asked.
“Which one do you like the most among the ones that came in today?”
At his question, Olivia blinked and looked around. They were all so glamorous and beautiful that she couldn't even begin to guess which one to choose.
"They're all so good that I don't know which one to choose."
For Noah, who had spent an astronomical amount of money decorating this single dressing room, it was truly a disheartening sound.
Noah tightened his grip and then relaxed it, leading Olivia to sit on the velvet sofa. Then he brought out the most expensive tiara from her collection and the matching teardrop diamond necklace.
“This isn’t my mother’s stuff, so it’s okay if you drop it. Just wait.”
Then, he carefully placed a tiara shaped like an olive wreath on Olivia's head. After putting the necklace around her neck as well, he stepped back a little and looked at her.
Olivia was like a single flower that had just poked its face out in the early morning. Transparent, wet with dew, yet a faint blossom of dawn.
Still feeling that something was missing, he brought a set of dark green emerald earrings and pinned them to her ears, and put a large wedding diamond ring on her finger.
In Olivia's eyes, he appeared as if he were playing with dolls. Just as she felt like she had become a giant doll, Noah lifted her up and led her to the mirror.
A woman dressed more lavishly than Herod's Queen stood there.
“How is it? Do you like it?”
Standing beside her was Noah, his eyes shining brighter than anyone else's as he wondered about the answer. What was she to say as she looked into those expectant eyes?
Olivia burst into laughter and narrowed her eyes.
"I like it, Noah."
Well, it wasn't exactly a satisfactory answer, but Noah shrugged and sat her back down on the sofa. Then he started choosing another set of jewelry.
"This time, I was thinking of having you wear blue-toned jewelry."
"Aren't you busy?"
"I came after finishing all my work."
Noah replied while casually picking up the jewel Jane had handled as if it were a newborn, but the person who was actually in a hurry was someone else entirely.
“What should I do? I have to change my clothes and go out right now.”
“...?”
Noah looked at Olivia as if he had heard something really strange.
“Where are you going?”
"I received a call from the Royal Palace this morning. My mother asked to have tea this afternoon."
Noah was speechless in front of the only person who could contact Olivia without going through him.
“...Mother?”
“Yes. Could you pick out an outfit for me? I can’t go like this. It’s bound to be more glamorous than Mother's.”
Olivia carefully placed the fancy tiara into the box and made a request.
A moment later, Olivia kissed him on the cheek while wearing the small diamond set she had received as a gift, a neat green dress, and a black coat.
"I'll be back!"
Noah, left behind, stared blankly at Olivia as she walked away smiling.
"Hmm..."
Noah checked his watch. Since Olivia wasn't there, he thought about going to play polo, but that was impossible too, as it was already late.
He stuffed his hands into his pockets and stood frozen in place.
Olivia arrived at the Queen's Palace and headed straight for her office. As she crossed the corridor of the palace, which was lavishly yet elegantly decorated, ladies-in-waiting passing by greeted her politely.
When she arrived in front of the office, Mrs. Falsman, the head lady-in-waiting, warmly welcomed her.
"Welcome, Your Highness, the Princess."
"Hello, Mrs. Falsman."
The head maid opened the office door with a gentle smile.
"Please come in. Her Majesty is waiting."
Olivia calmly composed herself and stepped through the door that Mrs. Falsman opened for her. The Queen's office, filled with a subtle fragrance, was bright, radiant, and elegant.
"Come on in, Olivia."
As Beatrix, who was sitting at her desk with her back to the window, greeted her warmly, Olivia also knelt down to greet her.
"Good afternoon, Mother."
Beatrix took off the glasses she was wearing and stood up from the desk.
The two held a tea party at a table set up in one corner of the office.
Beatrix led the conversation naturally, out of consideration for Olivia, who might feel uncomfortable around her. It was mostly about Noah's childhood.
Beatrix, who had been talking about Noah for a while, casually asked Olivia a question.
"As we were talking, I realized I’ve been talking too much about myself. I’m curious to hear your story, Olivia. How was life in Pulder?"
Olivia quietly chose her words in her head before speaking.
“Pulder was a time of learning for me. The reason I went there was also because of the school.”
"School?"
“Yes. She said that it was difficult to attend school in Herod, so my grandmother took me to Pulder.”
Beatrix knew about the death of Olivia's parents during her childhood.
However, she did not know the exact reason why her grandmother had taken her granddaughter to Pulder. To think it was for the granddaughter's education.
“Since it is difficult to obtain consent for admission at Herod, we must head to Pulder, where admission is unrestricted.”
"Yes."
Olivia recalled her grandmother's face for the first time in a long while. As she remembered the image of her smiling with her wrinkled face, the tip of her nose tingled for no reason.
"Wasn't life at Pulder hard? It couldn't have been easy holding on all alone in a school where everyone was a boy."
Then, Olivia, whose eyes had been reddening, lifted her head and smiled bravely.
“At one point, it was so hard that I cried every day. Even when I wanted to quit, I couldn't because I thought of my grandmother, who felt proud that I was attending school, so I just held on. But as it gradually built up, I felt a sense of reward and accomplishment.”
"Did you?"
"Yes. There was something else that was difficult."
"Which is?"
“I repeatedly searched for work I could do under my own name and faced frustration. Looking back now, it wasn’t that long, but it was difficult because it felt like I was going through a tunnel with no end in sight.”
Beatrix listened to Olivia and then asked.
"So Noah went to find you right at that time?"
At her question, Olivia smiled awkwardly and nodded.
"It was the day my professorship contract was canceled. I was walking home crying for a while when I saw him standing in front of my house."
“Oh, my god. So? He suddenly asked to marry you?”
Olivia chuckled at Beatrix's admiration.
"I was really surprised and frozen, but he gave me a letter and told me to read it and come find him."
“Ah... why did he propose like a creditor?”
“No. He didn’t do that.”
“So, did you go see him? Right, since you went to see him, I suppose that’s why you got married?”
As Olivia's cheeks flushed, Beatrix smiled playfully. Olivia bit her lip tightly, then cautiously changed the subject.
“Mother, there is something I would like to ask you.”
"Then, as much as you want."
"Please tell me what I can do as a Princess."
At her question, the playfulness vanished from Beatrix's face.
“What can you do as a Princess?”
"Yes."
“Do you want to work? It might actually be hard once you try it.”
"Still, unless I try, I won't know what kind of work suits me or if it's difficult. I want to try whatever is given to me. I enjoy doing things. However, I still don't have a clue what I should do."
“Without asking Noah?”
It was the moment Olivia was about to speak in response to her question.
A hurried knock shattered the quiet air of the office.
Meson nodded as if he had expected it.
After handling his business, Noah headed straight to the mansion.
The mansion seemed quiet yet chaotic, due to the sheer volume of items that had arrived today. Noah glanced up at the bedroom and asked Mrs. Betty as if greeting her.
"What about the Princess?"
"She is in the study."
Noah took off his gloves and jacket, handed them over, and headed to the study lightly dressed.
As a result of instructing that the path Olivia usually walked be decorated to be splendid and cozy, the hallway leading to the study was harmoniously adorned with all kinds of rare masterpieces and ornaments.
Noah, crossing the hallway while satisfactorily admiring the paradise he had created, politely knocked on the white study door.
"Come in."
As a refined voice was heard, Noah grinned and opened the door.
Olivia was sitting neatly at a fairly spacious desk, reading a book. She looked quiet yet intellectual. Noah suddenly wondered if she would have looked like that if she had continued as a professor.
At that moment, Olivia, who was reading a book, looked up.
“Noah!”
As Olivia was about to get up from her seat, Noah approached her and sat on the edge of the desk. Upon closer inspection, he realized she was reading not a book, but a newspaper. Moreover, she was reading newspapers covering politics and economics, organized by different publishers.
“Why are you checking the same content in the newspaper?”
"That is the only way to accurately grasp the key issues. You read it that way, too, don't you? You know that."
As Olivia laughed and protested, Noah turned his head and scanned the article she was reading. It was news about the Royal School, and she had read it quite deeply, as she had even clipped out parts of it.
Noah just lifted his eyes and looked at Olivia.
“Even going so far as to scrapbook? You study?”
"I was just curious about how Herod is going and what the issues are."
“The Duchess of Rosemond has truly noble tastes. Subscribe to other newspapers if necessary.”
As he said that, he examined the nape of her neck.
There was no necklace hanging on the slightly exposed neck, and no ornaments were worn on the hand resting on the desk.
Noah blinked and suddenly asked.
"Did Jane Ambrose come by?"
“Oh, she stopped by. With a really happy face.”
Olivia rested her chin on her hand and looked up at her husband.
“Well, she had every right to be in a good mood.”
Noah laughed shamelessly and muttered, then returned to the desk and reached out his hand to Olivia.
"Let's go. I need to check if the goods arrived properly."
The dressing room, which had been completely emptied by Noah's wrath, was packed full of all kinds of items as if nothing had happened.
Clutches of various colors said to be in fashion among ladies filled the walls, and items ranging from glamorous dresses to simple blouses and skirts, as well as hats and gloves of various materials, were displayed attractively.
And in the very center of the dressing room, there was an overwhelmingly large mirror with an impressive gold frame and a dark blue velvet sofa.
Noah wanted to give Olivia a dressing room that would leave any noble in the capital speechless. He looked around the treasure box he had made with satisfaction and asked.
“Which one do you like the most among the ones that came in today?”
At his question, Olivia blinked and looked around. They were all so glamorous and beautiful that she couldn't even begin to guess which one to choose.
"They're all so good that I don't know which one to choose."
For Noah, who had spent an astronomical amount of money decorating this single dressing room, it was truly a disheartening sound.
Noah tightened his grip and then relaxed it, leading Olivia to sit on the velvet sofa. Then he brought out the most expensive tiara from her collection and the matching teardrop diamond necklace.
“This isn’t my mother’s stuff, so it’s okay if you drop it. Just wait.”
Then, he carefully placed a tiara shaped like an olive wreath on Olivia's head. After putting the necklace around her neck as well, he stepped back a little and looked at her.
Olivia was like a single flower that had just poked its face out in the early morning. Transparent, wet with dew, yet a faint blossom of dawn.
Still feeling that something was missing, he brought a set of dark green emerald earrings and pinned them to her ears, and put a large wedding diamond ring on her finger.
In Olivia's eyes, he appeared as if he were playing with dolls. Just as she felt like she had become a giant doll, Noah lifted her up and led her to the mirror.
A woman dressed more lavishly than Herod's Queen stood there.
“How is it? Do you like it?”
Standing beside her was Noah, his eyes shining brighter than anyone else's as he wondered about the answer. What was she to say as she looked into those expectant eyes?
Olivia burst into laughter and narrowed her eyes.
"I like it, Noah."
Well, it wasn't exactly a satisfactory answer, but Noah shrugged and sat her back down on the sofa. Then he started choosing another set of jewelry.
"This time, I was thinking of having you wear blue-toned jewelry."
"Aren't you busy?"
"I came after finishing all my work."
Noah replied while casually picking up the jewel Jane had handled as if it were a newborn, but the person who was actually in a hurry was someone else entirely.
“What should I do? I have to change my clothes and go out right now.”
“...?”
Noah looked at Olivia as if he had heard something really strange.
“Where are you going?”
"I received a call from the Royal Palace this morning. My mother asked to have tea this afternoon."
Noah was speechless in front of the only person who could contact Olivia without going through him.
“...Mother?”
“Yes. Could you pick out an outfit for me? I can’t go like this. It’s bound to be more glamorous than Mother's.”
Olivia carefully placed the fancy tiara into the box and made a request.
A moment later, Olivia kissed him on the cheek while wearing the small diamond set she had received as a gift, a neat green dress, and a black coat.
"I'll be back!"
Noah, left behind, stared blankly at Olivia as she walked away smiling.
"Hmm..."
Noah checked his watch. Since Olivia wasn't there, he thought about going to play polo, but that was impossible too, as it was already late.
He stuffed his hands into his pockets and stood frozen in place.
Olivia arrived at the Queen's Palace and headed straight for her office. As she crossed the corridor of the palace, which was lavishly yet elegantly decorated, ladies-in-waiting passing by greeted her politely.
When she arrived in front of the office, Mrs. Falsman, the head lady-in-waiting, warmly welcomed her.
"Welcome, Your Highness, the Princess."
"Hello, Mrs. Falsman."
The head maid opened the office door with a gentle smile.
"Please come in. Her Majesty is waiting."
Olivia calmly composed herself and stepped through the door that Mrs. Falsman opened for her. The Queen's office, filled with a subtle fragrance, was bright, radiant, and elegant.
"Come on in, Olivia."
As Beatrix, who was sitting at her desk with her back to the window, greeted her warmly, Olivia also knelt down to greet her.
"Good afternoon, Mother."
Beatrix took off the glasses she was wearing and stood up from the desk.
The two held a tea party at a table set up in one corner of the office.
Beatrix led the conversation naturally, out of consideration for Olivia, who might feel uncomfortable around her. It was mostly about Noah's childhood.
Beatrix, who had been talking about Noah for a while, casually asked Olivia a question.
"As we were talking, I realized I’ve been talking too much about myself. I’m curious to hear your story, Olivia. How was life in Pulder?"
Olivia quietly chose her words in her head before speaking.
“Pulder was a time of learning for me. The reason I went there was also because of the school.”
"School?"
“Yes. She said that it was difficult to attend school in Herod, so my grandmother took me to Pulder.”
Beatrix knew about the death of Olivia's parents during her childhood.
However, she did not know the exact reason why her grandmother had taken her granddaughter to Pulder. To think it was for the granddaughter's education.
“Since it is difficult to obtain consent for admission at Herod, we must head to Pulder, where admission is unrestricted.”
"Yes."
Olivia recalled her grandmother's face for the first time in a long while. As she remembered the image of her smiling with her wrinkled face, the tip of her nose tingled for no reason.
"Wasn't life at Pulder hard? It couldn't have been easy holding on all alone in a school where everyone was a boy."
Then, Olivia, whose eyes had been reddening, lifted her head and smiled bravely.
“At one point, it was so hard that I cried every day. Even when I wanted to quit, I couldn't because I thought of my grandmother, who felt proud that I was attending school, so I just held on. But as it gradually built up, I felt a sense of reward and accomplishment.”
"Did you?"
"Yes. There was something else that was difficult."
"Which is?"
“I repeatedly searched for work I could do under my own name and faced frustration. Looking back now, it wasn’t that long, but it was difficult because it felt like I was going through a tunnel with no end in sight.”
Beatrix listened to Olivia and then asked.
"So Noah went to find you right at that time?"
At her question, Olivia smiled awkwardly and nodded.
"It was the day my professorship contract was canceled. I was walking home crying for a while when I saw him standing in front of my house."
“Oh, my god. So? He suddenly asked to marry you?”
Olivia chuckled at Beatrix's admiration.
"I was really surprised and frozen, but he gave me a letter and told me to read it and come find him."
“Ah... why did he propose like a creditor?”
“No. He didn’t do that.”
“So, did you go see him? Right, since you went to see him, I suppose that’s why you got married?”
As Olivia's cheeks flushed, Beatrix smiled playfully. Olivia bit her lip tightly, then cautiously changed the subject.
“Mother, there is something I would like to ask you.”
"Then, as much as you want."
"Please tell me what I can do as a Princess."
At her question, the playfulness vanished from Beatrix's face.
“What can you do as a Princess?”
"Yes."
“Do you want to work? It might actually be hard once you try it.”
"Still, unless I try, I won't know what kind of work suits me or if it's difficult. I want to try whatever is given to me. I enjoy doing things. However, I still don't have a clue what I should do."
“Without asking Noah?”
It was the moment Olivia was about to speak in response to her question.
A hurried knock shattered the quiet air of the office.
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