SOIC - Chapter 86

Episode 86. Noah's Anxiety

As Noah disappeared, Meson quickly led Olivia away.

Olivia straightened her back and walked slowly. Meson looked back at her several times.

Even he was growing impatient. Isabelle Seymour's rude behavior was clearly unpleasant, the Prince's gaze was cold, and no one approached her.

Yet Olivia remained calm, as if she had anticipated something like this.

Olivia smiled at Meson, who kept looking back at her.

“Meson, you don’t have to worry about me.”

“Yes? Oh, no, that’s not it.”

Meson was taken aback by her unexpected words. Olivia turned away from him, looked straight ahead, and whispered even softer.

“So, Meson, don’t show your impatience.”

“Ah... I’m sorry.”

"Thank you for choosing Mrs. Winfred as my teacher. Although it was only a short time, I learned a lot from her."

“Is that so?”

"Yes."

As she maintained her calm demeanor, the sensitivity of Meson standing beside her was also gently rubbed away.

When she reached the middle of the hallway, she felt a presence behind her, and Olivia straightened her posture a little more.

"The arrogant nobles of the capital city distinguish themselves from the nobles of the provinces. Be wary of those who approach you with aplomb, and don't try to approach them first. Instead, maintain a calm and relaxed demeanor. In aristocratic society, a calm demeanor is the best defense."

Olivia tried to maintain a calm and relaxed demeanor, remembering Mrs. Winfred's advice.

The noble ladies' refusal to approach her was nothing special. More concerning was the woman named Isabelle, who had handed Noah a mallet.

“Usually, I handed it to him.”

Olivia's dark eyes sank like the deep sea.

Could she have been his lover?

Yes, his marriage was for extremely political reasons, so it's possible he had a lover before marrying Olivia herself.

But when she thought about it, strangely enough, her heart ached.

But there's no reason to bring up his past. To be honest, she wasn't even sure she had the right to do so.

Olivia shook her head as she felt a tug on her shoulder.

'It's a question without an answer.'

With each step, Olivia tried to erase Isabelle's presence from her mind. And by the time the vast grassy field came into view in the distance, Olivia had succeeded in pushing Isabelle out of her mind.

Noah skillfully drove the pony, stretching his body lightly. Usually, when he did this, the distracting thoughts that had been filling his mind would disappear, leaving him feeling refreshed.

But today, instead of feeling refreshed, his chest just felt heavy.

His gaze kept turning to the stands.

His pony purred and kicked the ground with its front paws, perhaps sensing Noah's unease.

As Count Ludwig, who was soon to be the referee, galloped out on his black horse, Noah took his position and stood. His right hand, gripping the mallet, tightened its grip.

“Gentlemen, please wait a moment until the ladies come out.”

Noah, ignoring Count Ludwig's words, gently patted the horse's neck as it purred. Even as he did so, his gaze remained fixed on the stands.

The sound of the wind blowing past his ears was loud.

How long has it been like that?

Someone opened the door to the stands and appeared.

In an instant, the wind, so loud it had chilled his eardrums, vanished. Noah stared intently at his wife, who had forgotten to breathe, as she walked out into the sunlight.

None of the ladies seemed to have tried to guide Olivia here, and only Meson remained by her side.

Perhaps the image of her wandering alone in the dark maze had been etched in his mind, but Olivia, from that day, suddenly appeared to Noah.

Meson guided her to the high table, where Olivia sat. Once seated, Olivia glanced around at the players before finally fixating on Noah.

He saw her elegant face bend. Then she spoke to Meson, who was standing nearby. Perhaps she was telling him that she had found him.

'There he is!'

It seemed like she could hear a maritime voice.

Noah's nerves, once as sharp as blades, dulled in that moment, and a sly smile appeared on his lips. He was finally able to exhale the breath he had been holding.

But after a while, Noah's smile disappeared like a lie.

Isabelle Seymour appeared next and sat down next to Olivia.

“May I sit here, Your Highness?”

Isabelle asked gently. Olivia answered with a smile.

“Of course.”

Isabelle cautiously sat down beside her. The scent of cologne wafted into her nostrils. Olivia stared straight ahead, taking in the scent.

As the ladies who had come out in droves took their seats, the whistle blew, and the game began.

Meson looked at the Prince, who was persistently looking at Olivia, then glanced at Isabelle, who was sitting next to Olivia.

Now his role was to prevent Isabelle from saying anything bad to Olivia.

“Your Highness, let me briefly explain the rules of the game...”

"His Royal Highness Prince Noah primarily plays as the striker, number 1. He works closely with the adjacent number 2 to score the ball into the opposing team's goal. Oh, and His Royal Highness is still holding the ball."

Isabelle interrupted Meson's speech and spoke to Olivia. She was smiling brightly and looking at Noah.

"Oh, unfortunately, the ball didn't go in. His Highness seems to be very disappointed as well. His expression is not good."

Olivia slowly turned her head and looked at Isabelle.

"His Highness's favorite sport is polo. After a match, he usually enjoys a couple of cocktails in the main room."

Only then did Isabelle face Olivia.

Isabelle whispered softly, staring into her clearly black eyes.

“He always eats the same thing.”

“His Highness the Prince always accepted the cocktails Young Lady brought him without a second thought, saying they were delicious.”

As the ladies around Isabelle secretly began to dance in unison, Isabelle smiled lightly and nodded.

Meson felt his vision darken. He had to intervene, but what should he do?

Rather than a round table where business was conducted, there was little room for social conversations where people laughed and poked fun at each other.

“I’ll tell you what kind of cocktail it is later.”

The noble ladies glanced at the Princess, their mouths slightly covered, intent on capturing every subtle expression. A polo match was in full swing before their eyes, but no one paid any attention.

It would be hilarious if the Princess had a contorted face or said, "Thank you," like an idiot. Everyone was looking at Olivia with that kind of attitude.

But the next moment, the words that came out of the Princess's lips were of an unexpected kind.

“I will ask His Highness myself.”

At her answer, Isabelle smiled even brighter, covering up her feelings.

"You don't like asking questions or having to repeat yourself twice or three times. That's why I'm here to tell you."

“That’s why I wanted to ask.”

“...”

As the smile disappeared from Isabelle's face, Olivia smiled and said.

“Young Lady recommended His Highness’s mallet to me earlier. But today, His Highness took out a different mallet.”

“...”

"So, whether it's cocktails or anything else, I'll ask you directly about anything that concerns Your Highness. I appreciate your kindness, Young Lady."

“...”

The dark eyes, which she had thought were crystal clear, seemed as inky as the deep ocean. Isabelle chewed hard on the tender flesh in her mouth.

Because in front of the Prince's rightful wife, there was nothing more to say.

Olivia slowly tore her gaze away from Isabelle. Her heart was pounding so hard she was afraid it might burst.

When she finally turned her head, Olivia met his eyes with those of deep green.

Noah was riding his horse towards her.

"Your Highness!!"

Lawrence, the second player, hurled the ball toward Noah with all his might, calling him over. Noah rarely missed a ball, thanks to his superior physical abilities.

But today he couldn't concentrate on the game, as if he was distracted by something.

The ball Lawrence sent passed Noah and rolled back, and was snatched away by an opposing player who was waiting for an opportunity.

Lawrence twisted his head and scowled.

But Noah, who should have followed right away, stood there alone and did not know how to move.

“Oh, seriously, why are you like that?!”

“You seem to be concerned.”

At Lawrence's grumbling, Iel nodded toward the stands.

As he said, Noah's gaze was fixed on the stands, where Isabelle Seymour and the Princess were facing each other.

Noah took a deep breath as he watched the scene. Something felt stuck in his gut, like something was stuck. He felt even more uncomfortable in this moment than when he was facing the crowds of people and the media.

What on earth is she talking about to Olivia?

How sharp must be the gazes of those women surrounding Olivia.

It was like watching a child left out on the water's edge, and he couldn't quite relax. The vast lawn, filled only with the sound of horses' breathing and the rough impact of their strikes, didn't bring him joy today.

Finally, Noah handed his mallet to Count Ludwig, who had approached him.

“James, you take my place today.”

"Yes?"

“The Princess’s health isn’t very good. I’ll take her first, so you take care of it in my stead.”

Noah forced the mallet onto the bewildered Count's shoulder and rode his horse towards the stands.

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