Episode 88. Forget the Bullshit
The Prince's mansion had no maids. When Noah became independent, the Queen offered to send one of her trusted women to manage his palace. Of course, her son flatly declined the offer.
"I'm more comfortable with people who just pay, Mother. And my home isn't a palace."
So, there were only maids in Noah's mansion, and Mrs. Betty was not a noblewoman either.
Mrs. Betty was a person with a keen eye and quick hands. She was particularly reserved and didn't particularly bother to do anything outside of her duties.
No matter who came to the mansion, she would simply complete her duties and disappear, never even attempting to stay and socialize. That's why the Prince kept her employed for years.
Even she was nervous about the Princess she would eventually serve. After all, she was the one she would clash with the most.
Since the Princess was someone who had successfully risen in social status, she expected that he would come with a lot of swagger.
But contrary to her expectations, the Princess smiled softly and affectionately.
“Nice to meet you, ma’am.”
Mrs. Betty, unconcerned with worldly affairs, had no idea what the Princess did or where she came from. So, her round, dark eyes and clean-cut face were all she had left on the table.
Of course, no one knows how that impression will change in the future.
After bathing, the Princess took a stroll around the mansion and then had a light dinner alone. The Prince had said he would eat a light meal in his office because he had a lot of work to do.
Still, she didn't seem particularly upset, even though she left more than half of her steak behind.
“Please tell the cook I enjoyed it, ma’am.”
"Yes."
She gave a short answer as usual, but he didn't seem to care much about it either.
Then the Princess opened the book.
“Would you like some black tea?”
When Mrs. Betty, who was concerned about the steak she had left behind, asked a question, the Princess tilted her head quietly and asked back.
“Do you have any coffee? I’d like it cold.”
“I’ll bring it to you.”
"Thank you."
While Mrs. Betty quickly brought out some cold coffee, the Princess just sat quietly reading a book.
Then, looking at the coffee with ice cubes floating on it, she smiled brightly and quickly took a sip.
“Ah... It’s been so long since I last had a drink that I really wanted one. It’s dinner time, so I shouldn’t be drinking, but I still couldn’t resist.”
When the other person smiled brightly, Mrs. Betty also smiled faintly.
“Please let me know anytime.”
“I’ll drink this, read a book, and then go to sleep, so you don’t have to worry about it anymore.”
"Yes."
Despite Mrs. Betty's blunt tone, she greeted her politely and disappeared.
Olivia glanced at her back and then turned her gaze back to the book. But despite her gaze, she couldn't read it at all.
Words that stabbed her heart like a knife came to mind without her will.
"What's so great about being there like a spectacle? Who told you to do it? It's actually worse for me to be there like that."
Olivia closed the book and took a deep breath. The thought that she might be his only flaw kept creeping into her mind, and it was excruciating.
Olivia shook her head and opened the book she'd closed. It was a history of Herod, a book Madame Lehmann had given her for future study.
“Let’s distinguish between what we can and cannot do, and focus on what we can do.”
Olivia repeated the words ingrained in her mind, desperately pushing away the relentless flood of thoughts. It felt like trying to block waves with her bare hands, but perhaps because she'd been doing it for so long, she soon felt better.
The Prince's mansion had no maids. When Noah became independent, the Queen offered to send one of her trusted women to manage his palace. Of course, her son flatly declined the offer.
"I'm more comfortable with people who just pay, Mother. And my home isn't a palace."
So, there were only maids in Noah's mansion, and Mrs. Betty was not a noblewoman either.
Mrs. Betty was a person with a keen eye and quick hands. She was particularly reserved and didn't particularly bother to do anything outside of her duties.
No matter who came to the mansion, she would simply complete her duties and disappear, never even attempting to stay and socialize. That's why the Prince kept her employed for years.
Even she was nervous about the Princess she would eventually serve. After all, she was the one she would clash with the most.
Since the Princess was someone who had successfully risen in social status, she expected that he would come with a lot of swagger.
But contrary to her expectations, the Princess smiled softly and affectionately.
“Nice to meet you, ma’am.”
Mrs. Betty, unconcerned with worldly affairs, had no idea what the Princess did or where she came from. So, her round, dark eyes and clean-cut face were all she had left on the table.
Of course, no one knows how that impression will change in the future.
After bathing, the Princess took a stroll around the mansion and then had a light dinner alone. The Prince had said he would eat a light meal in his office because he had a lot of work to do.
Still, she didn't seem particularly upset, even though she left more than half of her steak behind.
“Please tell the cook I enjoyed it, ma’am.”
"Yes."
She gave a short answer as usual, but he didn't seem to care much about it either.
Then the Princess opened the book.
“Would you like some black tea?”
When Mrs. Betty, who was concerned about the steak she had left behind, asked a question, the Princess tilted her head quietly and asked back.
“Do you have any coffee? I’d like it cold.”
“I’ll bring it to you.”
"Thank you."
While Mrs. Betty quickly brought out some cold coffee, the Princess just sat quietly reading a book.
Then, looking at the coffee with ice cubes floating on it, she smiled brightly and quickly took a sip.
“Ah... It’s been so long since I last had a drink that I really wanted one. It’s dinner time, so I shouldn’t be drinking, but I still couldn’t resist.”
When the other person smiled brightly, Mrs. Betty also smiled faintly.
“Please let me know anytime.”
“I’ll drink this, read a book, and then go to sleep, so you don’t have to worry about it anymore.”
"Yes."
Despite Mrs. Betty's blunt tone, she greeted her politely and disappeared.
Olivia glanced at her back and then turned her gaze back to the book. But despite her gaze, she couldn't read it at all.
Words that stabbed her heart like a knife came to mind without her will.
"What's so great about being there like a spectacle? Who told you to do it? It's actually worse for me to be there like that."
Olivia closed the book and took a deep breath. The thought that she might be his only flaw kept creeping into her mind, and it was excruciating.
Olivia shook her head and opened the book she'd closed. It was a history of Herod, a book Madame Lehmann had given her for future study.
“Let’s distinguish between what we can and cannot do, and focus on what we can do.”
Olivia repeated the words ingrained in her mind, desperately pushing away the relentless flood of thoughts. It felt like trying to block waves with her bare hands, but perhaps because she'd been doing it for so long, she soon felt better.
However, the peace that had been there for a moment was suddenly shattered by a soft voice.
“It seems like studying is really your hobby.”
“Whoa!”
She was so startled that she let out a loud scream, startling even Noah.
“Liv!”
As Olivia gasped for breath, Noah gently patted her back and scolded her.
"No, is there anyone else who's coming in here besides me? Why are you so surprised?"
“Noah, if you suddenly whisper something in their ear, everyone will be surprised!”
"Oh, then next time, can I just act first instead of talking? I'm fine with that, too."
As his hand slowly moved up her neckline, Olivia quickly grabbed his sinister hand.
Noah sat down next to her, chuckling. He then glanced at the cover of the book she was reading.
“This is the worst, too.”
“Is there anything you enjoyed studying?”
“That’s sarcastic.”
“I’m telling you this because you said they were all the worst.”
“Honestly, there isn’t any.”
In his indifferent expression, she could almost see the face of young Noah, who had never gone to Cosmos Hill. Olivia couldn't help but laugh out loud.
Noah stared blankly at Olivia, who burst into laughter. His heart, once filled with anger and anxiety, seemed as if it had never been so, now filled with peace and comfort.
Noah, who had been staring at the dimples slightly etched beneath her cheekbones, reached out and slowly stroked her hair. He removed the pins that had loosely tied it back, and the wavy strands spread out. Olivia's laughter also subsided as his touch continued.
Noah suddenly turned her shoulders and began braiding her hair.
“Do you know how to braid hair?”
"Who can't do this? There's a difference between good and bad."
Noah braided Olivia's hair into a ponytail and let it flow over her right shoulder.
Noah looked at the exposed nape of her neck for a moment, then tilted his head and kissed her.
Feeling her shoulders stiffen slightly, Noah pulled her around the waist. He gazed at the soft, fluffy corner of her ear, tilted his head, and kissed it.
Olivia trembled slightly as he lightly kissed her and then took a bite.
“Now, just a moment, Noah.”
But Noah only gently stroked her flat stomach and swollen lines with his hands.
As her soft, supple body pressed against his, a warm, burning sensation welled up in his stomach, and his entire body felt pleasantly flushed. A part of his heart, once unfulfilled, felt as if it had been filled.
As he hugged her a little tighter and bent over, his heart, which always seemed half-floating, was pressed firmly against her back. Then, a strange sense of stability came over him.
Noah whispered into her wet ear.
“Is there anything you want to ask me?”
“...”
But Olivia didn't answer. Noah waited for a long time.
A moment later, Olivia raised her hand and slowly stroked Noah's hair, his nose buried in the nape of her neck. The languid sensation made Noah chuckle softly and close his eyes.
“Noah.”
“Yeah, ask me anything. I’ll answer everything.”
“I’m sorry for the inconvenience.”
“...”
Noah, who had been feeling drowsy and had his eyes closed, slowly opened them.
The tickling feeling somewhere in his chest disappeared in an instant, and he became enlightened.
“I told you to ask what you wanted to know, but you're just talking nonsense.”
“Do you have any questions?”
Noah, who was breathing quietly, hugged Olivia a little tighter.
“Noah, I can’t breathe.”
“Then I’ll tell you.”
“...”
“Forget all the bullshit you heard today, Liv.”
Olivia's movements, which had been trembling, stopped as a voice, seemingly drawn from deep within, spoke. Noah raised one hand and gently cupped Olivia's chin. Then he turned her face to the side and met her eyes.
His own reflection, with transparent black pupils and a sullen expression, was young.
If only he could erase everything Isabelle Seymour had said from Olivia's mind.
Noah sat up and swallowed Olivia's lips.
Her plump, red lips were never satisfied with him, no matter how much he swallowed. Her tiny body, which he could feel with his whole body, swelled greatly and then silently sank like cotton candy; no matter how much he held her, it only ached.
Noah was filled with joy as he looked at the cloudy, cloudy black eyes, and sighed repeatedly as he looked at the delicate skin that left marks with every touch.
Why is it so small, thin, and pitiful?
Noah couldn't tell if Olivia was really like that or if his reason was just paralyzed, and he was seeing things that way.
And that night, he stroked Olivia's hair and hugged her pale back all night. Even the moonlight was harsh on him, but Olivia's breathing was sweet.
“Good night, Noah.”
He was at peace by her side.
The next day, Noah woke up early and went straight to work. He had a lot to do regarding Wilhelm's work.
Olivia said as she followed Noah down the stairs to work.
“You should at least eat breakfast before you go.”
"Don't worry, we have a cook at the company. Your etiquette teacher was Countess Timberline, right?"
“Yes. She decided to visit this morning.”
"Yes. If anything happens, call me. Tell Mrs. Betty, and she'll contact me."
“Don’t worry.”
“If Mrs. Timberline talks nonsense, write it all down.”
“Your Highness, why do you speak ill of all nobles?”
“There are a lot of people who have eaten it badly.”
"Her Majesty the Queen has chosen her. I promise I will diligently pursue my studies."
Noah shrugged and frowned.
"Honesty, diligence, learning. I hate those words, but they suit you so well, Your Highness."
“...Since His Highness is disgusted, I must do the same.”
Noah chuckled at the quiet retort.
Noah chuckled as he glanced at Olivia as she followed him to the front door. Even as he boarded the carriage that had stopped at the entrance, Olivia remained there.
“Take care on your way!”
Noah looked at Olivia through the carriage window.
Standing at the entrance to the grand and elaborate mansion, Olivia, wearing a silk dress, smiled brightly. Noah felt so satisfied that his stomach was full.
As the carriage finally started to move, Noah turned his head and watched Olivia walk away.
She waved lightly at the departing carriage. It was childish, childish, but it didn't fit.
And Meson, who encountered Noah like that at the company, was very confused.
He was sure he'd be in a foul mood and on edge, so why is he in such a good mood?
“I don’t know.”
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