Episode 90. Feeding with a Smile
Olivia sat up straight as much as possible and looked at the vast biographical dictionary.
Unfortunately, her etiquette teacher, Mrs. Timberline, wasn't exactly a friendly person. Though she had a smiling face, she was intent on subtly crushing her self-esteem.
Olivia, who had to survive among various nobles, had to constantly understand the psychology of others to survive.
At one time, she had blamed herself for all of this, but one day, Margot appeared and easily shattered her thoughts.
“Hey! Why are you trying to find the cause of all the nonsense those idiots are doing to you?”
Some people were openly verbally abusive, but most of them tried to slap Olivia's self-esteem with a polite face.
Margot was quite blunt in her condemnation of that kind of contempt.
"That's the most despicable thing. Feeding someone with a smile. It's something nobles usually do, but it's important to recognize it. The method is simple. If it makes you feel bad, that's it. Then avoid it."
Olivia met many people like Countess Timberline, and they're the most difficult to deal with. That's why Olivia avoids interacting with similar types of people, instead of reacting.
But the problem was that Mrs. Timberline had come as a teacher at the Queen's recommendation. Not only was she unable to avoid it, but she was terrified that jer actions would have repercussions on the Queen and Noah.
Olivia felt like sighing, but she straightened her back again, tensing her stomach.
If you can't avoid it, you have no choice but to confront it. If someone nitpicks, you just have to act in a way that prevents them from nitpicking.
Olivia calmly opened the biographical dictionary.
After leaving the Prince's mansion, Countess Timberline headed straight for her parents' home, the Marquis of Letium. In the Marchioness's salon, many noble ladies were already gathered, chatting. Among them was Countess Seymour.
The Marchioness, the owner of the salon, jumped up from her seat and greeted Mrs. Timberline.
“Oh, Juliana! Come on! Oh, you look so tired!”
At the Marchioness's words, Mrs. Timberline sighed artificially and took off her hat.
“There are more than one or two things I have to teach jer, oh my...”
The ladies' eyes lit up at her words. They had been waiting for Lady Timberline to return from her education of the Princess.
Mrs. Timberline basked in the attention. Everyone was fixated on her lips. The women who had secretly ignored her because she'd married into the countryside.
Mrs. Timberline tilted her tea elegantly, took a deep breath, and then opened her mouth slightly.
“She wasn’t even wearing a corset.”
"Oh."
The ladies exchanged glances and whispered secretly.
"I heard that the lower classes of the Pulder don't usually wear corsets. They're uncomfortable for work."
"And since the mansion is managed by a maid... There were just too many things to take care of. I'm thinking of hiring someone decent to be the manager soon. Oh, by the way, Mrs. Brooks. I heard your family is in the interior design business these days?"
“Oh, that’s right!”
“I will soon be entrusting you with the Prince’s mansion, so please be prepared to come as soon as I contact you.”
“Oh my goodness! Thank you! Please contact me anytime.”
Mrs. Timberline spoke as if she were the caretaker of the Prince's mansion, then let out another artificial breath.
“Haa... Since Her Majesty the Queen earnestly requested it, I couldn’t refuse, so I took on the responsibility of educating her... but it’s too difficult.”
“I know you’re having a hard time. If there’s anything we can do to help, please let us know.”
As Mrs. Timberline spoke, patting her head, the ladies leaned forward, their eyes shining. Mrs. Timberline waved her fan gently, then glanced at the ladies.
“Well then, can I ask you a favor?”
“Please speak.”
"I need to educate Her Highness about this small-scale salon culture. You know, she never experienced it before, right?"
“Yes.”
"I'll contact you soon. Let's have a small tea party with this group. We don't have to meet at someone's house. How about meeting at a trendy cafe?"
Inviting the Princess to your home would mean too much work. And since it could easily become a formal event, you wouldn't be able to express your desire to see her.
The ladies laughed, covering their mouths with their fans.
“Yes. I know a good place.”
“I will take the Her Highness with me, so let’s meet up sometime.”
"Her Highness has a truly wonderful teacher. As everyone says, you are truly a wonderful person."
Someone's soft words permeated the air, which was filled with the strong scent of perfume.
As evening approached, there was no word from the Prince, and Olivia ate a light dinner alone, just like yesterday. She left more than half of her steak behind, just like yesterday.
Mrs. Betty, as she cleared away the dinner she had barely managed to eat, glanced at the Princess's face. Her posture seemed uncomfortable, but her expression wasn't particularly unpleasant.
“Shall I get you some coffee like yesterday?”
Her expression brightened at the cautious suggestion.
“Is that so?”
“...With ice cubes floating on it?”
Olivia chuckled and nodded.
“Please wait a moment.”
A moment later, Mrs. Betty brought Olivia a cup of iced coffee. As she finished her work and neatly walked away, Olivia suddenly spoke.
“You left a long time after Countess Timberline left my room. Was it because you were talking to her about the mansion?”
"... I'm sorry."
"Madam, it's nothing to be sorry about. I brought this up... because I wanted to tell you not to worry too much."
Mrs. Betty slowly raised her eyes and looked at Olivia. Her calm, dark eyes remained unwavering.
“Thank you for your hard work today.”
At the soft voice, Mrs. Betty held her breath for a moment. Then she quickly lowered her head.
"Yes."
“I’ll enjoy my coffee. I’ll sleep later, so don’t worry about it.”
Mrs. Betty thought she would soon be fired from the Prince's mansion. The Countess was always picking on her, so the Princess would naturally fire her.
She felt a sense of injustice, and her vision darkened. Her heart raced with anxiety, but when she finally met the Princess, her face was as calm as it had been the day before.
Betty's heart began to calm at her neat and affectionate demeanor. She left the Princess's room, careful not to make a sound. She stared at the plate of food for a long time before muttering.
“...I guess I should post something other than steak tomorrow.”
Olivia stood up, practiced her walking skills, and then recited the biographical dictionary over and over again. To escape Mrs. Timberline's nitpicking, she had to learn quickly.
Still, the corset was truly unbearable. Even a few sips of her favorite coffee left her feeling bloated. The plunging neckline no longer bothered her.
Meanwhile, the night deepened.
Olivia occasionally glanced out the window, watching for Noah's arrival. Like a young girl waiting for her grandmother, she stood by the window, watching intently for the carriage carrying him.
As the night drew to a close, insects chirped, and a cool, refreshing autumn breeze blew.
Olivia was already standing on the balcony railing, outside the window. As she did so, even older memories came flooding back.
Back when she was very young, she used to wait on tiptoe for jer parents to come home.
Olivia's heart pounded like a little girl's.
How long has it been like that?
As if it were a lie, she thought she heard the sound of horse hooves in the distance, and then she heard the sound of carriage wheels rolling powerfully.
Her heart pounded, and her shoulders shook.
Without another thought, she turned and stormed out of the room.
Olivia grabbed the hem of her dress with one hand and descended the stairs, then crossed the hall. Mrs. Betty, who had come out to greet the Prince, quickly opened the front door. Olivia smiled at her and ran out the door.
It felt like she was crossing a dimension.
The slightly thicker darkness, the slightly colder and cooler air were just glimpses that flowed unconsciously.
Even in the dim light, his blond hair sparkled beautifully.
Perhaps because she had been waiting for him to come, Olivia was strangely happy.
“Noah!”
Noah's eyes widened at the bright and cheerful call.
Olivia stood in the doorway, wearing a lovely pink dress, her delicate, flower-like face arched in a long, drawn-out manner.
She looked like she had been waiting for him.
“...”
Noah stood still and looked at his wife.
The fatigue that had been building up behind his back disappeared as if it were a lie.
“Liv.”
The soft call was so sweet it almost melted. The servants everywhere gasped in relief.
Noah quickly climbed the steps to the front door and approached Olivia.
The face slowly rising upwards couldn't have been more beautiful. But his gaze instinctively turned downward to the nape of her neck.
The dress, which perfectly embodied the capital's vulgar fashions, exposed half of Olivia's chest. Perhaps she was wearing the corset she'd been so desperately trying to wear, but it made her breasts look unusually swollen.
Noah quickly turned Olivia's shoulder and strode into the mansion.
“What about food?”
“I ate. What about you?”
"Me too."
Noah asked Mrs. Betty to prepare a bath and a change of clothes, then led Olivia to the bedroom.
As Olivia entered the bedroom, Noah immediately closed the door and gently grabbed her by the back of the neck. Then, without giving her a moment to breathe, he forced himself upon her.
Her back touched the door, but she didn't have time to feel it. Olivia took a sharp breath, only to have it snatched away by him again.
Olivia sat up straight as much as possible and looked at the vast biographical dictionary.
Unfortunately, her etiquette teacher, Mrs. Timberline, wasn't exactly a friendly person. Though she had a smiling face, she was intent on subtly crushing her self-esteem.
Olivia, who had to survive among various nobles, had to constantly understand the psychology of others to survive.
At one time, she had blamed herself for all of this, but one day, Margot appeared and easily shattered her thoughts.
“Hey! Why are you trying to find the cause of all the nonsense those idiots are doing to you?”
Some people were openly verbally abusive, but most of them tried to slap Olivia's self-esteem with a polite face.
Margot was quite blunt in her condemnation of that kind of contempt.
"That's the most despicable thing. Feeding someone with a smile. It's something nobles usually do, but it's important to recognize it. The method is simple. If it makes you feel bad, that's it. Then avoid it."
Olivia met many people like Countess Timberline, and they're the most difficult to deal with. That's why Olivia avoids interacting with similar types of people, instead of reacting.
But the problem was that Mrs. Timberline had come as a teacher at the Queen's recommendation. Not only was she unable to avoid it, but she was terrified that jer actions would have repercussions on the Queen and Noah.
Olivia felt like sighing, but she straightened her back again, tensing her stomach.
If you can't avoid it, you have no choice but to confront it. If someone nitpicks, you just have to act in a way that prevents them from nitpicking.
Olivia calmly opened the biographical dictionary.
***
After leaving the Prince's mansion, Countess Timberline headed straight for her parents' home, the Marquis of Letium. In the Marchioness's salon, many noble ladies were already gathered, chatting. Among them was Countess Seymour.
The Marchioness, the owner of the salon, jumped up from her seat and greeted Mrs. Timberline.
“Oh, Juliana! Come on! Oh, you look so tired!”
At the Marchioness's words, Mrs. Timberline sighed artificially and took off her hat.
“There are more than one or two things I have to teach jer, oh my...”
The ladies' eyes lit up at her words. They had been waiting for Lady Timberline to return from her education of the Princess.
Mrs. Timberline basked in the attention. Everyone was fixated on her lips. The women who had secretly ignored her because she'd married into the countryside.
Mrs. Timberline tilted her tea elegantly, took a deep breath, and then opened her mouth slightly.
“She wasn’t even wearing a corset.”
"Oh."
The ladies exchanged glances and whispered secretly.
"I heard that the lower classes of the Pulder don't usually wear corsets. They're uncomfortable for work."
"And since the mansion is managed by a maid... There were just too many things to take care of. I'm thinking of hiring someone decent to be the manager soon. Oh, by the way, Mrs. Brooks. I heard your family is in the interior design business these days?"
“Oh, that’s right!”
“I will soon be entrusting you with the Prince’s mansion, so please be prepared to come as soon as I contact you.”
“Oh my goodness! Thank you! Please contact me anytime.”
Mrs. Timberline spoke as if she were the caretaker of the Prince's mansion, then let out another artificial breath.
“Haa... Since Her Majesty the Queen earnestly requested it, I couldn’t refuse, so I took on the responsibility of educating her... but it’s too difficult.”
“I know you’re having a hard time. If there’s anything we can do to help, please let us know.”
As Mrs. Timberline spoke, patting her head, the ladies leaned forward, their eyes shining. Mrs. Timberline waved her fan gently, then glanced at the ladies.
“Well then, can I ask you a favor?”
“Please speak.”
"I need to educate Her Highness about this small-scale salon culture. You know, she never experienced it before, right?"
“Yes.”
"I'll contact you soon. Let's have a small tea party with this group. We don't have to meet at someone's house. How about meeting at a trendy cafe?"
Inviting the Princess to your home would mean too much work. And since it could easily become a formal event, you wouldn't be able to express your desire to see her.
The ladies laughed, covering their mouths with their fans.
“Yes. I know a good place.”
“I will take the Her Highness with me, so let’s meet up sometime.”
"Her Highness has a truly wonderful teacher. As everyone says, you are truly a wonderful person."
Someone's soft words permeated the air, which was filled with the strong scent of perfume.
***
As evening approached, there was no word from the Prince, and Olivia ate a light dinner alone, just like yesterday. She left more than half of her steak behind, just like yesterday.
Mrs. Betty, as she cleared away the dinner she had barely managed to eat, glanced at the Princess's face. Her posture seemed uncomfortable, but her expression wasn't particularly unpleasant.
“Shall I get you some coffee like yesterday?”
Her expression brightened at the cautious suggestion.
“Is that so?”
“...With ice cubes floating on it?”
Olivia chuckled and nodded.
“Please wait a moment.”
A moment later, Mrs. Betty brought Olivia a cup of iced coffee. As she finished her work and neatly walked away, Olivia suddenly spoke.
“You left a long time after Countess Timberline left my room. Was it because you were talking to her about the mansion?”
"... I'm sorry."
"Madam, it's nothing to be sorry about. I brought this up... because I wanted to tell you not to worry too much."
Mrs. Betty slowly raised her eyes and looked at Olivia. Her calm, dark eyes remained unwavering.
“Thank you for your hard work today.”
At the soft voice, Mrs. Betty held her breath for a moment. Then she quickly lowered her head.
"Yes."
“I’ll enjoy my coffee. I’ll sleep later, so don’t worry about it.”
Mrs. Betty thought she would soon be fired from the Prince's mansion. The Countess was always picking on her, so the Princess would naturally fire her.
She felt a sense of injustice, and her vision darkened. Her heart raced with anxiety, but when she finally met the Princess, her face was as calm as it had been the day before.
Betty's heart began to calm at her neat and affectionate demeanor. She left the Princess's room, careful not to make a sound. She stared at the plate of food for a long time before muttering.
“...I guess I should post something other than steak tomorrow.”
Olivia stood up, practiced her walking skills, and then recited the biographical dictionary over and over again. To escape Mrs. Timberline's nitpicking, she had to learn quickly.
Still, the corset was truly unbearable. Even a few sips of her favorite coffee left her feeling bloated. The plunging neckline no longer bothered her.
Meanwhile, the night deepened.
Olivia occasionally glanced out the window, watching for Noah's arrival. Like a young girl waiting for her grandmother, she stood by the window, watching intently for the carriage carrying him.
As the night drew to a close, insects chirped, and a cool, refreshing autumn breeze blew.
Olivia was already standing on the balcony railing, outside the window. As she did so, even older memories came flooding back.
Back when she was very young, she used to wait on tiptoe for jer parents to come home.
Olivia's heart pounded like a little girl's.
How long has it been like that?
As if it were a lie, she thought she heard the sound of horse hooves in the distance, and then she heard the sound of carriage wheels rolling powerfully.
Her heart pounded, and her shoulders shook.
Without another thought, she turned and stormed out of the room.
Olivia grabbed the hem of her dress with one hand and descended the stairs, then crossed the hall. Mrs. Betty, who had come out to greet the Prince, quickly opened the front door. Olivia smiled at her and ran out the door.
It felt like she was crossing a dimension.
The slightly thicker darkness, the slightly colder and cooler air were just glimpses that flowed unconsciously.
Even in the dim light, his blond hair sparkled beautifully.
Perhaps because she had been waiting for him to come, Olivia was strangely happy.
“Noah!”
Noah's eyes widened at the bright and cheerful call.
Olivia stood in the doorway, wearing a lovely pink dress, her delicate, flower-like face arched in a long, drawn-out manner.
She looked like she had been waiting for him.
“...”
Noah stood still and looked at his wife.
The fatigue that had been building up behind his back disappeared as if it were a lie.
“Liv.”
The soft call was so sweet it almost melted. The servants everywhere gasped in relief.
Noah quickly climbed the steps to the front door and approached Olivia.
The face slowly rising upwards couldn't have been more beautiful. But his gaze instinctively turned downward to the nape of her neck.
The dress, which perfectly embodied the capital's vulgar fashions, exposed half of Olivia's chest. Perhaps she was wearing the corset she'd been so desperately trying to wear, but it made her breasts look unusually swollen.
Noah quickly turned Olivia's shoulder and strode into the mansion.
“What about food?”
“I ate. What about you?”
"Me too."
Noah asked Mrs. Betty to prepare a bath and a change of clothes, then led Olivia to the bedroom.
As Olivia entered the bedroom, Noah immediately closed the door and gently grabbed her by the back of the neck. Then, without giving her a moment to breathe, he forced himself upon her.
Her back touched the door, but she didn't have time to feel it. Olivia took a sharp breath, only to have it snatched away by him again.
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