Episode 93. Corset marks
Mrs. Timberline clearly saw the crack in Olivia's expression. She smiled gently and added,
"Honey, if my teachings are a bit overwhelming, please understand. You need to learn as quickly as possible and get involved in social life. After etiquette class, why don't you go out with me to the capital city? Etiquette class is tough, but the rest isn't so bad, so just hang in there."
Thirty minutes later, Mrs. Timberline returned.
Even after she returned, Olivia stayed for a long time.
Mrs. Timberline's voice lingered in her ears and wouldn't leave. She knew exactly where Olivia was on the edge, and she touched it.
Olivia's inner self constantly rang alarm bells.
'Damage.'
Olivia took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She wanted to avoid it. In her experience, people like her never turned to her with kindness.
However...
“Her Majesty the Queen has endured many hardships before I was appointed as her etiquette teacher.”
She couldn't possibly ignore those words.
The Queen said her lessons with her would last from six months at the shortest to a year at the longest. Moreover, even if another etiquette teacher arrived, there was no guarantee they would be friendly to her.
Olivia drank the cold tea down like water and opened her eyes wide.
This time, it seems like it's time to put some strength into the stomach and hold on.
Olivia barely managed to take a bath before falling into a deep sleep.
Mrs. Betty came to visit Olivia several times while she was sleeping without dinner, but eventually she made a small sandwich, placed it on the bedside table, and left.
And then, well past midnight, Noah returned.
Noah looked up at the balcony attached to the master bedroom. Judging by the lights being off, Olivia must have fallen asleep.
After spending hours in the smoky, raccoon-like atmosphere, the smell of cigarettes permeated his body. It was a truly daunting encounter, but it was fruitful. With this, he was ready to recoup the funds deposited in Wilhelm Corporation at any time.
“You have arrived, Your Highness.”
“What about the Princess?”
“She is asleep. I have prepared water in the bathroom.”
Noah nodded slightly and leisurely walked to the bathroom. After washing the cigarette smell off his body, he returned to the bedroom and gazed blankly down at his wife, who lay there as if dead asleep.
The blanket was neat, as if she had never tossed and turned.
Noah, who had been staring blankly at her, turned his gaze to the silver plate dome beside him. Why would Mrs. Betty, who never brought food into the bedroom, have left this here?
Noah pried open the dome of the plate.
There was a sandwich, cut into bite-sized pieces. Noah stared at it for a moment, then pulled the string.
When Mrs. Betty, who had been summoned, appeared, the Prince was waiting for her, leaning against the wall of the hallway.
“What’s wrong?”
“Did the Princess skip dinner?”
Mrs. Betty answered the question that came out of nowhere honestly.
"She fell asleep early in the evening. Since she didn't wake up, I left a sandwich with her. Should I prepare dinner now?"
“...”
The Prince, who had been silent for a moment, asked in a slightly lower voice.
“How is the Princess’s teacher?”
His beautiful face, half-revealed in the pale, bluish moonlight, was as eerie as a demon's. Those sunken eyes couldn't have been more terrifying.
As Mrs. Betty quickly averted her gaze, Noah added slowly.
“I’m just curious, so answer honestly.”
"I..."
"Hmm."
Mrs. Betty chose her words in her head and then opened her mouth carefully.
“Even though it’s called etiquette training... it seems like she isn’t even allowing Her Highness to sit down for a moment.”
“...”
The Prince fell silent at her words. Mrs. Betty glanced up to examine his expression, but it was too dark to see clearly.
After a while, he didn't say anything until he disappeared into the room, leaving behind a message saying thank you for your hard work.
Noah entered the room, climbed quietly onto the bed, and looked at her sleeping face. She was pale and white.
Lying quietly beside her, his stomach churned. Ashes that burned his guts and thick black smoke filled his chest, suffocating him.
Mrs. Timberline clearly saw the crack in Olivia's expression. She smiled gently and added,
"Honey, if my teachings are a bit overwhelming, please understand. You need to learn as quickly as possible and get involved in social life. After etiquette class, why don't you go out with me to the capital city? Etiquette class is tough, but the rest isn't so bad, so just hang in there."
Thirty minutes later, Mrs. Timberline returned.
Even after she returned, Olivia stayed for a long time.
Mrs. Timberline's voice lingered in her ears and wouldn't leave. She knew exactly where Olivia was on the edge, and she touched it.
Olivia's inner self constantly rang alarm bells.
'Damage.'
Olivia took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She wanted to avoid it. In her experience, people like her never turned to her with kindness.
However...
“Her Majesty the Queen has endured many hardships before I was appointed as her etiquette teacher.”
She couldn't possibly ignore those words.
The Queen said her lessons with her would last from six months at the shortest to a year at the longest. Moreover, even if another etiquette teacher arrived, there was no guarantee they would be friendly to her.
Olivia drank the cold tea down like water and opened her eyes wide.
This time, it seems like it's time to put some strength into the stomach and hold on.
Olivia barely managed to take a bath before falling into a deep sleep.
Mrs. Betty came to visit Olivia several times while she was sleeping without dinner, but eventually she made a small sandwich, placed it on the bedside table, and left.
And then, well past midnight, Noah returned.
Noah looked up at the balcony attached to the master bedroom. Judging by the lights being off, Olivia must have fallen asleep.
After spending hours in the smoky, raccoon-like atmosphere, the smell of cigarettes permeated his body. It was a truly daunting encounter, but it was fruitful. With this, he was ready to recoup the funds deposited in Wilhelm Corporation at any time.
“You have arrived, Your Highness.”
“What about the Princess?”
“She is asleep. I have prepared water in the bathroom.”
Noah nodded slightly and leisurely walked to the bathroom. After washing the cigarette smell off his body, he returned to the bedroom and gazed blankly down at his wife, who lay there as if dead asleep.
The blanket was neat, as if she had never tossed and turned.
Noah, who had been staring blankly at her, turned his gaze to the silver plate dome beside him. Why would Mrs. Betty, who never brought food into the bedroom, have left this here?
Noah pried open the dome of the plate.
There was a sandwich, cut into bite-sized pieces. Noah stared at it for a moment, then pulled the string.
When Mrs. Betty, who had been summoned, appeared, the Prince was waiting for her, leaning against the wall of the hallway.
“What’s wrong?”
“Did the Princess skip dinner?”
Mrs. Betty answered the question that came out of nowhere honestly.
"She fell asleep early in the evening. Since she didn't wake up, I left a sandwich with her. Should I prepare dinner now?"
“...”
The Prince, who had been silent for a moment, asked in a slightly lower voice.
“How is the Princess’s teacher?”
His beautiful face, half-revealed in the pale, bluish moonlight, was as eerie as a demon's. Those sunken eyes couldn't have been more terrifying.
As Mrs. Betty quickly averted her gaze, Noah added slowly.
“I’m just curious, so answer honestly.”
"I..."
"Hmm."
Mrs. Betty chose her words in her head and then opened her mouth carefully.
“Even though it’s called etiquette training... it seems like she isn’t even allowing Her Highness to sit down for a moment.”
“...”
The Prince fell silent at her words. Mrs. Betty glanced up to examine his expression, but it was too dark to see clearly.
After a while, he didn't say anything until he disappeared into the room, leaving behind a message saying thank you for your hard work.
Noah entered the room, climbed quietly onto the bed, and looked at her sleeping face. She was pale and white.
Lying quietly beside her, his stomach churned. Ashes that burned his guts and thick black smoke filled his chest, suffocating him.
Should I attach someone to her? Should I pretend it's for security purposes and have him stand by her side the entire time she's being trained?
In his view, Olivia's manners were already perfect, so how much more could he teach her?
At that moment, a slender hand brushed Noah's cheek.
“Noah, are you here?”
He turned his head to find Olivia lying on her side, staring at him. The bags under her large eyes seemed to have grown hollow in just one day.
Noah jumped up from his seat and immediately lifted the hem of Olivia's pajamas.
“Why?!”
Olivia sat up at the sudden action, but Noah's actions remained unstoppable. He finally lifted the hem of her dress and traced the area near her ribs with his fingertips.
Although not as sunken as yesterday, he could definitely feel a faint ripple. The ripple must be fading as time passes.
Noah immediately rose from his seat and lit the lamp. Then, he pulled away from Olivia's hand as she tried to lower her dress, and then he determinedly checked her upper body.
“...”
Noah's gaze grew colder. Even in the dim light, the bruises were clearly visible.
“Noah!”
Olivia called out to him, but Noah remained silent. This time, he lifted her foot. Sure enough, her big toe was red and swollen, and her heel was blistered.
Noah's eyes burned like silent fire as he held the tiny foot in one hand. He muttered softly.
“I’ll make sure that woman can’t come tomorrow, so you know that.”
Olivia, who had been staring blankly at Noah with her feet held, grabbed his arm.
“Calm down.”
“Do I look excited?”
His breathing was quiet, and his eyes were eerily calm.
Olivia took a deep breath and spoke quickly.
"This person was chosen by Her Majesty the Queen. I cannot act rashly."
“I think that woman was the one who did it to you first. Have you been standing around all day?”
"It's only been two days. If I run away in two days, I'll be on the run forever."
"What are you running away from? You're no longer Olivia Liberty. You're my wife, Olivia Rosemond Astrid."
Olivia approached Noah. His sharp gaze was calm yet menacing. She gazed into his eyes and whispered.
“Please trust me and wait for me. I can do it.”
"If wearing a corset was going to cause you bruises, you should have just said no. Did you foolishly endure it?!"
"I'm just trying it. This is my first time. When you first pick up a pen and start writing, your middle fingers turn red. Then, calluses form. If you put down the pen out of fear, you'll never be able to pick it up again. On the other hand, if you keep at it, you'll get the hang of it."
“...”
"You know, you said I didn't have to fulfill any responsibilities as a Princess. I just want to be your wife and be proud of it."
“Who told you that you are not upright?”
“Myself, Noah.”
Olivia, facing his fearfully calm gaze, rose from her seat. Then, she carefully embraced Noah, who was kneeling at her feet.
Because it was so quiet, yet somehow it felt like it was going to break.
Noah let out a short breath as he felt Olivia gently embrace him. Olivia stroked Noah's hair, running her fingers down his neck and back.
He knew why she was comforting him, but he didn't know why.
Yet, strangely, his heart, which had been pounding wildly, slowly relaxed at her touch. The fire in his eyes, which had been throbbing fiercely, also slowly subsided.
Olivia asked, pulling away slightly as Noah's breathing seemed to have subsided.
“Have you had dinner?”
Noah frowned sharply and then suddenly lifted her up. He then sat her down on the sofa and ordered a servant to take her sandwich and bring her some warm milk instead.
“Drink it all.”
Noah brought the cup to Olivia's lips and spoke as if giving her a command. He then watched her drink the milk.
“Drink more. Drink it all.”
When Olivia finally finished drinking the milk, Noah took the cup from her and wiped her mouth with a towel.
“I’ll do it.”
Olivia flinched at the subtle, yet familiar, feeling, but Noah paid her no mind. After making her swig her lips with water, he lifted her up as she tried to get up and laid her down on the bed.
Olivia, who was being held and moved here and there, looked up at Noah, who was covering her with the blanket up to her neck, and eventually burst out laughing.
It seemed affectionate, but somehow it felt like she was dealing with an annoying child.
“Noah, why are you picking me up and putting me down?”
"Don't ask questions, just go to sleep. And even if it's a class, you don't need a corset, shoes, or anything like that."
"All right."
“Don’t give that woman the upper hand.”
"Yes."
Olivia's heart felt warm, whether it was the milk or something else. She slowly closed her eyes, feeling a hand gently stroking her hair.
“Good night, Noah.”
There was no answer, but the languid touch continued until she fell asleep.
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