Episode 98. The Rabbit in a Cat Mask
A rabbit wearing a cat mask.
When Noah returned to his bedroom after a late-night shower, Olivia's appearance was exactly like this.
“What is all this?”
Olivia was sitting there with a flashlight on, struggling with yarn and a needle, while Mrs. Betty was sitting across from her.
Mrs. Betty glanced at the Prince as he entered and quickly rose from her seat.
“Your Highness, you have done enough for today. Please do more tomorrow.”
“Thank you, ma’am.”
"You're welcome."
As Mrs. Betty tried to organize the embroidery basket, Olivia shook her head and stopped her.
“I’ll clean it up.”
“Yes. Then take a rest.”
As Mrs. Betty politely bowed and left, the Prince, who had been standing blankly to one side, quietly followed her out.
Noah closed the door and then suddenly opened his mouth.
“How was her day? How was her meal, Olivia?”
“Nothing special. She even ate properly.”
“What class did she take?”
“Countess Timberline asked if she had read any liberal arts books, and Her Highness said that there was nothing on the list the Countess had presented that she had not read.”
As soon as those words left Mrs. Betty's mouth, a sneer appeared on Noah's lips.
Who are you talking about liberal arts books to now?
“I guess she doesn’t understand what it means to be the first female college student.”
Mrs. Betty bit her lip at the sarcastic laughter, then added:
“She asked Her Highness to go with her to the salon to be held at the Marquis of Letium, and before that, she asked Her Highness to go to the city together.”
“When exactly?”
“They haven’t discussed the schedule.”
Noah's eyes shone sharply, like a sharpened sword. He lowered his voice slightly and commanded.
“Let me know as soon as the schedule is set.”
Mrs. Betty also nodded with a determined look in her eyes.
“Understood, Your Highness.”
“You’ve worked hard. Go and rest.”
As Mrs. Betty bowed deeply and walked away, Noah entered the room.
Olivia was still struggling with her embroidery hoop. She was truly a person who always tried her best.
Noah approached her with a leisurely gait.
“How long are you going to do that?”
Olivia, who had been pulling out the long needle, sighed deeply and raised her head.
“It’s difficult.”
Noah's lips twitched at the soft complaint. Olivia lowered her head again and fumbled, and sloppily embroidered. Noah leaned back against her, watching her intently.
You said you hadn't been standing all day, but your complexion definitely looks better than yesterday.
But then it was.
Olivia's shoulders flinched, and her brow furrowed. She quickly put down the embroidery frame, grabbed the handkerchief nearby, and wrapped it around her fingers. Noah jumped up.
“Did you get pricked?!”
“It’s hard to see the needle when you’re inserting it. If you keep doing it, you won’t get pricked.”
Noah snatched Olivia's hand and examined the pricked area. Judging by the warmth in her fingertips, she must have been pricked several times.
“What are you doing this for?! She's teaching useless stuff anyway!”
When he got angry, Olivia stared blankly at her husband. He looked disapprovingly at the blood seeping from her fingertips, then finally called for the servant.
“Bring me some disinfectant and bandages.”
The servant quickly disappeared at the Prince's command and returned carrying a large bottle of medicine. Olivia looked at the large bottle Noah was carrying, then looked down at her fingers.
“Noah, I can’t even see the wound.”
“Have you never heard the story about the guy who died from being pricked by a needle?”
“...Isn’t that a fairy tale? A spinning wheel needle.”
"You can actually die from being stabbed by a small blade like this. It's said that paralysis sets in, and eventually you die. Stop talking nonsense and just give me your hand."
Despite his cold tone, he placed Olivia's hand on his knee and gently applied the disinfectant. His touch was delicate yet gentle. After applying the disinfectant, he thinly sliced the bandage and skillfully wrapped it around her fingertip, neatly wrapping it.
Olivia stared at his long fingers moving over her own, then looked up at her husband's shadowed face.
The sharp, dim light shattered his profile, and it was so striking that it made her heart flutter every time she saw him. Sunken eyes, a prominent, unbending nose, and a jawline as sharp as a knife.
But the lips were red, plump, and soft like a woman's.
It resembled him, sharp and sharp at times, yet so gentle in unexpected places. It resembled him, a contradiction that made him seem dangerous, like a demon, yet on days like this, he felt as gentle as an angel.
“Noah.”
"Let's call carefully," Noah said, looking at her. His eyes, like leaves reaching out to her, made Olivia's heart pound.
"Thank you."
Noah chuckled in gratitude, a shy smile on his face.
Seeing his smile brought to mind vast hills of cosmos. He was her strong fence, her peace.
At the same time, it was the most powerful fear.
She vowed dozens of times that she would never become someone whose responsibility hung heavily on his shoulders.
Olivia asked, taking hold of the frame and needle again.
"What do you like? My ultimate goal is to embroider a pattern on your handkerchief."
Noah, who had been organizing his medicine cabinet, looked at Olivia with disapproval as she held the needle with her bandaged hand. He knew she would surely talk back even if he told her to stop, so he silently grabbed Olivia by the waist.
“Oh, there’s a needle. Be careful.”
“Would you like me to engrave my favorite things on a handkerchief? That would be difficult.”
Noah whispered, resting his chin on Olivia's shoulder. As his hand wrapped around her stomach, slowly moved upward, Olivia quickly put down the frame and grabbed his hand.
Meanwhile, Noah was hanging on to Olivia's shoulder.
After biting down on the hem of her pajamas, he gently kissed her exposed white shoulder.
“Isn’t that right, ma’am?”
As Noah teased her, stroking the firm, pink peak, Olivia blushed and screamed.
“I won’t engrave that!”
“You ask me what I like, and what I can and can’t do?”
“I asked for nothing!”
“And now it seems like the time we agreed on is here. What do you think?”
As Olivia's movements ceased, a soft laugh came from above her. It was a low, cool laugh, reminiscent of a deep valley, and it made her heart flutter.
Eventually, Olivia relaxed all her strength and surrendered herself to his touch.
Leaning her back against his firm, warm chest, listening to his pounding heartbeat, she felt as comfortable as if she were hiding beneath the world's strongest wall.
Slowly turning her head to look up at him, she could almost sense the passion swirling within his deep, green eyes. Whenever that passion flickered in his cold, unfeeling gaze, it felt as though Olivia’s insides were melting with heat.
Olivia turned, sat on his lap, and pulled Noah's cheek toward hers, kissing him. Her aggressive gesture made Noah's breathing more labored.
Through her drowsy, open vision, he sees dark, cloudy eyes.
His wife, with her black hair and eyes like a crow's, seemed to have two wings.
“You are truly an unknowable person.”
“Huh? What do I need?”
"I'm whispering something," Olivia asked, her eyes wide. Noah, half-lying on the sofa, slowly stroked Olivia's hair as he answered.
“But I don’t know if it’s because I don’t know you, or because I don’t know myself.”
“...”
“Don’t try to think about it.”
“Let me start by saying something I don’t understand...”
As Olivia grumbled softly, Noah pulled her to his chest and whispered in her ear.
"There's a Hammington warship construction event. Let's go together, Liv."
Olivia, who had been burying her head in his chest, suddenly raised her head.
“Really!?”
Her pitch-black eyes sparkled with such life that Noah chuckled and kissed her on the corner of her eye.
"Yes."
Swallowing his wife's muttering lips, Noah hugged Olivia's waist more deeply. A fragrant scent rose from her black hair, which spilled like a canopy, and every part of her body felt soft and supple.
When midwinter comes, he will have to carry Olivia in his arms and go to Hamuel.
Then, he has to kill some leisurely time there until spring comes.
He wonders if the cosmos was blooming then. If there are flowers that bloom without knowing the season, he should go and see them.
With a thought that wasn't even funny, Noah dug deep into Olivia.
After Noah's surprise visit, classes with Mrs. Timberline became much more comfortable.
The contempt and disdain in her ashen eyes remained, but Olivia was willing to tolerate it, as long as it remained hidden. At this rate, the lessons could likely last for another six months.
Time passed like water, and ten days passed by in the blink of an eye.
Jane Ambrose glanced furtively at the Countess of Timberline, who was wearing a grumpy expression.
She had just brought the dress the Princess would wear to the shipbuilding ceremony. The Countess, who had been guiding the dress from the very beginning, was still looking shaky even after the fitting, and she was deeply offended.
“These days, the works of Ambrose Atelier are not popular in high society...”
As the Countess of Timberline's mutterings pierced her ears, Jane Ambrose turned away and let out a small, suppressed breath.
Mrs. Timberline looked over the Princess's dress and then asked abruptly.
“Do you like it?”
Then all the maids who were serving tilted their heads.
The deep purple dress, with its seasonal feel, perfectly complemented the Princess's dark hair and pale skin. Her elegant yet alluring demeanor made anyone passing by turn their head to look at her. But did she like it?
Olivia glanced at Jane Ambrose's expression in the mirror and turned to Mrs. Timberline.
"Taste is subjective, Mrs. Timberline. I respect your discerning eye. But I also like this dress."
Olivia added, turning to Jane.
“Thank you for your hard work, Mrs. Ambrose.”
“It is an honor, Your Highness.”
A rabbit wearing a cat mask.
When Noah returned to his bedroom after a late-night shower, Olivia's appearance was exactly like this.
“What is all this?”
Olivia was sitting there with a flashlight on, struggling with yarn and a needle, while Mrs. Betty was sitting across from her.
Mrs. Betty glanced at the Prince as he entered and quickly rose from her seat.
“Your Highness, you have done enough for today. Please do more tomorrow.”
“Thank you, ma’am.”
"You're welcome."
As Mrs. Betty tried to organize the embroidery basket, Olivia shook her head and stopped her.
“I’ll clean it up.”
“Yes. Then take a rest.”
As Mrs. Betty politely bowed and left, the Prince, who had been standing blankly to one side, quietly followed her out.
Noah closed the door and then suddenly opened his mouth.
“How was her day? How was her meal, Olivia?”
“Nothing special. She even ate properly.”
“What class did she take?”
“Countess Timberline asked if she had read any liberal arts books, and Her Highness said that there was nothing on the list the Countess had presented that she had not read.”
As soon as those words left Mrs. Betty's mouth, a sneer appeared on Noah's lips.
Who are you talking about liberal arts books to now?
“I guess she doesn’t understand what it means to be the first female college student.”
Mrs. Betty bit her lip at the sarcastic laughter, then added:
“She asked Her Highness to go with her to the salon to be held at the Marquis of Letium, and before that, she asked Her Highness to go to the city together.”
“When exactly?”
“They haven’t discussed the schedule.”
Noah's eyes shone sharply, like a sharpened sword. He lowered his voice slightly and commanded.
“Let me know as soon as the schedule is set.”
Mrs. Betty also nodded with a determined look in her eyes.
“Understood, Your Highness.”
“You’ve worked hard. Go and rest.”
As Mrs. Betty bowed deeply and walked away, Noah entered the room.
Olivia was still struggling with her embroidery hoop. She was truly a person who always tried her best.
Noah approached her with a leisurely gait.
“How long are you going to do that?”
Olivia, who had been pulling out the long needle, sighed deeply and raised her head.
“It’s difficult.”
Noah's lips twitched at the soft complaint. Olivia lowered her head again and fumbled, and sloppily embroidered. Noah leaned back against her, watching her intently.
You said you hadn't been standing all day, but your complexion definitely looks better than yesterday.
But then it was.
Olivia's shoulders flinched, and her brow furrowed. She quickly put down the embroidery frame, grabbed the handkerchief nearby, and wrapped it around her fingers. Noah jumped up.
“Did you get pricked?!”
“It’s hard to see the needle when you’re inserting it. If you keep doing it, you won’t get pricked.”
Noah snatched Olivia's hand and examined the pricked area. Judging by the warmth in her fingertips, she must have been pricked several times.
“What are you doing this for?! She's teaching useless stuff anyway!”
When he got angry, Olivia stared blankly at her husband. He looked disapprovingly at the blood seeping from her fingertips, then finally called for the servant.
“Bring me some disinfectant and bandages.”
The servant quickly disappeared at the Prince's command and returned carrying a large bottle of medicine. Olivia looked at the large bottle Noah was carrying, then looked down at her fingers.
“Noah, I can’t even see the wound.”
“Have you never heard the story about the guy who died from being pricked by a needle?”
“...Isn’t that a fairy tale? A spinning wheel needle.”
"You can actually die from being stabbed by a small blade like this. It's said that paralysis sets in, and eventually you die. Stop talking nonsense and just give me your hand."
Despite his cold tone, he placed Olivia's hand on his knee and gently applied the disinfectant. His touch was delicate yet gentle. After applying the disinfectant, he thinly sliced the bandage and skillfully wrapped it around her fingertip, neatly wrapping it.
Olivia stared at his long fingers moving over her own, then looked up at her husband's shadowed face.
The sharp, dim light shattered his profile, and it was so striking that it made her heart flutter every time she saw him. Sunken eyes, a prominent, unbending nose, and a jawline as sharp as a knife.
But the lips were red, plump, and soft like a woman's.
It resembled him, sharp and sharp at times, yet so gentle in unexpected places. It resembled him, a contradiction that made him seem dangerous, like a demon, yet on days like this, he felt as gentle as an angel.
“Noah.”
"Let's call carefully," Noah said, looking at her. His eyes, like leaves reaching out to her, made Olivia's heart pound.
"Thank you."
Noah chuckled in gratitude, a shy smile on his face.
Seeing his smile brought to mind vast hills of cosmos. He was her strong fence, her peace.
At the same time, it was the most powerful fear.
She vowed dozens of times that she would never become someone whose responsibility hung heavily on his shoulders.
Olivia asked, taking hold of the frame and needle again.
"What do you like? My ultimate goal is to embroider a pattern on your handkerchief."
Noah, who had been organizing his medicine cabinet, looked at Olivia with disapproval as she held the needle with her bandaged hand. He knew she would surely talk back even if he told her to stop, so he silently grabbed Olivia by the waist.
“Oh, there’s a needle. Be careful.”
“Would you like me to engrave my favorite things on a handkerchief? That would be difficult.”
Noah whispered, resting his chin on Olivia's shoulder. As his hand wrapped around her stomach, slowly moved upward, Olivia quickly put down the frame and grabbed his hand.
Meanwhile, Noah was hanging on to Olivia's shoulder.
After biting down on the hem of her pajamas, he gently kissed her exposed white shoulder.
“Isn’t that right, ma’am?”
As Noah teased her, stroking the firm, pink peak, Olivia blushed and screamed.
“I won’t engrave that!”
“You ask me what I like, and what I can and can’t do?”
“I asked for nothing!”
“And now it seems like the time we agreed on is here. What do you think?”
As Olivia's movements ceased, a soft laugh came from above her. It was a low, cool laugh, reminiscent of a deep valley, and it made her heart flutter.
Eventually, Olivia relaxed all her strength and surrendered herself to his touch.
Leaning her back against his firm, warm chest, listening to his pounding heartbeat, she felt as comfortable as if she were hiding beneath the world's strongest wall.
Slowly turning her head to look up at him, she could almost sense the passion swirling within his deep, green eyes. Whenever that passion flickered in his cold, unfeeling gaze, it felt as though Olivia’s insides were melting with heat.
Olivia turned, sat on his lap, and pulled Noah's cheek toward hers, kissing him. Her aggressive gesture made Noah's breathing more labored.
Through her drowsy, open vision, he sees dark, cloudy eyes.
His wife, with her black hair and eyes like a crow's, seemed to have two wings.
“You are truly an unknowable person.”
“Huh? What do I need?”
"I'm whispering something," Olivia asked, her eyes wide. Noah, half-lying on the sofa, slowly stroked Olivia's hair as he answered.
“But I don’t know if it’s because I don’t know you, or because I don’t know myself.”
“...”
“Don’t try to think about it.”
“Let me start by saying something I don’t understand...”
As Olivia grumbled softly, Noah pulled her to his chest and whispered in her ear.
"There's a Hammington warship construction event. Let's go together, Liv."
Olivia, who had been burying her head in his chest, suddenly raised her head.
“Really!?”
Her pitch-black eyes sparkled with such life that Noah chuckled and kissed her on the corner of her eye.
"Yes."
Swallowing his wife's muttering lips, Noah hugged Olivia's waist more deeply. A fragrant scent rose from her black hair, which spilled like a canopy, and every part of her body felt soft and supple.
When midwinter comes, he will have to carry Olivia in his arms and go to Hamuel.
Then, he has to kill some leisurely time there until spring comes.
He wonders if the cosmos was blooming then. If there are flowers that bloom without knowing the season, he should go and see them.
With a thought that wasn't even funny, Noah dug deep into Olivia.
***
It seems that sometimes a stern approach can actually be the best remedy.
The contempt and disdain in her ashen eyes remained, but Olivia was willing to tolerate it, as long as it remained hidden. At this rate, the lessons could likely last for another six months.
Time passed like water, and ten days passed by in the blink of an eye.
Jane Ambrose glanced furtively at the Countess of Timberline, who was wearing a grumpy expression.
She had just brought the dress the Princess would wear to the shipbuilding ceremony. The Countess, who had been guiding the dress from the very beginning, was still looking shaky even after the fitting, and she was deeply offended.
“These days, the works of Ambrose Atelier are not popular in high society...”
As the Countess of Timberline's mutterings pierced her ears, Jane Ambrose turned away and let out a small, suppressed breath.
Mrs. Timberline looked over the Princess's dress and then asked abruptly.
“Do you like it?”
Then all the maids who were serving tilted their heads.
The deep purple dress, with its seasonal feel, perfectly complemented the Princess's dark hair and pale skin. Her elegant yet alluring demeanor made anyone passing by turn their head to look at her. But did she like it?
Olivia glanced at Jane Ambrose's expression in the mirror and turned to Mrs. Timberline.
"Taste is subjective, Mrs. Timberline. I respect your discerning eye. But I also like this dress."
Olivia added, turning to Jane.
“Thank you for your hard work, Mrs. Ambrose.”
“It is an honor, Your Highness.”
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