Episode 129. King Leonard's Recognition
Ah, really, Prince, why are you doing this?
Meson seriously considered quitting his job as the Prince's secretary. Then he thought, where else could he find a job this good? After all, the pay was substantial.
“Why are you in such a bad mood today?”
“These days, the only one who can keep Your Highness in check is Her Highness.”
As Jonan whispered and asked, Meson quickly replied.
Just then, the chilling sound of a pen nib sharply scraping against the paper was heard. As Meson hurriedly approached, Noah handed him the contract with a look of contempt.
“Send it back. Call this kind of contract a contract.”
Dark lines were drawn all over the contract. Just looking at it felt like it would leave a scar on his heart.
"Yes."
"This too."
Noah pushed aside the numerous bundles of paper piled up beside him and turned his head sharply.
Meson let out a secret sigh and thought of Olivia.
Your Highness... please do something about His Royal Highness the Prince...
However, fortunately, the tragedy of Meson did not continue throughout the day. For some reason, around noon, Noah went to play polo for the first time in a while.
So who would have inherited the tragedy of Meson?
The prodigal sons of the Polo Club quickly grabbed and put on their cloaks when they saw the fierce expression on Noah's face as he appeared after a long absence. And that was an excellent choice.
Noah swung his mallet ferociously, urging on the foaming horse, and someone, intimidated by his ferocity, wailed quietly.
'Why did he come here and act like that!'
In the end, Noah won the match by an overwhelming margin.
“A-A-Aren't you going to have a drink?”
After the match ended, Lawrence, who was exhausted, stammered and offered a drink, but Noah shook his head and disappeared.
The prodigal sons muttered as they gazed at the spot where Noah had disappeared.
"The way I saw it... he fought with the Her Highness."
“Even I see it...”
And the tragedy that had continued from Meson to the prodigal sons was passed on to the servants of the mansion.
"Where is the Princess?"
To the Prince's question, which even exuded a wildness as if he had just finished a battle, Mrs. Betty swallowed her groan and answered.
"She has not returned from the palace yet."
“..."
Noah slightly raised his head and looked up at the sky.
Although it was early evening, it was already pitch dark because it was winter. The mansion also felt desolate, perhaps because it was winter.
Noah walked silently into the mansion.
Click-clack.
The sound of footsteps once again brought about a cold silence.
The servants of the mansion earnestly wished for the spring sunshine with one heart.
Please come back soon, Your Highness...
Meanwhile, in the spring sunshine at the Prince's mansion, Olivia and Lucy's lesson proceeded smoothly, just like yesterday. Although Noah was occupying a corner of Olivia's hair, time flowed like water nonetheless.
After finishing her class, Olivia composed her trembling heart and headed to the King's office, constantly recalling what she had memorized in her head.
Unlike yesterday, the attendant guarding the King's office greeted Olivia as soon as he saw her and quickly opened the door.
"They are waiting."
Olivia took a deep breath and stepped through the open door. She had vowed not to cough like yesterday, even if the air was thick with cigarette smoke, but was she wrong? Unlike yesterday, the air in the office was crisp. As if it had just been aired out.
"Welcome, Olivia."
As the King's majestic voice was heard, Olivia quickly turned around.
Today, just like yesterday, the aides surrounded the King, and the Crown Prince was on one side.
"Good afternoon, Your Majesty. Your Royal Highness, the Crown Prince."
Usher responded in a soft voice.
"Welcome, Princess."
Leonard took off his glasses and gestured to Olivia.
"Did you come prepared?"
Olivia quickly approached him, handed him the notebook, and answered.
“Yes, Your Majesty. I have memorized it just as you instructed.”
Then, as always, Leonard gave a blunt order.
“Good. Then, imagine there is an audience and give it a try.”
As the order was given, the aides behind the King looked at the Princess with curious eyes. The courtier also stared intently at her. The one who was looking forward to it the most was none other than the King.
A wave of pressure washed over her. The contract professorship exam, which had been reviewed by the professors at Harrington University, was nothing compared to that. However, that experience had not been in vain either.
Olivia calmly put down her bag and took off her gloves and coat.
With a much lighter body, she found a suitable position and stood there, then slowly caught her breath. With her eyes lowered, she cast a spell on herself.
The people before her were not King Herod and his staff, but a vast audience. Thoughts dominated her mind, and before she knew it, she was standing in the center of the memorial hall.
When the long breath reached its end, Olivia lifted her lowered gaze.
At that moment, the atmosphere surrounding her changed.
Leonard involuntarily straightened his back and glared, and the smile vanished from the lips of his staff.
The humility that had lingered in the Princess's expression and eyes vanished. Instead, a sharp intellect and a confident demeanor that was not intimidated by anyone were visible.
Olivia, who had captivated the audience with the sudden change in atmosphere alone, suddenly curled her lips into a smile. At the same time, her mouth opened.
“Dear distinguished guests, good morning. I am Olivia Rosemond Astrid.”
"Ha..."
One of the staff members let out a sigh, but no one could blame him. One person rubbed his arm as if he had goosebumps. Leonard held his breath for a moment, and Usher's eyes widened.
She overwhelmed the seasoned King, his advisors, and the Crown Prince with just her first words.
“At the ceremony commemorating the founding of the first royal school for commoners on the Norfolk continent...”
She made the most of everything she had.
Smooth pronunciation, a voice a tone lower than usual, appropriate dynamics and pitch, a confident yet gentle smile, an unbiased gaze, and on top of that, content that perfectly aligns with the founding purpose.
Leonard once wondered how Olivia had managed to pass the professorship exam at Harrington University. Wouldn't the influence of the Pulder Noble Alliance have reached even the university exam?
However, he now keenly felt that, regardless of the influence of the noble alliance or whatever, she had no choice but to be selected.
No one other than her could have been selected. It was simply ridiculous that someone like her was fired for failing to fill the auditing student quota.
The congratulatory speech, lasting about five minutes, passed in the blink of an eye. Leonard, who found other people's speeches and presentations extremely boring, felt that way.
“...I earnestly hope that this will serve as a stepping stone for Herod’s great progress, and finally, I offer my infinite trust and gratitude to the esteemed His Majesty the King.”
As soon as the congratulatory speech ended, Olivia bowed politely as if addressing the audience, then let out the breath she had been holding. Her heart, which she hadn't even realized was beating, was throbbing as if it would burst, and her mouth was parched.
The atmosphere in the quiet office was so overwhelming that she couldn't bring herself to lift her head.
But right then.
Clap clap clap.
Someone clapped, cutting through the silence in the office.
As a startled Olivia suddenly looked up, Crown Prince Usher was there. He grinned and continued to clap, and soon applause erupted from the staff on the opposite side as well.
Clap clap clap clap.
Olivia blinked with a bewildered look on her face.
Leonard finally burst into laughter as he looked at Olivia's pale face.
"Hahahahahaha."
Then he suddenly stood up and clapped his hands together.
“Well done. You did a great job!”
It was a congratulatory speech that even Leonard, who was stingy with praise, could not help but marvel at. Even those damn bastards who want to have a word with the Royal School will listen with their mouths open!
Olivia's face grew increasingly red at the unexpected praise.
“I-Is it okay if I do it like this? The tone, the gaze...”
Leonard waved his hand and cut her off.
“Do it exactly as you say, exactly as you say! Ah, no. Wait a minute.”
If you're this good at giving speeches, you should sneak in what I want to say into your congratulatory remarks!
Leonard excitedly picked up a pen and added a few more words here and there in Olivia's notebook. Then he handed it to Olivia.
"Memorize even the corrections I made, and come around this time tomorrow as well."
Olivia took the notebook with trembling hands.
Leonard liked people who were diligent, quick-witted, and smart.
Being a King was a demanding job, so he had no capacity to teach his officials this and that like a teacher instructing a student. He always needed those who performed their duties intelligently, as if they could read his mind, yet at the same time, there was always a shortage of them.
Olivia's congratulatory speech was more than enough to fill the heart; it was practically overflowing.
Even though her hands were trembling, she managed to prepare perfectly in the end—how admirable is that!
“I didn’t expect you to practice this much in less than a day. It couldn’t have been easy, as giving a speech while assuming there is an audience is an unfamiliar experience.”
Then Olivia answered awkwardly with a flushed face.
“When I was working as an interim professor... I always practiced in empty classrooms. I thought it was a waste of time, but I never imagined it would be helpful at a time like this.”
Leonard looked sorry at her words, then spoke very kindly.
"In that sense, the saying that nothing is free is also a good one."
The aides wanted to dig their ears. Is this really the voice of His Majesty the King that we know?
“Yes, Your Majesty. It seems so.”
"You worked hard. I was very satisfied."
At Leonard's sincere compliment, the corners of Olivia's mouth slowly curled upward. No matter how hard she tried to suppress it, her lips kept rising, and her white teeth sparkled between them.
“Well done! Make sure to come tomorrow as well. Do you understand?”
When Leonard praised her again, Olivia finally burst into a wide smile. She couldn't have been happier to receive recognition after such a long time.
“I understand, Your Majesty!”
"Hahahahaha!"
At the sight of Olivia revealing her white teeth in joy, smiles spread across the lips of the King's advisors, who rarely had anything to laugh about.
Ah, really, Prince, why are you doing this?
Meson seriously considered quitting his job as the Prince's secretary. Then he thought, where else could he find a job this good? After all, the pay was substantial.
“Why are you in such a bad mood today?”
“These days, the only one who can keep Your Highness in check is Her Highness.”
As Jonan whispered and asked, Meson quickly replied.
Just then, the chilling sound of a pen nib sharply scraping against the paper was heard. As Meson hurriedly approached, Noah handed him the contract with a look of contempt.
“Send it back. Call this kind of contract a contract.”
Dark lines were drawn all over the contract. Just looking at it felt like it would leave a scar on his heart.
"Yes."
"This too."
Noah pushed aside the numerous bundles of paper piled up beside him and turned his head sharply.
Meson let out a secret sigh and thought of Olivia.
Your Highness... please do something about His Royal Highness the Prince...
However, fortunately, the tragedy of Meson did not continue throughout the day. For some reason, around noon, Noah went to play polo for the first time in a while.
So who would have inherited the tragedy of Meson?
The prodigal sons of the Polo Club quickly grabbed and put on their cloaks when they saw the fierce expression on Noah's face as he appeared after a long absence. And that was an excellent choice.
Noah swung his mallet ferociously, urging on the foaming horse, and someone, intimidated by his ferocity, wailed quietly.
'Why did he come here and act like that!'
In the end, Noah won the match by an overwhelming margin.
“A-A-Aren't you going to have a drink?”
After the match ended, Lawrence, who was exhausted, stammered and offered a drink, but Noah shook his head and disappeared.
The prodigal sons muttered as they gazed at the spot where Noah had disappeared.
"The way I saw it... he fought with the Her Highness."
“Even I see it...”
And the tragedy that had continued from Meson to the prodigal sons was passed on to the servants of the mansion.
"Where is the Princess?"
To the Prince's question, which even exuded a wildness as if he had just finished a battle, Mrs. Betty swallowed her groan and answered.
"She has not returned from the palace yet."
“..."
Noah slightly raised his head and looked up at the sky.
Although it was early evening, it was already pitch dark because it was winter. The mansion also felt desolate, perhaps because it was winter.
Noah walked silently into the mansion.
Click-clack.
The sound of footsteps once again brought about a cold silence.
The servants of the mansion earnestly wished for the spring sunshine with one heart.
Please come back soon, Your Highness...
***
Meanwhile, in the spring sunshine at the Prince's mansion, Olivia and Lucy's lesson proceeded smoothly, just like yesterday. Although Noah was occupying a corner of Olivia's hair, time flowed like water nonetheless.
After finishing her class, Olivia composed her trembling heart and headed to the King's office, constantly recalling what she had memorized in her head.
Unlike yesterday, the attendant guarding the King's office greeted Olivia as soon as he saw her and quickly opened the door.
"They are waiting."
Olivia took a deep breath and stepped through the open door. She had vowed not to cough like yesterday, even if the air was thick with cigarette smoke, but was she wrong? Unlike yesterday, the air in the office was crisp. As if it had just been aired out.
"Welcome, Olivia."
As the King's majestic voice was heard, Olivia quickly turned around.
Today, just like yesterday, the aides surrounded the King, and the Crown Prince was on one side.
"Good afternoon, Your Majesty. Your Royal Highness, the Crown Prince."
Usher responded in a soft voice.
"Welcome, Princess."
Leonard took off his glasses and gestured to Olivia.
"Did you come prepared?"
Olivia quickly approached him, handed him the notebook, and answered.
“Yes, Your Majesty. I have memorized it just as you instructed.”
Then, as always, Leonard gave a blunt order.
“Good. Then, imagine there is an audience and give it a try.”
As the order was given, the aides behind the King looked at the Princess with curious eyes. The courtier also stared intently at her. The one who was looking forward to it the most was none other than the King.
A wave of pressure washed over her. The contract professorship exam, which had been reviewed by the professors at Harrington University, was nothing compared to that. However, that experience had not been in vain either.
Olivia calmly put down her bag and took off her gloves and coat.
With a much lighter body, she found a suitable position and stood there, then slowly caught her breath. With her eyes lowered, she cast a spell on herself.
The people before her were not King Herod and his staff, but a vast audience. Thoughts dominated her mind, and before she knew it, she was standing in the center of the memorial hall.
When the long breath reached its end, Olivia lifted her lowered gaze.
At that moment, the atmosphere surrounding her changed.
Leonard involuntarily straightened his back and glared, and the smile vanished from the lips of his staff.
The humility that had lingered in the Princess's expression and eyes vanished. Instead, a sharp intellect and a confident demeanor that was not intimidated by anyone were visible.
Olivia, who had captivated the audience with the sudden change in atmosphere alone, suddenly curled her lips into a smile. At the same time, her mouth opened.
“Dear distinguished guests, good morning. I am Olivia Rosemond Astrid.”
"Ha..."
One of the staff members let out a sigh, but no one could blame him. One person rubbed his arm as if he had goosebumps. Leonard held his breath for a moment, and Usher's eyes widened.
She overwhelmed the seasoned King, his advisors, and the Crown Prince with just her first words.
“At the ceremony commemorating the founding of the first royal school for commoners on the Norfolk continent...”
She made the most of everything she had.
Smooth pronunciation, a voice a tone lower than usual, appropriate dynamics and pitch, a confident yet gentle smile, an unbiased gaze, and on top of that, content that perfectly aligns with the founding purpose.
Leonard once wondered how Olivia had managed to pass the professorship exam at Harrington University. Wouldn't the influence of the Pulder Noble Alliance have reached even the university exam?
However, he now keenly felt that, regardless of the influence of the noble alliance or whatever, she had no choice but to be selected.
No one other than her could have been selected. It was simply ridiculous that someone like her was fired for failing to fill the auditing student quota.
The congratulatory speech, lasting about five minutes, passed in the blink of an eye. Leonard, who found other people's speeches and presentations extremely boring, felt that way.
“...I earnestly hope that this will serve as a stepping stone for Herod’s great progress, and finally, I offer my infinite trust and gratitude to the esteemed His Majesty the King.”
As soon as the congratulatory speech ended, Olivia bowed politely as if addressing the audience, then let out the breath she had been holding. Her heart, which she hadn't even realized was beating, was throbbing as if it would burst, and her mouth was parched.
The atmosphere in the quiet office was so overwhelming that she couldn't bring herself to lift her head.
But right then.
Clap clap clap.
Someone clapped, cutting through the silence in the office.
As a startled Olivia suddenly looked up, Crown Prince Usher was there. He grinned and continued to clap, and soon applause erupted from the staff on the opposite side as well.
Clap clap clap clap.
Olivia blinked with a bewildered look on her face.
Leonard finally burst into laughter as he looked at Olivia's pale face.
"Hahahahahaha."
Then he suddenly stood up and clapped his hands together.
“Well done. You did a great job!”
It was a congratulatory speech that even Leonard, who was stingy with praise, could not help but marvel at. Even those damn bastards who want to have a word with the Royal School will listen with their mouths open!
Olivia's face grew increasingly red at the unexpected praise.
“I-Is it okay if I do it like this? The tone, the gaze...”
Leonard waved his hand and cut her off.
“Do it exactly as you say, exactly as you say! Ah, no. Wait a minute.”
If you're this good at giving speeches, you should sneak in what I want to say into your congratulatory remarks!
Leonard excitedly picked up a pen and added a few more words here and there in Olivia's notebook. Then he handed it to Olivia.
"Memorize even the corrections I made, and come around this time tomorrow as well."
Olivia took the notebook with trembling hands.
Leonard liked people who were diligent, quick-witted, and smart.
Being a King was a demanding job, so he had no capacity to teach his officials this and that like a teacher instructing a student. He always needed those who performed their duties intelligently, as if they could read his mind, yet at the same time, there was always a shortage of them.
Olivia's congratulatory speech was more than enough to fill the heart; it was practically overflowing.
Even though her hands were trembling, she managed to prepare perfectly in the end—how admirable is that!
“I didn’t expect you to practice this much in less than a day. It couldn’t have been easy, as giving a speech while assuming there is an audience is an unfamiliar experience.”
Then Olivia answered awkwardly with a flushed face.
“When I was working as an interim professor... I always practiced in empty classrooms. I thought it was a waste of time, but I never imagined it would be helpful at a time like this.”
Leonard looked sorry at her words, then spoke very kindly.
"In that sense, the saying that nothing is free is also a good one."
The aides wanted to dig their ears. Is this really the voice of His Majesty the King that we know?
“Yes, Your Majesty. It seems so.”
"You worked hard. I was very satisfied."
At Leonard's sincere compliment, the corners of Olivia's mouth slowly curled upward. No matter how hard she tried to suppress it, her lips kept rising, and her white teeth sparkled between them.
“Well done! Make sure to come tomorrow as well. Do you understand?”
When Leonard praised her again, Olivia finally burst into a wide smile. She couldn't have been happier to receive recognition after such a long time.
“I understand, Your Majesty!”
"Hahahahaha!"
At the sight of Olivia revealing her white teeth in joy, smiles spread across the lips of the King's advisors, who rarely had anything to laugh about.
Comments
Post a Comment