Episode 131. The Reason I Don't Like the Congratulatory Speech
Usher, who was standing to the right of King Leonard, greeted her with an awkward expression.
"Welcome, Princess."
Olivia quickly regained her composure and bowed.
"Good afternoon, Your Majesty. Your Royal Highness, the Crown Prince."
Then, she quickly scanned the officials with her eyes, lightly tilted her head, and offered a greeting.
"How are you?"
It was a flawless and perfect sight. Leonard was looking at it with great satisfaction when Olivia spoke to him.
"It seems you were in an important meeting. I will be back in a little while."
However, Leonard shook his head as if to say no.
“No, no. It’s all over. Right?”
"Yes, of course."
“That is correct. It is all finished, Your Highness, the Princess.”
Olivia's gaze instinctively turned to Usher. He seemed to be the only person in the group who would tell the truth.
However, when their eyes met, he just smiled awkwardly.
“Olivia! Have you been practicing?”
Just then, Leonard asked very affectionately, his eyes sparkling. His tone was so gentle that not only the aides but even the officials flinched.
A sharp voice was heard like a hallucination.
"Do you carry a head just to wear a hat?!"
“The report is a total mess! Is this even a report?!”
She thought only vicious and scathing words came out of that mouth...
Of course, there is Princess Lucy, but let's consider her an exception since they have never worked together.
"The Princess will be practicing her speech for the Royal School founding ceremony soon. Just listen to it."
By Leonard's standards, even that remark was a huge acknowledgment. But to think such a sweet attitude on top of that!
The officials stared at Olivia with gleaming eyes.
Olivia realized that King Leonard wanted her to perform for them, seeing the courtiers watching her with sparkling eyes rather than leaving.
Although it was unexpected, considering she would have to stand in front of a large crowd on the day of the event, it seemed like it would actually be good practice.
Olivia took a short, deep breath, put down her bag, and took off her coat. As the attendant standing beside her quickly took her clothes, Olivia, lightly dressed, found a suitable spot and stood there.
She had already demonstrated her skills before Lord Herod. Nothing would change just because a few courtiers were added.
The calm, composed atmosphere emanating from her flowed into the office. Then, it seeped into the seasoned courtiers who held Herod in their laps, assimilating even their atmosphere.
Leonard, knowing how difficult it was, sank deep into the chair and smiled, pulling up his lips.
Now, the moment that the fellow lifts her eyes, Herod's officials will be overwhelmed.
As soon as her thoughts ended, Olivia lifted her lowered gaze and smiled gently.
“Dear distinguished guests, good morning. I am Olivia Rosemond Astrid.”
"Ha..."
He could clearly feel the officials' unrest.
Leonard twitched his lips and stole furtive glances at the officials. It was quite a spectacle, with those with their mouths agape, those with their eyes wide open as if their ball of the eye were bulging, and so on.
Even the staff members who had watched the congratulatory speech yesterday were staring at Olivia in awe.
I feel so, so good!
But isn't that understandable?
“...Education is the most fundamental thing that makes a human being truly human...”
His daughter-in-law turned even the sentence he had roughly scribbled into a masterpiece and continued speaking naturally.
That's right, that's right!
“...therefore, the Royal School to be established for the first time on the continent of Norfolk will... the intellect of the majority of Herod’s people...”
Well done, well done!
Leonard listened to Olivia's speech like music and silently chimed in agreement.
A refined face, a neat and unwavering gaze, an elegant posture, and impeccable speech. Moreover, seeing her today, he could even glimpse a sense of dignity.
Leonard's gaze calmed down as he glimpsed a sense of dignity in her.
It occurred to him that she would have done an excellent job even if she had been appointed Crown Princess instead of Princess. Others might point fingers and call it very immoral, but by King Leonard's standards, it was praise.
Olivia was indeed worthy of Astrid's name. His choice was excellent.
Leonard's mood soared higher than the spire of Hamel Cathedral.
Meanwhile, around that time, King Leonard's mood was soaring higher than the spire of Hamel Cathedral.
Beatrix stood in front of Noah's office.
Meson was startled by the Queen's unexpected visit and ran out, and Noah, who was working, also put down his pen and stood up from his seat.
"Do you have time?"
As Beatrix, standing by the door, asked Noah, who was facing away from the sunlight, Noah chuckled and walked around the desk. Then, he approached her and politely held out his hand.
"Please come in, Your Majesty the Queen."
As Noah escorted the Queen to the seat of honor, the quick-witted Meson swiftly placed refreshments on the table and withdrew.
Noah glanced briefly at his mother's back. The chief maidservant, who had been like the Queen's shadow, was nowhere to be seen.
"Is something wrong?"
Beatrix quietly examined her son's face. As the boredom that had been gnawing away at him vanished, he finally looked his age. It was Olivia who had freed him from that boredom.
It was salvation.
At times, even she, his mother, felt suffocated by the deep ennui emanating from Noah. She was at a loss as to how to peel away that deep darkness, but Olivia accomplished it.
It was the bright and healthy Olivia who accomplished it. With healthy Olivia by his side, Noah's boredom vanished.
So this was not only for Olivia, but ultimately for Noah as well.
“I heard that Olivia is giving a speech at the Royal School's founding ceremony.”
Beatrix mustered the courage to speak. And at the same time, Noah's gaze grew cold.
"I heard that she was excellent."
"You don't need to say anything more about that. We decided to wait and see what she says for the founding ceremony."
Noah spoke quickly in a tone that felt not just cold, but scathing.
Beatrix chose her words for a moment, then spoke again.
“It’s not something your father ordered.”
"Mother."
"Yes."
“What on earth do you want to say to me? Do you want me to apologize for the disrespect I committed against His Majesty?”
"No."
"Sure?!"
"What I want to say is that you need to face the fact that Olivia wanted to do that."
“...”
Noah, who had been silent for a moment at his mother's words, leaned back in his chair, letting out a long, deep breath.
“She said she wanted to ask His Majesty to send Lucy to school.”
Beatrix paused at Noah's words.
"However, she reportedly said that she did not dare to ask because she was not in a position to do so. It seems she intends to ask to send Lucy to school once she delivers a proper congratulatory speech."
“...”
“You probably have no idea how intense or suffocating the public attention will be once the speech is over. And rightly so. After all, you can only predict things based on what you have experienced.”
“...”
"And those who haven't experienced it often take it very lightly, without knowing even the slightest bit how terrible it is."
Noah's gaze was so piercing as he spoke those words that Beatrix eventually closed her eyes. The mother who had abandoned her child in hell was a sinner.
"I am truly sorry for leaving you alone while you were suffering so much."
"As I have said, Mother, there is no need for you to apologize to me. However, I would like to ask you to keep your promise regarding Olivia."
Beatrix slowly opened her eyes and answered.
"Of course."
Noah furrowed his brows deeply. He looked as if he didn't understand why he was saying such things.
Beatrix, watching her son's irritated expression, spoke again.
“They say that hell expands by the number of souls that die and enter on that day.”
“...”
"They say it is because everyone experiences a different kind of hell."
Beatrix slowly rose from her seat.
"My hell was the helplessness of having to just watch my children suffer."
The two people's gazes crossed in the air.
"For Lucy right now, not being able to go to school must be hell."
“...”
“And for you right now, the shattering of the peace in life you barely managed to obtain must be hell. That is why you are so anxious.”
The son's eyes flickered.
"So, my son, take a good look at what Olivia's hell is."
“...”
"I am a mother unworthy to say these words to you, but since they are words I must say, I mustered the courage to come find you."
With those words, Beatrix left his office. However, her heart was heavy.
This is because his son's eyes remained cold until the very last moment.
“I wonder if I said something unnecessary...”
The head maid remained silent at Beatrix's hollow voice as she boarded the carriage.
On that day, Beatrix's efforts were clearly in vain.
This is because Noah's resolve grew stronger day by day, just as the reasons for his dissatisfaction with Olivia's speech were increasing day by day.
First. She came late every day.
"What about the Princess?"
Recently, Mrs. Betty has been repeating the same answer to his questions.
“Her Highness has not yet returned from the royal palace.”
Recently, Noah had been eating dinner alone every day because one day his father, another day his mother, and yet another day his younger sister held her back.
“If you also try to grab my wife and ask her out for dinner, I won’t let you get away with it, so keep that in mind.”
Noah even warned the innocent Usher. In response, Usher shrugged and spoke lightly.
"Then you come to the palace and eat with us."
"I'm comfortable at home."
His home is where Olivia belongs.
Second. She came home late every day and holed up in the study, refusing to come out.
Noah really couldn't understand why she was acting like that when she was already perfect.
Olivia had sat on the study sofa the entire time she was practicing, but in those moments, she must have thought of him as nothing more than a fireplace or a sofa.
Third. Olivia was a fox pretending to be a rabbit, and he was an idiot.
When he was annoyed, she would gently and cutely rest her face under his chin and ask, "Are you angry?" She would tilt the corners of her round eyes and sometimes lightly rest her head on his chest.
He wanted to coldly cast her out, if only out of sheer annoyance, but his body grew hot regardless of his master's will and always crumbled.
Fourth. The King is in a very good mood.
A hole will soon be pierced through the spire of Hamel Cathedral. For the King's spirit is rising, piercing through the spire.
Fifth. Unpleasant rumors are circulating.
It is said that recently, an unusually large number of nobles have passed through the main gate of the royal palace at the time Olivia enters and leaves.
It's dumbfounding. She was so dumbfounded that she assigned Jonan as her bodyguard, but a few days ago, some dimwits came up to her and asked for tea.
...Should I kill him?
Sixth, she just feels bad.
Seventh... etc.
And so, finally, the day of the Royal School's founding ceremony arrived.
“Oh my god~~~! Oh my goodness!!!”
Here, there was someone just as excited as King Leonard.
It was Jane Ambrose.
"You are beautiful. It’s such a cliché word, but I can’t find any other way to describe you!"
Not only Jane Ambrose, but also the waiting maids and atelier staff all let out a collective gasp of admiration.
"You are beautiful, Your Highness."
Even the gruff Mrs. Betty chimed in with a comment.
Noah, standing with his back leaning against the window, quietly took in the sight of Olivia, who had just come out after changing her clothes, and let out a short sigh.
Another reason was added for not liking her congratulatory speech.
Usher, who was standing to the right of King Leonard, greeted her with an awkward expression.
"Welcome, Princess."
Olivia quickly regained her composure and bowed.
"Good afternoon, Your Majesty. Your Royal Highness, the Crown Prince."
Then, she quickly scanned the officials with her eyes, lightly tilted her head, and offered a greeting.
"How are you?"
It was a flawless and perfect sight. Leonard was looking at it with great satisfaction when Olivia spoke to him.
"It seems you were in an important meeting. I will be back in a little while."
However, Leonard shook his head as if to say no.
“No, no. It’s all over. Right?”
"Yes, of course."
“That is correct. It is all finished, Your Highness, the Princess.”
Olivia's gaze instinctively turned to Usher. He seemed to be the only person in the group who would tell the truth.
However, when their eyes met, he just smiled awkwardly.
“Olivia! Have you been practicing?”
Just then, Leonard asked very affectionately, his eyes sparkling. His tone was so gentle that not only the aides but even the officials flinched.
A sharp voice was heard like a hallucination.
"Do you carry a head just to wear a hat?!"
“The report is a total mess! Is this even a report?!”
She thought only vicious and scathing words came out of that mouth...
Of course, there is Princess Lucy, but let's consider her an exception since they have never worked together.
"The Princess will be practicing her speech for the Royal School founding ceremony soon. Just listen to it."
By Leonard's standards, even that remark was a huge acknowledgment. But to think such a sweet attitude on top of that!
The officials stared at Olivia with gleaming eyes.
Olivia realized that King Leonard wanted her to perform for them, seeing the courtiers watching her with sparkling eyes rather than leaving.
Although it was unexpected, considering she would have to stand in front of a large crowd on the day of the event, it seemed like it would actually be good practice.
Olivia took a short, deep breath, put down her bag, and took off her coat. As the attendant standing beside her quickly took her clothes, Olivia, lightly dressed, found a suitable spot and stood there.
She had already demonstrated her skills before Lord Herod. Nothing would change just because a few courtiers were added.
The calm, composed atmosphere emanating from her flowed into the office. Then, it seeped into the seasoned courtiers who held Herod in their laps, assimilating even their atmosphere.
Leonard, knowing how difficult it was, sank deep into the chair and smiled, pulling up his lips.
Now, the moment that the fellow lifts her eyes, Herod's officials will be overwhelmed.
As soon as her thoughts ended, Olivia lifted her lowered gaze and smiled gently.
“Dear distinguished guests, good morning. I am Olivia Rosemond Astrid.”
"Ha..."
He could clearly feel the officials' unrest.
Leonard twitched his lips and stole furtive glances at the officials. It was quite a spectacle, with those with their mouths agape, those with their eyes wide open as if their ball of the eye were bulging, and so on.
Even the staff members who had watched the congratulatory speech yesterday were staring at Olivia in awe.
I feel so, so good!
But isn't that understandable?
“...Education is the most fundamental thing that makes a human being truly human...”
His daughter-in-law turned even the sentence he had roughly scribbled into a masterpiece and continued speaking naturally.
That's right, that's right!
“...therefore, the Royal School to be established for the first time on the continent of Norfolk will... the intellect of the majority of Herod’s people...”
Well done, well done!
Leonard listened to Olivia's speech like music and silently chimed in agreement.
A refined face, a neat and unwavering gaze, an elegant posture, and impeccable speech. Moreover, seeing her today, he could even glimpse a sense of dignity.
Leonard's gaze calmed down as he glimpsed a sense of dignity in her.
It occurred to him that she would have done an excellent job even if she had been appointed Crown Princess instead of Princess. Others might point fingers and call it very immoral, but by King Leonard's standards, it was praise.
Olivia was indeed worthy of Astrid's name. His choice was excellent.
Leonard's mood soared higher than the spire of Hamel Cathedral.
***
Meanwhile, around that time, King Leonard's mood was soaring higher than the spire of Hamel Cathedral.
Beatrix stood in front of Noah's office.
Meson was startled by the Queen's unexpected visit and ran out, and Noah, who was working, also put down his pen and stood up from his seat.
"Do you have time?"
As Beatrix, standing by the door, asked Noah, who was facing away from the sunlight, Noah chuckled and walked around the desk. Then, he approached her and politely held out his hand.
"Please come in, Your Majesty the Queen."
As Noah escorted the Queen to the seat of honor, the quick-witted Meson swiftly placed refreshments on the table and withdrew.
Noah glanced briefly at his mother's back. The chief maidservant, who had been like the Queen's shadow, was nowhere to be seen.
"Is something wrong?"
Beatrix quietly examined her son's face. As the boredom that had been gnawing away at him vanished, he finally looked his age. It was Olivia who had freed him from that boredom.
It was salvation.
At times, even she, his mother, felt suffocated by the deep ennui emanating from Noah. She was at a loss as to how to peel away that deep darkness, but Olivia accomplished it.
It was the bright and healthy Olivia who accomplished it. With healthy Olivia by his side, Noah's boredom vanished.
So this was not only for Olivia, but ultimately for Noah as well.
“I heard that Olivia is giving a speech at the Royal School's founding ceremony.”
Beatrix mustered the courage to speak. And at the same time, Noah's gaze grew cold.
"I heard that she was excellent."
"You don't need to say anything more about that. We decided to wait and see what she says for the founding ceremony."
Noah spoke quickly in a tone that felt not just cold, but scathing.
Beatrix chose her words for a moment, then spoke again.
“It’s not something your father ordered.”
"Mother."
"Yes."
“What on earth do you want to say to me? Do you want me to apologize for the disrespect I committed against His Majesty?”
"No."
"Sure?!"
"What I want to say is that you need to face the fact that Olivia wanted to do that."
“...”
Noah, who had been silent for a moment at his mother's words, leaned back in his chair, letting out a long, deep breath.
“She said she wanted to ask His Majesty to send Lucy to school.”
Beatrix paused at Noah's words.
"However, she reportedly said that she did not dare to ask because she was not in a position to do so. It seems she intends to ask to send Lucy to school once she delivers a proper congratulatory speech."
“...”
“You probably have no idea how intense or suffocating the public attention will be once the speech is over. And rightly so. After all, you can only predict things based on what you have experienced.”
“...”
"And those who haven't experienced it often take it very lightly, without knowing even the slightest bit how terrible it is."
Noah's gaze was so piercing as he spoke those words that Beatrix eventually closed her eyes. The mother who had abandoned her child in hell was a sinner.
"I am truly sorry for leaving you alone while you were suffering so much."
"As I have said, Mother, there is no need for you to apologize to me. However, I would like to ask you to keep your promise regarding Olivia."
Beatrix slowly opened her eyes and answered.
"Of course."
Noah furrowed his brows deeply. He looked as if he didn't understand why he was saying such things.
Beatrix, watching her son's irritated expression, spoke again.
“They say that hell expands by the number of souls that die and enter on that day.”
“...”
"They say it is because everyone experiences a different kind of hell."
Beatrix slowly rose from her seat.
"My hell was the helplessness of having to just watch my children suffer."
The two people's gazes crossed in the air.
"For Lucy right now, not being able to go to school must be hell."
“...”
“And for you right now, the shattering of the peace in life you barely managed to obtain must be hell. That is why you are so anxious.”
The son's eyes flickered.
"So, my son, take a good look at what Olivia's hell is."
“...”
"I am a mother unworthy to say these words to you, but since they are words I must say, I mustered the courage to come find you."
With those words, Beatrix left his office. However, her heart was heavy.
This is because his son's eyes remained cold until the very last moment.
“I wonder if I said something unnecessary...”
The head maid remained silent at Beatrix's hollow voice as she boarded the carriage.
On that day, Beatrix's efforts were clearly in vain.
This is because Noah's resolve grew stronger day by day, just as the reasons for his dissatisfaction with Olivia's speech were increasing day by day.
First. She came late every day.
"What about the Princess?"
Recently, Mrs. Betty has been repeating the same answer to his questions.
“Her Highness has not yet returned from the royal palace.”
Recently, Noah had been eating dinner alone every day because one day his father, another day his mother, and yet another day his younger sister held her back.
“If you also try to grab my wife and ask her out for dinner, I won’t let you get away with it, so keep that in mind.”
Noah even warned the innocent Usher. In response, Usher shrugged and spoke lightly.
"Then you come to the palace and eat with us."
"I'm comfortable at home."
His home is where Olivia belongs.
Second. She came home late every day and holed up in the study, refusing to come out.
Noah really couldn't understand why she was acting like that when she was already perfect.
Olivia had sat on the study sofa the entire time she was practicing, but in those moments, she must have thought of him as nothing more than a fireplace or a sofa.
Third. Olivia was a fox pretending to be a rabbit, and he was an idiot.
When he was annoyed, she would gently and cutely rest her face under his chin and ask, "Are you angry?" She would tilt the corners of her round eyes and sometimes lightly rest her head on his chest.
He wanted to coldly cast her out, if only out of sheer annoyance, but his body grew hot regardless of his master's will and always crumbled.
Fourth. The King is in a very good mood.
A hole will soon be pierced through the spire of Hamel Cathedral. For the King's spirit is rising, piercing through the spire.
Fifth. Unpleasant rumors are circulating.
It is said that recently, an unusually large number of nobles have passed through the main gate of the royal palace at the time Olivia enters and leaves.
It's dumbfounding. She was so dumbfounded that she assigned Jonan as her bodyguard, but a few days ago, some dimwits came up to her and asked for tea.
...Should I kill him?
Sixth, she just feels bad.
Seventh... etc.
And so, finally, the day of the Royal School's founding ceremony arrived.
“Oh my god~~~! Oh my goodness!!!”
Here, there was someone just as excited as King Leonard.
It was Jane Ambrose.
"You are beautiful. It’s such a cliché word, but I can’t find any other way to describe you!"
Not only Jane Ambrose, but also the waiting maids and atelier staff all let out a collective gasp of admiration.
"You are beautiful, Your Highness."
Even the gruff Mrs. Betty chimed in with a comment.
Noah, standing with his back leaning against the window, quietly took in the sight of Olivia, who had just come out after changing her clothes, and let out a short sigh.
Another reason was added for not liking her congratulatory speech.
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