Episode 137. The Path of Pleasure and Anonymity
After he left, Olivia, who was standing on the cold balcony, called Mrs. Betty and ordered a newspaper.
“Mrs. Betty, is there no morning newspaper today?”
"As always, I brought today's newspaper to the bedroom at dawn."
“...”
What Noah burned was definitely today's morning newspaper.
Did he hope she wouldn't read the newspaper today? As Olivia tried to understand the difficult situation, Mrs. Betty added.
“Ah... and Your Highness, His Highness has ordered that you do not receive newspapers for the time being. There will be no newspapers starting tomorrow.”
"...Why?"
She could not understand it at all, so she asked back, but Mrs. Betty only bowed her head without answering.
“What on earth was published in today’s morning newspaper that makes you act this way?”
“...I am sorry, Your Highness. I don’t know.”
Olivia frowned and then smoothed her brows, giving a calm command.
“Madam, go get a fresh newspaper for today.”
"Yes?"
“There will be something about me in it. Whether it’s good or bad, I need to know, so I’m asking you to go and get it for me.”
Mrs. Betty recalled the Prince's stern voice.
"Make sure that newspapers never circulate in this house again."
She bowed deeply to the Princess and spoke as if begging for forgiveness.
“I apologize, Your Highness. His Highness ordered that newspapers not be brought into the residence.”
"Does this mean I shouldn't read the newspaper from now on?"
“I am sorry...”
Looking at Mrs. Betty's deeply bowed head, Olivia suddenly had this question.
Are the bodyguards standing outside there to prevent people from entering the mansion from the outside, or are they there to prevent people from leaving the mansion from the inside?
The bodyguards outside the window stood motionless like statues, guarding the mansion, oblivious to the cold. Olivia, watching the scene with mixed feelings, spoke up.
"I will be out for a moment, so please get ready."
Olivia turned to look at her, wondering if she might say no to that as well, but fortunately, Mrs. Betty nodded as if she understood and replied.
“Understood, Your Highness. I will prepare.”
However, Jonan was not the only one waiting for Olivia after she finished getting ready to go out. As she tried to board the carriage, six armed mounted guards surrounded it.
"The number of bodyguards has been increased slightly for Your Highness's safety."
That wasn't all.
All the windows of the carriage were covered with pitch-black curtains, and when Olivia, feeling stifled, tried to pull them back, Jonan immediately stopped her.
"How about leaving the curtains as they are?"
"Why?"
Olivia was tired of Noah's inexplicable cold attitude recently.
What on earth is he hoping for?
Wasn't it the role you hoped for to act as a bridge between the royal family and the commoners? If not, then what on earth is my role?
No matter how much she thought about it, she couldn't even begin to guess what she was doing wrong. With the newspapers, followed by the bodyguards, and then the curtains added to the mix, she felt so suffocated she thought she was going to go crazy.
Jonan hesitated for a moment, then spoke cautiously.
“Your Highness... the reporters must be desperate to take photos. That is why I asked you to close the curtains and why the security has been increased.”
"Is it His Highness's order?"
"Yes."
"Is it for me?"
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Olivia slowly caught her breath and nodded.
“Alright. I won’t open the curtains, so please leave. I want to go to the royal palace.”
"All right."
As Jonan carefully closed the door, deep darkness descended.
Inside the square carriage, which was completely enclosed on all sides, she moved wherever the carriage went.
In the deep darkness, unresolved emotions that had been coiled up in a corner of Olivia's heart reared their heads as if they had been waiting.
It had neither a mouth nor hands, only large eyes and ears, and its name was helplessness.
The reason Olivia visited the royal palace was none other than Lucy. Leonard kept his promise, and Lucy was able to go back to school.
As Olivia got out of the carriage, Lucy ran toward her with a flushed face and hugged her tightly.
“Your Highness!!”
Olivia hugged the girl and sincerely congratulated her on going to school.
“Congratulations, Princess. Have a pleasant trip.”
"Thank you very much."
Last night, Lucy heard from her mother about what Olivia had done. She was so grateful that she burst into tears.
"I'll study hard and come back!"
"Have fun studying."
"Yes!!"
Lucy, who had been expressing her gratitude several times, paused for a moment and tilted her head.
“By the way, Your Highness, is something wrong?”
“No, that can’t be. Please go ahead. You’ll be late.”
Olivia smiled broadly and pushed the girl's back. Even so, Lucy looked back at her several times.
Lucy wasn't the only one looking at Olivia with concern.
Leonard looked at the carriage with the pitch-black curtains drawn with a complex look in his eyes, turned around, and Beatrix approached her.
“Olivia, would you like to talk to me for a moment?”
Beatrix led Olivia to her drawing room.
While the head maid served refreshments, Beatrix silently observed only Olivia's face.
She, who yesterday captivated the audience with her intelligence sparkling like a star, felt as if she had withered away in just a day.
Olivia was staring silently somewhere, and at the end of her gaze was today's morning newspaper.
In the photo that took up half of the first page, there was the woman from yesterday standing on the podium delivering a congratulatory speech.
[Princess Olivia Celebrates Founding of First Royal School]
"Didn't you see today's newspaper?
"May I take a look for a moment?"
"Of course."
With Beatrix's permission, Olivia pulled the newspaper onto her lap and carefully unfolded it. Her gaze quickly flashed across the newspaper.
The article, which began with an explanation of the purpose of establishing the Royal School, briefly introduced the congratulatory remarks of King Leonard and the Princess, and concluded by adding a short exclamation she made to Harold Beam.
There was no mention of Harold Beam's rude question, but it was by no means an article that would harm Olivia.
When she turned to the next page, there was an article about the clothes she wore yesterday, and also an interview with the Crown Prince.
There were no malicious articles about her anywhere in the newspaper, and regarding Noah, there was merely a mention that he attended.
"It looks like you didn't see today's newspaper."
As Olivia closed the newspaper, Beatrix spoke. She remained silent as if agonizing over something, then spoke.
"Mother."
"Yes."
“...Was my congratulatory speech yesterday perhaps... harmful to the Royal Family?”
Beatrix was finally convinced that Noah's anxiety had begun to eat away at Olivia. She gestured for the ladies-in-waiting standing beside her to leave, then shook her head firmly.
“No. You did well. It was a wonderful thing to do as a Princess Consort.”
Despite Beatrix's praise, Olivia simply lowered her eyes and remained silent.
Beatrix collected her thoughts for a moment and then asked.
“How was it for you, Olivia? Did you have fun?”
"Yes?"
Olivia suddenly lifted her head and asked back.
Beatrix glanced down and scanned her attire. Small pearl earrings and a wedding ring on her neatly trimmed hand were her entire adornment.
Will this child even look through the enormous jewels that Noah is buying?
In the Princess with her dark eyes, a young girl exactly Lucy's age seemed to overlap. The girl who had ridden in a carriage holding her grandmother's hand in the pitch-dark dawn had grown into a full-fledged adult and received the recognition and applause of King Herod.
I mean, the recognition and applause of King Herod.
“Olivia, you have two paths.”
“...”
“The first path is the path of pleasure. Under the status of royalty, you will be relatively free from social constraints, and you will likely never experience financial hardship during your lifetime. It is alright to cast aside thoughts and surrender your life to your senses. For the name Astrid that you bear will guarantee your life.”
No emotion was visible on Olivia's face.
“The name of the second path is not fixed. That is because it is a path you create yourself. Under the status of a Princess Consort, opportunities for you to do things are hidden everywhere. There are countless things you must not do because you are a Princess Consort, but there are just as many things you can do because you are a Princess Consort.”
As soon as she finished speaking, Beatrix noticed a glimmer of light in her dark eyes. Beatrix deliberately pretended not to notice it and spoke.
"Most aristocratic women take the first path. It is efficient. Why bother working when you can spend and enjoy life to the fullest without doing so? Time flies just by eating, drinking, and laughing."
Beatrix paused for a moment, then asked in a whisper.
“But where in this world is anything free? Instead of eating, drinking, and laughing for free, what must I pay, and to whom?”
This was the realization Princess Marguerite had given her. When Marguerite left for Pulder, abandoning even her right of succession, and left this question behind, Beatrix realized that she had never once thought about it.
Olivia hesitated for a moment and then answered.
"You must entrust your life to the one who allows you to eat and drink."
“Where in the world is anything free? We have to sacrifice our entire lives in return. It’s a freedom no bigger than the palm of your hand.”
Beatrix smiled broadly. She was indeed the child that 'that' Marguerite loved.
“What kind of life do you want to live?”
At that question, Olivia's face crumbled miserably. She tried desperately to hold back her tears, but eventually bowed her head.
“What kind of life do you want to live? Tell me.”
“Mother...”
"Yes."
Beatrix asked about her life, but for some reason, only Noah's cold face came to mind.
Olivia blinked for a long time before finally managing to speak.
“Your Majesty... do you wish for me to take the first path?”
A heavily cracked voice came out.
Beatrix froze at the unexpected question, then rose from her seat and went to Olivia's side. Then, looking into her eyes, she asked clearly.
“Olivia, do you want to take the first path?”
Olivia did not shed a single tear, but clear tears were visible in Beatrix's eyes.
Her dark eyes trembled slightly. She desperately wanted to ask why Noah's attitude had changed.
First, how could I ask the Queen, who is also his mother?
As Olivia remained silent, Beatrix gently took her hand and spoke.
"I was asking for your way."
“...”
“Think carefully. Which path will you take, the first or the second? If you wish to take the first path, that is fine. But if you wish to take the second, I will help you, just as you helped Lucy with all your heart.”
Olivia stared blankly at the Queen. Countless emotions flashed across her face.
After he left, Olivia, who was standing on the cold balcony, called Mrs. Betty and ordered a newspaper.
“Mrs. Betty, is there no morning newspaper today?”
"As always, I brought today's newspaper to the bedroom at dawn."
“...”
What Noah burned was definitely today's morning newspaper.
Did he hope she wouldn't read the newspaper today? As Olivia tried to understand the difficult situation, Mrs. Betty added.
“Ah... and Your Highness, His Highness has ordered that you do not receive newspapers for the time being. There will be no newspapers starting tomorrow.”
"...Why?"
She could not understand it at all, so she asked back, but Mrs. Betty only bowed her head without answering.
“What on earth was published in today’s morning newspaper that makes you act this way?”
“...I am sorry, Your Highness. I don’t know.”
Olivia frowned and then smoothed her brows, giving a calm command.
“Madam, go get a fresh newspaper for today.”
"Yes?"
“There will be something about me in it. Whether it’s good or bad, I need to know, so I’m asking you to go and get it for me.”
Mrs. Betty recalled the Prince's stern voice.
"Make sure that newspapers never circulate in this house again."
She bowed deeply to the Princess and spoke as if begging for forgiveness.
“I apologize, Your Highness. His Highness ordered that newspapers not be brought into the residence.”
"Does this mean I shouldn't read the newspaper from now on?"
“I am sorry...”
Looking at Mrs. Betty's deeply bowed head, Olivia suddenly had this question.
Are the bodyguards standing outside there to prevent people from entering the mansion from the outside, or are they there to prevent people from leaving the mansion from the inside?
The bodyguards outside the window stood motionless like statues, guarding the mansion, oblivious to the cold. Olivia, watching the scene with mixed feelings, spoke up.
"I will be out for a moment, so please get ready."
Olivia turned to look at her, wondering if she might say no to that as well, but fortunately, Mrs. Betty nodded as if she understood and replied.
“Understood, Your Highness. I will prepare.”
However, Jonan was not the only one waiting for Olivia after she finished getting ready to go out. As she tried to board the carriage, six armed mounted guards surrounded it.
"The number of bodyguards has been increased slightly for Your Highness's safety."
That wasn't all.
All the windows of the carriage were covered with pitch-black curtains, and when Olivia, feeling stifled, tried to pull them back, Jonan immediately stopped her.
"How about leaving the curtains as they are?"
"Why?"
Olivia was tired of Noah's inexplicable cold attitude recently.
What on earth is he hoping for?
Wasn't it the role you hoped for to act as a bridge between the royal family and the commoners? If not, then what on earth is my role?
No matter how much she thought about it, she couldn't even begin to guess what she was doing wrong. With the newspapers, followed by the bodyguards, and then the curtains added to the mix, she felt so suffocated she thought she was going to go crazy.
Jonan hesitated for a moment, then spoke cautiously.
“Your Highness... the reporters must be desperate to take photos. That is why I asked you to close the curtains and why the security has been increased.”
"Is it His Highness's order?"
"Yes."
"Is it for me?"
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Olivia slowly caught her breath and nodded.
“Alright. I won’t open the curtains, so please leave. I want to go to the royal palace.”
"All right."
As Jonan carefully closed the door, deep darkness descended.
Inside the square carriage, which was completely enclosed on all sides, she moved wherever the carriage went.
In the deep darkness, unresolved emotions that had been coiled up in a corner of Olivia's heart reared their heads as if they had been waiting.
It had neither a mouth nor hands, only large eyes and ears, and its name was helplessness.
The reason Olivia visited the royal palace was none other than Lucy. Leonard kept his promise, and Lucy was able to go back to school.
As Olivia got out of the carriage, Lucy ran toward her with a flushed face and hugged her tightly.
“Your Highness!!”
Olivia hugged the girl and sincerely congratulated her on going to school.
“Congratulations, Princess. Have a pleasant trip.”
"Thank you very much."
Last night, Lucy heard from her mother about what Olivia had done. She was so grateful that she burst into tears.
"I'll study hard and come back!"
"Have fun studying."
"Yes!!"
Lucy, who had been expressing her gratitude several times, paused for a moment and tilted her head.
“By the way, Your Highness, is something wrong?”
“No, that can’t be. Please go ahead. You’ll be late.”
Olivia smiled broadly and pushed the girl's back. Even so, Lucy looked back at her several times.
Lucy wasn't the only one looking at Olivia with concern.
Leonard looked at the carriage with the pitch-black curtains drawn with a complex look in his eyes, turned around, and Beatrix approached her.
“Olivia, would you like to talk to me for a moment?”
Beatrix led Olivia to her drawing room.
While the head maid served refreshments, Beatrix silently observed only Olivia's face.
She, who yesterday captivated the audience with her intelligence sparkling like a star, felt as if she had withered away in just a day.
Olivia was staring silently somewhere, and at the end of her gaze was today's morning newspaper.
In the photo that took up half of the first page, there was the woman from yesterday standing on the podium delivering a congratulatory speech.
[Princess Olivia Celebrates Founding of First Royal School]
"Didn't you see today's newspaper?
"May I take a look for a moment?"
"Of course."
With Beatrix's permission, Olivia pulled the newspaper onto her lap and carefully unfolded it. Her gaze quickly flashed across the newspaper.
The article, which began with an explanation of the purpose of establishing the Royal School, briefly introduced the congratulatory remarks of King Leonard and the Princess, and concluded by adding a short exclamation she made to Harold Beam.
There was no mention of Harold Beam's rude question, but it was by no means an article that would harm Olivia.
When she turned to the next page, there was an article about the clothes she wore yesterday, and also an interview with the Crown Prince.
There were no malicious articles about her anywhere in the newspaper, and regarding Noah, there was merely a mention that he attended.
"It looks like you didn't see today's newspaper."
As Olivia closed the newspaper, Beatrix spoke. She remained silent as if agonizing over something, then spoke.
"Mother."
"Yes."
“...Was my congratulatory speech yesterday perhaps... harmful to the Royal Family?”
Beatrix was finally convinced that Noah's anxiety had begun to eat away at Olivia. She gestured for the ladies-in-waiting standing beside her to leave, then shook her head firmly.
“No. You did well. It was a wonderful thing to do as a Princess Consort.”
Despite Beatrix's praise, Olivia simply lowered her eyes and remained silent.
Beatrix collected her thoughts for a moment and then asked.
“How was it for you, Olivia? Did you have fun?”
"Yes?"
Olivia suddenly lifted her head and asked back.
Beatrix glanced down and scanned her attire. Small pearl earrings and a wedding ring on her neatly trimmed hand were her entire adornment.
Will this child even look through the enormous jewels that Noah is buying?
In the Princess with her dark eyes, a young girl exactly Lucy's age seemed to overlap. The girl who had ridden in a carriage holding her grandmother's hand in the pitch-dark dawn had grown into a full-fledged adult and received the recognition and applause of King Herod.
I mean, the recognition and applause of King Herod.
“Olivia, you have two paths.”
“...”
“The first path is the path of pleasure. Under the status of royalty, you will be relatively free from social constraints, and you will likely never experience financial hardship during your lifetime. It is alright to cast aside thoughts and surrender your life to your senses. For the name Astrid that you bear will guarantee your life.”
No emotion was visible on Olivia's face.
“The name of the second path is not fixed. That is because it is a path you create yourself. Under the status of a Princess Consort, opportunities for you to do things are hidden everywhere. There are countless things you must not do because you are a Princess Consort, but there are just as many things you can do because you are a Princess Consort.”
As soon as she finished speaking, Beatrix noticed a glimmer of light in her dark eyes. Beatrix deliberately pretended not to notice it and spoke.
"Most aristocratic women take the first path. It is efficient. Why bother working when you can spend and enjoy life to the fullest without doing so? Time flies just by eating, drinking, and laughing."
Beatrix paused for a moment, then asked in a whisper.
“But where in this world is anything free? Instead of eating, drinking, and laughing for free, what must I pay, and to whom?”
This was the realization Princess Marguerite had given her. When Marguerite left for Pulder, abandoning even her right of succession, and left this question behind, Beatrix realized that she had never once thought about it.
Olivia hesitated for a moment and then answered.
"You must entrust your life to the one who allows you to eat and drink."
“Where in the world is anything free? We have to sacrifice our entire lives in return. It’s a freedom no bigger than the palm of your hand.”
Beatrix smiled broadly. She was indeed the child that 'that' Marguerite loved.
“What kind of life do you want to live?”
At that question, Olivia's face crumbled miserably. She tried desperately to hold back her tears, but eventually bowed her head.
“What kind of life do you want to live? Tell me.”
“Mother...”
"Yes."
Beatrix asked about her life, but for some reason, only Noah's cold face came to mind.
Olivia blinked for a long time before finally managing to speak.
“Your Majesty... do you wish for me to take the first path?”
A heavily cracked voice came out.
Beatrix froze at the unexpected question, then rose from her seat and went to Olivia's side. Then, looking into her eyes, she asked clearly.
“Olivia, do you want to take the first path?”
Olivia did not shed a single tear, but clear tears were visible in Beatrix's eyes.
Her dark eyes trembled slightly. She desperately wanted to ask why Noah's attitude had changed.
First, how could I ask the Queen, who is also his mother?
As Olivia remained silent, Beatrix gently took her hand and spoke.
"I was asking for your way."
“...”
“Think carefully. Which path will you take, the first or the second? If you wish to take the first path, that is fine. But if you wish to take the second, I will help you, just as you helped Lucy with all your heart.”
Olivia stared blankly at the Queen. Countless emotions flashed across her face.
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