Episode 138. Olivia's Way
Beatrix was lost in deep thought, gazing at the spot where Olivia had left. Watching her, the head maid cautiously opened her mouth.
“I conveyed to the orphanage on your behalf that Her Royal Highness the Princess will also be visiting tomorrow. I have also reduced the number of invited reporters as you requested.”
"Good job."
The head lady-in-waiting glanced at the Queen. Then she asked softly.
"Would it be alright if I didn't tell His Royal Highness the Prince in advance?"
“Right... don’t you feel like you should ask?”
"Yes."
“But think about it again. Why do you have to ask?”
“...”
"Does the Princess need the Prince's permission even to meet the children at an orphanage and go volunteer?'
Only then did the head maid take a deep breath in surprise and tilt her head.
"I see. I was short-sighted."
It is not just her. Everyone in the world probably thinks the same. If a Princess who has risen in status thanks to the Prince acts against his wishes, everyone will criticize her.
So that is why Olivia probably answered that way when asked what kind of life she wanted to live.
“Your Majesty... do you wish for me to take the first path?”
Olivia's expression as she said that looked empty and pained, like someone who had lost everything in the world.
"Noah will probably resent me."
“...”
“I pretended not to notice when he was in hell, but now that you are determined to do something against his will, I suppose he's going to get angry.”
“But why...”
“Even ten-year-old Lucy was sick and tired of her father’s excessive protection. How long do you think Olivia can endure Noah’s overprotection?”
It even looked like Olivia's Achilles' heel.
She will not be able to hold out for long. But since she will be unable to ask anyone for help, she might eventually wither away and die.
And Noah will have to watch Olivia slowly die as the sparkling light fades away.
“And so, when the relationship between the two reaches a catastrophic end, the one who will suffer the greater pain is...”
Beatrix remained silent for a moment, catching her breath, then spoke with conviction.
"It must be Noah."
It was said that around this time every year, the Queen visits the Hamel Church Orphanage, sponsored by the royal family, and personally distributes gifts to the children.
Inside the dark carriage, Olivia traced the invitation the Queen had handed her with her fingertips.
It was dark, so she couldn't see it clearly, but the invitation contained a drawing of her made by a child.
[Your Highness, the Princess, please come!]
Olivia looked down at the invitation. The small handwriting was so cute that she felt like laughing, but at the same time, a chill ran down her spine, and her stomach fluttered.
“If you don’t want to leave the rest of your life to Noah’s thoughts, you must face Noah now. I will help you, so be brave.”
Olivia took a deep breath, recalling the Queen's words. It felt as though a thorn was lodged somewhere in her chest, but she still composed herself several times, calming her trembling heart.
When she meets Noah, she will have a calm conversation with him. She will make sure to ask him why his attitude has changed.
Olivia was deep in thought about the conversation she would have with him.
As the carriage climbed the hill for quite a while, the steady sound of horses' hooves became noisily tangled, and a sharp voice was heard.
“Her Royal Highness the Princess has no plans to meet with anyone. Get out of the way immediately.”
“Wow, there are things I really want to ask Her Highness the Princess.”
As soon as the earnest voice ended, the movements of the bodyguards were felt. Sensing something was amiss, Olivia moved toward the wall of the carriage, and at the same time, the man screamed.
“Your, Your Highness!! Your Highness!!”
As Olivia hurriedly pulled back the curtain, Jonan, who was outside the window, shook his head with a stern expression and mouthed the words.
'Please close it.'
Olivia's hand gripping the curtain tightened.
They don't tell you what is happening or why it is happening, and just tell you to stay still and do as you are told.
In this dark place, enclosed on all sides.
“Your Highness!!”
At a call like a dying scream, Olivia clenched her jaw and rose from her seat. Then, she threw open the carriage door, which was tightly closed to prevent even a ray of light from entering.
Pale sunlight and a cold wind suddenly rushed in.
As the Princess burst through the tightly closed carriage door and appeared, the gazes of the bodyguards and the man being held by them all turned toward her.
Jonan blocked her path with a look of despondency.
“Your Highness, please enter. They are rude. You do not need to worry about them.”
"Jonan."
The Princess called out to him in a low voice. In the shadows cast beneath her hat, a fierce determination could be felt. Meeting those eyes, Jonan could not bring himself to tell her to go back inside.
The Princess looked directly at him and spoke in a dignified voice.
"I will decide whether this is something I need to worry about or something I should leave to you."
“...”
"Move aside."
Regardless of her background, she was Herod's Princess and the Duchess of Rosemond.
Eventually, Jonan stepped aside at her command.
As the person blocking her view disappeared, the situation became clear. The man, whose neck was being held by a burly bodyguard, pleaded desperately with the Princess as she appeared.
“Your Highness, the Princess! I am Ronald Perta, a journalist! I would like to ask you just one question, so please spare a moment of your time!!”
As he shouted, other reporters watching the situation from a few steps away also scrambled to raise their voices.
“My name is Edam Miller! Please make time for me as well, Your Highness!”
"I am...!"
Amidst the chaotic outpouring of voices, another bodyguard spoke to Olivia with a stern expression.
"We will handle it. Please come in."
The domineering tone was filled with a strong belief that she would not be able to handle this situation.
Based on that belief, a very intense and instinctive backlash surged.
Olivia smiled gently at the stern-faced bodyguard. She knew all too well that laughter and composure were the most powerful weapons of all.
The bodyguard's expression went blank as he faced her smile.
No one will know.
That she has always lived fighting a war.
Although she did not triumph over those wielding the sword and shield of status and wealth, she was not slaughtered either.
While the bodyguard paused, speechless, Olivia brushed past him and walked toward the reporter, who was being grabbed by the collar.
A royal dignity radiated from Olivia, who was wearing a relaxed smile. The bodyguard who had been grabbing the reporter by the collar involuntarily let go and stood upright, and the reporter, standing blankly, rose from his seat and bowed his head to Olivia.
Olivia looked down at him and asked softly.
“What brings you to see me?”
The reporter dared not lift his head, stammered, and spoke in a hushed voice.
“Uh, I have something I’d like to ask you...”
“Which one?”
He could sense an undeniable intelligence in her clear voice.
The reporter, who had been waiting for the Princess like a paparazzi hoping to snag at least one photo, was intimidated and dared not open his mouth. The audacity with which he had shouted out the Princess's name, even while being grabbed by the collar by a bodyguard, was already gone.
Olivia glanced at the other reporters hesitating in a corner, then turned to the reporter with his head bowed and extended her hand.
"Please leave your business card."
"... Yes?"
As the surprised reporter looked up, the Princess added.
"I only conduct interviews with reporters who have scheduled appointments. I do not interview those who show up at my door without an appointment and shove their cameras in my face."
“...”
“Of course, you know that if you don’t do that, you won’t even get the chance to be interviewed.”
Beatrix was lost in deep thought, gazing at the spot where Olivia had left. Watching her, the head maid cautiously opened her mouth.
“I conveyed to the orphanage on your behalf that Her Royal Highness the Princess will also be visiting tomorrow. I have also reduced the number of invited reporters as you requested.”
"Good job."
The head lady-in-waiting glanced at the Queen. Then she asked softly.
"Would it be alright if I didn't tell His Royal Highness the Prince in advance?"
“Right... don’t you feel like you should ask?”
"Yes."
“But think about it again. Why do you have to ask?”
“...”
"Does the Princess need the Prince's permission even to meet the children at an orphanage and go volunteer?'
Only then did the head maid take a deep breath in surprise and tilt her head.
"I see. I was short-sighted."
It is not just her. Everyone in the world probably thinks the same. If a Princess who has risen in status thanks to the Prince acts against his wishes, everyone will criticize her.
So that is why Olivia probably answered that way when asked what kind of life she wanted to live.
“Your Majesty... do you wish for me to take the first path?”
Olivia's expression as she said that looked empty and pained, like someone who had lost everything in the world.
"Noah will probably resent me."
“...”
“I pretended not to notice when he was in hell, but now that you are determined to do something against his will, I suppose he's going to get angry.”
“But why...”
“Even ten-year-old Lucy was sick and tired of her father’s excessive protection. How long do you think Olivia can endure Noah’s overprotection?”
It even looked like Olivia's Achilles' heel.
She will not be able to hold out for long. But since she will be unable to ask anyone for help, she might eventually wither away and die.
And Noah will have to watch Olivia slowly die as the sparkling light fades away.
“And so, when the relationship between the two reaches a catastrophic end, the one who will suffer the greater pain is...”
Beatrix remained silent for a moment, catching her breath, then spoke with conviction.
"It must be Noah."
It was said that around this time every year, the Queen visits the Hamel Church Orphanage, sponsored by the royal family, and personally distributes gifts to the children.
Inside the dark carriage, Olivia traced the invitation the Queen had handed her with her fingertips.
It was dark, so she couldn't see it clearly, but the invitation contained a drawing of her made by a child.
[Your Highness, the Princess, please come!]
Olivia looked down at the invitation. The small handwriting was so cute that she felt like laughing, but at the same time, a chill ran down her spine, and her stomach fluttered.
“If you don’t want to leave the rest of your life to Noah’s thoughts, you must face Noah now. I will help you, so be brave.”
Olivia took a deep breath, recalling the Queen's words. It felt as though a thorn was lodged somewhere in her chest, but she still composed herself several times, calming her trembling heart.
When she meets Noah, she will have a calm conversation with him. She will make sure to ask him why his attitude has changed.
Olivia was deep in thought about the conversation she would have with him.
As the carriage climbed the hill for quite a while, the steady sound of horses' hooves became noisily tangled, and a sharp voice was heard.
“Her Royal Highness the Princess has no plans to meet with anyone. Get out of the way immediately.”
“Wow, there are things I really want to ask Her Highness the Princess.”
As soon as the earnest voice ended, the movements of the bodyguards were felt. Sensing something was amiss, Olivia moved toward the wall of the carriage, and at the same time, the man screamed.
“Your, Your Highness!! Your Highness!!”
As Olivia hurriedly pulled back the curtain, Jonan, who was outside the window, shook his head with a stern expression and mouthed the words.
'Please close it.'
Olivia's hand gripping the curtain tightened.
They don't tell you what is happening or why it is happening, and just tell you to stay still and do as you are told.
In this dark place, enclosed on all sides.
“Your Highness!!”
At a call like a dying scream, Olivia clenched her jaw and rose from her seat. Then, she threw open the carriage door, which was tightly closed to prevent even a ray of light from entering.
Pale sunlight and a cold wind suddenly rushed in.
As the Princess burst through the tightly closed carriage door and appeared, the gazes of the bodyguards and the man being held by them all turned toward her.
Jonan blocked her path with a look of despondency.
“Your Highness, please enter. They are rude. You do not need to worry about them.”
"Jonan."
The Princess called out to him in a low voice. In the shadows cast beneath her hat, a fierce determination could be felt. Meeting those eyes, Jonan could not bring himself to tell her to go back inside.
The Princess looked directly at him and spoke in a dignified voice.
"I will decide whether this is something I need to worry about or something I should leave to you."
“...”
"Move aside."
Regardless of her background, she was Herod's Princess and the Duchess of Rosemond.
Eventually, Jonan stepped aside at her command.
As the person blocking her view disappeared, the situation became clear. The man, whose neck was being held by a burly bodyguard, pleaded desperately with the Princess as she appeared.
“Your Highness, the Princess! I am Ronald Perta, a journalist! I would like to ask you just one question, so please spare a moment of your time!!”
As he shouted, other reporters watching the situation from a few steps away also scrambled to raise their voices.
“My name is Edam Miller! Please make time for me as well, Your Highness!”
"I am...!"
Amidst the chaotic outpouring of voices, another bodyguard spoke to Olivia with a stern expression.
"We will handle it. Please come in."
The domineering tone was filled with a strong belief that she would not be able to handle this situation.
Based on that belief, a very intense and instinctive backlash surged.
Olivia smiled gently at the stern-faced bodyguard. She knew all too well that laughter and composure were the most powerful weapons of all.
The bodyguard's expression went blank as he faced her smile.
No one will know.
That she has always lived fighting a war.
Although she did not triumph over those wielding the sword and shield of status and wealth, she was not slaughtered either.
While the bodyguard paused, speechless, Olivia brushed past him and walked toward the reporter, who was being grabbed by the collar.
A royal dignity radiated from Olivia, who was wearing a relaxed smile. The bodyguard who had been grabbing the reporter by the collar involuntarily let go and stood upright, and the reporter, standing blankly, rose from his seat and bowed his head to Olivia.
Olivia looked down at him and asked softly.
“What brings you to see me?”
The reporter dared not lift his head, stammered, and spoke in a hushed voice.
“Uh, I have something I’d like to ask you...”
“Which one?”
He could sense an undeniable intelligence in her clear voice.
The reporter, who had been waiting for the Princess like a paparazzi hoping to snag at least one photo, was intimidated and dared not open his mouth. The audacity with which he had shouted out the Princess's name, even while being grabbed by the collar by a bodyguard, was already gone.
Olivia glanced at the other reporters hesitating in a corner, then turned to the reporter with his head bowed and extended her hand.
"Please leave your business card."
"... Yes?"
As the surprised reporter looked up, the Princess added.
"I only conduct interviews with reporters who have scheduled appointments. I do not interview those who show up at my door without an appointment and shove their cameras in my face."
“...”
“Of course, you know that if you don’t do that, you won’t even get the chance to be interviewed.”
The reporter's lower lip trembled slightly.
"So please leave your business card before you go. I will look into a way."
At her calm demeanor, the reporter blinked briefly, then quickly rummaged through his pocket and pulled out a business card. At that, the other reporters gathered on one side also quickly took out their business cards and rushed toward her.
Whenever they rushed over blindly like paparazzi, they were usually turned away at the door or insulted. The Princess was the first person to ask for a business card like this.
If there had been a Prince... I didn’t even want to imagine it.
"Please, make sure to call me."
“I will come whenever you call, Your Highness.”
While the bodyguards stood by her side at a loss, the Princess received business cards one by one, each filled with earnestness.
But it was right then.
Phut!
A sharp camera flash burst from somewhere.
A sense of despondency finally swept over the faces of the bodyguards, who had been watching the situation in stunned silence. Just as Jonan, having hurriedly regained his composure, turned toward the alleyway from which the light had burst forth, a familiar figure had already rounded the corner and disappeared before him.
The colleague, with his sturdy build and dark gray hair, was so distinctive that it was impossible not to recognize him.
'Meson.'
If Meson were here, he would undoubtedly have come with him.
Jonan turned his head with a creaking sound.
'I'm ruined.'
Jonan let out a deep sigh.
Herod's messenger, who seemed incapable of showing even a shred of mercy, was walking toward them.
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