Episode 139. The Knife That Flowed Out Between the Teeth
He was like a predator approaching to bite her neck.
Dressed in a pitch-black coat, Noah approached with a pace that was neither fast nor slow. No one could escape his snare.
Noah's shadow encroached upon Olivia's stomach, chest, and neck, eventually swallowing her whole.
His cold gaze slowly drifted downward to the business card in her hand. As if his gaze were mixed with physical thorns, Olivia felt a stinging pain wherever his eyes touched.
Noah slowly turned his gaze, took out a cigarette, and lit it. Acrid smoke scattered through the desolate wind.
He gazed intently at the reporters who had come to his house with half-hearted courage, then opened his mouth.
"From third-rate paparazzi to reporters from major newspapers, I believe there is no one who doesn't know what happens if they bring a camera into my house without permission."
As soon as he finished speaking, the reporters' faces turned deathly pale. Just then, a horrific scream was heard from the corner of the alley.
“Please, please forgive me. Please...!”
As Olivia, startled, instinctively tried to move, Noah grabbed her arm with great force.
“...!!”
At the same time, a chilling sound of something shattering into pieces was heard.
Olivia had no idea what was happening. As she looked up at Noah with wide eyes, the reporters standing nearby began to pray for him.
“We never took a photograph. Please forgive us, Your Highness.”
“Yes, it’s true! We didn’t take a single one. Please, please...”
“Your Highness! This camera is my entire fortune. Your Highness, please...”
She could even sense misery from those kneeling.
However, Noah seemed to feel not a shred of compassion. He tossed his cigarette onto the ground, stomped it out with his foot, and coldly gave orders to the waiting bodyguards.
"Handle it according to the rules."
The suppressed cries of despairing reporters burst out.
“Ugh, ugh, ugh.”
Regardless, Noah walked toward the front gate, which had opened wide.
Olivia, held by his hand, walked as if being dragged, then turned around. The reporters were sobbing and thrusting their cameras at the bodyguards.
A stern voice sank over her head.
"Look ahead."
“...”
"Don't worry about useless things."
A harsh winter came to the Prince's castle.
Noah seemed to pay no attention to Olivia's stride. As he moved his long legs with long strides, Olivia, with her arm held captive, had to follow him, almost running.
Olivia staggered several times as they climbed the stairs and crossed the hallway, but Noah did not slow down. The Princess's hat fell to the floor.
The servants held back, and Mrs. Betty watched with pity as the Princess was being led away by the Prince. However, no one could stop the Prince.
This was because, although this was the mansion of the Prince and Princess, there was only one owner of the mansion.
Bang!
The bedroom door closed.
Only then did Noah let go of Olivia's arm. Unlike Olivia, who was breathing heavily, he appeared simply calm.
Noah took the reporters' business cards from her hand as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Then, he walked steadily toward the fireplace.
Olivia, who had been staring at the sight in a daze, snapped back to reality when he tried to throw it into the fire.
“Noah!”
Noah turned his head to watch her running toward him. For a brief moment, Olivia wondered if he might stop. But even while looking at her, he did not cease his actions.
Thump.
Reporters' business cards were scattered like trash over the embers.
Olivia helplessly watched as the crimson flames swallowed the business cards. Burning from the corners, the cards soon vanished, leaving behind nothing but pitch-black ash.
"Didn't Jonan tell you not to get out of the carriage?"
Noah asked Olivia, who was gazing at the flames. Olivia slowly turned her head to look at him. His handsome face, bathed in the golden light, was as calm as ever.
He took off his gloves and gave an order.
"Follow his guidance for the time being."
“For the time being... how much?”
In response to Olivia's question, Noah gestured toward the ashes spewed out by the flame and said
“If you receive something like that, the duration will be prolonged.”
Each syllable struck Olivia sharply.
"Why?"
At Olivia's counter-question, Noah furrowed his brow as if annoyed.
“What’s wrong with you? You should have just let the bodyguards handle it. Why did you get out of the carriage to accept this kind of thing?”
“...”
“Wait. Until people’s interest in you fades.”
He turned around after saying those words. A deep sense of fatigue emanated from him as he unbuttoned his coat.
From the sight of his back, Olivia clearly felt what he wanted from her.
He is hoping she will just say okay.
He hopes she follows his advice and does not question him.
Will she live smiling, fawning over him in accordance with his will and adorned with the expensive jewels he presents?
Since she rose in status entirely thanks to him, shouldn't she naturally do so?
“Olivia, do you want to take the first path?”
At the Queen's question, Olivia thought again about why she had made this marriage.
That day, when Noah spoke to her in the dark carriage.
"I need you, Olivia."
Olivia felt a shiver down her spine and made up her mind.
She never for a single moment wished for a life of merely breathing.
“Go to Hamuel tomorrow when it gets light. I’ll stop by Hammington briefly and then follow you.”
Noah, having even taken off his jacket, sank into the sofa. A sense of stubbornness could be felt from him with his eyes closed.
Olivia clutched the hem of her skirt tightly and mustered up courage.
"Tomorrow is difficult, Noah."
Noah slowly opened his eyes and looked at her.
Her heart pounded violently. Although she felt as though her stomach was melting cold, Olivia opened her mouth with all her might.
"I decided to go to the Hamel Cathedral Orphanage tomorrow."
“...”
Noah leaned his elbows on his knees, looked at Olivia with a darkened gaze, and spoke.
"Did my mother ask you to go together?"
"Mother handed me the invitation addressed to me. So I told her I would go with her."
“No, you don’t need to go. I’ll tell my mother for you.”
As Noah stood up from his seat, Olivia approached him and asked.
“Noah, why on earth do you hate it so much that I go somewhere?”
Noah also hardened his face coldly, got up from the sofa, and approached her.
"Why are you the one who's so desperate to do something?"
"I delivered the congratulatory speech at the Royal School founding ceremony with His Majesty's permission, and I plan to visit the orphanage tomorrow, accompanied by Her Majesty the Queen."
“...”
“Noah, I... I am doing what I can. As your wife, as the Princess...”
Noah, who had been listening to her, suddenly turned around. He took something out of the inside pocket of a jacket that was haphazardly sprawled on the sofa and tossed it onto the table.
Olivia, trailing off, looked at what he had put down.
'Les Duans.'
Under the name of an unfamiliar newspaper she had never heard of before, a photograph of a very familiar landscape was published. And below the photograph, the following phrase was written in bold letters:
[The house where Princess Olivia lived before marriage]
Although it was a black-and-white photograph, to Olivia's eyes, the unique colors of the landscape appeared superimposed.
Old stone paths, dark brown walls, overgrown trees that hadn't been pruned, and even low chairs.
Olivia picked up the newspaper and unfolded it.
[... The house where the Princess lived before her marriage was on the outskirts of the capital... In this old house that appears to be about 40 years old...]
"Reporters who wear a mask of kindness and act politely in front of you often publish articles like this. Because it's profitable."
Olivia lifted her eyes.
"People prefer sensational stories to facts. That is why they are very interested in things that are either very good or very bad. And among those, what they find most entertaining are the flaws or downfall of those in high status."
“...”
“This is just the beginning. The more you show your face at events, the tighter the media will tighten around your neck. An article like this is nothing compared to that.”
Noah tried to suppress his rising emotions.
Last night, he couldn't sleep a wink. He looked at sleeping Olivia over and over again.
The lines of the white face were delicate, as if they would be rubbed away if touched. The slender nape of the neck, shoulders, wrists, and fingertips.
Noah held her ridiculously small hand and buried his face in it. Even so, she did not move. It was because she had fallen asleep as if she had fainted from exhaustion.
The reporters didn't even care about him. On the contrary, they were busy avoiding his gaze.
At some point, his name no longer appeared in the newspapers. This was because all the attention had shifted to Olivia.
It is because this small and slender woman took away everything, without leaving a single grain, that was even too heavy for her to carry.
At that event yesterday, he ironically thought that he would rather have all the attention directed at him. If countless eyes, questions, and doubts poured down on him, couldn't he just stand there blocking them? Like a barrier.
On the subject of wanting to run away from that.
Intense interest from people whose faces she doesn't even know.
Mere interest is suffocating enough, but hidden beneath it is even wicked jealousy.
Won't they go bankrupt at this rate? Let's see, is there anything wrong?
You've gone so high, it would be nice to see you fall a little.
Newspapers containing bad news sell like hotcakes rather than those containing good news.
To Noah's eyes, it was a monster with abnormally large eyes, ears, and a mouth. He had slaughtered countless demons, but nothing was more repulsive than that.
The monster that had been opening its huge mouth in front of his face was now opening its mouth in front of Olivia's face. It was baring its teeth, intending to devour this little woman.
Sure enough, today's newspaper was packed with Olivia's face.
Olivia, Olivia, Olivia.
Each of those names looked like the face of a monster. To him, who was barely managing to compose himself, the Knight of Les Duants was like a dagger.
While he was seeing a vision of a monster, Olivia asked.
“...Do you think I can get out of the media spotlight?”
He was like a predator approaching to bite her neck.
Dressed in a pitch-black coat, Noah approached with a pace that was neither fast nor slow. No one could escape his snare.
Noah's shadow encroached upon Olivia's stomach, chest, and neck, eventually swallowing her whole.
His cold gaze slowly drifted downward to the business card in her hand. As if his gaze were mixed with physical thorns, Olivia felt a stinging pain wherever his eyes touched.
Noah slowly turned his gaze, took out a cigarette, and lit it. Acrid smoke scattered through the desolate wind.
He gazed intently at the reporters who had come to his house with half-hearted courage, then opened his mouth.
"From third-rate paparazzi to reporters from major newspapers, I believe there is no one who doesn't know what happens if they bring a camera into my house without permission."
As soon as he finished speaking, the reporters' faces turned deathly pale. Just then, a horrific scream was heard from the corner of the alley.
“Please, please forgive me. Please...!”
As Olivia, startled, instinctively tried to move, Noah grabbed her arm with great force.
“...!!”
At the same time, a chilling sound of something shattering into pieces was heard.
“No! Waaahhh!!”
“We never took a photograph. Please forgive us, Your Highness.”
“Yes, it’s true! We didn’t take a single one. Please, please...”
“Your Highness! This camera is my entire fortune. Your Highness, please...”
She could even sense misery from those kneeling.
However, Noah seemed to feel not a shred of compassion. He tossed his cigarette onto the ground, stomped it out with his foot, and coldly gave orders to the waiting bodyguards.
"Handle it according to the rules."
The suppressed cries of despairing reporters burst out.
“Ugh, ugh, ugh.”
Regardless, Noah walked toward the front gate, which had opened wide.
Olivia, held by his hand, walked as if being dragged, then turned around. The reporters were sobbing and thrusting their cameras at the bodyguards.
A stern voice sank over her head.
"Look ahead."
“...”
"Don't worry about useless things."
A harsh winter came to the Prince's castle.
Noah seemed to pay no attention to Olivia's stride. As he moved his long legs with long strides, Olivia, with her arm held captive, had to follow him, almost running.
Olivia staggered several times as they climbed the stairs and crossed the hallway, but Noah did not slow down. The Princess's hat fell to the floor.
The servants held back, and Mrs. Betty watched with pity as the Princess was being led away by the Prince. However, no one could stop the Prince.
This was because, although this was the mansion of the Prince and Princess, there was only one owner of the mansion.
Bang!
The bedroom door closed.
Only then did Noah let go of Olivia's arm. Unlike Olivia, who was breathing heavily, he appeared simply calm.
Noah took the reporters' business cards from her hand as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Then, he walked steadily toward the fireplace.
Olivia, who had been staring at the sight in a daze, snapped back to reality when he tried to throw it into the fire.
“Noah!”
Noah turned his head to watch her running toward him. For a brief moment, Olivia wondered if he might stop. But even while looking at her, he did not cease his actions.
Thump.
Reporters' business cards were scattered like trash over the embers.
Olivia helplessly watched as the crimson flames swallowed the business cards. Burning from the corners, the cards soon vanished, leaving behind nothing but pitch-black ash.
"Didn't Jonan tell you not to get out of the carriage?"
Noah asked Olivia, who was gazing at the flames. Olivia slowly turned her head to look at him. His handsome face, bathed in the golden light, was as calm as ever.
He took off his gloves and gave an order.
"Follow his guidance for the time being."
“For the time being... how much?”
In response to Olivia's question, Noah gestured toward the ashes spewed out by the flame and said
“If you receive something like that, the duration will be prolonged.”
Each syllable struck Olivia sharply.
"Why?"
At Olivia's counter-question, Noah furrowed his brow as if annoyed.
“What’s wrong with you? You should have just let the bodyguards handle it. Why did you get out of the carriage to accept this kind of thing?”
“...”
“Wait. Until people’s interest in you fades.”
He turned around after saying those words. A deep sense of fatigue emanated from him as he unbuttoned his coat.
From the sight of his back, Olivia clearly felt what he wanted from her.
He is hoping she will just say okay.
He hopes she follows his advice and does not question him.
Will she live smiling, fawning over him in accordance with his will and adorned with the expensive jewels he presents?
Since she rose in status entirely thanks to him, shouldn't she naturally do so?
“Olivia, do you want to take the first path?”
At the Queen's question, Olivia thought again about why she had made this marriage.
That day, when Noah spoke to her in the dark carriage.
"I need you, Olivia."
Olivia felt a shiver down her spine and made up her mind.
She never for a single moment wished for a life of merely breathing.
“Go to Hamuel tomorrow when it gets light. I’ll stop by Hammington briefly and then follow you.”
Noah, having even taken off his jacket, sank into the sofa. A sense of stubbornness could be felt from him with his eyes closed.
Olivia clutched the hem of her skirt tightly and mustered up courage.
"Tomorrow is difficult, Noah."
Noah slowly opened his eyes and looked at her.
Her heart pounded violently. Although she felt as though her stomach was melting cold, Olivia opened her mouth with all her might.
"I decided to go to the Hamel Cathedral Orphanage tomorrow."
“...”
Noah leaned his elbows on his knees, looked at Olivia with a darkened gaze, and spoke.
"Did my mother ask you to go together?"
"Mother handed me the invitation addressed to me. So I told her I would go with her."
“No, you don’t need to go. I’ll tell my mother for you.”
As Noah stood up from his seat, Olivia approached him and asked.
“Noah, why on earth do you hate it so much that I go somewhere?”
Noah also hardened his face coldly, got up from the sofa, and approached her.
"Why are you the one who's so desperate to do something?"
"I delivered the congratulatory speech at the Royal School founding ceremony with His Majesty's permission, and I plan to visit the orphanage tomorrow, accompanied by Her Majesty the Queen."
“...”
“Noah, I... I am doing what I can. As your wife, as the Princess...”
Noah, who had been listening to her, suddenly turned around. He took something out of the inside pocket of a jacket that was haphazardly sprawled on the sofa and tossed it onto the table.
Olivia, trailing off, looked at what he had put down.
'Les Duans.'
Under the name of an unfamiliar newspaper she had never heard of before, a photograph of a very familiar landscape was published. And below the photograph, the following phrase was written in bold letters:
[The house where Princess Olivia lived before marriage]
Although it was a black-and-white photograph, to Olivia's eyes, the unique colors of the landscape appeared superimposed.
Old stone paths, dark brown walls, overgrown trees that hadn't been pruned, and even low chairs.
Olivia picked up the newspaper and unfolded it.
[... The house where the Princess lived before her marriage was on the outskirts of the capital... In this old house that appears to be about 40 years old...]
"Reporters who wear a mask of kindness and act politely in front of you often publish articles like this. Because it's profitable."
Olivia lifted her eyes.
"People prefer sensational stories to facts. That is why they are very interested in things that are either very good or very bad. And among those, what they find most entertaining are the flaws or downfall of those in high status."
“...”
“This is just the beginning. The more you show your face at events, the tighter the media will tighten around your neck. An article like this is nothing compared to that.”
Noah tried to suppress his rising emotions.
Last night, he couldn't sleep a wink. He looked at sleeping Olivia over and over again.
The lines of the white face were delicate, as if they would be rubbed away if touched. The slender nape of the neck, shoulders, wrists, and fingertips.
Noah held her ridiculously small hand and buried his face in it. Even so, she did not move. It was because she had fallen asleep as if she had fainted from exhaustion.
The reporters didn't even care about him. On the contrary, they were busy avoiding his gaze.
At some point, his name no longer appeared in the newspapers. This was because all the attention had shifted to Olivia.
It is because this small and slender woman took away everything, without leaving a single grain, that was even too heavy for her to carry.
At that event yesterday, he ironically thought that he would rather have all the attention directed at him. If countless eyes, questions, and doubts poured down on him, couldn't he just stand there blocking them? Like a barrier.
On the subject of wanting to run away from that.
Intense interest from people whose faces she doesn't even know.
Mere interest is suffocating enough, but hidden beneath it is even wicked jealousy.
Won't they go bankrupt at this rate? Let's see, is there anything wrong?
You've gone so high, it would be nice to see you fall a little.
Newspapers containing bad news sell like hotcakes rather than those containing good news.
To Noah's eyes, it was a monster with abnormally large eyes, ears, and a mouth. He had slaughtered countless demons, but nothing was more repulsive than that.
The monster that had been opening its huge mouth in front of his face was now opening its mouth in front of Olivia's face. It was baring its teeth, intending to devour this little woman.
Sure enough, today's newspaper was packed with Olivia's face.
Olivia, Olivia, Olivia.
Each of those names looked like the face of a monster. To him, who was barely managing to compose himself, the Knight of Les Duants was like a dagger.
While he was seeing a vision of a monster, Olivia asked.
“...Do you think I can get out of the media spotlight?”
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