107. Lucy's First Day of School
"Lucy. If you find the stuffy air in the classroom unbearable, you can just come out."
"......"
"And if the food doesn't suit your taste, suggest it to the teacher. No, wait! It might be better to dispatch a personal chef just for Lucy..."
"No, thank you."
Leonard, who had put everything aside to accompany Lucy on her first day of school, seemed speechless at his daughter's firm refusal.
Lucy looked directly at King Herot, her eyes shining.
"Absolutely not, Father."
At his daughter's strong opposition, Leonard groaned, then rattled off another worry.
"Okay, then... if there's anyone who makes you feel bad, don't hold back. This father will take care of the aftermath..."
"Your Majesty."
Beatrix, who had been listening until now, cut him off and glared.
What was he saying to a child right now!
Beatrix clicked her tongue softly and turned to Lucy.
"Lucy Therese, what did I say was the reason I'm sending you to school?"
"To experience fairness."
Lucy, born into royalty, had never had the opportunity to experience fairness. Having lived a life of constant pampering, Lucy had never shared thoughts with her peers, nor could she gauge her level among them.
Beatrix faced her daughter with a stern expression and said quietly.
"Compete fairly, make friends. For as long as you're wearing that uniform, exist not as the Princess of Herot, but simply as Lucy Therese. Learn through fairness that what you enjoy is not a given."
At her mother's firm words, Lucy's blue eyes filled with a determined light.
"Yes, Mother!"
With Lucy's bright voice, the carriage came to a stop. As soon as the carriage door opened, Lucy burst out as if she had been waiting for it.
"I'm off to school!"
"Lu, Lucy...!"
Leonard looked wistfully at his daughter, who was entering the desolate school (it was a prestigious aristocratic school famous for its beautiful campus) with a bag as big as herself (it wasn't).
But his daughter, with excited steps, simply crossed the school gates, never once looking back at her father.
Beatrix glanced at her husband, who had his eyes glued to the window, with a look of exasperation and started the carriage.
"Let's go."
As the carriage departed, Leonard craned his neck and stared endlessly at the receding school, then let out a deep, long sigh.
He couldn't shake off the feeling of unease, as if she had been put out on the open water.
"How brazen are the young nobles these days... I hope she doesn't get hurt by hearing bad things?"
"That's also an experience. How can one become an adult without experiencing heartache? That would be more of a problem."
"Why does our Lucy have to go through that, Trixie? Fairness? Why Lucy of all people?!"
Leonard looked at Beatrix with a truly incomprehensible expression, and she eventually let out a short sigh.
"Leonard, no matter how much you love our daughter, you cannot live Lucy's life for her."
"......"
"Don't take away Lucy's right to fall."
Leonard thought that there were all sorts of strange rights. But wisely, he did not voice that thought.
"Treat Lucy with the same heart you had when you made Usher and Noah wear protective gear before letting them hold a sword."
Leonard, who had been listening quietly to Beatrix's words, closed his eyes tightly and let out another long sigh.
It was so difficult.
Being a father was more difficult than being a King.
⚜ ⚜ ⚜
Olivia walked and walked along the old stone path. After walking for a long time along the old stone path overgrown with uneven weeds, she saw her house in the distance.
With a happy heart, she ran towards the house, but suddenly, she saw a tall man standing at the entrance of the house.
Olivia's steps gradually slowed down. The moment she saw the sleek, smooth black suit and the blonde hair that shone even in the dim light, her heart began to race wildly.
That perfect back view was truly out of place with her old, crumbling house.
Olivia unconsciously turned around and hid behind a nearby tree trunk. She held the faded cotton skirt tightly in both hands and held her breath. The wheezing breath made her ears dizzy.
For some reason, her nose tingled and tears welled up.
Above the desire to run to him with joy, a feeling of being shabby and sad was painted over like watercolors.
Tears fell at her feet, darkening the hem of her skirt.
But just then, someone gently caressed her eyes.
Surprised, she looked up and there he was.
It was clearly daytime, but before she knew it, the surroundings were dark. Behind him, the moon, tearing through the darkness, swayed. He, draped in the cloak of night, slowly let out a very deep, long sigh.
He looked very tired, just like the day she met him in the maze.
He gazed at her intently and slowly opened his mouth.
"Why are you being so pathetic here?"
Olivia's eyes snapped open.
As if a chilling energy had swept through the area around her heart, she was so cold that her body trembled. Hot breath flowed out between her parched lips, and her mind was only hazy.
In the midst of all this, a word engraved like a brand kept poking at her heart.
"Pathetic."
Olivia huddled up because she was so cold. It was when she wished that someone would please take away this pain.
"Your Highness!"
Along with a familiar presence, a cool hand touched her shoulder. When she barely opened her eyes, she saw Betty with a worried expression.
"Oh my, her fever is rising again."
A cold energy touched her forehead. As she gasped for breath, she heard an unbelievable voice behind her.
"Quickly, bring the antipyretic."
Olivia's eyes, which had been languidly drooping, widened in an instant. Surprised, she tried to get up, but the Queen Consort, who appeared from behind Betty, stopped her.
"Olivia, lie still."
"Mother...!"
"Stay still. Just lift your head a little so you can take the antipyretic."
Beatrix sat on the chair where Noah had been sitting all night and personally held the antipyretic to Olivia's lips. Before Olivia could feel grateful, the bitter liquid was forced into her mouth.
After Olivia finished drinking the antipyretic, Beatrix even handed her a towel and water to rinse her mouth.
In Olivia's mind, who had barely regained her senses, the existence of the naval ship construction event scheduled for today suddenly flashed.
"Ah! The naval ship construction event...!"
Then Beatrix smiled gently and shook her head.
"Noah went, don't worry. You might not be able to go if you're sick."
Olivia looked at the Queen Consort's affectionately shining eyes and slowly lowered her gaze. She felt like she was messing up everything she did.
Beatrix gestured to the Head Maid to dismiss everyone. As they left, she covered Olivia with a blanket.
"Lie down."
"But I can't..."
"I came to see if you were okay, not to receive greetings. It's alright."
Beatrix finally laid Olivia down and placed her hand on her forehead.
"Oh dear. You still have a fever."
Olivia, who had been at a loss because she was so grateful, gradually calmed down at her friendly attitude and affectionate touch.
"I'm sorry..."
"I'm the one who's sorry."
Beatrix stared quietly into her clear eyes before opening her mouth.
"Countess Timberline will not be coming anymore. I chose the wrong person."
"No, no. I heard that no one would be my etiquette teacher. I heard you had a hard time finding one..."
"Who even told you that? Was it Noah?"
"......"
"Well, it wouldn't be Noah. The Countess really crossed the line in many ways. But that's not something you need to worry about. You don't need to feel indebted to me either. And you certainly don't need to apologize."
Olivia felt choked up.
Beatrix understood, even vaguely, the emotions that Olivia was feeling. She too, when she first became the Princess consort, had been tormented by the pressure of feeling like she had to do everything well.
"I also found the name Astrid very burdensome."
"Even Your Majesty?"
"Of course. You know, I couldn't sleep throughout the wedding preparations, so I even dozed off during lessons."
Beatrix continued, hoping that Olivia would lead a healthy life.
"Everything may feel burdensome now, but time takes away many things. Someday, when you look back, you'll feel that the burden you feel now is nothing."
"...Will it?"
"Of course. Trust me. So for now, don't worry about anything and get well soon. His Majesty is also worried about your health. I barely stopped him from coming with me."
If King Leonard had come too, it would have been even more burdensome, right?
At the Queen Consort's playfully winking expression, Olivia couldn't help but smile.
When she smiled, the chilling feeling that had been lingering around her heart seemed to dissipate a little.
"I'd like to stay longer, but then you won't be able to rest, so I'll be going now."
"Thank you for coming, Mother."
As Olivia, who had been lying down, got up in a fluster, Beatrix smiled slightly and turned around.
And just before leaving the door, she turned her head as if she had remembered something.
"Oh, right, Lucy is starting school today. She said she definitely wanted me to let you know."
At those words, Olivia's face brightened.
"That's really great. I'll have to congratulate her when I see her."
Even though she was pale from being sick, it was clear that she was genuinely happy. Beatrix nodded and left her room.
Then, she slowly looked around her son's house, which she had visited after a long time, and moved her steps. She especially watched the expressions of the servants working in various places.
As expected of people serving the sensitive Noah, everyone was quiet and calm. But there was no one who looked intimidated, and there seemed to be no place in the mansion that the touch of people's hands had not reached, as they were all working hard at their jobs.
She slowly walked down the central staircase and asked Betty.
"Has the Crown Prince been sleeping well lately?"
Her son had been particularly sensitive since he was young, so sometimes he couldn't sleep because of the sound of rain, and he tossed and turned because of the moonlight shining through the curtains.
Even though he had grown up and started a family, he was still her son. She was always curious about whether he was sleeping well.
At the Queen Consort's question, Betty bowed her head and answered.
"Yes, it seems so."
"That's a relief. Does the Princess consort usually sleep well too?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"That's a good thing. Sleep is important."
The Queen Consort, who was putting on the gloves that the Head Maid handed her, suddenly narrowed her eyes and tilted her head. Turning her head back to look at the way she had come, she asked Betty again.
"That bedroom where the Princess consort was just now... wasn't that Noah's bedroom?"
