Episode 114: Will You Cheat?
Jane Ambrose seemed like she had been waiting for this day.
The catalog she brought wasn't something put together overnight. Olivia had been Jane's muse for two years, and the designs she had conceived with her in mind were enough to fill a thick book. They were even categorized by season.
"What do you think?"
Her designs were concise, active, and elegant. That was the nice way to put it; the bad way was that they seemed to have one foot in the aristocracy and one in the commoner class.
But that was what captivated Olivia. Olivia smiled as she carefully flipped through the catalog.
After choosing dresses with Jane, it was time to pick out Lucy's entrance gift. Among many items, Olivia chose a fountain pen set and a notebook that were easy to carry around.
Jane carefully observed the designs Olivia chose, then neatly rose from her seat. She then placed several heavy Bordeaux-colored boxes on the table.
"What are these?"
When the Princess consort asked, puzzled, she smiled deeply and unlocked the largest box.
"These are items His Highness specially ordered. Please, take a look."
As Jane opened the box and showed the contents to Olivia, not only her eyes but also the eyes of the maids standing behind her widened.
"For your information, it's not sapphire but a blue diamond, Your Highness."
The blue diamond, as big as a child's palm, was an extraordinary object even at a glance. Even Olivia, who didn't have much of a concept of the price of luxury goods, could easily guess that this one necklace was worth as much as a prestigious mansion.
"It's difficult to find colored diamonds in sets. Because it's hard to find the exact same color. But……!"
While Olivia was just blinking, Jane quickly opened another box and presented it to her.
"Oh my."
Someone among the dressmaking staff let out a soft exclamation.
In the box that Jane presented, a large pair of earrings and a ring that seemed to be a set with the necklace were showing off their enchanting figures.
"You ordered this before the wedding, and we finally received it last week."
And that wasn't the end of it.
Inside the mountain of boxes, jewels that would make your jaw drop were hidden one after another.
From a diamond necklace as transparent as water to a three-strand necklace densely studded with pearls of uniform size, pearl earrings and a ring that were a set with it, a splendid ruby set, and a sparkling emerald set, as well as simple designs of jewelry to wear considering the time and place.
Olivia's mind raced as she looked through all of them.
Countess Timberline didn't teach her the important things! You shouldn't ask the price, and you should be formal but choose well so you don't get ripped off!
Noah said he would be back soon, but why wasn't he coming?
As Olivia was examining the dazzling spectacle of jewels with a serious expression, Jane whispered in a laughing voice.
"You don't have to choose, Your Highness."
"……?"
"These are all paid for."
“…All of this?”
"Yes. There are quite a few items that haven't arrived yet. I'll bring them as soon as they arrive."
Jane desperately suppressed the twitching corners of her mouth and maintained an elegant expression.
Indeed, making the Princess consort's wedding dress was a divine move.
The King, after discarding all the dresses that Countess Timberline had advised on, paid a huge amount in advance and told her to prepare the Princess consort's clothes.
In addition, he bought a large quantity of expensive jewelry, all of which happened in about a month before and after the wedding.
Money aside, what a great fortune it was to be able to work while actually seeing the muse!
Jane bowed politely.
"I will visit you again as the clothes are made and the items arrive, Your Highness."
After Jane left, the jewelry and various luxury goods were moved to the dressing room next to the bedroom. Olivia held the gift for Princess Lucy in her arms and stared at the glittering jewels with a dazed look.
Compared to the jewels that came in today, the simple diamond set that Noah had given her before looked so simple that it seemed shabby.
It was then.
"Do you like it?"
Olivia quickly turned to him when she heard Noah's voice from behind, wondering when he had returned.
"Noah! I didn't know you were here. How was your trip?"
Noah took off his gloves and jacket without answering, then walked to the display case where the jewels were lined up. He glanced at Olivia, who had come to his side, after looking over the jewels with his eyes.
"How is it, do you like it?"
"I do like it, but,"
"Stop there."
"……?"
"I hate the words that come after '~but.' Usually, the words that follow ruin my mood."
Olivia frowned as if she was dumbfounded by his dogmatic words, then retorted.
"You're just like Princess Marguerite."
"You're saying I look like my aunt?"
"Very much so."
"That's unpleasant."
He put his arm around Olivia's shoulder and sat her in front of the vanity. Then he roughly picked up the most gorgeous blue diamond necklace and brought it over.
Jane Ambrose, who had treated it like a newborn baby, would have been shocked if she had seen it.
Noah put the necklace around Olivia's neck himself. Then he quietly looked at her reflection in the mirror. Even though she was wearing such a large necklace, the necklace didn't stand out much.
"Do I have to wear something bigger to look flashy?"
"Is there anything bigger than this?"
"Why wouldn't there be? If I look for it, there is."
"You're going to go bankrupt. This is more than enough."
"The Princess consort is sensitive today. You only pick out unpleasant things to say."
When Noah made a sullen expression, Olivia glanced at him slyly. He looked like he was expecting a reaction after giving her a gift, but was disappointed.
After thinking for a moment, Olivia got up from her seat and walked around the lined-up jewels. It was as if a butterfly was fluttering around the flowers.
As Noah tilted his head and stared at her, Olivia brushed past the last jewelry box and approached him. Then, she looked up at her sensitive husband's handsome face from below and leaned her head slightly against his broad chest.
Noah stopped in his tracks at Olivia's sudden approach.
"Thank you, Noah. I'll use them well."
Olivia whispered softly, raising her rose-like lips. Then she took her head off slightly.
Noah let out a long sigh and stared at her as if to swallow her with his blurred eyes.
"You……."
Olivia smiled and quickly took a step back. Then she pointed to the notebook and fountain pen set on the vanity.
"I bought that for Princess Lucy's gift. I'll wrap it up nicely and bring it to her soon. Noah, do you want to write a letter?"
"No."
The refusal was very simple and quick. As Olivia nodded as if she expected it, Noah asked lightly in his usual simple tone.
"What did Mrs. Seymour say that day?"
Olivia's eyes widened at the sudden change of topic, but Noah just waited patiently for her answer. But when Olivia didn't seem like she was going to answer, he sat on the vanity and added.
"Did she tell you to have a son?"
"……."
Olivia bit her lip at his question. Looking at her crushed lips, Noah asked.
"Don't you have anything you want to ask me?"
It was the question he had asked on the day he went to the Polo Club.
A faint sunlight shone on Noah's face. His eyes were transparently clear, and there was not a hint of ridicule or contempt in his expression.
He took care of her excessively and almost looked after her. Even if all of that was 'responsibility for his wife'…….
When she heard the name he whispered all night long, digging into her, she was often filled with the expectation that her existence was special to him.
But always at that one point, there was her house, where she had been sitting down on the old stone road, and he was standing there, saying that all that effort was shabby.
That's why, even for her, who believed that it was best to ask honestly about what she was curious about, it was not easy to ask Noah.
"Ask me, now."
But somehow, she wanted to ask now. The time she had spent with him, though not long, had given her courage.
Olivia carefully moved her lips and asked carefully, as if confessing.
"When will you have a mistress?"
But after asking, she realized anew how big a nail that word had been hammered into her heart. She wanted to be calm, but her hands were trembling. She lowered her gaze, afraid of the answer that would come from his lips.
Everyone in the world told her that she had made a marriage that was beyond her means, but the person who felt it the most was none other than her.
It was her sincerity that she said she wanted to be confident.
Then, Noah's voice, full of annoyance, flowed into her ears.
"What kind of trash do you think I am?"
When Olivia was surprised and raised her eyes, she saw Noah with his brow furrowed.
"Let me ask you. When are you going to cheat?"
"Excuse me?!"
"Why are you so surprised?! That's what you just asked me!"
Olivia was startled by his angry appearance and quickly came over and grabbed his arm.
"No, Noah. That's not what I meant!"
"What do you mean, no?! It seems like you thought I might do that."
"……."
When Olivia was at a loss for words, Noah's expression turned cold.
"You can't even dare to think about cheating, but if I cheat, you'll just endure it again?"
Olivia's eyes turned red at his cruel question. It seemed like this man wanted to dig out her heart.
"Say what you want to say."
Noah whispered, looking at her large, reddening eyes.
