Translator: Nox

Episode 120: Shock of Kin

The scene delivered a tremendous shock to his parents and siblings.

Even amidst all that, Noah was watching Olivia. Still seemingly concerned about the plate full of food, he kept alternating his gaze between the plate and her, and finally threw a word to Lucy, who was chattering away.

"Lucy, sorry to interrupt, but I think you should eat something first. Your plate is still full."

As Lucy smiled awkwardly and began to cut her steak at her brother's words, Noah whispered to Olivia as well.

"You barely touched your appetizers, so finish your steak."

"……!"

"……!!"

"……!!!!!”

Usher, Beatrix, and Leonard gasped and widened their eyes. Amidst all that, Olivia's calm reaction was even more shocking.

Olivia began to cut her steak as if this was a common occurrence, and Noah watched her quietly before adding another word.

"Try to eat all of it, if you can."

"Only as much as I can eat."

"Is it hard to cut?"

"Not at all."

They exchanged familiar banter and chewed their food diligently, when she felt an intense gaze from somewhere. When she glanced up, the three royals were looking at her with wide eyes.

When Olivia paused in surprise, the three royals quickly turned their gazes to their direct blood relative.

Noah's gaze met the gazes of the three royals in the air. But, as always, there was no match for a shameless person.

Noah, after briefly glancing at his parents' surprised gazes, looked at Usher sitting next to him with a disgruntled expression and asked shamelessly.

"What."

"……."

What could he say when he asked what?

Usher shook his head slightly and turned his gaze away, and Leonard smiled awkwardly and offered food to his daughter-in-law.

"Eat a lot, Olivia."

At that moment, Lucy, who had been diligently eating, suddenly opened her mouth as if she had remembered something.

"Your Highness! Is that the hairband I gave you as a gift?"

"Yes, that's right. I always wear it well."

Lucy slyly looked at Noah and whispered to Olivia.

"Actually, Noah Oppa chose that!"

As the royal family looked at Noah again after hearing the girl's whisper, Olivia also turned to look at Noah.

Even while receiving such intense gazes, Noah's expression did not change at all. Rather, he looked at his wife and said this.

"My taste has always been consistently excellent."

Olivia, unfazed by his shamelessness, calmly responded.

"I express my gratitude for your consistent taste."

The couple simultaneously twitched their lips and looked forward.

It was, somehow, a peaceful yet affectionate scene.

Beatrix stared quietly at Noah's face. Her son, sipping wine, was still preoccupied with looking after his wife.

"How affectionate, it's good to see."

When Beatrix belatedly praised them, Leonard whispered in her ear.

"See? I told you I arranged the marriage well."

Then Beatrix, unfazed by his shamelessness, quietly responded.

"You have an excellent eye, no less than your son's. Congratulations."

And a little later, when Noah and Olivia returned, Beatrix personally took her daughter to her room.

"But Lucy, why did you ask Noah to choose the hairband among so many people? I'm here, the nanny is here, there must have been many people to ask."

"Mother, you said that gifts should be chosen after considering and keeping in mind the person who will receive them, and after thinking about that person over and over again, right?"

"That's right?"

The girl glanced at her mother with eyes mixed with innocence and playfulness, then smiled and replied.

"So, when you're confused about a gift, it would be right to consult someone who thinks of the person receiving the gift in the same way, right?"

As Beatrix, not fully understanding the girl's words, tilted her head, Lucy added a kind explanation.

"Around that time, whenever I was curious about Pulder, everyone talked about my aunt. Saying, 'You miss Princess Marguerite, don't you?' Actually, it wasn't, but I couldn't say no, so I said yes."

"Hmm?"

"But only one person, Noah Oppa, talked about Your Highness, not my aunt."

Only then did Beatrix understand her words and showed a surprised expression.

"Is that so?"

"Yes. I was even subtly curious about the reaction to the hairband Your Highness wore today, so I even slipped it in!"

At those words, Beatrix laughed, then covered her eyes with her hand and laughed for a long time.

The ten-year-old Princess smiled back at her mother as if she knew everything, then slipped into her room.

Beatrix, left in the hallway, wiped the lingering laughter from her face and asked the Head Maid standing beside her.

"How did Noah's revenge go?"

"It has been confirmed that all the noble ladies who came to the cafe at the time apologized to Your Highness. As Mrs. Seymour's rudeness was particularly egregious, the investment in Seymour was canceled, and the investment in Letium is proceeding as planned."

"He probably wants to retaliate against Letium as well, but I punished Mrs. Timberlin, so he's not touching it further, thinking of my reputation."

Because that would be like asserting that he is an existence who can inflict a greater punishment than the Queen Consort.

"Cancel the invitation to the noble ladies soon. I don't think there's any need to add me to it."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"The jewelry market and the dress market will be bustling soon. That guy Noah seems to be already buying jewelry."

Beatrix chuckled and leisurely turned her body.

"He's lamenting that Olivia only has ten fingers, so he can only put ten rings on her. To think his unrequited love was that long."

To think Noah had an unrequited love.

Beatrix's lingering laughter subtly shook the air in the dark hallway.

Beatrix's prediction turned out to be true.

Prince Noah's people began to buy all kinds of jewelry through Herot's famous jewelry auction. Rumors spread that they were also looking into expensive oriental ornaments and precious silks coming in through the Silk Road.

The finest ingredients were also delivered to the Prince's residence, and everything good, from precious medicinal herbs that warm and nourish the body to bath products and scented candles, was selected by the Prince.

"If His Highness becomes curious about a giraffe, he'll definitely build a giraffe farm in the house."

Jane Ambrose, the biggest beneficiary of this situation, muttered with a mixed voice of laughter.

Then she turned her eyes to the newspaper in her hand. As she turned a page, the unique smell of ink from the newspaper wafted out.

"Fashion changes like flipping a hand, but who would have known that 'Les Duing' would become so popular."

"Who would have known that Les Duing would report on actress Miranda Brooks' scandal? Rumor has it that they paid one billion Kerte for that one scandal article?"

"One billion? That wouldn't be profitable, would it? Besides, they're giving it away for free?"

"Rumors are just rumors. Or maybe they got a lot of money from somewhere?"

Jane Ambrose shrugged and casually flipped through the Les Duing newspaper. There were hardly any articles related to politics or economics, and most of them were gossip, and at the very back, a very provocative novel was being serialized.

It was clear that it was a newspaper aimed at the majority of commoners in Herot, rather than the nobility or a small number of the upper class.

"Well... it's fun, though."

And just as she was finishing reading the end of the provocative novel, the carriage passed through the main gate of the Prince and Princess's residence. Jane Ambrose threw the newspaper down carelessly and quickly straightened her clothes.

Meanwhile, Olivia was seriously worried that Noah might actually go bankrupt.

Whenever she thought the house was a little noisy and looked outside, merchants were invariably busy carrying goods.

Olivia's dressing room was being filled at a rapid pace, and every space she set foot in was decorated more splendidly and beautifully than ever.

A Mother-of-pearl chime, said to have been brought from the Orient, was installed on the balcony where Olivia often read books. It was an object that made a clear sound that she had never heard before as they collided with each other when the wind blew.

Was that all?

From unheard-of medicinal herbs to books, there was no item that didn't come in.

Olivia thought as she looked at the house, which was turning into a treasure exhibition hall.

Was this an expensive demonstration?

A few days ago, on the way back from dinner at the Royal Palace, Noah had asked.

"Is there anything you want?"

Having just received several large jewels, Olivia immediately shook her head.

"I have enough."

But Noah, looking disgruntled as if he was dissatisfied with something, muttered.

"I shouldn't ask and just start filling it up first. Then you'll think of something. What you want."

Olivia, finishing her recollection, muttered as she looked at the famous painting hanging on the wall. That famous painting was definitely one she had seen in a textbook.

"You are filling it up."

And that day's 'filling up' was brought to a climax by Jane Ambrose, who had a smile on her face.

"Ohohoho, Your Highness! I will fill this dressing room to the brim today~!"

Meanwhile, Noah, who had gone to work because he could no longer work at the residence, was even checking an invitation in the midst of his busy schedule.

The luxurious cards decorated with colorful ribbons rolled like trash on his fingers before being thrown into the trash can.

'This person's reputation isn't good either.'

'There's nothing to see in this person.'

'...I'm a little confused, but the person they're close to is very bad.'

What he was sorting were invitations addressed to Olivia, which were really pouring in like a flood.

Methone, who had been watching this scene for several days, said cautiously.

"Why don't you leave it to Your Highness?"

But Noah ignored his words.

The fact that invitations were pouring in like a flood was proof that people were starting to see Olivia as a goose that lays golden eggs.

"Not yet."

He couldn't put Olivia among those who were trying to profit through her in any way.

"Oh, and the Polo Club called. They're asking if you'll attend the game today."

Noah paused at Methone's question. Not because he thought of Polo, but because he realized that he hadn't thought of Polo at all recently. The same was true for cigarettes.

Noah was lost in thought.