Chapter 129: King Leonard's Approval
Oh, Your Highness, why are you like this?
Methone seriously considered quitting his job as the Crown Prince's secretary. But then he thought, where else could he find a job like this? At least the pay was good.
"Why is His Highness in such a bad mood today?"
"These days, you're the only one who can adjust His Highness's mood, Sir Methone."
Jonan whispered, and Methone quickly retorted.
Just then, the sound of a pen scratching harshly across paper sent a chill down his spine. Methone quickly approached, and Noah handed him a contract with a look of disdain.
"Send it back. You call this a contract?"
Black lines were scrawled all over the contract. Just looking at it felt like a personal insult.
"Yes, Your Highness."
"And this too."
Noah pushed away the pile of papers stacked beside him and turned his head sharply.
Methone secretly sighed and thought of Olivia.
Princess consort… please do something about His Highness…
Fortunately, Methone's tragedy didn't last all day. For some reason, Noah went to play Polo for the first time in a while around noon.
So, who inherited Methone's tragedy?
The Polo Club's rogues, seeing Noah's fierce expression after a long absence, quickly put on their Face guards. And it was an excellent choice.
Noah spurred on his foaming horse and swung his Mallet menacingly, and someone, intimidated by his energy, quietly sobbed.
'Why did he come and act like this!'
In the end, Noah won the game by an overwhelming margin.
"W-Would you like a drink?"
Lawrence, exhausted after the game, stuttered as he offered a drink, but Noah shook his head and disappeared.
The rogues stared at the spot where Noah had vanished and muttered.
"I think… he fought with the Princess consort."
"I think so too…"
And the tragedy that had passed from Methone to the rogues was now transferred to the mansion's servants.
"Where is the Princess consort?"
At the Crown Prince's question, which made him seem like a wild beast returning from battle, Betty swallowed hard and replied.
"She has not yet returned from the palace."
"……."
Noah glanced up at the sky.
It was early evening, but since it was winter, the surroundings were already dark. The mansion also felt desolate, perhaps because it was winter.
Noah silently walked into the mansion.
Tap, tap.
The sound of his shoes once again evoked a cold silence.
The mansion's servants wholeheartedly wished for the warmth of spring.
Please come back soon, Princess consort…
⚜ ⚜ ⚜
Meanwhile, the lessons of Olivia, the spring sunshine of the Crown Prince's residence, and Lucy proceeded smoothly as yesterday. Although Noah occupied a corner of Olivia's mind, time flowed like water.
After finishing the lesson, Olivia composed herself and headed to the King's office, constantly recalling the contents she had memorized.
The attendant guarding the King's office greeted Olivia as soon as he saw her, unlike yesterday, and quickly opened the door for her.
"He is waiting for you."
Olivia took a deep breath and stepped through the open door. She had vowed not to cough like yesterday, even if the room was filled with cigarette smoke. But what? Unlike yesterday, the air in the office was clear, as if it had just been ventilated.
"Welcome, Olivia."
At the King's dignified voice, Olivia quickly turned around.
Today, as yesterday, aides surrounded the King, and the Crown Prince was on one side.
"Good afternoon, Your Majesty. Your Highness, the Crown Prince."
Usher responded in a gentle voice.
"Welcome, Princess consort."
King Leonard took off his glasses and gestured to Olivia.
"Are you prepared?"
Olivia quickly approached him, handed him the notes, and replied.
"Yes, Your Majesty. I have memorized it as you instructed."
Then, King Leonard gave a direct order as always.
"Good. Then, imagine you have an audience and give it a try."
As the order was given, the aides behind the King looked at the Princess consort with curious eyes. Usher also stared at her intently. The one who was most anticipating it was none other than the King.
A wave of pressure washed over her. The contract professor appointment exam, judged by Herollington University professors, was nothing. However, the experience at that time was not in vain.
Olivia calmly put down her bag and took off her gloves and coat.
With a lighter body, she found a suitable position, stood there, and slowly calmed her breath. With her eyes lowered, she cast a spell on herself.
The people in front of her are not King Herot and his aides, but a large audience. The thought dominated her mind, and she was soon standing in the middle of the memorial hall.
When the long exhale reached its end, Olivia raised her lowered gaze.
At that moment, the atmosphere surrounding her changed.
King Leonard straightened his back without realizing it and widened his eyes, and the smiles disappeared from the faces of the aides. Usher also stared at her with wide eyes.
The humility that had been in the Princess consort's expression and eyes had vanished. Instead, there was clear intelligence and a confidence that was not intimidated by anyone.
Olivia, who had captivated the audience with just the rapidly changing atmosphere, suddenly raised her lips and smiled. At the same time, her mouth opened.
"Distinguished guests, good afternoon. I am Olivia Rosemond Astrid."
"Huh……."
One of the aides let out a breath as if the air was escaping, but no one could blame him. One person rubbed his arm as if he had goosebumps. King Leonard paused his breath for a moment, and Usher also widened his eyes.
With just her first words, she overwhelmed the veteran King, his aides, and the Crown Prince.
"At the memorial ceremony for the establishment of the first Royal School for commoners in the Norfolk Continent……."
She made full use of everything she had.
Smooth pronunciation, a voice one tone lower than usual, appropriate emphasis, intonation, a confident yet gentle smile, unbiased gaze, and content that perfectly matched the purpose of the establishment.
At one time, King Leonard had wondered how Olivia had been able to pass the Herollington University professor exam. Wouldn't the influence of the Pulder aristocratic alliance have reached the university professor exam?
But now, he realized that she had no choice but to be selected, regardless of the aristocratic alliance's influence.
No one other than her could have been selected. It was ridiculous that someone like her had been fired for not filling the number of auditors.
The approximately five-minute congratulatory address passed in the blink of an eye. King Leonard, who was extremely bored with other people's congratulatory speeches and speeches, felt that way.
“…I sincerely hope that this will be a stepping stone for the great development of Herot, and finally, I offer my infinite trust and gratitude to His Majesty the respected King.”
As the congratulatory address ended, Olivia bowed politely to the audience and exhaled the breath she had been holding in. Her heart, which she didn't even know was racing, was pounding as if it would burst, and her mouth was parched.
The quiet atmosphere of the office was so burdensome that she couldn't lift her head.
But right then.
Clap, clap.
Someone clapped, cutting through the silent atmosphere of the office.
Surprised, Olivia quickly raised her head, and there was Crown Prince Usher. He smiled and continued to clap, and soon applause erupted from the aides on the other side.
Clap, clap, clap, clap.
Olivia blinked with a bewildered expression.
King Leonard looked at Olivia's pale face and finally burst into laughter.
"Hahahahahahaha."
Then he jumped up and clapped his hands together.
"Well done! Well done!"
It was a congratulatory address that even King Leonard, who was stingy with praise, could not help but admire. Those damn bastards who wanted to get their hands on the Royal School would listen with their mouths open!
Olivia's face gradually turned red at the unexpected praise.
"W-Will it be okay to do it like this? The tone, the gaze……."
King Leonard waved his hand and cut her off.
"Do it like that, just like that! Ah, no, wait a minute."
If you're so good at giving speeches, I should slip in some of the things I want to say into the congratulatory address!
King Leonard excitedly picked up a pen and added a few words here and there to Olivia's notes. Then he handed it to Olivia.
"Memorize what I've revised and come back around this time tomorrow."
Olivia received the notes with trembling hands.
King Leonard liked those who were diligent, understood what he said, and were smart.
Since being a King was a busy job, he didn't have the time to teach officials this and that like a teacher teaching students. He always needed those who did their jobs smartly, as if they could read his mind, and at the same time, there were always not enough of them.
Olivia's congratulatory address was more than satisfactory.
She had prepared it perfectly, even while trembling, so how admirable was that!
"I didn't expect you to practice so much in less than a day. It must have been difficult to give a speech assuming there was an audience, since it's an unfamiliar thing to do?"
Then Olivia replied awkwardly with a flushed face.
"When I was working as a temporary professor… I always practiced in empty classrooms. I thought it was a waste of time, but I didn't know it would be helpful at a time like this."
At her words, King Leonard made a pitiful expression and said very kindly.
"In that sense, the saying that nothing is free is also a good saying."
The aides wanted to pick their ears. Is this really the voice of His Majesty the King that we know?
"Yes, Your Majesty. I think so."
"You've worked hard. I'm very pleased."
At King Leonard's sincere praise, the corners of Olivia's lips slowly rose. No matter how hard she tried to suppress it, her lips kept rising, and her white teeth sparkled through her lips.
"Well done! Be sure to come tomorrow too. Do you understand?"
When King Leonard praised her again, Olivia finally smiled brightly. It was because she was so happy to receive recognition after a long time.
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
"Hahahahahahaha!"
The smiles of the King's aides, who had nothing to smile about, also spread at the sight of Olivia rejoicing with her white teeth exposed.
