Translator: Nox

Episode 131. The Reason I Don't Like the Congratulatory Speech

Usher, standing to King Leonard's right, greeted her with an awkward expression.

"Welcome, Princess Consort."

Olivia quickly collected herself and offered her greetings.

"Good afternoon, Your Majesty. Your Highness, Crown Prince."

Then, she quickly scanned the officials with her eyes and inclined her head lightly in greeting.

"How do you do."

It was a flawless and perfect appearance. Leonard was watching her with great satisfaction when Olivia opened her mouth to him.

"It seems like you were in an important meeting. I'll come back later."

But Leonard waved his hand as if to say no.

"No, no. It's all over. Isn't it?"

"Yes, of course."

"That's right. It's all over, Your Highness, Princess Consort."

Olivia's gaze reflexively turned to Usher. He seemed like the only one among this group who would tell the truth.

But he only smiled awkwardly when their eyes met.

"Olivia! Have you been practicing?"

At that moment, Leonard asked with sparkling eyes and a very affectionate tone. His tone was so tender that even the aides and officials shuddered.

A sharp voice echoed in her ears like an auditory hallucination.

"Is your head just for wearing hats?!"

"This report is a mess! You call this a report?!"

She thought only vicious and scathing words came out of that mouth...

Of course, there was Princess Lucy, but let's consider her an exception since they had never been involved in work matters.

"The Princess Consort will soon practice her congratulatory speech for the Royal School founding anniversary. Take a listen."

By Leonard's standards, even that kind of remark was a great acknowledgment. But to add such a tender attitude on top of that!

The officials stared at Olivia with gleaming eyes.

Olivia realized that King Leonard wanted her to perform in front of them, given the officials' attitude of watching her with shining eyes instead of leaving.

Although it was unexpected, it seemed like good practice considering she would have to stand in front of so many people on the day of the event.

Olivia took a short, deep breath, put down her bag, and took off her coat. A nearby maid quickly took the clothes from her, and Olivia stood in a suitable place in light clothing.

She had already performed in front of the Monarch of Herot. Nothing would change just because a few more officials were added.

The calm and composed atmosphere emanating from her swept through the air of the office. Then, it permeated through the veteran officials who controlled Herot, assimilating even their atmosphere.

Leonard, who knew how difficult that was, leaned back deeply in his chair and smiled, raising the corners of his lips.

The moment that girl raises her eyes, the officials of Herot will be overwhelmed.

As his thoughts ended, Olivia raised her lowered gaze and smiled softly.

"Distinguished guests, good afternoon. I am Olivia Rosemond Astrid."

"Huh..."

She could clearly feel the officials' agitation.

Leonard smirked and glanced at the officials. Some had their mouths open, others had their eyes wide open as if their eyeballs were about to pop out. It was quite a sight.

Even the aides who had seen the congratulatory speech yesterday were staring blankly at Olivia.

He felt so, so good!

But wasn't it worth it?

"...Education is the most fundamental thing that makes humans human..."

His daughter-in-law was naturally continuing the speech, turning even the sentences he had scribbled roughly into masterpieces.

That's right, that's right!

"...Therefore, the Royal School, the first to be established on the Norfolk Continent, will enhance the intelligence of the majority of Herot's citizens..."

Well done, well done!

Leonard listened to Olivia's congratulatory speech like music, mentally cheering her on.

Elegant face, neat and straight eyes, graceful posture, perfect eloquence. Moreover, today he could even see dignity in her.

Leonard's eyes, which had caught a glimpse of dignity in her, calmly sank.

He thought that she would have done a great job even if she had been made the Crown Princess instead of the Princess Consort. It was a thought that others would point fingers at as very depraved, but in King Leonard's standards, it was a compliment.

Olivia was indeed a person worthy of the name Astrid. His choice was excellent.

Leonard's mood soared higher than the spire of Hamel Cathedral.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

Meanwhile, around the time King Leonard's mood was soaring higher than the spire of Hamel Cathedral.

Beatrix was standing in front of Noah's office.

Methone was startled by the unexpected visit of the Queen Consort and rushed out, and Noah, who was working, also put down his pen and stood up from his seat.

"Do you have time?"

Beatrix, standing at the door, asked Noah, who was facing the sunlight. Noah chuckled and walked around the desk. Then, he approached her and politely extended his hand.

"Welcome, Your Majesty, Queen Consort."

As Noah escorted the Queen Consort to the seat of honor, the quick-witted Methone quickly placed refreshments on the table and stepped back.

Noah glanced behind his mother's back. The Head Maid, who was like the Queen Consort's shadow, was nowhere to be seen.

"Is something the matter?"

Beatrix quietly studied her son's face. As the ennui that had been gnawing at him disappeared, her son finally looked his age. The person who had freed him from ennui was Olivia.

It was salvation.

At times, even she, as his mother, felt suffocated by the deep ennui emanating from Noah. She was at a loss as to how to peel off that deep and dark thing, but Olivia had done it.

The bright and healthy Olivia had done it. With the healthy Olivia by his side, Noah's ennui had also disappeared.

So this was not only for Olivia, but ultimately for Noah as well.

"I heard that Olivia is giving a congratulatory speech at the Royal School founding anniversary."

Beatrix mustered her courage and opened her mouth. And at the same time, Noah's eyes turned coldly.

"I heard it's supposed to be very excellent."

"There's no need to say more about that story. I've decided to watch the founding anniversary congratulatory speech."

Noah spoke quickly in a tone that felt not only cold but also scathing.

Beatrix paused for a moment, choosing her words, and then spoke again.

"It wasn't your father who ordered it."

"Mother."

"Yes."

"What exactly do you want to say to me? Do you want me to apologize for the rudeness I committed to His Majesty?"

"No."

"Then what?!"

"I want you to face the fact that Olivia wanted to do it."

"......"

After a moment of silence at his mother's words, Noah took a long, slow breath and leaned back in his chair.

"She said she wanted to ask His Majesty to send Lucy to school."

Beatrix paused at Noah's words.

"But she says she's not in a position to ask, so she couldn't dare to say it. I guess she's going to ask to send Lucy to school after she gives a proper congratulatory speech."

"......"

"She probably has no idea how terrible the public's attention will be after the congratulatory speech, how suffocating it will be. That's right. You can only predict as much as you've experienced."

"......"

"And someone who hasn't experienced it thinks very lightly about how terrible it is without knowing it at all."

Noah's eyes were so fierce as he said those words that Beatrix eventually closed her eyes. The mother who had left her child in hell was a sinner.

"I'm so sorry that I left you alone while you were suffering so much."

"As I said, it's not something you need to apologize to me for. But I would like you to keep your promise regarding Olivia's matter."

Beatrix slowly opened her eyes and replied.

"Of course."

Noah frowned. He looked like he didn't know why she was telling him this story.

Beatrix, watching her son's impatient expression, spoke again.

"Hell is said to grow as much as the number of souls who die and enter it that day."

"......"

"Because everyone feels a different hell."

Beatrix slowly rose from her seat.

"My hell was the helplessness of just watching my children suffer."

The two people's gazes crossed in the air.

"Right now, not being able to go to school is hell for Lucy."

"......"

"And right now, your hell is the shattering of the peace of life you barely gained. That's why you're so anxious."

Her son's eyes wavered.

"So son, take good care of what Olivia's hell is."

"......"

"I am a mother who is not qualified to say these words to you, but I mustered the courage to come because it is a word that I must say nonetheless."

Beatrix left his office after saying those words. But her heart was heavy.

Because until the last moment, her son's eyes were only ruthless.

"I don't know if I said the wrong thing......"

The Head Maid only remained silent at Beatrix's empty voice in the carriage.

That day, Beatrix's efforts were clearly in vain.

Because Noah's determination grew thicker day by day, as the reasons why he didn't like Olivia's congratulatory speech increased day by day.

First. She came late every day.

"Where is the Princess Consort?"

Recently, Betty always repeated the same answer to his question.

"She has not yet returned from the Royal Palace, Your Highness."

One day it was his father, another day it was his mother, and another day it was his sister who held her back, so recently Noah had been eating dinner alone.

"If even you hold my wife back and ask her to have dinner, I won't let you off, so you know."

Noah even warned the innocent Usher. At that, Usher shrugged and said lightly.

"Then you come to the palace and eat together."

"I'm comfortable in my own house."

The place where Olivia should be is my house.

Second. She came late every day and locked herself in the study and didn't come out.

He really couldn't understand why she was practicing more when she was already perfect.

He had sat on the sofa in the study while Olivia was practicing, but in those moments, she must have thought of him as just a fireplace or a sofa.

Third. Olivia was a fox pretending to be a rabbit, and he was a fool.

When he was annoyed, she would slyly support her face cutely under her chin and ask, 'Are you angry?' Tilting her round eyes and sometimes leaning her head slightly against his chest.

He wanted to push her away coldly even if it was out of spite, but his body became hot regardless of his owner's will, and he always collapsed.

Fourth. The King is in too good a mood.

Soon there will be a hole in the spire of Hamel Cathedral. The King's mood is rising through the spire.

Fifth. Unpleasant rumors are circulating.

Recently, an unusually large number of nobles have been passing through the Royal Palace's main gate at the time Olivia frequents the Royal Palace.

It was amazing. He was so dumbfounded that he had Jonan assigned as her bodyguard, but a few days ago, some dimwitted guys approached her and suggested tea time.

...Should I kill them?

Sixth, he just feels bad.

Seventh..., etc.

And so, finally, the day of the Royal School founding anniversary event.

"Oh my goddddddd! Oh my goodness!!!"

Here, there was someone who was as excited as King Leonard.

It was Jane Ambrose.

"You're beautiful. It's a really, really trite word, but there's no other way to express it!"

Not only Jane Ambrose, but also the maids and atelier staff who were waiting all exclaimed in unison.

"You are beautiful, Your Highness."

Even the taciturn Betty added a word.

Noah, who was leaning against the window at an angle, quietly took in Olivia, who had just changed her clothes, and let out a short sigh.

Another reason why he didn't like her congratulatory speech had been added.