Translator: Nox

135. Marguerite's Report

"Noah."

He spotted her, crushed his cigarette under his foot, and extinguished it.

"Are you done?"

As he turned toward Olivia, a chilly breeze swept past.

"Yes, I'm done. Did you wait long?"

Noah remained silent, his hands thrust into his pockets, merely staring at her.

The silence between them, the chill in the air, felt like something was blocking her chest.

The moment she first met him flashed through her mind. It was as if the months they had spent together had been completely erased from him.

'How was it? Did I do well?'

After successfully delivering the congratulatory address, she would be sure to ask Noah. Then he would smile and say she did well.

That's what she had thought.

Olivia couldn't bring herself to ask in front of those green eyes that seemed devoid of any affection.

The months she had spent with him might have meant nothing to him, but they weren't nothing to Olivia.

Olivia forced a smile, trying to compose herself.

"It's cold, why are you standing here?"

"I don't like the camera flashes. Let's go if you're done."

"Ah! His Majesty and Her Majesty the Queen Consort are still..."

"They'll make their own way back to the Royal Palace. I was waiting for you."

"......"

Olivia wavered again at his words.

He made it impossible for her to even ask if she had done well, yet he made her hope again. And Olivia, who loved him, wanted to cling to that small hope somehow.

"Um, Noah."

"......?"

"...Um, today..."

Olivia bit her lip and was about to speak with difficulty when.

"You were both here!"

Turning toward the sound, she saw the King and Queen Consort approaching her. Olivia quickly bent her knees to show her respects, and Leonard, who had come closer, spoke directly.

"You worked very hard today, Olivia."

It was a very Leonard-like way, who hated preambles.

"I was also very surprised. I was deeply impressed."

Beatrix also added a word, and Olivia blushed and lowered her head.

"You flatter me."

"It's not flattery."

Leonard shook his head firmly.

Olivia's congratulatory address would be spread throughout the country through the newspapers, representing the purpose of the Royal School. That alone was satisfying, but she had also prevented Herald Beum from speaking out about the facilities again.

"You deserved my praise today. Is there anything you desire? I will grant you one thing."

Olivia, who was about to reflexively answer no, paused for a moment and looked at Leonard.

"Anything, Your Majesty?"

Leonard chuckled and nodded.

"Would the King's praise be mere words?"

"Then..."

Olivia glanced at Beatrix and said cautiously.

"Princess Lucy's forehead has healed. So, could you allow the Princess to go to school from tomorrow?"

At her words, Leonard was silent for a moment, staring intently at Olivia. As he had expected, Olivia must have wanted to bring up Lucy's matter from the beginning.

In fact, Leonard had no intention of asking anyone's opinion about Lucy's going to school. However, the story of a ten-year-old girl like Lucy shook the heart of the King, who was cold to everyone.

"Classes started at nine in the morning, so I left home with my grandmother at six every morning. And after class, I would return home with my grandmother, who had been waiting for me outside the school all day. By the time I got home, it was always dark."

Leonard frowned slightly and asked deliberately gruffly.

"Everything Lucy needs is in the Royal Palace. What is she lacking that she has to risk going to school?"

Then his son jumped out as if he had been waiting for it.

"You shouldn't have said you'd grant anything if you were going to say that."

Leonard glared at his son's impatient face with a displeased expression.

What is this, like a lioness protecting her cubs? He's having a fit whenever Olivia is touched.

"Noah, mind your manners. But Your Majesty, Noah has a point, doesn't he?"

Beatrix mediated gently and looked at Olivia.

"Olivia, tell me. Do you really think that everything Lucy needs is in the palace?"

Olivia, who was flustered and grabbing Noah's arm, paused for a moment, choosing her words at the Queen Consort's question.

After organizing her thoughts, she released Noah's arm, composed herself, and spoke to Leonard politely but firmly.

"Your Majesty. What the Princess needs are not things that are visible, but things that are invisible. So how can you be sure that they are all in the palace?"

Who would dare to speak to the King about the Princess's affairs to this extent?

Olivia was like a soft knife. She carefully dug into the hearts of the sensitive and arrogant royals and poked at them.

Leonard twitched his lips, then chuckled after all.

"Alright. I understand what you mean."

"Then..."

"I must keep my promise. As you say, I will send Lucy back to school."

As his words fell, Olivia's lips turned upward. The face of the girl who would be jumping up and down with joy flashed through her mind.

"Thank you!!"

"Is it a good thing for Lucy, or is it a good thing for you? That fellow, she should be talking about her own things."

Leonard, who glanced at Olivia with a puzzled expression, turned away first, and Beatrix embraced Olivia's shoulders and whispered in her ear.

"Thank you, Olivia. Thank you."

"It's nothing, Mother."

She patted her son's shoulder next to her affectionately and then followed the King away.

Olivia, who was watching the departing King and Queen Consort, met the gazes of several people.

Quite a few people were watching them from afar, unable to approach.

At that time, Noah's low voice flowed into Olivia's ear.

"Shall we go to Hamuel now?"

When she looked up, Noah was looking down at her.

"Now?"

"......"

Noah was silent for a moment, then took her hand and started walking. Olivia looked at the large hand that enveloped hers and asked.

"Um, did I do well today?"

"Didn't Father just praise you?"

"But I wanted to hear it from you."

"......"

Noah was silent for a moment, then turned to her and smiled faintly.

"You did too well."

It was a smile like the pale and faint sunlight of midwinter. But since it was a smile she had seen in a long time, even that was precious to Olivia.

Olivia moved closer to his side. And she plucked up her courage and whispered.

"I like it when you say that."

"It's not like it's anything new."

"Still."

At that moment, a flash of light burst behind them, piercing through the faint winter sunlight.

Noah paused, then released her hand and hugged Olivia's shoulders tightly. He hugged her so tightly that her body was almost hidden by Noah's body.

His touch felt more like impatience than consideration or warmth. Her grabbed shoulder ached.

"Noah?"

Olivia called out to him in surprise, but Noah didn't even reply and walked faster.

Even in the midst of that, flashes were bursting behind them.

Flash, flash!

Flash, flash, flash!

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

Marguerite was looking at a thin report.

It was the result of an investigation ordered by Marguerite, who was puzzled by Olivia's dismissal from her position as a library assistant in the past.

"I apologize for the late report."

The man who submitted the report to her bowed deeply. It took nearly two years to submit the report.

But Marguerite did not blame him. It was something that would take long enough.

With each page she turned, her eyes trembled slightly and gradually turned red. Finally, after checking the last page, she pressed her eyes tightly and slowly exhaled her suppressed breath.

Olivia's despair was melted into this thin report. That's why she was sad.

She silently gestured for the man to leave, then opened her eyes and stared blankly at the report.

After a long time, she spoke alone to Olivia, who could not hear her.

"Olivia, to be honest, I was upset when you said you would become Noah's wife."

With what heart have you been walking around the campus so far?

Is that really your dream?

Marguerite wanted to see Olivia spread her dreams. But she couldn't bring herself to say such things to Olivia, who was distraught after being abused by Adam McDowell.

How could she, to Olivia, who was crying that she didn't want to endure it anymore.

However, Adam McDowell's crazy actions were only a small part of what was revealed on the surface.

"I... I was still an ignorant Princess in the palace."

Tears streamed down her cheeks.

"Olivia, pain is the driving force for growth. The pain you are experiencing now is a stepping stone to great success, so enjoy it."

"The important thing is your will."

What expression did Olivia have when she said those words?

Marguerite's lips trembled. It was as if someone had set fire to her chest.

"How resentful must you have been of me for saying such things."

Marguerite collapsed in front of the thin report.

"Ansen. You, you damn son of a bitch..."

The report slowly crumpled between her fingers.