Translator: Nox

Chapter 137. The Path of Hedonism and Obscurity

After he left, Olivia, standing on the cold balcony, called Betty and ordered a newspaper.

"Betty, is there no morning paper today?"

"The newspaper was delivered to your bedroom at dawn, as always."

"......"

It was certain that Noah had taken today's morning paper.

Did he not want her to read the newspaper today? As Olivia tried to understand the situation she found difficult to comprehend, Betty added.

"Ah… and Your Highness, His Highness has ordered that you not receive the newspaper for the time being. There will be no newspaper from tomorrow."

"...Why?"

She asked back, unable to understand at all, but Betty only bowed her head without answering.

"What on earth is in today's morning paper that makes him do this?"

"...I'm sorry, Your Highness. I don't know."

Olivia frowned, then smoothed her brow and calmly ordered.

"Betty, go and get me a new copy of today's newspaper."

"Pardon?"

"There will be something about me in it. Whether it's good or bad, I need to know, so go and get it for me."

Betty recalled the Prince's cold voice.

"Make sure no newspapers circulate in this house again."

She bowed deeply to the Princess consort, as if begging for forgiveness.

"I'm sorry, Your Highness. His Highness has ordered that no newspapers be brought into the residence."

"Does that mean I'm not allowed to see the newspaper from now on?"

"I am sorry..."

Looking at Betty's deeply bowed head, Olivia suddenly wondered.

Are the guards standing outside there to prevent people from entering the residence, or to prevent people from leaving the residence?

The guards outside the window were standing like stone statues, guarding the residence, regardless of the cold. Olivia, watching them with a complicated heart, opened her mouth.

"I'm going out for a while, so please prepare."

Turning to her, wondering if she would say that was not allowed either, Betty thankfully nodded as if she understood and replied.

"Yes, Your Highness. I will prepare."

However, it wasn't just Jonan who was waiting for Olivia, who had finished preparing to go out. As she was about to get into the carriage, six armed mounted guards surrounded the carriage.

"The number of guards has been increased slightly for Your Highness's safety."

That wasn't all.

All the windows of the carriage were covered with jet-black curtains, and when Olivia tried to pull them back, feeling suffocated, Jonan immediately stopped her.

"Wouldn't it be better to leave the curtains as they are?"

"Why?"

Olivia was exhausted by Noah's recent inexplicable cold attitude.

What on earth does he want?

Wasn't it to be a bridge between the Royal Family and the commoners? If not, then what exactly is my role?

No matter how much she thought about it, she had no idea what she was doing wrong, and she felt like she was going crazy with frustration as newspapers, guards, and even curtains were added.

Jonan hesitated for a moment before speaking cautiously.

"Your Highness… the reporters are desperate to take pictures. That's why the curtains are closed and the security has been increased."

"Is that His Highness's order?"

"Yes."

"Is it for me?"

"Yes, Your Highness."

Olivia slowly took a breath and nodded.

"I understand. I won't open the curtains, so please depart. I want to go to the Royal Palace."

"Understood."

As Jonan carefully closed the door, a deep darkness fell.

Inside the square carriage, completely sealed off on all sides, she moved as the carriage went.

In the deep darkness, an unresolved emotion, coiled in one corner of Olivia's heart, raised its head as if it had been waiting.

Without a mouth or hands, with only huge eyes and ears, its name was helplessness.

The reason Olivia visited the Royal Palace was none other than Lucy. Leonard kept his promise, and Lucy was able to go back to school.

As Olivia got out of the carriage, Lucy ran towards her, her face flushed, and hugged her tightly.

"Your Highness!!"

Olivia hugged the girl and sincerely congratulated her on going to school.

"Congratulations, Princess. Have a good time."

"Thank you so much."

Last night, Lucy heard from her mother about what Olivia had done. She was so grateful that Lucy burst into tears.

"I'll study hard!"

"Have fun studying."

"Yes!!"

Lucy, who had expressed her gratitude several times, paused for a moment and then tilted her head.

"But Your Highness, is something wrong?"

"No, of course not. Go on, you'll be late."

Olivia smiled brightly and pushed the girl's back. Nevertheless, Lucy looked back at her several times.

It wasn't just Lucy who looked at Olivia with concern.

Leonard looked at the carriage with the jet-black curtains with eyes full of complicated feelings, then turned around, and Beatrix approached her.

"Olivia, would you like to talk to me for a moment?"

Beatrix led Olivia to her drawing room.

While the Head Maid prepared refreshments, Beatrix silently examined Olivia's face.

The woman who had captivated the audience yesterday with her star-like intelligence felt like she had withered and dried up in just one day.

Olivia was staring at something silently, and at the end of her gaze was today's morning newspaper.

The photo that took up half of the front page was of her yesterday, standing on the podium and reciting a congratulatory speech.

[Princess consort Olivia, Celebrates the Establishment of the First Royal School]

"Didn't you see today's newspaper?"

"May I take a look?"

"Of course, certainly."

With Beatrix's permission, Olivia pulled the newspaper onto her lap and carefully unfolded it. Her gaze quickly swept over the newspaper.

The article, which began with an explanation of the purpose of establishing the Royal School, briefly introduced King Leonard's congratulatory speech and the Princess consort's congratulatory speech, and ended by briefly adding the content of her rebuke to Herald Beum.

There was no mention of Herald Beum's rude question, but it was by no means an article that would harm Olivia.

Turning to the next page, there was an article about the clothes she wore yesterday, and there was also an interview with the Crown Prince.

There were no malicious articles about her anywhere in the newspaper, and Noah was only mentioned as having attended.

"It seems you haven't seen today's newspaper."

When Olivia closed the newspaper, Beatrix spoke to her. She seemed to be contemplating something, and then said.

"Mother."

"Yes."

"...Was my congratulatory speech yesterday perhaps… something that harmed the Royal Family?"

Beatrix was finally convinced that Noah's anxiety had begun to gnaw at Olivia. She gestured to the maids beside her to leave, then shook her head firmly.

"No. You did well. It was a wonderful thing to do as a Princess consort."

Despite Beatrix's praise, Olivia only lowered her eyes and remained silent.

Beatrix organized her thoughts for a moment and then asked.

"How was it for you, Olivia? Did you enjoy it?"

"Pardon?"

Olivia raised her head abruptly and asked back.

Beatrix glanced down and scanned her attire. Small pearl earrings and a wedding ring on her neatly manicured hand were all the adornment she wore.

Would this child even look at the enormous jewels that Noah buys?

In the black-eyed Princess consort, she saw a young girl, just about Lucy's age, overlapping. In the dark dawn, the girl who took the carriage holding her grandmother's hand had grown into a full-fledged adult and received recognition and applause from King Herot.

No less than King Herot's recognition and applause.

"Olivia, there are two paths for you."

"......"

"The first path is the path of hedonism. Under the status of royalty, you will be relatively free from social constraints, and you probably won't have to experience financial difficulties while you live. You can abandon your thoughts and entrust your life to your senses. The name Astrid that you have will guarantee your life."

No emotion was revealed on Olivia's face.

"The name of the second path is not yet determined. Because it is the path you create. Under the status of Princess consort, there are things you can do hidden everywhere. There are countless things you shouldn't do because you are a Princess consort, but there are just as many things you can do because you are a Princess consort."

Beatrix discovered a different light in her black eyes at the same time as she finished speaking. Beatrix pretended not to notice the different light and said.

"Most aristocratic women take the first path. That's efficient. Why bother working when you can eat, use, and enjoy enough without working? Time passes quickly just by eating, drinking, and laughing."

Beatrix paused for a moment and then asked in a whisper.

"But where is there anything free in the world? Instead of eating, drinking, and laughing for free, what, to whom, must you pay?"

This was the realization that Princess Marguerite had given her. When Marguerite abandoned even her right to succession and left for Pulder, leaving behind this question, Beatrix realized that she had never thought about it.

Olivia hesitated for a moment and then replied.

"You have to entrust your life to the person who allows you to eat and drink."

"Where is there anything free in the world? We have to give our entire lives in return. Just a palm-sized freedom."

Beatrix smiled deeply. She was indeed an admirable child loved by 'that' Marguerite.

"What kind of life do you want to live?"

At that question, Olivia's face collapsed miserably. She desperately tried to hold back her tears and eventually lowered her head.

"What kind of life do you want to live? Tell me."

"Mother..."

"Yes."

Beatrix asked about her life, but for some reason, only Noah's cold face came to Olivia's mind.

Olivia blinked for a long time before barely opening her mouth.

"Does His Highness… want me to take the first path?"

A voice full of cracks came out.

Beatrix was frozen by the unexpected question, then got up from her seat and went to Olivia's side. Then, looking into her eyes, she asked clearly.

"Olivia, do you want to take the first path?"

Olivia did not shed a single tear, but Beatrix saw transparent tears in her eyes.

Her black eyes trembled finely. She desperately wanted to ask. About why Noah's attitude had changed.

But how could she ask the Queen Consort, who was also his mother?

As Olivia simply remained silent, Beatrix gently took her hand and said.

"I asked about your path."

"......"

"Think carefully. Which path to take, the first or the second. If you want to take the first path, that's okay too. But if you want to take the second path, I will help you. Just like you wholeheartedly helped Lucy."

Olivia stared blankly at the Queen Consort. Numerous emotions flashed across her face.