Translator: Nox

Beatrix stared at the space Olivia had vacated, lost in deep thought. The Head Maid, who had been watching her, cautiously opened her mouth.

“I have informed the orphanage that Your Royal Highness the Princess Consort will also be visiting tomorrow. I have also reduced the number of invited reporters as you instructed.”

“Thank you for your hard work.”

The Head Maid gauged the Queen Consort’s mood. Then, she asked softly, “Should we not inform His Highness the Prince in advance?”

“Yes… You feel as though we should ask, don’t you?”

“Yes.”

“But think again. Why should we ask?”

“……”

“Does the Princess Consort need the Prince’s permission even to visit the children at the orphanage and volunteer?”

Only then did the Head Maid gasp in surprise and tilt her head.

“Indeed. My thinking was short-sighted.”

It wasn’t just her. Perhaps everyone in the world thought so. If the Princess Consort, who had risen in status thanks to the Prince, acted against his wishes, everyone would criticize her.

So that must be why Olivia had answered that way when asked what kind of life she wanted to live.

“Does Your Highness… want me to take the first path?”

Olivia’s expression as she said those words looked as empty and pained as someone who had lost the whole world.

“Noah will probably resent me.”

“……”

“He ignored me when I was in hell, but now he’ll be angry that I’m trying to do something against his wishes.”

“But why……”

“Even ten-year-old Lucy was disgusted by her father’s excessive protection. How long do you think Olivia can endure Noah’s excessive protection?”

It even seemed like Olivia’s Achilles’ heel.

She wouldn’t be able to endure it for long. But she wouldn’t be able to ask anyone for help, so she might eventually wither and die.

And Noah would have to watch as the sparkling light faded and Olivia slowly died.

“And when the two of them reach a breaking point, the one who will suffer the most…”

Beatrix paused for a moment to catch her breath, then said with conviction, “Will be Noah.”

Every year around this time, the Queen Consort would visit the Hamel Cathedral orphanage, which was sponsored by the royal family, and personally distribute gifts to the children.

Inside the dark carriage, Olivia caressed the invitation that the Queen Consort had given her.

It was too dark to see clearly, but the invitation contained a drawing of her made by a child.

[Princess Consort, please come!]

Olivia looked down at the invitation. The small letters were so cute that she felt like laughing, but at the same time, her heart sank coldly and churned.

“If you don’t want to leave the rest of your life to Noah’s thoughts, you must face Noah now. I will help you, so be brave.”

Olivia recalled the Queen Consort’s words and took a deep breath. It felt as though a thorn was stuck somewhere in her chest, but she calmed her trembling heart by taking several more breaths.

When she met Noah, she would try to have a calm conversation. She would definitely ask him why his attitude had changed.

Olivia was repeatedly thinking about the conversation she would have with him.

The carriage was climbing a hill when the steady clip-clop of hooves became tangled in a commotion, and a sharp voice was heard.

“Her Royal Highness the Princess Consort has no plans to meet with anyone. Get out of the way immediately.”

“We, we have things we desperately want to ask Her Royal Highness the Princess Consort.”

As the earnest voice ended, the movements of the guards were felt. Sensing something was amiss, Olivia moved to the side of the carriage, and at the same time, a man screamed.

“Y-Your Highness!! Your Highness!!”

At that, Olivia hurriedly pulled back the curtain, and Jonan, who was outside the window, shook his head with a stern expression and mouthed the words.

‘Close it.’

Olivia’s hand, which was holding the curtain, tightened.

He wouldn’t tell her what was happening or why this was happening, but just told her to stay still as he ordered.

In this dark, enclosed place.

“Your Highness!!”

At the desperate cry, Olivia clenched her jaw and stood up. And she forcefully threw open the door of the carriage, which had been tightly closed to prevent even a sliver of light from entering.

Pale sunlight and cold wind rushed in.

As the Princess Consort burst out of the tightly closed carriage door, the gazes of the guards and the man they were holding were all directed at her.

Jonan blocked her path with a flustered expression.

“Your Highness, please go back inside. These are rude people. There is no need for you to concern yourself.”

“Jonan.”

The Princess Consort called him in a low voice. A strong will could be felt in her eyes, which were shaded by her hat. Facing those eyes, Jonan couldn’t dare tell her to go back inside.

The Princess Consort looked directly at him and said in a dignified voice, “Whether it is something to be concerned about or something to be left to you, I will be the one to decide.”

“……”

“Move.”

Regardless of her origins, she was the Princess Consort of Herot and the Duchess Rosemond.

In the end, Jonan stepped aside at her command.

As the person blocking her view disappeared, the situation became clear. The man, whose collar was grabbed by a burly guard, desperately appealed to her as soon as the Princess Consort appeared.

“Your Royal Highness the Princess Consort! I am Ronald Perta, a reporter! I only want to ask you one question, please spare me a moment!!”

As he shouted, other reporters who had been watching the situation from a few steps away also raised their voices in a rush.

“I am Edam Miller! Please spare me some time, Your Highness!”

“I am……!”

Amid the voices pouring out in confusion, another guard said to Olivia with a stern expression.

“We will take care of this. Please go inside.”

The overbearing voice was filled with a strong belief that she would not be able to handle this situation.

At that belief, a very strong and instinctive rebellion surged.

Olivia smiled gently at the guard with the stern expression. She knew well that a smile and composure were more powerful weapons than anything else.

The guard’s expression became blank as he faced her smile.

No one would know.

That she had always lived fighting a war.

She had not been victorious against those who wielded the swords and shields of status and wealth, but she had not been slaughtered either.

While the guard hesitated, speechless, Olivia brushed past him and walked towards the reporter who had been grabbed by the collar.

The Princess Consort, who was wearing a relaxed smile, exuded a royal dignity. The guard who had been grabbing the reporter’s collar unknowingly released his hand and stood at attention, and the reporter blankly got up and bowed to Olivia.

Olivia looked down at him and asked softly, “Why do you wish to meet me?”

The reporter couldn’t dare to raise his head and stammered, saying in a barely audible voice, “I, I have something I want to ask……”

“What is it?”

A clear voice conveyed an undeniable intelligence.

The reporter, who had been waiting for the Princess Consort hoping to get any picture like a paparazzi, was intimidated and couldn’t dare to open his mouth. The spirit he had shown in calling out to the Princess Consort even while being grabbed by the collar by the guard had already disappeared.

Olivia glanced at the other reporters who were hesitating in one corner, then turned to the bowing reporter and held out her hand.

“Give me your business card.”

“…Excuse me?”

As the surprised reporter raised his head, the Princess Consort added, “I only conduct interviews with reporters who have been scheduled. I do not interview those who come to my door without an appointment and aim their cameras at me without warning.”

“……”

“Of course, I know that you wouldn’t even have a chance to interview me if you didn’t do that.”

The reporter’s lower lip trembled slightly.

“So give me your business card. I will try to find a way.”

At her calm demeanor, the reporter blinked for a moment and then quickly rummaged through his pockets to take out his business card. Then, the other reporters who had been huddled in one corner also quickly took out their business cards and rushed towards her.

When they had rushed in like paparazzi, they had usually been turned away or insulted. This was the first time the Princess Consort had asked for their business cards.

If the Prince had been here… They didn’t even want to imagine it.

“Please, please call me.”

“If you call me, I will come anytime, Your Highness.”

While the guards were at a loss beside her, the Princess Consort received the business cards, one by one, filled with earnestness.

But it was at that moment.

Flash!

A sharp camera flash went off from somewhere.

A sense of dismay finally washed over the faces of the guards who had been watching the situation blankly. Jonan, who had quickly come to his senses, quickly turned towards the alleyway where the flash had come from, but someone familiar had already turned the corner before him and disappeared.

A colleague with a sturdy build and dark gray hair was too distinctive to not recognize.

‘Methone.’

If Methone was here, he must have come with him.

Jonan creaked as he turned his head.

‘I’m doomed.’

Jonan let out a deep sigh.

Herod's Messenger, who seemed to not bestow even a shred of mercy, was walking towards them.