Translator: Nox

Episode 140: Why Did You Marry Me?

Perhaps it would never disappear, not in her lifetime, not even after her death. And wasn't that the reason the royal family had accepted her?

Noah inhaled sharply, as if suppressing something, and then spoke.

"So please, just wait. Until the public's attention fades away from you."

His voice seemed to tremble slightly.

Olivia stared blankly at Noah. A suffocating feeling washed over her, as if she had a lump in her throat. Olivia's lips tightened into a firm line.

She had always wanted to ask, but lacked the courage. Now, it seemed, she had to.

She asked softly, "Wasn't it you who needed that attention?"

"......"

Noah's lips moved, but he remained silent. Then, he roughly ran a hand down his face.

"Why did you marry me?"

As on that old road where he had offered her the proposal, they looked at each other with unfamiliar eyes.

"Think about it, Olivia. That house that was falling apart, the windows you couldn't open because of the scorching heat, but desperately locked out of fear. Didn't you want to escape that house?"

The strength drained from Olivia's hand, which he had been holding.

Words she couldn't bear poured out.

"You probably thought you could escape that house if you married me. You didn't want to be ignored again by the woman who even tried to slap you after committing a wrong."

"......"

"That's why you married me, isn't it?"

The cruel words mercilessly tore at Olivia's heart.

As her eyes began to redden, Olivia, as was her habit, averted her gaze and tried to think of something else.

'Don't cry. Don't cry, Olivia. You mustn't cry. Look at the sofa. What color is it?'

But Noah didn't seem willing to let her go. He took another step closer and whispered.

"So, don't act like you wanted to be a Princess consort from the beginning. I gave you a safe home and status, and I'll bring you anything you want."

Finally, tears began to fall from Olivia's eyes. She raised her reddened eyes to Noah and asked.

"Then why did you marry me?"

"......"

"I... yes. As you said, I lived in a house that was falling apart, and I had to worry every day because I was poor. To someone like me... why did you propose? If I don't have to do anything as a Princess consort, then I... I would just be someone who spends your money and brings you honor."

The question she least wanted to ask finally escaped her lips. Olivia's soul trembled with fear and cowered.

Noah was silent. Time stretched out endlessly.

She had to inhale very thinly because of the pain of sharp thorns piercing her lungs. As she slowly exhaled the breath she had barely managed to take, his cold lips parted.

"You finally, stubbornly, make me say these words."

The fierce energy that had been radiating from him vanished as if it were a lie.

He returned to a perfectly calm expression and spat out words like icy daggers.

"I was promised peace in exchange for marrying you. I got a promise from my father that I would never have to stand before the damned press again."

He spoke slowly and deliberately, as if to make sure she understood.

"So, do you understand what I should receive in return for marrying you, what you have to pay me in return? Don't try to do anything. It's not that difficult, is it?"

Noah had always told her before. That all he wanted was the marriage.

Olivia realized the meaning of those words far too late.

At that moment, the already gloomy sky darkened rapidly.

A terrifying sound, as if the sky were vibrating, could be heard from afar, and then raindrops began to beat against the window.

Olivia turned her head to look at the window.

It was clearly the sound of rain coming from nearby, but for some reason, it felt very distant. The ground beneath her feet, the light and warmth of the fireplace blazing behind her, everything seemed to have retreated a step from her life.

No, it was as if she had retreated a step from her life.

He reached out his hand towards her. Because she had been turning her head, she felt his presence near her cheek. Even that felt so distant that Olivia simply stood there blankly.

Raindrops crashed against the window, shattering and streaming down.

It's raining quite a bit. Is it winter rain?

Click. The sound of the door closing could be heard.

Suddenly, she felt languid and sleepy.

Olivia trudged to the bed and lay down without even thinking of taking off her coat. But she felt as if a cold snake were slithering and churning in her stomach.

A throbbing headache that started at her temples and spread to between her eyebrows, like a thick paint slowly spreading.

It was a pain she hadn't felt in a long time.

And on days when she had these symptoms, the pain usually didn't subside unless she took medicine, and she couldn't fall asleep either.

Where did she put that medicine?

Olivia staggered up and went into the dressing room. Among the glamorous items, she saw her old leather bag. And inside it was the medicine she had brought from Pulder.

She took out two pills, swallowed them, put the medicine bottle deep into the drawer, and lay down on the bed.

Soon, a jet-black darkness descended like a curtain and swallowed her up, and Olivia closed her eyes, feeling as if she were slowly sinking into a very deep abyss.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

The third-rate newspaper 'Les Duing' sold about five months' worth of newspapers in just one day with a single photo of the old house where Princess consort Olivia had lived in her childhood.

Famous newspapers contacted Les Duing to buy any other past photos of the Princess consort they might have, but they all failed. Because the headquarters of Les Duing could not be found.

The original owner of Les Duing shrugged and replied.

"I sold it? I got the money too. But I don't know who I sold it to."

The new owner of Les Duing, whom everyone was curious about, was none other than Ansen Wilhelm.

Branch Manager Herot of Wilhelm Corporation was lost in thought as he looked at the photos Ansen had sent. There were photos of the Princess consort walking through the campus, and photos of her smiling as she looked at Ansen.

By publishing the most innocuous photo of the Princess consort's house today, there was no one among the citizens of Herrington who didn't know about Les Duing. The fact that they had built their reputation by exposing the scandals of actors had also been a great help.

"Methone Roktar, under the orders of Prince Noah, is said to be desperately searching for the headquarters of Les Duing."

The Prince's bodyguards, who were made up exclusively of former naval special forces, were experts in searching, sometimes being selected as secret agents to extract information from other countries. Methone Roktar was considered the best among them.

As the Branch Manager thought of the bodyguards in jet-black suits and the agile-looking man with dark gray hair, cold sweat ran down his spine.

If he was caught, he would die without a sound.

"But... Wilhelm Corporation has started a fight against the Herot royal family. Even if we lose that fight, we won't die anyway."

The Branch Manager fell silent and organized his thoughts further.

His employer Ansen's ultimate goal was the construction of an empire. His empire had no territory or people, but instead had money and power.

And if he built his empire, he, the Branch Manager, would also wield tremendous power. He decided to bet his life on Ansen Wilhelm.

The Branch Manager calmed his fearful heart and recalled Ansen Wilhelm's instructions.

There were two instructions that had been given to him.

First, increase the awareness of the third-rate newspaper.

Second, collect all news related to the Prince and Princess consort, especially news that could potentially drive a wedge between them.

He was puzzled by the second instruction, but Ansen did not tell him the reason. But there was no way there was no reason.

At that time, his secretary said.

"Branch Manager, how should we handle the sales? Methone Roktar will be tracing the newspaper's movements from where to where."

"Don't worry about that. There's one more person who's desperate to undermine the Herot royal family."

"Ah... you're talking about Herald Beum."

He was even the head of the Guild Union.

"We can just give a few photos to a newspaper that helps us with our work. It will be sold mixed in with several newspapers, so it will be difficult to know the source. Besides, the newspapers are planning to drop something quite interesting as an extra edition tonight."

"Yes, I understand."

"And soon the CEO will be entering Herot, so make sure the preparations to receive him are perfect."

At the Branch Manager's words, the secretary replied with a disciplined gesture like a soldier.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

Around that time, Ansen arrived in the Republic of Polia, which bordered Herot. There was no better place to avoid the eyes of the Herot royal family than Polia, where the monarchy had been abolished.

As soon as Ansen arrived, the Polia Branch Manager told him about the news.

"The Norfolk Royal Family Union is constantly putting pressure on us. They have sent several official letters demanding a clear explanation for the delay in the repair of the Herot Magic Dome. Furthermore, it seems that Crown Prince Usher has already met with the executives of the Dispute Resolution Committee."

"There will be even greater pressure soon. What about Herot?"

"It seems that they are trying to replace the role of the two broken Magic Domes with the Magic Domes of the recently built warships. I think Prince Noah will give the direct orders. Although he will not be returning to the military."

"He might return if it's urgent."

Ansen stroked his prickly chin and picked up a razor himself.

He had expected it, but the fight against the Herot royal family was not easy. The funds were insufficient due to Noah's cancellation of the investment, and the royal families of each country were uniting to put pressure on him.

"And the navies and shipping companies of each country are constantly demanding inspections of the Ship-based Magic Dome. They are constantly asking about safety. Even the work is paralyzed..."

"Inspect them. And reassure them that they are safe."

"CEO, each country is protesting because they are afraid of when they will be in the same situation as Herot. It would be better to give in to Herot this time..."

"Ah."

"Are you alright?!"

Red blood quickly seeped out from where the razor had cut him. Ansen frowned and pressed the cut with the handkerchief his secretary handed him.

He irritably stopped the bleeding and sent away the Polia Branch Manager, who was about to speak again.

"He's constantly whining."

Then, he took the Herot morning newspaper from his secretary. Ansen casually flipped through the newspaper and muttered languidly.

"It's quite a mess."

It was all about Olivia. Her dresses, shoes, bags, and even her hairstyle were taking up the pages of the newspaper.

Literally from head to toe, the people of Herot were focused on everything about her.

Ansen, who had been flipping through the newspaper half-heartedly, returned to the front page and stared intently at the photo of her and the Prince taken together affectionately.

The pain from the cut had disappeared, and only a suffocating feeling remained.