151. Olivia Liberty
Noah stood up and took the unfinished newspaper from Methone.
“We've obtained testimony that Ansen Wilhelm is the true owner of Les Duing.”
As the battered Branch Manager crawled towards Ansen, Methone grabbed him by the nape of his neck.
“D-Director…”
Ansen protested fiercely towards Noah.
“What era is this, to resolve matters in such a way?! If it becomes known that a Prince of Herod engaged in the actions of a street thug, the Royal House of Herod will also fall into trouble…!”
When Noah shook the half-printed newspaper in front of his nose, Ansen trailed off.
“Indeed. What era is this? What do you think will happen if word gets out that Director Wilhelm tried to sow discord in Herod by touching the Princess consort of Herod?”
Noah approached Ansen and took the gun from his hand. His movements were leisurely, yet Ansen couldn't even dare to resist and had his gun taken away.
Noah stared intently at Ansen and removed the magazine, turning it upside down. The bullets inside tumbled onto the floor, one by one.
Noah threw the empty gun at Ansen’s feet and whispered with sincerity.
“The Magic Dome, Phase 2. You will inspect it and fix it yourself. You will also personally report a retraction for this garbage article.”
“……”
“And never come to Herod again.”
Ansen felt as if he could hear the growl of a lion and instinctively closed his eyes.
“I’ll assume you understand.”
With that, Noah turned around. As he turned, the bodyguards melted into the darkness, clearing a path silently.
Ansen gasped for breath, listening to the receding footsteps.
This was not what he had wanted.
The reason he had picked a fight with the Royal House of Herod…
Beneath his fair, round forehead, his intellectually sparkling black eyes flashed like a phantom in his mind.
“Ansen!”
And his healthy, cheerful voice too.
Ansen tensed his abdomen.
In that fleeting moment, he staked his entire fate and made a decision.
He would go into the lion’s den himself to bring her out.
Ansen slowly opened his eyes and asked softly.
“Is Olivia well?”
The Prince’s steps, which had been about to leave the room, stopped abruptly.
“Is she sleeping well? She has insomnia and doesn't sleep much.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Noah turned around. He, who had always carried an air of leisure in whatever he did, exploded forward and grabbed Ansen by the throat.
With his neck in Noah’s grip, Ansen fearlessly continued speaking.
“Don’t let her take the sleeping pills. After she takes them, she… cough… has a really hard time.”
“Shut your mouth.”
“Have you ever made her cry? She doesn’t try to cry…”
Pow!
Pow, pow!
Noah mercilessly pounded Ansen’s face with his fists. Red blood splattered with every punch that grazed his face, and Ansen’s strength slowly drained from his body.
Though he had always trained his body through exercise, he was no match for Noah, who wielded magical power.
Even so, Noah’s face remained eerily calm.
“Huuuuur…”
The Branch Manager, who had been pinned to the floor, stared in horror at the seemingly mad Prince and crawled towards the wall, trying to escape. But what was even more terrifying was the attitude of the bodyguards, who watched this bizarre scene with no emotion.
A moment later, Methone, who had been observing the situation with his arms crossed, approached Noah and Ansen, who were entangled. As Noah raised his right fist high, Methone spoke softly.
“If you intend to kill him, this is not a suitable place.”
The Branch Manager felt that everyone present was not human and buried his face in the floor, curling up.
Noah looked down at the panting Ansen with cold eyes. Ansen looked up at him and chuckled. The liquid pooling in his mouth, he realized, was blood.
What did it matter?
Ansen spat out the words fiercely, glaring with his crazed green eyes.
“You and I are the same to Olivia.”
“…You insolent bastard, all you do is flap your gums…!”
As Noah raised his fist again, Ansen spat blood-tinged saliva and sneered.
“What’s the difference?”
“……”
“You’re saying that if I fix things, you’ll pretend not to know that Olivia is Oliver. Does Olivia know this fact?”
The Prince’s calm breathing grew ragged. Ansen, not missing the slight tremor in his green eyes tinged with madness, laughed deeply.
“Olivia is more stubborn and free-spirited than you think. And she… does not forgive those who infringe upon her freedom.”
Olivia Liberty.
Just like her name.
Noah, who seemed about to crush him again, glared at him with reddened eyes for a long time before finally turning away.
⚜ ⚜ ⚜
Olivia opened her eyes and habitually turned her head to look beside her.
“……”
The pillow bore no sign of being pressed, and the duvet was neatly arranged.
Olivia looked up at the ceiling. She had clearly fallen asleep after visiting Noah’s office yesterday… He must have brought her back and returned to the residence himself.
“I love you.”
Remembering the confession from the previous night, Olivia rubbed her face with her hands and sprang out of bed.
“Seriously… what was that when you were drunk…”
She shook her head to herself, but the embarrassment didn't subside. Olivia threw on a robe and went out onto the balcony. She hoped the cool air would help her embarrassment fade.
As the cold wind seeped into her neck, goosebumps rose along her arms. Olivia hunched her shoulders and took deep breaths. Her exhaled breath shattered into white mist, scattering like smoke.
Olivia, staring blankly at the winter morning landscape, shimmering silver-gray with frost, felt something was amiss as time passed.
The interior of the mansion was unnervingly quiet, almost silent, yet the distant noise was unusual. Moreover, upon closer inspection, the number of armed guards protecting the mansion seemed to have increased.
Olivia tilted her head and shifted her gaze. Then, she accidentally made eye contact with a gardener tending to the grounds, who quickly bowed his head and hurried away.
It wasn't just the gardener. Several maids stared at her, then fled as if in a panic when their eyes met Olivia’s, and the servants did the same.
A chilling wind swept through her chest.
Olivia returned to her room and immediately called for Mrs. Betty.
“Madam, is something wrong?”
Even as she asked, Olivia hoped to hear the answer, ‘Nothing is wrong.’ This was because of Mrs. Betty’s disposition and the underlying wish that nothing was wrong.
However, Mrs. Betty lowered her gaze without a word. Her wrinkled eyes, which gave an impression of stubbornness, and her tightly closed lips. She was clearly choosing her thoughts and words.
Olivia’s fingertips, sensing a dreadful premonition, turned pale and cold.
“Has something happened to His Highness?”
“……”
“Mrs. Betty.”
When Olivia, unable to bear it any longer, pressed her, Mrs. Betty, who had been looking down until then, raised her eyes. Mrs. Betty looked at Olivia with a gaze mixed with anguish, then, as if making a decision, opened her mouth.
“Please wait a moment, Your Highness.”
Mrs. Betty quickly turned and left the bedroom, then returned. In her hand was a newspaper.
Olivia, who had been pacing the room,’s gaze fell upon the newspaper folded lengthwise. The fear contained within that paper felt like a tidal wave, threatening to engulf her.
Olivia took a shaky breath, her eyes wide open. She straightened her chest, tensed her abdomen, and bravely took the newspaper and unfolded it.
However, unfortunately, upon seeing the photo and headline on the first page of the newspaper, Olivia’s legs gave way, and she swayed.
“Your Highness!”
If Mrs. Betty hadn’t quickly supported her, Olivia would have collapsed.
A coldness washed over her, as if all the blood had drained from her body, leaving her deathly pale. Her heart beat erratically, alternating between abnormally slow and rapid pulses, and her fingers were so cold they felt buried in snow.
Mrs. Betty calmly led Olivia to the bed. After seating her, she quickly brewed and brought her some warm tea.
As the hot tea went down her throat, Olivia finally regained her senses and braced herself again, unfolding the first page.
The newspaper’s front page crashed into her mind like a tidal wave.
[Regarding the Long-Standing Relationship Between Princess consort Olivia and Ansen Wilhelm]
Beneath the astonishing headline was a photograph of her and that man.
Olivia read the entire article without breathing.
Their acquaintance began about seven years ago at Pulder Campus of Herollington University… and acquaintances say that Ansen Wilhelm has not forgotten her even now…
The newspaper was crumpled violently. Olivia buried her face in the newspaper, gasping for breath.
Mrs. Betty, who was by her side, said.
“This was released as an extra edition around midnight. His Highness the Prince, after bringing Your Highness here, went to the Royal Palace to resolve this.”
“……”
“And this is today’s morning edition.”
Olivia, who had been holding her breath with her head bowed, finally lifted it. She then calmly took the morning newspaper and began to read. The first page, as expected, was about the extra edition.
…The Royal spokesperson dismissed the extra edition from midnight as not worth responding to. …Furthermore, evidence has been secured that Ansen Wilhelm is the true owner of Les Duing…
Olivia narrowed her eyes and muttered.
“Ansen Wilhelm is the true owner of Les Duing?”
“Yes, that is what they say. So, the extra edition yesterday must have been released by Ansen Wilhelm himself.”
“Has there been any contact from the Royal House?”
“No, there hasn’t.”
“Why? Even if he were abroad, they should have summoned him.”
“……”
Olivia glared with cold eyes at Ansen’s photo, printed at the very bottom of the morning newspaper. A short article reported his entry into Folia.
She shifted her gaze and glared at a photo of a boy and girl smiling brightly.
An old emotion, long buried deep within her chest, sprang forth as if it had been waiting. A burning sensation, starting from her solar plexus, spread through her entire chest, and Olivia could no longer remain still.
Olivia put down the newspaper and raised her head.
“Mrs. Betty, I need to go to the Royal Palace now. Please prepare.”
However, upon hearing this, Mrs. Betty hesitated, unable to answer readily. Olivia felt her heart grow cold and asked in disbelief.
“Surely… His Highness didn’t order me… to be prevented from leaving the mansion?”
Just as Mrs. Betty, with a bewildered expression, was about to say something.
Click, the bedroom door opened.
In this mansion, there was only one person who could open the Prince and Princess consort’s bedroom door without permission.
