Chapter 16
Chapter 16: Noah's Peace
Even within Herot Royal Palace, there was discrimination. The very existence of a Royal Palace was a form of discrimination.
The King scheduled numerous events for her without her consent, and in fact, even this dress was given to Olivia without her agreement.
However, despite all that.
Why, at this moment, did she feel as though she had inadvertently stepped into a masterpiece called "Comfort and Love"?
Yes. It must be because the noble Queen Consort was speaking to her kindly, while she was dressed in a dress that made her look like a mere aristocratic young lady.
Olivia glanced at the mirror.
Still, what was so wrong with indulging in a foolish feeling for just one day? No, in fact, she felt like that for the past few days at Herot Royal Palace.
The King, who spared no praise as if she were someone special, the Queen Consort, who was kind and attentive, the Prince, who always offered his hand as a matter of course, and the cute Princess and Crown Prince, who smiled warmly.
The past few days at Herot had been truly happy.
So much so that she felt very sad that today was the last day.
So much so that she didn't even think of Fulda, where she always had to be mindful of her grandmother and strain her eyes to endure alone.
Margo stood in one corner, silently taking in Olivia's appearance. Olivia, looking shy and blushing, subtly touched the beautiful hem of her skirt and examined her reflection in the mirror.
'Still, it doesn't seem like her time at Herot Royal Palace was bad.'
Olivia, who always hid her feelings and smiled, finally looked her age. It was as if Margo was seeing that side of Olivia for the first time, so she watched her shy smile for a long time.
Beatrix asked Olivia to meet Lucy for a moment, then headed to the maze garden, which was in full preparation for the banquet.
Herot Royal Palace had dozens of large and small gardens, among which the maze garden was a symbol of Herot Royal Palace.
Dozens of small clearings were hidden among the mazes created by rows of well-maintained autumn rose bushes.
It was a long-standing custom in Herot society for a party to be held in the maze garden within a week after the autumn banquet.
At the entrance of the garden, branches laden with ripe fruit were beautifully arranged in vases to create a road, and in the main garden, plush and comfortable sofas were provided for the noble ladies to sit and chat.
Braziers to ward off the cold were placed everywhere, and lamps to illuminate the darkness were waiting to burn on elegant rose vine-shaped candlesticks.
And behind the main garden, the entrance to the maze opened in a circle, each entrance decorated with arches skillfully woven from fruit tree branches and lamps. As it was impossible to see the entire large maze garden, the Queen Consort only stepped into the nearest maze.
The Queen Consort, who was satisfied with the lush roses that contained the gardener's soul, told the Head Maid who was following behind her.
"You must not take your eyes off Olivia Liberty today."
The Queen Consort, thinking of Olivia in her blue dress, stopped and turned to look at the Head Maid.
"You have the list of those who pressured Miss Liberty at the last banquet, right? If they approach her or try to guide her into the maze, intervene, using me as an excuse, and bring her out. And if she tries to enter the maze garden alone, be sure to assign someone to her."
"Understood. But... if you are so concerned, wouldn't it be better to warn Miss Liberty to stay in the main garden?"
At the Head Maid's words, the Queen Consort turned her body and gazed silently at the beautiful maze. The breeze that had sat on the blooming autumn roses and passed by was truly sweet. When the dark night came, the light from the lamps lined up everywhere would add to the mysterious and dreamlike atmosphere.
"Can we not let the debauchery of the prodigals prevent us from seeing this beauty?"
The Head Maid also looked at the maze where autumn had fallen, following the Queen Consort, and slowly nodded.
"Indeed, that is so. I will watch carefully."
"I ask you to."
Beatrix patted the Head Maid's shoulder kindly and then moved her steps.
⚜ ⚜ ⚜
Whether others were preparing for the maze garden party or not, whether the royal guests were returning tomorrow or not, Noah spent today just like yesterday.
In the morning, he went to the naval headquarters to perform his duties as an officer, and from around noon, he worked for the Norfolk Investment Company.
Mason handed over documents to be approved with one hand, and rummaged through reference materials with the other.
"Increasing investment in Wilhelm seems to have been a truly excellent choice. There is no country in the Norfolk continent that has not signed a Magic Dome contract now. Even Porcelaine, which had been holding out until the end, said they would install a Magic Dome this winter. The price per share has risen 10% compared to last week."
Noah raised his eyebrows and nodded. As he carefully read the documents to be signed, Mason handed him another document and continued to speak.
"The Wilhelm Magic Dome-related documents from Fulda arrived the day before yesterday. It seems that the Magic Dome has a joint patent application."
"Joint patent?"
As Noah, who had just finished signing, raised his eyes, Mason carefully inserted the approved documents into the file.
"Ansen Wilhelm and a man named Oliver are joint patent holders. Since it was just listed as Oliver without a surname, I checked the list of internal executives and researchers at Wilhelm, but he's not there. Strange, isn't it?"
Noah, who was quietly watching Mason pouting and tilting his head, shrugged his shoulders and turned his gaze back to the documents.
"What's important is that Ansen Wilhelm manages the company well so that my investment returns as a larger sum of money. There's no reason or need to find out who Oliver is."
"That's true."
Noah finished signing the last document and got up from his seat. He picked up the jacket that had been casually hung on the chair with one hand and neatly fastened the collar button that had been loosened.
"Are you going to the Royal Palace now?"
When Noah nodded perfunctorily, Mason sighed and muttered.
"Today is also Miss Liberty's last day at Herot Royal Palace. I enjoyed seeing her face in the newspaper for a while, so it's a shame."
"She probably doesn't even know who you are, so what's there to be sad about?"
"You're so cruel."
Noah shrugged his shoulders as if he was dumbfounded, then left the company office with wide strides. Wearing even black gloves as he strode along, he was as perfect as someone who had spent hours carefully dressing up.
As the Prince got into the carriage waiting in front of the company, the carriage moved smoothly and sped powerfully towards Herot Royal Palace.
Mason's words suddenly flashed through Noah's mind as he indifferently watched the passing scenery.
"A shame, huh……."
People really have nothing better to do. What are they so enthusiastic about? It's not like that woman has contributed to the household, and she's not a war hero either.
Noah glanced at the newspaper that was always placed in the carriage and picked it up.
Today, too, the front page was occupied by Olivia. It seemed she had even attended a library event yesterday.
With a smile in her eyes, she looked youthful, and he stared at Olivia's face for a long time.
A shame, huh.
"If anyone should feel it's a shame, it's me."
Noah pushed the newspaper aside and turned his head to look out the window.
While Olivia was pleasing the King, Noah Astrid had been very comfortable.
"Lib, please write to me. Okay? I'll write to you too!"
When the maids told Olivia that they had to go back and get dressed, Princess Lucy finally burst into tears and clung to Olivia's skirt. Olivia carefully held Lucy in her arms, looking so pitiful with tears welling up in her big eyes as she sobbed.
"Don't cry, Princess. I'll come again. I'll write a lot of letters too."
"Hwaaaa, promise, promise. Hwaaaa."
Mrs. Lehman, who thought about how lonely the young Princess must be in the Royal Palace, also dabbed at her tears.
Lucy hugged Olivia's neck tightly and wouldn't let go, then, as if she had remembered something, ran off somewhere. Then, she opened a pretty jewelry box and brought the hairpin she had worn in her hair when they went on a picnic together a few days ago.
"This is my gift. Sob, take it, Lib."
The pink hairpin placed on her small, chubby hand was very lovely. Olivia carefully accepted it and lowered her eyes.
"What should I give the Princess as a gift……."
Even if she had something, there was nothing she could dare to give to the Princess. As Olivia hesitated, Mrs. Lehman, who was beside her, carefully suggested.
"It would be okay to give her the headband you're wearing."
"This isn't that precious……."
How could she give her the old one she always wore? As she hesitated in embarrassment, Mrs. Lehman winked her wrinkled eyes.
"I like anything Lib gives me!"
When even the Princess said that with shining eyes, Olivia eventually took off the green headband she was wearing and handed it to Lucy.
"I'm sorry, Princess. It's too insignificant compared to the gift you gave me."
"Thank you, Lib! I'll cherish it!"
"Well, then, Miss Liberty. You should go now."
Olivia, who was comforting Lucy, who had burst into tears again, had no choice but to leave the Princess's room at the urging of the maids who couldn't stand it any longer.
"You have to go quickly. Walk a little faster."
"I'm sorry."
Meanwhile, Jane, who had been waiting for Olivia while checking the clock with neurotic precision, started getting dressed as soon as she arrived.
The dressing up started with putting on the dress.
A thin layer of fine powder was spread thinly over her delicate skin, which had never been made up before, and the ends of her dark eyes were lovingly trimmed.
Her abundant black hair, which she always tied up lightly, was oiled and draped smoothly, and she wore neat and innocent pearl earrings in her ears.
"I want to wear this hairpin, would that be okay?"
Olivia, who had been obediently entrusting herself, pointed to the Princess's gift that had been carefully placed to one side, and Jane looked back and forth between the hairpin and the dress.
A hairpin in a garden full of roses.
Jane readily nodded.
"It would suit you."
Then, she carefully fixed the right side of her hair behind her ear and attached the hairpin. The way one side of her hair cascaded down like a waterfall and the other side revealed her ear with the hairpin suited the dress well.
Jane stepped back and looked at Olivia as if she were an artist looking at a work of art.
