Chapter 178. The World Beyond the Door
Margo, with a sour expression, slyly opened her mouth.
“My, my, the Princess consort’s popularity is through the roof. Wow, that man’s eye smile is something else… How does he know women are so weak for that kind of eye smile.”
Beatrix rolled her eyes, looking at Noah. The veins on his neck were so prominent, she worried it might strain his heart.
“Oh my! Is that person standing behind him, the second son of the famous for his beauty, House Lichte? Goodness, he’s a son worthy of his father. He’s more handsome than most actors…”
“Aunt.”
As if he couldn’t bear to hear any more, Noah finally cut her off. When Margo feigned ignorance and looked at him, Noah let out a trembling breath and spat out as if chewing his words.
“When… are you going to Pulder?”
“Well. I’m enjoying myself after a long time, so I plan to stay a bit longer… Oh, Noah! The second son of Lichte is giving Olivia an eye smile while offering wine…!”
Before Margo’s words could finish, Noah moved. He moved so quickly that he stirred up a breeze.
Margo and Beatrix, suppressing their laughter, patted each other on the shoulder.
Meanwhile, the second son of Lichte felt as if he were in a trance, meeting the Princess consort he had only heard about.
“Thank you for coming to congratulate me, Sir Larin Lichte.”
He wasn’t the only one entranced. The nobles lined up to offer wine stared blankly at the Princess consort, who was smiling with flushed cheeks.
Lichte, without realizing it, narrowed his eyes and smiled, pouring wine into a glass on the table. He then gazed as if imprinting the scene of the beautiful Princess consort reaching out her delicate hand towards the glass he had offered.
That scene might have remained as an afterimage in his mind for quite some time.
If only a rough, large hand hadn’t appeared just before the Princess consort took the glass, snatching it away.
Larin’s gaze, which had been holding a smile, shot upwards, following the large hand.
Unfortunately, what he met was Herod’s Messenger, who quietly bared his claws.
“Your Highness.”
Noah didn’t forget to glare at the men standing behind Larin as well. And they, changing their expressions as if wronged, turned their heads towards his wife.
“Liv, you’ve had too much to drink.”
“But they’ve come to congratulate us.”
“Hmm… Then, from now on, I will drink a sip on your behalf by your side. How about that? You receive the offerings, and I’ll drink them. You’re tired from the long voyage.”
The cunning messenger quickly moved behind the Princess consort and sat down. Then, as if to show off, he took a sip of the wine Larin had offered and set it down.
Olivia, who was already worried about getting tipsy, glanced at the nobles in line with an apologetic face.
“My lords, I apologize, but please bear with me.”
Did she know? What her husband was saying with his eyes.
‘Bear with me? Hurry up and get lost.’
And with each person who offered their tribute, Noah sent a look from behind Olivia. It was clearly just a look, but for some reason, it felt like a sharp voice could be heard.
‘You, no smiling.’
‘If you try to lower your voice for no reason, you’ll die.’
The line, which had barely moved when Olivia was receiving tributes alone, suddenly shortened.
Finally, when all the offerings were finished, Noah scooped up Olivia, who had ripened like a peach, and lifted her. The banquet hall stirred, but Noah paid no mind.
Leonard, looking dumbfounded, watched his son, but upon meeting his son’s fierce and impatient expression, he quickly waved his hand.
“Go, go!”
Noah, holding Olivia who was laughing with her hand around his neck, quickly left the palace and got into a carriage.
“I couldn’t even say goodbye.”
Noah said, readjusting Olivia in his arms as she squirmed.
“No, why did you drink so much?”
He murmured, stroking Olivia’s cheek. Then, Olivia, who had closed her eyes in a daze, opened them. And, holding him in her eyes, which were like a black universe, she whispered coyly.
“Everyone offered me wine… Duke Rosemond, why aren’t you giving me anything?”
Noah let out a hollow laugh at her words, then cleared his throat and asked theatrically.
“My lady, what is it you desire?”
“Hmm…”
After a brief pause, she smiled, her eyes crinkling, and whispered.
“Love?”
Noah felt his brain melting into a pulp.
To the love whispered by the woman who was the very origin of the word, Noah confessed with the feeling of offering his heart.
“I love you.”
Olivia, who had let out a small, broken laugh, suddenly said.
“There’s one more thing.”
Noah looked at her with hazy eyes.
“Tell me. I’ll bring you anything.”
Then Olivia was silent for a moment before pulling him by the neck and whispering.
“Retrieve my lingering feelings. Down to the smallest thing…”
“……”
“Because I want to have you completely.”
Noah immediately understood what she meant.
⚜ ⚜ ⚜
Isabel looked at Noah, who had suddenly appeared before her, with a confused expression. He was still as handsome and beautiful as ever.
“Congratulations on your marriage, Countess, though it’s late.”
“Ah… Th-thank you. Your Highness. But what brings you here…? No, please come inside.”
“No. That won’t be necessary. I just came to apologize for my past actions.”
Isabel blinked blankly.
“We acted in the same way, yet I treated it as insignificant, knowing that the damage was solely yours.”
“……”
While Isabel remained stunned, Noah took off his hat and apologized politely.
“I am sorry.”
At his apology, Isabel’s eyes flickered.
“N-no. I… I also… committed a rudeness.”
“It would have been better if we hadn’t shared that table back then.”
At those words, Isabel confirmed that she had never once existed in his heart.
“Can you return the flashlight?”
“……”
“Please.”
Isabel ultimately had no choice but to hand him the flashlight. Perhaps sensing that it was a lingering attachment she hadn’t let go of even after marriage, Noah retrieved it himself.
Watching his back as he moved away heartlessly, Isabel blinked.
“……”
What was it? She wondered why she felt such a strange sensation, and finally let out a wry laugh.
He hadn’t even mentioned the rescue of his own parents. He had apologized and sought forgiveness for his actions, but it seemed he had no intention of forgiving anything related to Olivia.
Isabel gazed at the spot where he had disappeared for a long time with a bitter smile.
⚜ ⚜ ⚜
After receiving the flashlight back from Isabel, Noah headed home. But what awaited him was…
“I’m sorry, Your Highness. Her Highness has not yet returned.”
Busy, busy, too busy.
How could someone so active endure being confined to the mansion?
Noah accepted it as it was and turned back. Then he mounted his horse and galloped down the road.
As the Magic Dome came into view in the distance, the navy sailors who recognized him opened the gates of the residence and saluted.
Noah rode his horse inside the residence.
It was a day full of the early spring atmosphere. The blue sea sparkled, catching the sunlight, and the white Magic Dome proudly displayed its majesty.
And beneath it, she was explaining something enthusiastically in front of dozens of developers.
She was wearing pants, as if intending to climb onto the Magic Dome herself. These days, influenced by her, pants had become a trend among the women of Herrington.
But how could they compare to Olivia?
Her black hair, tied up, fluttered in the wind.
Her pitch-black eyes shone with intelligence, and her voice was clear and melodious.
My world, my everything.
“Olivia!”
Olivia, who had been explaining the repair of the second unit to the engineers, paused.
Her low voice, reminiscent of a cool valley, held an excitement that only she could understand.
As she immediately turned her gaze, he was there. Olivia’s eyes widened, and then her expression changed completely.
Noah’s heart swelled as if it would burst at the sight. He slipped the flashlight into his pocket and opened his arms towards her.
The dozens of developers and passing sailors seemed to have grown accustomed to it.
Only Olivia hesitated for a moment, then ran towards him. Noah, as she approached, lifted her up as if to embrace her.
“Noah!!”
The touch of her arms around his neck and the scent that filled his nostrils seemed to wash away any lingering ennui.
Noah hugged her tightly. Then, he articulated the most loving word in the world.
“Liv.”
A clear laugh tickled his ears, and her lovely breath ruffled his hair.
Where ennui had been, unbelievable happiness surged. For this happiness, he would gladly offer his soul.
Noah called Olivia again.
“Liv!”
My cruel yet sweet salvation.
⚜ ⚜ ⚜
Later, Duchess Olivia Rosemond succeeded in building her own Herod Magic Dome, and Wilhelm Corporation of Pulder agreed to transfer ownership of all Magic Domes installed on the Norfolk Continent to Olivia, in lieu of paying substantial royalties.
Furthermore, she took the lead in establishing schools throughout Herod.
Her husband, Duke Noah Rosemond, promoted legislation recognizing women’s property rights, which the royal family accepted.
⚜ ⚜ ⚜
One spring.
On a street in Lorwell, a shabby girl held hands with her mother, who was similarly poorly dressed.
The two took small breaths and gazed endlessly at the giant school gate, which looked like a high wall.
“Mother… I, I’m scared.”
At her daughter’s voice, the mother tried to calm her breathing and took out a piece of newspaper from her pocket to read again.
[Rosemond Girls’ School, built in the hometown of Duchess Rosemond, Lorwell. Students below a certain income level receive free education…]
She took her daughter’s hand again. But she couldn’t bring herself to dare. Goodness, free education?
Thinking that even the newspaper must be lying, she was about to turn away with her daughter when it happened.
“Why are you turning back when you’ve come this far?”
The mother and daughter blinked and slowly turned around.
There stood an incredibly beautiful woman.
The woman approached the girl step by step, and kindly bent down to meet her eyes. The girl was instantly captivated by her black eyes, which shone with intelligence.
“Why did you come and then turn back?”
“…Can I go in?”
The beautiful woman smiled and straightened up. Then, she gently stroked the girl’s hair and pointed to the open gate.
“Child.”
“Yes.”
“If you turn back without being able to enter, it’s a wall, but if you cross it, it’s a door. Do you see that as a wall, or a door?”
“Uh…”
The girl pondered for a moment, then replied in a voice barely audible.
“A door.”
A small laugh fell upon the girl’s head.
Olivia extended her hand to the young girl, who felt like her past self. The girl, as if entranced, took her hand.
Olivia, holding her cold, small hand tightly, walked towards the school she had built.
And gently coaxing the girl, who hesitated to cross the giant gate, she finally crossed it with her.
The girl exhaled the breath she had been holding without realizing it and stared blankly at the world beyond the gate.
To her, Olivia whispered kindly.
“See? It’s not that big of a deal, is it?"
