183 - Chapter 183
Side Story Episode 5.
Faced with the sincerity of the owner who built Holland's largest department store despite being a commoner, Olivia finally said this:
"Please give me the business proposal. I'll review it when I return and contact you again."
The owner repeatedly expressed his gratitude with a face that looked like he might cry at any moment. Olivia personally helped him up, then spoke again in a gentle tone with words of thanks.
"I'd like to buy some necessary items while I'm here." "Oh, what do you need, Your Highness?"
Then the atmosphere of the Princess consort, who had been kind yet somehow firm until now, shifted. For some reason, she seemed almost bashful, and people held their breaths as they waited for her to continue.
And when the Princess consort finally opened her mouth...
"I was thinking of buying a gift for my husband."
Everyone had the same thought.
Noah Astrid is one lucky man.
And today, there was another fortunate person - the department store owner. He smiled warmly and subtly stretched his left hand high into the air. Naturally, his wrist was revealed, showing a substantial and dignified wristwatch.
The watch, which looked expensive at first glance, glittered under the brilliant lights.
"How about considering this as a gift, Your Highness?"
Usher Astrid was born as the Crown Prince of Herot and had always lived a life supported by others. He had never taken the efforts of those who supported him for granted, but it was also true that he had never been concerned about their feelings either.
That same person today found himself, for the first time, being mindful of the feelings of the aides and bodyguards who had accompanied him.
It was truly fortunate that he hadn't brought Olivia to the hunting grounds.
The King of Holland, who was obsessed with hunting, had not only released all kinds of beasts into the dense mountains but also appeared leading dozens of hunting dogs that looked unmistakably like wolves.
At the sight of the barking dogs drooling everywhere, Usher's direct aide kept wiping cold sweat until he eventually complained of dizziness. Even seeing such a person, the King of Holland was completely preoccupied with showing off his skills.
"Uahahahaha!! Crown Prince! Look at this!! A deer I caught, a deer!! Uahahahaha!!" "......" "Ah, right, there are bears in these mountains too! If I catch a bear, I'll give it to you as a gift!!" "I'll decline." "Hey, don't refuse. Ooh, look, there's another one over there!! Let's go, let's go!!"
The King of Holland disappeared into the distance with his pack of dogs in an instant, and Usher irritably tugged at the collar of the shirt he was wearing with an annoyed hand. Then, as a formality, he handed the gun he'd been holding to a nearby bodyguard and ground out his words.
"He has no interest in this state visit or whatever it is."
To think he's just excitedly running around hunting by himself.
The hunt with the King of Holland only ended as the mountains began to grow dark, and Usher flatly refused his proposed dinner banquet. Judging by his flushed, excited face, it was certain he would boast about his hunting stories as if they were military exploits during the dinner.
Moreover, the overwhelming smell of blood emanating from his entire body killed any appetite. Tonight, dinner or not, he just wanted to collapse and sleep.
When the Crown Prince's party returned to the hotel like defeated soldiers, they encountered the Princess consort's party radiating a very, very bright and cheerful atmosphere.
Sir Howard, who had been waiting for the Crown Prince's return in the top-floor hotel lobby, quickly straightened his posture and greeted Usher.
"Your Highness! You've returned?" "......"
Usher's eyes narrowed as he looked at him. At that moment, one of the bodyguards who had accompanied Usher sniffed the air and asked.
"Sir Howard. Did you put on perfume?"
Perfume?
The expressions of everyone who had been trudging through the hunting grounds all twisted at once. But Sir Howard, who had been happy all day and was excited about returning to his homeland tomorrow, didn't notice this. He smiled broadly and said.
"Nice, isn't it? Her Highness gifted it to me." "......"
Nice?
We've been wandering all over the mountains looking for deer with that madman, and you...?
Just as Sir Howard finally sensed the ominous atmosphere and blinked in hesitation...
"Are you back?"
A savior had appeared.
As everyone's eyes, carrying the scent of blood, simultaneously followed the gentle voice, Sir Howard quickly stepped back a few paces.
Olivia, who had come out to greet them upon hearing of the Crown Prince's return, paused when she saw the people radiating an atmosphere like defeated soldiers.
There wasn't a single person who looked fine. Even from Usher, who rarely ever appeared disheveled, there emanated a somehow ominous and disorderly atmosphere.
"Everyone looks tired. It seems the hunt was difficult."
Only then did Usher remove the gloves he was wearing and readily admit it.
"You were wise not to come."
As he took tired steps, Olivia walked alongside him a few paces away.
"I heard the King of Holland enjoys hunting, and it was true." "It's not just enjoyment, it's obses... ha......"
Usher swallowed his harsh words with a sigh.
"He had no interest in the state visit or whatever." "I suspected as much when I received word that you declined the dinner banquet. He really went purely for hunting." "The King of Holland did. I didn't."
Usher let out a bitter laugh, still finding it absurd even upon reflection. Then he pushed the frustrating hunt out of his mind and changed the subject.
"By the way, how was the department store?"
Although he asked, he already knew the answer. The faces of the bodyguards who had desperately followed the Princess consort were exactly that answer.
"It was quite large and the items from the stores were good. I've brought back the business proposal. We'll need to discuss it when we return." "You've worked hard." "It's my personal business, so it wasn't really work. Your Highness is the one who worked hard."
As they walked while chatting amiably, they soon arrived before Usher's room. Olivia politely bent her knees in a curtsy.
"Then I wish you a peaceful night." "You rest well too, Princess consort." "I conveyed that you said you were done with dinner, but I told them to prepare some light snacks." "Thank you for your consideration."
As Usher turned to leave after his words of thanks, Olivia quickly added.
"I bought a gift while I was at the department store. I'm not sure if you'll like it."
When Usher looked back at her over his shoulder, Olivia smiled brightly. Then she turned her gaze to the disheveled bodyguards and continued.
"I've also placed gifts for the guards in their respective rooms."
The eyes of the defeated soldiers widened.
"You bought gifts for us?" "I thought they looked nice to my eye, but I don't know how they'll be."
Then color returned to the faces that had been thick with defeat.
"But there are so many people..."
A worried murmur came from somewhere. But he soon realized it was unnecessary concern and let his words trail off.
Who was the Princess consort before him?
Wasn't she the wealthiest person on the entire Norfolk Continent?
"Don't worry about such things."
At her gentle voice, their heads naturally bowed.
Simultaneously, everyone thought:
Noah Astrid, what in the world did you do in your past life to be this fortunate?
The grand mansion with the best view in Herrington Upper River.
The servants of this mansion, also called the Prince's Palace, would busily move about but would suddenly stop and ask each other:
"Is it today?" "Yes. Definitely. It's today."
Likewise, the bodyguards in their pitch-black suits would quietly gaze at the distant scenery and ask softly:
"Today, for sure?"
Then Methone, who had been smoking, would anxiously pull out part of a newspaper from his pocket to confirm, like someone with anxiety.
"Definitely."
As Methone relaxed, the bodyguards also let out sighs of relief with comfortable expressions. At that moment, their sensitive hearing detected unusual footsteps. Methone reflexively threw the cigarette he was holding into an ashtray, then straightened the newspaper and turned toward the direction of the footsteps.
There stood Noah Astrid, looking noticeably more meticulously groomed than usual. His perfectly combed golden hair and slightly sharper facial features alone were enough to elicit admiration, and the stylish, glossy black suit was somehow making his sharp atmosphere sensually appealing.
