Chapter 23
Chapter 23: The Lost Peace of Noah
The Queen Consort apologized to her.
Olivia's eyes widened at the realization, trembling slightly.
"I didn't mean to cause you trouble; I was careless."
The Queen Consort gently gazed at Olivia's dark eyes, which were filled with bewilderment, and let out a small breath.
"I wish I could make those who troubled you apologize, but it's a bit difficult to do so."
"Ah, no. I mean, Your Majesty, I..."
Olivia trailed off. Not knowing what to say, she blinked rapidly, and something trickled down her cheek.
Tears fell before she could even register them, wetting her fingertips.
The quick-witted Head Maid promptly handed a handkerchief to the Queen Consort, who then placed it in Olivia's hand.
"I wanted to make Herot's last night wonderful, but it turned out like this."
Olivia stared blankly at the Queen Consort's handkerchief before quickly raising her head and shaking it.
"No, it's not true. It was wonderful. It was truly wonderful, and it was an unforgettable night. Really."
The Queen Consort silently gazed at Olivia for a moment before rising from her seat with a smile. Having been in the cold for a long time waiting for Olivia to return, she wasn't feeling well either.
Olivia quickly stood up to follow her.
The Queen Consort, about to turn around, stopped as if something had occurred to her.
"Did anyone help you find your way? If so, I would like to commend them."
At her words, Olivia recalled the moment when the moonlight had shone down and cautiously replied, "Prince Noah escorted me to where the knights were."
"……?"
A very subtle emotion flickered across the Queen Consort's face, but she skillfully composed herself.
It was a name she had never expected to hear.
If she were to rank the people most likely to bring Olivia back, the Queen Consort would have unhesitatingly placed Noah's name at the very bottom.
Her blue eyes narrowed slightly.
"Noah, you say?"
"Yes."
The Queen Consort let out a short laugh, unsure whether it was a chuckle or a sigh, and then nodded slightly.
"He did a commendable thing. Very well, Olivia. Now, go back and get some rest."
"Thank you."
"Princess Marguerite, please go and rest as well. You've worked hard today."
"Your Majesty, please return and rest as well."
The Queen Consort exchanged kind greetings with Margo before disappearing.
Margo gently gazed at Olivia and patted her shoulder lightly.
"Let's go."
"I'm sorry for causing you worry, Professor."
"It's alright. Is it your fault? The Queen Consort has punished those girls as much as she can, so I hope you can let go of your resentment."
Of course, she couldn't punish those scoundrels.
Olivia, now relieved of the tension, slowly shook her head and said, "I don't have any resentment. It's also my fault for running away without thinking. I was out of my mind."
"Heh, and yet Lucy's flower hairpin is still stuck in your hair."
"I'm glad. I would have been really upset if I had lost this. Ah! I didn't return the handkerchief!"
As Olivia showed the handkerchief in her hand and sighed, Margo smiled and shrugged.
"You can just fold it neatly and leave it."
Following the maid's guidance, they walked a short distance through the rose garden path, where a carriage was waiting to take the two to the Guest Palace.
As the two got into the carriage, it soon departed. The Herot Palace, shrouded in darkness, quickly passed by.
It was around the time the carriage passed through the main gate of the Guest Palace that Margo, who had been silently watching Olivia in the swaying carriage, suddenly spoke.
"How far did you go to run into Noah?"
Olivia, who had been in a daze, blinked several times at her question and tilted her head.
"I don't really know. There were no lamps or Braziers there at all. But I had a flashlight with me, and I think he saw the light. Perhaps he was taking a walk?"
Noah Astrid in a secluded maze with no lamps or Braziers?
The Head Maid had said that Noah had disappeared as soon as he heard that Olivia was missing, but she never imagined that he would be the one to find and bring her back.
Margo pondered for a moment with a subtle expression before turning her head to look out the window.
Thinking that one can never know what might happen.
Noah emerged from the maze through a secluded passage. After this much time at this tedious and tiresome banquet, wouldn't it be alright to leave?
He had been wandering through the maze with no Brazier for over an hour, which was unlike him, and he was quite tired.
As he emerged from the maze, he saw attendants gathered in small groups.
"Prince Noah!"
One of them, whom he recognized, quickly approached and bowed, and Noah sat down on a nearby bench and ordered, "Could you go and call my carriage? And also let them know that I am leaving the palace."
"Yes, Your Highness."
The attendant turned around with movements as precise as a soldier and quickly disappeared. Some attendants brought him a blanket, but Noah refused.
The chilly autumn wind rustled and seeped into his clothes, but what did it matter?
Noah lightly pressed his fingertips to his forehead and closed his eyes tightly.
Tomorrow morning, he had to go to the naval headquarters, and in the afternoon, he had to attend a charity event at the Royal Hospital.
"Haa..."
His broad shoulders slowly lowered with a long sigh.
He had to smile in front of people again.
Noah took out a cigarette again, something he hadn't done in the past few days.
Then, he suddenly took out the flashlight he had put in his right pocket. As he stared at the flashlight, that moment came to mind.
He slowly tilted his head back.
The moment the moon tore through the sky and revealed its face, her large, widened black eyes.
...Her slightly parted lips, the swelling line that continued from her white, pale neck.
In the end, he cursed softly.
"I must be frustrated."
At that moment, he heard the sound of hooves and carriage wheels rolling. Noah put out his cigarette and stood up.
However, a beautiful carriage with an impressive light sky-blue color was approaching ahead of his own. It was his mother, Queen Consort Beatrix's carriage.
Noah put the flashlight in his pocket and straightened his posture.
The Queen Consort's carriage stopped right in front of Noah, and at the same time, the window opened with a click, and his mother peeked her head out.
"Noah, are you trying to go back without staying at the palace?"
"Yes, Mother. Home is more comfortable."
"Oh dear, isn't the palace your home too?"
Noah didn't answer and simply brushed it off with a smile. The Queen Consort, shaking her head slightly at her son's cynical appearance, gestured to him.
As Noah approached with a questioning expression, the Queen Consort whispered softly, just loud enough for him to hear.
"I heard that you found and brought back Miss Liberty."
The mother, who was curious about her son's reaction despite being tired, subtly observed her son's expression.
Her dogmatic husband seemed to believe all the social gossip about his son, but Beatrix was confident enough to bet her crown that it was all lies.
Noah Astrid was feeling jaded with life.
At the age of twenty-three, in the lush and verdant season of youth.
The Queen Consort couldn't help but be curious when she heard that such a Noah had brought Olivia back.
But, was it just unnecessary concern?
Not even a hint of emotion appeared on her son's handsome face. He met her gaze with an indifferent look and replied languidly.
"I did."
"……."
That indifferent face is so sad.
There was a time when this child's face would flush red as he ran around the entire palace as if it were his playground.
The Queen Consort gave him a bitter look and praised his efforts.
"You've worked hard. Thank you for your hard work on my behalf."
"I just happened to run into her."
"I see. Oh, right, Noah."
"Yes."
"Princess Marguerite and Olivia are leaving tomorrow morning. We are planning to see them off at the palace in the morning, but what about you?"
"I'm sorry, but I have to go to the naval headquarters tomorrow morning. I've already said my goodbyes to my aunt."
"Is that so? Alright, go on now. You must be tired too."
As Noah stepped back and bowed politely, the Queen Consort's carriage soon departed.
Following her, he also got into his carriage, and the carriage moved quickly. As they left the palace and passed through the main downtown area, Noah's eyes, which had been looking out the window, caught sight of the Golden Lion Statue shrouded in darkness.
Then, inevitably, that day came to mind.
Why did I cry when I saw that dazzling thing?
A fleeting question flashed through his mind, but that was all.
Would he even remember her name in a few months?
Would he remember her as someone who brought him a fleeting moment of peace?
Noah indifferently turned his gaze away.
Perhaps that would be the case.
Early the next morning.
Olivia and Margo left the Herot Palace, receiving farewells from the royal family.
King Leonard didn't even glance at Margo, but gave Olivia a simple greeting.
"Contact me anytime you want to come to Herot!"
The newspapers were so tearfully worth reading while Olivia was here!
"Are you saying you want me to respond to interviews anytime?"
Margo's sharp question immediately followed, and the King turned his head away with a disgusted expression.
"Ugh! Just go away, Margo!"
Olivia bowed deeply to the King.
"Thank you very much for your hospitality, Your Majesty."
The Queen Consort handed back the handkerchief that Olivia had washed cleanly, dried overnight, and folded neatly.
"Take this with you. It was nice meeting you, Olivia. I'll ask Princess Marguerite about you from time to time."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Usher also greeted his aunt and Olivia with a gentle expression.
"Please return safely."
The last was Lucy, whose eyes were filled with tears. Her plump, rosy cheeks and cherry-like small lips twitched intermittently, but the young princess didn't cling to her in the end.
"Hic, please be careful. It was, hic, nice meeting you."
And Noah Astrid was not there.
Olivia, who had boarded the carriage with Margo, gazed several times through the carriage window at the receding royal family.
"Did you have a good time?"
At Margo's question, Olivia readily nodded.
"Yes. It feels like I was dreaming."
"I'm glad. I was worried you'd remember it as a hell of events."
"Those events, I was really fine with them."
Margo chuckled and turned her head, and Olivia engraved the receding palace in her heart.
I think I'll remember it for a long, long time.
This palace, and...
Her dark eyes curved slightly with a smile.
