Chapter 4
Chapter 4: A Grateful Woman
Meanwhile, Olivia's large, round eyes curved into crescents, and her lips tilted upward.
"Then, I'd love to go! Should I reply by international mail?"
At that, Margo raised her eyebrows and shook her head slightly.
"You don't know the arrogance of royalty, Olivia. The moment you express your intention to go, the people to take you will already be there."
So, strictly speaking, it's not really an invitation.
As Olivia blinked with a bewildered expression, Margo sighed softly.
Sending this young lady alone to Herot, especially to the Autumn Ball, would be a disaster.
Should I go with her...? How terribly bothersome.
⚜ ⚜ ⚜
Olivia headed straight home.
Nineteen this year, she graduated early from Herollington University with top honors. While her classmates all landed decent jobs, she failed every job application.
Just when the harsh reality made her feel like her lungs were shrinking, the invitation from Herot stirred her heart.
Olivia handed the fare to the coachman and hurried out of the carriage. Then, she dashed toward the small house with wisteria vines covering its exterior walls.
Grandmother would definitely say no, but this time, she really wanted to get her permission.
Meanwhile, Susanna, who had been spending a listless time in the study, rose from her seat at the sound of an approaching carriage and looked out the window.
Sure enough, Olivia was running across the garden toward the mansion. A faint smile crept across the gloomy woman's face, which had been devoid of laughter.
Just as she thought she heard the sound of small, bustling footsteps, the door opened, and Olivia peeked her head in.
"Grandmother!"
"Welcome, Liv. Did you have a good day?"
As soon as the door opened, a gloomy aura wafted in, but Olivia smiled even brighter.
"Honestly, I wish you'd pull back the curtains."
Olivia pulled back the curtains, allowing sunlight to spread into every corner of the study, then sat down in front of her grandmother. She hoped the sunlight would soften the sadness and helplessness etched into her grandmother's wrinkles.
Olivia chattered on and on about anything and everything, and Susanna smiled for a moment as she listened to her granddaughter's prattle.
After talking for a long time, Olivia paused for a moment before slyly taking out the royal invitation and handing it over.
"What's this?"
At her grandmother's question, Olivia answered cautiously.
"It's an invitation that came for me."
Susanna put on the magnifying glass that was on the table and accepted the envelope Olivia offered. But the texture of the envelope in her hand was extraordinary.
As she hurriedly took the card out of the envelope, a splendid crest appeared that she couldn't possibly fail to recognize.
Although she was a commoner, Susanna, who had been doing business in Herot for a long time, immediately recognized it as the crest of the Herot royal family.
As Susanna looked at Olivia in surprise, Olivia quickly added an explanation.
"I guess my name became known in Herot as the first female student at Herollington University."
"No."
At the immediate refusal, Olivia wore a pleading expression.
"Grandmother."
"No, Liv. Especially not then."
Olivia is beautiful. Enough to make anyone turn around.
But she has no father or brothers to be her legal guardian, and she is even a commoner.
To send her to Herot, especially in front of the nobles? Absolutely not.
Susanna's attitude was very firm. Knowing that this was somewhat expected, Olivia played her last card.
"Grandmother, Princess Marguerite said she would go with me."
Susanna, who had been shaking her head firmly, paused at those words.
"Princess Marguerite?"
Olivia smiled brightly and quickly nodded.
"Yes, she told the people from the royal family that she would go with me. I really want to go! Please? Grandmother~"
Susanna stared blankly at Olivia, who was coaxing her for the first time in a long time.
While Susanna's expression disappeared, her granddaughter's heart had grown faster than her body, and she hadn't complained even once since some time ago.
Seeing her granddaughter coaxing her with such an expression after so long, Susanna felt like someone was choking her. After a long silence, Susanna barely asked Olivia, who was looking at her with a desperate expression.
"...You want to go to Herot that much?"
"Yes."
At the answer that came out without hesitation, Susanna sighed deeply. Even then, she couldn't easily give permission and stared at the royal invitation for a long time.
After sending Olivia out, telling her to think about it a little more, Susanna ended up staying up all night.
As dawn approached, her wrinkled eyes, which had been looking at the family photos hanging on the wall, crumbled.
The girl who had been smiling innocently in her parents' arms had grown into a lady who tried to smile brightly next to her gloomy grandmother.
Yes, why wouldn't you? You lost your parents in an instant and left that place.
In the end, early in the morning, Susanna returned the royal invitation to Olivia and said as if making a vow.
"No matter what happens, you must not leave Princess Marguerite's side. Never wander alone, and always stay close to her."
As soon as those words were spoken, Olivia raised both hands high and cheered, hugging her grandmother.
"Yes, yes!! I will!!"
Olivia endured her grandmother's endless nagging while still shining her eyes.
Herot! How much she had wanted to go!
And so, a few days later, Olivia boarded a ship bound for Polder with Professor Marguerite.
It was a long journey that would take two weeks because they couldn't use a direct route due to the season when marine monsters appeared, but Olivia's expression was brighter than ever.
⚜ ⚜ ⚜
Meanwhile, around that time, marine monsters were raging in Herollington Bay.
Spring and summer, when the monsters went through their mating and spawning seasons, were truly seasons of disaster, and autumn and winter were usually peaceful with almost no attacks.
The Magic Dome struck every single monster that came within its range.
The Magic Dome developed by Wilhelm was truly revolutionary.
All the wizards had to do was pour Magical Power into the Magical Power charging terminal, which served as the power source. Of course, that wasn't an easy task either.
White spray rose as small krakens hidden in the sea capsized the ship and floated to the surface.
"Hey, aren't you going to relieve me?!"
Pierre, who had been supplying Magical Power from the Magic Dome for several hours already, grabbed his trembling legs and shouted.
Noah Astrid, the chief of the Navy Special Task Force, had been unable to come to the residence recently due to various interviews, and as a result, the duties of the deputy chief, Pierre, had become heavy.
Ah, damn it, I really feel like I'm going to die! When is Noah Astrid coming?!!
"Stop cursing me in your head, Pierre."
Just as he felt someone's presence over his shoulder, Pierre's hand, which had barely been placed on the charging terminal, was pushed aside.
Noah, dressed in a sleek black suit instead of a naval uniform, took off his thin summer gloves and stuffed them into his pocket. Then, he placed his bare hand on the charging terminal and poured in Magical Power.
Without even glancing at the sprawled Pierre.
The Magic Dome, which had weakened in firepower, responded to the fresh Magical Power and resumed its fierce bombardment. The momentum of the soaring water jets was different.
As the voices of the cheering navy soldiers rang out loudly from the coast, Pierre got up and muttered.
"Ah, why are there so many interviews? I thought I was going to die doing it alone."
Noah skillfully took out a cigarette with his free left hand from the charging terminal.
"If you don't cut back on that, you'll die young."
"Shut up."
Noah cut off Pierre's advice and indifferently watched the brilliantly bursting Magical Power flames.
He was on his way back from threatening his father, the King, who had told him to go to just one more event, not to contact him for the time being.
Fortunately, the female student from Polder was coming to Herot, so he was thinking of stepping down at this point.
"How very grateful."
"Yes?"
"Anyway, the interviews are over for the time being as of today. And shouldn't you get used to the navy without me, Pierre?"
"Yes? Why are you saying that?"
"Because I'm quitting this soon too."
At Noah's words, Pierre frowned.
"Have you decided to earn money instead of protecting Herot's defense?!"
At Pierre's accusation, Noah wore a sneer. His face didn't change color even while pouring in Magical Power.
Soon, as a blue flag was raised on the coast, signaling the end of the monster disposal, Noah took his hand off the charging terminal and turned around.
Then, he elegantly put on his gloves again with a posture that seemed almost obsessive, and put out his cigarette.
Noah glanced at Pierre, who looked exhausted, and said as he went down the stairs.
"If I earn a lot of money and pay enough taxes, wouldn't that be more helpful in protecting the defense?"
As he went down the spiral staircase, Noah loosened the top button of his shirt, which was constricting his neck, and twisted his stiff neck from side to side.
"Keep an eye on the debutantes at this Autumn Ball. You should get married around next year!"
The King presented Noah with a marriage card when Noah threatened not to attend any more interviews.
"I'll take care of my dating life, so don't worry, Your Majesty."
"It's not that I don't know about your dating life, but you're not thinking of just enjoying it and living your life, are you?"
What does he know about what kind of dating I enjoy? Is he talking about the trivial social gossip that proclaims anyone I make eye contact with as the prince's dating partner?
Even at his son's cold attitude, the King only shrugged.
As his father's expression came to mind, Noah cursed and strode down the stairs.
His only goal was to completely break away from the tiresome royal family and gain peace.
