Chapter 5
Episode 5: King Leonard's Masterpiece
Noah Astrid appeared at the polo club after a long absence. Judging by the sneer on his face, he didn't seem to be in a very good mood.
Noah took a strong cocktail from the club waiter, leaned back on the sofa, and gulped it down in one go. His Adam's apple jutted out sharply, as if about to pierce his neck.
Noah lightly wiped his liquor-soaked lips with a handkerchief, and as he languidly lowered his reddish-green eyes, someone nearby murmured with a sigh.
"It's a very unfair world."
Then, the person sitting across from him chimed in.
"Indeed. I always think that when I see the two princes."
A burst of boisterous laughter erupted, but Noah didn't join in.
"Noah, would you like another drink?"
Instead of answering, Noah snapped his fingers, and the waiter, summoned, quickly placed another drink in his hand. Noah gulped that down as well, then leaned back on the sofa, closing his eyes and sprawling out.
The rakes, glancing at Noah, cautiously brought up the topic they had been heatedly discussing among themselves.
"Noah, is it true?"
Noah slowly opened his eyes and just rolled his pupils.
"What?"
His voice was hoarse and cracked.
"That she's coming! Olivia of Fulda!"
At the sight of them leaning in with shining eyes, Noah's sneer deepened.
"Pathetic bastards."
"Your Highness, is it true that Olivia of Fulda is coming?"
When Noah didn't answer quickly, the impatient ones crowded around him, starting to press him. There was no reason for it to be a secret, so Noah wearily nodded.
"She's coming to clean up the mess my uncle made, instead of me."
No sooner had those words left his mouth than cheers erupted from here and there.
"You lot have nothing better to do. You've been talking about that all this time. I've been running around until I'm breathless."
As Noah shook his head and got up from his seat, his polo friends burst into laughter and gave him a polite bow.
"You've worked hard, Your Highness."
Noah smirked at the sight and mercilessly poured cold water over the heads of those cheering.
"But don't get your hopes up too high."
The boisterous club interior fell silent in an instant. Matt, who was nearby, tilted his head.
"Why?"
Noah glanced at him with a cynical expression, then stuck his hands in his pockets and replied.
"My aunt was very worried about you lot, so she's coming with Miss Liberty."
"……."
Marguerite Astrid. The eyes of Herot's rakes, recalling her fearsome and cynical expression, turned cold.
⚜ ⚜ ⚜
Three weeks and two days.
That's how long it took Margo and Olivia to arrive in Fulda.
The sea voyage had unexpected variables, and Margo and Olivia arrived in Herot's capital, Herollington, two days later than scheduled.
The problem was that they arrived just before the autumn ball.
Royal staff hurriedly brought the dresses for Olivia and Margo to wear, but Margo sent Olivia's dress straight back.
"This is a debutante dress! Does anyone think Olivia Liberty has come to Herot to make her social debut?!"
Margo, as Noah had said, was very worried about Herot's rakes, so she insisted on dressing Olivia in the clothes she wanted.
Under Margo's direction, Olivia wore a neat and tidy white shirt, a dark green flared skirt that emphasized her waist and then widened, and polished black shoes.
Her hair was neatly braided down and tied with a ribbon of the same color as the skirt, and her wispy bangs were neatly pressed down with a light green silk headband.
Furthermore, even though her makeup was as light and simple as possible, Margo looked at Olivia with concern.
Whether she knew Margo's worries or not, Olivia couldn't take her eyes off the scenery of Herot unfolding outside the carriage.
A breeze carrying the scent of Herot, different from that of Fulda, blew in through the slightly opened window. A slightly damp and cool scent, unique to Herot, awakened Olivia's memories.
In her childhood, the news of her parents' death came like a bolt from the blue, shaking Olivia's life to its core. And before the shock could subside, Olivia left Herot for Fulda.
To Olivia, Herot was the past, when her parents were still alive. That's why she hadn't yet canceled her Herot citizenship. Now that she was an adult, the moment to choose was not far off.
"Do you like it that much?"
At Margo's question, Olivia turned her head to face her.
"I've always wanted to come. The Golden Lion Statue that just passed by. I remember eating ice cream with my parents in front of it."
"Your hometown isn't the capital, is it?"
"Yes. I think I came here occasionally for fun."
Olivia turned her head again to look out the window. Here and there in the darkened streets, Herot's flags were hung, fluttering in the wind.
Meanwhile, the carriage carrying the two of them quickly passed through the main gate of the Royal Palace.
"Aren't you afraid?"
Olivia, who had been staring wide-eyed at the magnificent golden bars, turned her head again to face Margo at that question.
A moment of silence passed.
Margo's strict and stern blue gaze made even the King uncomfortable. But this small Olivia simply met her gaze with a clear expression, without backing down.
Margo's expression became mischievous.
"You mustn't meet the eyes of the other royals you meet in the Royal Palace like that."
Then Olivia quickly lowered her gaze.
"I'm sorry."
"It's your first time in the Royal Palace, isn't it? Aren't you nervous?"
At Margo's question, Olivia slyly raised her gaze. How scary was the Professor at first?
Olivia took a deep breath of Herot's air, exhaled, and calmly replied.
"I'm nervous. I'm a little scared too. But……."
"But?"
"But I'm excited to be in Herot. If it hadn't been for the royal invitation, I probably wouldn't have been able to come to Herot while my grandmother was still alive."
At Olivia's calm words, Margo smiled, raising the corners of her lips.
She had a small frame and an infinitely delicate impression, but she had not only endured among male students who were higher in status and older than her, but had even managed to win the valedictorian award.
"Well, if you're excited, that's enough. You're a guest of the royal family today, so you have no reason to be intimidated by anyone. Stand up straight, hold your head high, and act as you would in Fulda."
At her words, Olivia's eyes lit up and she nodded.
"Yes. I understand, Professor."
At that moment, the carriage's speed gradually slowed down. At the same time, Olivia's eyes widened as she heard the voices of noisy people and the sound of music.
The carriage came to a complete stop, and as someone opened the door, a faint light entered.
Margo got out first, and Olivia followed her.
Standing on the soft grass and raising her head, Herot's magnificent Royal Palace seemed to be looking down on her.
Meanwhile, inside the Crystal Hall, where the autumn ball was in full swing, the beautifully adorned young ladies of each family entered in turn.
Among the debutantes entering with their mothers on their right and chaperones on their left, Isabel of the Seymour family was the most eye-catching.
Isabel, who had elegantly styled her reddish-brown hair, appeared with Mrs. Jubeun, a legendary figure in the chaperone world.
Conscious of the gazes pouring down on her, Isabel adjusted her posture more elegantly, and her gaze stuck to someone as if iron were attracted to a magnet.
It wasn't just Isabel.
Leonard II's masterpieces, Usher Astrid and Noah Astrid.
The two princes, who were not twins but were the same age, were standing side by side, talking.
Because their appearances were so similar, and even their height and build were similar, it was difficult to tell who was the prince and who was the crown prince just by looking at their backs.
However, decisively, their eye colors were different, and the atmosphere they exuded was different.
Both have blonde hair, but Crown Prince Usher has blue eyes, and Noah has green eyes.
Noah's posture and etiquette were surprisingly more perfect than the Crown Prince's, but despite that, for some reason, a subtly dissipated and strangely decadent atmosphere flowed from Noah.
In contrast, Crown Prince Usher had a gentle and upright atmosphere, so at some point, people stopped saying that the two looked alike.
"Shouldn't they be arriving soon?"
When Usher asked, Noah nodded.
"They said they arrived at the port an hour ago, so they should be here soon. Uncle said he would attend the autumn ball, but when he heard Aunt was coming, he ran away."
Usher chuckled at Noah's words. Then, glancing at Noah's tired expression, he said bitterly.
"You've worked hard."
Noah simply shook his head lightly at his compliment, without answering.
At that moment, their mother, Queen Consort Beatrix, exchanged light conversation with people and then approached the two of them.
As Usher naturally escorted his mother, Noah went to stand on the opposite side. The middle-aged noblewomen looked at Queen Consort Beatrix, who was being escorted by her two grown sons, with envious eyes.
Beatrix looked at Noah's face with a worried gaze.
"Your father has sent you to too many events. How are you feeling?"
"Don't worry, Mother. I wish the King would worry about me, though."
Beatrix shook her head slightly and glared at her husband, who was talking to the nobles.
"I should ask Princess Marguerite to nag him a little."
"Would it be effective if she just nags him?"
"Noah."
Usher, who was escorting his mother, called him reproachfully, and Noah raised his eyebrows.
"Is Lucy still holed up in her room?"
"She's angry that we're having a party without her."
"Please send her to school. She's bored because she's always in the palace."
Usher also agreed with Noah's words.
"Saint Scott's School for Girls is a good place."
Beatrix sighed self-deprecatingly and glared at the King again.
"If it were up to me, I would have done so long ago. I should ask the Princess to do that too. I wish she would come soon. And I'm curious about that girl from Fulda. What was her name, Olivia?"
'She was selected as the valedictorian of Herollington. Isn't that amazing?' the Queen Consort muttered.
The commotion that started at the entrance of the ballroom rippled like a wave, reaching them.
Beatrix turned around, and Noah and Usher turned around with her. Leonard, who had been talking to the nobles, muttered that what was coming had come and approached the Queen Consort.
Usher stepped aside, giving his father his place, and the King and Queen Consort took each other's hands. Usher and Noah stood one step behind the King and Queen Consort, respectively.
In the silent Crystal Hall, the sound of energetic footsteps and the sound of relatively small footsteps echoed alternately.
