Translator: Nox

Chapter 50

Episode 50: The Skirt Hem Tangled Around His Leg

Noah lowered his gaze, finished processing the documents, and then opened his mouth casually.

“The Pulder Vice President will be there to greet you when we arrive.”

Olivia, who had been reading a book, abruptly raised her head.

Noah put his fountain pen in his pocket and met her eyes.

“And quite a few reporters as well.”

Olivia’s eyes shone as if she were determined to hear every word he said.

It was perfectly natural for her to feel awkward around him, but from now on, they had to become the protagonists of the love story that King Leonard would subtly leak.

“We have to pretend to be lovers who have been exchanging love letters for the past two years. I’ll answer the questions, so if anyone asks a difficult question, don’t answer and just smile.”

“I understand. So, we met at the Royal Palace two years ago, exchanged love letters, and then our feelings grew and we decided to get married. Is that the story?”

Her ears had flushed red just moments ago, but now she was asking questions clearly with a clear face.

“That’s right. But more important than memorizing it is making sure people see it that way.”

“……”

“Walking so far apart like you did earlier doesn’t make it look that way at all.”

Her clear face finally hardened slightly.

As the carriage began to slow down significantly, Noah glanced outside. The international port came into view under the piercingly intense sunlight.

“You understand what I mean, right?”

At the cool, dry question, Olivia nodded with a determined expression.

“Yes.”

“Get ready to get out.”

As Noah put on the gloves he had taken off, Olivia quickly put away her book and put on her gloves as well. While tidying her hair and checking for wrinkles in her skirt, the carriage came to a stop.

When the door opened from the outside, clear light poured in.

Noah stepped out first, and Olivia followed him out the door. Taking his hand, she descended the steps, and Noah gently released her hand, as he had done at Margo’s mansion, and then offered his arm.

As she grasped his firm forearm, the distance between them narrowed to an extent that was incomparable to when they had held hands. Still, she was able to maintain a distance where their bodies didn’t touch, but Noah pointed out that it was too far.

Olivia moved a little closer to him.

Then her arm touched his body. The hem of her skirt wrapped around his leg, and as they walked, the outside of their thighs seemed like they would brush against each other.

‘Is this enough?’

Olivia looked up at him with just that expression, and Noah looked down at her and smiled gently. As sweetly as if he were looking at someone he loved very much.

Even though she knew that the smile came from cold reason, her heart suddenly pounded violently.

Feeling the rough throbbing as if her heart would burst, she desperately pulled up the corners of her lips.

Flash! Flash!

The flashes of cameras bursting through the intense sunlight captured the two’s affectionate appearance.

“Wow, this will be quite profitable. The Norfolk Continent will be buzzing.”

One of the reporters’ murmurs seeped into the bright sunlight.

The greeting with the Vice President, which she had been worried about, was less eventful than she had expected. The Vice President mainly talked to Noah, and Olivia only had to offer a light greeting.

The reporters were only interested in taking pictures, so Olivia was soon able to board the cruise ship.

And as she boarded the cruise ship with Noah, she realized a natural and cruel truth anew.

Just because everyone lives in the same world doesn’t mean everyone experiences the same things.

The cruise ship had strictly separated VIP and general cabins, and even the entrances were different.

The VIP-only corridor inside the ship, leading to the cabins, was decorated with soft beige wallpaper and golden moldings. Magnificent paintings hung at regular intervals on the walls of the corridor, which resembled a section of a prestigious mansion.

Olivia glanced around and followed the captain in his white uniform. He wore a gentle expression and occasionally looked back at the King and Olivia.

“Oh, and this ship is equipped with the Wilhelm Corporation's Ship-based Magic Dome.”

Noah already knew this, but he nodded appropriately to play along.

“The Magic Dome seems to be next to the bridge.”

“Yes, that’s right. You have a good eye.”

Just as stairs appeared, the captain paused and pointed to the stairs with a polite gesture. Then, with the words, “Please go up,” he went up the stairs first.

Since it was too narrow for two people to pass together, Olivia quickly released her hand from Noah’s arm and stepped back.

Noah glanced at her, then went up the stairs first, and Olivia waited a moment before following him, leaving a few steps of space between them.

At the top of the stairs, the sunlight from the port, which was much brighter than the indoor light, shattered sharply and shone white on the wall. Noah squinted and stepped out into the sunlight, and Olivia followed him out of the indoor stairs.

The wind that hit Noah also rushed towards her. As she stood next to him, more wind gently swept in, shaking the hem of her skirt.

They were standing on the outer corridor of the ship, where the sea was directly visible.

“This area is strictly off-limits to anyone other than the two of you.”

Olivia’s gaze lingered on the white sofas and tables that were attached to the corridor wall.

At that moment, the King’s guards and his secretary, Methone, who had been waiting on one side, approached. And behind Methone, a middle-aged woman she had never seen before appeared.

After finishing the briefing, the captain turned to Noah and Olivia and gave a sharp bow.

“The frequency of Magical Creature appearances has decreased significantly enough to use a direct route, so I don’t think you need to worry too much. Nevertheless, in preparation for possible attacks, the responsible magicians will be on standby at all times. We will ensure your safety and comfort, so please have a pleasant trip.”

At his polite greeting, Noah reached out his hand to shake hands.

Thank you for the personal guidance. I hope to see you again.”

Noah shook hands lightly with the captain and then looked at Olivia. Noticing that his gaze was a signal, Olivia lightly offered her hand to the captain. The captain also put on a hearty smile and lightly grasped Olivia’s hand before letting go.

Thank you for the guidance.”

“Yes, I hope you have a pleasant trip.”

As the captain passed by her, Olivia raised her head to look up at Noah. His shaded face, backlit, was slightly hardened. His green eyes, which felt somehow even cooler, lingered on her for a moment before turning to the middle-aged woman she had never seen before.

The woman who received his gaze approached. She first bowed politely to Noah, and then bowed to Olivia as well. As Olivia reflexively tried to tilt her head, Noah gently grabbed her shoulder.

As she stood awkwardly, frozen, the woman quickly introduced herself.

“Nice to meet you. My name is Jane Winifred. I will be with you, Miss, during the journey back to Herot, so please take care of me.”

Her soft brown eyes held a special power that put the other person at ease. Olivia met her eyes and lightly pulled up the corners of her lips to smile.

“My name is Olivia Liberty. I look forward to working with you too, Mrs. Winifred.”

Noah quickly scanned Mrs. Winifred with a sharp gaze, then took a step to the side.

“Liberty, then get some rest. Mrs. Winifred, if you need anything, you can tell Methone.”

“Yes, I will.”

As Mrs. Winifred gave a polite greeting, Noah glanced at Olivia and then turned away. He took leisurely steps, looking once at the sparkling sea and once at the antique ceiling of the corridor, before disappearing beyond the heavy door that Methone opened.

“Miss, please come this way.”

Olivia, who had been pondering the reason why his expression had turned so cold, mechanically turned her body at Mrs. Winifred's guide.

A heavy door that looked exactly like the door to the room Noah had entered opened smoothly and silently.

The first impression of the room where she would be staying for two weeks was the scent of fresh flowers decorating the entrance. Taking a deep breath of the subtle fragrance and passing through the entrance, a comfortable beige-toned living room appeared.

Feeling as if it were somehow not hers, she stood still and looked around, and Mrs. Winifred opened the door on the right and called her.

“Miss, please come this way. I’ll show you the bedroom.”

Mrs. Winifred moved fluidly and gracefully, continuing her explanation without a moment’s rest.

“I have arbitrarily organized your luggage. I apologize for not asking for your permission in advance.”

“Oh, no, it’s alright. I appreciate it.”

“How kind of you. I will be using the room on the opposite side, so please call me even if it’s late if you need anything.”

Olivia, who was reminded of Mrs. McPhee, smiled bashfully and nodded.

“It’s a little early for a meal, so would you like some tea?”

Mrs. Winifred sat Olivia down on the living room sofa and skillfully brewed tea. Olivia carefully took in her appearance.

The woman’s straight back never bent for a moment, and the same was true of her upright shoulders.

When she handed the teacup to Olivia, Olivia carefully opened her mouth.

“Are you perhaps planning to teach me etiquette during the journey?”

Mrs. Winifred smiled, crinkling her eyes at Olivia’s question.

Olivia Liberty.

Living in Pulder, she had heard that name at least once. Her daughter was also studying hard to enter Herollington University like Olivia. Of course, she didn’t know if it would work out.

“Yes, that’s right.”

Olivia easily understood her sudden appearance. Looking at the steam rising from the teacup, she blinked and carefully opened her mouth.

“I shook hands with the captain, what do you think about that?”

Then Mrs. Winifred advised, maintaining the most polite expression possible.

“In Pulder, shaking hands has become a common greeting regardless of gender, but classically, in Herot, it is a greeting for men. This tendency is especially pronounced in aristocratic society, which adheres to the old ways.”

“Then how would it have been wise for me to greet him?”

“In a case like that, it would have been enough to lightly tilt your head slightly. Ah, the tilt at this time is just a slight lowering and raising of the chin without moving the shoulders. I am not referring to the deep bow you were about to give me earlier. From now on, think of it as not bowing with your shoulders at all.”

Olivia listened to her words and nodded.

There was not a trace of shyness or hesitation on her white and clear face with black eyes. She looked like a student approaching learning.

At her appearance, Mrs. Winifred’s expression became even more gentle.

Mrs. Winifred, who came from a humble family in Herot, had once been an etiquette teacher for rural aristocrats in her home country.

She usually taught the daughters of families with more power than her, and there were often times when she had trouble because they could not accept even small criticisms or polite advice.

She was worried that she might be dealing with someone who would not properly receive her teachings, trusting in the King’s power, but it seemed that her worries were unfounded.

“Please teach me from the very basics. I will study hard, Mrs.”

As Olivia straightened her posture with a determined expression, Mrs. Winifred also shone her eyes seriously.

The class of a confident student and a former etiquette teacher who was moved by that student’s attitude began at the same time as the ship departed.