Translator: Nox

Chapter 51

Episode 51: Noah Doesn't Show His Face

Noah entered the room, immediately removing his jacket and gloves before sinking into the comfortable sofa.

He didn't bother to look around much. Although it was his first time on this shipping company's vessel, the VIP suites were all the same. Noah glanced at the welcome flowers and abruptly asked Methone, who approached him.

"What did Winifred do?"

Methone's expression became subtle at his question.

Well... you're asking rather early. I thought you already knew.

"She immigrated to Pulder five years ago. Her background is a bit unique; her husband is currently a lawyer in Pulder. They are the second son and his wife of Viscount Winifred of Meyer County, so they don't have a title in Herot. Winifred was quite a famous etiquette teacher in Meyer County. Therefore, she has been providing etiquette education to the children of promising families in Pulder as well."

"Did you properly convey what she needs to do during the voyage?"

"Of course."

Noah casually mumbled the name 'Winifred' and dismissed the topic with a light compliment.

"What time is the luncheon with the Akiten representative?"

"I will escort you to the restaurant on the third floor in an hour."

"Give me the related documents. I'll review them once more."

Methone quickly handed Noah a set of documents, adding,

"Shall I reserve a dinner with Miss Olivia?"

At his words, Noah reflexively frowned and looked at him. The quick-witted Methone preemptively spoke.

"Isn't she better than Miss Liberty?"

"......"

Methone, having skillfully silenced Noah in advance, secretly smiled, while Noah's expression showed slight annoyance. The face of a gentleman who prided himself on his upward-curling mustache came to mind.

"A luncheon with Libero Akiten always drags on tediously until night."

He enjoyed drinking, card games, and billiards, and he had no pride, shamelessly uttering things like, 'Please, Your Highness, just one more game.'

Noah, stroking his chin in contemplation, turned his gaze to the documents and commanded.

"For now, make a reservation for around 7 o'clock."

"Understood."

Methone bowed respectfully and stepped back a few paces.

The prince, dressed in a white shirt and black vest, looked like a painting as he diligently reviewed the documents.

An hour later, Noah sensed that his dinner with Olivia would be difficult as soon as the luncheon with Libero Akiten began.

"Your Highness, I heard that a billiard hall and card room were added to this cruise ship last month. Would you like to visit them?"

That was what he said as soon as the luncheon started.

"I would like to, but I must ask for your understanding as I already have an appointment this evening."

"Oh, of course, Your Highness!"

Even though he had clearly received that confirmation and started the luncheon...

The luncheon did not end even when the red sunset enveloped the world, and it continued into the dark night.

"Your Highness, just one more game. Just, one more game!"

As the middle-aged gentleman, his face flushed with alcohol, raised his right index finger, Noah's face, which had been desperately maintaining a blank expression, finally contorted.

At that moment, Methone, who had gone to Olivia, returned and whispered in his ear.

"She said it's alright, so please don't mind her."

Noah's eyes sank even more coldly, but the drunkard across from him just happily drank and grabbed the cards.

"Now, Your Highness! This time, I'll deal the cards first! The, last, game!"

Last game, my foot.

If this drunkard wasn't the broker for countless wealthy people on the Norfolk Continent, Noah would have already stormed out of his seat.

In the end, Noah took out a cigarette for the first time in a long while.

"Oh! I thought you quit since you weren't smoking."

I'm smoking because of you.

Noah, with a sarcastic smile on his lips, picked up the cards in front of him and glared coldly.

Methone, who was watching the expression of the enraged lion from the side, hardened his lips and glanced at Libero Akiten.

'He's going to get fleeced,' he thought.

Winifred was witty, humorous, and talented at teaching.

"Now, I know you might feel like a child again, but think of it as turning back time and learning."

The lady said that before explaining how to walk and sit, and Olivia ended up bursting into laughter.

"There are many things you won't understand, but don't ask why. Because I didn't understand and learn them either. For example, the no-leg-crossing law. Of course, it's not a law, though?"

"We can't even cross our legs?"

"Surprisingly, that's right."

Olivia, recalling Noah crossing his legs, tilted her head, and the lady added.

"Occasionally, there are people who cross their legs above the knee, but even those people try not to do so in formal settings."

"Ah, I see. I understand."

"Instead, in the case of women, it is permissible to wrap the opposite ankle around the instep. If the sitting position is uncomfortable, cross them that way."

Winifred slightly lifted her skirt and showed how to cross them.

The two's lesson was amicable. All the time she spent with her was part of the lesson, but Olivia didn't even find it boring.

Her desire to learn properly also played a part.

Olivia knew that in exchange for suddenly enjoying all of this, she had to properly meet the royal family's expectations. This lesson was the first step.

As the sunset dyed the world red, Methone came and apologized, saying that dinner with the prince would be difficult, but Olivia didn't mind. She just thought that she could learn more about dining etiquette with Winifred.

While Noah, full of irritation, was clenching the cards tightly, Olivia was spending a pleasant time with Winifred in the VIP suite, where a subtle floral scent lingered.

Noah was freed from the drunkard Libero Akiten a full seven hours after the luncheon began.

He, who had repeatedly shouted about the last game, eventually disappeared as if being dragged away by his secretary, and Noah stormed out of the card room, vowing never to face Libero Akiten again during the remaining voyage.

He felt lightheaded from drinking more alcohol than usual.

He took off his stuffy jacket and headed to his room. Crossing the long corridor and climbing the stairs where the lamps flickered, he finally reached the outer corridor of the ship, where the silvery moonlight shone.

Feeling the wind blowing over the night sea, his cheeks, which had been flushed with alcohol, cooled down, making him feel much better.

Noah stood with his hands on the railing, gazing at the calm surface of the sea.

The ship was sailing smoothly. It was a peaceful night, with only the sound of the huge ship cutting through the sea echoing softly.

Then, he heard laughter from somewhere.

His gaze, which had been on the moonlit ripples, blurred, and all his senses focused on hearing.

"...Haha, then is this how you smile?"

"Ahahaha, that's right. Like that! You're so smart, you learn quickly!"

Noah slowly turned around. Leaning halfway against the railing, he looked at the door of the room where Olivia was staying, and again he heard faint laughter.

Her words that it was alright and not to mind her were probably sincere. Perhaps she thought it was better that she didn't have to attend an uncomfortable dinner with the prince alone.

Noah listened to the intermittent laughter for a while before turning back towards the sea.

"Comfortable."

His murmur was faintly carried away by the night wind.

The next morning.

Olivia, who had woken up early, lightly dressed up with the help of Winifred and came out to the outer corridor of the ship.

"Good morning, Miss."

The guards who were guarding the door greeted her politely. Olivia, recalling what she had learned yesterday, slightly tilted her head to accept the greeting.

"Thank you for your hard work from the morning."

The cynical prince's exclusive guards had their job satisfaction increased for the first time in a while at Olivia's bright greeting.

She was wearing a white blouse reminiscent of the sea and a cheerful blue skirt. A fine linen ribbon scarf in the same color as the skirt under the shirt collar made Olivia's image even more lovely.

Olivia slowly scanned the vast sea, which could not be fully captured in one view, from right to left.

One of the guards stared at her and said.

"His Highness is expected to wake up a little later."

Olivia, who was taking a deep breath of the refreshing morning air, turned to him and nodded lightly.

"I see."

"......"

Even though her future husband had not shown his face since around noon yesterday, her expression was perfectly composed.

The guard, feeling embarrassed for no reason, coughed softly, and Winifred pointed to somewhere over the sea and called Olivia.

"Miss, look over there!"

Olivia quickly turned her head, and Winifred tried harder to tell her the location by reaching out her hand further.

"There, do you see the pod of dolphins?"

Olivia narrowed her eyes at the golden morning sunlight pouring in, but busily rolled her eyes to find the pod of dolphins. Then, she finally discovered a group of dolphins swimming while cutting through the surface of the water and exclaimed softly.

"Oh my!"

Since the prince was sleeping, Olivia suppressed her voice as much as possible.

The three guards also quietly approached the railing and craned their necks, and Olivia reached out her hand and pointed ahead for them.

"There, there! Do you see them?"

"Oh, oh! We see them!"

"I've been using this route quite a bit, but it's my first time seeing them."

At that moment, Methone opened the door and came out.

"What's going on?"

At his appearance, the people who were watching the pod of dolphins all turned around. Methone politely greeted Olivia, who had a brighter aura than the morning sunlight.

"Good morning, Miss."

"Good morning, Methone. There are dolphins over there, so we were watching them together."

"Oh, dolphins?"

As Methone tilted his head and approached, the guards moved to the side, making room for him.

"There."

As Olivia reached out her hand and told him the location, Methone widened his eyes and looked at the distant sea.

"Oh, that's right!"

Those surrounding Olivia watched the dolphins, which were creating splashes and swimming along with the ship, for a long time.

When the dolphins disappeared, Winifred adjusted her shawl and led Olivia.

"Well then, Miss. Shall we go have breakfast?"

"Okay, ma'am."

Since Winifred had given her a heads-up in advance, one of the guards followed behind, and Methone also smiled and greeted her.

"Have a good time."

Olivia gave Methone and the remaining people a soft smile before turning around, following Winifred.

Methone watched her slender back as she walked away lightly and admired her inwardly.

It hadn't even been a full day since she had taken the etiquette lesson, but Olivia's posture and attitude seemed quite different from yesterday. Whether it was the excellent quality of the teaching instructor or the excellent quality of the student accepting the learning.

"It wasn't just that she was smart. It seems God poured all his talent into her."

Methone, who had muttered softly, turned around and entered the room. The prince, whom he had thought would be lying down and sleeping, was stretched out on the sofa, holding his head in his hands.

"You're already awake?"

"Where's Olivia?"

"Miss has gone to the restaurant with Winifred. I canceled last night's dinner and made a reservation for breakfast today."

"...Changing partners as she pleases."