Chapter 52
Chapter 52. How Petty
Methone pursed his lips at Noah's slow words and barely managed to ask, "Uh… Shall I rebook?"
"Forget it. Tell them we'll have lunch together later. Order room service."
“…Here?”
“……”
“Yes.”
Noah got up, returned to his room, and lay down on the bed. He blinked slowly, then forced his eyes shut, hoping to get some more sleep.
But he was already awake, and no matter how long he lay there, he couldn't fall asleep.
Eventually, about an hour later, Noah left his room and began reading a book on the living room sofa. As he was warming himself with hot black tea, he sensed a slight commotion beyond the door.
Noah looked up at the door.
"Welcome back?"
The cheerful greeting from the guards, which he had never even heard before, made his brow furrow slightly.
Everyone's excited.
"Thank you for your hard work."
A clear voice followed, and somehow, a bright face came to mind. Then the sound disappeared. It seemed Olivia had gone into her room.
Noah took a sip of the hot black tea and lowered his gaze to the book.
Even if he didn't have a single meal with her the whole time, she wouldn't change her expression. Maybe she would even say, with a bright face, 'Do as you please.'
Just then, Methone suddenly came out of his room.
"Your Highness, what kind of dish shall we order? Today's chef's recommendation is beef tenderloin steak with balsamic sauce. There's also a fish-based course. I'll show you the menu."
"Forget it. Order the steak."
"Yes, then I will ask Olivia and order right away."
Noah nodded perfunctorily and turned his gaze back to the book. He leisurely killed time, enjoying the peace.
While Noah was enjoying his leisurely time, Olivia was concentrating on her lesson with Winifred.
Having just been educated on restaurant etiquette, she reviewed the content and corrected her posture and attitude.
After conducting the lesson for a while, Winifred checked the time and led Olivia to the dressing table.
"You'll be having lunch with His Highness soon, so I'll redo your hair."
Winifred skillfully undid Olivia's hair and gently brushed it out. Based on her experience of touching her daughters' hair, she loosely tied half of Olivia's hair.
She allowed the stray hairs that slightly poked out to flutter naturally in the breeze, and lightly applied a light pink rouge to her lips.
With just that, Olivia looked as lovely as a newly bloomed flower.
Olivia stared at her reflection in the mirror for a long time. Suddenly, the shabby image of herself that she had encountered at Margo's mansion the day after visiting the police station overlapped with her current appearance.
Then, fear of the unfulfilled price surged. Things that didn't seem like hers filled her surroundings, and she couldn't even sleep well last night.
At that moment, Winifred gently patted Olivia's shoulder to draw her attention.
"How about this outfit? They're setting up the table on the outer deck. It seems like an outfit that goes well with the sea."
Olivia, regaining her senses, made eye contact with her through the mirror and nodded.
"Yes, I will."
"Stand up."
Winifred smoothed out the wrinkles in Olivia's skirt and retied the scarf ribbon.
Just then, a woman in a white maid's uniform entered. She said with a kind smile, "The meal is ready, so you can come out now."
Olivia's heart rate quickened.
A person who aroused contradictory feelings—curious yet not curious, wanting to linger in front of him yet wanting to run away.
Olivia took a deep breath and carefully moved her feet.
Beyond the door that was wide open for her, the blue sea and white sunlight sparkled. Olivia strengthened her clasped hands and tried to walk calmly.
The moment she stepped out onto the outer deck through the fragrant entrance, Olivia realized that the concept of 'room service' that she knew and the 'room service' that the King knew were completely different.
Olivia blankly raised her head and looked up at the white awning above her head. At the end of the pure white awning, there were finely attached tassels with an exotic feel.
Her gaze, which had slipped to the end of the awning, turned to the round table covered with a pure white tablecloth. In the center of the table, a flower centerpiece made of crimson peonies showed off its splendid appearance.
"Wow. It's very wonderful."
The staff's faces bloomed with smiles at the heartfelt praise she gave with her hands clasped tightly and her eyes sparkling.
"Thank you for your compliment, miss."
Winifred also watched Olivia with a soft smile on her face. It wasn't the attitude a noble lady would show, but this appearance suited Olivia very well. Perhaps it was because it was her pure self.
At that moment, the opposite door suddenly opened, and the man who overwhelmed Olivia's world appeared.
Noah, dressed in a white shirt, black vest, and black suit pants, walked out under the awning, and everyone bowed to him at once.
Olivia quickly straightened her posture and bent and straightened her knees.
Noah stared intently at Olivia's stiff face and did not stop walking towards her.
Noah's gaze quickly touched her blue scarf and fell away.
The person named Winifred seems to have some discernment. Olivia seems to suit ribbons particularly well.
Even though he had come within two steps, Olivia couldn't meet his eyes. At a distance so close that she could see his delicate eyelashes, Noah reached out to her.
"Liv."
Only then did Olivia raise her head and look at him. Noah Astrid was transparently reflected in her clear, black eyes like glass.
Olivia quickly regained her senses and placed her hand on top of his. Noah looked at himself reflected in her black eyes and slowly lowered his body. Then he briefly kissed the back of her hand.
Olivia felt like prey pressed under a lion's claws as she faced his intense green eyes that seemed to entangle her.
She needs to get used to this man, but can she really get used to him?
After kissing Olivia's hand, Noah led her to the chair with a smooth, fluid movement. It was a perfect attitude that even people ignorant of etiquette would be stunned by.
As he sat across from Olivia and naturally unfolded the napkin and placed it on his lap, Olivia also unfolded the napkin on her lap following the King and carefully raised her eyes.
She glanced at his heavy, golden hair like the setting sun and barely managed to pull up the corners of her lips into a smile.
"Good afternoon, Your Highness."
Noah looked at her awkwardly raised lips and discarded the assumption that Olivia wouldn't even change her expression even if he didn't have a single meal with her the whole time.
Maybe she would be happy and welcome it?
"Yes. It's a sunny afternoon."
Noah raised his eyebrows and lightly accepted the greeting.
While the two were exchanging greetings, the staff skillfully placed plates of appetizers in front of them and filled their glasses.
Soon, Methone signaled to the people, and everyone except the minimum number quietly turned and retreated.
At that moment, a gust of wind suddenly blew, and one side of the awning was slightly flipped, and light poured in towards Olivia. Seeing this, Methone immediately reached out and straightened the awning.
Olivia, who had narrowed her eyes at the incoming light, thanked him for his kindness.
"Thank you, Methone."
"You're welcome."
Then Noah, who was about to eat the pre-dinner salad, frowned and looked back and forth between Olivia and Methone.
“…What's wrong?”
“……??”
Both of them looked at him with round eyes and clear expressions, as if they didn't know what was going on.
The King's handsome brow was clearly hardened with displeasure.
The quick-witted Olivia and Methone quickly recalled what had just happened and looked at each other, as if they had come to the same conclusion at the same time.
Olivia quickly looked around for Winifred, but she was already gone.
The King was silent, so she could pretend not to notice, but Olivia was the kind of person who believed that it was best to ask honestly when she didn't know something.
"Was it rude to call your secretary by his name?"
Methone was startled by her honest question and quickly made excuses.
"Your Highness! I, I asked you to call me by my name first. It's a bit strange for the miss to call me 'Hey, Secretary!' And I'm not 'Sir,' and 'Mr.' is a bit strange, isn't it? Calling someone by their name is com…common, isn't it?"
“…Who said anything?”
“……”
“……”
You said something with your expression and eyes.
Methone and Olivia blinked in disbelief at the King's brazen reply.
Noah gestured to Methone, and Methone turned away with a sulky expression, muttering inwardly.
'Seriously, he's being so petty since he came here. He's been holding grudges, and now he's making a fuss about calling names. Why is he doing this?'
