Chapter 54
Episode 54. Sleeping Like a Log!
Meanwhile, the cruise ship carrying the protagonists who had set all of Herot abuzz was sailing smoothly as ever.
It had already been ten days since Olivia and Noah had left Pulder.
Herot was in an uproar over the romance of the century, but the protagonists themselves hadn't even seen each other, except for one meal together, throughout the entire ten-day voyage.
The Prince's lifestyle was completely different from Olivia's.
First of all, he met people in the ship's card room, billiard hall, and bar until very, very late.
The next day, he would wake up around noon and laze around, or go out to play tennis with his bodyguards.
And as dusk approached, he would invariably disappear to meet people.
As a result, Olivia had no time to see him.
Besides, during the times he was in his room, she was busy receiving various lessons from Winifred.
The ship was equipped with various facilities, and Winifred explained in detail the etiquette to be observed when using each facility.
Today, she was scheduled to be educated on the etiquette of attending the opera. As befitting a luxury cruise, the ship had a fairly decent opera house, and Olivia was scheduled to watch the opera with Winifred from afternoon to evening.
Olivia stood in the outer corridor of the ship, glancing at the Prince's door, which was firmly closed.
In fact, yesterday, she had asked Noah through Methone if he would like to watch the opera together today. But the Prince had declined.
"I'm sorry, but he has an appointment around dinner time tomorrow. He says you should go with Winifred."
He seemed very busy.
"Miss, you look absolutely beautiful. How can the earrings and necklace suit you so well?"
Winifred looked at Olivia, whose beauty she had perfected, with rapturous eyes and exclaimed in admiration. The bodyguards on standby also stole glances at Olivia.
It was customary to wear a dress when attending the opera, so Olivia and Winifred were specially dressed in gowns.
Olivia was wearing a light green dress purchased from Royal Boutique, with an impressive design that emphasized her slender waist and flowed down gracefully.
The dress, made by layering the finest silk several times, was soft and flowing, yet firm, and thus luxurious despite its lack of special embellishments.
The nape of her neck, revealed by her hair being pulled up, the graceful line created by her collarbones and soft shadows, and the sparkling transparent diamonds in between, also caught the eye.
Winifred guessed that more eyes would be on her than on the opera singers, and offered her hand to Olivia.
"Shall we go, Miss?"
Then Olivia smiled brightly as she took her hand.
"Of course, Mrs."
Winifred gently led Olivia and glanced back. The warm gaze of the afternoon sun turned as sharp as frost.
To have such a beautiful and intelligent bride-to-be and still be sleeping like a log. Drinking all day for ten days! If he were my son or son-in-law, I would have smacked him on the back.
Over the past ten days, Prince Noah's image had gradually deteriorated. She didn't show it to Olivia, but how much she had lamented!
Hmph!
Winifred snorted and turned her head away.
If Noah had heard Winifred's thoughts, he would have been very upset and indignant. The Prince, whom Winifred thought was sleeping like a log, was actually not sleeping but unable to wake up.
Noah pressed his throbbing head and finally muttered as if spitting out a curse.
"Libero Akiten, you leech."
The terrible luncheon with Libero Akiten on the first day was just the beginning of misfortune.
Noah's determination not to face him throughout the voyage was shattered in front of Libero Akiten, who had thrown his pride and tact into the trash.
In addition, unbelievably, the ship was full of his friends.
Aren't friends a combination of similar people?
Libero's friends were all as incredibly wealthy as he was, and they were all drunken revelers who enjoyed cards and billiards.
Today this person, tomorrow that person asked Noah for an appointment, and without fail, all the drunken friends would show up at the appointment.
The problem was that they were all people involved in business with Noah.
In the world of business, he couldn't simply gain an advantage because he was the Prince of Herot, and in the end, Noah had no choice but to wander around the card room, billiard hall, and bar every night like an ox wearing a yoke.
Methone looked at the Prince, who was leaning back on the sofa almost lying down and catching his breath, with a pitiful gaze.
Noah's originally sharp face had become even sharper due to the irregular life of the past few days.
It was well past lunchtime, but he hadn't touched the poached eggs on the table, and had only taken a few sips of hot tea.
In that condition, he would drink alcohol and smoke cigarettes, which he had seemed to have stopped for a while, so there was no way his body would be in good shape.
"Olivia."
His low, hoarse voice was full of a unique decadent feeling.
Methone swallowed involuntarily and quickly reported.
"She went to the opera house with Winifred. Perhaps... would you like to go now? After all, it's a VIP box, so it's definitely possible..."
"I'm not going."
Methone shrugged awkwardly at the rejection that came out, cutting off his words.
"Well, you don't like opera."
Even if he was in good condition and didn't have an appointment in the evening, he would have rejected the opera invitation.
Noah drank the hot tea and then let out a long breath. It felt like his lungs were still full of alcohol, and his breath smelled of alcohol.
While he was rotting away for ten days among the disgusting Libero and his friends, Olivia seemed to be diligently attending her lessons.
According to the bodyguard who was closely guarding her, she seemed to be very happy. She was getting along well with Winifred, didn't complain about the food, and didn't seem to have any particular discomfort.
When he asked Winifred about the progress of her lessons through Methone, he received the reply that she was excellent.
Then that was enough.
It would have been even more tiring if she had been sulking because he hadn't shown his face or made him worry.
Still, it had been quite a while since he had seen her face, so it would be good to have lunch together tomorrow.
"Methone. Order room service for lunch tomorrow and tell Olivia to join me."
"Room service again?"
"She seemed to like that too. Don't make me say it twice, and order me the steak like last time."
"Yes..."
Methone trailed off and glanced at Noah. He hesitated as if he had something to say, and finally opened his mouth cautiously.
"Wouldn't it be better to take some time out for a day and go to a restaurant together?"
"..."
Noah sighed again without a word and rubbed his forehead.
He was so tired that he wanted to sleep without getting up for a while. Still, since he was going back together after proposing, Methone's suggestion made sense.
"Okay. Make a reservation for tomorrow evening."
Methone smiled and nodded.
"Yes, Your Highness. Then what about the room service for lunch?"
Noah shook his head without a word. Methone had an expression as if he knew it.
"Yes, I understand."
Noah got up heavily and headed back to the bedroom. He felt like he was getting seasick, which was very unpleasant. But the worst part was that he had to face the drunken revelers again tonight.
"Methone."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Next time you book a ship, check if Libero Akiten is on board before you book it."
He would never be on the same ship as him again.
Noah vowed as if swearing on his name.
Winifred's thoughts were right on the mark.
More eyes were on Olivia than on the actors.
Winifred was worried that Olivia would be embarrassed by the attention, but she was more composed than anyone else.
The VIPs watching the opera craned their necks and tried to see Olivia's face, wondering who the beauty who was capturing their attention was.
"Good evening, Lady. How about joining us to watch the opera?"
Some even boldly came to Olivia and suggested joining them. Of course, Winifred stepped in and politely turned them away.
"Since you are not married yet, you don't need to make connections here. I will refuse them appropriately, so don't worry."
"Thank you, Mrs."
Olivia smiled and turned her gaze to the stage, which was in full swing. Winifred whispered to her softly.
"Herot nobles often hold social parties at the theater. You can attend or host them. If you go to a theater party in the future, pay attention to the table settings. It will be helpful when you host one."
"I will."
The society of nobles was really full of things she didn't know.
In a way, it was daunting, but everything was difficult at first.
Olivia tried to accept everything with the heart of a child, as Winifred had said.
Memorize what needs to be memorized, ask about what you are curious about, and repeat what needs to be mastered over and over again.
In fact, that was what she had to do now.
The feel of the silk gloves touching her fingertips was still awkward. The splendid appearance she faced through the mirror was the same, and so was the thick diamond necklace around her neck.
And the most unrealistic of all was the existence of Noah Astrid.
