Chapter 56
Episode 56: The Price of Salvation
"Ah… I see."
"……."
"……?"
Seriously, why is he harping on this? What does he want to hear?
Olivia narrowed her eyes at Noah, then turned her body completely towards him.
"You were caught by those gentlemen earlier and forced to play cards, is that right?"
When she asked gently in a calm tone, Noah blinked blankly before nodding.
“…That’s right.”
"Has this been happening repeatedly lately?"
“…It has.”
"Oh, dear. That must have been difficult. If you need my help next time, call me. I'll come."
"……."
Her gentle words instantly relaxed Noah's nerves, which had been on edge. The sharpness in his eyes faded, and the throbbing veins subsided.
Seeing his stiff frown gradually ease, Olivia tilted her head slightly and asked cautiously.
"Shall we go to our suite?"
At her suggestion, Noah took a small breath, then wordlessly offered his arm. Olivia glanced up at his expression before carefully taking his arm.
The guards standing at the entrance stepped aside in unison, opening the way, and Noah escorted Olivia out of the dimly lit card room.
Methone, Winifred, and the guards desperately suppressed their rising laughter as they watched the two figures walk away.
Compared to the King's robust back, Olivia's frame seemed far too small.
It was like watching a large lion and a tiny rabbit.
But… why does it feel like the rabbit is sitting on the lion's shoulder?
Noah glanced down at the slender shoulder that was subtly twitching.
His gaze, starting from her shoulder, swept up over the soft shadows of her collarbone and her fair neck.
A diamond earring, a recent gift from him, adorned her rounded ear, and the crescent-shaped curve of her eyebrows, along with her full forehead, was like a painting.
Olivia Liberty was beautiful enough to captivate even Noah Astrid, who was accustomed to beautiful things.
Seeing her dressed up reminded him of that night two years ago.
At that time, she stood with one foot on either side of the boundary between girl and woman.
The downy fuzz on her earlobes and her clear face still made her look like a girl. But her eyes, clear as glass yet sometimes as deep as the ocean, were different from then.
Some hardship he didn't know about had deepened her gaze, but it was as if the bud that had been swelling had matured and finally bloomed because of that deepened gaze.
Watching her delicate eyelashes, Noah suddenly felt a surge of unease.
Wasn't this Olivia the one who had occupied the pages of the Herot newspaper with just a simple photo? Would the public leave the beautiful woman who appeared holding the King's hand alone?
His eyes grew dark and intense.
Noah had no intention of throwing his Princess consort to the public like prey. Because if he did, Noah himself would not achieve the true peace he so desired.
If the Princess consort was mentioned in the press, her husband, the King, would inevitably be mentioned as well.
Just then, sensing his gaze, Olivia, who had been walking forward, looked up at him.
Her unusually round and large black eyes held a clear question.
Noah casually averted his gaze as if nothing was wrong and asked.
"Was the opera worth seeing?"
Olivia glanced at his sharp profile before turning her head back to the front.
"It was fun. It was my first time watching while dining, so it was refreshing, and I learned a lot thanks to Winifred."
"Did you see all of the ship?"
At his light question, Olivia replied with a laugh in her voice.
"I diligently went around, like the first floor yesterday, the second floor today."
"And you even saw the underground card room, so it's perfect?"
"I guess so. Oh, I'll learn how to play cards if I need to. I'm confident I'll learn quickly."
"I told you, I don't really like it."
"I believe you, Your Highness. But my learning and Your Highness's preferences are not related, are they?"
At her soft words, Noah chuckled.
Noah discarded the thought that Olivia had been dragged around by Marguerite's dogmatic affection. Because he was reminded of the scene of the small Olivia, holding the leash of the fussy Herot lioness, bouncing around.
"Then, since you've been everywhere, is there anything else you're curious about?"
"No."
Olivia smiled brightly as she answered.
Noah felt good, as if his rotting soul was reviving at her cheerful voice. So, as he climbed the stairs, he threw out a joking remark.
"Not everything. You haven't been to the bar that sells alcohol in the billiard room, have you?"
"That's right. I haven't been there."
"Want to go?"
When Noah looked down at Olivia and asked, Olivia raised the corners of her lips and shook her head.
"Then, is there anywhere you want to go but haven't been able to?"
"Hmm……."
When Olivia hesitated for a moment, drawing out the end of her words, Noah tilted his head slightly and added.
"I'll take you as a reward for saving me today."
At the very friendly and affectionate voice, Olivia plucked up the courage to voice the thought that had been circling in her head.
"There is one place."
"Tell me."
"I want to go to the Magic Dome."
At the completely unexpected answer, Noah's steps came to a halt. Standing on the landing, Noah stared intently at Olivia, who seemed to be watching his reaction.
"The Magic Dome?"
At his reaction, Olivia regretted bringing it up, but it was already done. She bit her lip and blinked before adding with difficulty.
"Not the ground-based Magic Dome, but the ship-based one… I'm just a little curious."
"……."
Olivia quickly smiled brightly and shook her head.
“…I guess not, right? It's a military facility, so I'm sorry for asking too much. You can forget about it, I don't need to go."
"My future Princess consort is curious about some strange things."
At the chilling voice that fell from above, it felt like her heart dropped. She was unknowingly holding her breath when, all of a sudden, he turned around and started walking down the stairs he had come up.
Olivia followed him down the stairs in a daze, calling out to him urgently.
"Your Highness?"
"You said you were curious."
"Are you okay?"
"If you were going to ask that, you shouldn't have said anything in the first place."
"That's true, but… are we going now?"
"I hate putting things off. I hate remembering and keeping things in mind even more. And you won't be able to go inside. There's a Wilhelm Corporation contract clause. Be satisfied with just seeing the outside. Methone, go to the room first."
"Yes, Your Highness!"
As Olivia walked as Noah led, she looked back in confusion, and Winifred gave her a girlish smile and winked at her.
The place Noah led Olivia to was the bridge. The captain was startled by the sudden visit of the King and ran out in a hurry.
"Your Highness!"
Noah gently released the arm Olivia was holding and shook hands with the captain.
"You're doing a great job."
"It's nothing. Is there something wrong?"
At the captain's question filled with concern, Noah shook his head slightly.
"Thanks to you, I'm enjoying a very comfortable trip."
"I'm glad to hear that. I will serve you comfortably until the end."
"I came abruptly because I have a favor to ask."
"Please tell me."
"I would like to see the Magic Dome once."
"Ah… the Magic Dome?"
The captain asked back in a puzzled tone, reflexively glancing at Olivia in her dress. His eyes showed that he didn't understand why he was being asked to show the Magic Dome, bringing even his future bride, at this late hour.
Olivia's face stiffened at the captain's gaze. A wave of regret washed over her that she shouldn't have asked. Even if she were the captain, she would have found it strange.
On the other hand, Noah Astrid, who didn't care about the captain's understanding, didn't add any lengthy explanations. He acted as if it was nothing. He simply stared at the captain with his unique cynical eyes.
Pushed by the unspoken pressure, the captain hesitated for a moment before cautiously opening his mouth.
"The inside is so cramped that it will be uncomfortable. There is also a contract clause with Wilhelm Corporation. How about just looking at the outside of the Magic Dome?"
Only then did Noah put on a light smile and nod his head.
"I came thinking that would be the case."
As the captain dealt with the arrogant King who didn't care about other people's understanding, he had already forgotten his curiosity about the reason.
"I will guide you."
"No. I can't make the captain leave the bridge. Just assign one person to guide us. We'll just take a quick look at the outside and go straight to the suite. It'll take 10 minutes."
"Yes, I understand. Please be careful."
"Thank you for your consideration."
As the captain took off the hat he was wearing and bowed politely, Noah lightly expressed his gratitude and gestured to Olivia.
Olivia, who had been looking at the two with a stiff face, slightly raised her chin to greet the captain before turning around to follow Noah.
Noah glanced at Olivia's stiff face before turning his head to the front. The narrow iron bridge leading from the bridge to the Magic Dome was shrouded in darkness.
The person who had been instructed by the captain led the two.
"Please come this way."
"Thank you."
As Noah took a step, the iron bridge shook slightly, making a loud noise.
"Have a good look. Aren't you wearing high heels?"
When Noah turned around and asked, she was already holding the cumbersome hem of her dress in one hand and firmly gripping the bridge railing with the other.
Noah chuckled and took his eyes off her, crossing the bridge. Following the man across the short bridge and turning to the right, the ship-based Magic Dome, which looked like a large chimney, revealed itself.
While the guide was explaining the situation to the private mercenary guarding the Magic Dome, Noah leaned against the railing, tracing the blurry outline with his eyes.
The moon was hidden by clouds, and it seemed difficult to even see the outside of the Magic Dome properly with just the dim lights.
Slowly turning his head, he saw Olivia had just arrived. Her gaze was stubbornly fixed on the Magic Dome. Even though it was blurred by the darkness and couldn't be seen properly.
Noah's eyes narrowed.
Why was she so curious about this?
