Chapter 62
Chapter 62: Olivia and Oliver
Even King Herot's secret agents hadn't discovered she was connected to the Magic Dome. That meant Ansen Wilhelm had thoroughly concealed her behind the Veil. Perhaps no one even within Wilhelm Corporation knew of her existence.
Reflecting on Olivia's words lent more weight to that hypothesis.
"You said you worked on the blueprints. Usually, Ansen would bring the blueprints directly to me. He'd relay the engineers' opinions, and I'd reflect them in the blueprints. Conversely, I'd convey my opinions to the engineers."
Noah suddenly narrowed his eyes. From a corner of his mind, a faint light emerged, along with a puzzle he'd never considered.
Noah ran his index finger over the paper, staring intently at the illusory puzzle.
He didn't know what the completed puzzle would look like, or even what he wanted to know by solving it, yet fragments of memory that he never thought would fit together in one picture popped out.
The first piece was his conversation with Methone.
"The Wilhelm Corporation's Magic Dome-related documents from Pulder finally arrived the other day. It turns out the Magic Dome has a joint patent application."
"A joint patent?"
"Ansen Wilhelm and a man named Oliver are listed as joint patent holders. Since it only said 'Oliver' without a last name, I checked the list of Wilhelm Corporation's executives and researchers. But he's not there. Strange, isn't it?"
Then, Ansen Wilhelm's voice overlapped.
"Ah… you mean Oliver. That friend… he unfortunately passed away around the time I started the company."
And then, the memory of that autumn night surfaced.
"Is it similar to the Magic Dome?"
Olivia nodded, her face brightening at Noah's murmur.
"Yes, yes, that's right! The principle is the same, only the type and amount of energy converted are different!"
Noah's gaze turned cold.
"...Oliver."
He repeated the name he had uttered softly.
"Oliver..."
Then, he lowered his gaze to Olivia's paper.
"...Olivia."
With her name as the last piece, the puzzle was complete.
Over the completed puzzle, he pictured Olivia walking alone on an old stone path, crying. Olivia, weeping sorrowfully in a ruined world, as if enduring the raging downpour and bitter cold with her bare body.
He had wondered what could have happened in two years to make her eyes so deep like the sea.
Noah recalled Ansen's persistent gaze on Olivia as he left Princess Marguerite's mansion and cursed under his breath.
"What the hell were you looking at so desperately after stealing it, you crazy bastard?"
Other things flashed through Noah's mind.
The scions who cornered Olivia in the secluded areas of the banquet, the young ladies who put her in trouble even knowing she was a royal guest, the old house full of marks where someone had tried to forcibly tear down the door, and the uncouth woman who had tried to slap her while spewing abusive language.
He had only seen her for a short time, and that was all he had witnessed.
And Noah Astrid, flaunting his meager favor, had easily lifted Olivia, who was hanging from the edge of a cliff, and brought her along.
For the benefit of the royal family and his own peace.
"......"
Noah took a deep, heavy breath and stared at Olivia's paper for a long time.
Winifred had been unable to get out of bed due to the aftereffects of severe seasickness. Olivia stayed by her side, bringing her medicine and food on time.
"Miss, you don't have to do this. I'm so sorry all day. I came to assist you..."
Winifred shook her head repeatedly, feeling very sorry.
"Whoever can do it, does it. Besides, the sailors cleaned this place first, so it looks clean, but outside the cabin is still messy and a mess. I can't go anywhere, so I was bored staying in the cabin all day. Here, eat quickly. That way you'll recover quickly."
Olivia said, handing her warm water and the medicine Methone had given her, and eventually, the lady accepted her kindness with apology.
After helping her lie down in bed, Olivia picked up the water glass and left the room. As she stood blankly, tidying up the water glass, the noise of the ship faintly drummed in her ears.
The ship had been in disarray all day. There was a constant loud noise, and sometimes there were cries. The sailors who cleaned the room said to each other that the ship would have sunk if the Prince had not been there.
Olivia unconsciously stroked her shoulder slowly.
The image that had meaninglessly formed on her retina blurred, and she was once again lost in thoughts that had been lingering in her mind all day.
The moment she seemed to slip and fall below the railing, Noah's figure, reaching out to her with surprised eyes, was imprinted on her eyes.
It was an unreal moment, but she vaguely felt that if she grabbed his hand, she could live, so she reached out her hand without thinking.
Noah caught her with great force, and behind him, she could see people sliding around. And then, it popped out of the black sea.
An overwhelming size of life that split the sea and jumped out.
All of Olivia's reason flew away in the face of unimaginable fear. What happened after that felt so distant that she couldn't tell whether it was a dream or reality.
"If anything happens, I'll come pick you up first, so don't come out for now."
But his low voice and the solid green eyes seemed to be stuck to her heart and would not fall off.
Olivia hesitated and turned her head to look at the door.
He had been asleep all along. Would he be awake by now?
Olivia hesitated and carefully opened the cabin door.
And as soon as she opened the door, Olivia felt him.
The sea, which had been churning roughly as if to swallow the ship, was calm as if nothing had happened, and the sky, which had been black like the entrance to the abyss, was dyed in a dreamy pink color and floated lightly on the sea.
And in a scene like a masterpiece, he was there.
He had been standing looking at the boundless sea, and he slowly turned his head as if he had sensed someone's presence.
As always, Noah overwhelmed everything. The dreamy pink sky, the shimmering light scattered over the sea, all receded before the dim green eyes.
Noah slowly turned his body toward her and tilted his head.
"Liv."
At the call like a spell, Olivia slowly approached him as if an object was being drawn to a star. Then, she stopped a few steps in front of him, bent her knees, and bowed.
Just as her ears were about to go deaf from the pounding of her heart, Noah turned his body back and said.
"Didn't you want to get some fresh air? Come here."
Olivia took a trembling breath and slowly approached him. As she got closer to the railing, the spectacle created by the vast sea and sky became even more magnificent. Then, when she glanced down, the height was dizzying.
Olivia moistened her dry lips slightly with her tongue and carefully opened her mouth.
"Your Highness, thank you for saving me from falling yesterday."
Noah chuckled at the sudden expression of gratitude. Having opened her mouth, Olivia, who had gained a little more courage, glanced at him and asked.
"Are you hurt anywhere?"
Noah shook his head, keeping his eyes on the distant sea.
"Not at all."
"That's a relief. I heard that Your Highness worked very hard."
After speaking, Olivia also looked at the sea, following him.
While the wind gently caressed her hair, the sunset became increasingly red.
Noah, who had been watching the change in color with indifferent eyes, took out a piece of paper and a flashlight from his pocket and held them out.
"It's true that I worked hard, but you also played a part."
Olivia, who had been looking at the sea, turned her gaze to Noah's hand.
Noah looked at the texture of her long, delicate eyelashes and whispered a name that didn't suit her at all.
"Oliver."
At the unfamiliar name that had fallen over her head, all of Olivia's movements stopped. She, who had even forgotten to breathe, slowly raised her head.
Her black eyes trembled finely, and before she knew it, they were filled with something transparent.
"The developer of the Magic Dome, Oliver."
"H, how did you..."
Noah met her wavering eyes and clicked his tongue inwardly. Then, he calmly spoke out the thoughts he had been organizing while looking at the sea.
"Do you want to live as an engineer?"
If so, Noah was going to let her go cleanly. If she had wanted to live as an engineer, she shouldn't have taken his hand in the first place, but he wouldn't bother asking why she did.
His father wouldn't easily admit it, but since he wasn't married yet, there were plenty of ways to turn back.
Herot was conservative, and the royal family was even more so. People think that royalty can do everything, but as much as they enjoy, there are also many restrictions.
In order for Olivia to be recognized as Oliver, she would have to fight not only Wilhelm Corporation but also the Pulder Patent Office and the court.
The Herot royal family has enough power to fight them, but they cannot deliberately start a fight that could lead to a national dispute. Pulder will try to protect its own companies.
And above all, what the Herot royal family needed was not an engineer Princess consort.
Noah asked again in a low voice.
"Liv, do you want to live as an engineer?"
At his repeated question, the tears that had been welling up slowly seeped in. Just like the time when Olivia's earnest desire had slowly seeped in.
Olivia carefully accepted the object Noah had handed her and slowly opened her mouth.
"I want to live as Olivia."
