Translator: Nox

Chapter 64

Episode 64: A Wedding Schedule the Parties Themselves Don't Know

The cheers that threatened to collapse the harbor were nothing.

"Kyaaaa! Prince Noah!!!"

"Olivia Liberty!!!"

"Congratulations on your wedding!!!!"

As the carriage emerged from the harbor, citizens beyond the barricades waved their hands wildly and shouted at the carriage.

Olivia's ears were ringing from the sounds pouring in from both sides, but she wore a soft smile as Noah had instructed. Her palms, hidden beneath her gloves, were damp with sweat, and her lips twitched slightly, but she managed well.

Occasionally, the flash of cameras through the window would darken her vision, but she soon grew accustomed to it.

Above all, Noah, sitting across from her, was so relaxed that her tension quickly eased.

However, Noah's true feelings were far from relaxed.

Even as he smiled gently, his eyes were so coldly sunken that Olivia would have thought, "He's not in a good mood," if she had been a little more observant.

Meanwhile, Noah cursed inwardly at the sudden camera flashes that blinded him.

'He must be thrilled.'

Yes. His father seemed to be very excited.

How many articles had he released to gather such a large crowd?

After a moment, his darkened vision slowly returned.

Noah desperately suppressed his lips from twisting upwards, and picked up a stack of newspapers stuck in the carriage wall.

"Hmm..."

Without needing to examine anything further, the front page of the newspaper he picked up featured a large photo of him and Olivia.

He could bet his entire fortune that all the newspapers for the past month or so were like this.

However, what disconcerted Noah more than the large photo was something else.

As Noah unfolded another newspaper with a nonchalant gesture, he narrowed his eyes with a frown.

[Royal Family Officially Announces Prince Noah's Wedding.]

He and Olivia had just arrived, and they had already officially announced the wedding?

Beneath the eye-catching title, the wedding schedule announced by the royal spokesperson was meticulously recorded.

"Ha..."

Noah eventually let out a hollow laugh and quickly read through the article.

"What's wrong?"

Olivia asked, sensing his unusual demeanor. Noah tilted his stiff brow and handed her the entire newspaper, accompanied by a cynical sneer.

"The wedding schedule that we don't even know is in the newspaper."

"Pardon?"

Olivia's dark eyes gradually widened as she read the article. The most disconcerting thing was,

"Your Highness, the wedding date is in a week..."

Noah met her round, dark eyes, which were filled with obvious bewilderment, and warned her.

"Keep it in mind."

"...What?"

"My father has less patience than I do."

"......"

The face of Leonard II, who looked just like the Prince before her, flashed through Olivia's mind.

Meanwhile, the carriage had already passed through the crowd and entered the avenue, gradually increasing its speed.

Citizens continued to greet the majestic royal carriage sporadically.

Olivia couldn't take her eyes off the sight of Herrington, which she hadn't seen in a long time. Her black eyes darted from side to side without a moment's rest, making even Noah, who was reading the newspaper, wonder what was outside and follow her gaze.

Then, the spire of the magnificent Hamel Cathedral came into view through the window, and the glittering Golden Lion Statue could be seen a few blocks away.

Beyond the rapidly passing roadside trees, the Golden Lion Statue flowed slowly by itself.

"Why did you cry when you saw that dazzling thing?"

At the sudden question, Olivia looked at Noah.

"Pardon?"

Noah, who had been looking out the window, faced her and asked more precisely.

"The day we all went to Central Park, you cried while looking at the lion statue. Or did Lucy pull your hair and it hurt?"

Olivia smiled at the memory of that day.

"Of course not."

"Then why did you cry? It certainly wasn't a look of admiration."

His impression of the royal symbol was very disrespectful.

Olivia pretended not to hear the Prince's impression and slowly chose her words.

"When I lived in Herot, I used to have picnics with my family in Central Park. I don't remember anything else, but I remember eating ice cream in front of the lion statue."

"......"

"So I was lost in memories, and suddenly someone pulled my hair. I was so surprised that I turned around, and guess who was there? It was Your Highness."

"You must have been embarrassed, but how do you think I felt?"

Olivia chuckled and nodded at Noah's protest.

"It was absurd and unbelievable."

Noah eventually smiled as Olivia kept laughing.

"Cat's cradle was really funny too."

"I was very embarrassed at the time. I was desperately thinking about what to do, so I clapped."

Noah said with a laugh, as if recalling that scene.

"Don't worry now. Lucy seems to have grown up a bit, so she doesn't ask me to do that anymore."

"If she asks, we can do it."

Olivia smiled brightly and turned her head. The walls of the closely packed buildings were damp, as if it had rained last night, and the trees were also darkly colored.

And in the distance, the pointed roof of the Royal Palace appeared.

Her heart was pounding. She didn't know if it was fear or excitement, but one thing was certain.

"I'm happy to be in Herot."

"......"

"I always wanted to come."

At Olivia's honest words, the Prince of Herot tilted his head slightly and eventually raised the corners of his lips.

His heart, which had been endlessly sinking under the name of Oliver, had gradually lightened in the past two days. At first, he vaguely felt like he was no different from Ansen Wilhelm, but when he thought about it rationally, wasn't he not that bad?

He wasn't going to take what Olivia had without paying the price, like that bastard Ansen Wilhelm, and he certainly hadn't dragged Olivia here with a leash around her neck.

He had proposed marriage and pointed out what she would have to give up because of this marriage. And he didn't force Olivia's choice.

Of course, the environment she was in during the selection process was extremely harsh, but he hadn't created that environment either.

As a result, Olivia had chosen him, and she would also have something to gain from this marriage.

Noah leaned back in his chair and slowly crossed his legs.

Yes.

It's true that I'm using you, but you also chose this life.

I just need to make sure that this life is much better than the life you would have had as an engineer in Pulder.

Noah thought of Olivia wandering through the lavishly decorated mansion. Olivia, well-dressed, being served by people, eating well, and living well.

There would be no uncultured woman in his mansion to slap her cheeks, no thugs trying to break down the door in the middle of the night, and no thieves.

Olivia would no longer have to worry about making a living, and she would not feel threatened.

She would eat and drink seasonal delicacies and fill her closet with dresses and jewelry that even nobles would envy.

Then she would be happy.

Noah could make that happen as much as he wanted.

It was easy for him.

His heart felt as light as a feather.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

Lucy stared intently at the door. The resolute will felt even in her demurely seated posture made the King and Queen, as well as Usher, smile.

Then, a presence was felt beyond the door.

Lucy reflexively straightened her back and stopped breathing. Her little heart was pounding.

After a moment, a servant entered with a polite knock and announced the arrival of those she had been so eagerly awaiting.

"His Highness the Prince and Miss Liberty have arrived."

Lucy took a quick breath and quickly got off the chair. She habitually straightened her skirt and stood with her hands neatly gathered, and Noah appeared first from behind the opened door.

But the person the Princess was looking for was not him.

Lucy didn't even look at her brother's face and immediately turned her gaze.

At the same time, the person she had been waiting for so long appeared from beyond the door.

The girl's blue eyes gradually widened and the corners of her lips rose upwards. The kind person who always wrote her long letters about her concerns had finally arrived.

Meanwhile, Olivia desperately followed Noah's steps, as if she was crossing the hall while only looking at Margo's skirt in the past.

The tension that had been building up while crossing the corridors of the Royal Palace after getting off the carriage reached its peak, as if it was about to explode, when she faced the members of the Royal Family.

She didn't dare to face the King and Queen, so she lowered her gaze, but Noah finally stopped.

Noah glanced down at Olivia. Standing close, he could clearly feel that her breathing was uneven.

She had been fine until she was in the carriage, but she was clearly nervous as soon as she entered the Royal Palace. In front of King Leonard and the Queen Consort of Herot, whom she was meeting after a long time, Olivia's shoulders trembled pitifully.

Eventually, Noah called her in a low voice.

"Liv."

Instantly, Olivia's trembling stopped as if it were a lie. As the pounding sound that had been loudly drumming in her ears faded away, she unknowingly took a long breath.

Noah, confirming that, raised his gaze and greeted politely.

"I'm back."

Olivia followed him and bowed, bending her knees as she had practiced so far.

At the same time, Leonard burst into a hearty laugh.

"Yes. Thank you for your hard work on the long journey. It's been a while, Olivia!"

At the voice filled with welcome, Olivia mustered up courage and carefully raised her gaze.