Chapter 69
Chapter 69: Wedding Rehearsal
"Got a minute?"
Olivia saw Margo standing by the doorway and quickly approached her.
"Prof... I mean, Princess!"
"I think I prefer being called Professor."
"I can't do that, they said."
Margo closed the door and entered, reflexively scanning Olivia's face. The dark circles under her eyes made it clear she wasn't getting enough sleep.
Margo clicked her tongue softly and gently patted Olivia's back.
"You don't need to feel so pressured."
Margo strode over and glanced at the various etiquette books Olivia had been studying, then turned back to Olivia, who was standing there blankly.
"So don't whip yourself so hard trying to be perfect."
Olivia pressed her lips together and simply smiled. She had always confided in Margo about everything, but strangely, she couldn't bring herself to share the overwhelming anxiety that threatened to consume her now.
When Olivia didn't speak, Margo approached her.
"If you keep belittling yourself, eventually you'll disappear. You can't let that happen."
Olivia looked up to meet Margo's gaze, and Margo slowly stroked her dark hair.
Olivia felt the warmth in her hair and whispered, "Do you think I can do it?"
At her question, Margo smiled, her eyes crinkling.
"Of course, you can."
"......"
"After tomorrow, you'll be part of my family."
"......"
"Welcome with all my heart, Olivia."
At Margo's welcome, a faint glimmer of tears welled up in Olivia's eyes before disappearing.
"Thank you."
"I'll be returning to Pulder right after your wedding tomorrow. I probably won't have a chance to say a proper goodbye tomorrow because things will be so hectic. Don't be upset if I leave without saying goodbye, okay?"
"I know."
Margo chuckled softly and left, saying, "Get a good night's sleep!"
Even after Winifred and Margo had both visited, Olivia's anxiety showed no signs of abating. It wasn't a problem she could solve by worrying about it, so she tried to forget the rising anxiety, but it wasn't as easy as it sounded.
Olivia reread the wedding etiquette and order of events, as well as the family tree of the royal family, which she had already read dozens of times, and mentally rehearsed the next day.
"Dress up and wait in the Main Palace Hall, when His Majesty comes down, move to Hamel Cathedral together, don't lift your gaze while getting out of the carriage and climbing the Hamel Cathedral steps, don't smile. Don't walk faster than His Majesty..."
Even after reciting the order she had memorized to the point of being ingrained in her, her heart kept fluttering, making it hard to breathe.
Olivia was exhausted by the strangely slow and fast pulsations that repeated themselves.
"Grandma..."
She called out to her grandmother blankly. What would she have said if she were here today?
Would she have told her to live well, or would she have been anxious with her?
That, too, was a futile question with no answer.
Olivia pressed her chest hard and slowly regulated her breathing. She wished someone would press down on her heart with a large, firm force. She felt constantly thirsty, like someone suffering from an inexplicable thirst.
Eventually, Olivia got up and paced around.
In the meantime, the day slowly waned. The sunset, painting the whole world red, stretched out long and seeped into the room. The red, intense light seemed to suffocate her even more.
Olivia took a long, slow breath, when suddenly a knock came, and a maid entered.
Then, she briefly announced the reason for her visit.
"His Highness Prince Noah Astrid has arrived."
Noah Astrid.
The moment she heard that name, the river of anxiety that had been raging madly until now, surprisingly, calmed down.
That river, which hadn't calmed down even in the face of Margo's greeting or the name of her grandmother.
Only then did Olivia realize that she had been waiting for him.
Noah smiled brightly as he looked at Olivia, who was standing bathed in the glorious sunset.
"Hi, Liv."
As he greeted her casually, the maids who were waiting couldn't help but widen their eyes and glance at the Prince.
"Greetings, Your Highness. Good afternoon."
In contrast, Olivia bowed politely.
Noah was inwardly impressed by Olivia's smooth, natural, and elegant manners. At the same time, he was very pleased.
"May I come in?"
Olivia was inwardly flustered by the polite question, but she quickly bent her knees once more.
"Of course. Would you like some tea?"
"No, I just stopped by for a moment, so don't bother."
Noah twitched his lips and said to the maids standing beside him.
"The sunlight is too strong, draw the curtains and light the lamps."
His tone changed as easily as flipping his hand.
If the tone he used towards Olivia was like the cool afternoon sun of autumn, then now it was like the air of winter without a single ray of sunshine. Cold, dry, and desolate.
The maid instructed the maids waiting outside to draw the curtains, then walked around with a match and lit all the lamps in the room.
When the maid finally lit the candle on the table where Olivia was sitting, Olivia nodded lightly to her in greeting.
When they had all left, the room was filled with a much cozier and warmer light than before.
Olivia stood awkwardly for a moment, then led him to the sofa.
"Please, sit down, Your Highness."
However, Noah moved to the table where Olivia had been sitting instead of the sofa. The densely stacked books were familiar to his eyes as well.
Noah frowned and muttered.
"You've been stuck with those tedious things all week."
Just as his impressions of the royal emblem had been, his impressions of the royal etiquette books were also very disrespectful.
Olivia pretended not to hear and didn't respond, and Noah looked at the books regardless and then turned to Olivia.
"Did you memorize everything?"
"I've memorized everything Mrs. Lehman taught me. But, she said there's still a lot more to study."
Then, Noah found the densely packed family tree of the royal family and frowned as if he had seen something he shouldn't have.
This is really the worst.
Noah glanced at the family tree with a look of disgust and asked abruptly.
"This too?"
"Yes."
When Noah made a strange expression without saying anything, Olivia shrugged and pointed to Walter's picture with her finger.
"After Crown Prince, Your Highness, and Princess Lucy, the person with the highest succession ranking among the royal family is Duke Walter Lightwing Astrid. He is His Majesty's younger brother and the owner of the Lightwing territory in the west, and..."
Noah, who had been listening to her voice flowing out so naturally like music, interrupted her.
"Do you remember it after seeing it once?"
"If I try to memorize it."
"That's unfair."
Olivia burst out laughing at the words that came out of the mouth of someone who seemed to be the origin of the word unfair.
"Why are you laughing?"
Olivia narrowed her eyes as she looked at the man who had everything.
"Everyone would laugh like this if you said that to me, Your Highness."
"Is that so?"
"Yes."
Noah shrugged and suddenly asked a question.
"Rank 43."
"Marquess McBair Jr. Lucid. He owns 40% of the Orulia region and..."
"Rank 46."
"Count Macbeth Lucid. Marquess McBair Jr. Lucid's younger brother, he owns 20% of the Olulia region and..."
"That's good."
"What is?"
"I'll have to ask you if I get confused."
"......"
"From now on, you'll receive the succession ranking update documents instead of me, memorize them, and then let me know from time to time."
The royal family's succession ranking was adjusted as soon as a child was born, so update documents were often delivered.
Something was a little strange, but Olivia nodded enthusiastically at the thought that she had something to do.
"Okay!"
"Is that something to be happy about?"
Olivia decided to ask him what she wanted to ask while she was at it.
"Your Highness, there's something I'd like to ask you."
"Speak."
"What should I do in the future?"
Noah, who had heard similar questions before, put his hands in his pockets and tilted his head.
"I told you then, didn't I?"
Olivia recalled the conversation at the hotel.
"Have a wedding that will make the entire Herot stir, and come out in front of everyone and kiss me. I want the world to know that you have become my wife."
"The very fact that Olivia Liberty married me is my need for you."
Olivia nodded slightly and added an explanation.
"Yes. You said that the marriage itself was necessary."
"And?"
"Still, I want to know specifically what I should do. For example, I'd like you to tell me something I can do, like just now."
"I don't know why you're so insistent on being given work to do."
"......"
Noah shrugged and stared straight into Olivia's eyes, saying clearly.
"I needed Olivia Liberty, you. Tomorrow, you will become Duchess Olivia Rosemond Astrid, receive the title of Princess consort, and become my wife. That's all."
There wasn't a shred of falsehood in his green eyes.
Olivia was speechless at the sincerity in his eyes.
Olivia would gain so much from this marriage that she couldn't handle it, but the man in front of her would gain nothing.
But Olivia couldn't bring herself to ask that. If words of agreement flowed from his lips, she would feel terribly sad, ridiculously so.
Olivia slowly lowered her gaze and blinked silently.
Noah stared silently at the woman who would become his wife tomorrow.
His gaze flowed from her bulging forehead to the sharp bridge of her nose, to her deeply sunken eyes, and slid down her slender cheeks to her lips, which were as red as a riotous rose.
Noah turned his head to gauge the width of the room and held out his arm to Olivia.
"Since I'm here, let's practice once."
Olivia, startled by Noah's words, quickly replied.
"Then let's pretend this is the entrance to Hamel Cathedral?"
"Okay."
Olivia carefully took Noah's arm.
She lowered her gaze as she had been taught, tried not to move her upper body, and made sure that her toes didn't come out before Noah's steps.
Noah stared silently at the bride who was trying so hard to even walk well, but Olivia didn't notice his gaze.
Noah, who had stopped walking about halfway across the wide room, pointed ahead with his finger.
"Now, when the four priests holding the Emblem step aside, the Archbishop will be waiting for us."
"Yes."
Olivia released the arm she had been holding onto Noah and neatly gathered her hands.
"He'll give a lengthy sermon."
"......"
"We just have to not fall asleep."
"Surely no one would fall asleep in such a place."
"My uncle."
"......"
"Anyway, when the sermon is over, the Archbishop will perform the vows, and we'll pretend to recite them."
Olivia, who had mentally pictured the order, naturally turned halfway towards Noah. When Noah held out his left hand, Olivia pretended to put a ring on his ring finger.
Then, when she held out her left hand, Noah pretended to put a ring on her hand this time.
She somehow felt like she was playing dolls with Lucy.
In the meantime, all the anxiety that had been tormenting Olivia until now had somehow been pushed away.
However, that lighthearted feeling was completely reversed in the next moment.
Noah turned his body completely towards Olivia and whispered softly.
"After exchanging rings, I will kiss you."
Olivia's spine tingled at the voice that echoed as if from a deep and rugged valley. Her heart, which had been beating peacefully until now, suddenly made a loud noise and thumped loudly.
