Chapter 74
Episode 74: Is That Really Noah Astrid?
As the wedding ceremony concluded, the nobles were the first to exit the cathedral. Meanwhile, Noah and Olivia had to pose for at least dozens of photos with the royal family, the order of which was related to the line of succession.
"They used to paint these as portraits, you know."
"Indeed. Towards the end, it was so exhausting I was in tears."
Even Usher muttered with a weary tone, and Beatrix nodded in agreement. Meanwhile, Leonard watched his son and daughter-in-law with a very pleased expression, likely enjoying the news being whispered into his ear by his public affairs secretary.
Lucy, holding her father's hand, was busy looking Olivia up and down.
On the other hand, once they passed the 50th in line to the throne, Noah subtly began to postpone introductions to Olivia.
With children and adults mixed up in the order, it was incredibly confusing. Whenever that happened, he would glance at Olivia, and she would immediately point out the next in line without needing to be asked twice.
"Count Pattier."
At Olivia's whisper, Noah immediately turned to Count Pattier with a gentle smile.
"Count Pattier, I am most grateful for your presence. Please, come this way."
"Your Highness, Princess consort. My sincerest congratulations on your marriage."
Due to the discrepancy between theory-based Olivia and practice-oriented Noah, they managed to proceed with the greetings without a single mistake regarding the order of succession.
Thanks to this, the related attendants who were on standby had nothing to do but stand idly by.
"Mrs. Lehman was amazed that she memorized so many family trees of the royal relatives at once. It seems that's indeed the case."
As the Queen Consort muttered, Usher whispered beside her.
"It seems that's why Noah keeps asking the Princess consort?"
"Noah has always shuddered at the thought of those family trees since he was young. Now he'll pass it all on to the Princess consort."
Then, Margo nodded as if it were obvious.
"That much will be easy for the Princess consort."
Of course.
The Queen Consort and Usher, having glanced at Margo's triumphant expression, simultaneously looked at Olivia.
Meanwhile, as a family of relatives ranging from 65th to 73rd in line to the throne swarmed around the bride and groom, the photographer flashed the camera.
Flash! Flash! Flash!
How many photos did they take like that?
Just when both Noah and Olivia thought they would go blind, the photographer finally put the camera away.
The two simultaneously sighed in relief.
At that moment, Head Maid Paulsman, standing below the platform, spoke to them.
"Your Highnesses, please come down now."
"I can't see anything."
At Noah's mutter, Olivia blinked rapidly and whispered.
"I can see a little. Hold onto me."
"It's not that bad."
"That's a relief."
"Just watch where you're going. I know how tall you are, how high are those heels anyway?"
"You might be surprised if you see them."
"Try to hold up the dress too. If I step on it, I'll fall right over. Should I just carry you down? That might be faster."
"...It's not that bad, Your Highness."
Noah said that, but he patiently waited for Olivia to come down from the platform.
The gazes of the royal relatives beside them slowly slid along with them.
"……."
"……."
While maintaining silence for the sake of appearances, their eyes were wide. However, someone who couldn't bear it any longer muttered almost unconsciously.
"...Is that really Noah Astrid right now?"
"It is."
"Was he always such an affectionate person?"
It was a statement that required a re-examination of the definition of 'affectionate,' but all the royal relatives who heard it nodded.
If it were Usher Astrid, maybe, but 'that' Noah Astrid exchanging playful banter?
At that moment, a small whisper was heard from somewhere.
"They say Prince Noah has fallen in love. How else would His Majesty have approved?"
Around that time, Noah and Olivia were walking out of the chapel for the street parade. The couple, shoulder to shoulder, crossed the empty chapel. Clear sunlight poured down on the couple's heads.
The Grand Duchess, who had been quietly watching the scene, opened her mouth.
"Don't speak carelessly about Prince Noah when you don't even know him well, and don't you dare mention that his wife is a commoner. Look, how beautiful is she? It's very pleasing to see."
At the words of the Grand Duchess, the oldest member of the royal family, everyone shut their mouths and stepped back.
The Grand Duchess chuckled and fluttered her fan.
Is it because it's like a spring day of youth? How can they be so pretty?
Noah thought.
By the time this street parade is over, won't both he and Olivia be blind and deaf?
The lined-up reporters were taking pictures like crazy, and the cheers that pierced both eardrums showed no signs of stopping.
Olivia and Noah were sitting side by side in a splendid open carriage pulled by six white horses, touring the city of Herrington.
Olivia, sitting on the left, looked to the left, and Noah, sitting on the right, looked to the right, greeting the cheering people.
Parents carrying children on their shoulders or holding hands, young people with their elderly parents, and couples standing affectionately close.
Olivia carefully waved back at those who were waving enthusiastically at her. During that time, King Leonard's words kept coming to mind.
"Gain the recognition of the people of Herot who are cheering for you from below these steps, not those who are above them."
"Can you do it, Olivia?"
Olivia took a deep breath and braced her stomach firmly. She was starting to sweat from the corset that was tightening her chest and stomach, but she still straightened her back and focused on greeting the people.
As time passed, more and more people called out to Olivia.
"Princess consort!!!!!!"
The sound was so loud that Noah was startled and turned his head.
It wouldn't be easy to make such a sound even if you ate a Fire pot.
"Please look over here too!!"
Now, even the people who had been standing on Noah's side were calling out to Olivia.
The story of the first female college student who shook the entire Herot becoming the Princess consort was attractive enough to capture people's hearts.
On top of that, the Princess consort was beautiful, so there were far more people who wanted to see Olivia than Noah.
As proof, the reporters who had been standing on Noah's side quietly moved to the left where Olivia was and took pictures of her.
When Olivia raised her hand and waved, some of them even shouted her name.
"Kyaaaaaa!! Princess consort!!!!"
The public was enthusiastic about the new Princess consort.
Yes, this was not love, but enthusiasm.
Noah, looking around with a dumbfounded expression at the more intense reaction than he had expected, turned his gaze to Olivia sitting beside him.
In the midst of the flashing camera lights, her slender nape was visible through the Veil. And behind her, a huge crowd and enthusiastic cheers were spread out like a backdrop.
As the cheers grew louder, his gaze gradually sank.
"Over here, over here!! Please look over here too, Princess consort!!!!"
When Olivia turned her head at the voice shouting from the right, cheers erupted as if they had been waiting for it.
There was sweat on Olivia's forehead, and her originally pale face had turned even paler, looking almost blue.
Her smile seemed forced, and her waving hand looked thin and weak like a dry twig.
Noah knew well how overwhelming it was to receive the enthusiasm of the public that was crashing in like a tidal wave. That's why Olivia just seemed to be enduring it in his eyes.
"Olivia!!!!!!"
The entire capital was filled with her name.
The King wanted this, so she could become his wife.
Olivia Liberty, who had no family, wealth, or status, could become Noah Astrid's wife for only one reason. It was because of the public's cheers and attention that were pouring out on her.
However, this would be the last day.
The articles about the abolition of the Polia monarchy had long been buried, and Herot would be noisy for a while because of their marriage today.
That was enough.
Olivia had paid the price of marriage to this extent.
Noah's vision went dark again due to the sudden flash of light. Unconsciously waving his hand, not knowing who he was waving to, he thought.
Today would be the first and last time that Olivia would be thrown in front of the public like bait.
And he himself as well.
Now, all that remained for Noah Astrid was to gain the promised peace.
