Chapter 75
Episode 75. Take it Off
The three-hour-long street parade ended at the entrance to the road connecting Herrington and Hamuel. The two were scheduled to change carriages at the entrance to the road and head straight to the Hamuel Grand Manor.
The Royal Guards and a large carriage to escort them were already waiting at the entrance to the road, and among them was an unexpected person.
"Princess!"
Olivia approached with a delighted expression, and Margo smiled gently, bowing politely to her.
Princess Marguerite, who had renounced her right to succession, had to pay her respects to Olivia, the Duchess and Princess consort.
Olivia, with a bewildered expression, grabbed Margo's hands and whispered.
"Professor."
At that, Margo looked up and smiled, her eyes crinkling. Whether she was wearing a Tiara or a dress, Olivia was still Olivia.
"I would have been sad if I left without seeing you, so I postponed my ship's departure. Though I still have to leave soon."
Olivia's eyes reddened, and Margo raised her hand to caress her beautiful eyes. She had come back because the words she was too shy to say had finally caught her.
Margo carefully spoke the words she had repeated dozens of times in her mind.
"I hope the days ahead of you are as warm as the sunshine and as gentle as the breeze. Even though there will be difficult days, consider them as rain that makes the ground firm, and sometimes hide in any shade and hope the rain passes."
Olivia nodded slowly. When tears finally welled up in her eyes, Margo smiled and wiped them away herself.
"I hope you'll be happy in Herot, where you've returned, Olivia."
"If Professor wasn't there, I probably would have collapsed."
"That's not true. You are strong."
"……."
"This day has come not by chance. Nor is it the end. It's just a part of the life you're building yourself."
Margo smiled and gently stroked Olivia's cheek before stepping back neatly, as was her style.
Then, she approached Noah, who was behind Olivia. Noah stared at his approaching aunt for a moment before opening his mouth.
"You're not staying to enjoy the feast of blood?"
"Don't say such things, Noah. Walter already occupies a seat at that feast, so your father's temper is as sharp as ever."
"I'm glad I'm not there."
"Indeed. I last saw the Queen Consort holding her head. So Usher is probably having a terrible time."
When Noah chuckled, Margo hesitated for a moment before carefully tapping her nephew's firm arm.
"I was sorry about the other day."
"It's nothing."
"Please be happy."
When Noah nodded, Margo glanced at the couple alternately and turned away. Olivia quickly followed, but Margo finally pushed her hand away and got into the carriage with a cool air.
"Contact me when you come to Pulder!"
"Professor!"
"Don't chase after me, just leave for Hamuel!"
With a hearty laugh, Marguerite, the epitome of royal spirit, disappeared into the distance.
After Margo left, Olivia took off her Tiara and Veil and got into the carriage that would take her to Hamuel. The Bouquet was also sent along with the royal staff who were taking the Tiara.
Noah dodged Olivia's dress train, which filled the inside of the carriage, this way and that, but finally came to the conclusion that it was unavoidable, so he just made sure not to step on it.
He took off the ceremonial jacket with Emblems all over it and leaned back against the carriage seat, letting out a long sigh.
"Haa……."
He had been busy since dawn, and being tormented by the flashes of cameras and the eardrum-splitting cheers all day made his whole body feel heavy as if it had been soaked in water.
When he opened his eyes slightly, Olivia across from him was sitting with her back straight. Looking at her extremely uncomfortable appearance, Noah closed his eyes again and said languidly.
"Just lean back. Or lie down. No one's watching."
"……."
"It'll take two hours to get to Hamuel. Get some sleep."
"Yes, sleep well."
Along with the whispering voice, there was a rustling sound. It seemed she was arranging the dress train, which was so abundant it was overflowing.
Noah slowly exhaled a languid breath and fell asleep.
Olivia looked at Noah with envious eyes. Noah told her to lean back comfortably and get some sleep, but there was something he didn't know: the existence of the Corset.
This Corset was bearable when standing, but sitting was a nightmare. She could only breathe if she kept her back as straight as possible; the moment she relaxed her back, it pressed down on her entire lungs, making it difficult to even breathe.
Olivia stiffened her back and leaned her head against the wall of the carriage.
She had to go like this for two hours.
Just thinking about it made her feel hopeless.
And 30 minutes later, Olivia seriously considered. Should she stop the carriage? But what was outside the window but fields, fields, and more fields.
Noah was sitting still in the same position. The Prince, even in his sleep, looked handsome and very peaceful.
Olivia was truly envious of him.
And about 30 minutes later, Olivia reached her limit.
Now, no matter how stiffly she straightened her back, she couldn't breathe. Squeezing her chest was worse than squeezing her stomach.
No matter how deeply she inhaled, her lungs seemed to have shrunk, and she was short of breath. Even the motion sickness she hadn't experienced on the wildly swaying ship was tormenting her, and she felt like she was going to die. Her breathing grew louder and louder.
Meanwhile, Noah, who had been sleeping motionless for an hour across from her, finally opened his eyes at the unusual breathing that pierced his ears.
And what he saw when he opened his eyes was Olivia, who was turning blue and gasping for breath. Noah jumped up and quickly asked.
"What's wrong?"
"……."
While panting, Olivia only moved her lips.
Noah frowned and blinked. Wasn't she fine even on the ship that was swaying as if it would capsize? So it couldn't be motion sickness.
"Do you want to go to the bathroom?"
"No."
"Then what's wrong? Don't foolishly endure it, tell me."
At the impatient voice that had not even a fingernail's worth of patience, Olivia bit her lip and said.
"Please call the maid who's coming with us."
At that, Noah immediately opened the window and stopped the carriage without saying a word.
"Bring the maid."
At the Prince's impatient command, the maid who was in the carriage following behind quickly appeared. She widened her eyes in surprise when she saw Olivia's pale face.
"Princess consort, are you feeling unwell?"
Noah was still sitting across from her with his legs crossed, staring intently at Olivia. He had no intention of getting out of the carriage in the first place.
Olivia turned her gaze away from Noah and said quietly.
"I want to change my clothes."
Suddenly here?
As Noah tilted his head and narrowed his eyes, the maid said in an embarrassed voice.
"What should we do? The items you need have already been moved to Hamuel, so there are no clothes for you to change into."
"Not even one?"
"I'm sorry."
Olivia's vision darkened.
She had to wear this Corset for another hour.
"I'm sorry, Your Highness."
At the maid's repeated apologies, Olivia quickly shook her head.
"It's not your fault. I understand. I'll change when I get to Hamuel."
The maid examined Olivia's face several times before finally getting out of the carriage. Olivia straightened her back as much as possible and said to Noah.
"Your Highness, let's start again."
At the voice that sounded like she was dying, Noah sighed briefly.
"You have to tell me properly what the problem is to solve it. Why are you suddenly saying you want to change your clothes here?"
"……."
"It's going to take another hour. Can you even endure it?"
There was even a hint of annoyance in the dry voice. Seeing his stubborn face, which seemed like he wouldn't even start unless she told him properly, Olivia finally revealed her troubles.
"I can't breathe because of the Corset."
"...Huh?"
At the unexpected words, Noah asked back a beat late.
Olivia gasped and touched her abdomen with her hand.
"I'm not used to Corsets. It's bearable when I'm standing, but it's hard to breathe when I sit."
Come to think of it, she was struggling like someone who couldn't breathe. Noah looked at her abdomen with a bewildered expression. Her slender waist, which was probably about the span of his palm, was heaving rapidly.
After a moment of silence, Noah ordered the Royal Guards outside the window to start the carriage.
Now that it had come to this, it would be better to arrive as quickly as possible.
As the carriage started moving again, Olivia closed her eyes. Hoping to fall asleep, she desperately wished for this time to pass quickly.
Nevertheless, she felt nauseous and dizzy, and she couldn't bear it.
Oh my god. She had to go like this for another hour.
At that moment, a neat voice flew into Olivia's ears, who was floundering in despair.
"Take it off."
