Chapter 76
76. Swaying Lanterns and Wheezing Breaths
Olivia's eyes snapped open at Noah's words, and she stared at him blankly, speechless. He paused, then spoke again.
"Take off the Corset."
It was the best way to solve the problem, but also the most difficult for Olivia at the moment.
As Olivia's lips seemed to turn blue, as if it were her imagination, Noah added a little more.
"I'm your husband now. So don't worry about appearances in front of me, and figure out how to get better."
Even after he said that, she still hesitated, so Noah said with an indifferent expression.
"It's better than fainting on our honeymoon, for both of us."
Olivia blinked blankly and looked at her concerned husband's face.
He seemed to have the message 'You fainting or throwing up here is the worst' plastered on his forehead.
He was her husband, the first person she had ever kissed, and even the person she had to try various types of bedtime activities with tonight!
Still, how could she easily undress in front of him! If it were easy, she would have already done it!
However, seeing Noah's expression, which showed no consideration, worry, or even a hint of rational curiosity, strangely gave her courage. It seemed like that man wouldn't care whether she took off her clothes or not.
As she started to feel nauseous, Olivia hesitated, then slightly turned her body and said.
"...Then, Your Highness... First, I need to undo the buttons on my back, but I can't do it myself. Please help me."
Her voice became as small as a whisper.
Noah blinked blankly as if he hadn't expected to have to do it himself, but quickly came to his senses.
He glanced at the windows all around, quickly drew the curtains, and then sat down next to Olivia. She turned her back to him and sat facing the wall of the carriage.
There were at least dozens of tiny pearl buttons on her smooth, slender back.
Even as he did so, Olivia was taking painful breaths.
"I just have to undo all of these?"
"Yes. Once you undo those, you'll see the Corset fastening..."
Surprisingly, she was in so much pain that she didn't even feel embarrassed.
Noah took off his gloves and began to undo the buttons on Olivia's neck. As each button was undone, the dress that had been constricting her upper body gradually opened.
Noah's gaze lingered on her sharply protruding shoulder blades.
He looked at her white back with shadowed eyes, and undid the buttons faster with his long fingers.
As the Corset that was tightly constricting her upper body became more and more visible, Noah frowned. It was so tightly laced that it was suffocating just to look at it.
Without hesitation, Noah pulled the tied ribbon and untied it.
At the same time, Olivia released the breath she had been holding.
"Haa, haa..."
Her pale back rose and fell rapidly, and the wheezing sound tickled his ears.
Even though it was the sound of a fragile life barely revived, he felt a strange churning in his stomach.
Noah took a long, slow breath, which he had been holding back until now, and slowly lowered his hand.
The sleek curve from her neck to her shoulder, the sharp shadows created by her pointed shoulder blades, and the straight line created by her spine were visible through the loosened clothing.
Noah took another deep, slow breath and forcibly turned his gaze away from her.
Reddish light seeped sharply through the thickly drawn window curtains. Noah sat up straight and glanced through the curtains.
The setting sun was painting the world red. The red water that had seeped into his green eyes looked as red as molten iron in a furnace.
His gaze was fixed on the outside, but all his senses were focused on the inside of the carriage.
As he heard Olivia straightening her body with a rustling sound, Noah finally turned his head towards her.
Olivia was biting her lip tightly.
"Feeling better?"
"...Yes."
She answered softly and then glanced up at him.
The red light pouring in from all directions passed through the curtains and dyed the inside of the carriage red. Whether it was because of the light or whether it was really red, Olivia's white face had turned red again.
Noah's gaze flowed along the contours of her face and lingered on her plump lips.
The pulse that had been calm until now rose strangely, and this time it was his breath that caught.
The sensation of the buttons and ribbons that had touched his fingertips was still vivid, and he clenched and unclenched his fists several times.
Only silence remained in the carriage.
Meanwhile, Olivia's nausea subsided as her breathing became easier.
Once she felt better, Hamuel was just around the corner.
Noah didn't say anything after that, but Olivia didn't bother to talk to him. All her attention was focused on her clothes.
Fortunately, even though the buttons were undone, the dress was so sturdy that it didn't slip down, and unfortunately, her husband had absolutely no patience.
Olivia calculated the time and, 10 minutes before arriving, asked Noah to fasten her dress again.
"Your Highness, if you pull the ribbon a little tighter, the buttons will fasten."
"I can't."
"Please. I beg you. Please fasten it again."
"It's impossible. How did you fasten this in the first place? Shouldn't you have made the dress one size bigger in the first place?"
"Don't say that, just fasten the buttons."
Noah fastened about ten buttons and then gave up, shaking his head.
"It's a waste of effort. You're going to take it off and change into other clothes soon anyway."
"Still, how can I get out like this?"
As Olivia looked back with a desperate face, Noah draped his jacket, which was covered in Emblems, over her shoulders.
"Get out like this."
"Even if I get out like this, the people who are helping me will have to see it."
"What's the problem? They'll think we're getting along well."
Olivia was speechless at his shameless words and expression.
"And it's already too late."
As he said, the carriage slowed down significantly and eventually stopped. Noah raised his eyebrows and got out as soon as the door opened, and Olivia squeezed her eyes shut and opened them, clutching Noah's jacket tightly.
As she leaned out of the carriage, Noah held out his hand to her. His expression seemed playful, so Olivia just bit her innocent lip.
"Oh my, it seems you're feeling the cold. I'll have the bedroom temperature turned up a little higher."
The Head Maid of Hamuel, who had come to greet them, quickly spoke at the sight of the Princess consort wearing the Prince's jacket, and Noah nodded with a nonchalant face.
"The Princess consort is a bit sensitive to the cold."
"......"
And a moment later.
Olivia wanted to disappear at the shocked expressions of the Head Maid and maids who had witnessed the truth hidden beneath the Prince's jacket.
The Hamuel mansion was perfectly prepared for the Prince and Princess's honeymoon. A wonderful meal was prepared for Olivia, who had changed out of her uncomfortable wedding dress into comfortable clothes.
"It is customary to have the first dinner of the honeymoon separately. You will be dining together from tomorrow."
According to Herot's tradition that the couple's first meal should be with the rising sun, the couple's dinner table was prepared separately.
The chef himself came to explain the dishes, but Olivia didn't eat much. Meanwhile, the sun had completely set and pitch-black darkness had descended.
While the Head Maid was undoing her hair, several maids came and carefully removed Olivia's makeup.
"After washing in warm water, you will move to the marital bedroom."
The Head Maid smiled as she recalled the dress that had been completely undone under the jacket.
I won't say more because I think you know what's coming next.
Olivia, seeing the Head Maid's meaningful face, was furious inside.
That's not it! That's not what it is! We haven't done anything yet!
The servants, unaware of Olivia's inner thoughts, were busy dressing her up with sly smiles.
And along with their sly smiles, Olivia, who was being decorated, desperately recalled the studies (?) she had learned in the face of the reality that was imminent.
Olivia was a person who had no choice but to live an active life.
If there was one thing she had learned from her life as a young breadwinner who had to take care of her grandmother even when she was barely able to take care of herself, it was that when something happened, it was better to be proactive.
"This is a fragrance made with this year's harvested tuberose. Do you like the fragrance?"
"Yes, it's nice."
That's what she said, but she didn't care about the fragrance at all.
The bride, on the eve of her wedding night, was habitually thinking fiercely about how to deal with what would happen that night.
Because she was planning to be proactive this night as well.
When will I have the courage to be poised and bold in any situation?
Margo always whispered to Olivia, "You're strong," but Olivia would tilt her head inwardly every time she heard those words.
Because for Olivia, life was a constant series of tension and shaking.
Walking down the dimly lit hallway, she felt as if she was traversing her life, which was as dark as the night.
Beneath the palm of her hand, which was tightly clutching the fastening of her airy silk gown, her heart was pounding violently.
She had no idea how to deal with tonight's events with that person. To be honest, she didn't even understand it properly.
No matter how hard she racked her brains, she couldn't come up with a wise way to deal with a situation she had never experienced before.
'I'm going crazy......'
Just as she had the ridiculous thought that she wished this road would never end, the Head Maid stopped in front of a huge, beautiful golden door. It was customary to knock when entering a superior's room, but the Head Maid grabbed the doorknob and turned it without knocking.
As if the person in the room was waiting for her.
As the heavy door opened, the Head Maid bowed politely.
Olivia, who was not ready, shook her head inwardly, but her feet steadily moved beyond the open door.
And beyond the invisible boundary, the moment she stepped into the room where golden flames flickered, Olivia instinctively felt his presence.
