Chapter 8
Episode 8: Just Grab It
Olivia involuntarily took a step back, but realizing that she couldn't escape that way, she stood firm, bracing her legs.
"I'm sorry, but I can't answer if you ask questions sporadically. Also, I need to visit Princess Marguerite, so please step aside for a moment."
Her unwavering gaze and clear articulation of her intentions made her seem resolute, but it was of little use against the overwhelming numerical disadvantage.
Moreover, the rakes knew that if they missed this opportunity, they wouldn't have another chance to see Olivia this close, so they were reluctant to back down easily.
Olivia's breathing grew ragged as they asked questions one by one, or closed the distance without regard for her pleas to step aside.
'Ah… Professor, where are you?'
Not knowing how to escape this crisis, Olivia looked around. But with a wall behind her and nobles on three sides, she didn't know who to ask for help.
It was then.
The nobles packed tightly behind her seemed to stir, and Olivia felt them moving aside as if a wave was parting.
Olivia craned her neck slightly and looked over the head of a nearby noble, and Prince Noah appeared, cutting through the crowd.
Olivia froze again, just as she had when she first encountered him.
Noah sighed deeply when he saw Olivia's expression, cornered and breathing shallowly.
His father should have at least assigned a proper attendant to this woman after the interview was over. Then again, it was the first time they had a guest of commoner status, so he might not have anticipated this kind of behavior.
Noah slowly approached Olivia, who was cornered, her eyes wide and frozen like a rabbit.
Surprisingly, his reflection was visible in her widening black eyes. Noah looked at his reflection in her eyes before reaching out his hand.
But she was just staring at his hand with a puzzled expression?
"Just grab it."
A low, cool voice, an outstretched hand, an awkward situation.
As if possessed, Olivia placed her hand in Noah's in a daze.
Unlike her bare hand under the blouse, Noah was wearing soft black gloves. Beneath the smooth texture of the gloves at her fingertips, she felt a firm hand and warm temperature.
The heart that had been pounding erratically calmed down the moment she took his hand.
As Noah took Olivia's hand and turned, coldly gazing at the faces of the disappointed rakes, they retreated without a word.
Noah led the way through the parting crowd of nobles, with Olivia following, holding his hand.
Olivia blankly stared at Noah's profile as he led the way half a step ahead. The heart that she thought had calmed down was now pounding fiercely in a different way.
Then the music changed to a lively dance tune. Young nobles who had been chatting in small groups flocked to the center of the ballroom as if by agreement.
It happened before she could even stop it.
Beyond the crowd that had gathered to dance, Noah met Margo's eyes, which were wide with disapproval.
They were so fierce that it was almost upsetting.
He was only doing this to safely escort this lady to his aunt.
"Um…"
At the small voice, Noah turned his head to see Olivia looking at him with a troubled expression.
"Thank you. I'll try to go around that way to Princess Marguerite."
Noah glanced at the direction Olivia was pointing. Distinguished noblewomen were fluttering their fans and looking at Olivia.
Noah looked down at Olivia's white, smooth-looking hand for a moment, then turned his head to look at the crowd that had begun to dance.
"It would be difficult to go around that way. You see all those noblewomen gathered there?"
"…"
"It'll be even harder to deal with them than the rakes. Are you sure you'll be okay?"
"Then I'll just stay here for a while and go when the dance is over…"
"The dances are continuous. There's no break in between."
Noah pondered for a moment before saying something in a nonchalant tone that would have made Olivia faint.
"This dance isn't that difficult. Would you like to try it?"
"Pardon?"
When Olivia asked back in surprise, Noah pointed to the dancing crowd with his left hand, which was not holding hers.
"You see how they keep moving to the right? After only three beats, you'll arrive at Marguerite."
Then he extended his left hand towards Olivia.
"I've never danced before."
Olivia whispered urgently, but Noah didn't withdraw his outstretched hand and simply raised an eyebrow at Olivia.
In any case, it was customary for a member of the royal family to dance lightly with a guest when the royal family invited them.
Besides, he was starting to feel burdened by the fervent gazes of the chaperones and debutantes that were pouring in at the same time.
Olivia, barely holding onto her fainting mind, stared blankly at the hand the prince had extended before finally taking it.
She didn't know the basics of royal etiquette, but she was certain that refusing the prince's hand in this situation would not be a good choice.
As Olivia took Noah's hand, Noah gently released her right hand, which he had been holding, and lightly placed it on Olivia's back.
"Put your left hand on my shoulder."
In the midst of extreme confusion, Olivia placed her hand on Noah's shoulder like a machine carrying out a command.
Noah looked down at Olivia, who was tense and frozen, and explained the dance.
"You just have to move four steps to the right and repeat turning twice, so there's no need to be so nervous."
His dry explanation, devoid of any humor, actually helped her to come to her senses.
Olivia widened her eyes and looked around as if she had the biggest task in the world in front of her. Sure enough, people were dancing in the way he had described.
"Four steps to the right, turn twice."
Noah chuckled at her resolute muttering, like someone facing an exam, and led Olivia into the crowd.
Even young Princess Lucy could quickly learn this kind of dance, so it wouldn't be difficult.
He could feel the gazes pouring in, but he didn't care. Even a mere glance would lead to dating rumors, so what did it matter if Olivia from Polder was added to the mix?
Besides, this woman was going back in a few days anyway.
Noah led Olivia gently and skillfully.
"One, two, three, four, let go, turn. One more time, grab again. Not that difficult, right?"
With the prince counting the beats to a simple rhythm that she seemed to have heard somewhere, it wasn't as difficult as she had thought, as he said.
Moreover, because the dance itself was cheerful and lively, it was less embarrassing than she had expected, even though she was holding hands and dancing closely with a prince she had met for the first time today.
No, rather, after dancing to the first two beats, she even found the dance enjoyable by the third beat, as she became more familiar with it.
As Olivia turned two circles, using her right hand, which was clasped with Noah's, for balance, Margo was surprisingly in front of her.
They had arrived in front of Margo in exactly three turns.
Noah lowered his hand from Olivia's back, released their clasped hands, and then gave her a perfect bow before smiling at Margo and turning away without regret.
Olivia, who had been staring blankly at Noah as he walked away with a leisurely gait as if he had never danced, suddenly came to her senses and turned to Margo.
"Professor."
She blinked, feeling somewhat embarrassed, and Margo gently grabbed her arm and pulled her along.
Margo was dumbfounded. When she returned from the terrace, the Queen Consort, who was weak, had left without waiting for Olivia to finish the interview, and Noah was being courteous to Olivia.
She had frowned sternly because he associated with rakes and sometimes had scandalous rumors circulating about him, but she thought he was still doing his duty on behalf of the royal family.
"Aren't you hungry?"
"...Very."
"Let's go. I've already told them to bring fried fish to your room in advance."
At her words, Olivia felt the stiffness in the back of her neck, which had been tense until now, completely relax.
"Thank you, Professor! But is it okay to just leave like this?"
"Of course, it is."
As Margo strode out of the ballroom with a dignified gait, the nobles around her quickly stepped back. It made her realize once again that she was a member of the Herot royal family.
Olivia followed Margo for a while before turning her head slightly to look at the ballroom.
The ornate arch decorated with marble and gold looked like a frame, and beyond the arch, the red chandeliers and jewel-like nobles felt like a scene from a masterpiece.
She couldn't believe that she had been in that masterpiece with them.
"Olivia!"
"Ah, yes!"
At Margo's call, Olivia quickly turned and continued down the stairs.
The glamorous banquet, where so many things had happened in an instant, came to an end.
As Noah cut through the crowd and headed towards the terrace, the rakes who had lost Olivia to him gathered around him.
"Oh, aren't you being too harsh?"
"How can you just take her away like that, Prince Noah?"
Noah leisurely scanned the pathetic men who were complaining before opening his mouth.
"Astrid's guest is treated as Astrid would."
It was a light tone without any sense of intimidation, but the rakes flinched at Noah's words and straightened their relaxed expressions.
Noah took out a cigarette from his pocket and put it in his mouth. Behind the leisurely smoke, his sharp eyes flickered dangerously, and the rakes who were out of Noah's sight quietly stepped back.
"Even if the guest isn't like Astrid, if Astrid invited them, they should be treated accordingly. Don't you think?"
"…"
"Why are you acting like common rabble here?"
"I'm sorry."
Even if I hang out and play with you guys, there are things I have to protect.
"Be careful. There are many eyes watching, you know?"
Noah passed them with a cynical attitude and went into the terrace.
The remaining nobles coughed awkwardly and dispersed, embarrassed.
And Isabel Seymour was watching the scene with sparkling eyes from the gap in the majestic pillars. More precisely, the terrace where Noah Astrid had disappeared.
"Mrs. Jubeun."
"Speak, Lady Seymour."
"What do I have to do to marry Prince Noah?"
The young lady, who had just turned nineteen, looked at Mrs. Jubeun, a legend in the chaperone world, with bright eyes.
Mrs. Jubeun stared at the terrace where Noah had disappeared for a long time before nodding slightly.
"Well, I'll have to think about it. Prince Noah… well. It might be a little difficult with ordinary methods. It might take some time, are you okay with that?"
At her question, Isabel nodded with a smile.
"Of course. Please think about it carefully."
Isabel and Mrs. Jubeun turned gracefully with smiles on their faces.
