Chapter 85
85. A Bird Fallen Alone
“Her Highness has become even more beautiful than she was two years ago, hasn’t she?”
“Our Prince is so lucky. If you can wake up to that face every day, who cares about her background?”
The rakes, who had been exchanging vulgar whispers about Olivia, quickly shut their mouths as Noah, with his chilling expression, approached. His gaze was so icily cold that it sent shivers down their spines, as if he had heard their whispers.
They felt an instinctive intimidation from his skin-prickling coldness and overbearing attitude.
He was as fierce as a wild beast protecting its cub. Herot's young lion was feigning composure, with his claws out and teeth bared.
“W-We greet Your Highness.”
“We greet Your Highness.”
Those who had been standing in a lax manner quickly straightened up and greeted the couple. Noah remained silent, seemingly unwilling to introduce them one by one, so Olivia offered a light greeting first.
“Thank you for welcoming us.”
The rakes, who had been frozen by Noah's gaze, looked at Olivia as if they had been waiting for this moment.
It was like the only life blooming in the midst of a harsh winter.
They had been suffocating under Noah's presence, but facing Olivia felt like a breath of fresh air.
“Please, come inside, Your Highness.”
Olivia smiled softly and looked up at Noah. At her gaze, Noah, who had been cold until now, slowly moved his feet.
Even so, he rolled his eyes and scanned the rakes.
‘If you try anything, you’re dead.’
At Noah Astrid's clear warning, the rakes hesitated and followed behind the two.
As the royal couple passed through the magnificent circular hall and entered the main room, everyone's attention was focused on them. The people in the room all rose from their seats and paid their respects to the two.
Olivia returned the greetings and then glanced around. Face guards and sticks of varying lengths were hung on the walls like trophies.
In the midst of this, she met the eyes of a woman who was staring intently at her. She was a beautiful woman with luscious red hair cascading down her shoulders.
Isabel stared intently at Olivia, who had entered with Noah. Everything around them blurred like a smudged ink wash painting, leaving only the two of them in her sight.
Why is it you who stands beside him?
The unanswered question ignited her already burned-out heart once more.
Noah's expression twisted as he saw Isabel. He felt uneasy and uncomfortable with her staring so intently at Olivia.
In the end, he swallowed the rising curse and turned his body to shield Olivia.
At the same time, the flashlight he had thrown away to Isabel suddenly came to mind. He never thought that his attempt to gain good results without effort would bother him so much now.
Noah glanced at Methone and then composed his expression.
“Wait here for a moment.”
“Yes.”
As Olivia nodded and whispered softly, Noah took off his jacket and handed it to the approaching servant, glaring daggers at Iel Poem and Lawrence Atham.
Was it a coincidence that Isabel, who had not appeared at the polo club for a while after the incident with him, was waiting here today?
“Having fun?”
As Noah walked past the two, he smiled wryly and asked. They quickly shook their heads and protested.
“Your Highness, we didn't invite her!”
“Yes, it's true. We never expected the Seymour Young Lady to come.”
Noah chuckled and turned the corner. As soon as he turned the corner, he turned back to face the group of rakes entering the locker room.
The wry smile had disappeared, and only the lion with sharp teeth and claws that made one's knees tremble remained.
Cold sweat ran down the backs of the rakes.
Noah forced himself to make eye contact with each of them and whispered lowly.
“I hope you know that today's antics are enough. Don't you dare look or talk to her. Don't think it will be the same as two years ago.”
Those who had come all the way to see what Olivia Princess consort was like lowered their gazes and said nothing.
They only breathed short breaths and blinked their eyes after Noah entered the private locker room.
Iel Poem whispered to Lawrence, who was beside him, with his lips.
“If you mess with him, you're going to get hurt.”
Lawrence nodded at his whisper. He was overwhelmed by the protection that was even more excessive than Princess Marguerite's protection.
While the men flocked to the locker room, only the noble ladies remained in the main room. They were gathered around Isabel.
Although Isabel's power was not what it used to be, the Seymour family had not fallen, and there were rumors that she was dating the second son of the Marquess Coleman family. For this reason, she still reigned like a queen in society.
On the other hand, only Methone stood beside Olivia, who was standing blankly. Methone quickly scanned the surroundings and swallowed a sigh.
This was because no one was willing to come forward and greet Olivia, who was the highest-ranking person in this place. In the midst of this, Isabel Seymour's gaze was persistently fixed on Olivia.
‘I need to get extra pay for this, Your Highness.’
Methone subtly moved his position to block Isabel's gaze with his body and opened his mouth.
“Would you like to take a light tour of the room? If you go out through that large door, you will find a waiting area, where the Polo Ponies will be waiting for their owners. If you go past the waiting area, a large lawn will appear.”
Olivia smiled softly at Methone's words. Piercing gazes, hostility, and unwelcome curiosity sharply pricked her skin, but Olivia straightened her shoulders and smiled.
This was nothing compared to the contempt she had endured so far.
Because she was not a noble, this treatment did not evoke a sense of humiliation.
She only hoped that her actions would not cause trouble for Noah. That was why she was even more careful.
Methone was impressed by Olivia's unexpectedly relaxed expression and quickly guided her.
“Where would you like to start?”
“I'm curious about His Highness's Polo Pony. Can I see them?”
“I think it would be better to give you a Mallet, Your Highness.”
Methone's face hardened at the beautiful voice that came from behind. It was not Methone who had made a different suggestion to Olivia, who wanted to see the Polo Pony.
Olivia stared blankly at the woman who appeared from behind Methone. The blue eyes set in her round yet slender face harmonized surprisingly well with her red hair.
The woman lightly bent and straightened her knees.
“Nice to meet you for the first time, Your Highness. My name is Isabel Seymour.”
“Nice to meet you, Seymour Young Lady.”
“Usually, after changing clothes, you would take a Mallet and go out to the field. A Mallet refers to the stick used in Polo games.”
Then, she turned around and took out a heavy Mallet from the cabinet herself.
Olivia's gaze landed on the luxurious wooden stick in her hand.
“This is the Mallet that His Highness mainly uses. I usually handed it to him.”
“……”
Even after explaining, Isabel did not hand the Mallet to Olivia. She simply held it preciously in her arms and stared intently at Olivia.
A chilling feeling, different from the taunts and contempt that had been digging into her skin, surged up. Olivia, who had been looking at the Mallet, slowly raised her eyes.
Isabel's eyes were icily cold and, at the same time, burning like fire.
Olivia stared blankly at the raging cold and heat in her eyes and quickly turned her head.
What would be the wise thing to do?
But at that very moment, someone who had approached silently wrapped their arm around her shoulder.
“Well. I don't really want to use that today.”
Surprised, she raised her head, and Noah was standing there with a wry smile, dressed in his riding clothes. He stared intently at Isabel and then glanced at the Mallet in her hand.
“Thank you for your trouble, Seymour Young Lady. But there's no need to go to such trouble, so please refrain from doing so in the future.”
Isabel looked resentfully at Noah, who was deliberately putting his arm around Olivia's shoulder and turning against her.
After throwing my life into the abyss, you don't know how I feel when I look at you.
But Noah cruelly took the Mallet from her hand and handed it to his secretary, who was beside him. As if he didn't need it.
Then, he led the woman to his cabinet and put on a friendly act.
“This is my cabinet. Give this to me.”
Olivia took out the Mallet that Noah was pointing to and handed it to him. Noah smiled kindly, looked at her, and then bowed politely. Then, he kissed her hand as if to show off.
In the space where a suffocating silence had fallen, only Noah Astrid seemed at peace.
Noah looked at his wife with a very affectionate and melting smile before turning around.
However, Olivia, who had faced his smile, could feel that Noah's mood was about to fall into the mud.
His eyes were very cold and burning hot.
Just like the red-haired woman she had faced a little while ago.
The moment they entered the space where the ponies were waiting, the smile that had been on Noah's face disappeared.
“This is the Mallet that His Highness mainly uses. I usually handed it to him.”
At the voice that had been stuck in his ear the moment he came out after changing his clothes, a chill ran down his spine. He felt uncharacteristically impatient, and even the cold sweat that he had never shed before soaked his back.
When he hurriedly turned the corner and came out into the main room, Olivia was standing with her back to him, and Isabel Seymour was holding his Mallet in her hand.
And around them, noble ladies were surrounding them with shining eyes. As if they were watching something very interesting.
Olivia was like a bird fallen alone in the aristocratic world.
His wife was so small and pitiful. He kept thinking of the woman who had recklessly run away into a dark and cold space without lights or a Brazier.
The anger towards those who were watching Olivia with wicked intentions spread like wildfire. Even while moving to the waiting area with Olivia, his whole body felt heavy. He wanted to play Polo cleanly.
Why did she follow him here? If she had gone to the beautifully decorated mansion, she wouldn't have suffered like this.
Noah clenched the Mallet tightly, recalling her clear face and black eyes.
