Chapter 88
Episode 88: Forget the Bullshit
There were no ladies-in-waiting at the Prince's residence. When Noah became independent, the Queen Consort offered to send one of her trusted women to manage his palace. Of course, her son flatly rejected the offer.
"I'm more comfortable with people I pay, Mother. And my house isn't a palace."
Thus, only maids existed in Noah's residence, and Mrs. Betty was not an aristocrat either.
Mrs. Betty was quick-witted and efficient. In particular, she was taciturn and didn't meddle beyond her duties.
No matter who came to the residence, she would finish her tasks and disappear, never attempting to mingle. That was why the Prince had kept her employed for years.
However, she was on edge about the Princess consort she would be serving from now on. One way or another, she would be the person she would encounter the most.
Since she was someone who had succeeded in rising in status, she expected her to arrive full of arrogance.
But contrary to her expectations, the Princess consort smiled gently and kindly.
"It's nice to meet you, Mrs."
Mrs. Betty, who was uninterested in worldly affairs, didn't know what the Princess consort used to do or where she came from. Therefore, her round, dark eyes and fair face were all she had as a first impression of her.
Of course, no one knew how that impression would change in the future.
The Princess consort took a walk around the residence after her bath and then had a light dinner alone. The Prince had said he had a lot of work to do and would eat simply in his office.
Still, she didn't seem particularly disappointed, even though she left more than half of her steak.
"Please tell the chef that I enjoyed the meal, Mrs."
"Yes."
She answered briefly as usual, but the Princess consort didn't seem to mind.
Then she opened a book.
"Would you like some tea?"
Mrs. Betty, concerned about the steak she had left behind, cautiously asked, and the Princess consort tilted her head and asked back.
"Do you have coffee? I'd like to have it cold if possible."
"I'll bring it to you."
"Thank you."
While Mrs. Betty quickly brought out cold coffee, the Princess consort simply sat quietly and read her book.
Then, seeing the coffee with ice floating in it, she smiled brightly and quickly took a sip.
"Ah… I haven't had this in so long, I really wanted it. I shouldn't drink it in the evening, but I can't resist."
As her counterpart smiled radiantly, Mrs. Betty also smiled slightly.
"Please let me know anytime."
"I'm going to drink this, read a book, and then go to bed, so you don't have to worry about me anymore."
"Yes."
Unlike her blunt tone, she bowed politely and disappeared.
Olivia glanced at her retreating figure and then turned her attention back to the book. But even though she looked at it, she couldn't read it at all.
Words that had pierced her heart like daggers kept popping up against her will.
"What's so good about being there like a spectacle? Who told you to? Being there is even worse for me."
Olivia closed the book and took a deep breath in and out. She was very distressed as she couldn't help but wonder if she was his only flaw.
Olivia shook her head and reopened the book she had closed. It was a history book of Herot that Mrs. Lehman had given her, saying she would need to study it later.
"Distinguish between what you can and cannot do, and focus on what you can do."
Olivia repeated the ingrained words, desperately pushing away the constantly surging thoughts. It felt like blocking waves with her bare body, but she soon felt better, perhaps because it was something she had been doing for a long time.
However, the peace that had briefly returned was shattered by a sudden, low voice.
"You really seem to enjoy studying."
"Eek!"
Olivia screamed so shrilly in surprise that even Noah was startled.
"Liv!"
As Olivia gasped for breath, Noah patted her back gently and chided her.
"Seriously, who else but me would come in here? What are you so surprised about?"
"Noah, anyone would be surprised if you suddenly spoke into their ear!"
"Oh, then next time, should I skip the talking and go straight to the action? I like that too."
As he said that, his hand slyly moved over her neckline, and Olivia quickly grabbed the lecherous hand.
Noah chuckled and sat down next to her. Then he picked up the cover of the book she was reading.
"This is the worst too."
"Were there any studies you enjoyed?"
"Are you being sarcastic?"
"I'm just saying since you say everything is the worst."
"Honestly, no."
Seeing the look on his face as he spat out the words listlessly, Olivia couldn't help but laugh, as if she was seeing the face of young Noah, who stubbornly refused to go to Cosmos Hill.
Noah stared silently at Olivia, who burst into laughter. The anger and anxiety that had filled his heart were gone, as if they had never been there, and he felt only peace and comfort.
Noah, staring at the slight dimples below her cheekbones, reached out and slowly stroked her hair. As he casually pulled out the pin that was loosely holding her hair, her wavy hair spread out widely. Olivia's laughter also subsided as his touch continued.
Noah suddenly turned her shoulders to the side and began to braid her hair.
"You know how to braid hair too?"
"Who doesn't know how to do this? There's just a difference between doing it well and not."
Noah braided Olivia's hair into one braid and then let it flow over her right shoulder.
Noah stared silently at her exposed nape, then tilted his head and kissed it.
Feeling her shoulders stiffen slightly, Noah pulled her closer by her waist. Looking at her downy ear, he tilted his head and kissed the outer edge of her ear.
As he lightly kissed her, nibbling and sucking as if taking a bite, Olivia trembled slightly.
"J-Just a moment, Noah."
However, Noah only gently stroked her flat stomach and the swelling curves with his hands.
As her soft, supple body pressed against him without any gaps, his stomach churned hotly, and his whole body felt pleasantly flushed. It felt as if something somewhere in his heart, which had never been satisfied by anything, was being filled to the brim.
Pulling her body closer even more tightly and bending over, his heart, which always seemed to be half-floating, pressed firmly against her back. A strange sense of stability washed over him.
Noah whispered into her wet ear.
"Don't you have anything you want to ask me?"
"……."
But Olivia didn't answer. Noah waited for a long time.
After a while, Olivia raised her hand and slowly stroked Noah's hair, which was buried in her nape. Feeling the languid sensation, Noah laughed softly and closed his eyes.
"Noah."
"Yeah, ask me anything. I'll answer everything."
"I'm sorry for causing you trouble."
"……."
Noah, who had been languidly closing his eyes, slowly opened them.
The feeling of tickling somewhere in his chest disappeared in an instant, and he felt a chill.
"I told you to ask me what you were curious about, but you're talking nonsense."
"……."
"You're not curious about anything?"
Noah, who was quietly exhaling, hugged Olivia even tighter.
"Noah, I can't breathe."
"Then I'll tell you."
"……."
"Forget all the bullshit you heard today, Liv."
Olivia's movements, which had been struggling, stopped at the voice that seemed to be drawn up from the depths of his chest. Noah raised one hand and carefully grabbed Olivia's chin. Then he turned her face to the side and met her eyes.
In her clear, dark eyes, his own impatient expression was reflected.
"Everything you heard there today."
If he could, he wanted to erase everything Isabel Seymour had said from Olivia's mind.
Noah stood up and swallowed Olivia's lips.
Her plump, red lips were never satisfied, no matter how much he swallowed them. Her small body, which he felt all over, and her cotton candy-like form, which swelled greatly and then disappeared without a sound, were only heartbreaking no matter how much he hugged her.
Noah rejoiced as he watched her dark eyes blur and become turbid, and he repeatedly sighed as he looked at her delicate skin, which was marked by every touch.
Why was she so small, frail, and pitiful?
Noah couldn't tell whether Olivia was really like that or whether his reason was paralyzed and he was seeing her that way.
And that night, he stroked Olivia's hair and hugged her white back all night long. Even the moonlight was annoying to him, but Olivia's breathing was only sweet.
"Good night, Noah."
He was at peace by her side.
The next day, Noah woke up early in the morning and went straight to work. He had a lot to do with issues related to Wilhelm Corporation.
Olivia followed Noah down the stairs as he left for work.
"Why don't you have breakfast before you go?"
"There's a chef at the company, so don't worry. The etiquette teacher is Countess Timberline, right?"
"Yes. She's scheduled to visit this morning."
"Okay. Call me if anything happens. Tell Mrs. Betty, and she'll contact me."
"Don't worry."
"Record everything Countess Timberline says that's unnecessary."
"Your Highness, why do you lump all the nobles together and speak badly of them?"
"Because there are a lot of mean people."
"The Queen Consort chose her. I'm sure she'll be diligent in her studies."
At that, Noah shrugged and frowned.
"Diligence, enthusiasm, learning. I hate those words, but they suit the Princess consort so well~."
"...Since Your Highness hates them, I should too."
Noah chuckled at the quiet retort.
Noah glanced at Olivia, who followed him to the front door, and smirked. Even while he was getting into the carriage parked at the entrance, Olivia was standing there.
"Have a safe trip!"
Noah looked at Olivia through the carriage window.
Olivia, standing at the entrance of the magnificent and elaborate residence, was smiling brightly in her silk dress. He was so satisfied that he was full.
As the carriage started, Noah turned his head and looked at Olivia as she moved away.
She waved lightly at the departing carriage. It was a childish act like a child, but it couldn't have suited her better.
And Methone, who encountered Noah at the company, was very confused.
He was sure he would be in a bad mood and extremely sensitive, but why was he in such a good mood?
"I can't figure it out."
