Chapter 90
Episode 90: Feeding with a Smile
Olivia sat up as straight as she could, gazing at the vast Biographical Dictionary.
Unfortunately, Countess Timberline, who was in charge of her etiquette lessons, was not a very amiable person. Although she was smiling, she was subtly intent on crushing her self-esteem.
Having had to survive among various nobles, Olivia had to constantly grasp the other person's psychology in order to survive.
At one time, she found all the causes within herself, but Margo, who appeared one day, easily shattered her thoughts.
"Hey! Why are you trying to find the cause of all the nonsense those dimwits are doing within yourself?"
Some people openly spewed abuse, but most tried to strike Olivia's self-esteem with cultured faces.
Margo also exposed and criticized that kind of contempt very refreshingly.
"That's the most despicable thing. Feeding with a smile. It's what nobles usually do, and it's important to recognize it. The method is simple. If you feel bad, that's it. Then avoid it."
She had met many people like Countess Timberline, and that type of person was the most difficult to deal with. Therefore, when Olivia met a similar type of person, she did not react and avoided the situation.
But the problem was that Countess Timberline had come as a teacher on the Queen Consort's recommendation. She could not avoid it, and she was afraid that her actions would affect the Queen Consort and Noah.
Olivia felt like sighing, but she braced her stomach and straightened her back again.
If you can't avoid it, you have to face it. If they pick on you, you just have to act in a way that they can't pick on you.
Olivia calmly opened the Biographical Dictionary.
⚜ ⚜ ⚜
Countess Timberline, who had left the Prince's residence, headed straight to her parents' home, the Marquess of Rettium. Many noble ladies were already gathered in the Marchioness's salon, chatting. Among them was Countess Seymour.
The Marchioness, the owner of the salon, jumped up from her seat and greeted Countess Timberline.
"Oh, Juliana! Welcome! Oh dear, you look very tired!"
At the Marchioness's words, Countess Timberline sighed artificially and took off her hat.
"There are so many things to teach, oh my..."
At her words, the eyes of the noble ladies twinkled. Until now, they had been waiting for Countess Timberline to return after educating the Princess consort.
Countess Timberline enjoyed the attention she was receiving. Everyone was looking only at her mouth. The ladies who had subtly ignored her because she had married into the provinces.
Countess Timberline elegantly sipped her tea, paused, and then opened her mouth slightly.
"She wasn't even wearing a Corset."
"Oh my."
The noble ladies exchanged glances and whispered subtly.
"I heard that the lower classes of Pulder usually don't wear Corsets. Because Corsets are uncomfortable when working."
"And because the mansion is managed by a maid... there were so many places to fix here and there. I'm thinking of hiring a good person as a manager soon. Oh, Bruxell. I heard that your parents' company is doing interior design work these days?"
"Oh my, that's right!"
"I'll be entrusting the Prince's residence soon, so be prepared to come as soon as I contact you."
"Oh my goodness! Thank you! Contact me anytime."
Countess Timberline spoke as if she were the manager of the Prince's residence and sighed artificially again.
"Haa... Her Majesty the Queen Consort earnestly requested it, so I couldn't refuse to take on the education... It's too hard."
"It must be hard. Tell us if there's anything we can do to help."
When Countess Timberline said, touching her head, the noble ladies leaned forward with shining eyes. Countess Timberline fluttered her fan and looked over the ladies.
"Then, may I ask you for a favor?"
"Tell us."
"I have to educate the Princess consort about this small-scale salon culture. As you know, she has never experienced it before, has she?"
"That's right."
"I'll contact you soon, so let's have a small tea party with this group. Instead of meeting at someone's house, how about at a trendy cafe these days?"
If they invited the Princess consort to their home, there would be too much to do. And if it became an official event, they wouldn't be able to show their desire to see the Princess consort.
The noble ladies covered their mouths with their fans and laughed.
"That's good. I know a good place."
"I'll take the Princess consort, so let's meet once."
"The Princess consort has a very good teacher. As someone said, she's really lucky."
Someone's friendly words permeated the air, where a strong scent of perfume was vibrating.
⚜ ⚜ ⚜
There was no contact from the Prince until late in the evening, and Olivia ate a light dinner alone as she had the day before. She left more than half of the steak again today.
Betty, who was clearing away the dinner that she had barely eaten, subtly looked at the Princess consort's face. Her posture looked uncomfortable, but her expression was not particularly bad.
"Um... Shall I give you coffee like yesterday?"
At the cautious suggestion, her expression brightened.
"Shall we?"
"...With ice?"
Olivia chuckled and nodded.
"Please wait a moment."
A moment later, Betty brought coffee with ice and offered it to Olivia. As she neatly turned around after finishing her work, Olivia suddenly opened her mouth.
"Countess Timberline left my room and didn't leave for a long time. Was it because she was talking to the Countess about the mansion?"
"...I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault. The reason I brought this up is... I wanted to tell you not to worry too much."
Betty slowly raised her eyes and looked at Olivia. Her quiet, dark eyes did not waver.
"You worked hard today."
At the quiet voice, Betty paused for a moment. Then she quickly bowed her head.
"Yes."
"I'll enjoy the coffee. I'll take care of myself later, so you don't have to worry."
Betty thought she would be fired from the Prince's residence soon. The Countess had found fault with everything, so the Princess consort would naturally fire her.
She felt wronged and her future looked bleak. Her heart was restless with anxiety, but the Princess consort she faced had the same calm face as yesterday.
Betty's heart began to calm down with her neat and friendly attitude. She carefully left the Princess consort's room so as not to make a sound. Then she stared at the plate with the food still in it for a long time and muttered.
"...I should serve something other than steak tomorrow."
Olivia got up and practiced walking, and repeated memorizing the Biographical Dictionary. In order to escape from Countess Timberline's fault-finding, she had no choice but to learn quickly.
Nevertheless, the Corset was really hard to endure. After drinking a few sips of her favorite coffee, she felt bloated. She didn't even care about the deeply cut neckline anymore.
In the meantime, the night grew late.
Olivia occasionally looked out the window to see if Noah was coming. Like a girl waiting for her grandmother in her childhood, Olivia stood by the window and carefully watched for the carriage carrying him.
As the night walked step by step, the crickets chirped and a refreshing autumn breeze blew.
Olivia was already standing on the balcony railing beyond the window. As she did so, even older memories came to mind.
A very young age, waiting for her parents to return, tiptoeing.
Olivia's heart beat like a young girl.
How long had she been there?
As if by a lie, the sound of hooves was heard in the distance, and then the sound of carriage wheels rolling powerfully.
Her heart thumped and her shoulders twitched.
Without thinking any further, she turned around and burst out of the room.
Holding the hem of her dress in one hand, she went down the stairs and crossed the hall. Betty, who had come out to greet the Prince, quickly opened the front door, and Olivia sent her a smile and ran out the door.
She felt like she was crossing a dimension.
A slightly darker darkness, a slightly colder and cooler air, was just a fragment flowing unconsciously.
Even in the dim light, his blond hair sparkled wonderfully.
Perhaps it was because she had been waiting for him to come, but she was strangely happy.
"Noah!"
At the bright and cheerful call, Noah's eyes widened.
Olivia in a lovely pink dress was standing at the entrance. Her face was blooming like a flower.
She looked like someone who had been waiting for him.
"......"
Noah stopped and stared at his wife.
The fatigue that had been smeared on his back disappeared like a lie.
"Liv."
The quiet call was meltingly sweet. At that, the servants gasped in various places.
Noah quickly climbed the stairs at the front door and approached Olivia.
The face that was slowly lifting up was so beautiful. But his gaze instinctively went down below her neck.
The dress, which contained the vulgar fashion of the capital, was exposing half of Olivia's chest. And she seemed to be wearing the Corset that she said she would die in, so her chest looked particularly swollen.
Noah quickly turned Olivia's shoulder and strode into the mansion.
"Did you eat?"
"I ate. Did you?"
"Me too."
Noah told Betty to prepare a bath and a change of clothes, and led Olivia to the bedroom.
As Olivia entered the bedroom, Noah immediately closed the door and gently grabbed her neck. Then, without giving her a chance to breathe, he drove Olivia away.
Her back touched the door, but she had no time to feel it. If she took a quick breath, she would have her breath taken away by him again.
