Chapter 41 - A Gift for Yohan

Translator: Nox

41. 41.Variable

November 10, 2023

How could I forget that?

Transparent sunlight landed on Olivia's pale cheeks.

Feeling suffocated inside the Carriage, she opened the window slightly.

The scent of acacia wafted in thickly on the early summer breeze.

In Rondos, the servants piled up the gifts brought by the invited guests in the center of the drawing room.

Like a Christmas tree.

And after the banquet, everyone gathered in the spacious drawing room, drinking Champagne, and opened the gift boxes one by one.

Along with the birthday celebrant's words of gratitude.

Of course, Johann didn't do those bothersome things himself.

Instead, the butler or aide unwrapped the presents and read the congratulatory cards.

The thought of their shock at the name Olivia written on the card made her head spin.

She didn't want to seem like she still had feelings for her divorced husband.

She didn't want to upset his fiancée, and she certainly didn't want to be an ill-mannered woman.

'It seems that's the only way for now. Of course, time is tight.'

'Is there a way?'

Olivia's eyes sparkled with life. But that moment was very short.

'By sending someone... Even then, you'd have to be lucky.'

'......'

Taking the Fast Ship from Litten Port to Lemonde Port in the Rondos Kingdom took ten hours.

Changing to the Express Train at Lemonde Train Station and going to Leiden Central Station took nine hours.

And from Central Station to the Patex flagship store, it took about thirty minutes by Carriage.

And Duke Johann Leopold's birthday party was at 6 PM tomorrow.

In other words, the timing of all modes of transportation had to be perfect to barely retrieve the watch.

Olivia sighed deeply at the bleakness of it all.

"Madam? Your hat."

Only after hearing Anne's call did Olivia realize she was clutching the flower decoration on the hat she had placed on her lap.

Ah! Olivia quickly let go with a short sigh.

Meanwhile, Anne was blaming herself.

If she had told her when she saw the words written in the notebook that day...

The excuse that she had been too distracted all this time was of no help in this situation.

Recalling Madam Margaret Wellington's venomous face, there was no time to hesitate.

"Um, Madam?"

Olivia, who had been fidgeting with her hands instead of holding the hat, looked up at Anne.

Her worried eyelids were half-lowered.

"I'll go."

"Anne?"

Olivia, who hadn't considered Anne, asked back in surprise.

"Yes. Please stay with Madam Marie for just two days. I'll be back soon."

Anne, with a determined expression, sparkled her eyes and sought her consent. Olivia hesitated.

"It's not like I'm going to a place I don't know. Don't worry."

She was worried about Anne having to leave in the middle of the night.

She had never been separated from Anne since coming here.

For these and other reasons, an answer didn't come easily.

"Madam."

Anne called Olivia once more.

The peaceful twilight scenery of the city flowed slowly outside the Carriage window.

As the Carriage approached the riverside road of Riverside 3rd Street, Olivia held Anne's hands tightly and said.

"Thank you, Anne. I'm counting on you."

Anne nodded, looking back at Olivia.

The sea water was crimson with flames burning fiercely on the black night sea, and the pier was as bright as day.

A fire suddenly broke out on a ship scheduled to depart at 7 PM.

The fire, which started in the cargo hold, engulfed the house-sized ship and quickly spread to the Passenger Ship parked next to it, carried by the strong winds. It was the ship Anne was supposed to board.

The pier became a scene of chaos, and Olivia and Anne, who were at a loss, were caught in the midst of the bewildered people, standing blankly and being pushed around.

Olivia, who had been stiff with the unexpected variable, regained her senses first.

"Let's look for another ship, Anne."

Olivia grabbed Anne and walked briskly towards the building where they had purchased the tickets.

The Passenger Ship terminal was already packed with passengers waiting to board.

The people who had gathered all at once were vying to ask when they could board the ship.

The ticket window clerk finally screamed at the barrage of inquiries.

"Please look at the ship departure change schedule. Please!!!"

Despite the clerk's screams, the shouts of protest from the passengers grew louder.

The ears were ringing from the mix of curses and sighs flying around. It seemed difficult to expect help from the clerk.

Olivia and Anne, swept away by the people, were pushed to the waiting room and looked for the schedule.

Looking around, the sailing schedule was hung largely on the right wall, where the whitewash was peeling off in places.

That place was also crowded with people trying to check the changed ship schedules.

Olivia and Anne looked at each other and took a deep breath. The two pushed their way through the crowd.

Olivia, who barely reached a point where the numbers were clearly visible, stood on tiptoe and quickly scanned the green departure sign for ships heading to Lemonde.

June 15, 8:00 PM - Perse. Queen Elizabeth (to Lemonde) Cancelled

June 16, 7:00 AM - Roikan. Victoria (to Lemonde) Delayed. Scheduled to depart at 6:00 PM

"......"

No way.

The next ship to Lemonde departs at the time of Yohan's birthday party.

Unable to believe the reality, Olivia checked the sailing schedule again. But nothing changed.

Really, this is.

Unbelievable.

Olivia repeated the same words as if to herself.

"......It's over. It's all over, Anne."

It looked like she was going to ruin Duke Johann Leopold's birthday party. What to do?

Olivia felt like her head was empty.

With slumped shoulders, the two turned away from the crowd they were stuck in.

Outside, particularly black smoke continued to soar into the night sky.

The inhaled breath was acrid, and the air touching the skin was hot.

The pier was a mess of Firefighting Carriages and port workers who had been dispatched to put out the fire.

The two heading to the Carriage waiting area were silent.

Suddenly, the phrases from the birthday congratulatory card that Olivia Blanchett had written came to mind.

Sweet love confessions that Han Ji-an would never have uttered.

Please, don't let his fiancée see it... The probability was very low, but she decided to pray to God anyway. Earnestly.

"Olivia?"

It was then that a familiar voice was heard.

Olivia, who had just left the crowded pier, stopped walking. She slowly turned around. A black Carriage was slowly coming to a stop.

The door opened, and a very tall man got out. It was Edgar.

Edgar was in a Carriage heading to Litten Port for a business trip to Rondos.

The speed of the rapidly rolling Carriage slowed down significantly at a point just two blocks away from Litten Port.

Firefighting Carriages quickly cut through the long line of Carriages.

The Carriage Edgar was riding in also gave way to one side and entered the port at a snail's pace.

Because the speed was slow, he could clearly see the woman outside the car window.

Olivia Blanchett. According to the usual reports of her daily routine, the woman, who should be quietly asleep at this time, was walking with a blank expression.

Why is she here?

He couldn't help but stop the Carriage.

"What brings you here?"

The surprised blue eyes trembled noticeably.

"I should be asking you. Who are you waiting for?"

If she wasn't there to greet someone, why would the woman be at the port at this hour?

That was the conclusion Edgar came to after confirming that Olivia was not holding anything in her hands.

"No. It's not like that."

The woman shook her head slightly.

"Then why?"

"......Well, there's a bit of a story. What about you?"

"I have business in Rondos."

A story, huh.

Edgar thought about her story even as he answered Olivia's question.

Could she be eloping? The tennis tournament was only three weeks away.

"You probably won't be able to go today. Everything has been cancelled. The ships scheduled to depart tomorrow have all been delayed."

"Where."

Edgar's gaze sharpened.

"Were you going on a trip or something?"

"Ah... It's not that."

It's not that, but why do you know the ship schedule so well? Edgar's gaze deepened as he looked at the woman who was flinching and lowering her head.

His gaze slowly shifted to the maid beside the woman.

The typewriter-sized handbag the maid was carrying didn't seem suitable for a long trip.

"Let's move the location."

"Yes?"

The chaotic pier was not a suitable place to have a conversation.

It seemed that the woman would not give an answer easily, and Edgar was slowly getting annoyed by the woman's voice, which was getting smaller and smaller, mixed with the surrounding noise.

"Get in first."

Olivia hesitated.

Because her eyes were clear, the woman's inner self was fully visible.

Should she get in or not? The face that was so seriously conflicted was quite serious.

Then, the eyes that looked up as if she had made up her mind were saying.

She won't get in.

The moment the woman's red lips were about to part, Edgar grabbed Olivia's hand and pulled her in.

The wrist caught in his large hand was slender and firm.

The Carriage started again.

"So."

A low voice echoed inside the Lancelot private passenger lounge. Edgar continued, shaking off the ashes of his long cigar.

"You want to steal the birthday present. Is that right?"

He didn't quite like the expression 'steal', but Olivia nodded slightly.

He has a ship.

Olivia, who knew that he owned a Yacht, but didn't know that he even had a Fast Ship, saw Edgar as an omnipotent god.

"You can come with me. Is that okay?"

"Thank you so much."

It was so simple. Olivia was embarrassed and happy.

Edgar stared at the woman sitting across from him. Her smiling face looked good.

Beyond the full-length glass window behind the woman, the still burning Pier 1 was visible.

It was a pity for the poor shipowner, but Edgar was grateful that he had become involved with the woman in this way.

It was a shame that the maid was going alone.

But she was a woman he could put on his ship whenever he wanted. He decided to postpone the pleasure on board to the next opportunity.

Because in the woman's shining eyes, he was now seen as a savior.

That was enough for now.