He subtly hoped for an answer like, "I would appreciate a ride."
If she wanted, he would gladly escort her home in the Carriage... Russell Junior was more than willing.
"Of course."
Olivia smiled brightly, cutting off his expectations in one fell swoop. A sheepish Russell Junior scratched his head.
"I'm sorry for causing you concern."
"Not at all. I'm glad you're feeling better. If, by any chance, you encounter any problems or difficult situations, don't hesitate to tell me. It would please me if Miss Blanchett would rely on me comfortably..."
Just as Russell Junior, eager to win Olivia's favor, was about to put into practice something he had read in an editorial column titled "What is Chivalry," he saw a black Carriage slipping into the path between the shrubs over her shoulder.
Russell Junior's face immediately crumpled.
Puzzled, Olivia slowly turned her head.
The 'R' initials of Lancelot's logo, back to back, sparkled gold in a handful of sunlight falling through the leaves.
"Edgar?"
His name reflexively slipped from Olivia's lips.
The person who stepped out of the Carriage was indeed Edgar.
Olivia's heart calmed at his unexpected appearance. It had been like that for some time now.
Relieved, peaceful, and when he came so suddenly like this... happy.
"Did you practice well?"
The man, who had walked straight over and stopped in front of her, asked with a handsome smile.
The man's attire—a boater hat, white trousers, and the sleeves of a thin, bluish shirt neatly rolled up—evoked the image of a cheerful early summer beach.
"Of course. But what brings you here?"
Olivia asked, watching the gray-blue eyes beneath his thick, well-defined eyebrows curve.
"I have somewhere to go with you."
"Pardon?"
Olivia tilted her head slightly.
"Get in for now. Let's go in my Carriage."
Edgar smiled and offered his arm.
"Are you planning to kidnap me somewhere?"
She asked playfully.
"Let's just say, to a place where you become an angel."
A place where an iron-faced femme fatale becomes an angel.
"Does such a place even exist?"
Olivia widened her eyes exaggeratedly, and Edgar burst into laughter.
The man's charming laughter shattered into the clear sunlight, sounding like the white noise of waves.
"If you're curious, get in."
Olivia gladly placed her hand on the man's arm. Then, she turned her head towards Russell Junior.
"Thank you for today, Coach. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Don't mention it. You seem to have something urgent, so go ahead, Miss Blanchett."
It was time for the fox, who had been acting like a King in the absence of the tiger, to shrink back.
Standing between the two people who were treating him like an invisible man was embarrassing and upsetting.
As soon as she said her goodbyes, Russell Junior quickly backed away.
"Where. Are you going?"
At that moment, Edgar's languid voice clung to Russell Junior's nape like the talons of a hawk snatching its prey.
"Ah, my father is looking for me. Nice to meet you. Goodbye then."
Recalling the humiliation he had suffered last time, Russell Junior hesitated before quickly turning around.
"You get in too."
Russell Junior, startled, swallowed a gasp and turned around.
"Why?"
"If you know, will you feel a little more at ease?"
Edgar's voice grew softer as he gazed at Russell Junior.
The eyes that had been so cheerful when turned towards Olivia darkened like a deep cave.
His gaze, which had been subtly avoiding contact, inadvertently met Olivia's.
For some reason, she seemed to be looking at him with pity.
"If you really want me to so badly, I have no choice but to go with you."
Russell Junior tried to maintain his last bit of pride as he reluctantly placed his foot on the Carriage step, but Edgar cut him off.
"Do you want to ride here?"
"......"
A murderous glint, completely out of sync with his gentle voice, pressed down on Russell Junior.
"Surely... you're just going to close the door for me."
Russell Junior, moving faster than the speed of light, took a step back, and Edgar leisurely climbed into the Carriage.
As Russell Junior respectfully closed the door, the Carriage soon departed. The Dickson family's Carriage followed behind. For a while, the sound of "damn it" echoed from outside the Carriage window.
***
The Quinteresia had dropped anchor.
The wind was quite strong on the deck. Yohan narrowed his eyes and gazed at the Litten skyline, where skyscrapers competed to rise higher.
In the distance, the upper part of the Leopold Hotel was the first to come into view, surpassing the capital's famous clock tower. The sight was quite pleasing.
"Were you here?"
Catherine approached, holding down the brim of her hat with both hands as if it would be blown away by the sea breeze.
She was with Princess Kranz. The Princess's apricot-colored dress repeatedly billowed and sank like a sail in the sea breeze.
"I was going to come to pick you up."
Yohan said nonchalantly, his eyes fixed on the golden, glittering buildings.
"I was feeling stifled."
Catherine smiled brightly and turned her gaze to the pier.
"Anne said she would come to greet us... Ah! There she is. Anne!"
Catherine, who had been looking down at the ship's base with one hand on the deck railing, shouted and waved her hand wildly.
Yohan's gaze followed Catherine's fingertips to the land. The Princess of Britt seemed to have seen Catherine and was waving back towards them.
"Olivia Blanchett, an unscrupulous woman who, following the necklace worn by Princess Anne Boleyn, is now being eyed by the Princess's former lover, Marquis Lancelot. It is doubtful whether even her tennis skills were copied from the Princess."
An article from a newspaper suddenly came to mind.
Yohan silently looked down at the Princess.
Was that woman, who had been his wife, envious of such noble lineage?
If so, it was somewhat understandable. Except for Edgar Lancaster Lancelot, of course.
At that moment, the sound of the lower part of the gangway, which had been descending with a mechanical sound, touching the ground was heard. Soon after, the captain, who had finished preparing for disembarkation, informed Yohan.
"We are ready."
Yohan nodded lightly and raised his hand, which had been loosely resting in his trouser pocket, to check the time. Irene's gaze, who had been standing like a painting, reached Yohan's wrist. Yohan turned his body.
"Let's go."
A voice devoid of any particular emotion scattered in the wind. Irene silently placed her hand on Yohan's outstretched arm.
"Welcome, Catherine."
Anne Boleyn and Catherine. The Princesses of both countries embraced each other with delight. Camera flashes burst loudly from all directions.
Even as he moved along the path cleared by the attendants, controlling the reporters and welcoming crowds, Yohan's gaze slowly roamed around.
As if looking for someone.
Catherine boarded Anne Boleyn's Carriage. Following the ornate Carriage, the Carriage carrying Yohan and Irene drove towards Britt Palace.
In the midst of summer, a new breeze began to blow over the roofs of the Carriages racing along their respective paths.
***
The vast prairie showed no sign of ending. It had been a long time since they had left the city, and Olivia still did not know their destination.
"Where are we going?"
"You'll know when we get there."
His relaxed smile, after making someone so curious, was truly annoying, but Olivia turned her head back to the window.
The field, which seemed as if it would go on endlessly, came to an end, and the Carriage turned onto a quiet path.
The scent of fir trees was refreshing.
It was when the Carriage, which had been particularly bumpy on the unpaved dirt road, was slowing down and the fir tree path was coming to an end.
Soon, when the Carriage came to a complete stop, it was in front of a small building with a white cross on the bell tower.
"......Here is."
Olivia asked, cautiously looking out the window.
"It's an orphanage sponsored by Lancelot."
So, why here? That was Olivia's question. The gaze she had taken from beyond the glass window turned towards Edgar.
"Being on the receiving end all the time doesn't suit my constitution."
He said coolly.
The faint smile that had been on his face disappeared, and Edgar's face revealed his unique coolness.
"If they use the media to denigrate you, I will use it to rebuild your image."
Edgar was generous to his ex-lovers. But if they provoked him in this way, the story would be different.
Olivia Blanchett's image tarnishment was Anne Boleyn's declaration of war or warning to Edgar.
There were many measures he could take.
He could expose Anne Boleyn's private life, question the fairness of the matches she had won, or, if he wanted, he could reveal to the world how the Princess had divorced and returned.
But he put aside all those easy methods and chose this gentle method for one reason only, for Olivia's sake.
Because she wouldn't want it.
Since some time ago, Edgar's mind had begun to work with her at the top.
Of course, it was only a consideration as a sponsored player of Lancelot, who would brighten up this Dumblein Championship, and there were no personal feelings involved.
"Let's get out."
Edgar, who had gotten out first, politely offered his hand. With a smile back on his face.
"So, you've come to do volunteer work. At the house of angels. To make a good impression?"
"Do you dislike it?"
Olivia had not intended to respond at all, but if she had to do something, rather than tearing each other apart and fighting dirty...
"I like it."
After a brief hesitation, Olivia took Edgar's hand and got out of the Carriage.
"Wow!" With cheerful shouts, small children ran up and surrounded Olivia.
The eyes of the children looking up at her sparkled innocently. As befitting the name 'House of Angels,' the children's faces were all innocent and kind.
Olivia stroked the soft hair of one girl. She, too, had lost her parents when she was about this age. What had her eyes been like back then?
"Hello. My name is Olivia."
The child smiles brightly with two missing lower teeth. She doesn't remember well, but she wasn't this radiant.
"Hello. My name is Rosetta."
The sound of the wind whistling through the gaps in her missing front teeth was so cute. Olivia couldn't help but hug the child tightly and laugh.
Whether it was the sunlight pouring down on the woman that was dazzling, or Olivia's smile that was dazzling. Edgar quietly gazed at the woman who was like the early summer sun.
He hoped that this loveliness, this peacefulness, would be captured well in the photos.
With Edgar's wish, the summer afternoon faded away.
