Chapter 174: The Black Lion of Astrid (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 174: The Black Lion of Astrid (2)
Her expression was glacial as she spoke, her words sharp despite their monotonous delivery. A low growl seemed to rumble just beneath her breath.
Olivia slid a folder across the table toward Ansen. He stared at it for a long moment before his hand, heavy as lead, reached out to open it.
The thin stack of paper felt too heavy to hold. Every line was a catalog of his sins against her—a detailed record of her suffering.
Olivia’s voice was a low hush. “What, exactly, did you want from me?”
“Olivia…!”
When Ansen dared to use her name so familiarly, Jonan barked a fierce reprimand.
“How dare you speak Her Highness the Princess Consort’s name so carelessly!”
The shout, like a lion’s roar, made the tableware rattle.
“Jonan, that’s enough.”
At Olivia’s command, Jonan reluctantly stepped back, though not without shooting Ansen a final, dagger-like glare.
“Tell me,” Olivia continued. “What did you want from me that drove you to interfere with my every move?”
“……”
As Ansen remained silent, Olivia let out a long, hollow laugh.
“In the end, you wanted to put a yoke on me—a yoke named Oliver—and pull the strings as you pleased. Isn't that it?”
You must have watched every single moment, seeing exactly how much I suffered.
Olivia spoke her mind, ignoring the sharp pain twisting in her gut.
“There was a time I was truly grateful to you.”
At her words, Ansen’s eyes turned bloodshot.
He remembered the past, when they had laughed and put their heads together. He had once been her colleague, her friend.
“While I was working with you to bring the Magic Dome to life, I was happy for the first time in a long while.”
A tiny seed of hope sprouted in Ansen’s heart. Yes, there was a time like that. A simple but happy time when they had huddled together day after day, brimming with hope.
To his dismay, Ansen realized that those moments, like faded photographs, were more vivid than any of his glamorous achievements. He also realized he was the one who had set those precious memories ablaze.
Ansen summoned every ounce of strength in his body to speak.
“Please, just one more chance…”
“What kind of chance?”
“The proposal I made before… If you still wish to join the Wilhelm Company, I will make you co-representative. We already have the facilities and manpower. It wouldn't be a bad deal for you. Naturally, I'll split the shares with you, fifty-fifty.”
This was the best he could offer.
However, Olivia didn’t give his last shred of hope a moment’s consideration.
“I have no desire to do that, Representative Wilhelm.”
Her rejection was simple and light—just as his had once been to her.
Ansen opened his mouth to say something, but Olivia was faster.
“Not only do I have no desire to be entangled with you any longer, but I've also made a decision.”
“A… decision?”
Olivia’s gaze slowly swept across the drawing room. It was exactly as she remembered. The small decorations might have changed, but the essence remained.
The Ansen before her was the same, and so was she.
Olivia looked at him and declared, “I’ve decided to become an influential person.”
“……”
“And with that influence, I will cast a stone at this unfair world—a world where things are impossible for Olivia Liberty, but possible for Olivia Rosemond Astrid.”
“……”
“Ansen, look closely. I haven’t changed. If anything has changed… it’s only the way you look at me.”
As Ansen stood there, stammering, a sudden light filled the room.
Flash!
The burst of a camera flash startled him, and he whipped his head toward the source.
Flash!
“Wha—what are you doing…!”
“Since you took it upon yourself to brand me an adulteress, shouldn’t I have a chance to explain myself?”
Olivia spoke softly as she rose from her seat. She elegantly pulled a business card from her bag and placed it on the table.
“I am requesting the return of my unpaid royalties. This is my lawyer’s card. If the matter is not resolved, I will file a lawsuit. I would prefer to handle this quietly, if possible.”
She turned away with a composed demeanor, and Ansen found he couldn't possibly stop her.
The woman he thought he could hold in the palm of his hand… Had she changed, or had his perception of her been wrong all along?
He didn’t dare to follow her out.
Leaving the drawing room, Olivia walked down the familiar hotel corridor. It was a long, gallery-like hallway, and as she rounded a corner, she stopped. A familiar woman was standing there.
The lavishly dressed noblewoman was staring at her with an indescribable expression.
“It has been a long time, Mrs. Wilhelm.”
Mrs. Wilhelm's eyes trembled. She remained silent, as if she still couldn't bring herself to address Olivia with the proper formality.
When Jonan inevitably bristled, Olivia lightly restrained him and offered a soft smile.
“Do you believe me now? That I had business to discuss with your son.”
At that, Mrs. Wilhelm flared up, her voice rising.
“The Magic Dome belongs to Ansen and Ansen alone!”
“We shall see if that is truly the case.”
“I will never acknowledge it!”
To Mrs. Wilhelm’s cry, which sounded almost like a wail, Olivia replied calmly, “I don’t need your acknowledgment.”
“……”
Olivia turned away leisurely, offering a final greeting as she passed.
“I wish you good health, Madam. It's unlikely we'll meet again.”
After the Princess Consort, who had been like a lioness, disappeared from sight, Mrs. Wilhelm’s legs gave out, and she collapsed onto the floor.
There was no one there to support her.
* * *
Noah narrowed his eyes, staring up at the blinding Pleurisy sun before turning his gaze to the envelope in his hand.
“Just how badly did Ansen Wilhelm mistreat his core technicians?” Meson murmured in admiration. “It didn't even take you a day to win over that many people, and the trial isn't even over yet!”
“I haven't won everyone over,” Noah replied with a shrug. “Half of them asked for time to think. And the half that agreed only did so on the condition that we win the trial.”
“Hey, that's still half of them,” Meson said, impressed.
Noah had decided to poach the Wilhelm Company’s core technicians for Herod. He'd been able to meet them so quickly because they had already formed a union of former employees.
“I suppose he thought he’d have a monopoly forever,” Noah said. “It makes things easier for me, so I’m not complaining.”
Since Olivia had declared she would build Herod’s Magic Dome, his task was perfectly clear—as clear as the bright sunlight beating down on his head.
“Jonan followed her, right?”
“Yes. I told him not to hold back if anyone talked nonsense. He told me not to worry.”
Noah had rescinded his order for reports on Olivia’s every move, which meant he wouldn’t be hearing the details from Jonan.
He paced in front of the house.
The day was exceptionally warm, and a few clusters of wisteria had bloomed out of season. Noah sat on a low bench for a moment. It was the hardest bench in the world, but it didn't feel as uncomfortable as it once had.
Noah leaned his elbows on his knees, stretched out his long legs, and stared only in the direction Olivia would be coming from.
Just then, Margo, who had caught a glimpse of him through the open window, shouted, “You’re making such a fuss! What are you doing out there? How do you know when she’ll be back!”
Even as she scolded him, she herself had rushed over, worried after hearing that Olivia was meeting Ansen.
“Yes, yes,” Noah answered half-heartedly, and the sound of Margo clicking her tongue followed like an echo.
He stood up, sat down, and paced repeatedly. Yet, he didn't feel bored.
Eventually, even Meson, who had been keeping him company, wandered off.
In the distance, a carriage appeared, kicking up a cloud of dust as it raced toward them.
A smile played on Noah’s lips. He pointlessly straightened his clothes and smoothed his hair. When the carriage finally arrived, he ran to it in a single bound and opened the door himself.
Then, he reached out his hand toward the woman who filled his entire world.
Olivia’s eyes widened in surprise, but she soon smiled, took his hand, and stepped down from the carriage.
“Did you crush him?” he asked playfully.
Olivia glanced at Jonan and replied, “Ask Jonan.”
“I decided not to do that anymore.”
When Olivia still didn't say anything, Noah looked at Jonan. The knight’s lips curled into a wide grin as he gave a big thumbs-up.
Noah’s face filled with pride. “You were a rabbit before, but now you're a true lioness.”
He slid the envelope he was holding toward Olivia, who was looking at him with a slight pout.
“What is this?”
“A present.”
“A present?”
When Olivia stopped and tried to open it, Noah lightly blocked her hand.
“Hmm? You said it was a present.”
As Olivia tilted her head and looked up at him, Noah’s eyes crinkled with a foxy smile.
“A conditional present.”
“A condition?”
“Take back what you said about getting a divorce.”
Even though he was smiling, his heart was thumping wildly. But the answer came from an unexpected place.
“Get the divorce, Olivia!”
At the thunderous voice, the couple turned their heads simultaneously. Margo was standing at the entrance with her hands on her hips, watching them.
“If it’s a present, it’s a present! What’s with the conditions? Just get the divorce! I’ll give you a present twice as good as that one!”
Noah’s face crumpled instantly.
“Get the divorce!”
“Aunt!!” Noah raised his voice, but for some reason, Olivia burst out laughing.
As she giggled, both Margo and Noah looked at her. Just then, Mrs. Betty shouted from a window, “Your Highness~! Please come in and eat~! Princess, Your Highness, Lord Meson, Lord Jonan! Everyone, come in quickly! The food is getting cold!”
Olivia laughed and pulled on Noah’s hand, which she was still holding.
“Let’s go!”
Noah quickly followed her, whispering, “Just open it. It’s a present, a present.”
“I know.”
“But let’s cancel that other thing, okay? If you like what you see, cancel it, alright?”
“Don’t cancel it!! Get the divorce!!”
“Oh, seriously, Aunt!!”
Noah’s frustrated shout, Margo’s nagging, and Olivia’s laughter filled the small, old house.
“Noah, I’m sorry for saying those things,” Olivia whispered. “I didn't mean it.”
At her small apology, Noah’s smile finally returned.
Brilliant sunlight draped itself warmly over the small house, where a single, oblivious wisteria flower peeked out.