Chapter 177: A Banquet for Olivia
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 177: A Banquet for Olivia
The trial of the century, which had set the world ablaze, finally drew to a close. The royal couple of Herod boarded a ship to return to their homeland.
They traveled on the same warship they had arrived in, accompanied by Princess Marguerite and dozens of engineers and scientists. A massive swarm of reporters gathered at the port to see them off, creating a scene of utter chaos as news of their journey spread across the globe.
From Polder’s perspective, losing the Magic Dome was a bitter pill to swallow. But with Ansen Wilhelm’s atrocities coming to light one after another, even the nation's president came out to personally see them off.
The Herod warship cut through the ocean, surging powerfully toward home.
*
“…Your Highness, I am sorry to inform you, but it seems you will have to dine alone this evening.”
Having delivered the news, Jonan carefully studied Noah’s expression. He had thought the Prince was doing better lately, but the moment Olivia was absent, that characteristic, cold look—devoid of any trace of humanity—returned.
“Ahem.”
A few officers cleared their throats awkwardly and made themselves scarce, as if they suddenly had urgent business elsewhere. Even Meson began to slip away unnoticed.
Jonan wept tears of blood inwardly, resenting the Princess Consort just a little.
‘You’re too much, Your Highness. Truly.’
“So, you’re saying she’s been in that damn meeting all day.”
As Noah began to radiate a murderous aura, Jonan hunched his shoulders and looked toward their only savior.
“If Olivia needs to do it, then she needs to do it. Why are you pacing around like a dog that needs to be let out?”
Jonan sent a silent, lavish tribute of praise toward Margo. Noah clamped his mouth shut. Without taking her eyes off her book, Margo added nonchalantly, “Keep that up, and you’ll find yourself divorced.”
“Seriously, Aunt! Please, stop saying that!”
Margo chuckled at Noah’s unbridled shout and finally looked up from her book. He huffed and puffed for a moment before letting out a long sigh and running a hand through his hair.
“Fine. Just tell her to make sure she eats properly. She’ll ruin her health.”
“Yes, Your Highness!”
As Jonan bolted away as if he’d been waiting for that exact moment, Margo smiled and pointed at a nearby water glass.
“Duke, fetch me some water. Your old aunt is thirsty.”
Noah let out another series of deep sighs, but he still poured the water for her.
*
The developers of the Magic Dome had lost all track of time, deep in discussion with the legendary ‘Oliver.’ Olivia was no different.
“Then, Princess Consort, in the end, is the most crucial factor how quickly we can cool the heated engine?”
“Yes, exactly. However, what’s even more important is how efficiently we distribute the condensed mana of the mages. It’s vital to ensure that as little mana as possible leaks while it moves from the charging terminal through the engine to the magic cannon.”
“What if we tried changing the material of the pipes?”
“Oh, the material? Please, tell me more.”
Olivia sat among dozens of scientists and engineers, the meeting continuing with no end in sight.
“Wow… Her Highness is truly incredible, isn’t she?” Jonan murmured in admiration, watching from a distance. Meson, who had come looking for Olivia, nodded blankly in agreement.
To be honest, the conversation was a flurry of terms they couldn’t begin to understand. Moreover, the people surrounding Olivia were clearly seasoned veterans.
Yet Olivia was the one leading the meeting. It was clear she wasn’t leading because of her status, but purely through her expertise.
“Meson, I don’t think I can interrupt her right now.”
“Just make sure she eats.”
“Got it.”
The meeting continued for what felt like an eternity. By the time they finally snapped out of their trance, the sun was already setting. Olivia ran across the deck of the warship.
When passing sailors quickly offered their salutes, Olivia smiled and waved back. She climbed the stairs and hurried through the corridors, heading for Noah’s quarters.
Recognizing her, Meson gave a small smirk and stepped back, politely gesturing toward the door.
Olivia approached and carefully pushed the door open.
The moment she did, she felt his presence.
The sky was dyed in a dreamlike pink, just as it had been once before, hovering lightly over the sea.
And there he was, standing in a scene that looked like a masterpiece.
Standing there, gazing out at the boundless ocean, he slowly turned his head as he sensed her presence.
As always, Noah overwhelmed everything. The ethereal pink sky and the glistening ripples scattered across the sea all faded away before the emerald eyes shimmering in the twilight.
As he always did, Noah slowly turned his body toward her and tilted his head.
“Lib.”
At that spell-like call, Olivia was drawn to him as if pulled by a star’s gravity. It wasn’t the first time she had felt this, yet her heart still hammered against her ribs at the sight of him, a man who looked as though he commanded the very sea itself.
As Olivia approached, Noah took her in, his eyes holding a hint of crimson light.
“Did you eat?”
“Of course. I’m sorry I keep missing our meals together.”
“No need to apologize. Just make sure you eat well.”
Despite the murderous aura he had been radiating just moments before, Noah wore his gentlemanly mask in front of Olivia. Margo’s taunt—“Get divorced!”—still rang in his ears.
Noah wrapped an arm around Olivia’s shoulders, and they looked out at the sea together.
“This reminds me of that time,” Olivia murmured.
Noah let out a short laugh. “It does, doesn’t it, Oliver?”
At that, Olivia burst into laughter.
Meanwhile, the sunset deepened, turning the sky a fiery red. Noah watched the delicate line of her long eyelashes. The thoughts he’d had while looking at her profile against a sunset just like this one flashed through his mind like a kaleidoscope. If someone had told him back then that Olivia would one day earn the name ‘Oliver,’ he would have called them insane.
How could this small woman achieve something even I wouldn’t dare attempt?
But in the end, Olivia had done it.
“Hmm? Why are you looking at me like that?” Sensing his gaze, Olivia asked affectionately.
“Because you’re beautiful?”
At his playful answer, her cheeks flushed a soft pink. Noah pulled her in by the waist and kissed her lips.
Then, he looked past her, toward the direction the ship was heading.
Olivia followed his gaze and whispered, “I’m so excited for the days ahead.”
Her voice was full of anticipation, but for some reason, a strange chill ran down Noah’s spine.
Driven by a sudden surge of anxiety, Noah tightened his grip on Olivia. He gazed out at the distant sea, where the star-studded curtain of night was pushing away the last vestiges of sunset, and fervently hoped this feeling was just an unfounded worry.
*
And about a week later, his worries proved to be reality.
“WAAAAAAAAH!”
“PRINCESS CONSOOOOORT!”
The harbor was filled with thunderous cheers, a sound so loud it seemed capable of shattering the warship’s thick hull.
News of the trial in Polder had already spread throughout Herod, and its citizens had been waiting with bated breath for the day of Olivia’s return.
Noah did his best to smooth out his scowl, schooling his expression. He held Olivia’s hand tightly, already forming a meticulous plan in his head.
We’ll go to the palace, offer a quick greeting, have a polite meal for appearance’s sake, and then go straight home. Then, finally, we’ll have some time for just the two of us.
Perfect.
“Hahaha! Olivia!”
…What?
However, Noah’s ambitious plan began to go awry at the sound of the King’s voice echoing from the docks.
“Olivia!”
“Princess Consoooort!”
The voices of his mother and sister followed, amplifying his unease.
Why is the entire Royal Family out here?!
They didn’t even come out to greet him when he returned from a military campaign, and they usually received foreign dignitaries at the palace!
“Noah, everyone is here!” Olivia said, her voice bright.
“Ah… uh… yeah,” Noah replied half-heartedly.
He saw Lucy sprinting toward them. The girl, who had grown quite a bit since he last saw her, threw her arms around Olivia, pulling back at the last second so as not to aggravate any lingering injuries.
“Princess Consort!”
The King, the Queen, and Usher approached one after another.
“Well done, well done! I knew you could do it!”
“Olivia, how are you feeling?”
“You’ve worked hard, Princess Consort.”
Noah knit his brows, overwhelmed by the roaring cheers. Just then, he felt a presence beside him and heard Margo’s voice.
“Don’t just stand there scowling. Look.”
Noah remained silent.
“Olivia is smiling.”
At Margo’s words, Noah turned to look at Olivia.
“Thank you, Your Majesty. This is all thanks to you. Your Majesty the Queen, I am fine. Your Highness the Crown Prince, thank you for the congratulations. And yes, Princess, please show me when we get to the palace. I’m curious.”
Olivia seemed frantic trying to respond to everyone at once, but her expression was brighter than he had ever seen it.
She was as graceful as the moon, as intense as the sun, and as lovely as a peach blossom.
Faced with that sight, even the irritating cheers seemed to drift far away.
Then, his salvation looked at him and beckoned.
“Noah!”
“Oh, Noah! There you are.” The King started to greet him before spotting Margo. “Ah, Margo!”
“It’s fine, Leonard,” Margo said smoothly. “We can greet each other properly at the palace.”
While Margo exchanged greetings with Queen Beatrix, King Leonard sidled up to Noah.
“You’re back.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. I am sorry. My crime is…”
“What crime?”
Noah stared at him, confused.
“You went on my orders and performed admirably. What crime are you talking about?”
As Noah blinked in silence, Leonard gave an awkward cough and patted him on the shoulder. His expression then shifted instantly as he shouted toward Olivia, “Let’s go, Olivia! I’ve prepared a truly grand banquet for you! Enjoy the festivities all night long! Hahaha!”
Noah’s face contorted again, but everyone else just burst into laughter.
The sigh of one man was lost amid the cheers of hundreds that echoed through the harbor.
*
And that one man, Noah, felt his expression darken by the second as the night wore on.
“Mother.”
“…I didn’t know,” Queen Beatrix said, following his gaze.
“If you, who prepared the banquet, didn’t know, then who does?”
“How could I have imagined they would act this way toward the Princess Consort?”
Noah exhaled a slow, suppressed breath, his fists clenching at his sides. Margo, sipping wine nearby, gave a languid laugh and patted her nephew on the back.
“Duke, the Princess Consort seems to be enjoying herself. What are you so worried about?”
Strangely enough, Margo seemed to have grown even more fond of teasing Noah since he had snapped at her on the ship. It was as if she didn’t care in the slightest whether he was fed up or disgusted.
Noah coldly brushed off Margo’s hand and glared fiercely at the man currently presenting wine to Olivia.
“Princess Consort, congratulations. This is a wine brewed by my own family, aged for twelve years in Limar oak barrels…”
The man seemed completely oblivious to Noah’s murderous gaze. An attendant placed a fresh wine glass before Olivia, and the noble insisted on pouring the drink himself.
“Is it not an old custom to present wine when there is something truly worth celebrating?” Queen Beatrix smiled as she spoke. “Of course, no woman of the Royal Family has ever received such a gesture. Until now.”
She then glanced at the long line of nobles. Every single one of them held a bottle of wine and a glass.
“It means they hold what Olivia has achieved in the highest regard.”
And why wouldn’t they? Everyone had seen how the Wilhelm Company once held Herod in its grip. And there wasn’t a soul in the room who didn’t know whose hands that immense wealth and power would soon fall into.
Beatrix turned her gaze back to Olivia.
Her cheeks were a lovely shade of pink, and a tipsy smile played on her lips. She was as beautiful as a bud that had finally bloomed.
“Hmm…”
When Beatrix caught the adoring expression of the noble who had just poured Olivia a drink, she finally understood the true source of Noah’s anger.
As Beatrix suppressed a laugh, a knowing gaze met hers. She turned her head to find Margo wearing a smile that perfectly mirrored her own.