Chapter 178: The World Beyond the Door
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 178: The World Beyond the Door
Margo spoke up, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
“My, my, the Princess Consort’s popularity is through the roof. Look at that one—the way his eyes crinkle when he smiles is no joke. He knows exactly how to make women swoon.”
Beatrix shifted only her eyes to glance at Noah. The veins in his neck were bulging so prominently she feared he might actually burst.
“Oh, heavens! The man standing behind him—isn’t that the second son of the Lichte family, the one famous for its beauties? Goodness, he’s the spitting image of his father. More handsome than most actors…”
“Aunt.”
Noah finally cut her off, unable to listen any longer. When Margo looked at him with feigned innocence, Noah let out a trembling breath and forced the words through gritted teeth.
“When… are you leaving for Polder?”
“Well, now. It’s been so long since I’ve visited that I’m quite enjoying myself. I think I’ll stay a bit lon—oh, Noah! The Lichte boy is smiling at Olivia while offering her a drink…!”
Before Margo could finish her sentence, Noah moved. He vanished so quickly that he left a gust of wind in his wake.
Margo and Beatrix clutched each other’s shoulders, barely stifling their laughter.
*
Meanwhile, Larin Lichte felt as though he were in a trance upon meeting the legendary Princess Consort.
“Sir Larin Lichte, thank you for coming to congratulate me.”
He wasn’t the only one entranced. The nobles lined up to offer her drinks stared blankly at the Princess Consort, who was flushed and smiling.
Larin’s eyes curved into an involuntary smile as he poured wine into a glass on the table. He watched, as if imprinting the image onto his mind, as the beautiful Princess Consort reached out her elegant hand for the glass he offered.
That scene might have remained a cherished memory for a very long time.
That is, if a large, rough hand hadn’t suddenly appeared and snatched the glass away just before she could grasp it.
Larin’s smiling eyes snapped upward, following the hand to its owner.
Unfortunately for him, he found himself face-to-face with the Lion of Herod, who was quietly baring his claws.
“Y-Your Highness.”
Noah didn’t forget to glare at the men standing behind Larin as well. Then, with an expression that shifted so quickly it felt unfair, he turned to his wife.
“Lib, you’ve had a lot to drink.”
“But they’ve all come to congratulate me.”
“Hmm… Then from now on, I’ll sit by your side and take a sip for you. How does that sound? You receive the tributes, and I’ll do the drinking. You must be tired from the long voyage, after all.”
The cunning lion quickly moved to sit beside the Princess Consort. Then, as if for show, he took a sip of the wine Larin had offered and set it down.
Olivia, who had been worried about her growing intoxication anyway, looked at the line of nobles with a regretful expression.
“Gentlemen, I’m sorry, but I must ask for your understanding.”
Did she have any idea what her husband was conveying with his eyes?
Understand? My ass. Hurry up and get lost.
With every person who came forward to offer a tribute, he sent a piercing gaze from behind Olivia. Though it was only a look, it felt as if his sharp voice were ringing in their ears.
You. No smiling.
Don’t you dare lower your voice to sound charming, or you’re dead.
The line, which had seemed endless when Olivia was receiving guests alone, vanished in an instant.
Finally, when all the tributes were finished, Noah scooped up Olivia, who was flushed like a ripe peach. The banquet hall buzzed at the sight, but Noah didn’t care in the slightest.
Leonard looked at his son in disbelief, but upon seeing Noah’s fierce and impatient expression, he quickly waved them away.
“Go on, then! Just go!”
Carrying Olivia, who was laughing with her arms wrapped around his neck in her drunken state, Noah quickly left the palace and climbed into a carriage.
“I didn't even get to say goodbye properly,” she murmured.
Noah adjusted his hold on the squirming Olivia. “Honestly, why did you drink so much?” he murmured, caressing her cheek.
At his touch, Olivia, who had been closing her eyes in a daze, opened them. She looked at him with those eyes like a dark universe and whispered coyly, “Everyone offered me wine… Duke Rosemond, why haven't you given me anything?”
Noah let out a hollow laugh at her words, then cleared his throat and asked with mock formality, “My lady, what is it that you desire?”
“Hmm…”
After a brief pause, she whispered with a crescent-moon smile.
“Love?”
Noah felt his brain dissolve into mush.
Love. To the woman who was the very embodiment of that word, Noah confessed as if offering up his heart.
“I love you.”
Olivia, letting out a small, broken laugh, suddenly spoke again.
“There is one more thing.”
Noah looked at her with hazy eyes.
“Tell me. I’ll bring you anything.”
Olivia remained silent for a moment, then pulled him into an embrace and whispered into his ear.
“Retrieve your lingering attachments. Because I…”
“…”
“I want to have all of you, down to the very last piece.”
Noah understood exactly what she meant.
*
Isabel looked at Noah, who had suddenly come to find her, with a confused expression. He was as dashing and beautiful as ever.
“It is late, but congratulations on your marriage, Countess.”
“Ah… Th-thank you, Your Highness. But what brings you…? No, please, come inside.”
“That won't be necessary. I simply came because I wanted to apologize for my past actions.”
Isabel blinked blankly.
“We both acted the same, yet I knew the consequences fell solely on you, and I dismissed it as if it were nothing.”
“…”
While Isabel stood there dazed, Noah took off his hat and offered a polite apology.
“I am sorry.”
At his words, Isabel’s eyes wavered.
“N-no. I also… I was also rude.”
“It would have been better if we had never shared that table.”
With those words, Isabel confirmed that she had truly never occupied even a single moment of his heart.
“The flashlight—can you return it to me?”
“…”
“Please.”
In the end, Isabel had no choice but to hand him the flashlight. Whether he knew it was a lingering attachment she hadn't been able to throw away even after her marriage, Noah had come to retrieve it himself.
Watching his heartless, retreating back, Isabel blinked.
“…”
What was this strange sensation? Finally, she let out a self-deprecating laugh.
He hadn't even mentioned a pardon for her parents. He had apologized for his own actions, but that only meant he had no intention of ever forgiving anything that had harmed Olivia.
Isabel stared at the spot where he had disappeared for a long time, a bitter expression on her face.
*
After retrieving the flashlight from Isabel, Noah headed home. But what awaited him was…
“I am sorry, Your Highness. The Princess Consort has not yet returned.”
She was busy—far too busy.
He had told such an active person to confine herself to the mansion; how could she have possibly endured it?
Noah took it in stride, turning his horse around and galloping down the main road.
As the Magic Dome appeared in the distance, the sailors who recognized him opened the gates of the Naval Residence and saluted.
Noah rode his horse through the grounds.
The air was thick with the scent of early spring. The blue sea sparkled under the sunlight, and the white Magic Dome stood in all its majesty.
And beneath it, there she was, fervently explaining something to dozens of developers.
She was even wearing trousers, as if she intended to climb the Magic Dome herself. He had heard that a trend of wearing trousers was spreading among the women of Herolington because of her.
But who could possibly compare to Olivia?
Her black hair, tied back in a single ponytail, fluttered in the wind. Her dark eyes shone with intelligence, and her voice was clear and resonant.
My world. My everything.
“Olivia!”
Olivia, who had been explaining the repairs for Unit 2 to the engineers, paused.
In that low voice that reminded her of a cool valley, there was an excitement only she could hear.
When she turned, there he was. Olivia’s eyes widened, and then her expression instantly transformed.
At that sight, Noah’s heart swelled as if it might burst. He shoved the flashlight into his pocket and opened his arms wide to her.
The dozens of developers and the passing sailors all seemed to take it as a matter of course now.
Only Olivia hesitated for a moment before running toward him. Noah lifted her high as he pulled her into his arms.
“Noah!”
The feeling of her hands around his neck and the scent that filled his senses washed away every last trace of restlessness that had lingered within him.
Noah held her tightly. Then, he articulated the loveliest word in the world.
“Lib.”
Her clear laughter brushed against his ears, and her sweet breath ruffled his hair.
In the space where his unease had been, an unbelievable happiness surged. For this happiness, he would gladly grind his very soul into an offering.
Noah called her name again.
“Lib!”
My cruel, yet sweet salvation.
*
Afterward, Duchess Olivia Rosemond succeeded in building Herod’s own Magic Dome. In exchange for the massive royalties owed, the Wilhelm Company of Polder agreed to transfer ownership of all Magic Domes installed on the Norfolk continent to Olivia.
Furthermore, she took the lead in establishing schools throughout Herod.
Her husband, Duke Noah Rosemond, pushed for legislation recognizing women’s property rights, and the Royal Family accepted it.
*
One spring day.
On a street in Lorwell, a young girl in shabby clothes stood holding the hand of her equally destitute mother.
The two of them took small breaths, staring longingly at the massive school gates, which looked as tall as fortress walls.
“Mother… I’m scared.”
At her daughter’s voice, the mother tried to steady her breathing and pulled a scrap of newspaper from her bodice to read it again.
[Rosemond Girls' School, established in Lorwell, the hometown of the Duchess of Rosemond. Students below a certain income level will receive education free of charge…]
She took her daughter’s hand again, but she simply couldn't find the courage. Heavens, teaching for free?
Just as she was about to turn away with her daughter, thinking the newspaper must be lying, a voice spoke.
“Why are you turning back after coming all this way?”
The mother and daughter blinked and slowly turned around.
There stood a breathtakingly beautiful woman.
The woman approached the girl and leaned down to meet her eyes. The girl was instantly captivated by the dark eyes sparkling with intelligence.
“Why did you come all this way only to turn back?”
“…Am I allowed to go in?”
At that, the beautiful woman smiled brightly and straightened up. After tenderly stroking the girl’s hair, she pointed toward the open gates.
“Child.”
“Yes.”
“If you turn back without entering, it remains a wall. If you pass through, it becomes a door. To you, does that look like a wall, or a door?”
“Um…”
The girl pondered for a moment, then answered in a small voice.
“A door.”
A soft laugh floated down from above the girl’s head.
Olivia reached out her hand to the young girl, who felt so much like her own past self. The girl took her hand as if possessed.
Holding the cold, small hand firmly, Olivia walked toward the school she had built.
Gently comforting the girl who hesitated at the giant threshold, she finally passed through the door with her.
The girl exhaled a breath she hadn't realized she was holding and stared blankly at the world beyond.
To her, Olivia whispered tenderly.
“See? It’s not so bad, is it?”
< The Cruelty of Salvation > – FIN