Translator: Nox

Episode 118: A Rabbit Sitting on a Lion's Head

Jonan desperately tried to smooth out his furrowing brow as he looked at the noble ladies who were now privy to the situation.

They were in no different a position than he was, stealing glances at the two while trying to keep their gazes lowered.

"It's alright. The ladies brought me gifts. We were just having a chat," Olivia said with a smile, the only one seemingly unaffected by the atmosphere Noah had created. Only then did Noah turn his gaze to the noble ladies.

Unfortunately, Countess Lilshian happened to meet the Prince's eyes, and she felt a chill as she witnessed how quickly his expression could change. Startled, she quickly averted her gaze, but Noah spoke to her first.

"Countess Lilshian, we didn't properly exchange greetings at the cafe the other day, but it's nice to see you here."

Countess Lilshian's legs trembled at the Prince's pointed words, coming from the very person who had devastated Letium and Seymour. The Prince was also a major investor in the Lilshian couple's business.

She hadn't realized it because the Prince had never wielded his power through his business ventures, but in this era where money was power, his influence, quietly built through his expanding businesses, was immense. What had possessed her to attend the Princess Consort's Shine Party!

"Y-Your Highness, I apologize for not properly greeting you the other day due to the commotion."

Noah remained silent despite her apology. Instead, he scanned the noble ladies who were desperately avoiding his gaze before turning back to Olivia.

"Liv, is the chat enjoyable?"

At the Prince's question, the noble ladies looked at the Princess Consort with pleading eyes.

Please, save us from Herod's Messenger.

The Princess Consort, receiving their fervent gazes, smiled sweetly and said like an angel, "Very much so."

She's an angel. That woman is definitely an angel!

The noble ladies felt a halo radiating from behind Olivia and deeply sighed in relief.

Noah chuckled and nodded slightly.

"If you're enjoying it, that's all that matters. I seem to have disrupted the pleasant atmosphere for a moment. Everyone, please enjoy your time."

He left those brief words for the frozen noble ladies and then gestured to Jonan.

As the Prince and his guard disappeared beyond the door, the noble ladies looked at the Princess Consort with grateful eyes, the one who had protected them from Noah Astrid.

Noah sat on the edge of the desk and nodded to Jonan.

"Recite."

At the concise command, Jonan cleared his throat and began to recount the conversation between Letium and Mrs. Timberlin.

Listening to his report with his arms crossed, Noah let out a long, incredulous laugh when Mrs. Timberlin tried to shift the blame onto Olivia.

However, when Jonan explained how Olivia had countered, he erased his smile and nodded instead.

"So, the conclusion is that they both clearly apologized to Olivia?"

"Yes. In the case of Countess Timberline, she apologized for everything that had happened back when she was Your Highness's etiquette teacher."

"And Olivia accepted it?"

"Yes. She said she would consider that gathering as having not been a Shine Party."

"What about the people who were just here?"

"Your Highness's reaction to them was somewhat unexpected. As with the previous two ladies, they all made excuses. However, unlike with the previous two, Your Highness simply accepted their excuses. And then she opened the gifts and improved the atmosphere."

"Accepted their excuses?"

"Yes."

At that moment, the outside of the window became somewhat noisy. Getting up from the desk he was sitting on, he looked out the window to see the noble ladies preparing to leave.

And his Olivia was seeing them off with a smiling face.

The large diamond necklace around Olivia's neck sparkled even from a distance. He had spent quite a bit of money to buy that, but it was a sight that made him feel like the money was well spent.

Noah stared intently at Olivia and praised Jonan for his hard work.

"You've done well, Jonan. You may leave."

Even as Jonan quietly retreated, Noah's gaze remained fixed on Olivia outside the window.

"Instead of just saying a quick goodbye and leaving, why is she holding onto someone who isn't feeling well and having such a long conversation?"

As the dozen or so noble ladies each gave Olivia a long farewell, Noah grumbled under his breath.

Finally, when they had all left the mansion, Olivia turned around. Then, surprisingly, she immediately looked up at the window where Noah was.

Noah paused, caught off guard by their sudden eye contact, and she smiled sweetly.

"...Ha, really... She's playing with my emotions."

Olivia, who had disappeared like a squirrel, soon reappeared with light footsteps.

Knock, knock. She knocked on the door and peeked her head in.

"Noah, can I come in for a moment?"

"Please do, Duchess."

Olivia greeted Methone, who was standing next to him, with a light greeting.

"Methone, it's been a while."

"I'm glad to see you looking healthy, Your Highness."

As Olivia approached the desk, Noah, who had been leaning against the window frame until then, moved and asked, "Are you feeling better?"

"There was nothing to feel bad about, was there?"

"No unpleasantness?"

"None."

"Is that enough?"

Olivia narrowed her eyes and lowered her voice as she asked, "May I ask what you did?"

"A simple warning."

Noah thought that Olivia would soon ask what that 'warning' was.

But as always, his wife threw out words that defied expectations.

"Thanks to you, I might be able to build social connections faster than I thought. But I won't try to build them too quickly."

"......"

"I've realized that simply enduring everything isn't always the best approach, so I won't do that either. I'll try to interact with the noble ladies within reasonable limits so that you don't worry. Please keep an eye on me."

The 'warning' that Noah had given to the nobles must have been something that required taking risks. Threats were like double-edged swords.

Furthermore, he had gone to the Royal Palace on urgent business and returned to the mansion not long after, and for the past few days, he had been reviewing all his work at the mansion.

Jonan, who had been guarding her today, must have told Noah every detail of what had happened without missing a single word.

Noah was pouring all his attention into every move she made.

However, Noah's expression was not as bright as expected after hearing Olivia's words.

"They may seem kind and willing to give you anything right now, but they might not be the same when they turn their backs."

"It's okay. I expect that they won't change overnight either."

Noah muttered with a cruel look on his face.

"I want to retaliate against all the noble ladies who just left. I need to make sure they never dare to come at you again."

"What you did had enough impact. They were all scared and came running."

"......"

"If you retaliate against so many people, the blade will come back to you."

"So you just accepted their apologies half-heartedly? Because you were afraid I'd get hurt?"

Noah asked sharply, and Olivia braced herself and stood her ground.

"No, it's because if I retaliate, I'll create enemies, and then I'll always have to hide behind you. And if something like this happens again, you'll take risks again."

"......"

"Noah, I'm really grateful that you're going to such lengths for me. But please don't retaliate against everyone. This is enough for now."

Faced with her sincere, dark eyes, Noah was speechless.

She revealed her presence in this way from time to time.

In the end, Noah reluctantly nodded, and Olivia finally left his room.

Methone, who had been listening to the conversation between the royal couple, was impressed by the Princess Consort's excellent sense.

He was amazed at how gently she could handle Noah. Furthermore, instead of asking what kind of retaliation the Prince had done and distracting from the point, she indirectly pointed out that his retaliation was dangerous.

As she said, if Noah retaliated against everyone, Olivia would be cornered, and it would also be a great burden on Noah.

Since he had warned them through Letium and Seymour, it was much wiser to build friendships with the remaining ladies and gather public opinion in her favor.

Methone didn't think it was very desirable for Noah to be so sensitive about Olivia that he lost his reason.

And from his objective point of view, Olivia was not someone who needed Noah's excessive protection. Noah had solved the problem of her status, which was her weakness, so if left alone, she would find her place on her own.

"As I said before, Your Highness seems to be truly wise."

"......"

"Isn't she the youngest person to have entered and graduated from Herollington University, which is not open to just anyone? Please don't worry too much, Your Highness."

Yes, I know.

I know it in my head, but the problem is that when I see her standing still, I get anxious because she looks like she'll be easily broken by the wind.

"So, about the invitations that come to Your Highness... should I really report them to Your Highness first?"

Methone hoped that the Prince would withdraw that order.

However, Noah, who had been lost in thought for a long time, eventually ran a hand over his face and repeated the same order.

"Bring them to me first."

Then, with a darkened gaze, he recalled what Olivia had said.

"No, it's because if I retaliate, I'll create enemies, and then I'll always have to hide behind you. And if something like this happens again, you'll take risks again."

What's wrong with hiding behind me?

You don't need to worry about what risks I take.

But he couldn't say those words to Olivia, so he just swallowed them down.

"What should we do with Seymour and Letium?"

At Methone's question, Noah replied concisely, "Maintain the cancellation of the investment in Seymour, and tell Letium that we'll invest the amount we originally promised."

But then, knock, knock. The small knocking sound was heard again, and Olivia peeked her head in again.

"Sorry to bother you when you're busy."

"No, go ahead."

Olivia stood by the door and said quickly, "I'm planning to go pick up Princess Lucy later."

"...Huh? Do what?"

"I wanted to go pick up Princess Lucy when she gets out of school. I also want to give her a gift and belated congratulations. If you're not busy, would you like to go with me?"

"...So, Liv."

"Yes."

"Why are you going all the way to school to pick her up? You can just tell Lucy to come here for a while."

Olivia smiled and was silent for a moment before speaking softly, "Noah, that's not picking her up, is it?"

Even so, her husband looked clueless, so Olivia withdrew neatly.

"I'll go alone! While I'm escorting her to the Royal Palace, I'll say a quick hello to the Queen Consort and His Majesty!"

And how little attachment she showed! And how quick her actions were!

Before she could slip out through the half-open door, Noah hurriedly shouted, "Liv, your health?!"

Then, Olivia turned her head slightly, glanced at her husband, and said firmly, "I think I'm all better~!"

Thud.

"......"

Methone pursed his lips and held back a laugh as he looked at the Prince blinking at the closed door.