Chapter : 8. You Can Just Take My Hand
Olivia unconsciously took a step backward. Then she realized that retreating like this would only leave her with nowhere to escape. She planted her feet firmly and stood her ground.
“I’m sorry, but if you all ask questions at once, I can’t answer any of them. I also need to return to Princess Marguerite, so please let me through for a moment.”
The way she calmly and clearly stated her intentions without wavering made her appear composed, but it meant little against such overwhelming numbers.
Moreover, the young wastrels knew that if they let this opportunity slip away, they might never get another chance to speak with Olivia from so close. None of them was willing to step aside so easily.
Whether they questioned her one by one or ignored her repeated pleas to move aside and instead edged even closer, Olivia found it harder and harder to breathe.
Ah… Professor, where are you?
Unable to think of a way out of the situation, Olivia frantically looked around.
Behind her was a wall.
The other three sides were blocked by nobles.
She had no idea who she could ask for help.
Then it happened.
The nobles gathered behind the crowd suddenly became restless. Like waves parting, people stepped aside one after another.
When Olivia stretched her neck slightly and looked over the head of the noble standing in front of her, Prince Noah emerged through the crowd.
The moment she saw him, she froze once again—just as she had when they first met.
Seeing Olivia cornered in the corner, breathing in small, anxious gasps, Noah let out a deep sigh.
Father should have at least assigned a proper attendant to stay with this woman after the interview ended.
Then again, this was the first commoner ever invited as a guest of the royal family. Perhaps even he hadn’t anticipated something like this.
Noah slowly approached Olivia, who stood frozen with wide, rabbit-like eyes.
As he drew closer, those dark eyes gradually lifted.
To his surprise, he could see his own reflection in them.
For a brief moment, Noah stared at the image of himself reflected in her eyes before extending his hand.
But Olivia merely looked at his outstretched hand with a puzzled expression.
“You can just take it.”
His voice was low and cool.
An outstretched hand.
An impossible situation.
As if under a spell, Olivia placed her hand in Noah’s.
Unlike her bare hand, exposed beneath the sleeve of her blouse, Noah wore soft black gloves.
Beneath the smooth texture of the glove covering her fingertips, she could feel the firmness of his hand and its comforting warmth.
The heart that had been pounding wildly suddenly calmed the moment their hands met.
Holding Olivia’s hand, Noah turned around and cast a chilly glance at the disappointed faces of the young wastrels.
Without a word, they all stepped back.
The crowd of nobles parted.
Noah walked ahead.
Olivia followed, still holding his hand.
She blankly stared at Noah’s profile as he walked half a step ahead, clearing a path for her.
The heartbeat she had thought had finally settled began racing once more—but for an entirely different reason.
At that moment, the music changed into a lively dance.
The young nobles who had been chatting in small groups all headed toward the center of the ballroom at once, as though they had rehearsed it.
It happened too suddenly for anyone to stop.
Looking past the flood of people gathering to dance, Noah’s eyes met Margo’s.
She was glaring at him so fiercely that he almost felt hurt.
I’m only doing this to escort this young lady safely to Aunt.
“Um…”
At the small voice, Noah turned his head.
Olivia was looking at him awkwardly.
“Thank you. I’ll just go around from this side and make my way to Princess Marguerite.”
Noah glanced in the direction she pointed.
Several noble ladies from prestigious families stood there, gracefully fanning themselves while watching Olivia with keen interest.
He lowered his gaze briefly to Olivia’s pale, delicate-looking hand before looking toward the crowd beginning the dance.
“It’ll be difficult to go that way. You see all those noble ladies gathered over there?”
“…”
“They’re even harder to deal with than those wastrels. Are you sure you’ll be alright?”
“Then… I’ll just wait here until the dance ends…”
“The dances continue one after another. There’s no break in between.”
After thinking for a moment, Noah spoke in the same casual tone.
To Olivia, however, his words were utterly shocking.
“This dance isn’t very difficult. Would you like to dance it once?”
“…What?”
Olivia asked in astonishment.
With the hand not holding hers, Noah pointed toward the dancers.
“See how they’re constantly moving to the right? After three sets, we’ll arrive at Princess Marguerite.”
Then he extended his left hand toward her.
“I’ve never danced before.”
Olivia whispered urgently.
But Noah didn’t withdraw his hand.
Instead, he simply raised an eyebrow at her.
After all, whenever the royal family invited a guest, it was proper etiquette for a member of the royal family to share a light dance with them.
Besides, the intense gazes pouring from the chaperones and debutantes were beginning to feel rather burdensome.
Clinging desperately to what little composure she had left, Olivia stared blankly at the prince’s outstretched hand before finally accepting it.
She knew nothing of royal etiquette.
But she was certain that refusing the prince’s hand in this situation would not end well.
The moment Olivia took his hand, Noah gently released the right hand that had been holding hers and lightly placed it against her back.
“Put your left hand on my shoulder.”
In her state of utter confusion, Olivia obeyed like a machine carrying out instructions.
Looking down at the stiff, nervous Olivia, Noah explained the dance.
“Take four steps to the right, then turn twice. Just repeat that. There’s no need to be so nervous.”
Oddly enough, his dry explanation, completely devoid of humor, helped steady her mind.
Like someone about to take the most important exam of her life, Olivia widened her eyes and carefully observed the people around them.
Just as Noah had said, everyone was dancing exactly that way.
“Four steps to the right… turn twice.”
She muttered the steps with absolute determination.
Noah chuckled softly before leading her into the crowd.
Even little Princess Lucy had learned this dance in no time.
It wasn’t difficult.
He could feel countless eyes on them.
But he didn’t care.
People already spread romantic gossip if their gazes merely met.
What difference would it make if Olivia of Perlder became part of the rumors too?
Besides…
She would be returning home in just a few days anyway.
Noah led Olivia smoothly and effortlessly.
“One, two, three, four. Let go, turn. One more time. Take my hand again. See? It’s not difficult.”
The rhythm was simple and somehow familiar.
With the prince personally counting the beats for her, just as he’d promised, it turned out to be much easier than she’d expected.
The dance itself was bright and cheerful.
Despite holding hands and dancing closely with a prince she’d only met that very day, she felt far less embarrassed than she’d imagined.
No…
By the final sequence of three beats, she’d become so accustomed to the dance that she actually found herself enjoying it.
After using Noah’s right hand for balance as she completed two turns…
To her astonishment…
Margo was standing directly in front of her.
They had truly reached Margo after exactly three rounds.
Noah lowered the hand that had been around Olivia’s back and released hers.
Then, with flawless etiquette, he bowed to her.
After giving Margo a bright smile, he turned away without the slightest hesitation.
Olivia stared blankly at Noah as he walked away with the same leisurely stride as though he had never danced at all.
Only then did she suddenly come to her senses and quickly turn toward Margo.
“Professor.”
Feeling strangely embarrassed, she blinked several times.
Margo gently took hold of her arm.
She honestly couldn’t believe it.
When she returned from the terrace, the frail Queen had already left without waiting for Olivia’s interview to finish.
And there was Noah…
Treating Olivia with impeccable courtesy.
She had frowned sternly because of all the rumors about him spending time with wastrels and leading a rather dissolute lifestyle.
Still…
At least he had properly fulfilled his duty as a member of the royal family.
“Are you hungry?”
“…Very.”
“Come on. I already had them bring fried fish to the room where you’ll be staying.”
The moment Margo said that, Olivia felt all the tension that had stiffened the back of her neck melt away.
“Thank you, Professor! But… is it really alright for us to leave like this?”
“Of course it is.”
As Margo strode confidently out of the ballroom, the surrounding nobles hurriedly stepped aside.
Only then did Olivia truly realize that Margo was royalty of Herot.
After following behind her for some time, Olivia quietly turned to look back at the ballroom.
The magnificent marble-and-gold archway resembled the frame of a painting.
Beyond it, the crimson chandeliers glittered brilliantly, while the jewel-like nobles looked as though they had stepped out of a masterpiece.
I still can’t believe I was part of that painting.
“Olivia!”
“Ah! Yes!”
At Margo’s call, Olivia quickly turned around and hurried down the remaining stairs.
And just like that…
The dazzling banquet, where far too many things had happened in such a short time, finally came to an end.
As Noah made his way toward the terrace through the crowd, the young wastrels he’d taken Olivia away from gathered around him.
“Ah, Your Highness, wasn’t that a little unfair?”
“You can’t just whisk her away like that, Your Highness!”
Noah leisurely swept his gaze over the pathetic men complaining before speaking.
“A guest of Astrid is to be treated as a guest of Astrid.”
His tone was light and carried no obvious pressure.
Yet the wastrels immediately stiffened and straightened themselves.
Noah pulled a cigarette from his pocket and placed it between his lips.
As smoke drifted lazily into the air, the dangerous sharpness in his eyes became even more apparent.
Those who found themselves outside his line of sight quietly began backing away.
“Even if our guest doesn’t seem particularly Astrid-like, Astrid invited her. That means she deserves treatment worthy of an Astrid guest. Don’t you agree?”
“…”
“So why are you behaving like common street thugs in a place like this?”
“…We’re sorry.”
I don’t care if I spend my time hanging around with you lot.
There are still lines that shouldn’t be crossed.
“Be careful. There are plenty of eyes watching.”
With a mocking smile, Noah walked past them and onto the terrace.
The remaining nobles awkwardly cleared their throats before quietly dispersing.
Hidden between the grand pillars, Isabel Seymour watched everything with sparkling eyes.
More precisely…
She was staring at the terrace where Noah Astrid had disappeared.
“Mrs. Juvern.”
“Yes, Lady Seymour?”
“What would I have to do to marry Prince Noah?”
The newly turned nineteen-year-old looked at the legendary chaperone, Mrs. Juvern, with bold, shining eyes.
Mrs. Juvern gazed thoughtfully toward the terrace where Noah had vanished for a long while before giving a small nod.
“First… I’ll have to think about it. If it’s Prince Noah… well, the usual methods may not work. It will probably take some time. Would that be alright with you?”
At the question, Isabel smiled brightly and nodded.
“Of course. Please give it some careful thought.”
With smiles on their faces, Isabel and Mrs. Juvern gracefully turned and walked away together.
