Chapter : 5 King Leonard’s Masterpiece
Noah Astrid appeared at the polo club for the first time in a long while. Judging by the sneer hanging on his lips, he didn’t seem to be in a particularly good mood.
After taking a strong cocktail from one of the club waiters, Noah leaned back on the sofa and emptied the glass in a single gulp. His Adam’s apple rose sharply as though it would pierce through his throat before bobbing back down.
Wiping his liquor-dampened lips with a handkerchief, Noah lowered his reddish-green eyes lazily.
Someone nearby sighed.
“What an unfair world.”
The person sitting across from him nodded in agreement.
“It really is. I always think that whenever I see the two princes.”
Laughter erupted around the room, but Noah didn’t join in.
“Noah, want another drink?”
Instead of answering, Noah simply crooked a finger.
The summoned waiter hurried over and placed another glass in his hand. Noah drained that one in a single swallow as well before leaning back into the sofa, closing his eyes.
The young wastrels glanced at him before cautiously bringing up the topic they had been enthusiastically discussing among themselves.
“Noah, is it true?”
Noah slowly opened his eyes, moving only his gaze.
“What is?”
His voice came out rough and hoarse.
“That she’s coming! Olivia of Perlder!”
Seeing everyone lean toward him with sparkling eyes only deepened Noah’s mocking smile.
“You pathetic idiots.”
“Your Highness, is it true that Olivia of Perlder is coming?”
Growing impatient when Noah didn’t answer immediately, they crowded around him, pressing him for a response.
Since there was no reason to keep it secret, Noah gave a tired nod.
“She’s coming to clean up the mess my uncle made… in my place.”
The moment the words left his mouth, cheers exploded throughout the club.
“You people really have nothing better to do. So this is what you’ve all been talking about? I’ve been running myself ragged all over the place while you idiots sat around gossiping.”
Shaking his head, Noah rose from his seat.
His polo companions burst into laughter and bowed politely.
“Thank you for your hard work, Your Highness.”
Smirking at the sight, Noah mercilessly poured cold water over their excitement.
“But don’t get your hopes up too much.”
The once-noisy club instantly fell silent.
Matt, who was standing nearby, tilted his head.
“Why?”
Noah shot him a cynical glance before shoving his hands into his pockets.
“It seems my aunt was deeply concerned about the likes of you. So she’s coming together with Miss Liberty.”
“…”
Marguerite Astrid.
The moment the Herot playboys pictured her terrifying, cynical expression, the excitement vanished from their eyes.
Three weeks and two days.
That was how long it took Margo and Olivia to reach Herot from Perlder.
Travel by sea was filled with unexpected variables, and the two of them arrived in Herot’s capital, Herolington, two days later than originally scheduled.
The problem was that they arrived just before the Autumn Banquet.
Royal attendants hurriedly brought dresses for Olivia and Margo to wear.
The moment Margo saw Olivia’s gown, she immediately sent it back.
“This is a debutante dress! Do they think Olivia Liberty came to Herot to make her debut in high society?!”
Just as Noah had predicted, Margo was genuinely worried about the wastrel nobles of Herot.
In the end, she insisted on dressing Olivia exactly the way she wanted.
Under Margo’s direction, Olivia wore a crisp white blouse paired with a dark green flared skirt that emphasized her waist before flowing outward. On her feet were polished black shoes.
Her hair was neatly braided and tied with a ribbon matching the color of her skirt, while her wispy bangs were held neatly in place by a pale green silk headband.
Even though her makeup was kept as light and simple as possible, Margo continued looking Olivia over with concern.
Whether she noticed Margo’s worries or not, Olivia couldn’t take her eyes off the scenery outside the carriage.
A breeze carrying Herot’s distinctive scent drifted through the slightly opened window.
It smelled different from Perlder.
Slightly damp.
Slightly cool.
The unique scent of Herot awakened memories buried deep inside Olivia.
When she was little, the news of her parents’ deaths had struck like a bolt from the blue, completely overturning her life.
Before she had even recovered from the shock, she had left Herot for Perlder.
To Olivia, Herot was the place where her parents had still been alive.
That was why she had never revoked her Herot citizenship.
Now that she had become an adult, the day she would have to choose was drawing near.
“Are you really that happy?”
At Margo’s question, Olivia turned to face her.
“I’ve always wanted to come back. That golden lion statue we just passed… I remember eating ice cream there with my parents.”
“I thought your hometown wasn’t the capital.”
“It isn’t. But I think we came here to visit once in a while.”
Olivia turned back toward the window.
The streets, now wrapped in darkness, were lined with Herot’s national flags fluttering in the wind.
Meanwhile, their carriage swiftly passed through the main gate of the royal palace.
“Are you afraid?”
Olivia, who had been staring wide-eyed at the magnificent golden gates, turned back toward Margo.
Silence lingered for a moment.
Even kings found Margo’s stern blue gaze intimidating.
Yet this petite young woman simply met her eyes calmly without retreating.
A mischievous smile spread across Margo’s face.
“When you meet the other members of the royal family, you shouldn’t stare directly into their eyes like this.”
Olivia quickly lowered her gaze.
“I’m sorry.”
“This is your first time in a royal palace, isn’t it? Aren’t you nervous?”
Olivia slowly looked back up.
Wasn’t Professor Margo frightening when they had first met?
Taking a deep breath of Herot’s familiar air, Olivia answered quietly.
“I am nervous. I’m a little scared too.”
“…But?”
“But I’m still excited to be here in Herot. If it weren’t for the royal invitation, I probably wouldn’t have been able to come back while my grandmother was still alive.”
Hearing Olivia’s calm reply, Margo smiled.
Though Olivia was small and looked incredibly delicate, she had endured among male students who were older and of much higher status than herself—and had ultimately graduated at the very top of her class.
“Good. As long as you’re excited, that’s enough. Today, you’re a guest of the royal family. There’s no reason for you to feel intimidated by anyone. Stand up straight, lift your chin, and act just as you always do in Perlder.”
Olivia’s eyes lit up.
“Yes, Professor.”
Just then, the carriage began slowing down.
At the same time, lively voices and the sound of music drifted toward them.
Olivia’s eyes widened even further.
The carriage came to a complete stop.
Someone opened the carriage door, allowing soft light to stream inside.
Margo stepped out first.
Olivia followed close behind.
Standing on the soft grass, she slowly raised her head.
The magnificent royal palace of Herot towered over her as though looking down upon her.
Meanwhile, inside the Crystal Hall, where the Autumn Banquet was already in full swing, the young ladies of each noble house entered one after another in splendid attire.
Each debutante entered escorted by her mother on one side and her chaperone on the other.
Among them all, the one who stood out the most was Isabel of House Seymour.
With her reddish-brown hair elegantly pinned up, Isabel arrived accompanied by Lady Juvern, a legendary figure among chaperones.
Conscious of all the eyes upon her, Isabel straightened her posture with even greater elegance.
Then her gaze suddenly locked onto someone as if drawn by a magnet.
She wasn’t the only one.
King Leonard II’s masterpieces—
Usher Astrid and Noah Astrid.
Though they weren’t twins, the two princes were the same age and stood side by side chatting together.
Their appearances were remarkably alike, and even their height and build were nearly identical.
From behind, it was almost impossible to tell which was the Crown Prince and which was the prince.
The decisive difference lay in their eyes—and in the aura they gave off.
Both possessed golden hair.
Crown Prince Usher had blue eyes.
Noah had green eyes.
Surprisingly, Noah’s posture and etiquette were even more impeccable than the Crown Prince’s.
Yet despite that, there was something subtly decadent and dangerously carefree about him.
Usher, on the other hand, radiated warmth, dignity, and refinement.
Eventually, people stopped saying the two looked alike.
“They should be arriving soon, shouldn’t they?”
Usher asked.
Noah nodded.
“They reached the harbor an hour ago, so they should be here any minute. Uncle said he’d attend the Autumn Banquet, but the moment he heard Aunt was coming, he fled with his tail between his legs.”
Usher chuckled softly.
Then, noticing Noah’s exhausted expression, he spoke with quiet sympathy.
“You’ve worked hard.”
At the praise, Noah merely shook his head without answering.
Just then, their mother, Queen Beatrix, excused herself from her conversation with the nobles and walked toward them.
Usher naturally offered his arm to escort her.
Noah moved to her other side.
The noblewomen watched Queen Beatrix with envy as she was escorted by her two fully grown sons.
Beatrix looked over Noah’s face with concern.
“Your father has been sending you to far too many official events. How are you feeling?”
“Don’t worry about me, Mother. It would be nice if the King worried a little, though.”
Beatrix gave a small shake of her head before casting a sharp glance toward her husband, who was busy conversing with the nobles.
“When Princess Marguerite arrives, I’ll have to ask her to give him a good scolding.”
“Do you really think a simple scolding will accomplish anything?”
“Noah.”
Usher called his name in a reproachful tone.
Noah merely raised an eyebrow.
“Is Lucy still locked up in her room?”
“She’s upset because we’re all enjoying a party without her.”
“At least send her to school. Staying inside the palace every day is probably driving her crazy.”
Usher nodded in agreement.
“Saint Scott Girls’ Academy would be an excellent choice.”
Beatrix let out a self-deprecating sigh before glaring at the King once again.
“If it were my decision, I would have done it long ago. I’ll ask the Princess about that as well. I do hope she arrives soon.”
She smiled faintly.
“I’m curious about that student from Perlder too. Her name was Olivia, wasn’t it?”
“To think she was selected as Herolington’s top graduate. Isn’t that remarkable?” the Queen murmured.
Just then—
A ripple of commotion began at the entrance to the ballroom, spreading through the crowd like a wave until it reached them.
Beatrix turned around.
Noah and Usher turned with her.
Leonard, who had been speaking with the nobles, muttered, “They’re here,” and walked over to stand beside the Queen.
Usher stepped aside to make room for his father.
The King and Queen clasped hands.
Usher and Noah each took their place one step behind them.
Silence descended over the Crystal Hall.
Then, echoing through the stillness, came two sets of footsteps—
One firm and commanding.
The other comparatively light and quiet.
