STCE 10

Chapter : 10

 Like the Border Between Spring and Summer

“Alright, next stop is Central Park!”

After getting the perfect photo in front of the Magic Dome at the royal family’s private villa, Leonard led everyone toward Central Park.

Central Park, the bustling heart of Herrolington, was a famous destination lined with luxurious shops.

The Royal Guards had arrived ahead of the royal family, securing the route and standing watch, while curious citizens observed the imposing guards with fascination.

A short while later, as the King’s carriage entered along the road cleared by the guards, the crowd beyond the barricades erupted into cheers.

Leonard and Beatrix stepped out first, smiling brightly as they acknowledged the citizens’ enthusiastic welcome, while reporters busily scribbled down every detail of the scene.

The cheers grew even louder when Usher and Noah descended from the carriage behind them.

“Prince Noah!”

“Your Royal Highness, the Crown Prince!”

The thunderous roar of the crowd startled Olivia, who had been about to step down from the carriage. Her eyes widened in surprise. The bright square outside felt like an entirely different world. Taking a steadying breath, she cautiously stepped out.

The moment she emerged, however, the cheers nearby suddenly quieted.

The people blinked in confusion, staring at the unfamiliar woman standing alongside the royal family.

Haven’t we seen her somewhere before?

Then someone suddenly realized who she was and shouted at the top of their lungs.

“Olivia Liberty!”

That single cry sparked recognition throughout the crowd.

The first female university student—the young woman who had constantly appeared on the front pages of the Herod Newspaper.

“Goodness, it really is her!”

“Olivia!”

People crowded against the barricades, waving excitedly at her.

It was Olivia’s first time experiencing anything like this. Overwhelmed, she froze, but Margo, standing nearby, smiled and gently took her arm.

“It’s alright. Relax.”

Olivia realized only then that she was breathing much faster than usual. Still dazed, she began walking.

Ahead of them, Usher and Noah turned around to watch.

“Looks like she’s nervous.”

At Usher’s quiet remark, Noah raised an eyebrow.

“Seems that way.”

“Do we really have to take this many photographs?”

Noah looked toward Olivia, who was walking beside Margo.

Her pale face had turned almost white.

But what difference did that make?

“His Majesty won’t return to the palace until he gets photographs he likes. Cooperating enthusiastically is the only way to finish this sooner, Your Royal Highness.”

Almost every gaze in the crowd was fixed on Olivia.

“Olivia!”

People called her name from every direction. She forced an awkward smile while cold sweat gathered on her forehead.

Looking around, she noticed that the members of the royal family handled this effortlessly, casually waving with relaxed smiles.

Even little Lucy, walking while holding her parents’ hands, did the same.

Only Princess Margo refrained from waving—but unlike Olivia, she showed no trace of nervousness.

“How should I respond?” Olivia quietly asked.

Margo paused to think for a moment. After all, someone born a princess naturally viewed these situations differently.

“Just smile and give a small nod every now and then. Lightly.”

After all, Olivia couldn’t greet people exactly like royalty.

“Alright.”

Answering firmly, Olivia steadied herself against the endless cheers and countless watching eyes.

Think back to your first day at university.

At least no one is mocking or ridiculing you now.

“Olivia!”

Mocking?

Ridicule?

No…

They were cheering for her.

That’s right.

This is nothing.

The thought gradually calmed her racing heart, and a natural smile slowly spread across her lips.

Once she smiled, she relaxed.

Soon, she began greeting the crowd with graceful nods.

“She’s adapting faster than I expected.”

Glancing back over his shoulder, Usher murmured while waving.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean Miss Liberty. She looked terrified a moment ago, but she’s already getting used to it. That’s a relief.”

“…Try worrying less about her and focus on today’s event, Your Royal Highness.”

Even after saying that, Noah continued waving mechanically for quite some time before turning to look behind him again.

Like the border between spring and summer, she seemed to stand somewhere between girlhood and womanhood.

Her cheeks glowed with a rosy warmth, and her sparkling black eyes carried both intelligence and innocence.

She probably had no idea that more eyes were fixed on her than on the royal family itself.

As he walked at an unhurried pace, Noah thought to himself,

Inviting her to Herod had truly been an excellent decision.

The royal family’s final destination was Golden Lion Square, located in the center of the park.

Since even carriages had been prohibited from entering, the square felt much larger and more spacious than usual.

As they entered, the distance between them and the citizens widened considerably, and the deafening cheers gradually faded away.

Beatrix entrusted Lucy to her nanny, Mrs. Leman, before approaching Margo and Olivia.

Olivia immediately bent her knees in a respectful curtsy once again, and Beatrix greeted her warmly with a smile.

“Thank you for agreeing to the interview yesterday, Miss Liberty. You really worked hard. I should have waited longer for you. I’m sorry.”

Surprised by the Queen’s sincere apology, Olivia quickly shook her head.

“Not at all, Your Majesty. Thank you for inviting me to such a wonderful banquet. I truly enjoyed it.”

“Did you like your room?”

The Queen naturally began walking alongside Olivia and Margo.

“Yes. It was beautiful and very comfortable. The fountain outside the window was especially impressive.”

Although Olivia was obviously nervous, she answered calmly.

No wonder Leonard had kept the interview going for so long, Beatrix thought.

“Was His Majesty pleased with today’s newspaper?”

Walking beside the Queen, Margo asked with a playful smile.

Beatrix narrowed her eyes toward her husband.

“He was absolutely delighted. Though he kept complaining that, of all people to resemble, he apparently resembles Duke Lightwing.”

“Walter would lose his temper if he heard that.”

“I’ve missed conversations like this so much. Won’t you come back to Herod?”

“If anyone heard that, His Majesty would be the one losing his temper.”

Beatrix laughed softly at Margo’s whispered joke, all the while making sure Olivia never felt left out.

“The first female university student… That’s truly remarkable. It couldn’t have been an easy road. Though it’s late, congratulations on your graduation.”

“Thank you very much, Your Majesty.”

Walking at the Queen’s pace, Olivia quietly looked around the square.

Just then, one of the reporters politely requested an interview with the Queen and Margo.

Olivia naturally stepped back several paces.

Although the Queen apologized and asked her to wait just a moment, Olivia didn’t mind at all.

Instead, she found herself drifting into memories of the distant past.

The majestic Golden Lion Statue looked even more magnificent than she remembered.

The smooth black stone pavement covering the square…

The towering spire of Hamel Cathedral, standing proudly before the lion…

Everything looked exactly as it had in her childhood memories.

Even the weather felt just like this.

As Olivia gazed at the cathedral’s spire, her eyes slowly returned to the Golden Lion Statue.

She could almost feel the rough texture of the ice cream cone in her hand.

The soft, sweet ice cream touching her lips.

She had gasped in delight after tasting it for the very first time.

“It’s just ice cream! Here, have another one!” her grandfather had laughed as he offered her another cone.

“Oh dear, that’s enough. You’ll get a stomachache,” her mother had gently protested.

“Liv, is it really that delicious?” her kind father had asked with a smile.

And beside him…

Her grandmother, so different from the woman she had become later, laughing heartily.

“…Ah…”

So that was why she had wanted so desperately to return to Herod.

Because she longed to see them again—

Even if only through the memories that still lingered in this place.

While the King and Queen were occupied with separate interviews, Lucy remained with Mrs. Leman.

Normally, the little princess would have been excitedly looking around during such a rare outing.

Instead, she had been quietly staring in one direction for quite some time.

Following Lucy’s gaze, Mrs. Leman saw the royal family’s guest.

“If you’re curious, why don’t you go say hello, Princess?”

The King doted on Lucy so much that people secretly nicknamed her the Princess in the Palm of His Hand.

Mrs. Leman often pitied the young princess.

At an age when children should be making friends and learning how to interact with others, Lucy spent nearly all her time confined within the palace.

“Can I really?”

“Of course.”

Encouraged by Mrs. Leman, Lucy slowly walked forward as though drawn by an invisible force.

Olivia had her back turned toward them.

The little princess’s tiny footsteps gradually became quicker.

Yet Lucy, who had never before needed to start a conversation with anyone herself, couldn’t bring herself to speak.

Instead, she quietly stopped behind Olivia.

Looking up, she could clearly see the fine weave of Olivia’s white blouse.

She watched the gentle sway of her slightly wavy black hair.

Only now did she notice that half of it had been tied back with a deep navy ribbon.

Mrs. Leman remained a few steps behind, deciding to simply watch what the princess would do.

And she wasn’t the only one observing Lucy quietly approach Olivia.

“Um… Your Royal Highness Prince Noah.”

“That’s enough.”

The reporter who had cautiously approached him froze at the immediate, cold rejection.

The bright autumn sunlight fell across the prince’s picture-perfect face.

If only he could snap a photograph and get an interview at the same time…

Unfortunately, Noah was anything but easy.

The only reason he ever granted interviews was because his father ordered him to—not because he wanted to.

Slipping one hand into his pocket, Noah lazily shifted his gaze.

“There are plenty of people for you to interview today. Don’t waste your energy on me.”

“Waste my energy? Not at all.”

“It wastes mine.”

“…Yes, Your Highness.”

The reporter had wanted to ask about Noah’s rapidly growing company.

Rumors spread constantly throughout the business world that countless entrepreneurs were lining up in hopes of receiving investment from the remarkably capable twenty-three-year-old prince.

But in the end, the reporter had no choice but to retreat.

Noah truly hated events like this.

Once or twice would have been tolerable.

But these ceremonies never seemed to end.

The countless eyes constantly fixed upon him only made him uncomfortable.

After all, what the crowd admired wasn’t who he really was—

Only the handsome shell they saw on the outside.

Whenever thunderous cheers echoed around him, the same cynical thought always surfaced.

Do any of them even know what kind of person I am?

Ignoring the reporters who continued stealing glances at him, Noah leaned casually against a large tree and folded his arms.

Sunlight filtered through the crimson and golden autumn leaves, scattering shifting patterns of light across his face.

Everyone else admired the beautiful autumn square before them.

Only Noah remained indifferent.

From the beginning, the only things that genuinely interested him were polo and his company.

No—

Even his company existed merely because he wanted financial independence from the royal family.

In truth, polo was the only thing he truly enjoyed.

Could the weariness of a twenty-three-year-old really run this deep?

It was then, as Noah’s cold, bored gaze wandered aimlessly across the world—

That he noticed Olivia…

And Lucy.