Chapter 5

It had been a while since Noah Astrid put in an appearance at the polo club. But judging from the crooked sneer on his face, this visit didn’t find him in the best of moods.

He ordered a strong cocktail from the club waiter. He leaned back on a sofa and drained his glass in one go, his Adam’s apple bobbing with each gulp. As he dabbed his moistened lips with a handkerchief and languidly lowered his gaze, he listened in on a pair of men in nearby conversation.

“This world is just so unfair!” one exclaimed.

The man’s companion agreed. “No kidding. I always feel that way whenever I see any of the princes.”

They guffawed noisily. Noah couldn’t join in.

“Want another drink, Noah?” one of them said, smiling at the prince.

Noah just responded by gesturing to the waiter, who promptly brought over another glass and placed it in his hand. He emptied his second drink just as quickly as the first, then closed his eyes as he sank deeper into his seat.

The men watching him finally brought up the topic that had been causing quite a buzz.

“Noah, is it true?”

Noah’s eyes slid toward them. “Is what true?” he said, his voice gravelly.

“That Olivia, the woman from Faulder! Is she coming to Herod?”

As the club members crowded around him and excitedly waited for his answer, Noah’s smirk deepened. “You’re all pathetic,” he said.

“Come on, Your Highness. Is it true that the girl is coming all the way from Faulder?” When they didn’t get an immediate answer, they began to pelt him with more questions.

Having no real reason to keep it a secret, Noah sleepily nodded. “She’s on her way now to clean up my uncle’s mess.”

Cheers erupted throughout the club.

“Do you idiots have nothing better to do than waste time gossiping?” Noah asked. “Meanwhile, I’m traveling all over the place busting my ass.” He got to his feet, shaking his head.

His polo friends burst into laughter and bade him farewell. “Take care, Your Highness!”

Noah snorted at them, then decided to put a damper on their fun. “I wouldn’t get your hopes too high.”

The rowdy club instantly fell quiet. Matt, the man nearest to him, tilted his head. “Why is that, Your Highness?”

Noah gave him a wry smile, then shoved his hands in his pockets. “My Aunt Margaret is apparently worried about the likes of you. She’s decided to accompany Miss Liberty.”

The silence continued, though this time it was one of disappointment. Margaret Astrid... As the club members recalled the formidable and cynical expression of the princess, they collectively shuddered.

* * *

Three weeks and two days.

That was how long it took for Margo and Olivia to reach Herod. The sea routes were always far too unpredictable, and they arrived at the capital Herolington two days later than expected. By the time they landed, the autumn banquet was nearly set to begin.

Palace employees urgently delivered dresses for the two women to change into, but Margo sent back Olivia’s dress at once. “This is a debutante dress!” she snapped. “Do you think Miss Liberty came to Herod to join high society?”

Noah was right—Margo was worried about the sleazy men of Herod, and insisted that she would only dress Olivia in an outfit she personally approved of. Under the princess’s direction, the young woman put on a neat white blouse, glossy black pumps, and a dark green flared skirt that accentuated her slim waist. She braided her hair and tied it with ribbon that matched the deep green of her skirt, sweeping the stray hairs into place beneath a silky pale green hairband. Her makeup was as light and minimal as could be. Despite all this, Margo still felt uneasy as she surveyed her charge.

Olivia was unable to take her eyes off the scenery outside the carriage, seemingly oblivious to the princess’s concerns. The air wafting in through the slightly cracked windows had a different scent to Faulder’s. It was damp and slightly cold, the uniquely Herod air that she remembered.

When she was a young girl, her parents’ deaths had come without warning and turned her entire life upside down. Before she could begin to recover from the shock, she’d been forced to leave Herod and relocate to Faulder.

To Olivia, the kingdom represented a past in which her parents were still alive. It was the reason why she still hadn’t renounced her Herod citizenship. Now that she was an adult, she would soon have to decide between the countries.

“You look happy,” Margo remarked.

Olivia turned to the princess. “I’ve always wanted to come back,” she said. “You know the gold lion statue we just passed? I remember having ice cream with my parents in front of it.”

“I thought you weren’t from the capital.”

“I’m not. I remember visiting a few times.”

She looked out the window again as they passed a few Herod flags proudly fluttering in the darkness-cloaked streets. Finally, the carriage whisked them through the gates of the royal palace.

“Are you scared?” Margo asked.

At her question, Olivia tore her gaze away from the palace’s splendid window grates and once again faced the princess. A brief silence passed between them. Margo’s sharp and stern blue eyes were enough to even make the king nervous, but Olivia stared back innocently, not betraying even the slightest hint of intimidation.

The princess gave a mischievous smile. “Just so you’re aware, you shouldn’t stare at the other members of the royal family so boldly.”

Olivia hastily lowered her eyes. “I’m sorry,” she mumbled.

“You’ve never been to the palace before. Aren’t you nervous?”

Olivia tentatively raised her head. She did feel scared, but once upon a time, she’d been just as terrified of the woman sitting across from her. Deeply inhaling the Herod air, she calmly replied, “I am nervous, and a little frightened. But...”

“But?”

“I’m still thrilled to be back in Herod,” she said plainly. “If not for this invitation, I never would have been able to come. Not as long as my grandmother was alive.”

Margo’s lips curved into a smile. Despite the girl’s tiny frame and delicate features, she had still survived an education in a school full of male students far higher in social rank than her, even emerging as a valedictorian. She was quite a remarkable character.

“Well, as long as you’re happy,” said the princess. “You’re a guest at the royal palace, and have no reason to feel lesser than anyone else there. Stand up straight, keep your head up high, and act just like you did back in Faulder.”

Olivia nodded, her eyes glittering. “I will, Professor.”

The carriage finally began to slow. Olivia’s eyes widened as the sound of music and bustling chatter drew nearer.

They finally stopped. A faint light shone into the carriage as its door was opened from the outside. Margo alighted first, with Olivia following close behind. They stood on the soft grass and looked up at the grand royal palace of the Herod Kingdom towering over them.

Meanwhile, in the Crystal Hall, the autumn banquet was in full swing. Young ladies from aristocratic families entered one by one, each dolled up beautifully for the occasion.

Of all the debutantes that proceeded into the hall, each surrounded by their mothers on the left and chaperones on the right, it was Isabelle of House Seymore who stood out the most. With her red-brown hair twisted into an elegant updo, she appeared alongside Madam Joubern—a living legend among the nobility’s chaperones.

As Isabelle gracefully adjusted her posture, conscious of all the eyes on her, her gaze was magnetically drawn to a particular pair of men. She wasn’t the only one who couldn’t help but stare. They were unmistakable—Leonard the Second’s twin masterpieces, Arthur and Noah Astrid.

The two princes—not actually twins, although they were less than a year apart in age—stood side by side, engaged in conversation. They were extremely alike in appearance, sharing identical height and build. From behind, it was difficult to even tell who was who.

The biggest difference between them was the color of their eyes, as well as their overall demeanors. Both of the princes were blond, although Crown Prince Arthur had blue eyes while Noah’s were green. Surprisingly, Noah was better versed in etiquette—but even so, he gave off an oddly deviant air. Arthur, on the other hand, came across as friendly and upright. Over time, people began to pick up on the stark contrast between them and stopped remarking that the two looked alike.

“Shouldn’t they be here by now?” Arthur asked.

Noah nodded. “I heard their ship arrived at the harbor an hour ago, so they should be arriving soon. Our dear uncle also said he’d also be in attendance, but he made a run for it when he heard Aunt Margaret was coming.”

Arthur snorted before catching a glimpse of his brother’s tired expression. “I really appreciate everything you’ve done,” he added somewhat bitterly.

Noah gave a curt nod but otherwise stayed silent.

Their mother, Queen Beatrix, finished her small talk with guests and came over to them. Arthur naturally stepped forward to escort her, with Noah taking his place on her other side. The middle-aged noblewomen in the hall watched in envy as the queen was accompanied forth by her handsome sons.

Beatrix anxiously studied Noah’s face. “Your father’s been sending you to too many events. How are you feeling?”

“Don’t worry about me, Mother,” Noah replied. “I’d rather father spare me a thought once in a while, not just you.”

Beatrix shook her head and threw a scathing look at her husband, who was deep in conversation with a few aristocrats. “I should ask Princess Margaret to have a word with him when she arrives,” she sighed.

“Do you think that will actually work? He’ll only take it as nagging.”

“Noah,” Arthur said warningly.

He arched an eyebrow. “Is Lucy still holed up in her room?” he asked his mother, changing the subject.

“She’s still mad that she can’t attend the party,” Beatrix answered.

“At least send her to school. She must be bored cooped up in the palace all day.”

“Saint Scott’s School for Girls isn’t so bad,” Arthur added.

Beatrix glared once more at the king and sighed dejectedly. “I would have done it long ago if it was within my control. I should ask Princess Margaret for her help with that, as well. I wish she were here already.” She looked about the room. “I’m curious about that student from Faulder. What was her name again? Olivia?” She went on to murmur about what an impressive feat it was for such a girl to graduate as valedictorian of Herolington University.

Suddenly, the entire banquet hall stirred. Palpable waves of excitement radiated from the entrance to the location where the queen and her two sons stood.

Beatrix turned to face the hall’s entrance, with Noah and Arthur following suit. The king also took his place by her side, muttering that the time had come.

As Arthur stepped aside to make room for his father, the royal couple held hands. The brothers each took a step back to stand behind their parents.

As the royal family fell into formation, two pairs of footsteps—one confident and robust, and one significantly quieter—echoed through the silence of the Crystal Hall.