Chapter 3

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 3

Chapter Title: King of All Things

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The extravagant headline, paired with their wedding photo dominating the front page, had pushed aside even the Crown Prince's scandalous private life to dominate the tabloids day after day.

It was the divorce of Duke Leopold, who had once been embroiled in an unseemly scandal and married the illegitimate daughter of the Blanchett family. Naturally, the social circles of Leiden were thrown into an uproar.

"So this is where you've been hiding."

The noblewomen gasped at the sight of Olivia, sitting there like a picture bathed in spring sunlight.

"I know, right? I never imagined we'd run into the duchess in a place like this..."

"Duchess? You mean Miss Blanchett now."

Carol shot her a sharp glance and lowered her voice. The other woman's face flushed at the rebuke.

"Looks like the rumors were true—you really hit the jackpot. Lancelot Hotel, of all places, without even knowing your place."

The noblewomen covered their mouths and clucked their tongues in agreement with Carol's words.

"I wonder what brings her to Litton, though."

"The Rose Ball is coming up soon. Probably trying to fix her fate or something."

May in the Britt Kingdom was the season of the Litton Flower Festival. Among its events, the Rose Ball at Lancelot Hotel was second only in fame to the royal ball.

In contrast, May in the Rondos Kingdom was a month of mourning, ever since Queen Katrina's husband had passed away that time of year.

Large balls and social gatherings were restrained. For the restless socialites bored out of their minds, the festivities across the sea in Britt offered a welcome escape.

"She must have squeezed out a fortune in alimony and is splurging here in luxury. How else could an illegitimate divorcee dream of staying at Lancelot Hotel? She doesn't even know her station. Right?"

Envious glares flicked toward Olivia. Anne noticed first.

Anne grabbed Olivia's arm tightly.

"Miss, how about a stroll in the garden today? They say this hotel's rose garden is famous. The weather's perfect for it."

The words tumbled out in a rush.

Olivia tilted her head, her face thoughtful.

"If you're still tired, we can just head back to the room."

Anne's heart raced. But Olivia, oblivious to the situation, remained utterly relaxed.

In the meantime, the flock of gorgeously attired peacocks approached, heads held high.

Unclear if they were being led by staff to their seats or heading straight this way, Anne grew anxious.

The miss had changed, but if this triggered another breakdown, she might revert to her old self.

"Miss?"

Olivia pondered deeply.

The brochure boasted of Lancelot Hotel's rose paradise, featuring varieties unfamiliar to her like 'Princess de Allensia'—dedicated to the late Queen Allensia—Double Delight, Iceberg, and more.

She probably wouldn't get another chance to stay in a place this luxurious.

"Let's go to the garden."

Olivia replied with a bright smile.

The two rose from their seats and turned toward the terrace opening to the garden just behind them.

Anne, moving with uncharacteristic speed, was guiding Olivia over the terrace threshold when—

"Miss Blanchett."

Olivia's name rang out, cutting through the piano melody.

Anne's heart sank. She wanted to pretend she hadn't heard and whisk the miss away, but Olivia slowly turned around.

The sunlit cafeteria suddenly felt like winter had arrived.

The frozen air seemed ready to shatter. Anne feared that Litton's peaceful days were coming to an end.

"It really is you, Miss Blanchett. Nice to meet you. I'm Elaine."

The woman approached with a refined smile and greeting, followed by her entourage of noblewomen.

"......Hello."

Olivia rummaged through her memories before responding a beat late. An unfamiliar face.

The woman's demeanor was impeccably polite, but she seemed clumsy at hiding the contempt in her eyes—or perhaps she didn't bother.

Olivia caught it instantly. It was the gaze she'd endured since birth, one she'd been shaped by.

People who approached smiling while concealing disdain always wanted something from her. And it never ended well. Not once.

"Do I know you, Miss Elaine? I don't recall."

"We've never been formally introduced. I've seen you at a few parties."

"Ah."

Olivia let out a soft exclamation with a gentle smile.

In places where the dirty illegitimate child of an affair was shunned, all she could do was slip out to the terrace alone and drink.

Once warmed by alcohol and feeling a bit better, she could blunt the suffocating stares just a little.

That was the extent of champagne's power she could borrow.

If only it had stopped there. Olivia's problem was her lack of restraint, always leading to some ugly scandal.

No wonder the woman had seen her beast-like side. Multiple times, even.

"I heard your lawyer was incredible during the divorce."

"......"

"They say you got more in alimony than Princess Annblin received. Is it true?"

"Even demanded Cress Island, right?"

"The nerve. Then again, if she had any shame, she wouldn't have seduced the duke with such vulgar tricks and demanded marriage in return."

Though they fancied themselves ladies, they abandoned decorum here, raising their voices deliberately. Every eye in the cafeteria turned to Olivia.

The women's lips curled in blatant mockery.

She could deny it, explain that the rumors were unverified nonsense spread by the press.

But would they believe her? Truth seemed irrelevant to them.

Humiliating Olivia Blanchett was their petty amusement in otherwise dull lives—they'd fabricate reasons if needed.

They hid their base desire to trample the woman who had usurped a duchess's seat unfit for her, adorned in dresses and jewels finer than theirs, elevated by her husband's status.

Sharpening her blade against such foes was laughable.

The alimony details were Johann's doing. Even so, they wouldn't believe it. They wanted Olivia Blanchett humiliated.

Fine, then. She'd push back a little harder.

"I had no idea my husband owned an island. If I had, I'd have asked for it. What a shame."

Olivia smiled as if genuinely regretful.

"If you ever need a capable lawyer, just let me know. I can introduce you. You never know with life."

"How dare she curse us like—"

"After the divorce, I've realized life's real essentials aren't husbands—it's money."

An elegant chill emanated from Olivia's smile.

She refused to give them the reaction they craved. To show them clearly that the Olivia Blanchett they knew was gone, she wore an even bolder smile.

The women gaped in shock.

Has she gone mad after the divorce?!

The Olivia they'd always seen at banquets—hunched from her humiliating birth, too timid to speak, clinging to walls—that was her entirety.

No matter that she'd donned the shell of Duchess Leopold; in society, she was treated as invisible.

The noblewomen's lips twitched in fury at being shamed by such a lowly thing.

"That necklace is lovely."

As she turned to leave, Olivia glanced at Elaine's necklace—the one that had irked her from the start—and added,

"It suits you."

The sudden compliment drew the noblewomen's eyes to Elaine's neck.

A dazzling pink diamond necklace reflecting the light. Elaine's pride, a seventh anniversary gift from her husband.

"You have good taste."

For someone like you.

Elaine lifted her chin haughtily, stretching her neck.

"But if you care about dignity, I'd avoid fakes. They make the wearer look counterfeit too."

Leaving the flushing woman behind, Olivia exited to the garden through the terrace with Anne.

Amid the heady scent of early-blooming red roses, the noblewomen's gasps echoed.

Entering the rose garden, the two strolled quietly along the path. The thick, luscious rose scent brushed their noses.

Anne glanced at her miss, stepping neatly along.

Watching her tread the clear sunlight dappling the flagstones, Anne realized: this transformed miss would no longer hide in the shadows.

"I didn't think you remembered."

Anne spoke as she straightened the blouse ribbon tousled by the breeze.

"Huh? Remembered what?"

"......That necklace."

"Ah!"

Silence settled amid the rippling spring breeze. They walked wordlessly, reminiscing about that day.

The previous duchess's missing heirloom had once caused a commotion at Great Hill.

Just over ten minutes into the search, the necklace appeared as if by magic—in Anne's room.

'I-I didn't do it. I swear on God. Please believe me.'

It was blatant framing, yet no one believed Anne. Not even the miss.

"I'm sorry, Anne. For putting you through that."

"No, miss. I didn't bring it up for that. It's just that back then..."

Anne stopped. She couldn't voice the words rising in her throat.

She should have warned her not to trust Diane Brooke, to be careful—but she hadn't dared. The miss's secretary harboring illicit feelings for the duke.

'You should be grateful for His Grace's mercy. Keep that mouth shut next time, or your miss will suffer instead. Understand?'

"Back then, why?"

"......No, it's nothing, miss."

Anne held back. She feared reopening the rift Diane had sown between her and the miss. It wasn't a story worth sharing, and it was all in the past now.

"Let's head that way, miss."

Hurrying along, they reached a refined hedge maze befitting a city hotel. Whoever the owner was, they clearly had a romantic soul.

Roses bloomed everywhere. In the center, a grand fountain sprayed cool streams, surrounded by intricate patterns embroidered in coralbells—exotically foreign.

Warm sunlight poured down on Olivia and Anne as they walked the path.

After a silent stretch past flower beds, a neatly trimmed hedge path led to a tennis court.

As they drew nearer, rough breaths and cheers of "Wah!" reached them.

On the grass court, two gentlemen were playing. Even from afar, their white dress shirts, flannel trousers, and swinging rackets captivated the eye.

Olivia paused to watch.

Her gaze lingered on the tall, striking man. His agile, fluid movements chasing the ball blended with his sun-glinting black hair, evoking a graceful predator.

The man tossed the ball up after catching his breath. Olivia tilted her head back, following the lime-green ball. Above the dazzling blue sky unfolded a summer memory with Hanzian.

The summer sun they'd tanned under while playing tennis as an excuse, the cicadas screaming as if to sever her breath—it all felt vivid.

Sunbae.

Why had she fallen for him with such agonizing passion?

She'd loved him enough to let calluses form on her racket grip, blisters on her soles. He never knew her desperate struggles.

Even so, every moment had been joyful.

To him, she was just the maid's granddaughter helping with chores. To her, he was first love.

Snapping her reverie, a short roar accompanied the racket smashing the ball at incredible speed. Spectators erupted in cheers. Young ladies clapped in delight.

The crowd around the court applauded the victor.

"He's so cool!"

"Just look this way once!"

The ladies whispered shyly, unable to tear their eyes from him. Sweat dripped from his fine hair as he crossed the court with leisurely strides.

His victorious gait was arrogant, like the king of all creation.