Chapter 41

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 41

Chapter Title: Variable

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How could I have forgotten that.

Pale sunlight filtered down onto Olivia's pallid cheek.

Feeling stifled inside the carriage, she cracked the window open a bit.

A thick acacia scent wafted in on the early summer breeze.

Back in Rondos, the servants were piling up the gifts brought by invited guests in the center of the drawing room.

Like a Christmas tree.

And after the banquet ended, everyone would gather in the grand drawing room, sipping champagne as they opened the gift boxes one by one.

Along with thanks from the birthday celebrant.

Of course, Johann himself wouldn't handle the tedious task.

A butler or aide by his side would unwrap them and read the congratulatory cards aloud instead.

The thought of their shock at seeing Olivia's name on one of those cards made her mind go hazy.

She didn't want to look like she still had lingering feelings for her ex-husband.

She didn't want to upset his fiancée, and she certainly had no desire to come across as an ill-mannered woman.

'For now, that seems to be the only way. Though time is tight, of course.'

'Is there a way?'

Olivia's eyes sparkled with life. But the moment was fleeting.

'Through a personal letter... Though even that would require some luck.'

'......'

From Litton Port to Le Mont Port in Rondos Kingdom by express ship took ten hours.

Then switching to an express train at Le Mont Station to Leiden Central Station took nine hours.

And from Central Station to the Patek main store by carriage was about thirty minutes.

Johann Leopold's birthday party was tomorrow at 6 p.m.

In short, every mode of transport had to align perfectly for her to barely retrieve the watch in time.

Olivia let out a long, despairing sigh.

"Miss? Your hat."

Only at Anne's call did Olivia realize she was clutching the floral decoration on the hat in her lap.

Ah! With a short exclamation, Olivia quickly let go.

Meanwhile, Anne was blaming herself.

If only she'd spoken up when she saw that note in the notebook that day...

Excuses about being too busy lately offered no comfort in this situation.

Margaret Wellington Marchioness Dowager's venomous face flashed in her mind, leaving no room for hesitation.

"Um, Miss?"

Olivia, who had been fidgeting with her hands clasped instead of her hat, looked up at Anne.

Her eyelids drooped halfway, heavy with worry.

"I'll go."

"You, Anne?"

Olivia, who hadn't considered Anne at all, asked in surprise.

"Yes. Stay with Mrs. Marie for two days. I'll be back soon."

Anne's resolute face sparkled as she sought Olivia's approval. Olivia hesitated.

"It's not like you're going somewhere unknown. Don't worry."

Olivia worried about Anne setting off in the middle of the night.

She had never been apart from Anne since coming here.

For all sorts of reasons, the words wouldn't come easily.

"Miss."

Anne called Olivia once more.

The serene cityscape at dusk slowly drifted past the carriage window.

By the time the carriage turned onto Riverside 3rd Street's riverfront road, Olivia grasped Anne's hands tightly and said,

"Thank you, Anne. I'm counting on you."

Anne nodded, meeting Olivia's gaze.

Over the pitch-black sea, raging flames turned the water crimson, and the docks blazed bright as day.

A ship scheduled to depart at 7 p.m. had suddenly caught fire.

The blaze started in the cargo hold, engulfing the massive vessel and swiftly spreading to the adjacent passenger liner on the strong wind. It was the very ship Anne was meant to take.

The pier descended into chaos, and the dazed Olivia and Anne stood stunned amid the milling crowd, jostled this way and that.

The unexpected twist snapped Olivia out of her rigid shock first.

"Let's find another ship, Anne."

Olivia pulled Anne along, hurrying toward the ticket building.

The passenger terminal was packed with people already waiting to board, no room to step.

The sudden influx bombarded the staff with questions about when they could board.

The ticket clerk finally screamed amid the barrage.

"Check the departure schedule changes! Please!!!"

Even at the clerk's plea, the passengers' protests grew louder.

Curses and sighs filled the air, stinging their ears. Help from the staff seemed unlikely.

Swept along by the crowd to the waiting area, Olivia and Anne searched for the schedule.

Glancing around, they spotted the massive timetable on the right wall, its paint peeling in spots.

That spot too was swarming with people checking altered sailings.

Olivia and Anne exchanged looks and took deep breaths before pushing through the throng.

Finally reaching a spot where the numbers were clear, Olivia stood on tiptoe and scanned down the green departure signs for Le Mont-bound ships.

June 15, 8:00 p.m. - Pers. Queen Elizabeth (to Le Mont) CANCELED

June 16, 7:00 a.m. - Roican. Victoria (to Le Mont) DELAYED. Scheduled for 6:00 p.m.

"......"

This couldn't be real.

The next ship to Le Mont departed right at Johann's birthday banquet time.

In disbelief, Olivia double-checked the schedule. Nothing changed.

This was just...

Unbelievable.

Olivia repeated the words to herself like a mantra.

"......It's over. Everything's ruined, Anne."

Johann Leopold Duke's birthday party was about to be gloriously sabotaged. Somehow.

Olivia's mind felt utterly blank.

Shoulders slumped, the two turned away from the spot where they could barely move.

Outside, thick black smoke billowed endlessly into the night sky.

The air they breathed was acrid, the atmosphere hot against their skin.

The docks swarmed with fire carriages and port workers extinguishing the blaze.

The pair headed silently to the carriage stand.

Suddenly, Olivia recalled the birthday card message she'd written. Sweet love confessions Han Ji-an never would have uttered aloud.

Please, may the fiancée not see it... The odds were slim, but Olivia prayed fervently anyway.

"Olivia?"

A familiar voice called then.

Olivia, just exiting the chaotic pier, halted. She turned slowly. A black carriage was pulling to a stop.

The door opened, and a very tall man stepped out. It was Edgar.

Edgar was in a carriage bound for Litton Port for business in Rondos.

The carriage, which had been moving swiftly, slowed dramatically just two blocks from the port.

Fire carriages sped through the line of backed-up vehicles.

Edgar's carriage yielded space, crawling toward the port like a turtle.

Because it was slow, he clearly saw the woman outside the window.

Olivia Blanchett. At this hour, she should be peacefully asleep per reports of her routine, yet here she was, walking with a dazed expression.

What on earth was she doing here?

He had to stop the carriage.

"What brings you here?"

Her startled blue eyes shook noticeably.

"That's what I want to ask. Who are you waiting for?"

Why would a woman be at the port this late unless meeting someone?

Noticing Olivia held nothing in her hands, Edgar concluded as much.

"No, nothing like that."

The woman shook her head slightly.

"Then why."

"......It's complicated. And you?"

"Business in Rondos."

Complicated, huh.

As Edgar answered, he pondered her situation.

Was she planning a midnight escape? The tennis tournament was only three weeks away.

"You probably can't go today. Everything's canceled. Tomorrow's ships are all delayed too."

"Where to."

Edgar's gaze sharpened.

"Planning a trip?"

"Ah... Not exactly."

Not exactly, yet she knew the schedules inside out. His eyes darkened as he watched her flinch and lower her head.

His gaze shifted to the maid beside her.

The typewriter-sized handbag the maid carried didn't look suited for a long journey.

"Let's move somewhere else."

"Pardon?"

The docks were no place for conversation amid the chaos.

She wasn't being forthcoming, and her voice was fading into the noise, grating on his nerves.

"Get in first."

Olivia hesitated.

Her clear eyes betrayed her inner turmoil completely.

Should she get in or not? Her serious, conflicted face was utterly earnest.

Then, as if resolved, she looked up.

Her eyes said no.

As her scarlet lips parted to refuse, Edgar grabbed her hand and pulled.

Her slender yet firm wrist fit neatly in his large grip.

The carriage set off again.

"So."

A low voice echoed in the Lancelot exclusive passenger lounge. Edgar flicked ash from his long cigar and continued.

"You want to retrieve a birthday gift. Right?"

The phrasing irked her slightly, but Olivia nodded faintly.

A ship, of all things.

She knew he owned a yacht, but an express speedboat too? To Olivia, Edgar seemed like an omnipotent god.

"Come with me then. That solves it, doesn't it?"

"Thank you so much."

So straightforward. Olivia felt bewildered yet delighted.

Edgar stared at the woman across from him. Her beaming smile was pleasing.

Beyond the full-length glass window behind her, Pier 1 still blazed fiercely.

Poor ship owner, but Edgar was grateful for the twist that entangled him with her.

Pity about sending the maid alone.

But this woman, he could invite aboard anytime he wished. Shipboard pleasures could wait.

Her shining eyes reflected him now as her savior.

For the moment, that sufficed.