Chapter 48

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 48

Chapter Title: A New Breeze

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He'd been secretly hoping for an answer along the lines of, "I'd appreciate a ride home."

If that's what she wanted, he was more than willing to climb into the carriage with her and take her all the way back. Russell Junior had no qualms about it.

"Sure thing."

Olivia flashed a bright smile, slicing through his expectations in one clean stroke. Russell Junior scratched his head awkwardly.

"Sorry for worrying you."

"Not at all. I'm just glad you're feeling better. If anything comes up—any problems or tricky situations—don't hesitate to tell me. If you lean on me comfortably, Miss Blanchett..."

Russell Junior, eager to win Olivia's favor, was just about to put into practice something he'd read in a column titled "What Is a Gentleman?" when a sleek black carriage slid into view from behind the shrubs over her shoulder.

Russell Junior's face crumpled instantly.

Olivia turned her head slowly, puzzled.

The Lancelot Company's logo—an interlocking "R" initials—glinted gold in a stray beam of sunlight filtering through the leaves.

"Edgar?"

His name slipped from Olivia's lips reflexively.

And sure enough, the man stepping down from the carriage was Edgar.

His unexpected arrival calmed her heart in a way she couldn't quite explain. It had been like that for some time now.

Reassuring. Peaceful. And when he showed up out of the blue like this... joyful.

"How'd practice go?"

The man strode right up and stopped in front of her, asking with a handsome smile.

His boater hat, white trousers, and thin shirt with a subtle blue sheen—sleeves neatly rolled up—evoked the breezy seaside in early summer.

"Great. But what brings you here?"

Olivia gazed at the way his slate-gray eyes curved beneath thick, straight brows.

"I've got somewhere to take you."

"Pardon?"

Olivia tilted her head slightly.

"Hop in first. We'll go in my carriage."

Edgar offered his arm with a grin.

"Where are you kidnapping me off to?"

she teased.

"How about 'somewhere you'll become an angel'?"

A place where a brazen vixen turns into an angel?

"Does such a place even exist?"

Olivia widened her eyes dramatically, and Edgar burst into laughter.

In the clear sunlight, his charming laugh seemed to shatter like white waves crashing on the shore.

"Curious? Then get in."

Olivia gladly placed her hand on his arm. Then she turned to Russell Junior.

"Thanks again today, Coach. See you tomorrow."

"No trouble at all. Looks urgent—go on ahead, Miss Blanchett."

The fox who'd been playing king in an empty den had to slink away now.

Standing between these two who treated him like he was invisible was nothing short of mortifying and heartbreaking.

As soon as the farewell was exchanged, Russell Junior backed away swiftly.

"Where are you headed?"

At that moment, Edgar's languid voice hooked into Russell Junior's nape like a hawk's talon snatching prey.

"Oh, uh, my father's calling. Nice seeing you. Bye."

Remembering the humiliation from last time, Russell Junior stammered before turning tail.

"You get in too."

Russell Junior whipped around, swallowing a gasp of horror.

"Why."

"Does it ease your mind if you know before climbing in?"

Edgar's voice grew lower as he fixed Russell Junior with his stare.

Those eyes that crinkled so readily at Olivia now darkened like the depths of a cave.

Russell Junior's wandering gaze accidentally met Olivia's.

She seemed to be looking at him with pity, for some reason.

"If you want me that badly, I suppose I'll have no choice but to go with you."

Russell Junior stepped onto the carriage footboard reluctantly, clinging to his last shred of pride, but Edgar cut him off.

"You want to ride here?"

"......"

A gentle tone utterly at odds with the murderous glint in his eyes bore down on Russell Junior.

"Surely you're not... thinking of slamming the door on me."

Russell Junior yanked his foot back faster than light and retreated a step. Edgar boarded leisurely.

Russell Junior closed the door politely, and the carriage soon departed. The Dixon family carriage followed behind. For a while, a faint "damn" echoed out the window.

The Queen Telegzia dropped anchor.

A stiff wind whipped across the deck. Johann narrowed his eyes, surveying Litton's skyline where high-rises vied to pierce the heavens.

In the distance, the upper floors of the Leopold Hotel thrust past the capital's famous clock tower, catching his eye first. It was a sight to behold.

"Here you are?"

Catherine approached, pressing down on her hat brim flapping wildly in the sea breeze with both hands.

The Krantz Archduchy's princess was with her. The princess's flesh-toned dress billowed and subsided like a sail in the ocean gusts.

"I was coming to fetch you."

Johann replied indifferently, eyes fixed on the gleaming golden building.

"Got restless."

Catherine grinned broadly and turned toward the pier.

"Anne said she'd come greet us... Ah! There she is. Anne!"

Leaning one hand on the deck railing and peering below, Catherine shouted and waved vigorously.

Johann's gaze followed her hand to the shore. Britt's princess had spotted Catherine too and was waving back enthusiastically.

A newspaper article suddenly sprang to mind.

Johann silently gazed down at the princess.

Did his ex-wife envy such noble bloodlines?

If so, he could understand to some extent. Edgar Langcaster Lancelot aside, of course.

Just then, a mechanical whir signaled the trapdoor reaching the bottom. Moments later, the captain, preparations complete, reported to Johann.

"We're ready, sir."

Johann nodded curtly and checked the time, withdrawing his loosely pocketed hand. Irene, standing picture-perfect, watched his wrist. Johann turned.

"Shall we?"

His voice, devoid of emotion, scattered in the wind. Irene wordlessly placed her hand on his proffered arm.

"Come here, Catherine!"

Annblin and Catherine, princesses of two nations, lit up and embraced. Camera flashes erupted everywhere.

Even as he walked the cordoned path past reporters and welcoming crowds, Johann's eyes slowly scanned the surroundings.

As if searching for someone.

Catherine boarded Annblin's ornate carriage. Johann and Irene's followed toward Britt Palace.

In the full bloom of summer, a new breeze began to blow over the roofs of carriages racing down their separate paths.

The vast meadow stretched endlessly, with no end in sight. They'd left the city behind long ago, yet Olivia still had no idea where they were headed.

"Where are we going?"

"You'll see when we get there."

That leisurely smile, after dangling her curiosity, was infuriatingly smug, but Olivia turned back to the window.

The seemingly infinite fields gave way to a quiet country lane.

The scent of fir trees was refreshing.

The carriage jolted extra hard on the unpaved dirt path and began slowing just as the fir-lined road neared its end.

By the time it came to a full stop, they were in front of a quaint building topped with a white cross on its steeple.

"......Here?"

Olivia peered cautiously out the window.

"The orphanage sponsored by Lancelot Company."

So why here? That was her unspoken question. Her gaze through the glass shifted to Edgar.

"Sitting back and taking it isn't my style."

he said coolly.

The faint smile vanished from Edgar's face, revealing his characteristic cool resolve.

"If they use the press to tear you down, I'll flip it—rebuild your image with it."

Edgar was generous toward ex-lovers. But provocations like this changed everything.

Smearing Olivia Blanchett's reputation was Annblin's declaration of war—or warning—to Edgar.

He had plenty of options.

Exposing her private life, questioning the fairness of her past victories, or—if he wished—revealing to the world how exactly the princess had divorced and returned.

But he'd set aside those crude tactics for this gentle approach, for one reason alone: for Olivia.

Because she wouldn't want it any other way.

At some point, Edgar's mind had begun revolving around her at the top.

Of course, this was mere consideration for Lancelot Company's star player ahead of the Dumblin Championships. No personal feelings involved.

"Let's get out."

Edgar alighted first and gallantly extended his hand, smile adorning his lips once more.

"So we're here for volunteer work. To the angels' home. To look good?"

"You against it?"

Olivia hadn't planned to respond at all. But if she had to do something, better this than mutual mudslinging.

"Alright."

After a brief hesitation, Olivia took Edgar's hand and stepped down.

Whoaaa! Tiny children came running with innocent cheers, surrounding her.

The kids looking up at her sparkled with pure, bright eyes. True to the name "Angels' Home," their faces were all innocently kind.

Olivia stroked a little girl's soft hair. She'd lost her parents around that age too. What had her own eyes looked like back then?

"Hi. I'm Olivia."

The child beamed, missing two bottom teeth. Olivia barely remembered her own childhood, but her smiles hadn't sparkled like stars.

"Hello. I'm Rosetta."

The lisping voice leaking through the gap was adorably cute. Olivia couldn't help hugging the girl and laughing.

Was it the sunlight pouring over the woman, or her smile that dazzled? Edgar quietly watched her, radiant as an early summer sun.

May this loveliness, this peace, capture perfectly in photos.

With Edgar's wish, the summer afternoon faded away.