Chapter 19

“Freddy.”  

Olivia, who had been moving her lips a few times, called Freddy in a small voice.  

“Yes, Madame.”  

“You smile quite a lot.”  

“…Did I?”  

Freddy awkwardly wiped the corners of his mouth. Soon after, that soft smile disappeared without a trace. Olivia found herself feeling strangely disappointed by this.  

“Please smile like that more often. It looks good on you.”  

Freddy blinked blankly, and Olivia was certain she wouldn’t hear a response from him. Without waiting for his reply, she turned her gaze toward the carriage window.  

After a long moment, a small answer came.  

“I’ll try.”  

Startled, she turned her head, only to see Freddy already engrossed in his documents. A faint smile lingered on his lips.  

For the rest of the journey, he kept smiling.  

***  

The streets of Silvest were well-organized. The houses were structured in a flat, apartment-like style, allowing a large population to reside in the capital.  

As Olivia admired the streets, which were more orderly than those of Frenchia, she couldn’t help but let out a small exclamation.  

The carriage began to slow as it approached the very center of the capital. It seemed that many nobles had come out to the streets since it was the weekend.  

Freddy, who had been quietly watching Olivia as she gazed around, got out of the carriage first and extended his hand to her.  

When Olivia took his hand and stepped down, Freddy received something from Simon.  

“The sun is strong today. You should wear a hat.”  

He placed a hat, harmoniously colored in white and yellow, on Olivia’s head. It matched perfectly with her outfit for the day.  

“Did you think to prepare even something like this in advance?”  

“You mentioned wanting to step out of the carriage and explore the streets.”  

“If you had asked, I might have stayed in the carriage quietly.”  

“Do you dislike wearing the hat?”  

Freddy carefully tightened the ribbon of the hat.  

Unable to remove what was already placed on her head, Olivia pouted her lips and replied.  

“I styled my hair nicely to impress you, but now it’s ruined.”  

“The sunlight is too strong.”  

“I know that already.”  

“And even if it’s ruined, you’ll still look beautiful.”  

After neatly tying the ribbon, Freddy removed his hands from the hat and gently took Olivia’s hand, placing it on his arm.  

“I’m sure it won’t be too different from Frenchia, but I hope you enjoy yourself.”  

With his escort, Olivia began to walk.  

After a while of silent strolling, she blushed charmingly and asked him,  

“Freddy, where did you learn to say things like that?”  

“What things do you mean?”  

“Just now, when you said I was beautiful.”  

“I simply told the truth. There’s nothing to learn about that.”  

Freddy’s unexpected honesty made Olivia feel shy. Though he was slightly different from usual, she didn’t dislike it.  

Even after putting a hat on Olivia, Freddy held up a parasol to shield her from the sun. As a result, Olivia wandered the streets without feeling the spring sunlight fully.  

Although basking in the warm sunlight might have felt pleasant, this too had its charm.  

Enjoying the moment of walking with him, Olivia unconsciously slowed her steps.  

After all, once they finished exploring the streets, they would return to the Grand Duke’s residence. She leisurely glanced at the items displayed on the market stalls.  

Freddy, who had been walking in step with her, spoke to Olivia.  

“If there’s something you want, feel free to buy it.”  

It seemed Freddy thought she was walking slowly because she wanted something.  

Seeing his willingness to buy her anything, Olivia pouted her lips. It was likely why she unintentionally voiced her thoughts.  

“What I want can’t be bought.”  

Hearing her words, Freddy stopped walking and looked down at her. His brows furrowed slightly, giving him an expression that seemed somewhat displeased.  

Then, he smirked slightly, raising one corner of his mouth.  

“I doubt that’s true.”  

Feeling playful, Olivia responded firmly that it couldn’t be bought.  

“No, you can’t buy it.”  

Freddy, unable to grasp Olivia’s intentions, let out a small laugh. Watching him, she smiled bashfully and took his hand, lightly swinging it back and forth.  

As she did so, Freddy said,  

“If you tell me what it is, I’ll find a way to get it for you.”  

His eyes were filled with determination to somehow bring her what she wanted.  

“Really? But it’s something that can’t be bought.”  

“No, if it’s something you desire, I’ll make sure to bring it to you.”  

“It can’t be bought, but it’s something only you can give me.”  

Freddy tilted his head at Olivia’s vague words.  

“I’d like to go on dates like this with you from time to time. There’s no way to buy your time, is there?”  

“That’s…”  

“So, what I mean is, please go on dates with me like this in the future. I enjoy spending time with you.”  

Freddy’s thoughts were clear as day. Watching him open and close his mouth repeatedly, Olivia didn’t feel the wait was long. She even felt a little anticipation for what his answer would be.  

How long had she waited?  

“If that’s what you wish, I’ll try to make time.”  

The result of her patience was such a satisfying answer. Olivia smiled as she held his arm tightly.  

“If there’s something you want from me, Freddy, just tell me anytime. I’ll grant it for you.”  

Humming, Olivia continued walking. Freddy followed beside her, his gaze fixed on her face, which still held a trace of laughter.  

Freddy found Olivia, who chattered endlessly without tiring, fascinating. Even though he didn’t speak much, she seemed content just to hear her own voice.  

A woman who was unreserved and honest with her feelings was truly fascinating.  

She reminded him of the letters he constantly received. Although there was no apparent connection, she seemed so similar to the sender of those letters.  

“Freddy, focus on the conversation. I don’t expect you to answer every word, but I’d like your attention.”  

“I’m listening.”  

Pouting her lips like a bird, Olivia suddenly blocked his path. She stepped out from under the parasol, exposing herself to the sun.  

As Freddy clicked his tongue and tried to shield her from the sunlight again, a gust of wind blew. The hat on Olivia’s head wobbled precariously. Instinctively, Freddy reached out and grabbed her hat.  

In one hand, he held the ornate parasol, and in the other, her hat.  

From a distance, he could guarantee he must have looked ridiculous.  

Another playful gust of wind swirled around them, and Olivia’s golden hair tickled his hand, making it impossible for Freddy to think further.  

He simply laughed along with Olivia, who stood before him. He must have become a fool.  

Yet, he didn’t find this situation unpleasant.  

As he savored the ticklish feeling, an unpleasant conversation reached his ears.  

“Isn’t that His Grace, the Grand Duke of Hester?”  

“Then the woman next to him must be from Frenchia?”  

“Did Frenchia become a vassal state of Silvest?”  

“They said it’s an alliance, didn’t they?”  

“Come on, an alliance? She was practically sold off, wasn’t she?”  

Hearing this, Freddy froze as if doused in cold water. The laughter from moments ago felt like a distant memory.  

“…Madame, I think you should return first. I forgot there’s something I need to confirm at the palace.”  

Freddy spoke with a hardened expression.  

“Apologies, but wouldn’t it be best to end our outing here for today?”  

Olivia nodded slightly.  

“If it’s urgent, you should go. Take your time.”  

With Olivia’s permission, Freddy quickly saw her off. Once her carriage disappeared, even the faint smile on his face vanished without a trace.  

“Simon, prepare for entry to the palace.”  

The murmuring people fell silent. Freddy cast a cold gaze around before starting to walk.  

On his way to the palace, Freddy’s expression remained stiff.  

Although the street was well-maintained, as it was frequented by nobles, most shopkeepers were either lower-class nobles or commoners. And they were generally under the patronage of higher-ranking nobles.  

It wasn’t hard to figure out why they viewed Olivia with hostility.  

Those who were well aware of the nobles’ circumstances had begun to act.  

The first suspicion fell on the Noble Faction.  

They would naturally be wary of the Royalist Faction’s growing power. However, while the Noble Faction hadn’t been the main force behind the alliance, they did benefit from it, so it was unlikely they would stir trouble in this way.  

At the very least, the Noble Faction wasn’t hostile to Frenchia.  

Then, was Olivia the target?