The dispatch of a unit, in which Prince Mikhail is serving as an officer, has been decided to suppress the colonial civil war.

At the Doherty Club in the city center of Leiden, a farewell party for the prince was held.

The party, which had started in broad daylight, was already devoid of people standing on two feet by the time Johann arrived in the evening.

Under the enchanting light of red lamps adorned with golden hats, amidst the thick cigarette smoke, the piercing scent of solitude, the dance music flowing from the phonograph at a rapid tempo, it felt as if corrupted young people were pursuing their last pleasures in a world on the brink of apocalypse.

“Isn’t the sun rising from the west tomorrow?”

All eyes were on Johann. What kind of wind was blowing here?

“Hmm.”

Mikhail, whose tongue was twisted, embraced Johann, who entered languidly.

Extending his arm to stop him, Johann sat down.

“Will we see each other again?”

“Well, who knows.”

Johann responded indifferently.

“Hey!”

Mikhail shouted loudly.

Johann ordered bourbon and put the shot glass to his lips. He usually despised noisy places, but today he intended to stay for a long time.

Until he heard Olivia’s name from somewhere.

Johann absentmindedly lit a cigarette at the end of the poem. The back table buzzed.

“I estimate 30 minutes.”

“Sarah Pavlova. 30 minutes is not too long.”

The men jeered. It felt somewhat sympathetic to think that a beautiful woman would be embarrassed on the grass.

“I’m Olivia Blanchett.”

Whistles and boos accompanied the gambling talk.

“I’m not betting on looks. She’s ranked 1st in the world. Have you forgotten?”

“If Olivia Blanchett had debuted early, Sarah would have been 2nd.”

A man who knew about Olivia unknowingly. Johann turned his head over his shoulder.

It was the cousin of Britt, Queen of Britain, distinguished by her red topknot.

“Oh! You’ve seen her in person.”

The man, who had yielded the 12th court to a woman at the Dublin Club, tilted his glass with a sly smile instead of answering.

He got divorced.

Reflecting on that clear fact, he took out another poem. It wasn’t easy to stop caring, but it was necessary.

Olivia. Olivia. Olivia everywhere.

She had a strange talent. Listening to her name every day since their divorce.

Putting down the crystal glass, he lightly shook his wrist and checked the time on his watch. Johann’s forehead was lightly furrowed.

The once easily controlled mind was now almost uncontrollable, especially when it came to her. Damn it.

The symptoms that appeared after opening Pandora’s Box named Diane Brook were worsening since their reunion in Britain.

Coming to a noisy club that he usually avoided was certainly not because of Mikhail.

He needed something to focus on. Otherwise, it was all…

“Why did you come? Aren’t you curious about Blanchett’s game?”

Johann exhaled a long puff of smoke.
Princess Krantz stayed behind with Catherine, pledging to support Anblin. Perhaps she felt embarrassed.

It was amusing enough for Johann to watch the match of his former wife alone, and even more amusing to sit next to his fiancée.

There was no need to create unnecessary gossip.

“Seriously, brother. Did you come here for me?”

“Pitiful guy.”

“I’m touched, Hyung!”

Mikhail spread his arms again towards Johann, making a commotion. With the prince of a nation in this state, it seemed like the monarchy was now at its twilight.

Having emptied a bottle of bourbon, Johann stood up from his seat.

Neither the strong liquor nor the corrupt surroundings, as if the world had ended, were helping to distract him.

In the center of the club, tightly packed men and women were dancing tango to a sensual melody, as if flowing like water.

Mikhail, who held the woman’s slender waist, shook his hand at Johann, winking.

It was a farewell.

Johann, who lightly nodded his chin, stepped outside. Johann walked through the brightly lit streets.

The carriage waiting to take him to the palace followed slowly behind.

Olivia’s appearance caused a stir once again.

The murmurs from the audience seats disappeared momentarily, then suddenly became noisy as if someone had turned up the volume.

“Oh my, is she crazy? How can she wear like that…?”

Madams in the spectator stands whispered towards Olivia, who entered the grass court.

Olivia was dressed in a white short-sleeved polo shirt, knee-length shorts of the same color, and sneakers.

It was truly sensational.

“A lady wearing shorts like a boy. Indeed, it’s the end of an era.”

“I don’t know what to call that unheard-of outfit…”

“I can’t bear to see how disastrous it is.”

The shocking reactions of the noblewomen, who were shocked by the end of the world, and the bewildering responses of young ladies who had never seen such fresh attire, reached Olivia’s ears.

Olivia took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Then, she blocked out everything.

I need to concentrate.

Like dust floating in the air, the wandering thoughts in her mind settled.

Slowly, very slowly.

Then she gathered the light seeping through her eyelids.