June 15, 8:00 p.m. Pers. Queen Elizabeth (Le Mont) Canceled
June 16, 7:00 a.m. Roycan. Victoria (Le Mont) Delayed. Scheduled to depart at 6:00 p.m.

“……. Unbelievable.”

This couldn’t be happening.

The next Le Mont-bound ship was set to depart after Johann’s birthday party.

Olivia checked the sailing schedule again. But nothing had changed.

Really, this is…

Unbelievable.

Olivia repeated the same words to herself like a mantra.

“…It’s over. It’s all over, Ann.”

It seemed like they had successfully ruined Duke Johann Leopold’s birthday party. How wonderful.

Olivia felt like her mind had gone completely blank.

With shoulders slumped, the two turned their steps away from the crowded gap where they couldn’t make a move.
As they stepped outside, a particularly pungent smoke continued to rise into the night sky.

The breath they took was bitter, and the air touching their skin was hot.

By the beach, where the firefighting carriage and harbor workers were mobilized to extinguish the fire, the firefighting operation was in full swing.

The two, heading towards the carriage waiting area, remained silent.

Suddenly, Olivia Blanchett recalled the birthday wishes written by Han Jee-an in the birthday card she had received.

Sweet confessions of love that she could never have spoken out loud if it were Han Jee-an.

Please, may her fiancée not see it… The probability was extremely slim, but she still prayed fervently.

“Olivia?”

It was at that moment that a familiar voice reached her.

Olivia, who had just escaped from the crowded pier, stopped in her tracks. She turned slowly. A black carriage was slowly coming to a halt.

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

Edgar was inside the carriage bound for Lontos for a business trip.

The significant slowing of the carriage’s speed occurred when they were just about two blocks away from the Lontos harbor.

Fire carriages quickly rushed through the line of carriages.

The carriage Edgar was on also entered the harbor with a tortoise-like pace, making way to one side.

Because of the slow speed, Olivia could clearly see the woman outside through the carriage window.

Olivia Blanchett. At this hour, according to her usual schedule, she should be quietly asleep. However, the woman was walking with a vacant expression.

Why on earth was she here?

They couldn’t help but stop the carriage.

“What’s going on here?”

Edgar’s surprised blue eyes visibly shook.

“I want to ask. Who are you waiting for?”

Unless it was a welcoming party, why would a woman be at the harbor at this hour?

It was then that Edgar confirmed there was nothing in Olivia’s hands. The conclusion was drawn.

“No, it’s not that.”

The woman mumbled softly.

“Then why?”

“…Well, there’s a reason. What about you?”

“I’m heading to Lontos for business.”

A reason. As Edgar answered Olivia’s question, he also thought about her circumstances.

Could it be that she intended to elope? The tennis tournament was now only three weeks away.

“You probably can’t go today. Everything has been canceled. The ships scheduled to depart tomorrow are all delayed.”

“Where to?”

Edgar’s gaze became sharp.

“Are you planning to go on a trip?”

“Ah… It’s not that.”

If it wasn’t that, then why was she piercing through the ship schedules? Edgar’s eyes, watching the woman fumble with her words, darkened even more.

His gaze slowly shifted from the woman to a maid beside her.

The maid holding a typewriter-sized handbag didn’t seem suitable for a long journey.

“Let’s change the location.”

“What?”

The chaotic beach was not an appropriate place for a conversation.
The woman seemed unwilling to give an easy answer, and irritation was gradually building up in Olivia due to the surrounding noise and the diminishing volume of the woman’s voice.

“Let’s get on first.”

Olivia hesitated.

With clear eyes, the woman’s inner thoughts were revealed thoroughly.

To board or not to board. The conflict on her face was quite serious.

Then, as if she had made up her mind, Olivia’s gaze, looking upwards, spoke.

She won’t board.

Just as the woman’s crimson-colored lips were about to speak, Edgar took Olivia’s hand.

The thin but firm wrist caught in the large grip of his hand.

The carriage started again.

“So.”

A low voice echoed in the exclusive passenger lounge for Lancelot. Edgar, sweeping away the ashes of his long cigarette, spoke.

“You want to steal a birthday present. Is that right?”

The expression “steal” didn’t sit well with Olivia, but she nodded slightly.

There was a ship.

Olivia knew that Edgar owned a yacht, but she hadn’t expected him to have a high-speed ship as well. Edgar seemed omnipotent to Olivia.

“If you come with me, it should be fine. How about that?”

“Thank you very much.”

So simple. Olivia felt both bewildered and happy.

Edgar stared at the woman sitting opposite him, looking pleased with her broad smile.

Behind the woman, through the front glass, the still blazing First Pier was visible.

It was unfortunate for the shipowner, but Edgar, who became involved with the woman in this way, felt thankful.

It was a bit regrettable for the maid to be going alone.

However, if he decided, the woman could board his ship anytime. The pleasure on the deck could be postponed until the next opportunity.

For now, Edgar was grateful that he seemed like a savior in the woman’s shining eyes.

For now, that was enough.